The SATURDAY SIX Snacks Their Way Through EPIC UNIVERSE (Nintendo, Dark Universe, Isle of Berk and MORE!)

Last week’s SATURDAY SIX took a look at our favorite pieces of merchandise at Universal’s EPIC UNIVERSE and this week we’re going to check out another one of our passions: Theme Park Snacks! That’s right, today we’re going to snack our way through the park with some tasty treats, starting with…

# 6 – DK Crush Float

One of the most Instagram/social media friendly snacks in all of Epic Universe can be found in Super Nintendo World. Head into Donkey Kong Country and stop by the Bubbly Barrel for a DK Crush Float. Be sure to get it served in the incredible Donkey Kong barrel mug, which is a straight up E-Ticket souvenir cup.

The DK Crush Float consists of banana pineapple soft serve served in a waffle cone, topped with toffee pieces & caramel popcorn and sitting on top of a cup of pineapple soda.

The spoon served with the DK Crush Float is themed to Donkey Kong Country and looks fantastic.

The waffle cone has a hole in the bottom so your straw can access the pineapple soda. Bonus points for the plastic cup also being themed to the Donkey Kong Country area of Epic Universe.

Now, you can order the DK Crush Float without the mug, but to me that’s like staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in a room that doesn’t overlook the savanna. I mean, what’s the point?! 

While in Super Nintendo World, it’s also worth heading over to Super Mario Land for a couple items at Yoshi’s Snack Stand. Check out how amazing this wrapper is for the Red Shell Calzone. Just fantastic.

The turtle shell calzone is filled with cheese, marinara sauce, pepperoni and sausage.

At almost $13 a pop, this is going to be the most expensive Hot Pocket you ever buy, but the kiddos are going to LOVE IT.

Also on the menu at Yoshi’s Snack Island are a couple of smoothies. Both are worth trying out, and we really enjoyed the Apple-Melon version.

# 5 – Themed Candy Bars

Over the years, I’ve written many times about how much I love the character branded candy bars available in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida (featuring Marvel Superheroes, Back to the Future, Jaws and more.)

Not only are there a whole bunch of unique flavors you don’t see anywhere else, but the bars themselves also have some fantastic details.

Themed candy bars have been released for seasonal events, like Halloween Horror Nights…

…and even for my favorite restaurant at Universal CityWalk, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium. I also think these bars make a great souvenir to bring back home as gifts because they are inexpensive and easy to travel with.

So imagine the smile I had when seeing that Epic Universe continued this time honored tradition with themed candy bars available throughout the park. In Isle of Berk there are two different styles of bars available. One set is themed to the Vikings of the land, and the art on the candy bar wrapper is just like the amazing tapestries you will see hanging in Mead Hall.

The other style is themed to the various dragons in the How To Train Your Dragon series, including fan favorite Toothless.

I still can barely believe that the Dark Universe land exists, but even more blown away that now we get candy bars themed to my favorite Universal Classic Monsters!

Super Nintendo World offers colorful and kid friendly bars.

In Celestial Park, there is a line of candy bars featuring the gorgeous Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Suites logo.

For those who do not know, the Moonship is captained by…

# 4 – Captain Cacao

We talked about the instant connection the adorable Captain Cacao made with fans in our merchandise article, and how wonderful is this Captain Cacao sugar cookie? Even better, this cookie tastes like Count Chocula cereal because real cocoa is used in the sugar cookie batter.

This is one cookie that will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

More Captain Cacao related snacks include a blueberry caramel apple…

…and a wide variety of Captain Cacao branded bagged treats like candy coated popcorn.

# 3 – Wizarding World

It seems like almost every version of Butterbeer is better than the one before it. The level of quality you get in items such as Hot Butterbeer, Butterbeer ice cream, and the recent Butterbeer Cream Puff is second to none. That quality continues in the Ministry of Magic section of Epic Universe with the Butterbeer Crêpe available at Café L’air De La Sirène.

How great does this sound just reading the menu description?!

Tastes even better. Highest possible recommendation.

Now, one of my personal favorite things in the original Wizarding World lands (Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley) are the fun snacks you could buy at places like Honeydukes and Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. Items like Fudge Flies and Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans are just fun snacks to share with kids because they are so unique.

Ministry of Magic has its own fun snacks including these Snail Slime Chews.

The Niffler was by far and away the most beloved character coming out of the Fantastic Beasts movie franchise. You are able to see various Nifflers throughout the land.

The only thing better than a movie Niffler is a chocolate Niffler.

# 2 – Dark  Universe

Look out Mickey Pretzel, because the themed pretzel game in Florida is in an official renaissance as last year we got the debut of the Shrekzel in DreamWorks Land and this year Universal delivers the Frankenstein Pretzel in Dark Universe. Put a character’s face in pretzel form and I’ll buy it, that’s my policy.

One of the many incredible photo-ops in Epic Universe can be found in Dark Universe with the Burning Blade Tavern. There’s just something about seeing fire that evokes wonder (and probably more than a little bit of fear.) The Burning Blade is also home to a couple snacks you need to check out.

First up is the Garlic Hunter’s Stake. A crispy garlic butter pretzel served with garlic butter dipping sauce.

And definitely don’t sleep on the Burning Cheddar Bites. These are crispy fried poppers served with sriracha ranch and are just AMAZING.

# 1 – Isle of Berk

The Be Fair To Florida movement has had some pretty big setbacks over the last couple years, including all the great stuff they keep doing for Disneyland’s Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge (Season of the Force and the cute BDX droids) and the awesome Universal Fan Fest at USH (featuring Back to the Future, Star Trek, Dungeons & Dragons and more.)

However, us Floridians got a big win with the opening Epic Universe in the form of the Mac & Cheese cones in the Isle of Berk. Food served in a cone is just better, it’s just plain physics (Editor’s Note: not actual physics.) Years ago the Magic Kingdom had one of the all time theme park snacks with the Handwich, and more recently those spoiled theme park fans in California got some pretty good cones with the debut of Cars Land.

Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel offers three versions of their mac & cheese cones: PB&J – Pork, Bacon, and Jam (creamy mac and cheese with BBQ harissa pulled pork, maple candy bacon, and chopped parsley,) Goldfish Mac and Cheese (creamy mac and cheese with Goldfish,) and Dragon Fire Chicken Spire (Creamy mac and cheese with Nashville-style pulled chicken, hot honey, Calabrian peppers, chimichurri, and crispy onions.)

Each version is served in a “crispy cone” which, by itself, tastes fantastic. Good enough to go out of your way to try.

My favorite is the Goldfish Mac and Cheese version because I love Goldfish. Great touch of whimsy and it ties in with the overall theme of fish being food for dragons in the land.

The PB&J cone adds pulled pork to the mac & cheese which gets you a great mix of sweet and savory. A true delight.

Now, while in Berk you definitely don’t sleep on Spit Fyre Grill and their terrific bowls (you can also get the mac & cheese cones here as well.)

There are four bowl options available. Steak, Chicken, Shrimp, and a Vegan bowl. All are easy to eat in a theme park setting where most people are on the go.

You have to walk through Mead Hall to at least check out the fantastic tapestries that we mentioned earlier in this article, but while there maybe you should consider ordering Stormfly’s Catch of the Day. How cute is this?!!

Honorable Mention: Frosty Moon

We are approaching Summer and that means two things in Florida: Heat and Humidity. For many, walking around Epic Universe under our Sun will feel like carrying a ring up to the fire pits of Mordor. Thankfully, Frosty Moon in Celestial Park offers a wide variety of ice cream treats to keep you cool.

So there you have it: The SATURDAY SIX Enjoys the Best Snacks at EPIC UNIVERSE! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out the THEME PARK ENJOYMENT INDEX, giving a monthly recap of all the theme park news you need to know (and a lot more you don’t need to know, but we’re gonna tell you anyway). You can also follow Your Humble Author on BlueSky (@derekburgan).

If you enjoyed this article, you will surely like the following: 

Theme Park Turkeys of the Year Archives

The SATURDAY SIX Celebrates 10 Years of @bioreconstruct

SATURDAY SIX Tribute to Josh easyWDW

SATURDAY SIX Tribute to Ian Barritt

Special Thanks to The Elite Brandon Glover, Digital Maestro Scott Walker, the bio-est of all reconstructs @bioreconstruct, Captain Cruiseline Scott Sanders of the world famous Disney Cruise Line Blog, my personal protege Hunter “Elvey” Underwood, artist @SonderQuest, the mighty maven of merchandise Hedgehog’s Corner, the SAT SIX Fun Squad of Parkscope Joe and “the Dadalorian” Nick, hot shot Michael Carelli, charter member of the Universal Four @Nitro230, the permit princess Alicia Stella, master cartographer Tommy Hawkins, and Hermione Granger’s tutor Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Absolutely no help was added by SeaWorld Influencer @SuperWeenieHtJr. The SAT SIX is inspired each week by goofballs Aengus Mackenzie and LitemAndHide and you Potterheads will enjoy Meg’s other blog work over at the Central Florida Slug Club.

Worst Snack at Epic

A “slow-roasted glazed carrot” served in an ube bun. This looks like something we’d see served in a Halloween Horror Nights food booth.

We call this snack “Mom’s Choice” and is a much healthier option compared to everything else on this list you actually want to eat.