ADR for Beaches and Cream

[Shanti]

Do you typically need an ADR for Beaches and Cream?

If you just want to get some ice cream, you can do so on a walk-in basis at their walk-in window at any time.

If you want a full meal and/or to eat inside, you absolutely must have a reservation, as the restaurant is very small (around 10 tables) and very popular.

 

[Shanti]

This is so weird to me, but I've read that it's been crazy popular for a long time. I've never been, so I don't know what I'm missing. Anyone can make tasty burgers and ice cream/sorbet at home with no special equipment needed. It has no special characters or beyond exceptional service. I just don't get it. If you have hoppers and want a dessert, the pavilion in France has a lovely place with great flavors. Italy's pavilion has one, too, that we haven't tried. If not, Disney Springs has some walk-up options.

It's the reputation of "The Kitchen Sink", and the great theming. It nails the 1950's soda fountain look. And of course, the restaurant is tiny, so it can't help but book up quickly.

Keep in mind that it also has a walk-up window for ice cream that you can use any time.

 

[Nancyg56]

And it was crazy before they required ADRs. I guess I should be content that I don't care if it's available or not.

People book restaurants for moe easons then just to eat. B&C resembles an old soda fountain/diner like those we always went to when we were kids at the beach. I imagine people tend to enjoy that theme and memory when they stay at resorts that bring that time to life.

People also follow their own traditions. Some kick off their stay with a meal at Chef Mickey ( we usually do), others head over to 'Ohana. My friend continues to carry on her family tradition of B&C as their first meal. They stay at Epcot resorts and this is where they start.

B&C is tiny, I mean REALLY tiny. So a few ADR's fills it up, making it so darn difficult to secure. B&C is not my favorite place, and I like ice cream at the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor (my personal after parade tradition) so I don't chase ADR's for this spot, but I get the appeal.

 

[GaryDis]

From all reports, you can get better ice cream at Ample Hills Creamery on the Boardwalk side. And soda fountain atmosphere doesn't interest me; we have a Johnny Rockets nearby.

B&C is just a result of small size combined with marketing hype. Small means hard to get, and if it's hard to get, it must be good. But to each their own.

 

[Shanti]

From all reports, you can get better ice cream at Ample Hills Creamery on the Boardwalk side. And soda fountain atmosphere doesn't interest me; we have a Johnny Rockets nearby.

B&C is just a result of small size combined with marketing hype. Small means hard to get, and if it's hard to get, it must be good. But to each their own.

We were there last week and hated Ample Hills. The cookies & cream I ordered was mostly wet cookie, with very little ice cream, and prices were even higher than at Beaches & Cream, even though the ice cream wasn't great.

There's no issue with getting just ice cream at Beaches & Cream anyway, as they have a walk-up window for that. It's getting an ADR for a table service meal there that can be a challenge.

 

[Nancyg56]

From all reports, you can get better ice cream at Ample Hills Creamery on the Boardwalk side. And soda fountain atmosphere doesn't interest me; we have a Johnny Rockets nearby.

B&C is just a result of small size combined with marketing hype. Small means hard to get, and if it's hard to get, it must be good. But to each their own.

No it's more than that. Look at 'Ohana. One of the most difficult restaurants to secure an ADR at, yet it's reputation runs hot and cold, many times with two parties on the same evening having two different experiences. Our experience in August was horrible. HORRIBLE. My DDIL was there and even though she had decided, along with the rest of the family, that it was time to give this place a rest, in December when we planned was looking for it on our list. And then again as we planned for this December looked for it. Okay, it's back in and I have the ADR. For my family, it seems this is a tradition that is part of our Disney experience, and as they tell friends about how we enjoy it, they also want to enjoy it as well. That is how restaurants get built up. You add that the restaurant is such a small area, and it is even more elusive.

B&C is not just a result of it's size and a marketing hype. It is right at home with a theme that takes folks back to a bygone era in an area that takes us to back to a seaside vacation that we either have had or that we wished we did. Just as my family likes to dine at 'Ohana to continue some sort of tradition that I did not even realize was in place, (I thought they just liked the place) others make sure they get to B&C as an homage to previous trips.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

YES! It's a very small place and very hard to get a table without an ADR. We made ours about 4 months out, and the only time we could get (granted..for 8 of us) was 9:10 at night. We love this place. They have the best grilled cheese every, and delicious ice cream.

 

[gatormom2tots]

We had a lot of difficulty getting ressies there this summer- our hardest one. I was eventually able to snag one using Touring Plans reservation finder.

 

[GaryDis]

The cookies & cream I ordered was mostly wet cookie,

Ya know, I've never thought about it before, but this may be the reason I don't like any cookies & cream ice cream, so I'd never order it. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it, but as always, ymmv.

 

[Shanti]

Ya know, I've never thought about it before, but this may be the reason I don't like any cookies & cream ice cream, so I'd never order it. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it, but as always, ymmv.

Usually I like cookies & cream, though. It typically has a much higher ice cream to cookie ratio than we experienced at Ample Hills. Scientifically speaking.