Maybe a dumb question: will new Fantasy ice cream shop cost $$?

[chaseg03]

So for those that have been on the Dream, what are some of the reasons you would pay for ice cream at Vanellope's when it's free on deck?

I rack up around $30 of ice-cream at vanellopes's. I love the king candy gelato and I love two of their workers. On my last cruise on the dream, Francisco remembered me from another cruise. When I walked in he always said "hey Chase, whats up man?" he always knew what I was going to get. Andreas knew my name to, they are all nice. I just like the taste if that ice-cream, when on vacation I don't let money get in the way with reason. If I wan too get a special Ice-cream I will get the special Ice-cream. As I said within reason. Im not all of a sudden say I want the royal suites on the dream or fantasy. I could agree $30 dollars could be a little overboard but I, personally don't mind.

 

[mevelandry]

So for those that have been on the Dream, what are some of the reasons you would pay for ice cream at Vanellope's when it's free on deck?

If you like different flavors. If you prefer gelato to soft... (I usually do but I really was obsessed with the banana and strawberry flavor from the self-serve). Pretty sure I would have tried it if I had to spend a whole week on board.

 

[NAB]

Do they still have a couple of flavors of scooped ice cream in Cabanas on the Dream now?

Yes and they had some on embarkment day in the Garden restaurant too.

 

[mmouse37]

I am willing to look, see and maybe try the new offerings in Vanellope's and Sweet on You. I am not a fan at all with the soft serve on deck (unless I add coke to the vanilla and make a coke float) but I could go for a sundae possibly! I also want to see the candy offerings. My real go to dessert in Cabanas is the bread puddings with vanilla sauce!!!

I am also not a fan of most of the desserts in the MDR's.

MJ

 

[Steve Dexter]

chaseg03, we also had a great experience with Francisco in January at Vanellopes. I went there way too often, and felt the cost was worth it, part of the experience was how nice the workers were. I'll be on the first cruise of the Fantasy after dry dock, so can't wait to check out "Sweet on You"

 

[bcwife76]

Looking at the menu Shmoo posted, the prices seem very reasonable (for Disney!) so if the prices are similar for the new one on the Fantasy I can see us trying it at least once the next time we are onboard. Personally I don't feel it adds a 'nickel and dime' feel, I mean I already pay for 'better' coffee drinks in Cove Cafe (when I could just deal with the dining room coffee) and pay for booze in the bars and restaurants (when I could just bring my own wine on board). It's optional, it's all about choices and I'm happy to have more choices

 

[bumbershoot]

DCL never used to do this like the other cruise lines.

Sure they do. Booze and espresso aren't included, after all. And they have fancier restaurants you can pay extra for.

We don't drink soda, so we're helping to pay for all the people who DO drink soda. I'd rather pay for ice cream than pay for other peoples' soda! Alas Disney will now make me do both.

So for those that have been on the Dream, what are some of the reasons you would pay for ice cream at Vanellope's when it's free on deck?

Should we ever go on Dream again or Fantasy, we would check out the paid ice cream places because (from what I've read) it's REAL ingredients, like real food. Not junk ingredients. "Soft serve" is just a bunch odd chemicals and maybe some dairy in there. My son and husband cannot have American-based soft serve because the creamy texture is achieved with corn syrup solids. In Europe or even Canada it's generally done with tapioca syrup, which they CAN have. Alas, Disney doesn't stock from European or Canadian sources...at least not for Bahamas/Caribbean cruises!

And the hard ice cream onboard seems to be in line with the stuff at Disney parks, which is Dreyers/Edys, which again has the corn syrup problem.

If my family wants ice cream while on Royal we *have to* pay more for it. Last time we were on DCL the ice cream shop was an arcade (which my son likes MORE) so we didn't get ANY ice cream or ice-cream-like substances. Having the choice is good, though I wish they didn't knock out something enjoyable (arcade) for it. Brings it more in line with what royal was already doing, which was allowing the choice of cruddy ingredients OR decent ice cream for an extra charge (they have Ben&Jerrys). (though Royal still also has the arcade LOL)

Personally I don't feel it adds a 'nickel and dime' feel, I mean I already pay for 'better' coffee drinks in Cove Cafe (when I could just deal with the dining room coffee) and pay for booze in the bars and restaurants (when I could just bring my own wine on board).

Ayep.

 

[cruiser21]

I didn't read all the posts but did see where people were discussing ordering a LOT at one time and
stocking the refrigerator and another person mentioned bringing TUPPERWARE to the buffet or dinner
time to stock up.

Yikes

People are really strange.

 

[lorenni]

If my family wants ice cream while on Royal we *have to* pay more for it. Last time we were on DCL the ice cream shop was an arcade (which my son likes MORE) so we didn't get ANY ice cream or ice-cream-like substances. Having the choice is good, though I wish they didn't knock out something enjoyable (arcade) for it. Brings it more in line with what royal was already doing, which was allowing the choice of cruddy ingredients OR decent ice cream for an extra charge (they have Ben&Jerrys). (though Royal still also has the arcade LOL)

.

I did not realize they were taking out the arcade to build the ice cream place. That will be a real bummer for my DS and DH, as the two of them hit the arcade every Disney trip and did so on our last cruise as well. Seems like they could repurpose one of the sparsely used adult only lounges for an arcade. Some sit virtually empty all day (all cruise?) long. The kids may have access to video games in the kids clubs, but that's not the same at all as some family arcade time.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I did not realize they were taking out the arcade to build the ice cream place. That will be a real bummer for my DS and DH, as the two of them hit the arcade every Disney trip and did so on our last cruise as well. Seems like they could repurpose one of the sparsely used adult only lounges for an arcade. Some sit virtually empty all day (all cruise?) long. The kids may have access to video games in the kids clubs, but that's not the same at all as some family arcade time.

DCL has been removing the arcades on all the ships. Usually during dry dock. Don't know if the one on the Fantasy is still there, but her dry dock is in April. So it will be gone then.

Removal of the arcades coincided with the removal of the arcades in WDW, also. Something about Florida laws & gambling.

 

[lorenni]

We visited the arcades at Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Contemporary last week and I can confirm they are open for business as usual.

The Contemporary used to redeem tickets for small prizes - that counter has been replaced with SIX pressed coin machines.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We visited the arcades at Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Contemporary last week and I can confirm they are open for business as usual.

The Contemporary used to redeem tickets for small prizes - that counter has been replaced with SIX pressed coin machines.

Yeah, I looked it up. The games that were removed were any games that gave a prize (like the claw game) and any games that you didn't use a coin to play it (can't use a re-loadable card, apparently). As well as any games that gave points to accumulate for prizes.

 

[lorenni]

Yeah, I looked it up. The games that were removed were any games that gave a prize (like the claw game) and any games that you didn't use a coin to play it (can't use a re-loadable card, apparently). As well as any games that gave points to accumulate for prizes.

Yes, you can still use reloadable cards. In fact, you can ONLY use reloadable cards.

Sometimes, first hand experience is more reliable than the interwebs.

 

[Quellman]

So for those that have been on the Dream, what are some of the reasons you would pay for ice cream at Vanellope's when it's free on deck?

Because it is tastier (to us) have more flavors. You can get toppings. They make new flavors on board. This was a nice treat for us to do and wouldn't do it every day for sure. But the prices were very reasonable. I think it was about $12 for the race car. In the parks that would easily be around $20 (think the mickey kitchen sink sundae). Totally worth it. And I don't mind this as an upcharge item because the free option still exists. I have more umbridge if they remove free options for cost only. There is upcharge coffee and tea, but there are also free products.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

And I don't mind this as an upcharge item because the free option still exists.

I wish they would have done the same with the pretzels. Used to be available at the poolside venue. Now we have pay for them in the pub/bar.

 

[kid-at-heart]

Today, ice cream, pretzels, and certain bar apps for a fee, tomorrow it may be pop, coffee and tea. I will stick with the free stuff and hope that a new fee-based trend for items that used to be free (included in the cruise price) is not starting.

 

[lovedisney123]

Do they offer non dairy options?

 

[Vijoge]

I didn't read all the posts but did see where people were discussing ordering a LOT at one time and
stocking the refrigerator and another person mentioned bringing TUPPERWARE to the buffet or dinner
time to stock up.

Yikes

I am in awe at the amount of food people apparently feel the need to eat while on a cruise. Just because it's included in the fare doesn't mean you have to eat ALL of it. Or eat 24/7

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am in awe at the amount of food people apparently feel the need to eat while in a cruise. Just because it's included in the fare doesn't mean you have to eat ALL of it. Or eat 24/7

Well, sadly, they don't eat it all. But they certainly load up their plates in Cabanas (and leave much behind):

 

[Vijoge]

Well, sadly, they don't eat it all. But they certainly load up their plates in Cabanas (and leave much behind):

I guess it's even worse that they waste it just because they can