Review | ‘A Touch of Disney’ versus ‘Taste of Universal’
Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood are holding food festivals to prepare for their official opening dates later this month. Photos by KAILA SPENCER, Staff Writer
In preparation for their upcoming official opening dates April 30 and April 16, respectively, both Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood held food festivals to welcome guests back for the first time since their closure a year ago due to the pandemic.
I, a massive Disney fan, attended both of them, expecting my first time fully stepping into a Disney park again to be an unforgettable experience.
However, I was left disappointed — and surprisingly impressed by the less popular Universal Studios.
Disneyland charged guests — limited to California residents — a whopping $75 to attend “A Touch of Disney,” held at Disneyland’s California Adventure Park. The charge encompassed parking, entry, photos and a $25 dining gift card. It has now sold out, as of April 11.
Meanwhile, Universal’s “Taste of Universal” — which has also sold out — ranged from $44 to $54, depending on what day of the week you went. That cost included five food items of your choice, which ended up amounting to the entire cost of admission. While Disneyland’s fee was justified due to its high demand and notoriously good food selection, I was hesitant to snag a ticket after comparing it with the great deal Universal was offering.
At the end of the day, I loved my food selections at “A Touch of Disney.” With my dining card, I purchased their classic 1/2 Monte Cristo Sandwich, Pepperoni Pizza Egg Rolls (which are famous over at Walt Disney World) and a Very Very Berry Mickey Waffle. I even spent extra to enjoy the Chili Cone Queso from Cars Land.
Everything tasted like a five-star chef had just cooked my food in a hot kitchen. It exceeded my already high expectations of Disney food and appealed to my sense of nostalgia, since most of the picks were items I used to eat when the park was open. My only critique was the portions were tiny. This frustrated me, since I was only able to afford three items with the provided $25 dining card.
While Universal is not usually known for their food options, I was impressed by the amount of bang for my buck. The five food items I selected were fish and chips, Butterbeer ice cream, a turkey leg, roasted corn and a Giant Donut. Their food quality was average, but I was stuffed by the first meal. Rather than the small festival portions that Disneyland offered, Universal gave guests regular-sized portions. I even took the Giant Donut home for breakfast the next day.
The deciding factor between which of the two festivals reigned superior was rooted in the experience. California Adventure was overcrowded, and I had to order almost all of my food via mobile, with pick-up sometimes having a one or two-hour wait. Once I got my food, it was hard to find a table. While the event was marketed as “limited capacity” — adhering to state-mandated guidelines — it seemed just as busy as any other pre-pandemic day, which the park was likely able to get away with due to the unused attraction and queuing spaces that factored into their overall capacity.
I had a better experience at Universal, which was sold out just like Disney’s event, but with a smaller capacity. The lines for food exceeded no more than 10 minutes and there was always somewhere to sit. Since rides weren’t in operation and the object of the event was to relax and eat, wait times and seat availability mattered most, which Universal made more tolerable. I enjoyed taking nice photos due to the less crowded spaces and simply walking around and enjoying the atmosphere.
At “A Touch of Disney,” I felt as stressed as I would during a regular park day — and I didn’t even go on any rides. I’m interested in how the official reopening of each park will go, because as of right now, I’m more excited to revisit Universal Studios Hollywood than I am to endure the chaos of Disneyland.
