Magic Kingdom is the crown jewel of Walt Disney World and theme park with the best attendance anyplace. Provided that, there isn’t a lot that’s a real “hidden gem” or “secret spot,” therefore the coining of “hid crystal” eating as a substitute. It’s clunky and complicated, however we’re working with what we’ve received. (The runner up was “opaque object;” maybe that ought to’ve received out.)
Actually, it’s arduous to say {that a} eating possibility is even “hid” when it’s situated in the midst of Tomorrowland. A restaurant that’s actually on the finish of the primary thoroughfare main from Important Road and Cinderella Fort that should be handed by as a way to attain Area Mountain or TRON Lightcycle Run.
Nonetheless, these distinctions are extra within the figurative sense than the literal one. Magic Kingdom has an infamously weak counter service restaurant lineup, with a handful of high-volume counter service eating places and a number of neglected ones that handle to in some way conceal in plain sight. At present, we’re a type of–and one which simply received a brand new menu.
For this assessment, we’re speaking concerning the Lunching Pad quick-service window in Tomorrowland, which is situated in Rockettower Plaza below Astro Orbiter and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. This not-so-secret spot in all probability sees extra foot site visitors than simply about some other restaurant in all the park, and but, it isn’t notably in style as in comparison with close by Cosmic Ray’s or Magic Kingdom’s different heavy hitters.
That has been the case for years. Again when Cell Order first launched, Walt Disney World had the intelligent thought of sending push notifications when friends have been close to places that had “underutilized” capability. (Which means they have been unpopular.) With out fail, each time we queued up for the TTA PeopleMover–and even walked previous en path to Area Mountain–I’d get a pop-up encouraging me to order a stuffed pretzel or no matter nonsense was being bought on the time on the Lunching Pad. It was truly fairly amusing the primary dozen or so instances…earlier than it grew to become annoying the subsequent ~100 instances.
Talking of which, the Lunching Pad has provided many menus through the years. The placement simply retired its menu from the World’s Most Magical Celebration, which lasted 18-months and was in all probability one of many longest-lasting menus consequently. Earlier than that, they launched sandwiches that didn’t final lengthy, rooster concoctions, and different issues I’m in all probability forgetting.
Since we’ve been visiting Walt Disney World, the three most constant culinary creations on the Lunching Pad have been connoisseur scorching canine, stuffed pretzels, and breakfast check objects. All three are actually on the menu as soon as once more, albeit very completely different than we’ve ever seen them earlier than. Let’s have a look…
Let’s begin with breakfast, which the Lunching Pad simply launched for the debut of TRON Lightcycle Run. The timing right here was not coincidental; Tomorrowland goes to be an much more in style rope drop vacation spot with the opening of TRON Lightcycle Run.
We’ve already seen extra friends loitering round right here, and that’s prone to proceed so long as Walt Disney World continues its strict coverage with digital queue returns. (See our Digital Queue Technique Information for TRON Lightcycle Run for particulars, suggestions & tips for fulfillment, and extra.)
It’s a savvy transfer, and much like what Walt Disney World did with the debut of Connections Cafe & Eatery and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. That location is equally in a chief location, however has grow to be significantly extra in style than its predecessor and a de facto “ready room” for Cosmic Rewind. However I digress.
On a current morning after Early Entry and cord drop, I doubled again to Tomorrowland and ordered each breakfast objects from the Lunching Pad.
At the moment, the one strategy to order breakfast on the Lunching Pad (and even pay attention to its existence) is to walk-up.
The clapboard signal pictured a pair images above is actually the one indication that breakfast is being served. This stuff are usually not listed on the official DisneyWorld.com menu nor do they seem through Cell Order, however that would change.
The primary merchandise obtainable for breakfast on the Lunching Pad is the Breakfast Bowl: potato barrels topped with a cheese omelet, chili con carne queso, and bitter cream. This breakfast bowl is a heavy, creamy, scrumptious mess of elements.
It’s additionally completely a “what you see is what you get” kind of offers. If this doesn’t sound interesting to you, it received’t be. If it does, it will likely be. (How insightful.) There aren’t any surprises right here, for higher or worse. So as to add some helpful commentary, the tater tots are perfectly-prepared and maintain up properly below the load of the omelet (the standard powdered egg selection served up at Walt Disney World), cheese, beef chili (primarily a lightweight gravy), bitter cream, and different toppings. It’s decadent and scrumptious, the true breakfast of champions.
That is the sort of entree that garners very completely different opinions from Sarah versus me, even when tasting the very same dish. Besides on this case, I ate all of it on my own, as Sarah stated she’d “sit this one out” and let me “get pleasure from all of it.” Her loss. Truly, I’d advocate sharing this. I actually loved this for what it was, but it surely weighed on my abdomen the remainder of the morning. Mad respect to anybody who eats this after which instantly rides TRON Lightcycle Run.
Subsequent up is the Sticky Bubble Bread: candy bread rolled in cinnamon, caramel, and heat spices.
That is just like the candy, candy love youngster of bread pudding and a cinnamon roll, within the type of an upside-down muffin.
Mine was slathered in simply the correct amount of caramel sauce to deliver the bread beneath to life. My solely quibble is that it might’ve been a bit extra gooey inside; it wasn’t dry by any means, however a barely undercooked high quality would’ve made this good.
Nonetheless, I’m guessing perfection goes to be robust to acquire right here and what I received was about pretty much as good because it will get. This was an extremely busy morning in Magic Kingdom (10/10 crowd day) with lots of people on the Lunching Pad for breakfast. Like Magic Kingdom’s iconic cinnamon rolls, these are premade in batches and ready below a warmth lamp. Like these, I’m guessing freshness of the Sticky Bubble Bread is very inconsistent, and dependent upon arrival time and the way busy Magic Kingdom is on the day you go to.
Along with the brand new breakfast menu, connoisseur scorching canine have additionally returned to the Lunching Pad.
Courting again to 2010 or 2011, I’ve tried extra “new” scorching canine than I can depend through the years on the Lunching Pad. For a very long time, there have been three staples: the BLT Sizzling Canine, Coney Island Sizzling Canine, and Philly Cheesesteak Sizzling Canine. Within the final decade, issues have modified extra ceaselessly and been much less constant. Towards all odds, I’ve reviewed precisely 0 of them. Till now.
Let’s begin with the Queso Fundido Sizzling Canine: All-Beef Sizzling Canine topped with Queso Fundido, Road Corn Relish, and Spiced Tortilla Strips.
That is principally good. The Queso Fundido is unquestionably the spotlight of the toppings, and primarily made this like a extra refined twist on a chili cheese scorching canine. I additionally preferred the road corn relish, which presumably made this a wholesome and well-rounded meal. (Proper, Sarah?) The tortilla strips added a little bit of texture, however there have been too many (most fell off, anyway). All in all, a good-but-not-great scorching canine.
Subsequent up, now we have the Cuban Sizzling Canine: All-Beef Sizzling Canine topped with Diced Ham, Pickles, Swiss Fondue, and Dijonnaise.
This is among the finest scorching canine I’ve had at Magic Kingdom. Possibly the finest. It very a lot caught me abruptly, with the recent fondue and dijonnaise melding collectively completely and the ham and pickles actually striking-but-seamless mixture of flavors. It’s not an genuine Cuban (clearly–it’s a scorching canine), but it surely approximates the flavour shockingly properly.
Principally, think about a great Cuban sandwich minus the bread and with additional cheese…and in scorching canine type. That is that. The Cuban Sizzling Canine is totally spectacular, but in addition completely messy. Napkins have been no match for the harm this canine did to my fingers and face; a direct journey to clean up afterwards was so as.
The largest issues with each of those scorching canine are the way in which they’re served. Numerous care and thought is put into the toppings and presentation, however they’re so messy that the plain store-brand buns can’t maintain up. Beforehand, the Lunching Pad scorching canine had specialty buns that have been extra resilient. It could be good to see these introduced again.
The opposite situation is a bag of Lay’s chips as a facet. That is simply lame, and undermines the trouble put into the ingenious scorching canine. It additionally makes these dishes considerably much less filling than different counter service choices in Magic Kingdom.
The Lunching Pad additionally serves Mickey Pretzels.
These are probably the most rubbery pretzel you’ll ever encounter, however Walt Disney World followers love them as a result of they’re formed like a deformed model of Mickey Mouse. I don’t get the attraction, however to every their very own.
Lastly, the Lunching Pad apparently can be serving its Cream Cheese Heat Stuffed Pretzel once more. This was not on the bodily menu after I ate right here nor was it obtainable through Cell Order, however (supposedly) is as of publication.
Regardless of, as I’ve a photograph of this from a earlier meal. Not like the overrated Mickey pretzel, that is unbelievable. It’s heat, gooey, and the proper symphony of candy and salty. It’s proper up there with my all-time favourite, the Heat Caramel Stuffed Pretzel. Sadly, it isn’t formed like a rodent. However it truly tastes unbelievable.
Finally, the Lunching Pad has a stable menu proper now, particularly with regards to breakfast. Good breakfasts are uncommon at Walt Disney World, particularly at counter service eating places. When recent, the Sticky Bubble Bread isn’t only a nice breakfast–it’s one of many elite snacks at Magic Kingdom, and higher than the long-lasting cinnamon roll.
The new canine are a blended bag. I actually preferred the toppings on the Queso Fundido Canine, and beloved these on the Cuban Canine. Nonetheless, between the buns and the edges, I’d relatively simply go to Casey’s Nook. That’s unlucky as a result of the toppings on each of those scorching canine are higher than something obtainable at Casey’s proper now. They only aren’t pretty much as good as full meals.
What I’d actually like to see is the Lunching Pad get “the Award Wieners remedy.” That DCA location was as soon as just like the Lunching Pad, however they switched to toasted buns and filmstrip fries a number of years in the past and have by no means regarded again. Award Wieners is now quietly among the finest counter service spots in all of Disneyland. The Lunching Pad might grow to be an identical success story with a bit extra effort and a focus to element.
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Your Ideas
Have you ever finished breakfast or lunch/dinner on the Lunching Pad since these new menus debuted for the launch of TRON Lightcycle Run? Have a favourite dish served right here? Ideas on the meals, the way it compares to different counter service at Magic Kingdom, or the rest addressed on this assessment? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!