There are plenty of places at Walt Disney World where the food is part of the experience. Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is definitely one of them.
Known for its classic soda shop atmosphere, towering ice cream creations, and the famously massive Kitchen Sink, Beaches & Cream has built a reputation as one of the most recognizable dining locations around the EPCOT Resort Area. Erin and I recently stopped by for lunch to see whether this longtime Disney favorite still delivers a meal worth making a reservation for.
This was not our first rodeo at the famous ice cream spot. Having been here a few times each, we both had an idea of what to expect. As we were dropping in for lunch, we kept things relatively simple; at least by Beaches & Cream standards.
Erin and I split the Angus Beef Burger, added a side of onion rings, and finished our meal by sharing a Snickers® Sundae. Here is how our lunch stacked up.
A Classic Disney Soda Shop With Plenty of Personality
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is located at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, overlooking the massive Stormalong Bay resort pool complex. The restaurant has a fun, old-fashioned atmosphere that immediately separates it from many other Walt Disney World table service restaurants. It is not a quiet, sophisticated dining experience, and that is part of the appeal.
The colorful soda shop design, energetic atmosphere, and oversized desserts make Beaches & Cream feel like a destination in itself. It is especially easy to understand why the restaurant remains popular with Disney Adults staying at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, or nearby Disney’s BoardWalk Resort.
The biggest thing to remember before booking is that this is a small restaurant. Reservations can be difficult to get, particularly during busy vacation periods, so this is one Disney World meal you may want to plan ahead for. While they do have some walk-up availability, just understand that you will be seated at a counter. The tables are strictly for those with advance reservations.
The Angus Beef Burger Was a Solid Lunch Choice
Just to recap, Erin and I decided to split the Angus Beef Burger for our entrée, which came with a choice of Potato Tots, French fries, or fresh fruit. We chose the fresh fruit which, on the day of our visit, was watermelon.
The $23 entrée was a good choice for sharing, especially because we knew dessert was coming later. Sometimes the best strategy at Walt Disney World is to avoid filling up on a massive meal when you have your eye on one of the restaurant’s signature desserts.
The burger delivered exactly what we wanted from a casual lunch at Beaches & Cream. It was a straightforward, satisfying option that fit the soda shop menu well. This is not the kind of meal that needs a bunch of complicated ingredients to work. The burger was cooked to order and perfectly executed. The included toppings included cheddar cheese, lettuce, and a tomato… and it was all served on a fresh baked bun that is baked daily on-site.
The watermelon was flavorful and refreshing. It worked particularly well alongside the burger, providing a balance to the heaviness of a nice & thick burger. It was nice to not be disappointed with less than impressive fruit.
We Had to Add the Onion Rings
Of course, splitting a burger did not mean we were going to skip adding a little something extra. We ordered a side of onion rings, and we were glad we did. For the price of $7.50, we received about 12 onion rings. The golden rings were deep-fried and hot. They could have used a little bit of salt to bring out more flavor, but my heart appreciated the salt’s absence. Other than that, they were perfect.
The onion rings gave us another shareable item for the table and made the lunch feel a little more complete. They were also the perfect example of why sharing works so well at Beaches & Cream.
Disney Adults visiting Walt Disney World can sometimes find themselves ordering more food than they really need simply because there are so many things they want to try. Splitting the burger and adding onion rings gave Erin and me the chance to enjoy a satisfying lunch without leaving us completely stuffed. This was important because we still had one major item on our agenda: Dessert.
The Snickers Sundae Was the Star of Our Lunch
We finished our meal by sharing a Snickers® Sundae, and this was easily the highlight of our visit.
Beaches & Cream is famous for its ice cream, so ending the meal without ordering some type of sundae would almost feel like missing the point. The Snickers® Sundae brought together the kind of sweet, indulgent flavors you would expect from a dessert inspired by one of the most recognizable candy bars.
Sharing it was definitely the right decision for us. The dessert was rich and satisfying, and ordering one sundae for the two of us allowed us to enjoy the experience without going overboard. Of course, if you arrive with a bigger appetite, Beaches & Cream has plenty of opportunities to take things to another level.
Yes, we are looking at you, Kitchen Sink. Now, we have had the Kitchen Sink before, and there were literally about 7 of them sold while we were having lunch. However, there’s simply no way the two of us would finish such a thing. It would be a different story if there were 5 of us…
For our lunch, though, the Snickers® Sundae was exactly what we wanted: three massive scoops of ice cream full of big, chilled Snickers® bar chunks and fudge sauce topped with whipped cream and a cherry on top for $13.50. It provided a sweet finish that felt special enough to justify saving room for dessert.
Is Beaches & Cream Worth Visiting for Lunch?
After splitting the Angus Beef Burger with watermelon, adding onion rings, and sharing the Snickers® Sundae, Erin and I left feeling like we had experienced Beaches & Cream the right way for us.
We did not need to order the biggest meal on the menu. We did not need an enormous dessert challenge. Sharing allowed us to enjoy multiple parts of the menu while keeping our lunch from becoming overwhelmingly heavy. That is one reason Beaches & Cream works so well for Disney Adults.
You can absolutely visit and order a full meal of your own, but the menu also lends itself nicely to sharing. A burger, a side, and a signature dessert can make for a fun lunch for two, especially if you want to save room for snacks or another meal later in the day.
The atmosphere is another major reason to visit. Beaches & Cream does not feel like a restaurant you could easily find anywhere else. The location, theme, and connection to Disney’s Beach Club Resort help make the experience part of a Disney World vacation.
Our recommendation? If you are staying in the EPCOT Resort Area, or you simply want a fun lunch followed by an over-the-top ice cream dessert, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is definitely worth considering. Just remember to save room for the sundae.
Our Shared Lunch:
- Angus Beef Burger
- Fresh fruit (watermelon during our visit)
- Side of onion rings
- Snickers® Sundae
We did get a 10% Passholder discount, so with tax and tip, our shared meal cost $51. For Erin and me, the Snickers® Sundae was the star, and splitting the meal turned out to be a smart way to enjoy Beaches & Cream without leaving completely stuffed. Stay tuned to MouseHouseNews.net for more ways to enjoy dining around Disney World. We bring you Disney Vacation News and Reviews For Disney Adults!
