Where to Get Ice Cream at Disney World: Parks, Resorts & Disney Springs
Looking for ice cream at Disney World? Find Dole Whip, sundaes, gelato, soft serve and frozen treats at all four parks, Disney resorts and Disney Springs.
Estimated reading time: 30 minutes
Sometimes you don’t need another cupcake.
You don’t need a giant cookie.
You don’t even need one of Disney World’s approximately 47 variations on a brownie.
Sometimes it’s 92 degrees outside, you’ve been walking around a theme park for six hours, and you want ice cream… or Dole Whip.. or gelato.
Maybe a giant sundae.
Or basically anything cold.
Fortunately, Disney World is VERY good at this particular category of food.
And unlike my guide to the best Disney World desserts, this isn’t going to be another ranking.
I’ve already told you which desserts I think are the best. This guide has a completely different purpose.
I want to answer a much more practical question:
Where can you actually get ice cream and frozen treats at Disney World?
Because there are a lot more options than grabbing a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar from the nearest cart.
There are dedicated ice cream shops, Dole Whip stands, and gelato shops. There are enormous sundaes and ice cream sandwiches made with macarons. Frozen treats hide inside World Showcase shops. And there are funnel cakes covered in soft serve.
Disney has options.
So I’m going park by park, plus Disney Springs and the resorts, and sharing the places I know about where you can cool off with something frozen.
I’ve personally tried most of the places and treats in this guide. There are a handful I haven’t gotten to yet—particularly at Disney Springs—and I’ll tell you when that’s the case. This isn’t one of those situations where I’m going to pretend I’ve eaten something just because everyone else says it’s amazing.
And because Disney changes menus approximately five minutes after I publish anything, some specialty flavors and seasonal treats will come and go.
But that’s okay.
Think of this as your starting point for finding something cold and delicious when you need it.
Where to Get Ice Cream at Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom has some of the best frozen treats at Disney World.
And yes, I’m probably biased because my favorite Disney dessert of all time happens to involve pineapple soft serve.
But even if you don’t share my apparently bottomless enthusiasm for pineapple, you’ve got plenty of options.
Aloha Isle
Let’s just start with the obvious one.
Aloha Isle is home to Dole Whip, and if you’ve never had one before, this is probably where I’d tell you to start.
You can get pineapple soft serve by itself, swirl it with vanilla, get it as a float, or choose from whatever specialty creations Disney currently has on the menu.
But personally?
I’m getting the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.
Every time.
This is my favorite Disney World dessert, period.
You get a piece of pineapple upside-down cake topped with pineapple soft serve, and the combination of cold pineapple soft serve with that sweet, sticky cake is ridiculously good.
I know the classic Dole Whip is iconic.
I still want the cake.
If you’re anywhere near Adventureland and wondering where to get a frozen treat, Aloha Isle is one of the easiest recommendations I can make.
Sunshine Tree Terrace
Just around the corner, Sunshine Tree Terrace gives you even more Dole Whip possibilities.
This is where you’ll find the I Lava You Float, along with other soft-serve and float combinations that change from time to time.
And here’s where I apparently need to hand in my Disney food blogger card.
I don’t love the I Lava You Float.
I know.
People love this thing.
I’ve had it. It’s cute. It’s refreshing. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.
It’s just not one of my favorites.
But this is exactly why I’m including it in this guide.
I’m not ranking the best frozen desserts. I’m telling you where to find them, and Sunshine Tree Terrace is absolutely one of Magic Kingdom’s major frozen-treat stops.
If you prefer citrusy, fruity flavors over my beloved pineapple-caramel-dessert situation, you may very well disagree with me.
That’s allowed.
Barely.
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
If what you really want is ice cream ice cream, head to the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street U.S.A.
This is your classic Disney ice cream shop.
Cones.
Cups.
Sundaes.
Hot fudge.
Whipped cream.
All the good stuff.
I’ve had the All-American Sundae, and this is exactly the kind of dessert I want when I’m in the mood for an old-fashioned ice cream sundae rather than some elaborate Disney creation.
There’s also something particularly wonderful about getting ice cream here and taking it outside onto Main Street.
You don’t need everything you eat at Disney World to be revolutionary.
Sometimes you’re standing in front of Cinderella Castle eating a giant ice cream sundae.
Life is good.
Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
Over in Tomorrowland, Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies is another easy place to grab something frozen.
And yes, I routinely want to call this Antigravity Galactic Goodies.
That would make sense.
Apparently Disney disagrees.
Auntie Gravity’s is especially useful if you don’t necessarily want a full-blown sundae. You’ll typically find soft serve, floats, smoothies, iced drinks, and seasonal frozen creations here.
This is more of a “I’m hot and need something cold right now” stop for me than a destination dessert.
But that’s an important category at Disney World.
Not every frozen treat needs to be an event.
Sometimes Tomorrowland is approximately the temperature of the sun and you need ice cream.
There you go.
Storybook Treats
Storybook Treats is where Magic Kingdom starts having a little more fun with its soft serve.
I’ve had both the Aurora Cone and the Rapunzel Sundae, and this is one of those locations where I always want to see what Disney is currently serving.
The Rapunzel Sundae in particular is ridiculously cute.
And good.
That’s important.
Disney can make almost anything adorable by giving it a princess theme and covering it with colorful toppings. I still need it to taste good.
Storybook Treats usually delivers.
The specialty offerings change, so I wouldn’t necessarily walk into Magic Kingdom three years from now expecting the exact same princess sundae to be waiting for you.
But if you like fun soft-serve creations, definitely check the menu while you’re there.
My Pick for Magic Kingdom
This will surprise absolutely nobody.
Aloha Isle.
More specifically, give me the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.
But if you want a traditional sundae, I’d head to Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, and if you want something fun and a little different, check Storybook Treats.
Honestly, Magic Kingdom is probably the easiest park at Disney World for finding a frozen treat.
Which is good.
Because Florida.
Where to Get Ice Cream at Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom doesn’t have quite as many dedicated frozen-treat locations as Magic Kingdom.
But what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for with one of my favorite Disney snacks.
And—because apparently I temporarily forgot half the ice cream I’ve personally eaten at Animal Kingdom—there are actually more options here than you might think.
Tamu Tamu Refreshments
If you’re looking for me in Animal Kingdom and I’m not eating the half chicken at Flame Tree Barbecue, there’s a decent chance I’m somewhere near Tamu Tamu.
The big reason?
The Pineapple Crisp Sundae.
Oh my gosh.
This thing.
You get pineapple soft serve with warm pineapple crisp and caramel, which means Disney has once again taken pineapple and combined it with other sweet things specifically designed to make me happy.
Apparently I have a type.
This ranked very high on my list of the best Disney World desserts, and it’s absolutely my first choice for a frozen treat in Animal Kingdom.
Tamu Tamu also offers other Dole Whip creations depending on the current menu, so it’s worth checking even if the Pineapple Crisp Sundae isn’t your thing.
Although I don’t understand you.
Terra Treats
Terra Treats is another one that’s easy to overlook.
Don’t.
I’ve had the Cookie Dough Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich here, and it’s one of those Disney snacks that makes me wonder why it doesn’t get more attention.
You’ve got ice cream, a brownie, and cookie dough.
This is not complicated math.
Terra Treats also offers more traditional ice cream options and rotating specialty treats, so it’s a good place to check if you’re over near Discovery Island and need something cold.
Pongu Pongu – Animal Kingdom
Not everything on this list has to involve ice cream.
The Night Blossom at Pongu Pongu is one of the most recognizable frozen drinks at Animal Kingdom, and it’s definitely worth mentioning if you’re looking for something cold while you’re exploring Pandora.
It’s a colorful frozen drink layered with apple and desert pear limeade and topped with passion fruit boba.
And yes, it’s ridiculously pretty.
But it’s also genuinely refreshing, particularly when Animal Kingdom is doing that thing where it somehow feels approximately 15 degrees hotter than every other park.
If you want something frozen but don’t necessarily want another heavy dessert, this is a great alternative to the ice cream and Dole Whip options elsewhere in the park.
Anandapur Ice Cream Truck
And then there’s the Anandapur Ice Cream Truck in Asia.
This is the more straightforward option of the three.
If you want soft serve, a cone, a float, or one of the specialty sundaes currently being offered, this is an easy stop.
I wouldn’t necessarily cross Animal Kingdom specifically to get ice cream here when Tamu Tamu exists.
But that’s not really the point of this guide.
If you’re already in Asia, it’s hot, and you want ice cream?
You don’t need to hike back across the park.
There’s ice cream right there.
My Pick for Animal Kingdom
Tamu Tamu Refreshments.
Not even close.
Give me the Pineapple Crisp Sundae and find me somewhere shady to sit.
Although if you’re a chocolate person rather than a pineapple person, that Cookie Dough Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich from Terra Treats makes a pretty convincing argument for itself.
And next we’ll head to Hollywood Studios, where things start getting ridiculous again because apparently putting soft serve on top of a funnel cake counts as a perfectly reasonable theme park snack.
Where to Get Ice Cream at Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is an interesting park for frozen treats.
It doesn’t have anything quite like the sheer number of Dole Whip options at Magic Kingdom, and it definitely can’t compete with EPCOT once we start wandering around World Showcase.
But there are still several really good places to grab ice cream or something frozen.
And one of my favorite Disney World ice cream sundaes is here.
So let’s start with that.
Hollywood Scoops
If you want actual ice cream at Hollywood Studios, this is where I’d go.
Hollywood Scoops is located on Sunset Boulevard, which makes it incredibly convenient if you’re spending time around Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, or the shows in this part of the park.
You can get regular hand-scooped ice cream here, which is sometimes exactly what I want.
But you can also go completely overboard.
I’ve had the Mickey Brownie Sundae, and this thing is ridiculous in the best possible way.
Ice cream.
Hot fudge.
Brownie.
Whipped cream.
And, of course, Mickey.
It’s one of my favorite Hollywood Studios snacks and easily my favorite place in the park when I specifically want ice cream.
That said, you don’t have to commit to the giant sundae.
Sometimes I just stop here for a scoop of ice cream.
And honestly, I do that surprisingly often.
Epic Eats
Now let’s take ice cream and put it on top of a funnel cake.
Because Disney.
Epic Eats is another great option on this side of Hollywood Studios, particularly if you’re looking for something substantial enough to share.
I’ve tried the ice cream funnel cake here, and this is definitely one of those situations where the word “snack” starts doing some heavy lifting.
It’s a funnel cake.
With ice cream.
And toppings.
This is not a delicate little afternoon treat.
It’s dessert with a mission.
You can also typically get soft serve without committing to the entire funnel-cake situation, and the specialty versions change periodically.
If you’re traveling with a few people, though, I’d absolutely consider splitting one of the loaded funnel cakes.
Or don’t split it.
I’m not here to judge your Disney food decisions.
Dinosaur Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction
First of all, Dinosaur Gertie is adorable.
Even if you don’t buy anything, you should appreciate the fact that there’s a giant dinosaur sitting beside Echo Lake selling ice cream.
This is one of those wonderfully weird remnants of old Hollywood Studios that I hope Disney leaves alone forever.
The actual ice cream offerings are much simpler.
You’re coming here primarily for classic soft serve rather than some elaborate signature dessert.
And that’s perfectly fine.
If you’re walking around Echo Lake and want a cone or cup of ice cream, Gertie’s gets the job done.
Plus…
Giant dinosaur.
That counts for something.
Ice Cold Hydraulics
I’m stretching the definition of this guide a little here because we’re leaving ice cream behind.
But we’re talking about frozen treats, and sometimes a frozen lemonade is exactly what you need.
Ice Cold Hydraulics is tucked into the Grand Avenue area and serves frozen lemonade and other icy drinks.
I’ve had the frozen lemonade here, and it’s genuinely good.
More importantly, it’s refreshing.
There are Disney afternoons when I don’t want a giant bowl of ice cream covered in brownies and hot fudge.
I want something cold that I can drink while walking around.
This is that.
If you’ve just eaten lunch and still want something frozen, this is a particularly good alternative to another heavy dessert.
My Pick for Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Scoops.
Easy.
If I want an actual ice cream treat, I’m getting the Mickey Brownie Sundae—or just grabbing a scoop if I’ve already eaten approximately 8,000 calories that day.
But if you’re sharing, the ice cream funnel cakes from Epic Eats are absolutely worth considering.
And if all you need is something cold?
Frozen lemonade from Ice Cold Hydraulics.
Hollywood Studios doesn’t have a million options, but it has enough.
Where to Get Ice Cream and Frozen Treats at EPCOT
And now things get complicated.
Because of course they do.
It’s EPCOT.
There are frozen treats all over World Showcase, and they’re not all variations of the same thing.
You can get French ice cream.
Italian gelato.
Japanese kakigōri.
Dole Whip.
Frozen drinks.
Ice cream sandwiches.
Festival creations.
And apparently you can wander into a Japanese department store and emerge holding a waffle stuffed with ice cream.
This is why I love eating at EPCOT.
L’Artisan des Glaces – France Pavilion
Let’s just start with my favorite.
L’Artisan des Glaces is one of the best places to get ice cream anywhere at Disney World.
Period.
You can absolutely come in here and just get a scoop of ice cream or sorbet.
And it will be delicious.
But then there are the more interesting options.
The Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich is one of my favorite desserts at Disney World. It’s basically exactly what it sounds like: ice cream sandwiched between two giant macaron shells.
It’s chewy, creamy, cold… and decadent.
And then there’s the Croque Glacé.
This is where things get really interesting.
They take a brioche bun, put ice cream and sauce inside, and press the whole thing together so the outside is warm while the ice cream stays cold inside.
I don’t know who decided this needed to exist.
But thank you.
If you only visit one dedicated ice cream shop at EPCOT, this would be my pick.
And the fact that Les Halles is right there too is extremely dangerous.
France is basically trying to ruin whatever reasonable eating plan you had for the day.
Gelateria Toscana – Italy Pavilion
If you’d rather have gelato, keep walking around World Showcase until you get to Italy.
Gelateria Toscana is your obvious stop.
You’ll find gelato and sorbet along with specialty creations that can change over time.
And this is one of those locations where I don’t think you necessarily need to order the fanciest thing on the menu.
You’re standing in the Italy Pavilion.
Get some gelato.
Walk around.
Pretend you’re in Italy instead of central Florida.
Works for me.
Kabuki Café – Japan Pavilion
Kabuki Café gives us something completely different.
Kakigōri.
This Japanese shaved-ice treat is exactly what I want on a really hot EPCOT afternoon.
It’s light, cold, colorful, and refreshing without being nearly as heavy as one of the giant sundaes elsewhere on this list.
And you can choose from different flavored syrups depending on what’s currently available.
If you’re someone who reaches the middle of a Disney day and thinks, I cannot possibly eat another heavy dessert, this is a fantastic option.
Because apparently there is a point where even I have eaten enough ice cream.
Occasionally.
Mitsukoshi Department Store – Japan Pavilion
Now here’s one you could very easily miss.
Inside Mitsukoshi Department Store, keep an eye out for the waffle ice cream sandwiches.
I tried the strawberry version.
It was really good.
This isn’t something I’d necessarily build my entire EPCOT itinerary around because specialty items like this can come and go.
But that’s also why I’m mentioning it.
If you’re already exploring Mitsukoshi—and you should explore Mitsukoshi anyway—take a look at the food section and see what’s available.
If those waffle ice cream sandwiches are there?
Get one.
This is exactly the kind of random World Showcase food discovery that I love.
Regal Eagle Smokehouse – American Adventure Pavilion
And now we arrive at another dessert that plenty of people seem to like more than I do.
The frozen s’mores treat at Regal Eagle.
I’ve had it.
It’s fine.
I know people who love it.
I’m just not one of them.
But again, this isn’t my Best Disney World Desserts list.
If you’re looking for a frozen dessert while you’re around the American Adventure Pavilion, Regal Eagle is absolutely worth checking.
And if you love chocolate, marshmallow, and the whole s’mores situation, you may like this considerably more than I did.
That’s the beauty of having your own taste buds.
Joy of Tea – China Pavilion
We’re stretching “frozen treat” again.
But I’m allowing it.
Joy of Tea usually has cold specialty drinks, including options with boba and frozen or slushy components depending on the current menu.
And when it’s hot outside, those absolutely scratch the same itch.
This isn’t where I’d send someone who specifically said, “I need ice cream.”
But if you tell me, “I need something cold and refreshing while I’m walking around World Showcase”?
Yep.
Check Joy of Tea.
Refreshment Outpost
This is one of the few locations in this guide where I need to give you an important caveat:
I haven’t personally tried the frozen treats here yet.
But I’m including Refreshment Outpost because we’re answering where you can find frozen treats at Disney World, not pretending I’ve personally ranked every single one.
Disney has offered rotating Dole Whip and specialty frozen creations here, so it’s worth checking the current menu when you’re walking between the China and Germany Pavilions.
If there’s something interesting?
Go for it.
And then tell me whether I need to get it next time.
Swirled Showcase
Technically, Swirled Showcase is tied into EPCOT’s festival world.
And I specifically excluded festival foods from my Best Savory Disney Snacks ranking because once you open that door, there are approximately nine million things to discuss.
But I’m making an exception here.
Why?
Because Swirled Showcase is specifically a frozen-treat destination.
The exact creations may rotate with EPCOT’s festivals, but if the booth is operating, there’s usually some kind of fun frozen dessert happening.
So rather than recommending one particular flavor that may disappear, I’m recommending that you check the menu.
That’s actually good advice for EPCOT in general.
There’s always something new.
My Pick for EPCOT
L’Artisan des Glaces.
Not even remotely difficult.
The ice cream itself is excellent, but having the Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich and Croque Glacé available pushes it over the top.
For something lighter, I’d choose the kakigōri at Kabuki Café.
And if you see that strawberry waffle ice cream sandwich inside Mitsukoshi?
I wouldn’t walk past it.
Where to Get Ice Cream and Frozen Treats at Disney World Resorts
You definitely don’t have to be inside a theme park to find great Disney ice cream.
In fact, one of the best places to get an absolutely ridiculous ice cream sundae is at a Disney resort.
And there’s another resort where you can get Dole Whip without even needing a park ticket.
So if you’re building in a resort day—or you’re at Magic Kingdom and willing to hop on the Monorail for a snack—don’t forget about these.
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop – Disney’s Beach Club Resort
If Disney World has an ice cream headquarters, this is probably it.
Beaches & Cream is an old-fashioned soda shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and the ice cream sundaes are basically half the reason to come here.
Obviously, there’s the famous Kitchen Sink.
If you’ve never seen one, it’s enormous. It’s loaded with scoops of ice cream and approximately everything else they can find in the kitchen.
It’s an experience and it’s totally iconic.
And I think it’s overrated.
There. I said it again.
LOL.
If you’ve always wanted to order the Kitchen Sink, absolutely do it once. Get your pictures. Have fun with it. Try to figure out how several people are supposed to eat that much ice cream before it turns into soup.
But if I’m going to Beaches & Cream because I actually want the sundae I think tastes the best?
I’m ordering the Fudge Brownie Mudslide.
Give me brownies, ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, and all the chocolate.
My friend, meanwhile, swears by the No Way José, which combines chocolate and peanut butter.
She’s very committed to this opinion.
So basically, if you want a serious ice cream sundae at Disney World, Beaches & Cream gives you options.
One important thing to remember is that Beaches & Cream is a table-service restaurant, and reservations can be difficult to get.
This isn’t necessarily somewhere I’d casually wander into at 7 p.m. and assume I’m getting a table.
But if you love ice cream?
It’s absolutely worth considering.
Pineapple Lanai – Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Here’s one I especially want Magic Kingdom visitors to know about.
You don’t have to be inside Magic Kingdom to get Dole Whip.
Pineapple Lanai at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort serves Dole Whip and rotating specialty creations, and it’s incredibly easy to reach from Magic Kingdom.
Hop on the Resort Monorail.
Go to the Polynesian.
Get your Dole Whip.
Enjoy the resort for a while.
Then head back to Magic Kingdom.
Honestly, this can be a really nice midday break if Magic Kingdom is packed and everyone needs to escape for an hour.
And because Pineapple Lanai is outside the parks, you don’t need theme park admission to eat here.
That also makes it a fun option on an arrival day or resort day when you want a little Disney food without actually going into a park.
Do I personally prefer my Pineapple Upside-Down Cake at Aloha Isle?
Obviously.
We’ve established this.
But if you want Dole Whip and you’re not inside Magic Kingdom, Pineapple Lanai is a fantastic option.
What About the Other Disney Resorts?
There are obviously frozen desserts scattered around restaurants and resort food courts all over Disney World.
But I wouldn’t necessarily travel to Wilderness Lodge because one restaurant happens to have ice cream on the menu.
That’s not what I’m trying to do with this guide.
I’m focusing on places where frozen treats are actually part of the reason you might want to go.
And for me, the two resort standouts are Beaches & Cream for the full-blown ice cream experience and Pineapple Lanai for Dole Whip.
Where to Get Ice Cream at Disney Springs
Disney Springs is the one part of this guide where my usual rule changes a little.
I’ve personally eaten at most of the locations I’ve recommended so far.
I haven’t eaten at all of these yet.
So I’m not going to tell you which Disney Springs ice cream shop is “the best” when I haven’t personally compared them.
But this is a where-to-find-it guide, and leaving out major dedicated ice cream and gelato shops because I haven’t made it there yet wouldn’t be particularly helpful.
So consider these places to put on your radar—and places I apparently need to research in the name of blogging.
It’s a sacrifice.
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop
If you want the classic giant ice cream sundae experience at Disney Springs, Ghirardelli is an obvious place to start.
Chocolate and ice cream are basically the entire point.
This is where you’ll find sundaes, shakes, scoops, hot fudge, and all the other things you’d expect from Ghirardelli.
I haven’t personally eaten here yet, so I’m not going to pretend I can tell you which sundae is the winner.
Clearly I need to rectify this.
For research.
Salt & Straw
Salt & Straw is the place I’d look at if you want your ice cream flavors to get a little weird.
And I mean that affectionately.
They’re known for unusual and seasonal flavors alongside more familiar options, so this is probably the Disney Springs stop for someone who thinks plain chocolate ice cream sounds boring.
Again, I haven’t personally tried this Disney Springs location yet.
It’s on the list.
Vivoli il Gelato
Want gelato instead?
Disney Springs has that too.
Vivoli il Gelato is the obvious stop for Italian-style gelato, with cups, cones and other frozen creations.
This is another one I still need to personally investigate.
Apparently my next Disney Springs visit is going to involve a lot of ice cream.
There are worse problems.
Swirls on the Water
And then Disney Springs has a Dole Whip option too.
Swirls on the Water specializes in Dole Whip and rotating soft-serve creations, including some flavors and combinations you won’t necessarily find at Aloha Isle.
The menu changes, which is actually part of the fun.
If you’re a serious Dole Whip person, I’d definitely check what’s being served while you’re at Disney Springs.
Again, I haven’t personally tried this one yet, so I’m not ranking it against Aloha Isle or Pineapple Lanai.
But it’s absolutely a frozen-treat destination worth knowing about.
Don’t Forget Joffrey’s Frozen Drinks
If I’m including frozen lemonade and boba drinks in this guide, then I definitely can’t leave out Joffrey’s.
You’ll find Joffrey’s carts scattered throughout Disney World, and I seem to end up at one on practically every trip.
In addition to coffee and regular iced drinks, you’ll typically find some kind of frozen or blended caffeinated concoction on the menu.
And I am here for it.
Especially in the middle of a hot Disney afternoon when I simultaneously need caffeine and something cold.
The exact specialty drinks can change, so I wouldn’t necessarily go looking for one specific frozen drink unless you’ve checked the current menu.
Instead, if you pass a Joffrey’s cart and you’re hot, tired, and desperately in need of caffeine?
Take a look.
There’s a very good chance they’ll have something frozen that will solve at least two of those problems.
And this is one of those things I genuinely do at Disney World. I don’t necessarily have one particular Joffrey’s drink that I order every single time. I just tend to find myself standing at a Joffrey’s cart at some point ordering something cold, icy, caffeinated, and delicious.
Don’t Forget the Classic Mickey Ice Cream Treats
We’ve spent this entire guide talking about places to hunt down macarons filled with ice cream and pineapple crisp sundaes and giant brownie concoctions.
But sometimes you’re walking through a Disney park and you just want a Mickey bar.
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
You’ll find carts and kiosks throughout Walt Disney World selling the classic packaged frozen treats, including things like the Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar and Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich.
Are these the most exciting desserts at Disney World?
No.
Do they taste better because they’re shaped like Mickey Mouse and you’re eating them while staring at Cinderella Castle?
Probably.
Disney magic is weird like that.
They’re also convenient.
You don’t need to walk halfway across a park because somebody suddenly announces that they need ice cream RIGHT NOW.
Find the nearest cart.
Problem solved.
And honestly, if you’re visiting Disney World for the first time, I think eating at least one Mickey-shaped ice cream treat is basically a rite of passage.
Just eat the Mickey Bar quickly.
Florida is not going to give you much time before that thing starts melting down your arm.
So Where Should You Get Ice Cream at Disney World?
If you’re completely overwhelmed by all of these choices, here’s where I’d personally start.
At Magic Kingdom: Aloha Isle. The Pineapple Upside-Down Cake is still my favorite Disney dessert.
At Animal Kingdom: Tamu Tamu Refreshments. Pineapple Crisp Sundae. Enough said.
At Hollywood Studios: Hollywood Scoops. Get the Mickey Brownie Sundae if you’re hungry or just grab a scoop if you’re not.
At EPCOT: L’Artisan des Glaces. This might actually be the best dedicated ice cream shop in the four parks, especially because you can get the Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich or Croque Glacé.
At the resorts: Beaches & Cream if you want a serious sundae; Pineapple Lanai if you want Dole Whip.
At Disney Springs: You have several dedicated options. Since I haven’t personally eaten at all of them yet, I’m reserving judgment until I’ve done the appropriate research.
Which sounds like a fantastic excuse for an ice cream crawl.
Final Thoughts
The funny thing about Disney World ice cream is that you can make it as simple or as ridiculous as you want.
You can buy a Mickey Ice Cream Bar from a cart or just a scoop of vanilla.
At Epcot you can indulge in Japanese shaved ice.. or Italian gelato.. or ice cream stuffed inside a macaron.
You can stuff it inside warm brioche, put it on a funnel cake, or stick pineapple soft serve on pineapple cake.
Or you can order a Kitchen Sink and see how many people it takes before everyone admits defeat.
There’s no shortage of options.
And that’s really the point of this guide.
You don’t necessarily need to hunt down the “best” ice cream at Disney World.
Sometimes the best frozen treat is the one that’s nearby when it’s 90 degrees outside and you’ve already walked 17,000 steps.
But if you’re willing to go slightly out of your way?
I have opinions.
Obviously.
Give me the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, Pineapple Crisp Sundae, Mickey Brownie Sundae, Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich or Fudge Brownie Mudslide, and I’m going to be pretty happy.
And if Disney invents another dessert involving pineapple, ice cream and caramel?
Apparently I’m contractually obligated to try it.
Keep Planning Your Disney World Dining
Ice cream is only the beginning. If you’re trying to figure out what else is actually worth eating at Disney World, I’ve done plenty of very important research in that department too. Here are a few more guides to help you plan:
Best Disney World Desserts – Want to know which frozen treats actually made my list of favorites? I rank my 15 favorite Disney desserts, including Mickey beignets, Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake, several ridiculous ice cream creations, and—of course—my beloved Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.
Best Disney World Snacks – These are the sweet and savory snacks I make a point to grab at Disney World, from Dole Whip treats and macarons to Ronto Wraps and cheeseburger spring rolls.
Best Savory Snacks at Disney World – Had enough sugar? These are my favorite salty and savory Disney snacks, including several that are filling enough to double as a light meal.
Best Disney World Quick-Service Restaurants – When ice cream isn’t going to qualify as lunch no matter how hard you try, these are my favorite places to grab a great meal without a dining reservation.
Best Disney World Table-Service Restaurants – Planning a few sit-down meals? These are the table-service restaurants I think are most worth your time and money.
Best Disney World Restaurants – Still don’t know where to start? My overall restaurant guide pulls everything together and highlights the Disney World restaurants I’d most happily eat at again.
