REVIEW: This Iconic Disney World Dessert? Amazing. The Rest of the Meal? Not So Much.

Planning a trip to Disney World and not sure where you should eat while you’re there? Luckily, you’ve come to the right place!

Here at AllEars, we know all the ins and outs of Disney restaurants — including where you should definitely eat, and where you should skip. We recently stopped by Backlot Express at Hollywood Studios and are bringing you our FULL review!

Background

Located next to Star Tours, the Backlot Express has been a staple of Hollywood Studios for decades.

Here’s what you need to know about dining at this restaurant.

Atmosphere

The large design space, with its warehouse construction and prop-themed decor, is a throwback to the park’s original Disney-MGM Studios days.

The theme is reminiscent of a prop warehouse.

But enough about that, what are we eating?!

Food & Drinks

First up, we grabbed the Cuban Sandwich for $12.99. This sandwich features classically-pressed roasted pulled pork, sliced ham, Swiss, pickles, and mustard served with plantain chips. 

We were actually pretty impressed by this sandwich. The pulled pork was arguably a bit dry, but the ham was nice and juicy to balance that out. There was a decent amount of Swiss cheese and mustard (perhaps even too much mustard, depending on one’s taste), and the crispy flat pickles were a unique take on a somewhat standard topping. The bread was toasted panini style, which gave it a nice crunch, though it didn’t add much to the sandwich overall.

We weren’t that high on the plantain chips, and would likely swap them out for one of the other side options, like fries or veggies, if we were to get this again.

Next up, we tried the $13.99 1/3 lb Angus Cheeseburger, which is served on a brioche bun, served with carrot sticks or French fries.

Like many Disney World quick-service hamburgers, we weren’t a big fan of this offering. The same word came to mind regarding the bun, the beef, and the cheese: Bland. There was very little flavor to them, and both the bun and the burger just kind of fell apart.

The bacon provided a minor highlight, though that was arguably more due to the lack of flavor of the other elements than it was anything special about the bacon.

As always, we enjoyed the side of Disney World fries.

The final entree we tried was the $13.39 Teriyaki Chicken Bowl, which includes seasoned jasmine rice, teriyaki chicken, yuzu-pickled edamame, carrots, cucumber, and onions drizzled with house-made lemon-tahini-chipotle vinaigrette and sesame seeds.

This goes overlooked on the menu, but you do NOT want to skip it! The pan-seared chicken was quite juicy, and the Teriyaki glaze was tasty without being overpowering.

.The veggies add a nice variety of textures to the dish, and all ingredients were well-balanced with the rice. Overall, the dish provides a comparatively healthier bang for your buck.

To cap our meal, we had the $7.49 Wookie Cookie, which is, of course,
two oatmeal cookies with vanilla cream filling garnished with a milk chocolate sash.

We’d never call the Wookie Cookie the single must-get snack at Hollywood Studios, but it’s definitely worth trying. Specifically, those who enjoy oatmeal cookies or whoopie pies will enjoy this, though others may find it too sweet.

Magic or Tragic?

This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…

• You want to try something different than “typical” theme park fare.
• You’re a fan of Cuban Sandwiches.
• You want to try a comparatively healthy alternative.
• You want to try one of the most iconic sweet treats in Disney World.

You should skip this Disney World spot if…

• You’re in the mood for a burger.
• You don’t like overly sweet desserts.

Overall, Backlot Express offers some interesting lunch options for those looking to step out of their theme park food comfort zone. That said, those looking to simply enjoy a burger should try their luck somewhere else.

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and more!

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Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant before? Tell us in the comments.

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