Ice Cream Social @ Epcot, Worth It?

[MamaKate]

I was planning on doing the Ice Cream Social @ Epcot in December, but after reading a couple of reviews, it sounds like the Character interaction is not very good. And I've heard the ice cream is not worth the price, & it would be better to book a character lunch & pay the extra.

Can anyone who's done this let me know how it was. Do you think it was worth it? Or should plan something different?

Any comments (both good & bad) are appreciated!

Thanks a bunch,
,
Katherine

 

[my2boys]

I've never done it before but after reading the reviews on this board (some good, some bad) I figured it's worth it to try once and form my own opinion. I always like to try something different on our trips. We are going in December also!

 

[Eeyore1954]

My DW and I are going in Nov. We have a reservation for Thur. 11/14 for the social. We've tried before but never were able to get in. I've also read good and bad. I figure for us it's going to be a nice afternoon break in the A/C (but do we really need A/C in November?!?!) -- we'll be OFF our feet for a little while (PHEW!!!) -- and eating ice cream with Mickey. So what if it's a little melted and so what if Mickey just waves -- heck, he just finished working the lunch crowd and probably needs to get off his feet, too!

No matter what this will be a magical experience for us!

 

[kindredspirit]

Our family of 5 (3 kids under 10) did enjoy it but will not do it again. We were there on a short trip and didn't have time for any character meals or really the budget! Chip and Dale spent lots of time with us and came around 2 times while we were there. We have great video of them clowning around with the kids! The only drawback I felt was that we felt kinda lonely the way the restaurant was set up. You are all alone in your booth (they are very tall booths that you can't see over when you are sitting) and sometimes the funnest part of character meals is watching other people and what the characters do to everyone! Well Chip and Dale anyway! Thay are funny! I think Mickey even came around twice. It was a fun experience but we enjoyed our ice cream better at Beaches and Cream and watching peoples reaction at the size of their sundaes! There is also a gameroom next door for the kids. I do think $45.00 was way too much to spend on the social but like I said it was something we had never done before and wanted to give it a try. Also, if they are booked check at the podium at the restaurant and they will call the chef and see if he can prepare more sundaes! They worked us right in.

 

[cleo]

My family did the Ice Cream Social a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. It was a one time thing for us, with terrific character interaction and huge servings of ice cream. There was no possible way I could eat even half of what they set in front of me; it certainly took the place of a meal.

If you're an ice cream fan I don't think you'll be disappointed. Maybe because we had an early seating we had lots of time with each character. Chip and Dale both came back twice and sat with DS coloring for a while, so timing might make a difference in that regard.

 

[ls1222]

We did the character lunch instead at the Garden Grille. I figured in what we would pay for the ice cream (family of 5) we should just spend a little more for an all you can eat meal. We had lunch last Monday, it was pretty good. The characters were Mickey, Chip and Dale, and Pluto. We had alot of character interaction and C & D were very cute and funny. The lunch w/o the tip included was 70.00.

 

[disneymom3]

I was really surprised to rtead that some thought the character interaction was not so hot at the social. We saw all of the characters three times at least. Mickey colored and danced with my daughter, and Chip and Dale would just not stay away. We were there for over an hour and when we left, Chip or Dale pretended to try to follow us out of the restuarant. My DD was giggling up a storm.

PLUS, I told the waitress that DD didn't want to see Pluto--who knows why, but whatever--and we did not see hide nor hair of him. (Well, she didn't--he passed by behind us a couple of times.)

And I loved the fact that I paid $16 for both of us and didn't have to pay big bucks for a meal that my no appetite kid wouldn't eat anyway!

 

[travelitis]

We do the lunch at Garden Grill. If we eat counter service then go to the ice cream social, we'll save only $20 for our family of 5, and that's only because we don't buy Disney's overpriced drinks. The meal has always seemed like a better value, and being there longer eating has meant more character interaction for us.

 

[annemariec]

We had a grand time at the Ice Cream Social!

It wasn't very crowded. (It was about this time last year.) We had a lot of character interaction --- barely had time to eat the ice cream. We thought it was a good value. Plenty of ice cream. Something different too. We were seated at a table "on the round" and could see all around us.

*If you have a diabetic in your party, let them know in advance --- they will prepare a special "diabetic" version of the treat.

I think it's worth a try. We would do it again.

Hope you have a great vacation!
Annemarie