Happy National Ice Cream Day!
To celebrate, I thought I’d share some of the best locations to find the ultimate ice cream treats. Whether you’re a chocoholic or prefer a single scoop of something more unique, you’re sure to find a favorite to beat the heat when visiting any of the Disney Destinations. Of course there are dozens of options for this summer staple, but these are the ones that really count. The ones you’ll be thinking about long after you depart. The ones you’ll try to recreate at home (ehem, dole whip) and then realize you simply miss Disney and need to go back (I can help you there). Because nothing is the same as enjoying these sweet treats at the most magical place on earth. So here it is: my list of the top 8 places to find the BEST Disney ice cream.
8) Food Carts & Stands – All Disney Parks
Featured: Mickey Ice Cream Bars
It’s hard to go a day at the parks without wanting one of these signature Mickey-themed treats. Mickey Ice Cream Bars are a staple at the parks and can be found at both food carts and some quick-service counters. They are simple vanilla ice cream bars coated in chocolate, but that makes them no less refreshing. Plus they’re cheap, readily available, can be purchased with a snack credit from the Disney Dining Plan, portable, and are perfect for those long waits in line (unless you’d prefer to avoid those).
7) Quick-Service Stations – Disney Cruise Line
Featured: Endless Soft-Serve Ice Cream
One of my favorite memories of my first cruise was finding out that I could get soft-serve ice cream on the ship pretty much anytime I wanted. Even better was finding out I didn’t need my parents there to pay for it each time. On Disney Cruise Line there are several locations aboard at which you can enjoy an endless supply of soft-serve ice cream cones as you hang out by the pools. Typical options are vanilla and chocolate, but they usually rotate in some alternatives such as mango or strawberry over the course of the trip. Of course it’s all included, so indulge to your heart’s content!
6) Plaza Ice Cream Parlor – Magic Kingdom
Featured: Homemade Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches
Step back into vintage Main Street to find the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, with menu items such as The Mickey Pants Sundae and old-fashioned ice cream floats. But the best option is their homemade ice cream cookie sandwich, made with fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and your choice of hand-scooped ice cream. My favorite combo? It has to be cookie dough ice cream sandwiched in between – ice cream and cookie just belong together.
5) Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop – Disney California Adventure & Disney Springs
Featured: Ghirardelli Signature Sundaes
One of my favorite spots for a break at California Adventure is Pacific Wharf, where you can enjoy items like fresh baked sourdough bread from Boudin Bakery and the legendary signature sundaes from Ghirardelli. With menu items such as The Ocean Beach Sea Salt Caramel Sundae and The Strike It Rich Butterscotch Hot Fudge Sundae, you are sure to find something tempting. They even have a selection of “Intense Dark” sundaes for the dark chocolate lovers (“Espresso Escape Sundae” anyone?). These indulgent treats are big enough to share, if you want to. Plus, at Ghirardelli you can score a free chocolate sample just for walking in the door.
4) Aloha Isle & Tiki Juice Bar – Magic Kingdom & Disneyland Park
Featured: Dole Whip
I’ll admit, I have a bit of a bias here. I am part of the Dole Whip cult following. But it’s for good reason – there is something so satisfying about enjoying a Dole Whip while waiting for the Enchanted Tiki Room show to begin in Adventureland. It is typically served one of two ways: as sweet, creamy pineapple soft serve in a cup or swirled on top of pineapple juice as a float. I didn’t even realize I was a pineapple fan until I tried Dole Whip, so be sure to give it a try. It is also non-dairy, so it is vegan-friendly!
3) Ample Hills Creamery – Disney’s BoardWalk
Featured: Fresh Baked Cookie, Pretzel, and Waffle Cones
Another turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor located at Walt Disney World, Ample Hills Creamery offers 16 signature ice cream flavors such as “Ooey Gooey Butter Cake” and “Coffee Toffee Coffee”. This Brooklyn-native ice cream shop also boasts ingredients such as “hormone free milk and cream from grass fed cows” and organic cane sugar. But what really sets them apart are their cones: your unique ice cream scoop will be served up in your choice of a fresh baked cookie, pretzel, or waffle cone. Yes, that means you can enjoy your ice cream in an M&M cookie cone or create the ultimate caramel pretzel concoction.
2) L’Artisan des Glaces – Epcot
Featured: Croque Glace, Ice Cream Martinis, and Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches
If you can’t tell by the name, L’Artisan des Glaces is located in the France section of Epcot. Here you can find some of France’s most famous artisan treats, such as macarons and fresh brioche. They offer a mix of delicious ice cream and sorbet flavors, including profiterole ice cream and pomegranate sorbet. I highly recommend the Croque Glace, which is a warm brioche bun filled with your choice of ice cream and drizzled in caramel, chocolate, or raspberry sauce. Yum!
1) Beaches and Cream – Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Featured: Kitchen Sink
While Beaches and Cream does offer a variety of classic sundaes, no list of famous Disney ice creams would be complete without the legendary Kitchen Sink. I know I’ve mentioned sharing as an option before, but this one is meant to serve at least four people. It contains scoops of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, and mint chocolate chip ice cream topped with all the toppings they can muster (with a cherry on top of course). Sounds good, right? Well what if I told you there’s a chocolate lovers version…and it too is served in a kitchen sink. It is a challenge the whole family can enjoy, and a great way to celebrate any occasion you can think of (even if that occasion is that you’re at Disney World). Bon appetit!
How’s that for tempting? So next time you visit one of the Disney parks or sail the Caribbean, be sure to sample some (or all) of these delicious desserts. And remember, everything is better when shaped like Mickey!
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