Have an Ice Day

Guests head for Blizzard Beach for fun in the sun and some chill thrills, they aren’t flocking to the water park on the meltdown with their bathing suits and beach towels in order to have a culinary experience. However, when working up a hunger climbing mountains and splish-splashing around, it’s important to make sure you are rehydrating and getting enough calories to maintain a high energy level. With that in mind, let’s take a look at three offerings from Blizzard Beach’s main dining venue, Lottawatta Lodge.

On a recent excursion we opted for two of the main offerings, the Blizzard Cheddar Burger and the Grilled Chicken Sandwich. Exciting options, I know, but the menu also features salads, wraps, and flatbreads, but we wanted entrees we could really sink our teeth into. Both sandwiches come with a pair of sides, coleslaw and fries, and as sides go they were fair staples, but nothing to write home about.

The Blizzard Cheddar Burger is amped up with bacon and cheddar (obviously), along with guacamole and barbecue sauce. Bacon and cheddar cheese go with just about everything, guacamole and barbecue sauce included. However, if you’re thinking that the idea of barbecue sauce and guacamole may not complement each other, you’d be on to something. That isn’t to say that they’re actively fighting with one another, but there is an odd disjointedness when you get a bite with both. Your mouth may be confused, but it’s not distracting enough to not stop eating the sandwich.

Meanwhile, the grilled chicken sandwich is just that, grilled chicken with lettuce, tomato, and onion on a multigrain bun. It isn’t fancy, but it gets the job done if you’re looking for a simple, no nonsense lunch. Also, if you’re not thinking about the fries and coleslaw, it does offer a fairly healthy option without going all the way to salads and wraps.

When it comes to beverages, or Brrr-Everages as they’re referred to over at Lottawatta Lodge, there are the regular options and a few specialty items. The Brrr-Everage that seemed to be calling my name, however, was the Frozen Hot Chocolate. Just the name alone had me, and perhaps I should have done some more investigating before I jumped to order it. I think I was expecting a rich, cocoa-y milkshake or something akin to a Frosty from Wendy’s. What I received in the place of that dream was an Icee-type chocolate beverage. Even in the warm Florida sun it melted quickly into a watery, chocolate mess topped by whipped cream. It definitely won’t be a treat sort of item I’ll order again. While it’s rare that I won’t give something a second chance, save a complete reworking of the Frozen Hot Chocolate, I don’t see much in the way of a redeeming quality.

Bad food can turn a great day into a mediocre day very quickly. Lottawatta Lodge does lunch well, and does not distract from the experience the rest of Blizzard Beach has to offer. While I would stay away from the Frozen Hot Chocolate, both sandwiches we sampled left us full and ready for the afternoon without much fuss over the meal. Oh, and don’t worry, we waited 30 minutes before venturing back into Melt-Away Bay!