What is a Dole Whip at Disney World and where to find one (2023)

 

A Dole Whip is a pineapple-flavored soft-serve frozen dessert (technically not ice cream). Here are some fun facts: It was created by the Dole Food Company in 1986, ten years after the Dole Food Company became the sponsor of The Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland. (Before then, the Dole Disney snacks were pineapple spears and pineapple juice.)

Since then, a lot of new flavors and variations have been created, as you'll soon see.

 

Video -- The History of the Disney Dole Whip

 

What is a Dole Whip made of?

Mmmm ... do you really want to know?

Okay, then. Disney Fandom lists these as the ingredients:

Sugar
Dextrose
Coconut Oil
Stabilizers (Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Locust Bean Gum, Karaya Gum, Pectin)
Maltodextrin
Citric Acid
Natural & Artificial Flavor (contains Pineapple Juice)
Modified Food Starch
Malic Acid
Artificial Color (Yellow 5 & 6)
Mono & Diglycerides
Less Than 2% Silicon Dioxide (Anticaking)

Interestingly, you might have noticed that the word "pineapple" is not on the list.

Oh well. This is not the time to be picky. You can eat all the pineapples you want after you get home from Disney World.

Hey, the next time you're at social gathering and there's a lull in the conservation, you can throw that question out there. ☺️

First, some clarification as to what we're talking about.

The Dole Whip is just the soft-serve in a cup.
The Dole Whip Float is the same thing, but sitting in pineapple juice.

 

Technically, it is called a "Pineapple Float," most people refer to it as a "Dole Whip Float," so I will too.

Both the Dole Whip and the Dole Whip Float count as a snack credit. Since the float costs a dollar more than the cup, you'll getting a slightly better deal, if you care about such things.

There is anecdotal evidence that most people prefer the Dole Whip Float.

Personally, the last time I had a Dole Whip, I got swirl of vanilla and pineapple in a cup (not the float, and I thought that choice was Just Perfect.

However, the last time I had the float, I remember wishing that I had gotten just the cup instead. As much as I love pineapple (I'm one of those people who gets it on pizza), I thought the juice made it a little too sweet.

Now if that sentence just made you laugh out loud and think to yourself, "I didn't know there was such a thing!" ... then get the Dole Whip Float.

Of course, the best advice is to try both of them.

 

 

Where are Dole Whips sold in Disney World?

If you want to eat a Dole Whip during your Disney trip (and you do), you need to be prepared, as there are limited places where you can find one.

Here is a current list of the places where you can get a Dole Whip. Note that if you're at Hollywood Studios and craving a Dole Whip, you're out of luck.

 

Aloha Isle in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom

 

This is the most popular spot and where we always get our Dole Whips. You can use mobile order to avoid the lines.

Aloha Isle also serves raspberry Dole Whip, as well as a Dole Whip Pineapple Upside Down Cake.

 

Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom

If pineapple's not your thing or if you just feel like trying something different, you can get an orange or strawberry Dole Whip at Sunshine Tree Terrace. Some people swear by the sweet-and-tangy combination of a Citrus Swirl, which is combination of orange Dole Whip and vanilla soft serve.

 

The Refreshment Outpost in Epcot

The Refreshment Outpost is a snack kiosk located between the China and Germany Pavilions in Epcot's World Showcase. In addition to slushies, hot dogs, and beer, you can get a Dole Whip in a waffle cone. They offer watermelon, pineapple, or a swirl.

 

Tamu Tamu Refreshments in Animal Kingdom

Tamu Tamu in located in Africa at the Harambe Marketplace. In addition to the regular Dole Whip, they also offer a Dole Whip with either a shot of dark rum or coconut rum.

In addition, you can get a Simba’s Sunset Dole Whip, which features pineapple Dole Whip topped with a red syrup flavored with strawberry, watermelon and coconut.

 

Marketplace Snacks in Disney Springs

Marketplace Snacks is a kiosk located along the dock near Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop in the Marketplace Coop in Disney Springs. They also serve nachos, hot dogs, and drinks.

Wine Bar George in Disney Springs

Here you can get a Frozcato (Moscato, vodka, and pineapple Dole Whip) or a Frozen Old Fashioned (with whiskey and Dole Whip orange).

 

Pineapple Lanai at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

The Pineapple Lanai is on the ground floor near the lobby of the Polynesian's main building. Since The Polynesian is on the monorail line, you could easily pick up a Dole Whip on your way to or from the Magic Kingdom.

For an additional cost, you can order it served in a Souvenir Tiki Bowl.

 

 

The Drop Off at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

The Dole Whips here are is actually called The Captain's Pineapple and are mixed with Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum.

Even though The Drop Off Bar is next to the Big Blue Pool, it's outside of the official pool area, meaning you don't have to be a guest at Art of Animation to stop by and order one.

 

Everything Pop food court at Pop Century.

This is a relatively new thing, and there is some question as to whether this is a permanent menu addition or just a temporary addition.

 

Barefoot Pool Bar in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Barefoot Pool Bar offers 3 Dole Whip alcoholic beverages:

• Frozen Margarita with Lime Dole Whip
• The Voyager (Parrot Bay Coconut Rum blended with Cream of Coconut and Pineapple Juice, layered with Dole Whip Pineapple and Blue Curaçao)
• Frosty Pineapple (Dole Whip Pineapple with Captain Morgan Private Stock Rum)

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Here you can get a Spikey Pineapple (Cruzan Mango Rum blended with Dole Whip Pineapple).

 

In addition to the places listed above, sometimes you can find Dole Whips at Epcot festival kitchens, such as the Pineapple Promenade during Flower and Garden Festival.

The sad fact is that most of us don't spend the greater part of our lives in Disney World, so if we want Dole Whips more often than once or twice a year, we have to take drastic measures and learn how to make them ourselves.

(You might also find it interesting to know that, according to the Disney Parks, July 21 is National Dole Whip Day. What other reason do you need to make your own at home?)

If you want an exact replica, you can actually buy the exact same soft serve mix they use at Disney World -- complete with Dextrose, Maltodextrin, and other mysterious things -- and use an ice cream maker to make your own Dole Whip!

Dole Pineapple Soft Serve Mix

 

In addition to the traditional pineapple flavor, you can also get it in lemon, mango, orange, raspberry, or strawberry.

Amazon reviewer Tracy M. Glaser calls the mix "Very Authentic!" and gave some advice how to make it even better:

I got a bit worried seeing some pictures of people making this with just the water. The result was slightly clumpy and had a very yellow color in many of the videos I viewed.

So, I went off of one review here on Amazon and refrigerated the mix 2+ hrs prior to making it. I also replaced half of the liquid with coconut milk, and this made a world a difference! It came out so fluffy and light! It had a nice, light yellow color just like Disneyland's, plus it tasted nearly the exact same (although the Dole Whip is much thicker and creamier at Disneyland). I even added sprinkles on top!

Overall, I really loved it. It is so worth buying, and there's no line to stand in to get it.

Note: I used the Cuisinart ICE-45 Mix it In Soft Serve 1-½-Quart Ice Cream Maker

Cuisinart ICE-45 Mix It In Soft Serve 1-½-Quart Ice Cream Maker

 

 

Dole Whip Copycat Recipes (with actual pineapple!)

Recipe for 4 Ingredient Dole Whip

If you want a version of a Dole Whip that, um, actually have pineapple in it, then try this simple recipe from Beeta at SoFab Food.

The only ingredients are pineapple chunks, milk, sugar, and fresh lemon juice. You can modify it by using almond or coconut milk, or by eliminating the sugar or substituting it with Stevia.

 

Dole Whip Recipe from Six Sisters Stuff

For this recipe, you don't need an ice cream maker; just a blender. It combines pineapple chunks and pineapple juice with vanilla ice cream. Yum!

Boozy Dole Whip Recipe

If you want your homemade Dole Whip to have some rum in it, then check out this video.