REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Bubbly Barrel at Universal's Epic Universe

We’ve been exploring everything that Universal’s brand-new theme park, Epic Universe, has to offer — and we’re not done yet!

Portal Entrance to Super Nintendo World

Five themed lands make up Epic Universe: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe, and we can’t get enough. So, come with us to check out The Bubbly Barrel in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Epic Universe!

Atmosphere

The Bubbly Barrel is a snack stand located in the Donkey Kong Country section of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Epic Universe. According to the Universal website, this is where “you’ll find the perfect refreshment for your adventures in the jungle.”

The Bubbly Barrel

But enough about the restaurant — what’s on the menu here?!

Universal still hasn’t revealed the full menu for this spot yet, but we still stopped by to try the DK Crush Float, which is what they’re currently serving up. A Team Member we spoke with said that as far as they knew, this was going to be the only thing served on the menu here, so we’ll wait to see what ends up happening once Epic Universe is officially open.

Donkey Kong Country

And now, onto the main event!

Drinks

You can grab the DK Crush Float for $18.99. A hefty price, but it does come in a souvenir Donkey Kong barrel cup, so it’s like a snack and a souvenir all in one! This drink is made with DOLE Whip Banana Cream with sprinkles, chocolate pieces, and caramel popcorn in a waffle bowl — served on top of a cup of Pineapple Fanta Soda. Sounds like something Diddy Kong would come up with. But how does it taste?

DK Crush Float

This was shockingly delicious — not to mention, it is adorable. It’s so perfectly themed for the land, and not only that, it is so tasty, too. It’s essentially a banana-pineapple DOLE Whip float, and we couldn’t get enough. As the DOLE Whip melts, it goes into the soda, and it gets creamy, tangy, and delicious. We love how creative they were with this treat, and this is exactly what we wanted to see from Epic Universe in terms of unique treats. The textures — the crunchiness of the caramel corn and the chocolate — and the tanginess of the pineapple with the sweetness of the banana just go so well together.

Comes with a spoon, too!

It was definitely a sugar overload, though, but we loved how unique it was and how perfect for Donkey Kong fans it would be, too. It’s adorable with the souvenir mug — and even if you don’t get the souvenir mug, it still comes with an amazing Donkey Kong spoon. Very cute, very aesthetic, and very tasty.

A look at the full monstrosity

So, should you stop by The Bubbly Barrel?

Nosh or Not

This Epic Universe restaurant is a must-visit if…

You’re a major Donkey Kong fan and want to experience everything this land has to offer.
You love fruity sweet treats.
You’re looking for a dessert when you’re in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.

You should skip this Epic Universe spot if…

You’re looking for a more substantial or savory snack.
You want a sit-down meal.

Overall

The Bubbly Barrel is a great stop for this very specific snack (for now), but hopefully, more will be available here once Epic Universe officially opens. If you’ve got a kiddo with a sweet tooth (or you have one yourself), you might want to stop by to see what it’s all about!

The Bubbly Barrel

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Epic Universe and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest theme park news and more!