The Definitive Guide to Ice Cream at Disney World
One type of cuisine Disney excels at— and generally does well—is ice cream. However, not all ice cream carts and novelty treats are on the same level. Here’s a rundown of the icy delights available at Disney World.
In Short
When temperatures soar to 96 degrees with 90 percent humidity, nothing hits the spot quite like a vanilla soft serve cone topped with rainbow sprinkles or a classic Mickey Bar. Luckily, ice cream carts and soft serve stands are plentiful across all four Disney parks.
For those craving hard, hand-scooped ice cream, many vendors offer Edy's or Häagen-Dazs. You can find homemade ice cream in the World Showcase at Epcot (in France and Italy) and at select fine dining spots (like Trattoria al Forno, Flying Fish Cafe, Citricos).
Don't miss Vivoli il Gelato, an esteemed gelato shop from Florence that has opened its only location outside Italy in Downtown Disney. It’s a must-visit.
Cult favorites to seek out include Dole Whip and the Citrus Swirl, both available at Magic Kingdom.
Outside Magic Kingdom, you can find delightful boozy ice cream options (like Dole Whip with dark rum) that perfectly satisfy multiple cravings.
The standout ice cream treat we tried was:
The ice cream sandwich from Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
Photo by Bill Addison and Helen RosnerThe mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwich at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor in Magic Kingdom is a delight. Plaza bakes its cookies fresh each day, achieving what many top ice cream shops struggle with: cookies that are large, flat, and deliciously pliable. They’re soft enough not to crumble when bitten but sturdy enough to hold two generous scoops of melting ice cream. The ice cream available is typical Edy's, but you can customize your flavor here.
Other must-try items include:
ginger caramel ice cream at the Joy of Tea in the China pavilion at Epcot
caramel fleur de sel ice cream at L’Artisan des Glaces in the France pavilion at Epcot
sundaes from Ghirardelli Ice Cream Shop in Downtown Disney
gelato from Tutto Italia Snack Stand in Italy
peanut butter and jelly milkshake at 50's Prime Time Cafe
sundaes at the nostalgic Beaches & Cream Soda Shop on the Boardwalk
Must-Try Novelty Dishes:
Croque Glace: a delicious grilled brioche ice cream sandwich (complete with sauce), found at Les Glaces in the France pavilion at Epcot.
Croissant donut: Disney's take on the famous cronut offers a delightful, if not extraordinary, version of the original. You can even top it with soft serve. Available at the Refreshment Port in Epcot's World Showcase.
PASS ON THIS
- LeFou's Brew at Gaston's Tavern in Magic Kingdom
- The floats and sundaes at Via Tutto in the Italy pavilion
- The 'Mickey' Kitchen Sink sundae. This hefty three-scoop sundae costs around $20 and comes with a souvenir dish shaped like Mickey's pants.
Dole Whip float: The legendary pineapple soft serve served in a cup brimming with pineapple juice. Incredibly refreshing. Available at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom.
Dole Whip with rum: Essentially the Dole Whip float, but with rum replacing the pineapple juice. Yes, please! Available at Tamu Tamu in Animal Kingdom.
Kitchen Sink sundae: A true test of endurance, this eight-scoop sundae is piled high with every topping available, meant to be shared by four people, priced at $32. Find it at the retro-themed Beaches & Cream Soda Shop.
Evaluation :
5/5