Zuri’s Sweet Shop Review: Animal Kingdom’s Candy Store
Wondering if Zuri’s Sweet Shop is worth visiting? Here’s my review of Animal Kingdom’s candy store, including the seasonal Minnie Mouse Gingerbread Cookie and other Disney treats.
I’ll be honest…
I don’t always buy something at Zuri’s Sweet Shop.
But I almost always walk through it.
If you’ve been to Main Street Confectionery in Magic Kingdom or Karamell-Küche in EPCOT, you’ll already have a pretty good idea of what Zuri’s is like. It’s Animal Kingdom’s version of a Disney candy shop, filled with cookies, caramel apples, cupcakes, cake pops, packaged treats, and whatever seasonal desserts Disney happens to be making at the time.
For me, it’s one of those places that’s just fun to browse.
Sometimes I leave empty-handed.
Sometimes I find something that I absolutely can’t resist.
And if I’m visiting during Christmas…
I’m almost always walking out with a Minnie Mouse Gingerbread Cookie.
It’s Worth Looking Around
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that Disney’s candy shops are always changing.
That’s one of the reasons I like stopping at Zuri’s.
You never really know what’s going to be in the display case.
Maybe it’s a fun cupcake.
Maybe it’s a caramel apple.
Maybe it’s a holiday cookie that’s only around for a few weeks.
Even if I’m not hungry, I usually pop inside just to see what’s new.
More than once I’ve ended up buying something I wasn’t planning on simply because it looked too good to pass up.
My Favorite Treat
Minnie Mouse Gingerbread Cookie
If you’re visiting Animal Kingdom during the holidays…
Get the cookie.
Seriously.
I’ve had a lot of Disney Christmas treats over the years, and these gingerbread cookies are consistently one of my favorites.
They’re soft, perfectly spiced, and decorated just enough to make them festive without burying them under a mountain of icing.
The Minnie version is adorable, but more importantly…
It actually tastes as good as it looks.
In fact, I ranked it among my favorite Animal Kingdom snacks because it’s one of those seasonal treats I genuinely look forward to every Christmas.
I don’t buy one because it’s cute.
I buy one because I know it’s going to disappear after the holidays.
More Than Just Christmas
Even if you’re visiting in the middle of summer, I still think Zuri’s is worth walking through.
Disney rotates the bakery case throughout the year, so there’s usually something interesting to look at. You’ll find decorated cookies, rice crispy treats, cake pops, fudge, candy, and plenty of packaged Disney snacks if you want something to throw in your backpack for later.
Is every single item going to be life changing?
Probably not.
But I’ve found enough really good treats here over the years that it’s become a regular stop for me whenever I’m in Harambe.
Looking for another great dessert nearby? Tamu Tamu Refreshments is just around the corner and serves my favorite dessert in Animal Kingdom: the incredible Pineapple Crisp Sundae.
Another dessert stop I never mind making time for is Terra Treats, home to one of my favorite sweets in Animal Kingdom: the Cookie Dough Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich.
Final Thoughts
Zuri’s Sweet Shop isn’t a place I’d tell someone to make a special trip across the park for.
But if you’re already heading to Kilimanjaro Safaris, Festival of the Lion King, or grabbing a snack at Tamu Tamu Refreshments, you’re going to walk right past it anyway.
Go inside.
Take a look around.
See what’s in the display case.
Maybe you’ll leave with nothing.
Maybe you’ll discover your new favorite Disney snack.
That’s half the fun.
If you’re trying to decide which treats are actually worth your snack budget, be sure to check out my guide to the Best Animal Kingdom Snacks, where I rank all of my favorite sweet and savory snacks from across the park—including the Minnie Mouse Gingerbread Cookie during the holiday season.
