Today on the menu we’re looking at one of the most happiest places on earth, and one specific food they have in wide variety: It's the popcorn at Tokyo Disney Resort! Now, this isn't your ordinary movie popcorn, read on to find out why Tokyo Disney Resort has the best (and craziest) popcorn around!
When visiting Disneyland parks across the world, it's all about the attractions, fireworks, parades, characters, and also, the food! These magical places are everyone’s "day off" from diets, and your chance to try some amazing and unique food, that we’ll all pretend is healthy. Well today we are showing you the food that the two Japanese Disney Parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, are filled with, in many varieties and that Japanese visitors are crazy in love with, popcorn.
They take their popcorn seriously here, and, as you will soon see, regular, cinema style popcorn is not in sight.
They have 10 flavours currently being served throughout the two parks, and the flavours are changed regularly. On a busy day in the parks, the popcorn carts have long lines, with wait times over 20-30 minutes. Yes, they take their popcorn very seriously.
At present, you can try some of these delectable flavours, ranging from normal to WTP?! (what the popcorn?!)
Sea Salt Popcorn
WTP rating: 0 - Pretty ordinary here; nothing too exciting to queue for.
Caramel Popcorn
WTP rating: 2 - Okay, we're getting some flavour in there. Nothing too new or groundbreaking, but still a classic.
Honey Popcorn
WTP rating: 2 - So this is probably less exciting than caramel, but it gets the equal point as it is only found (appropriately) next to the Winnie the Pooh attraction.
Black Pepper Popcorn
WTP rating: 4 - Well we had never seen pepper popcorn before Tokyo DisneySea. It has a bite and flavour that was surprising.
Strawberry Popcorn
WTP rating: 6 - So now we're into the good stuff, this was a first too, and the smell you get a scent of about 100 metres out from the cart is intoxicating. It smells like strawberry pudding, and tastes amazing - you can really feel the sugar on this one!
Apple Cinnamon Popcorn
WTP rating: 6 - Yes, it's not something you would think would be a popcorn flavour, yet those wizards at Disney made it be. It's like Apple Pie in popcorn form, whats not to LOVE!
Soy Sauce and Butter Popcorn
WTP rating: 7 - So now we're getting into the odder ones. Soy sauce and butter popcorn? It's an odd combination, and a savoury blend, however it's delicious and addictive. Expect to wait for this one.
Curry Popcorn
WTP rating: 8 - Okay we're in the big leagues now, this one is controversial, while it's my personal favourite, others in the Japlanning team absolutely cannot stand it! Curry popcorn is bold, and full of flavour, however if you don't like curry, steer clear.
Milk Tea Popcorn
WTP rating: 9 - So this gets the high rating more because it's just so bizarre of a flavour for popcorn! It's a drink, in solid form? However it's sweet and milky and oddly pleasant.
Corn Pottage Popcorn
WTP rating: 10 - Okay this is the weirdest. Not because of the flavour per se, however the idea of taking corn soup flavour and putting it on popCORN!?!?! Only found in Toontown, its odd, and another controversial one. Some of the team liked it, some LOVED it, and the rest were quite meh about it.
So these are the current flavours out in force, at time of writing. However there have been some other classics in the past, that no longer are with us. Some of these are-
- Soda flavour (My personal all-time favourite, and sadly only out for a limited time, so I only got to experience it once)
- Chocolate flavour (One that comes and goes a lot)
- Cappuccino flavour (Sadly without the caffeine benefits of a real cappuccino)
- Cranberry flavour (This shows up around the holidays)
- Coconut flavour
Now also they have amazing popcorn buckets that are highly themed, featuring characters or seasonal events, and when a new attraction opens, guaranteed there’ll be popcorn bucket celebrating it for you to buy. We weren't kidding when we said popcorn was serious business in Tokyo. The great deal here is that once you buy one, you get unlimited refills at a discounted price, forever. That's right, you can bring it back next week or next decade, you still get discounted refills!
Now that we have you all hungering for tasty flavoured popcorn, we better give you a simple recipe to make your own at home! It may not be as amazing as whats on offer at Tokyo Disney Resort, however it should hold you over until your next trip.
What you'll need
- 10 cups of popped popcorn
- 1 cup of butter
- 3/4 cup of sugar
- 1 packet of your favourite Jelly/Jello mix
- 1 tablespoon of corn / gelatin syrup
- 3 tablespoons of water
What to do
- Preheat oven to 50 deg C.
- Grease a large sheet pan. Generously butter a large saucepan.
- Distribute popcorn evenly in prepared baking pans. Place in oven to keep warm.
- In prepared saucepan, over medium heat combine butter, sugar, gelatin, corn syrup and water.
- Heat to 120 to 130 deg C, or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a rigid ball.
- Pour mixture evenly over popcorn and stir until coated. Return popcorn to oven and bake 5 minutes; stir, then bake 5 minutes more.
- Turn popcorn out onto a large piece of foil. Let rest until cool enough to handle, then form into balls. Or let cool completely and break into clusters. Store in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place.
Try not to eat it all at once!
Tokyo Disney Resort has so much to offer, however a rite of passage is getting a popcorn bucket and playing popcorn bingo! The park maps tell you all the flavours currently offered, and you need to go find and try them all! They are delicious and a great sharing snack for everyone. And let's be honest who doesn't love a bit of popcorn?
So have you ever tried some of the crazy flavours of Popcorn at Tokyo Disney Resort?
What was your favourite?
Tell us in the comments below!