Corn Dog Castle Review
Corn Dog Castle is a counter service restaurant at Disney California Adventure, and you can probably guess what they serve. In this Disneyland restaurant review, we’ll share food photos, what’s on the menu, and our thoughts on this option for doggone delicious dining.
Corn Dog Castle is a Disney California institution. Even during the dark days of Disney’s California Adventure 1.0, Corn Dog Castle was a beacon, demonstrating all that was right with the park. Legends still swirl that no less than 73.3% of first year Disney’s California Adventure visitors came solely to experience the delicious corn dogs, deemed by many to be a 21st century “fountain of youth.”
Guests came on pilgrimages from around the world–one was rumored to have walked barefoot from Finland all the way to Corn Dog Castle–to bask in the youthful glow of Corn Dog Castle. One prominent swimmer even trained for the Olympics on a strict diet of Corn Dog Castle cuisine. Many described consuming one of their corn dogs as a spiritual experience.
Okay, so none of that is true. At least none of it is true to my knowledge. (I suppose there could be some folks out there who love Corn Dog Castle so much that they’d do those things.) But, this place is essentially just a corn dog stand and this review would be really short if I didn’t spice it up with some superfluous nonsense.
In actuality, Corn Dog Castle does have its legion of fans, many of whom were quite frightened back when Corn Dog Castle went behind construction walls as Disney’s California Adventure transitioned into Disney California Adventure. To the rejoicing of millions (or perhaps just thousands), it reopened as an integral component (perhaps the cornerstone) of the new-look park.
I’ve had the chance to eat at Corn Dog Castle a few times (Sarah, being a bit of a health nut, calls corn dogs “disgusting” and opts for Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta instead) and have been impressed with it. I’ll admit that I don’t have quite the same affinity for it as many people, but it’s still very good.
It’s quite possibly the best corn dog I’ve ever had, actually. In fairness, most of the corn dogs I eat come from the freezer and I microwave myself. I’m not really a corn dog connoisseur, and the difference between the worst corn dog I’ve ever had and the best one I’ve ever had probably isn’t extremely significant.
Still, I recognize Corn Dog Castle as having some very good ones. The atmosphere of being inside Disney California Adventure, as opposed to being in my living room, also scores it some major points.
Although many staunch Disney fans are likely to disagree, I’d put Corn Dog Castle right up there with Little Red Wagon across the Esplanade at Disneyland. Whereas Little Red Wagon excels at the fresh ‘dog, Corn Dog Castle wins points for its deeper menu and quirky concept.
The true strength of Corn Dog Castle is that it’s truly grab and go food. Paradise Pier is one of the best places to stroll and enjoy the ambiance at Disneyland Resort, and it’s easy to grab a corn dog and wander around the pier. The menu fits this grab and go mentality, with only three items: a corn dog, a hot-link corn dog, and a cheddar cheese stick. It would be nice for a few other side/dessert choices to go along with the corn dogs, but if all you want is a freshly made corn dog, Corn Dog Castle is perfect.
You can get either apples or potato chips with your corn dog. To my knowledge, only communists get the apple slices. If you’re already eating a corn dog, what difference are the apple slices going to make? It’s sort of like ordering 2 Big Macs and then getting Diet Coke instead of Coke because you’re trying to “eat healthy.” Just get the chips. You’re on vacation!
The corn dog is the “classic” menu item in that it’s the one with the huge following. Between the regular corn dog and the hot-link corn dog, the regular corn dog is definitely the winner. Not that the hot-link corn dog is bad, it’s just doesn’t “work” quite as well. Those are your options if you want something of greater substance that will be filling.
If you want a delicious snack to split with someone else, try the cheddar cheese stick. Personally, I don’t split it, but it is a bit rich and probably not the ideal “meal” food. I am of the “I’m on vacation” mentality, though, so I treat it as a meal (then again, I eat about 5 meals a day on vacation, including cupcakes and ice cream for breakfast…so I may not be the best role model here).
Overall, Corn Dog Castle is a Disney California Adventure institution. Unless you are staunchly opposed to corn dogs, you really ought to try one when you’re at Disney California Adventure, as it is “part of the experience.” No, it doesn’t have a complex menu, there aren’t healthy options, and it’s really just a glorified food stand, but it’s a great and fun place to grab a quick bite to eat. Not every restaurant is going to be Napa Rose or Carthay Circle Restaurant. For what Corn Dog Castle is, it’s excellent.
If you’re preparing for a Disneyland trip, check out our other planning posts, including how to save money on Disneyland tickets, our Disney packing tips, tips for booking a hotel (off-site or on-site), where to dine, and a number of other things, check out our comprehensive Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide!
Your Thoughts
Do you prefer the royal dogs served at Corn Dog Castle, or the humble options at Little Red Wagon in Disneyland? Are you a Corn Dog Castle fanatic, or are you vehemently opposed to corn dogs and all their patriotic glory? 😉 Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
In the Magic Kingdom, there are random stands.Maybe I’m thinking of Turkey Legs when I remember seeing one in Frontierland.
I like to joke that the corn dogs at Disneyland Resort, on their own warrant the cost of an Annual pass.
While we were ordering drinks at Carthay Circle, our server told us that one day that Disneyland received the most complaints is after they changed the corn dog recipe. They immediately changed it back.
To be honest I thought the corn dog was good not great but what do you expect from a hot dog with coating. There was a employee there named mike and he told us that he bought his mother a corn dog for her birthday(I think this is a bit cheap and if I was to do this my mother would disown me). Each to their own though
We like corn dogs on a very occasional basis and I suffered through a spinach wrap at an earlier meal in the day, at our last visit to DLR, to save calories in anticipation of an experience at Corn Dog Castle.
Basically, three things contribute to a good corn dog…the quality of the corn batter, the quality of the fry job, and the flavor of the hot dog. In Corn Dog Castle’s case, we thought they hit it out of the ballpark with the first two, but failed on the third.
We liked the corn breading, fried to a crunchy perfection on the exterior but moist on the interior. However, the flavor of the hot dog itself was…meh. I don’t know what brand DLR uses, but it was very bland. For us, it was a waste of calories and fat grams, better spent elsewhere. Added to that is the fact that Corn Dog Castle’s popularity guarantees a wait in line. We’re glad we tried it, but we won’t return.
Are Corn Dog Castle corn dogs the same as at Red Wagon in DL? If so, I’ll have one in each park. Hooray!
I’ve been schooled that the corn dogs at the cart in Adventureland (MK at WDW) are to be avoided, whilst the Downtown Disney (Orlando) food truck has hand dipped corn dogs made the way the ones at Disneyland in California are made.
I can’t confirm any of this but the person who told me is a self-professed corn dog aficionado.
Interesting info. I haven’t had a Magic Kingdom corn dog in years, and there’s a reason for that…
I absolutely love Corn Dog Castle. I was one of those who flipped out when I thought they were closing in 2009! And your comment about apples and communists totally made me laugh. I usually get the apples but only because the salt of the chips + the salt of the corn dog gets to be too much for me.
The cheddar dog is just TOO GOOD! You have to try it sometimes! And don’t be a communist, get the chips!
This was my favorite corn dog and I always made it a point to stop here…but then Disney cheapened out a few years ago and switched the all beef goodness to some beef/chicken combination. Sadly, I will never enjoy these again.
Ya know, I’ve never had a corn dog. It’s just one of those things that I arbitrarily decided I didn’t like. But I want to eat that picture.
Never had a corn dog?! I’m half-considering reporting you to The House Committee on Un-American Activities! 😉
I’m from the UK and my first ever corn dog was from Corn Dog Castle, and if it was an exemplar of corn dogs then I can say with confidence that I whole-heartedly dislike corn dogs. By saying that I guess I’ve just pledged allegiance to the communist party?
Don’t worry, we Americans view anyone from not-America as a communist…the corn dog has nothing to do with it! 😉
You’ve gotta love any phallic snack food served on a stick.
Is there a place in WDW with decent corn dogs?
I think there are random stands in the Magic Kingdom. I seem to recall seeing one in Frontierland, but maybe I’m thinking of Turkey Legs.