Contemporary off the Restaurant Thriller in Magic Kingdom, there’s now a bona fide Walt Disney World eating debacle only one land over in the identical park. This time, it’s a scandal at Sleepy Hole Refreshments. (They thought they may cowl it up and distract us by killing Genie, however they thought incorrect!) How one park is residence to so many culinary catastrophes is past me, however I’ll placed on my Nice Mouse Detective hat and develop into the Basil of Bricker Road and attempt to resolve this.
The actually unhappy and suspicious factor is that this isn’t even the primary Sleepy Hole scandal! Each Halloween season, we’re left questioning whether or not they’ll have the “good” pumpkin spice waffles or some nonsense with vanilla ice cream. Together with that, we’ve needed to deal with odd hours in addition to the removing of their breakfast waffle and handmade ice cream sandwiches over time.
Consequently, there’s been a number of conjecture and hypothesis that the proprietor of Sleepy Hole Refreshments (Ichabod Crane, I assume?) is definitely using the notorious Disney Vault technique. And the newest modifications solely add gasoline to the fireplace, as Walt Disney World has eliminated the fan-favorite Contemporary Fruit Waffle Sandwich, in addition to the Candy-and-Spicy Hen Waffle Sandwich. Right here’s an in depth have a look at what’s modified on the Sleepy Hole Refreshments menu adopted by our commentary and what Walt Disney would take into consideration all this.
Magic Kingdom’s Sleepy Hole has fully overhauled its menu, switching to a simplified all-day menu. Right here’s a have a look at what’s new as of late June 2024…
Sleepy Hole Fast Bites
Turning to commentary, I’m of two minds about this modification. I’m a staunch believer in Walt Disney’s ‘philosophy’ that his parks would by no means be accomplished and shouldn’t develop into museums. To these factors, he famously stated: “The best way I see it, Disneyland won’t ever be completed. It’s one thing we are able to hold growing and including to. I’ve all the time needed to work on one thing alive, one thing that retains rising. We’ve bought that in Disneyland.”
Nevertheless, take into account that Walt Disney additionally stated this: “We hold shifting ahead—opening up new doorways and doing new issues—as a result of we’re curious. And curiosity retains main us down new paths. We’re all the time exploring and experimenting.” Chances are you’ll suppose these two quotes, now widely-cited to justify all modifications by the corporate, are in settlement–no “nonetheless” is critical.
Nevertheless (once more), “hold shifting ahead” implies progress or evolution. Modifications may be lateral strikes or steps backwards–they aren’t inherently progress. “Preserve shifting ahead” could be a great quote to accompany, for instance, the opening of Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea. That new port-of-call is modern, experimental, and represents heading ahead down an bold new path.
However you couldn’t use that “hold shifting ahead” quote to justify, for instance, the addition of CommuniCore Corridor at EPCOT. That’s as a result of no innovation occurred there. There was no ahead motion until you rely the passage of time, and everybody is aware of that’s really a flat circle. CommuniCore was change for its personal sake, and at greatest a lateral transfer. So in that case, you must pull out the ole tried and tried line about “Disneyland won’t ever be accomplished.” (You simply have to go away off the “so long as there may be creativeness left on this planet” half, as not one of the world’s creativeness provide was used on CommuniCore Corridor.) However I digress.
Whereas we are able to debate rather a lot, one factor is for sure–Walt Disney was referring to waffles when uttering all of those well-known phrases about change. The person was critical about waffles, and his waffle-related legacy is pristine. Walt Disney could be rolling in his grave if he knew in regards to the newest menu modifications at Sleepy Hole Refreshments.
He would by no means forgive the best way Bob Iger–who was not-so-coincidentally noticed in Magic Kingdom over the weekend–is solely accountable for decimating the menu of Walt’s favourite restaurant. (Everybody is aware of Walt cherished chili…and waffles.) Was Bob Iger noticed swapping out the menus at Sleepy Hole to introduce this downgrade? No, however he wasn’t not noticed doing it, both. Actually makes you suppose.
Suffice to say, Walt Disney could be actually upset about these menu modifications. “Waffle homes are meant to be museums,” he’d most likely say. These is perhaps my opinions, but it surely’s purely coincidence that my opinions align precisely with those who Walt would maintain had been he alive right this moment. No, it’s not a matter of me “projecting” my very own beliefs and biases, handy as which may be. Walt would hate precisely the identical modifications that I hate. I can’t assist it if we each have actually good opinions and similar beliefs!
Some may counter that some change may be good. That new issues is what retains folks coming again, as there are all the time recent causes to revisit Walt Disney World. This can be a fully truthful level. It’s additionally true that this weblog has lengthy advocated for Walt Disney World to undertake the method of Disneyland or Tokyo Disneyland relating to seasonal menus, as these parks combine up issues far more–giving locals and different frequently-visiting demographics new causes to make return visits.
Even EPCOT now excels at this, with extra competition time and a wide range of intriguing menu gadgets. Walt Disney World has actually fine-tuned its method to competition menus, and I’d say that at any given occasion, it’s about 75% returning hits and 25% new gadgets (give or take). That’s a great combine that threads the needle on nostalgia and freshness. There’s additionally now the Pageant Favorites window, which is arguably the most effective factor about CommuniCore Corridor (it’s a low bar).
The issue, although, is that Magic Kingdom shouldn’t be Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and even EPCOT. Magic Kingdom is what scientists confer with as a meals desert. Regardless of it being the preferred theme park not simply at Walt Disney World, however in the complete world, it’s culinary scene is mediocre–it ranks 4 out of 4 for meals.
Magic Kingdom has some diamonds within the tough, to make certain, however they’re few and much between. That’s what makes this menu transfer so scandalous. If you happen to simply added a bunch of waffles at one of many many snack stands across the park–or really opened one of many half-dozen shuttered eating venues–Walt Disney World diehards would rejoice. It could possibly be this very same new menu and the response could be completely totally different–a whole 180. (Maybe they may additionally add a statue of Walt consuming waffles.)
As an alternative, Walt Disney World took one of many few spots that was already good and opted to exchange two fan-favorite waffle sandwiches with untested alternate options that simply look subar. That’s the concern, and why there’s concern. Heck, they may’ve changed Pecos Invoice with an outpost known as Nice American Waffle Co., serving nothing however waffles, and followers would’ve been happier. Certain, we might’ve stated it’s kinda bizarre to exchange a large-scale, crowd-displeasing counter service restaurant with a waffle spot, however it might’ve been considered as a optimistic change on steadiness, and that’s earlier than anybody even tasted the waffles.
That basically cuts to the core of batter. Change is nice…if it’s really good. Followers need recent issues so their favourite locations really feel anew each time they go to…whereas additionally wanting nostalgic and comforting delicacies to make them really feel like they’re coming again residence once more. It’s solely paradoxical for those who’re purposefully obstinate, however in any other case, it needs to be self-evident why this isn’t so contradictory. Walt Disney World is a fragile steadiness of originality and sentimentality. Sleepy Hole had no want for a menu change–one of many only a few spots in Magic Kingdom for which that may be stated.
That’s what’s so wild about this. The Contemporary Fruit Waffle Sandwich served with Strawberries, Banana, Blueberries, and Chocolate-Hazelnut Unfold (Nutella) that was faraway from the menu at Sleepy Hole was beloved. It was not a cult traditional or one thing that solely followers knew about, it loved mainstream recognition amongst common friends.
This waffle sandwich made our checklist of the Finest Magic Kingdom Snacks & Desserts in 2024. It wasn’t simply among the finest snacks/candy treats in Magic Kingdom, it was among the finest in Walt Disney World, interval. Which is admittedly saying one thing, as Magic Kingdom shouldn’t be recognized for good meals! Most issues are offered with the caveat: good by Magic Kingdom requirements, which is faint reward.
And though I do know it’s not as a lot of successful, I’d actually say that the additionally now-defunct Candy-and-Spicy Hen-Waffle Sandwich with Broccoli Slaw with a Honey-Sriracha Glaze served with Home-made Chips was each bit pretty much as good. And whereas we’re on the topic, what’s up with Disney eradicating the Hushpuppies at Columbia Harbour Home?! I assume not less than within the case of Sleepy Hole, not less than they didn’t change the waffles with some IMPOSSIBLE™️ nonsense.
In the end, a lot of the commentary to this submit is fairly silly, however I suppose that’s the character of the beast if you cherry decide quotes from a real innovator who died a long time in the past to justify present-day selections which might be completely divorced from him. If something, that is one way or the other barely much less dumb when discussing waffles than it’s when, say, making an attempt to justify injecting character IP into EPCOT or Marvel into DCA. In contrast to all of these different issues that didn’t even exist throughout his lifetime, it’s protected to imagine Walt really knew what waffles had been.
To the precise substance of the Sleepy Hole scandal and menu modifications, I’m admittedly inquisitive about these. Truthfully! I’d cease in need of saying “cautiously optimistic,” since I actually cherished the outdated waffle sandwiches and even the inventory pictures of those appear like a step backwards (particularly the Contemporary Fruit one, which has “look how they massacred my boy” vibes). However I nonetheless suppose these could possibly be good…or not less than okay-ish. My massive concern, as talked about within the rambling above, as that this modification doesn’t make sense when viewing the Magic Kingdom culinary scene from a holistic or excessive degree. If you happen to requested me which spots wanted menu overhauls, Sleepy Hole would’ve been (actually) on the very backside of the checklist.
Sleepy Hole is a fan-favorite spot for good purpose. There’s fact to the entire above quotes about change, however there’s additionally one thing to be stated for “don’t repair what isn’t damaged.” With virtually the entire different eating places at Magic Kingdom really being damaged, it’s a very bizarre transfer to mess with Sleepy Hole. It’d be the equal to tinkering with Haunted Mansion regardless of so many different Magic Kingdom points of interest being in various states of disrepair. It simply doesn’t make sense. So yeah, perhaps these new waffles can be scrumptious–I’ll go in with an open thoughts–however the outdated ones had been incredible, and I can consider a few dozen totally different menus in additional want of a makeover than this.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the Sleepy Hole scandal? Disenchanted by the menu change, cautiously optimistic, or do you not care? Which Magic Kingdom menus would you really wish to see overhauled? What do you suppose Walt would consider this travesty? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
