Credit: UniversalFor nearly three decades, Seuss Landing has stood as one of the defining lands at Universal Islands of Adventure. Since the park opened in 1999, guests have wandered through its colorful pathways, quirky architecture, and storybook-inspired attractions, stepping directly into the imaginative world of Dr. Seuss. While the land has remained remarkably consistent over the years, Universal has never completely stopped making adjustments behind the scenes.
Some changes have been large enough for every guest to notice. Others have been much smaller, quietly refreshing dining locations or introducing new menu items without much fanfare. Now, after 27 years, another update has arrived at one of Seuss Landing’s most recognizable restaurants.
This time, the change comes in the form of a new sweet treat.
A recent social media update revealed that Universal Orlando has officially added funnel cakes to the menu at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous, giving guests another classic theme park dessert option inside Seuss Landing.
Universal had added funnel cakes to the Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous menu. @UniversalORL pic.twitter.com/xIwIxCo0BI
— Inside Universal (@insideuniversal) July 14, 2026
The restaurant is now serving three varieties of funnel cakes:
- Cookies & Cream Twist – A vanilla funnel cake topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and Oreo cookie crumbles.
- Strawberry Wild Cake – A vanilla funnel cake served with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, strawberry sauce, and fresh strawberries.
- Classic Crunch Cake – A traditional funnel cake dusted with powdered sugar.
For many guests, funnel cakes have long been associated with county fairs, carnivals, and amusement parks. While Universal Orlando has offered them elsewhere across the resort over the years, bringing them into Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous feels like a natural fit given the whimsical atmosphere already found inside the restaurant.
A Restaurant Guests Have Loved Since Opening Day
Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous has been part of Islands of Adventure since the very beginning.
Inspired by Dr. Seuss’s If I Ran the Circus (1956), the quick-service restaurant is designed to feel like a circus that could only exist in Seuss’ imagination. Bright colors cover nearly every surface, oversized props fill the dining room, and unusual creatures appear throughout the building.
Even guests who aren’t planning to eat often step inside simply to admire the elaborate theming.
The restaurant has always specialized in family-friendly meals, offering items like chicken, pizza, burgers, salads, and kid-friendly favorites. While the menu has evolved over the years, Universal has generally preserved both the overall look of the restaurant and its playful atmosphere.
That’s one reason why even relatively small menu additions tend to attract attention from longtime fans.
A Small Change With Big Appeal
Adding funnel cakes might seem like a simple menu update, but desserts have become an increasingly important part of the modern theme park experience.
Guests today frequently seek out unique snacks almost as much as attractions themselves. Social media has helped fuel that trend, with many visitors planning food stops before they even arrive at the parks.
Universal has leaned into that demand over the past several years by expanding specialty desserts across its parks, hotels, and seasonal events.
The new funnel cake lineup gives Seuss Landing another food destination that may encourage guests to spend additional time exploring the area rather than heading elsewhere for dessert.
The three offerings also provide options for different tastes. Guests looking for a traditional experience can choose the Classic Crunch Cake, while those wanting something more indulgent have two versions topped with ice cream, whipped cream, cookies, or strawberries.
Seuss Landing Continues To Evolve
Although Seuss Landing is one of Universal Orlando’s oldest lands, it remains one of its most distinctive.
Unlike many themed lands that have received major overhauls over the past two decades, Seuss Landing has largely retained the same whimsical identity it had when Islands of Adventure debuted in 1999.
That consistency has become part of its appeal.
Families continue to flock to attractions like The Cat in the Hat, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, Caro-Seuss-el, and High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride, while younger visitors spend hours exploring the colorful environment.
Rather than dramatically reinventing the land, Universal has generally focused on maintenance, operational improvements, and occasional dining updates that keep the experience fresh without changing its overall character.
Adding a new dessert offering fits neatly into that philosophy.
Food Has Become Part of the Theme Park Experience
Modern theme park visitors increasingly view dining as more than simply grabbing lunch between rides.
Limited-time snacks, creative desserts, and visually impressive menu items have become attractions in their own right. Guests regularly share photos and reviews online, helping certain treats become must-try experiences.
Universal has embraced that philosophy across the resort.
From elaborate Wizarding World treats to specialty seasonal offerings during Halloween Horror Nights and holiday celebrations, food has become another way for the company to enhance a visit.
Introducing funnel cakes inside Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous gives guests another reason to stop inside one of Islands of Adventure’s most recognizable restaurants, whether they’re looking for a midday dessert or simply wanting to cool off with a sweet treat topped with ice cream.
Looking Ahead
While this isn’t the kind of headline-grabbing announcement that accompanies a new attraction or land expansion, it represents the type of continual refinement that helps keep Universal Orlando’s parks feeling fresh year after year.
Twenty-seven years after Seuss Landing first welcomed guests, Universal continues making thoughtful adjustments that build on what already works instead of replacing it.
For longtime fans, that consistency is part of the appeal.
Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous remains one of the resort’s most recognizable dining locations, and adding funnel cakes gives guests another classic theme park indulgence to enjoy while surrounded by the colorful world of Dr. Seuss.
Sometimes the biggest changes aren’t new rides or massive construction projects. Sometimes they’re simply another excuse to slow down, grab a warm funnel cake covered in powdered sugar—or piled high with cookies, strawberries, or ice cream—and enjoy one of Universal Orlando’s most enduring themed lands.
