Calling all Disneyland and Disney World lovers!

The Walt Disney company has spread its magic all over the world, and author Ashley Craft has created a cookbook capturing that Disney magic for us.

Published in 2020, The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook includes recipes from Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and California Adventure.

Personally, I’m partial to Disneyland and California Adventure, so I am super excited about recipes like Bengal Beef Skewers, Clam Chowder, and Corn Dogs.

The recipes for Churros, Dole Whip, and Matterhorn Macaroons bring fond memories to long time Disney Park fans. 

For most of my life, I lived in the wonderful city of Orange, California, about 6.5 miles from Disneyland. Most of my friends and family members held Disneyland Annual Passes allowing us to visit both Disneyland and Downtown Disney any time we pleased. 

Thanks to Disneyland passes, I’ve been to Disneyland hundreds of times, and this cookbook brings the whimsical rush of Disney memories. Waltzing down Main Street with my mom, shopping our favorite stores and ogling all of the candy shop treats. Digging into Clam Chowder bowls and Mint Juleps in New Orleans Square while listening to the live Jazz band play. Buying Hot Chocolate with quarters and watching the Fireworks with my fellow poor high school friends. The list of memories goes on and on.

When we observe the best parts of Disney parks, the epic food served within the parks probably comes to mind. As an Annual Passholder, we had the luxury of “popping in” to Disneyland for an hour or two just to satisfy a food craving. More than once, my mom or best friend Jen and I went into the Disney parks in California ONLY for a corn dog, cinnamon roll, or fried chicken from the place with pink umbrellas. Sure, we rode Pirates and Haunted Mansion every trip too, but it was mostly about food, food, and more food.

Disney does food well. Period, the end. And they put great effort into their food. Some may only be able to visit a Disney park once or twice in their life, so the food Disney serves has to be memorable.

My husband, two kids, and I live in Southern Illinois now. I’ve noticed many people out here in the Midwest visit the Disney Parks in Florida. More than half of the recipes in this cookbook include foods from the Disney World Parks! While I have yet to visit these parks, the recipes in this cookbook have encouraged me to do so. Yes, please!

With the current pandemic, Disney Parks may be a lot more difficult to visit. Travel is restricted, masks are required, and the Disney Parks in California are still  closed. What. A. Bummer.

Thanks to Ashley Craft and this cookbook, the magic of Disney dining can follow you home!

Use this cookbook to remake recipes and remake memories. Choose recipes your family delights in or remembers and cook those recipes together. While cooking, talk about the Disney memories you have made or plan to make. Plan an entire “Disney Day” at home, full of recipes, crafts, and movie watching. 

If you have photos of you and your family at a Disney Park, pull those photos out and show them off while cooking recipes from this book.

Disney+ offers a few Disney Park documentaries that can be viewed while cooking from this cookbook for some extra magic and fun.

No matter how often you are able to visit the great Disney Parks, this cookbook will keep the extraordinary Disney magic alive in your heart and home!