For as long as I’ve known myself, I have been madly in love with ice cream. Most nutritionists would probably agree that having any kind of food as a vice is not a wise idea – but, to them I’d say life is too short and, as my favorite bookmark so brilliantly states, “You can’t buy happiness…but you can buy ice cream, and that is pretty much the same thing.”
I can trace the beginnings of this love affair back to my childhood days. I inherited my passion for ice cream from my mother, whose fondness for the cold and creamy goodness rivaled my own. She faithfully kept half gallons of ice cream from the grocery store on hand for dessert after dinner; and, she was always on board for a visit to our local Friendly’s restaurant whether it be for a special occasion or just on a whim. Our standing order – the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Sundae for me and the M&M’s Friend-Z for her. My love for ice cream has only continued to intensify since those days and, as my kids and husband can attest to, it is usually my answer for everything. Had a bad day? There’s nothing a little ice cream won’t fix! Celebrating a milestone event, like the last day of school? Let’s go out for ice cream! No time to make dinner? Ice cream for the win! If I was stuck on a desert island and could only eat one food for the rest of my life? ICE CREAM!
So, can you guess what one of my top priorities is when we go on vacation? If you guessed eating ice cream then you would be correct! Whenever we travel, I am always on the hunt for places to get my favorite dessert. This includes our trips to the Disney parks, of course. I’ve had some of the dreamiest ice cream experiences of my life on Disney vacations! My favorite place to get ice cream at Walt Disney World is Beaches and Cream Soda Shop. Beaches and Cream is located at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, which is just a hop, skip, and jump away from Epcot’s International Gateway entrance. If you ever happen to be in the area and can carve out some time away from the theme parks, I’d highly recommend paying this fantastic restaurant a visit. Themed to resemble the old-fashioned soda fountains that were wildly popular in the 1940s and 50s, Beaches and Cream is a fun one-stop shop for lunch or dinner and, of course, dessert! Satisfy your cravings with classic favorites like burgers, French dip sandwiches, or a grilled cheese. And definitely be sure to save room for the true star of the show, their amazing ice cream creations! Their specialties include milkshakes, malts, and floats, along with ice cream sodas with your choice of flavored syrup. A variety of delicious ice cream sundaes are available as well, including the ultimate vacation indulgence – the Kitchen Sink. The Kitchen Sink sundae comes loaded with scoops of almost every ice cream flavor Beaches and Cream has to offer, and toppings galore! My personal favorite item on the dessert menu is their No Way Jose sundae. As described on the Walt Disney World website, this out-of-this-world concoction is “a peanut butter and hot fudge delight featuring chocolate and vanilla ice cream, peanut butter and chocolate morsels, whipped cream, and a cherry.” Peanut butter and chocolate are 100% my kryptonite, and this sundae never disappoints. It is pure genius!
A very close honorable mention goes to Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop. They boast an impressive dessert menu that includes mouthwatering ice cream sundaes made with their world-famous Ghirardelli chocolate. You can find this lovely little ice cream parlor both at the Disneyland Resort in California and the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida as well. No matter which location we go to, it’s always their Ocean Beach Sea Salt Caramel Sundae for me! And, of course, when it comes to visiting the Disney theme parks you can never go wrong with a traditional Mickey Mouse ice cream bar – they are a winner each and every time!
Until we meet again, remember to “Keep Calm And Eat Ice Cream!”
