Top 15 Favorite Seasonal Snacks

Over the past few years, the grocery market has been completely saturated with special seasonal flavored items. Top companies churn out more and more of them every year because consumers love them. Pumpkin products line the shelves in fall, and gingerbread and peppermint rule the Chrismtas roost, while carrot cake and jelly beans take over around Easter time. Fall is my personal favorite, as I love Pumpkin flavored things. With that time of the year approaching once again, I decided to think of every possible seasonal snack I have ever tried, and come up with all my favorites. The number of items I could think of was over 50, and I decided to whittle the list down to 15 for this list. Even though the fall items are my favorite I tried to even it out between the different seasons for this countdown. So here we go.

15. Starburst Jelly Beans Crazy Beans (Easter Product): Every year around Easter, Starburst releases three separate Jelly beans varieties, tropical, original, and Crazy beans. While the other two are good, the crazy beans are the best. These are two separate flavors in one, as the outer shell has its own distinct flavor and the inside filling also has its own flavor. My personal favorite is Grape-ade, grape flavored shell with lemonade flavored filling.

14. Fruit Punch Oreos: (Summer Product): These were a new item for 2014. For many people an oreo with fruit punch flavored creme doesn't sound very appealing, and I was skeptical at first also, but these ended up being absolutely delicious.

13. Red Velvet M&M's (Valentines Day Product): M&Ms is one of the top brands when it comes to seasonal products, as they have several, a few of which will be seen later on this list. In this one, they perfectly capture the complex flavor of Red Velvet Cake in M&M form.

12. Ghiradelli Peppermint Bark (Christmas Product): These little squares of peppermint Bark have a very refined, subtle peppermint flavor. I am not a huge mint person, and many peppermint products that come out over Christmas time are too overpowering, making this perfect treat stand apart.

11. Gingerbread Peeps (Christmas Product): Peeps are no longer just an Easter staple, as this marhsmallow product was infused with a perfect gingerbread flavor for Christmas. I dont know how they did it, but they captured the gingerbread flavor perfectly.

10. Cookie Dough Donut (Valentines Day Product): It is kind of a strange paring, but over the past few years, cookie dough flavored products have been related to Valentines Day. This cookie dough donut from Dunkin Donuts is like crack. The donut itself is just the usual yeast donut, but the cookie dough filling is so gooey and delicious, that it is able to crack the top 10.

9. Russell Stover Carrot Cake Egg (Easter Product): Russell Stover is a titan when it comes to easter products. They always come out with about 50 different varities of chocolate eggs with a different filling from birthday cake to orange creme, to brownie batter. The best among them is this egg with carrot cake filling.

8. Ben and Jerrys Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream (Fall Product): Pumpkin cheesecake is really good, but pumpkin cheesecake in ice cream form? heavenly

7. Candy Corn Starbursts (Fall Product): This is candy corn texture and shape with a starburst flavor. Much better than actual starbursts.

6. Carrot Cake M&Ms (Easter Product): Another inclusion from M&Ms, and another carrot cake flavored item. One thing Ive learned is actual carrot cake is gross, but in candy form it is actually quite good.

5. Gingerbread Oreos (Christmas Product): The best seasonal Oreo out there.

4. Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Donut (Fall Product): This is sort of a big one for me, as this was the first pumpkin flavored treat I ever tried and got me into the pumpkin flavored game. Many of the treats on this list are relatively new, but Pumpkin donuts have been released every fall for as long as I can remember. And its no wonder why, they are amazing and people love them.

3. Candy Corn M&Ms (Fall Product): I already have a bag of these in my pantry, as I couldnt wait for them to hit the shelved and ordered a bag off amazon. The best of the seasonal M&M products, these dont exactly taste just like candy corn, but thats ok because candy corn doesnt taste that good. Its hard to describe exactly the taste, all that I can say is it is amazing.

2. Pillsbury Pumpkin Cookies (Fall Product): These were a new one in 2013 and I am eagerly anticipating these coming back. The best thing about these were how versatile they are. You can have them as the plain cookie and they are amazing. You can spread cream cheese icing on them and they are also amazing. You can opt to not bake them and eat the raw cookie dough and they are amazing. Or my favorite, you can put the cookie dough for the microwave for about five seconds and eat it as warm cookie dough. Whatever of the four options you choose, you cant go wrong.

1. Root Beer Floats (Summer Product): A little bit of a twist at the top spot as its not a company released product, instead just a good old fashioned homemade root beer float. As a result, it can be a year round product and is not exclusively limited to the summer, but at its heart, Root Beer Floats are a summer thing, and they smooth and creamy and everything that's right in the world.

Ranking Candy Bars

Over the past few months I have taken on the task of trying almost every one of Americas most popular Candy Bars. Now that I have finally tried all of the ones I am interested in, I have decided to come here and rank them from top to bottom. Some of these are ones I had never tried before this endeavor, some are ones that I have loved since a kid, and some are ones that I thought I hated and therefore had shunned for years, only to discover they were absolutely delicious. These are strictly chocolate bars, so no skittles, mike and ikes etc, and I also left out Reeses Pieces because I dont think they count as a candy bar either. Here we go

20. Hersheys Bar: There is nothing bad about a plain old Hersheys bar, but there is nothing all that good either. It is pretty much just plain milk chocolate and nothing else, and if I wanted just plain milk chocolate I would go for dove instead of Hersheys, because this bar has a certain waxy texture. Not a bar I really plan on getting again.

19. Crunch Bar: This is a candy bar I throughly enjoyed as a kid, but just couldnt get into this time around. The crunchy filling was just weird to me with a weird texture.

18. Mini Reese's: I swear Mini Reese's taste way different than regular reese's. The chocolate far outweighs the peanut butter and it is just nasty.

17. Butterfinger: I don't get this one. If I did this countdown six months ago, Butterfinger would have ranked in the top 5, it was one of the candy bars I routinely ate, but I guess I overdid because all of a sudden I had one and was absolutely disgusted, to the point where I would gag whenever I would even think about eating a Butterfinger. I went from loving to hating this bar overnight, fickle tastebuds.

16. PB Twix: This twix bar replaces caramel with peanut butter and replaces the normal white biscuit with chocolate cookie.I found the peanut butter to be too dry and the chocolate cookie to taste kind of gross. I didnt even finish this one.

15. Reese's Nutrageous: On paper I thought this would be a snickers bar with reeses Peanut butter, but in reality there was wayyyyy to many peanuts in this.

14. Reese's Fast Break: This is basically a Milky way bar with Reese's Peanut Butter instead of Caramel. Unfortunately, like with Mini Reeses, the chocolate taste dominates over the peanut butter and nougat.

13. Butterfinger Cups: Reese's peanut butter cups with butterfinger filling instead of Peanut Butter. The filling in this is much smoother and less crunchy and much less potent than a regular butterfinger, so I still somewhat enjoy this one, but not enough to buy it regularly.

12. Reese's Sticks: This is basically a kit kat bar with Reeses Peanut Buter sandwiched inside. it tastes pretty good, but the peanut butter taste was too weak.

11. Butterfinger Crisp: Same as the Reese's Sticks, but with butterfinger filling instead of the Peanut Butter. Not bad, but nothing special.

10. Milky Way Caramel: This is nothing more than caramel wrapped in chocolate. So simple and straightforward, but so good.

9. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: One of the all time classics, but it failed to fully resonate with me. It was very good, but again I was left wanting for more peanut butter and less chocolate.

8. Snickers PB: A snickers bar with peanut butter, really good, but the peanut butter flavor wasnt all that strong so it just missed the top echelon

7. White Kit Kat: Kit Kats with white chocolate instead of Milk Chocolate. Delicious and creamy.

Now that we have reached the top 6, these are the ones that I absolutely fell in love with, and would repeat but in a heeartbeat. Numbers 6-3 are all 9.9 out of 10s and were extremely tough to rank but I did my best, but there is very little that separates them. The top two were clear to me, both perfect 10 out of 10s, and it was hard to pick one to be number one, so they are basically 1A and 1B.

6. White Reese's: The sweetness of white chocolate blends in so perfectly with the peanut butter, creating a creamy, delicious treat.

5. Kit Kat: Another one of the all time classics. Everyone knows it, and everyone loves it.

4. Twix: The classic Twix bar with the cookie crumble. Pretty simple, yet rediculously delicious.

3. Milky Way: This was a Candy Bar I was hesitant to try. I hadn't had one in at least 10 years because I always considered them kind of gross, I dont know why but they just werent on my radar. These are basically Snickers Bars with Peanuts. No peanuts takes away the crunch and makes them so perfectly chewy and smooth. the Caramel, nougat and chocolate all blend together in your mouth creating something perfect.

2. Reese's Big Cups: My gripe with pretty much every other Reese's product on this list is not enough peanut butter, too much chocolate. Well big cups do away with that completely, as this is complete peanut butter overload, and it is nothing short of perfect. I am absolutely addicted to these, and indulge in one about once a week. Just look at all the peanut butter inside one of these babies, its incredible.

1. Snickers: The perfect candy Bar. Crunchy peanuts, gooey caramel, smooth, creamy nougat, and a simple milk chocolate not too overpowering, but effective enough. Perfection.

Top 25 Ride Rankings #2-1

25. ET Adventure
24. Expedition Everest
23. Spaceship Earth
22. Soarin'
21. Radiators Springs Racers
20. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
19. Toy Story Mania
18. The Incredible Hulk Coaster
17. Peter Pans Flight
16. Men in Black Alien Attack
15. Rock N Roller Coaster
14. Manta
13. California Screamin'
12. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
11. Splash Mountain
10. Revenge of the Mummy
9. Pirates of the Carribean
8. Space Mountain
7. Sheikra
6. Jurassic Park River Adventure
5. Matterhorn Bobsleds
4. Haunted Mansion
3. The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman

Here we go, the top two rides I have ever been on in my entire life. Before we get to those though, i want to throw in a couple of more honorable mentions and add a few more notes. First would be for Transformers. I have ridden this ride a lot since I came up with these rankings and didnt realize just how much I enjoyed this ride. If I had a chance to rerank I would probably find a place for this ride on my countdown. Also, I have not yet had the chance to ride the newest ride in Universal, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. There is a very solid chance after I get a chance to ride that it will be in my top 10 favorite rides, let alone top 25. The early reviews are saying it is that good so I have very high expectations. And now, the top two

2. Indiana Jones Adventure: When I was first preparing for my trip to Disneyland, this ride was probably only my 4th or 5th most anticipated ride. I had heard from several people how great of a ride it was, but Indiana Jones is not a property that gets me all too excited, and to be honest I was skeptical that Indiana Jones could really translate all that well into a ride. By the time I had gone on it for the first time however, I was left speechless and amazed at this ride. The ride system is practically exactly the same as Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom, except this ride has some of the most massive and incredible physical sets I have ever seen in a ride, Disney or Universal. The special effects are absolutely top notch as well, with wind, water and fire all combining for a great sensory experience. And the finale is one of the best I have ever seen, as the famed boulder from the movies comes right at you and it really feels like its going to hit you right before you duck under it and escape into pure darkness. I would pay for a return trip to Disneyland just to ride this ride alone. Its that good.

1. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: Its fitting and ironic and funny all at the same time that the one ride in Orlando I held out riding on for the longest time, the one ride I seriously thought I would never get the courage to go on, that that ride would end up being my favorite ride in the world. The highly themed queue, the creepy terrifying preshow, and the ride itself all combine for an experience truly like no other. What is so amazing about this ride is that it is just a drop ride, but in true disney fashion, they took a drop ride and threw in a ton of special effects and other scenes to make the ride that much better. That moment hen your elevator actually moves forward and you are surrounded by neat visual effects is the moment you realize anything can happen on this ride. And the random drop sequences add an element of surprise every time you ride. I knew this had to be number one when I realized that I still get that super excited feeling every single time I am about to get on this ride, and no other ride still gives me that feeling after so many times. My number on favorite ride, the Tower of Terror.

Top 25 Rides Ranking: # 4-3

25. ET Adventure
24. Expedition Everest
23. Spaceship Earth
22. Soarin'
21. Radiators Springs Racers
20. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
19. Toy Story Mania
18. The Incredible Hulk Coaster
17. Peter Pans Flight
16. Men in Black Alien Attack
15. Rock N Roller Coaster
14. Manta
13. California Screamin'
12. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
11. Splash Mountain
10. Revenge of the Mummy
9. Pirates of the Carribean
8. Space Mountain
7. Sheikra
6. Jurassic Park River Adventure
5. Matterhorn Bobsleds


Final Four, lets get to it


4. Haunted Mansion: This is specifically for the Orlando version, as I found the California version to far inferior. This ride is simple, yet the effects and fun of it all make it one of the top rides in the world in my opinion. The scene in the large dining room is my favorite ride scene of all time, and the ride through the cemetary is also one of the best rides scenes you can find. The preshow in the stretching elevator is also one of the best preshows for an attraction and sets the mood perfectly. There is something fun and special about this ride that makes it one of my all time favorites. The "ghost host" plays a part in it as well, as you really feel like you are getting your own personal tour of this ghostly mansion. The number one ride in the Magic Kingdom, and number four in the world.


3. The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman: No, not number one, but super close. This ride actually did hold my title as number one ride for four years after the first time I went on it, but has since seen its position drop a couple. To me the most telling thing that can be said about this ride is that it was built 15 years ago and yet still today it remains one of the most technologically advanced rides in the world. Even after 15 years! The beginning of the ride when Spiderman jumps onto your car remains one of my favorite ride moments. Each villain gets their own scene and chance to steal the show before Spiderman fights them all in an awe inspiring sequence on top of the New York skyscrapers. In a park filled with roller coasters and tall rides with big thrills, this ride continues to draw the longest lines. The fact that its not number one is a true testament to the top 2 rides.

Revisiting Diagon Alley

I had a chance to explore Diagon Alley for the second time last night, this time by myself so I was able to pay attention and explore the small details much more. The only description that comes to mind when exploring Diagon Alley is a complete visual overload. It is eye candy left and right, every nook and cranny filled with details. I spent nearly 3 hours last night just exploring and soaking up all the details of the land, it truly is a mindblowing new land that Universal had created. Here are some more pictures and an in depth look of each of the stores the land offers.

The centerpiece of the land really is the massive dragon that sits atop Gringotts.

Every single time it breathes fire (about once every 15 minutes) the whole crowd would stop, pull out their phones to take a picture or record it, and then cheer after it was over. Every single time.

Here are a few more pictures of the general area and the amazing landscape

The first shop to the right when you enter is Quidditch supplies, selling all sorts of Quidditch Merchandise

Next to that is the iconic Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. This is sure to be the most popular store in Diagon Alley

Across the way is Madame Malkins robe shop, selling the robes the students  wear in the Harry potter movies.

Going deeper into Diagon Alley, to the right of Gringotts is Wiseacres, an astornomy store. In terms of detail, this was my second favorite store to explore.

 On the other side, to the left of Gringotts is Magical Menagerie, a store that sells "pets" for wizards. That is, these animals are not anything you would see in the muggle world.

Finally, the best for last, Borgin and Burkes. Located inside the covered Knockturn Alley, Borgin and Burkes focuses on the bizarre and scary. Fans of Halloween Horror Nights will absolutely love this store.

The main restaurant inside Diagon Alley is the Leaky Cauldron, selling English food, with a large spacious dining room

I also got a couple more rides in on the Hogwarts Express and got a couple more pics of the amazing queue area.

There arent enough superlatives to describe Diagon Alley, and I havent even done the main attraction yet, Gringotts. This is not just my word, twitter has been filled with tons of people hailing Diagon Alley as the greatest theme park land ever made, and its hard to argue. One of the most striking and surreal things about it is how immserive it is. As soon as you step behind the London Facade and into Diagon, you really are transported to a new world. I completely forgot I was in Universal Studios, as you dont see a single thing from the rest of the park while you are in Diagon Alley. As soon as you step back into the London area and see the Simpsons ride and the rest of the park in the distance, it is kind of disorienting. I will probably end up back in Diagon Alley tonight, and tommorrow, and as many days as I can for the rest of the summer.