What's the best thing to eat at a theme park, round 1: Brown Derby's Grapefruit Cake vs. Norway's School Bread?

July 21, 2008, 8:26 AM · What's the single best thing to eat at a theme park? Everyone has a personal favorite, but let's find out what Theme Park Insider readers, together, think is the best bite at a theme park.

So we, today, are starting another reader tournament. Based upon your nominations, I've seeded 16 snacks, desserts and entrees in a single-elimination tournament, starting with a couple of desserts from Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Pick your favorite below:

Brown Derby's Grapefruit Cake vs. Norway's School Bread?

poll by twiigs.com

Here is the rest of the tournament schedule...

Tuesday:
10. Cheddar Cheese Soup, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Epcot def.
7. Buffalo BBQ Fried Chicken Wrap, Mythos, Universal's Islands of Adventure

Wednesday:
6. Corn Dog, Main Street U.S.A., Disneyland def.
11. Gyoza Dogs, Tokyo DisneySea

Thursday:
12. Hot Dog, Casey's Corner, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom def.
5. Banana Chocolate Gooey Cake, Mythos, Universal's Islands of Adventure

Friday:
13. Free Beer, Busch theme parks def.
4. Barbecue Ribs, Trapper's Smokehouse, Busch Gardens Europe

Saturday:
3. Monte Cristo Sandwich, Blue Bayou, Disneyland def.
14. Boysenberry-topped Funnel Cake, Knott's Berry Farm

Sunday:
2. Turkey Leg, Frontierland, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom def.
15. Mrs. Knott's Fried Chicken Dinner, Knott's Berry Farm

Monday, July 28
1. Dole Whip, Adventureland, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Disneyland def.
16. Pot Roast, 50's Prime Time Cafe, Disney's Hollywood Studios

Here is the quarterfinal schedule:

Tuesday, July 29:
12. Hot Dog, Casey's Corner, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom def.
13. Free Beer, Busch theme parks

Wednesday, July 30:
3. Monte Cristo Sandwich, Blue Bayou, Disneyland def.
6. Corn Dog, Main Street U.S.A., Disneyland

Thursday, July 31:
2. Turkey Leg, Frontierland, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom def.
10. Cheddar Cheese Soup, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Epcot

Friday, August 1:
1. Dole Whip, Adventureland, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Disneyland def.
9. School Bread, Norway Pavilion, Epcot

The semi-finals:

Monday, August 4:
2. Turkey Leg, Frontierland, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom def.
3. Monte Cristo Sandwich, Blue Bayou, Disneyland

Tuesday, August 5:
1. Dole Whip, Adventureland, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Disneyland def.
12. Hot Dog, Casey's Corner, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

The finals:

Wednesday, August 6:
1. Dole Whip, Adventureland, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Disneyland def.
2. Turkey Leg, Frontierland, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

The Champion: Dole Whip, Adventureland, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Disneyland

Replies (15)

Jay Posteraro

July 21, 2008 at 9:37 AM · Go Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner!!!!!!!

M. Ryan Traylor

July 21, 2008 at 11:44 AM · and if by schedule you mean menu. too bad you can't get all those items at one park.

Robert Niles

July 21, 2008 at 11:58 AM · Is it possible to gain weight while reading a website? Mmmmm....

Anthony J

July 21, 2008 at 12:05 PM · I've actually done some damage on that list. :) But I won't be trying Gyoza Dogs until December!

John Zucchero

July 21, 2008 at 12:11 PM · Go Dole Whip!

Those 2 words together just makes me hungry for one (not sure if hungry is the correct term for Ice Cream, but you know what I mean).

mark lacey

July 21, 2008 at 12:14 PM · For me whenever I visit WDW from the UK the thing I look forward to most is the Dole Whip and fresh pineapple juice form adventureland, heaven on a really hot day!

My wife always looks forward to a Casey's hot dog.

Dan Rosenberg

July 21, 2008 at 1:24 PM · I've got to go with the pot roast when we vote next monday. It was just awesome.

Brian Creedon

July 21, 2008 at 2:28 PM · This may be too broad of a spectrum for this tournament, snacks vs entrees? Should not be on the same field? Would have been more interesting to break it up into 4 separate tournaments featuring each of the categories, snacks, desserts, entrees and maybe the 4th could be beverages? Then had the winner of each of these categories go head to head in a battle of the champions. Just a thought.

Robert Niles

July 21, 2008 at 2:43 PM · Maybe next year....

Anthony Murphy

July 21, 2008 at 3:43 PM · I am going with the Grapefruit Cake. It has always been a great dessert and not too sweet and not too bitter. It also has some great history behind it since the first Brown Derby is gone!

It looks to be a fun vote! However, I think some matches are a little heavy, especially between favorites Canada vs Mythos. The soup and sandwich! I feel that one is a bit much.

Must I also say that free beer might win? The only reason why I think this is because its, well.....free

I too enjoy a good dole whip!

Mark Hollamon

July 21, 2008 at 4:36 PM · I love the grapefruit cake at the BD, BUT it has gone through some recipe changes and the original (I guess the first time I tried it was 2000) was more moist and the frosting was a tad different. If you ask a server they will reluctantly confirm this.

Rob P

July 22, 2008 at 12:36 AM · I know it's impossible to include every purveyor of food in this but how did the Flame Tree BBQ and Pecos Bill's not get a mention ???.

Mrs Knott's Chicken is look - ing - goood.
( ref: "The Warriors" )

Danny Melillo

July 22, 2008 at 5:10 AM · Banana Chocolate Gooey Cake FTW