Disney is full of interesting food options.
But sometimes, you want the familiar. There’s a reason why the most frequently sold food items in the park are things like the Mickey Pretzel, some popcorn or a hot dog.
Therefore, there’s a reason – and some of that reason is the Florida heat – that a couple of scoops of ice cream, sorbet, a float or a shake are among the most popular desserts in the Walt Disney World parks.
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Does Disney sell ice cream?
Disney doesn’t just sell ice cream. It sells ALL the ice cream. If Disney stopped selling ice cream, there’s a decent chance the world’s ice cream economy would collapse.
Disney sells so much ice cream. It’s the ice cream mecca of Florida, possibly the world.
What are the best ice cream options in the Walt Disney World resort?
My friends, ranking Disney’s ice cream options is like ranking your favorite stars in the sky or your favorite grains of sand at the beach but, you know, significantly better tasting.
But I’m gonna give it a go. As always, adjust accordingly for personal taste. Also, remember that menu items are subject to change.
1. All American Ice Cream Sundae
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street, Magic Kingdom
The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street, across from Casey’s, is the go-to spot in the Magic Kingdom for your traditional, old-timey ice cream experience.
They have a trio of ice cream sundaes from which to choose. The All American Sundae has hot fudge, whipped cream with a cherry and your choice of two hand-scoops of ice cream.
Is it a heavy dessert for the Magic Kingdom? It certainly is. But get you a table and hunker down. It’s worth it.
2. The Croque Glacé
L’Artisans Des Glace, France Pavilion, EPCOT
The Croque Glacé found at L’Artisans in EPCOT is one scoop of ice cream with your choice of sauce served in a homemade brioche bun and pressed warm.
The warm bun surrounding the cool ice cream is certainly a special treat. In fact, it’s so good you’ll want to order it even on the hottest days.
Read Also: What Is the Croque Glacé at EPCOT and Where To Find It
3. Pineapple Dole Whip Float
Aloha Isle, Adventureland, Magic Kingdom
Pineapple Lanai, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Available at Pineapple Lanai in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort as well as the previously mentioned Aloha Isle in the Magic Kingdom, the Pineapple Float is a Disney staple.
Dole Whip is all but the official dessert of Disney World and pineapple is the flavor that started it all.
So, the combination of the pineapple whip with pineapple and vanilla soft serve has made Disney guests happy for generations. In other words, it’s just an iconic dessert.
4. Yeti Sundae
Anandapur Ice Cream Truck, Asia, Animal Kingdom
Available at the Anandapur Ice Cream Truck in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Yeti Sundae is chocolate soft serve topped with vanilla soft serve, blue cake crumbs and sugar – just in case you weren’t getting enough of that – as well as sweet snowflakes and a chocolate yeti.
Sure, you could go with a more traditional waffle cone or float, but why would you?
5. Non-Dairy Hot Fudge Sundae
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, Disney Springs
Located in the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop in Disney Springs, this shop offers a non-dairy sundae in addition to its other dairy-based shakes and treats.
My allergic-to-dairy son, John Paul, has often felt left out when others around him have ice cream parties or pizza parties and the like. So I appreciate it when Disney and/or its partners prepare a menu that is welcoming to folks who otherwise wouldn’t be able to participate.
Ghiradelli’s non-dairy choice is hot fudge made with non-dairy chocolate chips and almond milk, over scoops of non-dairy vanilla coconut and finished with almond milk whipped topping, diced almonds, a cherry and a dark chocolate square.
If you’re good with dairy, I also like the Nob Hill Chill (pictured above), which has vanilla ice cream with hot fudge and topped with mini dark chocolate chips.
6. Heigh Ho Sundae
Storybook Treats, Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom
A chocolate lover’s dream, the Heigh Ho Sundae – made with chocolate soft-serve topped with chocolate rocks, graham cracker pieces, whipped cream and hot fudge – is just one of the treats available at Storybook Treats.
Be ready to jump quickly, however, because the Disney culinary team likes to mix things up.
Just ask fans of the Peter Pan Float or the Kokamora Float – two Disney treats that have come and gone from the Disney World menu.
Also, a word to the rise, be ready to go to work when you order this sweet treat. The Florida heat will change your order from a sundae to a milkshake really quickly.
7. Classic Banana Split
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
Part of the offerings from the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, this classic dessert offering is one of several sundaes available at the traditional ice cream and soda shop.
The Banana Split is made with a ripe banana, three scoops of ice cream (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry) pineapple, strawberry and marshmallow topping finished off with hot fudge, caramel sauce, toasted almonds, whipped cream and a cherry. It’s surely a slice of heaven.
8. The Tropical Serenade
Aloha Isle, Adventureland, Magic Kingdom
The Tropical Serenade, found at Aloha Isle, takes the divine pineapple-orange-guava juice and combines it with coconut soft-serve and an upside-down pineapple cake pop.
It’s perfect when you want something suitably adventurous and tropical. And, it’s a great option to mitigate the blast of humidity when you walk out of the air-conditioned Tiki Room and back into the Florida heat.
9. The Kitchen Sink
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Available in chocolate lovers or Neapolitan, this massive offering serves four.
The Kitchen Sink is scoops of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies ‘n cream, and mint chocolate chip ice cream topped with hot fudge, peanut butter, Snickers pieces and fresh-baked brownie. And it’s also smothered in every additional topping available.
This really could be the dessert for which the term food coma was coined. By the way, there is no reward for trying to down this thing by yourself, so don’t bother trying.
10. Gelati Waffle Cone
Gelateria Toscana, Italy Pavilion, EPCOT
Gelati in a waffle cone is just how it sounds. It’s two scoops of Italian ice cream in a waffle cone.
Available flavors include chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, cookies and cream, stracciatella and Amerena cherry. There is also a flavor-of-the-month option that changes … monthly.
Also, did you know what stracciatella is? I’m not as up on my Italian culture as I might be, apparently. I had to look it up. It’s milk-based ice cream with a fior di latte (sweet cheese) and also fine, irregular shavings of dark chocolate. It was invented in Northern Italy in 1961.
11. Simba Sunset
Tamu Tamu, Africa, Animal Kingdom
The Sunset is Dole Whip pineapple and strawberry. It’s nothing fancy – certainly not as daring as the now de-menued Scar’s Lair – which was Dole Whip pineapple and sour apple.
However, there’s a reason why Simba survived, and Scar was banished. The Simba Sunset is now king. You can also go with the classic pineapple flavor, pictured above.
Read Also: 18 Best Animal Kingdom Snacks, an Underrated Park for Foodies
12. I Lava You Float
Sunshine Tree Terrace, Adventureland, Magic Kingdom
The I Lava You Float, the less famous of the two Adventureland Dole Whipperies, is made with Fanta strawberry soda and passion fruit flavor.
It has Dole Whip orange topped with popping candy, which thrills my inner eight-year-old and my actual eight-year-old as well, I suppose.
They also sell the accursed Mountain Berry Blast Powerade Float here, but I’m willing to overlook it.
13. Blood Orange Mimosa Float
Swirls on the Water, Boardwalk, Disney Springs
Available from Swirls on the Water – try saying that out loud without hearing the iconic Deep Purple guitar riff in your head – the Blood Orange Mimosa Float is an alcohol option with Canella Blood Orange Mimosa, Dole Whip orange and an orange wedge.
It’s citrusy goodness with that little kick of a brunch-time classic.
Also, getting a little tipsy makes it easier to walk around humming duh-duh-duh, duh-duh-da-da to yourself.
14. Little Mermaid Milkshake
Hollywood Scoops, Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
The Little Mermaid Milkshake from Hollywood Scoops flirts with some of the flavors from my beloved POG juice. It’s a vanilla milkshake with mango, guava and ginger topped with whipped cream and a pineapple-guava seashell cake.
I’m going to tell you that I haven’t really messed with guava much in my regular life, but considering how much I like vacation guava, we’re going to have to really consider doubling down and becoming a guavahead.
15. Stuffed Pineapple
Vivoli il Gelato, Italy, Epcot and Disney Springs and Riviera Resort
Vivoli il Gelato has a brick-and-mortar store and a cart at Disney Springs as well as a location at the Riviera Resort.
The eatery has some truly wonderful options including the Stuffed Pineapple, a hollowed-out pineapple half filled with pineapple sorbetto.
They also serve a myriad of gelato options, such as the Cannoli Gelato (pictured above) as well as signature shakes.
16. Ice Cream Martini
L’Artisan Des Glaces, France Pavilion, EPCOT
The Ice Cream Martini is one of the few alcohol options on this list.
It’s two scoops of ice cream with Grand Marnier, whipped ice cream vodka or rum. If you’re considering drinking your way around the world at EPCOT, consider this as your dessert finisher.
17. Peanut Butter & Jelly Milkshake
50s Prime Time Cafe, Hollywood Studios
The milkshake was an integral part of 50s culture – you know, going with the gang down to the malt shoppe – so it makes sense that the 50s Prime Time Cafe offers a variety.
Sure, you could go with a choice of traditional chocolate, vanilla or strawberry shakes, but you’re on vacation. Shake things up.
The Peanut Butter and Jelly Shake is just what it sounds like. It’s also a little-known fact that it’s completely free if you do the hand jive while ordering. I’m kidding. It’s not free. But please do the hand jive while ordering anyway, just to make me happy.
18. Orange Cream Soft-Serve Cup
Sunshine Tree Terrace, Adventureland, Magic Kingdom
Sometimes less is more. Dole Whip orange is my favorite flavor. There’s something about the vanilla and orange citrus swirl that is especially pleasing to the taste buds.
There are certainly a lot fancier desserts available, but there’s nothing wrong with sticking to the classics.
Also, I’m fond of the Orange Bird and I like the sipper. However, am I man enough to confidently use that Orange Bird Sipper in everyday life? Reader, I’m working on it.
19. Vanilla Ice Cream
Hollywood Scoops, Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
Stop by for some vanilla ice cream at Hollywood Scoops located on Sunset Boulevard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Sometimes you just need a high-quality classic.
In our society, vanilla has come to be a stand-in for bland, as if it has no real flavor of its own. But folks, vanilla has been slandered!
Vanilla is a flavor that’s every bit as deserving of your love and respect as our other one-note ice cream flavors strawberry or chocolate. Well, maybe not chocolate, but you get my point.
20. Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich
Various locations
Disney does not miss a branding opportunity. They realize, of course, if foodstuff can be branded with the main mouse, sales will perk right.
Excuse me, sir, could I interest you in a regular old ice cream sandwich? In fact, the kind you can find in any frozen food section in the world?
Well, I do like those things, but I’m on vacation. Therefore, I want something different, something I can’t get at home.
Oh? Would it change your mind if I told you, it’s a Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich?
I’ll take a dozen.
21. The Mickey Bar
Various locations
Available from ice cream carts far and wide across the Walt Disney World complex, the Mickey Bar, a vanilla ice cream served in a chocolate shell, is shaped like Mickey’s famous silhouette.
It’s not fancy, but it is iconic and served on a stick. Food is almost always better served on a stick.
22. Root Beer Float
Epic Eats, Hollywood Studios and various locations
Disney’s float game is epic. There are a variety of places like Epic Eats in Hollywood Studios, where you can order a traditional float made with vanilla ice cream dropped into assorted Coca-Cola beverages.
I like the traditional root beer float but don’t be afraid to experiment a little. I draw the line, however, at the Blue Powerade floats. Maybe they’re delicious, but there are some rubicons that should not be crossed.
23. Brownie Sundae
Auntie Gravity’s, Magic Kingdom and various locations
This sundae is available at a few places throughout the park, including Auntie Gravity’s. The Brownie Sundae is about what you’d expect. Specifically, it’s vanilla ice cream served with brownies and hot fudge or strawberry topping.
Above all, it’s a great dessert to help beat the Florida heat and possibly push you to the edge of a sugar coma. Not the most exotic vacation ice cream choice, but a reliably good one.
What kind of ice cream is Dole Whip?
It’s soft-serve ice cream in varying flavors, mostly fruit flavors. It’s often served in a variety of floats in drinks ranging from the traditional root beer or Coke to Sprite or blue Powerade.
But of course, Disney sells sorbet, gelato and some non-dairy frozen treats as well.
Do you have a favorite frozen Disney treat? If so, let us know in the comments!
