Tom’s Top 7: Best Ice Cream at Disney World
Eating ice cream is one of my favorite hobbies. If there were a competitive ice cream-eating league (side note: why isn’t there?!) I wouldn’t just be in it, I’d be a first-ballot hall of famer. That is, if I ever retired from the sport. When we’re at Walt Disney World, I eat ice cream at least once per day.
While I prefer some brands of ice cream to others, I’m far from an ice cream snob. I love the artisan shops that sell house-made ice cream with fancy ingredients and all that, but I’ll just as happily throw back a half-gallon of the off-brand stuff from Wal-Mart. Unlike the craft beer scene, ice cream enthusiasts are fairly egalitarian. We’re just happy to have a cone in hand.
At Walt Disney World, this means enjoying high-end places like Ample Hills Creamery, but not being above some Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies action. (Who doesn’t love to slum it with a half pound of whipped cream?!) With that said, not all ice cream at Walt Disney World is equal, and in this post, I’ll take a look at the creme-de-la-glace…
7. Aloha Isle/Sunshine Tree Terrace – These Magic Kingdom Adventureland locations serve two of the most famous snacks in all of Walt Disney World, the Dole Whip and Citrus Swirl. Personally, I’m team Citrus Swirl, as that dessert is actually unique to Walt Disney World, but the Dole Whip is pretty delicious, too.
It might be a controversial opinion, but I don’t think either belong near the top of list of the best ice creams at Walt Disney World. Perhaps it’s just me, but I don’t associate acidity with ice cream, and both of these desserts have that. Don’t get me wrong, they’re delicious and refreshing, but I don’t normally count them towards my daily ice cream quota.
6. Plaza Ice Cream Parlor – Like another location higher up this list, there’s a lot of nostalgia and sentimentality at play here. One of my absolute favorite ways to start a day…or end a day…or relax during the middle of the day…in Magic Kingdom is by ordering a Plaza Ice Cream Sundae and sitting at a table with a view of Cinderella Castle.
My strong preference here is going over to Tomorrowland Terrace and getting a waterside table, but it’s often closed off for dessert party prep. This is one of my favorite ‘stop and smell the roses’ experiences at Walt Disney World. (Similarly, ordering a sundae from Auntie Gravity’s and taking it into Cosmic Ray’s at the end of the night is another great experience.)
5. Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop – A San Francisco institution, Ghirardelli is known primarily for its chocolates. However, the Disney Springs location also offers a number of California-inspired (in name, at least) ice cream sundaes, most of which feature that famed chocolate heavily. While I haven’t tried them all, my favorite is the Crissy Sundae–and you can’t go wrong with any of the sea salt choices, either.
Someday, I want to try the Kitchen Sink-rivaling “Earthquake Sundae” which is eight scoops of ice cream, bananas, whipped cream, chopped almonds, chocolate chips, cherries, and more. It’s designed to feed four, but I think I could tackle it single-handedly. The $40 price tag does give me some pause, though.
4. Beaches & Cream – When is Edy’s ice cream you could buy from the local supermarket something magical? When it’s mixed with a healthy dose of nostalgia, exists in an undeniably fun environment, and calls one of the coolest resorts at Walt Disney World home. I have no delusions about the objective quality of the ice cream at Beaches & Cream. Nevertheless, few dishes at Walt Disney World make me happier than a No Way Jose.
It might just be “ordinary” ice cream, but I love this dessert. Just as importantly, I love the experience of being inside this old timey soda shop, watching the excitement of families receiving the Kitchen Sink, and smelling burgers on the grill. For me, Beaches & Cream is like stepping back in time (in my mind, it’s the place John from Carousel of Progress went to get a cold sarsaparilla) and is flat-out fun.
3. Enzo’s Hideaway – This is a tough one to include. Not because the gelato at Enzo’s Hideaway is anything short of amazing, but because it’s not a dedicated ice cream shop. Once we open this door, we should probably expand this to a top 10 or 37 list and also include places like Sprinkles and specialty dishes like the Beignet Sundae at Port Orleans French Quarter (which we had yesterday, and wow).
In any case, the Amarena Gelati Sundae (crema, chocolate, pistachio, cherries, and whipped cream) at Enzo’s Hideaway is flat-out one of the best desserts I’ve ever had at Walt Disney World. If the other sundaes–and there are several–are anything like it, Enzo’s belongs in the conversation as one of the best ice cream spots at Walt Disney World, even if it’s more of a restaurant and bar. Their gelato is rich, flavorful, and dense, and the gelato quality is far superior to regular ice cream spots at Walt Disney World. Enzo’s Hideaway is an interesting place worth visiting for drinks…and sundaes. An atypical, albeit awesome niche.
2. L’Artisan des Glaces – This ice cream shop tucked away in World Showcase at Epcot is something of a hidden gem. Like the rest of the France pavilion, it’s highly regarded and those who have tried it generally seem to really like or love it. However, in the larger conversation about the best dessert spots at Walt Disney World, it isn’t mentioned as often–certainly not as much as Beaches & Cream.
L’Artisan des Glaces serves 16 flavors of house-made ice cream and sorbet, all of it creamy and flavorful. While scoops of ice cream are the basic option here, there are some interesting creations, such as ice cream macarons, cappuccino, and martinis. There’s also my favorite: the Croque Glacé, which is one scoop of ice cream in a homemade, warm-pressed brioche. This is a next-level ice cream sandwich, and what we’d recommend at L’Artisan des Glaces.
1. Ample Hills Creamery – We used to always walk from Epcot’s International Gateway to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the name of health. Now, it’s a dangerous proposition, as the siren song of Ample Hills at the BoardWalk beacons us about half the time we make this walk. Resisting, or “behaving” ourselves and splitting an Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Sundae is a herculean feat.
Ample Hill’s ice cream is high-quality, featuring inventive ingredients and boasting flavors that are exceptional. It’s in the same tradition as Ben & Jerry’s, but somehow with even more ambition and better choices. The result is ice cream that’s addictively good, and a place so good we stop at least once (…or three times) every single trip to Walt Disney World.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What’s your go-to ice cream spot at Walt Disney World? Any favorite ice cream specialties at “regular” restaurants? Are you a Beaches & Cream diehard, or do you think it’s overrated? Do you agree or disagree with my choices on this list? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I agree wholeheartedly.
Ample Hills is the premier spot for ice cream at Walt Disney World.
“…in my mind, it’s the place John from Carousel of Progress went to get a cold sarsaparilla)”- Solid comparison!
We stayed at Beach Club at the beginning of June. One night, I had Ample Hills (ooey gooey butter cake) and the next night I had a milk shake from Beaches and Cream. Surprisingly, I liked Beaches and Cream better. It’s just plain old simple goodness. Ample Hills is delicious too, but it’s almost too rich.
I’ve read all your posts, some more than once… or twice, and this is my favorite because, ICE CREAM! Thanks for such in depth reviews on the best topic out there!
I have never commented on a blog post in my life but I felt compelled to add my two cents’ worth to this one! I was at WDW at the beginning of June and made my first visit to the Yachtsman Steakhouse. I saw a gorgeous sundae pass by our table and I had to ask our waitress what it was and then order one to share! I am a chocolate addict and so I will not usually order a dessert that does not include some but I cannot recommend the Lexington Sundae highly enough! The Lexington Sundae: Salted Caramel and Buttered Popcorn Gelatos, Crumbled Brown Butter Cookies, Caramel, Whipped Cream, Toasted Honey Marshmallow….
My wife and I stayed at Vero Beach during the Christmas holiday and found they did lots of renovations, some which we liked and some we didn’t. But that’s a different blog. FYI (since we are talking ice cream): Dole Whip is now available at Vero in the shop near the pool!!
Maybe it’s just for people like me in the NYC area, but pints of Ample Hills are available at high-end grocers like Fairway and Whole Foods too. Their Last Jedi themed flavors are quite tasty.
What do you think of Vivoli il gelato Tom also at Disney Springs. The one time I went it was good I don’t recall what I had but the gelato was great and it had Amarena cherries as did the sundae you show in your picture.
Last time I was at L’Artisan des Glaces, they had a lemon meringue ice cream on the menu that day… it was a very good choice for the ice cream martini with the whipped cream vodka! 🙂
Love this! I too am an ice cream enthusiast and completely agree that I am not a snob, I will take any and all ice cream. I must say, I love all these options but always need a classic twist in a waffle cone when I’m at WDW, it’s the best soft serve! But let’s be honest, I’m also an ice cream a day WDW vacationer so we still hit them all.
Ample Hills is fantastic. We always stay at either Beach or Yacht Club and when we discovered Ample Hills on one of our daily strolls around the Boardwalk, I think we started going everyday! And, it is even more dangerous with 2 snack credits in the dining plan because now we know we can go there often and still have plenty of credits for other things!
Delightful article! Your enthusiasm for ice cream is infectious.
All good choices on this list. A little surprised Gertie the Dinosaur didn’t make the list. Then again, it’s almost bever open when we visit.
*never open
Great article!
I’ve always been one to partake in the dole whip, without even giving the citrus swirl a second thought.
No more!
I will be choosing citrus over swirl at my next Disney trip in November!
Is it bad that I already knew Ample Hills would be #1 before I even opened the article?
Living in New York, I have an Ample Hills within walking distance of my apartment. (About a 20 minute walk, which makes me feel a LITTLE bit better about the calories.) If I’m at WDW, I’ll go for a Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar every day over Ample Hills. That may sound nuts, but it’s the truth. The thick, dark chocolate is just perfect. And it might be my rose-colored, MIckey-shapped glasses, but I swear it’s the best vanilla ice cream on Earth.
I’m very excited to try the No Way Jose and All American Sundae on my upcoming trip. As well as a Croque Glace.
I won’t tell my wife this but Ample Hills is one of the reasons I keep resisting staying on the monorail loop and push for the Boardwalk every trip. So good. Also, a strong Dad move for the first day of vacation is to eat at The Plaza and order a brownie sundae instead of an actual dinner. Do I let the kids do this too? I do not.
You are my new idol, Joe. 🙂
Mmmm, this post looks so yummy scrummy. Just FYI, you can order a “swirl” of pineapple Dole Whip and vanilla softserve. I too find the pineapple dole whip to be a little too acidic on its own, but when intertwined with creamy vanilla, it is divine!
My favorite too!
Love the Dole Whip, Citrus swirl is next. Currently at Animal Kingdom. I will definitely have to try ghirardelli ice cream. Thanks again Tom for all your tips.
I love the Croque Glacé, and the fact that it is unique to WDW . I can get good ice cream at home, but not that. Not that this stops me from getting good ice cream at WDW anyway. I might be in the same boat as you – once, my daughter looked at me and commented that I hadn’t had any ice cream that day on vacation!
Have you had the gelati in Italy? How does it rate? I always want to try it, but am lured to France instead.
As a side note on Ample Hills, people talk about the price, but the sundaes are huge. Split one of those between two people and you come out ahead on calories per dollar than probably about any other ice cream place in WDW.