Info on Ice Cream Social at EPCOT?

[Jaime]

Has anyone been to the ice cream social? Is this a better choice then a character meal? Do you think it would be really busy? We are going to Disney in Jan and plan on doing to character meals. We are travelling with 2 toddlers.

 

[mickeysaver]

You know, in September, we went to this and we both loved it. Now if two adults can enjoy an ice cream sundae with some playful interaction with Chip & Dale, Mickey, and Pluto, your kids can too. Dale was a particular pleasure during out afternoon break there since he decided to snatch a walkie talkie from an open flap on my backpack and proceded to use it to call Mickey. Mickey made my honey kiss him on the nose before he left our table. One of my favorite trip photos is of us with Pluto during this event. The ice cream was really very good and there was certainly enough of it to make it worth being there. The event was one of the highlights of our vacation. I say go for it! Mickey

 

[bunnyfoo]

We also enjoyed the ice cream social and we're two adults as well! I didn't find it to be busy at all (we went in May). There were a couple of tables eating ice cream and the rest were there for a late lunch (early dinner?) The characters were lots of fun and came by a couple of times!

 

[ducklite]

It was OK, but you don'tt really get much of a choice on the ice cream, and we felt rushed. We much prefer Beaches and Cream, and frankly think it's a much better value.

Anne

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We did the Social in April 2002 and had a blast. Three adults and two children, ages 2 and 8. We were the only family there doing the social so my kids got a ton of character interaction. Disney doesn't really advertise this, so I think it is usually uncrowded. Chip played keep-away with my sons autograph book, Pluto licked my children (and the camcorder lens), and they all played games with my 2 year old as well.
As we finished up and were leaving, Mickey grabbed my daughter, the 2 yr. old, and skipped her through the restaurant. Then he proceeded to get down on one knee and sign that he was crying, very sad, and that he loved her and my son. He hugged us all and shook our hands as we left, still signing tears falling from his eyes. It was wonderful, and even my somewhat hard-to-impress father talked about this meal the entire rest of our trip.
And no surprise, we are doing it again in August. This time with ten family members in tow, only two of whom are kids (4 and 10 this time around.
We give it a big thumbs up!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I went in Jan on my solo trip to the ice cream social- so keep in mind it may be different and/or busier at other times of the year. However, I had SUCH a blast (me- an adult... alone!) that I will be sure to have PS's for this for my family on our next trip. I know the kids are going to love it! Interaction was great, didn't feel rushed (although I'm sure that might be a whole different story when they are busier), although no choice on the dessert- it was good... I can't have it next time though. Definitely not low-carb dessert. LOL But we'll still go- got the best pictures (with characters that is) there out of my entire trip. They were a hoot!

 

[GlennandAnn]

We have done the social and really liked it. We thought the ice cream was great and the character interaction was great too.

Ann

 

[thepoohbear]

Is it just vanilla or can you get chocolate instead?

 

[CEDmom]

We loved it when we went in May. Almost everyday DD (almost 4) pretends to get on a plane to Florida to have ice cream with Mickey I The ice cream is preplated so flavor options aren't offered. I'm not a fan of vanilla but I have to admit it tasted darn good. You could always ask your server about a different flavor. One piece of advice is to stick with water as a beverage (we were brought a pitcher of ice water) since soda etc. really increases the bill.

 

[hucifer]

I just made a PS for me and first-timer DH for Sept 13 for the ice cream social. I made the mistake to tell him the name of it. Being the ever-skeptic, he told me he refused to go to anything called an "Ice Cream Social" and that it sounded "gay." I told him he is being led blindly around WDW, and that he has no idea where I'm taking him anyway, so he's stuck going. He said when he walks into a room where "a bunch of tarts are eating ice cream and asking each other how their day is" then he's turning around and leaving.

Wait till he finds out about the rehitching ceremony!

 

[uktigger]

oh wendy please let us all know how he reacted,would love to hear what he says or better still maybe a picture

 

[fairy god aunt]

I am a voice of dissent. We did the Mickey social with 2 3.5 year olds and an 8 year old the week of June 23. We had a 3:00 P.S. but were not seated until 3:25 (even thought it didn't seem crowded). The only character we saw was Mickey and that was very brief. There were other characters there but they passed us right by without a word. When we asked about why they didn't stop, the CM said you aren't guaranteed to see everyone that is there. I understand that they can't guarantee that particular characters will be at particular locations but if the character is there the kids should get to see them. Luckily, we are a character meal kind of family and were seeing characters at numerous locations so the kids were not disappointed by the snub -- just kind of confused. We asked for drinks and it took a very long time to get them. (The waitress tried to dissuade us from ordering the drinks, saying that ice water was free.) I think the waitress was more concerned about her tables that were ordering meals. Of all the character meals we did this is the only one that we will absolutely never do again. As for the ice cream, I had read that it sometimes has a freezer taste but ours was fine.

 

[patsal]

I think this is a huge rip-off. We felt that over $40 for ice creams (for 4) that were not really that big (ours were a single scoop of vanilla) presented nicely, but not the cutest thing I've ever seen! I was unhappy withthe waitservice and character interaction. Many others rave, but I think that after my July 2002 experience I shall just get ice cream at Beaches and Cream--a much better value and only a short walk from Epcot for the same break in the afternoon.

 

[hucifer]

Originally posted by uktigger
oh wendy please let us all know how he reacted,would love to hear what he says or better still maybe a picture

Oh sure, NOW you say this...but come late September I'll be posting about DH's reaction to the Ice Cream Social and everybody will be all, "who's Wendy and Dan and why do I care?" And I'll be all, "UKTigger told me to!" And they'll be all, "Dude, nobody cares, not even this UKTigger." And that will make me very sad indeed.

If I ever figure out the whole how-to-get-a-blooming-picture-in-my-post thing, I'll be sure to post one. Even if nobody cares.

 

[uktigger]

hi wendy
i'll care about seeing your pictures of your re-hitching i would love to see them please

eve

 

[Madi100]

We are also going to do this in January. I'm hoping for Sunday, January 18. We are going to Epcot as our first park, and I thought this would be a great way to see Mickey. Where is the social at, and you guys talk about people ordering meals. Is this not a seperate thing from a restaurant?

 

[bunnyfoo]

The Ice Cream Social is held at the Garden Grill which also serves lunch and dinner.

 

[Madi100]

So, are there characters at the Garden Grill lunch? How do they keep the two seperate?

 

[hucifer]

Originally posted by uktigger
hi wendy
i'll care about seeing your pictures of your re-hitching i would love to see them please

eve

aw shucks. *toe kicking sand, hands behind back, head down*

Okay...since it's just the two of us I'll see if someone near us can take a pic or two of us. I'll be sure to let you know if a) I manage to convince him to stay to this "gay" event, and b) if he ends up having a good time, despite all preconceived opinions.

Madi100, good question. Cannot answer that since I've never been.