The Best Ice Cream at Disney? Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

This was our first visit to Beaches and Cream Soda Shop and we LOVED it. After a long drive from Alabama, we dropped off our luggage at the Art of Animation Resort and hopped on the Skyliner. We got off the Skyliner at Epcot and walked the path to Beaches and Cream. This soda shop is located at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, right by the pool (see the map below).

Beaches & Cream is a Table Service Restaurant that serves sandwiches, burgers, tots, and fries. The food was yummy, but our favorite part of this restaurant was the desserts, ice cream, and milkshakes.

If you can’t get a reservation, you can order from the Takeout Ice Cream Counter. You can’t get everything on the normal menu, but you can stop by for a quick sweet treat.

The atmosphere here is very relaxed and casual. You’ll feel right at home in your t-shirts and flip-flops. I think this is a great restaurant to bring the little ones to (because of the atmosphere and the food). The decor is adorable and nostalgic – kind of a pastel version of Disney. It feels like you’ve stepped into a 1950s soda shop right on the Atlantic seashore.

Hours

Beaches & Cream is open daily for both lunch and dinner seating. The hours of operation are as follows:

• Lunch – 11:00 a.m. to 4:55 p.m.
• Dinner – 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (closing time is subject to change)

So… is it the best ice cream at Disney? My family ranks Beaches and Cream as their second favorite, listing the Anandapur Truck at Animal Kingdom as their #1 favorite ice cream in all of Disney World. I say try it for yourself…it’s pretty darn good!

Reservations

Beaches and Cream Soda Shop is a very popular place to eat at Disney World. But, in my opinion, it totally lives up to the hype. It is definitely worth the time and effort it takes to get a reservation. If you are working with a Disney Vacation Specialist (like Taylor or Jordan), they can help you try to get a reservation. You can also try it yourself on the My Disney Experience APP.

Even if you don’t get a reservation right away, don’t give up. Keep trying! Continue to check the APP (or the disney.go website) for reservations because people make cancellations all the time – even within 24 hours before their reservation (to avoid being charged a $10/per person fee).

Below is a screenshot from the My Disney Experience App. I looked for reservations that would be available tomorrow and found a reservation for Beaches & Cream! It is possible to get a reservation for popular restaurants at the last minute!

The Food & Milkshakes

Food at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop:

• Burgers and Sandwiches
• Plant-Based Options
• Gluten-free Sandwiches and Burgers
• Tator Tots, Onion Rings, and French Fries
• Cheddar Bacon Tots and Chili Cheese Tots
• Walt’s Famous Chili
• Desserts: Cookie Fries, Brownie a la mode, and Strawberry Shortcake
• Ice Cream, Floats, Sundaes, and Milkshakes
• Beer, Hard Cider, Hard Seltzer, Wine, and Specialty Cocktails

What should you try? The Angus Burger is really good. All of the ice cream options are also very good. If you’re in the mood for something nostalgic, you might want to try the Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup and a Malt…It’ll bring back all of those childhood feels…

See the Full Menu for Beaches & Cream Soda Shop HERE.

Walt’s Famous Chili

Reuben Sandwich with a Side of Watermelon

Cheeseburger with Tator Tots

Kid’s Macaroni & Cheese with Fries

Cheeseburger with Gluten-Free Bun and Fries

Beaches and Cream Gluten Free

The Beaches & Cream gluten-free menu is very similar to the regular menu. Here are the official gluten-free menu items:

• Angus Beef Burger (GF bun)
• Bowl of Chili
• French Dip Sandwich (GF Bun)
• Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Sandwich (GF Bun)
• Brownie À la Mode (with allergy-friendly brownie)
• Old Fashioned Sundae – Two OR Three Scoops

And, remember that you always can ask to speak with the chef for gluten-free suggestions. I’ve always found Disney Chefs to be very accommodating. Sometimes the chef will fix a special gluten-free treat just for you!

French Dip with Au Jus and Fries

Toasted French Roll served with Thinly-sliced Roast Beef, Swiss, and Au Jus …can get it topped with Crispy-fried Onions

Chocolate Milkshake

Frozen Sunshine

Rainbow Sherbet, Vanilla Ice Cream, and Seltzer blended to perfection and topped with Whipped Cream and Candied Orange Slices

Coke Float

Root Beer Floats are also available

The Kitchen Sink

Scoops of Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Cookies ‘n Cream, and Mint Chocolate Chip topped with, Hot Fudge, Peanut Butter, SNICKERS® pieces, Fresh-baked Brownie, and smothered in every additional topping we have. Also available are Chocolate Lovers or Neapolitan. This serves four people.

Minnie Kitchen Sink

Chocolate Malt

Be sure to let your server know if you are celebrating something! They may sprinkle some of that Disney pixie dust and offer you a sweet treat!

So…how much does it cost to eat at Beaches & Cream?

• Entrees range from $14-$19
• Sides (like Chili Cheese Tots) are $6-$9
• Kid’s Meals are $9-$11
• Desserts are $8-$9
• Milkshakes are $15
• Floats, Malts, and Frozen Sunshine are $6-$8
• Sundaes are $8-$12, except for the Kitchen Sink – it’s $35 and feeds 4

So, a burger and shake will cost you about $34 (plus tax and tip). You can choose less expensive options, like The Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup and an Ice Cream Soda (Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Cherry, or Pineapple). Getting both would cost you $20 (plus tax and tip).

Overall…

We really enjoyed our dinner and desserts at the Beaches and Cream Soda Shop. The atmosphere, food, and service were fantastic.

We also enjoyed exploring the Beach Resort. We ended up walking over to the Lighthouse and taking a boat over to the Boardwalk. You can rent Surrey Bikes at the Boardwalk, explore the shops, or take a walk to Fantasia Mini Golf in this area.

Have you been to the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop? What was your experience like? Any recommendation?

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