The Altitude Burgers Smash Burger with Bacon costs $20.79 at SeaWorld Orlando. Is this burger actually smashed? We went to SeaWorld Orlando to try this quick-service entree, which is part of the All-Day Dining Plan.

Altitude Burgers at SeaWorld Orlando has an Arctic expedition theme, a menu full of burger options, and one called the Smash Burger with Bacon. We climbed to the summit of that menu and found a very normal burger sitting there with a flag that says “smash.” The Altitude Burgers Smash Burger with Bacon costs $20.79, comes with fries, and is, in the end, just a burger.

What Is a Smash Burger, Anyway?

Before we complain, we owe you a definition. A smash burger starts with a loose ball of ground beef that you press flat against a screaming-hot griddle, usually with a sturdy spatula and a lot of confidence. That pressure creates a thin patty with crispy, browned, lacy edges and a deeply savory crust, while the inside stays juicy. The whole point is contact with the hot surface. More crust means more flavor, and that is why fans love them. A true smash burger is thin, crispy at the edges, and a little bit chaotic on purpose.

What we got at Altitude Burgers was a standard patty. It wasn’t smashed, lacy, or crispy around the edges. It was a burger that walked into the kitchen and walked out unbothered. In fairness, it showed faint glimpses of being a smash burger but fails to get even close to that category.

Altitude Burgers Smash Burger with Bacon: What You Get

The Smash Burger with Bacon is $20.79 and includes fries. Like every burger at Altitude Burgers, it comes with lettuce, tomato, pickles (if you know where to look), and Altitude Burger Sauce. Here is the current entree lineup for context:

• Smash Burger: $18.99
• Smash Burger with Cheese: $19.99
• The Smash Burger with Bacon: $20.79
• Double Patty Smash Burger: $22.29
• Smokehouse Stack (smash burger with bacon and BBQ sauce): $24.99
• Bacon & Burger (smash burger with blue cheese sauce and bacon): $23.49
• Crispy Thai Chili Chicken Sandwich: $19.49
• Turkey Cobb Salad: $17.99

Does the Altitude Burgers Smash Burger Have the Same Issues as the Lakeside Grill Burger?

Yes, and that is not a shock. Still, it is a better attempt than the Lakeside Grill version of a smash burger by a mile. This, at least, offers some exterior crispiness and a bit of juicy interior. This is still far from a “Smash Burger.” However, it makes a far better attempt than Lakeside Grill. In fact, this is the best burger we have had at SeaWorld Orlando in some time. Still, do not take that to mean it was good. We would take the Double Cheeseburger at Zagora Café over this one!

Bacon was better than expected. The cheese had slightly more flavor than normal for a United Parks & Resorts operation. Adding lettuce, tomato, and pickles helps. Guests should pick those up before telling the ambassador you want a burger. The bun held up better than most theme park burgers. Altitude sauce (some variation of Thousand Island) actually helps the burger. If you don’t want that, you can ask for no sauce. Mayonnaise, mustard, and BBQ sauce packets are available where you pick up your napkins and plastic silverware.

Burger Options at SeaWorld Orlando

Only Altitude Burgers and Lakeside Grill serve burgers at SeaWorld Orlando. Our poor experience with the Bacon Smash Cheeseburger at Lakeside Grill set the tone. That burger also wore the “smash” label without earning it. The meat flavor was decent, but it was a standard patty. It lost its heat quickly. Also, the cheese just sat there instead of melting, and the fries were a disappointment.

The Altitude Burgers version follows the same script. It is a decent theme park burger with a name that writes checks the patty cannot cash. The heat, the cheese, and the fries all had the same “fine, but not exciting” energy. At least this time, they had more flavor and a touch of being a smash burger in appearance.

If you want a genuinely caramelized, crispy-edged smash burger, this isn’t it. If you want a burger with bacon that fills you up, the Altitude Burgers Smash Burger is it.

Is It the Best Burger to Order with the All-Day Dining Plan?

Here is the good news. Altitude Burgers has lots of burger options, but not all of them are available with the All-Day Dining Plan. Among the available options, the Smash Burger with Bacon (it also comes with cheese) is the best choice. It has the most going for it: bacon, fries, and a full burger build. It does not make you sweat over what you are giving up.

The All-Day Dining Plan costs $59.99 for the day, with discounts available depending on how you book. As we mentioned in our Thai Chili Chicken Sandwich review, SeaWorld Orlando quick-service menu prices are set with the plan in mind, which is why à la carte prices sting. At $20.79, this burger is priced like a steakhouse appetizer with a side of fries. With the plan, it is a fine use of a meal credit.

Is the $20.79 Price Worth It?

Not really, at least not out of pocket. The plain Smash Burger is $18.99, so the bacon and cheese add $1.80. The Lakeside Grill Bacon Burger with cheese was $19.99, and it had similar problems. For nearly $21, we would rather see a burger that is actually smashed, actually hot, and actually surprising. If we were paying out of pocket, we would steer you toward the Turkey Cobb Salad at Altitude Burgers. Using the plan, go ahead and order it.

Altitude Burgers Smash Burger Over-Promises But Still Makes a Decent Option

The Altitude Burgers Smash Burger with Bacon is a decent burger with an inaccurate name. It is the best burger option with the All-Day Dining Plan, and it will keep you fed between rides and shows. Just do not expect a smashed patty, a crispy crust, or a gourmet experience. If you keep your expectations at sea level, you will be fine.

Our rating: Two bacon strips up, one smash down.

Additional SeaWorld Orlando Reviews

• Thai Chili Chicken Sandwich at Altitude Burgers
• Bacon Smash Cheeseburger at Lakeside Grill
• Bacon Avocado Chicken Sandwich at Seafire Grill
• Sofrito Chicken at Waterway Grill
• Slow Roasted Pork at Waterway Grill
• Caprese Panini at Panini Shores Cafe

For more theme park dining reviews, visit MSM News every weekday at noon Eastern Time. As always, eat like you mean it!

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