Theme Park Scope

Of all the ways I expected a former boy band member to show up in theme park news this year, “serving hot dogs behind a counter at CityWalk” was not on my bingo card.

And yet, here we are, and I am fully here for it.

Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice officially opens at Universal CityWalk Orlando on Saturday, September 19, with the celebration kicking off at 10 a.m. The restaurant is the creation of NSYNC member Joey Fatone and his manager Joe Mulvihill, backed by Mulvihill’s Orlando-based Mulvi Group, and it takes over the space formerly occupied by Hot Dog Hall of Fame, which closed back in July to make way for the new concept.

Here’s the part that actually makes this opening worth showing up for: the first 100 guests to arrive will receive a wristband good for one free hot dog, personally served by Fatone himself. He’s also planning to stick around afterward for photos, so if you’ve ever wanted a photo with a member of one of the biggest boy bands in history while holding a hot dog, September 19 is your day.

Fat One’s leans into gourmet, over-the-top hot dog builds rather than standard ballpark fare, alongside Italian ice, specialty beers, and thick-cut “Brooklyn Flats” chips:

Signature Hot Dogs

• The Fat One — A footlong hot dog topped with roasted pork, pepperoni, chili beans, cheddar cheese sauce, red onion sauce, pop fries, and chives on a soft bun
• The Brazilian — Grilled linguiça sausage with onion sauce, jalapeño veganaise, cotija, Calabrian honey, red peppers, cilantro, and potato sticks on a brioche bun
• The Dirty K-Pop Dog — A Korean-inspired hot dog with kimchi slaw, spicy gochujang mayo, scallions, crispy onions, and black sesame on a brioche bun

Also on the Menu

• 100% Angus beef gourmet hot dogs and specialty sausages beyond the signature builds
• Shaved Italian ice in a variety of flavors
• Specialty beers
• Brooklyn Flats thick-cut chips

Between The Brazilian and the Dirty K-Pop Dog, this is clearly a menu built to go well beyond the standard chili dog; there’s real international flavor influence packed into a format that’s usually pretty predictable.

If you’re heading to CityWalk on September 19 anyway, it’s worth knowing there’s a second celebration happening the same day: Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen is marking its 10th anniversary from 3 to 6 PM, with a chocolate display featuring characters Penelope and Jacques, an interactive chocolate dipping station, a chocolate origins education experience, and a special 10th Anniversary Milkshake available for purchase. That’s a genuinely packed day of food-focused celebrations happening within walking distance of each other.

If landing one of those 100 free hot dog wristbands is the goal, get there early! This is a first-come, first-served situation, and grand openings with a celebrity attached tend to draw a crowd well before the doors officially open. Even if you miss the giveaway window, CityWalk sits right between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, so Fat One’s is set up to be a natural stop before or after a park day regardless of what happens on opening morning.

We’ll have coverage of how the grand opening actually goes, so check back with Theme Park Scope for photos and updates from Fat One’s debut weekend.