Summer Bites at SeaWorld Orlando Review: Is This Portable Mac and Cheese Worth the Mess (and the Corn Rib)?
We tried the BBQ Pork Mac Cone at the SeaWorld Orlando Electric Ocean event. Find out how this returning festival favorite holds up and why you need a fork.
Yes, it was hot. Sure, it was sunny. However, we braved the Florida heat anyway for a summer visit to SeaWorld Orlando. The park has kicked off its limited-time summer food and beverage options themed for the seasonal Electric Ocean event.
During a recent visit, we stopped by the Summer Bites kiosk located right near Voyager’s Smokehouse. Food festival fans will recognize this specific kiosk. It served as the infamous Italy marketplace during the Seven Seas Food Festival earlier this year. For the summer months, however, guests can grab several returning favorites (and one not-so-favorite) from previous festivals at this single dining location.
New Version – BBQ Pork Mac & Cheese
Even better, a favorite from the Seven Seas Food Festival returns in a slightly different form. In fact, we have seen this exact style of serving mechanism work incredibly well at festivals at Busch Gardens in recent years, such as the popular Brisket Mac Cone at Busch Gardens Bier Fest. SeaWorld Orlando also experimented previously with portable pasta shapes, like the Lobster Mac and Cheese in a cone.
Would this newest version be a total hit or a major disappointment? Based on our mixed experiences with the All-American Marketplace during the Seven Seas Food Festival, we definitely had lingering concerns. Of course, those concerns grew exponentially when we noticed this summer food option comes with an odd, recurring addition… a corn rib.
If you are unfamiliar with our previous Corn Rib experience at SeaWorld Orlando, it did not go well any of the times we ordered it. It was consistently the weakest component of the entree last year. While we can appreciate the outdoor summer theme of grilling and classic corn on the cob, this execution fails miserably. The corn completely lacked flavor and was incredibly hard to eat. To make matters worse, significant portions of it were burnt to a crisp yet somehow still managed to not be warm. Sadly, this side failed to even be worth putting on the plate.
BBQ Pork Mac Cone at SeaWorld Orlando
On the other hand, the BBQ Pork Mac Cone, which is the absolute reason you buy this dish, proved to be a great option. Available on the Electric Ocean menu, the BBQ Pork Mac Cone costs $10.99. Annual pass discounts do apply here, though we had quite a bit of difficulty getting our discount processed at the register during this visit. We wish you a better, smoother checkout experience!
As for the food itself, the pulled pork tasted solid but exceptionally safe. That should come as no surprise since the kiosk sits just steps away from the kitchen smells of Voyager’s Smokehouse. The mac and cheese was good but nothing earth-shattering. Because of the inherent design of the dish, it was tough to get more than a few combined bites of pork and mac and cheese at the exact same time. The bread cone comes densely filled with the mac and cheese first, and then the pulled pork is layered directly on top.
The cone itself works perfectly as a structural medium for this summer menu item. It does not offer any competing contrasting flavor or unnecessary sweetness that might overwhelm the savory components. Most guests will find this summer option to be a decent, filling theme park value.
Concerns
Still, it is not entirely without flaws. The pulled pork is very greasy. The cone comes over-filled, which is great for your appetite, but you will absolutely need the paper plate it comes with to avoid making a major mess and losing your pork to the pavement. We highly suggest grabbing a fork. Additionally, the cone structure is quite thin, so it will not hold up perfectly forever against the heavy weight of warm pasta and greasy pork. It worked fine for us, but we can easily see how this could become an issue if you let it sit.
If you are looking for a satisfying snack break or a quick, light lunch, the BBQ Pork Mac Cone makes a solid option. The cone concept was good last year and remains a winner today.
About That Corn Rib
Now, about that Corn Rib… people somewhere must like it. However, we have eaten it five different times now across various events at SeaWorld Orlando. Every single time, it has been well below average. This most recent summer occasion was by far the worst version we have experienced yet. Skip the corn, but absolutely buy the cone. Electric Ocean happens on select days through September 7, 2026. This dining location will not be open every day this summer. We expect it to be open on Fridays through Sundays.
For more theme park dining reviews, visit MSM News every weekday at noon Eastern Time. Additionally, we sometimes post bonus theme park dining reviews. As always, eat like you mean it!
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