Hot chocolate at Disneyland?

[WonkaKid]

Folks, I've been to DL at least 125 times in the past five years. But I've been off sugar for 30 years so I've never tried any of the famous Disney treats such as churros, Dole Whips or the caramel apples. However, I'll meet a friend at the park this Sunday and she loves hot chocolate (and despises tea and coffee). Can anyone recommend a good (the best?) hot chocolate at Disneyland? I'd like to treat her and this is an area of the park about which I know less than nothing.

EDIT: I've just read that Napa Rose at DGC has the best hot chocolate available in the park... for $15. That's not a problem... if it's as good as they say. I've never been to NR. Would we need reservations just to get HC? Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[wowsmom]

They have hot chocolate at Jolly Holiday, the coffee cart in DCA, the Starbucks locations...probably somewhere else. I'm not much for hot drinks, so I couldn't tell you if any location is better.

 

[ShoeCello]

I've had the hot chocolate at Hungry Bear and it was pretty good! Haven't tried it at other locations (besides WOC dining package) so can't make any comparisons...

 

[WonkaKid]

I've had the hot chocolate at Hungry Bear and it was pretty good!

Thank you! HB will certainly be easier than Napa Rose, even if I don’t take cost into account.

 

[boscoj]

Unfortunately, the "life altering hot chocolate" at Napa is only offered in the month of December....they do have another type during the rest of the year but it's not a good...

The hot chocolate at Ghirardelli is not bad.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We like the hot chocolate at Starbucks (Market House at DL, FFP at DCA, and both locations in DTD) because we can customize it -- temperature, type of milk, whipped cream or not, etc. The hot chocolate in the parks (the Disney hot chocolate) isn't our favorite (too sweet, too thin, weird aftertaste) -- definitely prefer the Starbucks over that. The "hot chocolate" at NR is a dessert, not a beverage -- which is why it costs so much more. It really is a treat if you want to take your friend to the NR Lounge to try it. Not sure if it's still on the menu -- you might want to call NR directly to find out.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

@WonkaKid: Hey, Rob, just a thought -- if you do take your friend to Market House in DL, in addition to her hot chocolate, maybe you could treat her to a You Are Here DL Starbucks mug, too. Then she'd have a cool souvenir to remember her day and her hot chocolate!
And, if your friend ever makes it to Switzerland, tell her to try the Premium Hot Chocolate at the Starbucks there -- Oh My! That's a serious treat!

 

[WonkaKid]

@WonkaKid: Hey, Rob, just a thought -- if you do take your friend to Market House in DL, in addition to her hot chocolate, maybe you could treat her to a You Are Here DL Starbucks mug, too. Then she'd have a cool souvenir to remember her day and her hot chocolate!
And, if your friend ever makes it to Switzerland, tell her to try the Premium Hot Chocolate at the Starbucks there -- Oh My! That's a serious treat!

Thank you! All good ideas. It’s too bad that SBUX doesn’t sell their Swiss hot chocolate at their stores here, too. Do they think only the Swiss care for chocolate? ;-).

 

[WonkaKid]

The hot chocolate in the parks (the Disney hot chocolate) isn't our favorite (too sweet, too thin, weird aftertaste) -- definitely prefer the Starbucks over that.

Is the Disney HC the same throughout the park? For example, a previous poster suggested the HC At Hungry Bear. I wonder if that’s the same as served at any other Disney place in the park. As it stands, SBUX sounds like it’ll be my best bet.

 

[starry_solo]

Do you want it made with milk or water? Most Disney places make it with water, except the Carnation Cafe and Starbucks. Not sure re: Jolly Holiday.

 

[Malcon10t]

I like the hot chocolate throughout the park. It is pretty much the same except for STarbucks and Napa. *I* don't like either. I enjoy having a cup in Carthay lounge. Same at Carnation. Starbucks is more of a hot cocoa than chocolate. Napa is too thick for me.

 

[DLgal]

It is going to be in the 90s this weekend.

If your friend likes hot chocolate, take her to Ghirardelli and get her the FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE. It is amazing! It's $9.95 but totally worth it!

The NR hot chocolate dessert isn't currently available and I wouldn't really call it traditional hot chocolate...it's an espresso mug with, essentially, chocolate ganache in it that you drink or dip the mini donuts it comes with into. It's more like fondue. It's only about 2oz.

 

[Iceman93]

+1 for Ghirardelli.

I'm not a huge hot cocoa fan like your friend, but always enjoy the abuelita at Jolly Holiday (Mexican hot chocolate, so it has a little cinnamon edge to it).

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I am a big hot chocolate fan, and I personally do not find the Starbucks version very good. My go-to at home is Godiva dark chocolate hot chocolate powder mixed into hot milk. If I was out myself at the park and wanted a special splurge, I would pick the hot chocolate at Ghirardelli. If you aren't going to make it into DCA (I know you're not a big fan), then I think the non-Starbucks hot cocoa throughout Disneyland is pretty much the same. As mentioned by previous posters, Jolly Holiday also offers Abuelita which is Mexican style hot chocolate which I believe is a little bit cinnamony. If you are looking for a frozen hot chocolate style drink in Disneyland park, I remember reading about a frozen Abuelita horchata being served at Rancho del Zocalo as one of the special Halloween offerings.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

Hot chocolate from Ghirardelli served with a side of world of color is the perfect evening

 

[Plip]

Starbucks is more of a hot cocoa than chocolate.

I didn't realize that there was a difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate. So I looked it up, and that's a worthwhile distinction.

 

[pblack]

I'd vote either Starbucks hot chocolate or Ghiradelli hot chocolate.

 

[Chickinvic]

Funny story of how I found out DL hot chocolate is AMAZING. My daughter kept asking me for hot chocolate a few times a day on an early December trip several years ago. I figured she was just cold. On the last day of our trip she gave me a taste and OMG - I was hooked. It was so good. The key (according to her) was to let it cool off for about 5-10 minutes and it tastes much better. I have to say, I agree with her lol. Ever since then I realized I'd been missing out all these years by never having a hot chocolate there. Just the stuff they sold in the park (it wasn't from Starbucks or Ghirardelli - I don't even think Ghirardelli was there yet at that time).

 

[LizzyS]

My husband and I personally love the hot chocolate they serve at the beverage cart to the left front of the castle. We each get one every trip!

 

[StarlitNight05]

Ghirardelli for sure. I agree with a previous pp that said the sbux hot chocolate was more like hot cocoa.