Dairy Queen Hacks You'll Wish You Knew Sooner

When you're in the mood for the softest soft serve around, where's the first spot on your list? If you're like many people out there, it's Dairy Queen. The Dairy Queen mission is to "To create positive memories for all who touch DQ," and if you've had many of the treats from this place before, you'll see that the company often gets it right. From the classic ice cream menu to the actually pretty decent meal options, it's definitely a sweet and tasty alternative when you don't want to go on your usual McDonald's run.

But if you aren't a regular at Dairy Queen, you may not know how to get the best deals, promos, and even menu items on your own. And you may not know that there are a ton of hacks that can make your experience at Dairy Queen even better than usual. Take some time to learn these very valuable Dairy Queen hacks so you can rule the drive thru on your next fast food run.

As much as you might love any restaurant out there, there are only so many times you can eat the same dishes before you get bored with them. Just think about it: How many times have you ordered the exact same flavor of Blizzard from Dairy Queen? When it's time to switch things up, you have some options at Dairy Queen. Notably, just about every selection on the restaurant's secret menu.

If you love everything about a classic Blizzard but want a new flavor, you definitely have to try the Banana Split Blizzard (though we're not all fans). The Coffee Blizzard is also a hit for those who want to get a little pep from their next indulgence. And if you're looking for the perfect dessert for the hottest of days, then the Frozen Hot Chocolate may just be the best item on the menu.

Just be sure you remember all the components of the specific secret menu item you want. If the staff member helping you doesn't know what you're talking about, you can break it down for them.

If you frequent your local Dairy Queen location fairly regularly, it may be time to take your relationship to the ultimate fast food ice cream spot to the next level. That's right: It's time for you to sign up for the Blizzard Fan Club. Before you roll your eyes and decide you don't want to sign up for a program that's just going to send you a ton of spam, hear us out. The Blizzard Fan Club actually gives you access to a ton of valuable promos and deals you wouldn't otherwise get.

For example, just take this experience from The Krazy Coupon Lady. Back in 2018, she told her readers that when she had signed up for the Blizzard Fan Club, she received two separate coupons for discounts on a Blizzard or Dairy Queen cake and for a Royal Blizzard treat. Sounds like a pretty good deal considering it'll only take you a few moments to sign up.

The best part? Multiple people in your household can sign up, so you can get several coupons for everyone to use. Just make sure to time it right because you will have to use your coupons within a set amount of time.

If you know nothing else about Dairy Queen and its products, you know that the Blizzard has the amazing ability to defy gravity. The ice cream won't come out of your cup, even if you turn it upside down (unless you let it melt, of course). This is largely because of the makeup of the substance itself. The FDA says that ice cream must have a 10 percent butterfat content for it to be accurately called ice cream. That's why a Blizzard isn't technically ice cream: It's really "ice milk." This is the simple explanation behind why the staff member at your local Dairy Queen is able to turn your Blizzard upside down when they serve it to you.

But here's something you might not know: If they don't serve you your Blizzard upside down, your next Blizzard is free in participating restaurants). However, keep in mind that you'll have to claim your prize right there — you can't just tell the restaurant what happened the next time you visit.

This doesn't happen too often because the staff knows that they'll have to give away free food if they forget to do it. But just keep an eye out whenever you order a Blizzard, and you may just get lucky.

When you think of going to a happy hour, you probably think of grabbing drinks with friends after work. Sure, that's a lot of fun, but what if you want to take it easy on the alcohol but go hard on the soft serve? That's when it's the perfect time to head to your local Dairy Queen. The restaurant chain has a happy hour of its known, and it's a promo you'll definitely want to take advantage of.

It's your chance to grab your favorite DQ classics to slurp on or gobble up when you're on the go. Happy hour lasts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at participating locations, so just see if you can get out of work a little earlier than usual so you can get to the good stuff.

Different menu items are on the happy hour list all the time, but some of the regular items you can expect are the Misty Slushies, frappes, and iced coffee. One of these drinks might just be the perfect pick-me-up to help you make it through the rest of the week.

People who have served in the military have put their lives on the line to take care of their country, and many companies and organizations like to find ways to give back to them. Dairy Queen is reportedly one of them. If you are military personnel, there's even more reason to visit your local Dairy Queen because the restaurant is likely to give you a good discount — maybe even a substantial one.

Here's something to keep in mind, though: Not all stores have the same policy when it comes to military discounts. Therefore, it's important to ask what your Dairy Queen's policy is. Some stores have been known to give up to 50 percent off for those in military uniform, while others offer a less substantial 10 percent (but still — take any discount you can get, right?). If you're going to try to take advantage of these great deals, you may want to bring some sort of military ID just so you can back it up.

When it comes to the sweetest treats on the Dairy Queen menu, you really can't go wrong with a Dilly Bar. It's the perfect warm-weather dessert, especially if you don't want to have to deal with an ice cream cone dripping down your arm before you can eat it all. Basically, think of a round of ice cream dipped in chocolate and placed on a stick for your convenient snacking pleasure.

You can get one off the menu any time you want, but Dilly Bars taste so much better when you get them for free. And you can, if only you're willing to fill out a quick survey. Basically, you just have to tell Dairy Queen what you think of the service and the restaurant. Before you know it, a free Dilly Bar will be yours.

Now, you just have to decide which one you're going to get. The chocolate is the classic option, and it's certainly hard to beat. But the cherry and butterscotch options are both out of this world as well, so you'll just have to go with your gut.

Life as a college student may be fun, but most people in college aren't exactly living large when it comes to their budgets. If you're in college, you really need to save every penny you can (especially if you've got those student loans stacking up ... yikes). That doesn't mean you can never treat yourself, of course — it just means you should be smart when you choose to do so. That's why your local Dairy Queen might be the right choice for a quick meal.

Many Dairy Queen locations offer student discounts, according to BrokeScholar. You could get up to 10 percent off your order. That may not sound like much at first, but by your 20th Dairy Queen run of the semester, it'll definitely add up (especially if you're picking up for your study group or part of your dorm floor).

Remember that not every location will offer this discount, so make sure you check ahead if you're really depending on that 10 percent off. And don't forget to bring your student ID with you so the cashier can check it out. Just looking young may not cut it when you're trying to save those pennies.

You may be surprised that one of the most celebrated items on the menu at Dairy Queen actually isn't a menu item itself — it's an add-on. The marshmallow cream is a super sweet and sorta sticky topper that comes on some menu items automatically. But don't think you have to order one of those specific items just to get that pillowy cloud of sugar on your next Dairy Queen order. Just ask for it as a topping on whatever you want, and the staff should accommodate you. It only costs .59 cents per topping, and in our opinion, it's definitely worth it for the marshmallow cream.

If you already have a favorite Blizzard favorite, adding marshmallow cream on top is the way to go. But you could even order it on something as simple as a banana split. And if you're dying to try the secret menu, you can always order the marshmallow cream sundae, a masterpiece in its simplicity and quite possibly your new favorite item (not) on the menu. It's simply a vanilla soft serve sundae with marshmallow cream heaped on top.

And if you're not a fan of Marshmallow cream, you'll be happy to know that this secret isn't limited to this one topping. You can add just about any topping you want to any order, and every topping you add on is just .59 cents.

You may get used to the same Blizzard flavors you always choose if you opt for the same thing time and time again. So, when you're feeling a bit more adventurous, you should try something that may not always be on the menu. Dairy Queen is known for switching up its menu during different seasons, so there's almost always something new to try out.

For example, this summer saw some delicious-looking summertime Blizzards coming to Dairy Queen stores everywhere. The first on our list is the Oreo Cheesecake Blizzard. Honestly, do we have to say anything more? Cheesecake is, inarguably, the best dessert on the planet. And what's the only thing that could improve the painfully rich and smooth texture of cheesecake? The crunch from crushed-up Oreos. There's no way it couldn't be good. DQ fans should also try the Frosted Animal Cookie Blizzard. Yes, it does have animal cookie pieces inside.

Summertime isn't the only time you'll find special treats on the seasonal menu. Spoon University placed the Candy Cane Oreo Blizzard on its 11 Best Dairy Queen Blizzards list. It's filled with crunchy peppermint bark, and it can't help but get you into the holiday spirit. It might not be back next year, but keep an eye out for whatever seasonal offerings come out during that time of year — you shouldn't miss out.

All too often, it can seem like nothing exciting is happening in your life. Your work life may involve doing the same task over and over again, and it's easy to let a relationship slip into a rut. Those things may be out of your control, but there is one small part of your life that you can always control: your Blizzard order at Dairy Queen. And if you need a change in your life, then it may be time to try this month's Blizzard of the Month.

Chew Boom reported an exciting update in July 2020: The month's Blizzard of the Month was the Nestle Drumstick Blizzard. Do you remember Drumsticks from when you were a kid? They were those frozen chocolate cones. When you'd bite into them, you'd find layers of vanilla ice cream and even caramel sauce. Well, even people with sensitive teeth could enjoy those delicious flavors in the month of July with this genius Blizzard concept.

The best part is that there's a new Blizzard of the Month every month (though it's not always a brand new flavor), and it may just be the best way to taste a little bit of everything on the menu.

If you're in the know when it comes to the best Dairy Queen deals, then there's one day that you look forward to every year: the first day of spring. It's on this day when the DQ gods bless us with a free cone of the good stuff. It's a great way to celebrate the beginning of the warmer weather, and it doesn't technically cost a dime.

However, this is a great chance to give back to the community if you can. While you don't have to pay for your cone, customers are encouraged to donate to the Children's Miracle Network. You got some delicious ice cream for free, so why not pass that goodwill along and do something nice for others?

Even if you happen to miss the free cone day at Dairy Queen, though, you may still be able to manage a free cone if you visit a Ben and Jerry's or Haagen Dazs. Though free cone days have largely been postponed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, we'd fully expect them to be back in coming years.