Disney Parks fans are serious about their snack foods. And in the hierarchy of snacks, three reign supreme in the parks’ universe: DOLE Whips, turkey legs, and the almighty churro. Warm and crunchy, the churro is an ideal on-the-go sweet treat. It’s still a bit messy, though much easier to eat while walking than a hunk of turkey meat.

These snacks are so beloved that they’ve made their way around the world and come back in a wide range of flavors.

Origin of the Churro

Before its arrival at Disneyland Resort, the history of the churro itself is a bit complicated, as so many foods share similarities with others around the world. That said, it is believed the churro as we know it today originated in Spain and Portugal and was popularized in the 16th century. But it could even be ancient.

“In some ways,” Michael Krondl, the author of “The Donut: History, Recipes, and Lore from Boston to Berlin,” told the BBC, “today’s churro is not that different from a recipe for a flour and water fritter that you find in Apicius, a Roman cookbook dating from the 1st Century AD. And there are recipes from the Ancient Greeks but it’s probably even older than that. In the Mediterranean basin, it’s basically been around forever.”

Churro Disney History

Although it can be hard to imagine a day at Disney without at least smelling a churro, that was the case for the first 30 years at Disneyland. Churros didn’t make their way into the parks until the first stand went up in Disneyland in 1985. The booth was brought to the park by Jim Lowman of the food and beverage department, per the Disney Examiner (via LAist). That very first location was placed at Videopolis, the outdoor amphitheater that opened in 1985 and eventually became Fantasyland Theater in 1995.

Lowman told the Examiner in 2015 that he worked with J&J Snack Foods, the churro sellers, to make the snacks 12 inches long to accommodate Disneyland guests. Once they were introduced to the park, two more churro carts were quickly added, and the expansion throughout the park only went on from there. After that, churros arrived at other Disney parks too, starting with Walt Disney World Resort, where they landed in 1987.

Disneyland v.s. Disney World Churros

Churro quality at Disneyland and Disney World is hotly debated among park fans. While the churros themselves are probably the same, it is how they are prepared that primarily dictates their difference. You see, at Disneyland, the churros are made at the carts and stands. Whereas at Disney World, they are made elsewhere and transported to the selling points. This can mean that the churros at Disneyland are crunchier as they are freshly made more frequently.

Locations

Because churros are so popular, you can find them all over the Disney Parks—particularly at Disneyland and Disney World. Here are all the locations at parks around the world where you can find these sweet treats in their classic form and, in some cases, a unique twist like a churro sundae. Don’t forget you can get churro Mickey waffles at The Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World.

There are also unnamed snack carts that may have churros at international parks, so this list is not complete.

Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Park

• Churros & Lemonade in Bayou Country
• Churros at small world Promenade
• Churros near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Churros near Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Churros near Casey Jr. Circus Train
• Churros near Haunted Mansion
• Churros near Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
• Churros near Sleeping Beauty Castle
• Churros near Town Square

Disney California Adventure

• Churros at Hollywood Land
• Churros at Cozy Cone Motel
• Churros near Goofy’s Sky School
• Señor Buzz Churros on Pixar Pier
• Willie’s Churros at Buena Vista Street

Downtown Disney (Disneyland Resort)

• California Churro (two locations)

Walt Disney World Resort

Animal Kingdom

• Eight Spoon Cafe – Discovery Island
• Harambe Fruit Market – Africa
• Isle of Java – Discovery Island
• Nomad Lounge – Discovery Island
• Tiffins Restaurant – Discovery Island

EPCOT

• La Cantina de San Angel – Mexico Pavilion
• La Hacienda de San Angel – Mexico Pavilion
• World Discovery Snack Cart – Near Mission: SPACE

Hollywood Studios

• Anaheim Produce – Sunset Boulevard
• Ice Cold Hydraulics – Sunset Boulevard
• KRNR The Rock Station – Sunset Boulevard
• Market – Pixar Plaza

Magic Kingdom

• AstroFizz – Tomorrowland
• Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies – Tomorrowland
• Frontierland Churro Cart – Near Country Bear Musical Jamboree
• Main Street Refreshment Cart – Near Cinderella Castle
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe – Frontierland

Disney Springs

• Paradiso 37, Taste of the Americas – The Landing
• Pepe by José Andrés – West Side
• Sunshine Churros – Marketplace
• Sunshine Churros – West Side

Disney World Resorts

• Backstretch Pool Bar – Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Dahlia Lounge – Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Maya Grill – Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Rosa Mexicano – Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Three Bridges Bar & Grill To Go – Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Disney World Water Parks

• Arctic Expeditions – Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
• I.C. Expeditions – Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris

• Casa de Coco
• Overland Trail Café

Hong Kong Disneyland

• Forest Fare – World of Frozen
• Jessie’s Snack Roundup – Toy Story Land

Shanghai Disneyland

• Churro cart – in Fantasyland
• Churro cart – near the Gardens of Imagination
• Stargazer Grill – Tomorrowland

Tokyo Disney Resort

Tokyo Disneyland

• LeFou’s – Fantasyland
• Parkside Wagon – Adventureland
• Racket’s Racoon Saloon – Critter Country
• Tomorrowland Terrace – Tomorrowland

Tokyo DisneySea

• Bayside Takeout – Port Discovery
• Dockside Diner – American Waterfront
• High Tide Treats – American Waterfront
• Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina – Lost River Delta
• Refreshment Station – Mysterious Island
• Tropic Al’s – Lost River Delta

Churro Varieties

You can always find traditional cinnamon sugar churros around the Disney parks; however, there is a wide variety to enjoy as well. Some of them are limited-time versions for holidays or seasonal events, such as the Halloween Town Mayor Churro for Halloween 2025 or the Apple Pie Churro in November 2025, both at Disney California Adventure.

While many of the specialty churros are only available at certain times, both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea have Mickey-shaped churros.

Churro Merchandise

Disney Parks churros are such a snacking staple that they have even been memorialized in merchandise. The Disney Eats churro collection, for instance, featured a Loungefly backpack, and the Stitch Attacks Snacks collection showed both Stitch and Angel chowing down on churros. Just like the beloved Mickey pretzel or DOLE Whip, churros will likely continue to get the merch treatment in the future.

Churro Bites Recipe

This recipe for Disney’s churro bites was shared in 2020 by Disney Parks Blog.

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 8 tablespoons butter
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 ½ cups vegetable or canola oil
• ½ cup sugar

Directions

• Combine water, butter, salt, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon in 1 ½-quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring the pot to a rolling boil.
• Reduce the heat to low.
• Add flour and stir vigorously until the mix forms a ball.
  Remove from heat and let rest for 5-7 min.
• Add eggs, one at a time, and stir until combined.
  Set aside.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet or a 1-quart saucepan
  over medium-high heat or until the temperature
  reaches 350˚.
• Spoon dough into a piping bag fitted with a large
  star tip. Pipe 1-inch strip of dough over a saucepan,
  cut with a knife, and drop into hot oil. Repeat until
  churro bites fill the saucepan with room to fry.
• Fry churro bites until golden brown. Remove with
  slotted spoon or mesh spider strainer.
• Drain churro bites on a paper towel.
• Mix sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in a medium
  bowl. Toss in churro bites until coated. Place ona
  serving plate and serve with your favorite dipping
  sauce.

Disney Churro Frequently Asked Questions

How much are churros at Disney World?

It depends on where you go. The classic churros tend to range between $6-$8 with tax (and sauce). However, specialty churros will be more expensive.

Can you get churros at EPCOT?

Yes! You can get classic churros at the World Discovery Snack Cart near Mission: SPACE and specialty versions like a churro sundae in the Mexico Pavilion at La Cantina de San Angel and La Hacienda de San Angel.

Are Costco churros the same as Disneyland churros?

They aren’t exactly the same. But you will find they are very similar. That’s because both the Disneyland and Costco churros are supplied by Tio Pepe’s distribution.

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