Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor Charm at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

In full disclosure I must first note that ice cream is my favorite food. Hands down. I would eat it every day, all day, if humanly possible without clogging all my arteries. But that in no way influenced this post about Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. Ok maybe just a little, but mostly not. Because not only does Beaches & Cream Soda Shop serve up some of the best ice cream creations on the Walt Disney World Resort property, Guests also can dig into some superb soda shop fare, such as the Beaches Hot Dog and the Beaches Patty Melt. I personally recommend the onion rings. But more on that later.

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is tucked away in the back of Disney’s Beach Club Resort, overlooking Stormalong Bay pool. Once you visit you will see why reservations are so hard to score – it barely sits approximately 70 Guests inside. If you are planning a visit to Walt Disney World Resort anytime in the near future, or if staying on property within the next 180 days, try to get a reservation. But if can’t nab a coveted reservation, don’t despair, there are still several ways to enjoy Beaches & Cream Soda Shop.

Booths at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, courtesy Walt Disney World photos.

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop’s claim to fame is the Kitchen Sink Sundae, an eight scoop of ice cream concoction filled with brownies, pound cake, cookies, every topping imaginable and an entire can of whip cream. If you order this sundae it’s delivered to your table with much fanfare, flashing lights, and usually a rousing round of applause from the entire restaurant. My family took on the challenge of devouring the Kitchen Sink Sundae during our visit last year, and I have to say, everyone who visits Beaches & Cream Soda Shop should experience this mammoth bowl of ice cream heaven at least once.

Kitchen Sink Sundae, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Disney’s Beach Club Resort

As a side note, we are a food allergy family, with severe peanut, tree nut and sesame allergies. We have no problems at all dining at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. As has become standard at Walt Disney World Resort, a manager always comes out and talks with us first about our allergies. The items for my children with food allergies are prepared specially in the back with appropriate safeguards, and we all can enjoy the experience together as a family. You can read more about our experience as a food allergy family at Walt Disney World Resort, including our Kitchen Sink Sundae experience, here. I also snapped a shot of the Allergy-Friendly Menu during our most recent visit.

Allergy-Friendly menu at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Disney’s Beach Club Resort

During our last visit we stayed at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. I had not been able to get a reservation at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop so I was keeping my fingers crossed for a lucky break on a walk-up reservation.

The restaurant does have a carry-out area for ice cream for those not wanting to wait to see if a spot inside becomes available, or for those just wanting to grab ice cream on the run. Our first night at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort we took advantage of the to-go line. There are plenty of tables right outside the restaurant overlooking Stormalong Bay, as well as tables on the Crescent Lake side of Stormalong Bay. There is nothing better than enjoying some delicious ice cream on a beautiful Florida night as you walk around Crescent Lake or along the Boardwalk.

At the carryout window you can order ice cream, milk shakes and a Mickey Pants Sundae, a smaller version of the Kitchen Sink Sundae served in a souvenir Mickey Pants Sink container. We love these souvenir “bowls” by the way, and use them often at home.

However, if you really want a table inside so you can enjoy the old fashioned ice cream parlor atmosphere, try to get on the walk up reservation wait list.

Inside Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Disney’s Beach Club Resort

During our second night at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort we enjoyed some late night swimming in Stormalong Bay and put our name on the wait list at the restaurant. At the time the Cast Member told me the wait list was full but we could put our name in just in case there were any no-shows. A little pixie dust was showered on us that night and we were able to get a table shortly after the pool closed for the night.

Moral of the story – no reservation, don’t despair! Put your name on the wait list and if you have time to enjoy the pool, arcade or just a walk around the grounds, you may get lucky and still get a seat inside.

Since we tried the Kitchen Sink Sundae last year we decided to venture in a different direction and try some of the other ice cream creation offerings. We also ordered a few items from the dinner menu, including the Beaches Hot Dog (for my ever hungry 13-year-old son), the Beaches Patty Melt, french fries and onion rings. All were delicious. I particularly loved the onion rings. I am generally not a fan of onion rings so you know they had to be good. We were lucky and had a table right next to the jukebox. This only added to our perfect ice cream parlor experience as we were munching on our classic soda shop fare and drinking soda straight from Coca-Cola© Nostalgia bottles.

Coca-Cola Nostalgia bottles at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Disney’s Beach Club Resort

As far as I am concerned, there is no way to go wrong here. Every item on the dessert menu sounds delectable. Of course we can’t have the desserts with nuts or peanut butter, but that still leaves many choices for this food allergy family.

Menu at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Disney’s Beach Club Resort

It had been YEARS since I had eaten a Milky Way bar so I knew right away that I wanted to order the Milky Way Sundae. My husband ordered the same. The kids chose a Chocolate Malt Milkshake, the Fudge Mud Slide Sundae, and the Strawberry Shortcake Sundae.

Fudge Mud Slide Sundae, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Disney’s Beach Club Resort

I’m not sure if it was the fun time we were having or all the sugar, but let’s just say some people got a little crazy.

Fun at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

I will note it WAS NOT the new Adult Hard Floats and Milkshakes offered at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop that made our family particularly giggly and goofy that night. Newly introduced concoctions like a S’Mores Shake and a Tropical Sunrise Float were tempting to myself and my husband, but I was in the mood for a good old fashioned sundae that night. However, I am keeping this new menu in mind for my next visit, that’s for sure. There also is a good selection of beer and hard cider.

Adult Beverage Menu at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Disney’s Beach Club Resort

We had such a fun night together during our visit, and I am positive the atmosphere had a lot to do with that. Even if you are not staying at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, I encourage you to take a small side excursion and head to Beaches & Cream Soda Shop for a trip back in time to an old fashioned ice cream parlor. I guarantee you will enjoy some unbelievable ice cream creations while listening to some classic American music on the jukebox. You also will leave with some wonderful new memories created with your family, as my family as done every time we have visited this charming restaurant and ice cream shop.

Milky Way Sundae, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Disney’s Beach Club Resort