alternative to Beaches & Cream

[mickey916]

On 4/18 we're visiting KSC and therefore have no ADR for that evening, not knowing when we'll be returning. I found out today that the space shuttle is landing that day so I suspect we might be in a bit of traffic both to and from the KSC. We're planning on heading to Beaches & Cream for dinner to split a burger and attempt the Kitchen Sink. If we get there about 7:00 - 7:30, I'm assuming there will be quite a wait. Does anyone have any suggestions of where we might grab a quick dinner instead somewhere nearby and return for the Kitchen Sink if we find there's a big wait when we get there? Just hoping to have a plan B in place if we find there's a huge wait and we're hungry (especially since we're planning on packing PB&J for our day at KSC). We'll have a car so transportation isn't an issue...as always your suggestions are most appreciated.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

The Fountain over at the Dolphin might be a good 2nd choice for a quick meal and similar food to B&C. Its a short walk and you can head back to B&C for your Kitchen Sink!

 

[mickey916]

Thanks that's just the kinda suggestion I was looking for!

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't know if you're on the dining plan, but you wouldn't be able to use the dining plan at the Dolphin. Other than that, the Fountain is an excellent alternative to Beaches & Cream.

 

[mickey916]

Thanks for thinking of that but actually we're not on the dining plan. I'm not sure if we'll regret that or not, but after a LOT of analysis and thought, we decided we wanted to be free to eat and order what we wanted (appetizer instead of dessert, etc.). We did the DDP in 2006 when app and tip were included and it seemed like a good deal. But this time it just didn't seem like enough of a value, especially since we had no interest in signature dining. We also ate WAY more than we would have just to "get in" all of our credits in 2006 and I'm hoping to eat a little less this time....

 

[kaysmommie]

You can always go over to the Boardwalk restaurants too. ESPN club does not take ADR's either. Also captain's grill at Yacht club is fairly easy to get into.

 

[Belle5]

May I offer a completely different alternative? Why not stop at DD and grab something from WPE or Earl of Sandwich and then walk over to Ghirardelli to share their Earthquake? IMO, the Earthquake is so very much better than that awful Kitchen Sink. My kids feel sick thinking about it to this day. It has cake and brownies and jellied candy fruit slices all mixed together in one completely sickening mess. The Earthquakes doesn't have all the sickening stuff in it--just lots of ice cream and sauces-all of your choice. We completely loved ours and it didn't make anyone feel sick.

 

[cwasil]

....awful Kitchen Sink???!!!....blasphemy

 

[Belle5]

....awful Kitchen Sink???!!!....blasphemy

Then their must be a lot of blasphemy on the boards because I have visited the boards almost daily for more than ten years and have read my share of reviews on the kitchen sink. We absolutely are NOT the only folks that think it is really gross.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'll second the suggestion for the Dolphin Fountain. Their burgers are better than B&C, but you won't have room left to have much desert.

 

[marciemouse]

I think Hurricane Hannah's also now sells the Beaches & Cream burgers. Maybe you could share one while you're waiting for your B&C table?

 

[mickey916]

May I offer a completely different alternative? Why not stop at DD and grab something from WPE or Earl of Sandwich and then walk over to Ghirardelli to share their Earthquake? IMO, the Earthquake is so very much better than that awful Kitchen Sink. My kids feel sick thinking about it to this day. It has cake and brownies and jellied candy fruit slices all mixed together in one completely sickening mess. The Earthquakes doesn't have all the sickening stuff in it--just lots of ice cream and sauces-all of your choice. We completely loved ours and it didn't make anyone feel sick.

That would probably be a great suggestion if we were focusing on the "taste" of what we're eating but my DS13 is all about the "challenge" of the Kitchen sink. In fact he seems to think he can eat the whole thing by himself (he's NOT getting his own!) He said he'd rather risk death to eat the whole thing than the shame of defeat....unfortunately my husband is of the same mindset so no question they'll leave there feeling ill....and they're both skinny too!

I'll second the suggestion for the Dolphin Fountain. Their burgers are better than B&C, but you won't have room left to have much desert.

We plan on splitting 2 burgers between the 4 of us to leave room for dessert....I'm glad to hear about their burgers. I'd never even heard of the Fountain before I started this thread.

I think Hurricane Hannah's also now sells the Beaches & Cream burgers. Maybe you could share one while you're waiting for your B&C table?

Is Hurricane Hannah's a "poolside" counter service? Does it get crowded too?

 

[tortoni]

I agree that the Fountain is a good idea, but you might also get a quick bite at ESPN. Thanks for the tip on the shuttle. We will be there on 4/18 too and will look for it.

 

[mickey916]

The shuttle is scheduled to land at 8:30 a.m. and will be in the landing area for several hours after that, so I'm told...

 

[Pumbaa_]

Love the Fountain! They have items other than the standard burger(which is really good too)

I like the BLT and some of the salads, nice change from the burgers

and the onion rings, better than B&C!

The Fountain has hte Funnel, their version of hte Kitchen Sink
here is a link to the menu

From the Dolphin's online menu

The Fountain Funnel
Pick your 7 flavors of ice cream, three sauces, and three toppings to create your own funnel-shaped masterpiece topped with whip cream and a cherry 19.95

Have never seen one come out but i like how you get to pick your flavors and toppings rather than everything

We tend to go here now rather than B&C, better food and much larger place (not huge, but have never seen a wait)

Food Menu link

 

[mickey916]

Love the Fountain! They have items other than the standard burger(which is really good too)

I like the BLT and some of the salads, nice change from the burgers

and the onion rings, better than B&C!

The Fountain has hte Funnel, their version of hte Kitchen Sink
here is a link to the menu

From the Dolphin's online menu

The Fountain Funnel
Pick your 7 flavors of ice cream, three sauces, and three toppings to create your own funnel-shaped masterpiece topped with whip cream and a cherry 19.95

Have never seen one come out but i like how you get to pick your flavors and toppings rather than everything

We tend to go here now rather than B&C, better food and much larger place (not huge, but have never seen a wait)

Food Menu link

Thank you so much for the link and the idea about the Funnel. Maybe if B&C is supercrowded, we'll just eat at the Fountain and convince my son that we can substitute the Funnel too... At a minimum, if there's a long wait at B&C I think now we can put our name in at B&C go get dinner at the Fountain and come back for the Kitchen Sink. I'm so glad I asked this question!

 

[BriarRosie]

I have to say that the Fountain has surpassed Beaches and Cream in the burgers. Disney's been changing their food in the past couple years. The burgers at Beaches and Cream used to be better than now.

I went to the Fountain for the first time a couple years ago and loved the burger I ordered.

 

[CandyMandy]

Then their must be a lot of blasphemy on the boards because I have visited the boards almost daily for more than ten years and have read my share of reviews on the kitchen sink. We absolutely are NOT the only folks that think it is really gross.

I'll even go a step further (putting on flame suit).

Those of us who know real ice cream (the handmade, high butterfat, low air content, taffy-like variants that are made at places like Cold Stone Creamery and Herrell's) can never understand the literal worship seen here of the gum filler-filled, mushy supermarket-style garbage served at Beaches and Cream.

I can only attribute it to people who are from unfortunate regions that don't have the real deal available and hence (due to no fault of their own) can't discriminate.

Frankly, Disney really, desperately needs a place that serves real ice cream. And I can guarantee if that happened, the lines into it would make the wait at Beaches at Cream seem like nothing.

A "smoosh-in" artist at work on the frozen marble slab at Herrells

 

[kaligal]

Dolphin Fountain or Picabu (also at Dolphin). Room service. Wander into the World Showcase and go to Morocco.

There are days where you could go kill, slaughter and cook up the cow yourself in less time than it would take to get a burger from B&C. But sometimes you walk right in and sit down.

 

[crisi]

I'll even go a step further (putting on flame suit).

Those of us who know real ice cream (the handmade, high butterfat, low air content, taffy-like variants that are made at places like Cold Stone Creamery and Herrell's) can never understand the literal worship seen here of the gum filler-filled, mushy supermarket-style garbage served at Beaches and Cream.

I can only attribute it to people who are from unfortunate regions that don't have the real deal available and hence (due to no fault of their own) can't discriminate.

Frankly, Disney really, desperately needs a place that serves real ice cream. And I can guarantee if that happened, the lines into it would make the wait at Beaches at Cream seem like nothing.

A "smoosh-in" artist at work on the frozen marble slab at Herrells

Cold Stone? An ice cream snob who likes Cold Stone?

I like Sonny's. Or Grand Ole Creamery. Or some other small shop creamery that wouldn't think of putting sprinkles in with ice cream - from the shop - it isn't half as good from the store. Or I make it myself.

But yeah, B&C is Bryers or Edys (depending on which side of the country you are on) - toppings are Smuckers. All the ingredients can be found at your local grocers.