Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Girardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop!
I hope you’re hungry, because we’ve got a lot of ground to cover. But let’s talk about atmosphere first:
Atmosphere
I know, I know — you want to see ice cream. Okay…you can be naughty and scroll ahead to see the photos, but come back up here when you’re done to read all about the place or you won’t know how to order.
Located at Disney World’s Downtown Disney, Ghirardelli is where everyone goes to grab some ice cream after dinner. Or before dinner if you’re like us. But that’s neither here nor there. You’ll see several doors when you get there, and which one you choose will determine whether you end up in the chocolate shop or the soda fountain. If you want souvenirs, go to the chocolate shop:
Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop
But if you want ice cream, head over to the soda fountain! When you get there, you’ll scan the Ghirardelli menu of goodies…
Looking at the Ghirardelli Menu
Menu -- Click and Enlarge to see larger version
Menu -- Click and Enlarge for larger version
And put in your order. Be sure to let them know what kind of cone or dish you’d like, and whether you’d like dark or milk chocolate fudge (!!!). You’ll get a little number to bring to your table; when your order is ready, the CMs will bring you the goodies. While you’re waiting, tour around the cafe and order any coffees or drinks.
Cone and Chocolate Choices
Ordering Numbers
Soda Fountain
Soda Fountain
Ghirardelli Classic and Espresso Drinks
Ghirardelli Chocolate Drinks and Treats
Once you finally have a seat (and that can be TOUGH at Ghirardelli — definitely hit this place at non-peak times if at all possible!), get ready for the ice cream avalanche!
Eats
I’m just going to post a bunch of gorgeous sundaes now. I hope that’s OK.
1. “The Golden Gate” Banana Split:
Premium vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice cream with a banana, topped with crushed pineapple, sliced strawberry topping, our own home-made chocolate syrup, whipped cream, chopped almonds and a cherry
World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae:
Two scoops of premium ice cream layered with hot fudge sauce and finished with whipped cream and mini chocolate chips. (The orange color of the Whipped Cream is due to the sunset through a near-by window.)
Strawberry/Blueberry Cheesecake “The Haight AshBerry”:
A scoop of premium strawberry cheesecake ice cream smothered with sliced strawberry topping under a layer of vanilla ice cream, blueberry topping, whipped cream, our chocolate berry blues and a hand made chocolate dipped waffle roll.
Warm Brownie Sundae:
A scoop of premium vanilla ice cream paired with warm Ghirardelli double chocolate brownie smothered with hot fudge sauce and topped with whipped cream, chopped almonds and a cherry.
Finally, here are a couple of “make-em-your-way” sundaes. One has chocolate ice cream, hot fudge, and butterscotch sauce; the other has cookie dough ice cream and marshmallow topping.
Sundaes Made Your Way
OK, I’m ready for a nap. How ’bout you?? Meet you back here for another sugar-fest later, whaddya say? Go take a look at the menu and let me know what YOU’D order!
Sundae Photo Credits:
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Mmmm, you know, I’ve never actually gotten anything from the Soda Fountain there. I’m thinking that Strawberry/Blueberry Cheesecake may just have to go on my list of things to eat the next time I’m at Disney. However, you failed to mention that if you want free chocolate samples, go to the chocolate shop side. 😉
My husband and I frequented the Ghirardelli shop in SF quite often when we lived there. We still only live across the bay and have been twice since we moved 🙂 ALL of the sundaes we’ve tried have been wonderful, but The Haight Ashberry sticks out the most. Funny, since it’s not even chocolate! And we never stop by there without getting our free sample!
Wow! I always go in the other side of the shop (it’s not a Disney trip if you don’t get your free chocolate!). I’ve only been in this side once & that was to just take a lot. I’ve never eaten there, it’s either been too cold or majorly busy. I’ve never seen the actual sundaes! It better be warm during my upcoming short trip because I HAVE to try something now!
Yummy! I need to make sure to fit a stop in in April. I think a Donmingo. BUt that will change when we visit I am sure.
Looks delicious! We actually make our own Ghirardelli brownie sundaes at home and they are awesome, so I can only imagine how good this place is. I’d thank you for letting me know about all of these cool spots, but honestly, my thighs….my thighs!
Thanks a lot…I have gained 5 lbs. just from reading this blog post! I’ve been to Ghirardelli shops in a few cities, but never ordered ice cream. I think that’s going to have to change!
Either the peanut butter hot fudge sundae or the banana hot fudge sundae would hit the spot. Or I wonder if I could get peanut butter AND banana. Maybe they could call it the Elvis hot fudge sundae?
My husband and I thought about going in there when we were at DTD 2 weeks ago, but at the time I was on a “mission” to find my Dooney & Bourke wristlet at TrenD…so I literally ran (OK, I walked REALLY fast!) past the shop and then it was so busy that we decided to not get ice cream (even though it smelled so good…waffle cones!). I never pass up ice cream….unless a D&B purse is involved! haha. 🙂
Lauren — YES! I completely forgot about the free chocolate! I wonder if it’s because I didn’t get any last time… stupid crowds! 😉
Heather I. — I think the Haight AshBerry is the one I’m going for next time. Thanks for the recommendation.
Heather — I think my eye was too much on the chocolate sundaes during this post! Let me know what you think of the ice cream next time you’re there!
Tricia — The burden of indecision is a heavy one in places like this, to be sure… 🙂
Elita — I’m comin’ to your house for the next Sundae night! (Also, no kidding about my thighs — they’ve gotten strangely larger since I started writing this blog…)
Shayne — I think you just invented a brand new, completely delicious Ghirardelli sundae! Would Elvis fit the San Fran theme? Hmm…
TraciLeigh — Sometimes a girl has to make sacrifices, right? The place DOES get really crowded, though — good illustration!
On my honeymoon vacation, my husband and I shared a brownie sundae. It was heavenly, and even better than that was we were there on Halloween day, and they gave us free ghirardelli chocolate squares while we stood in line to order! I can’t wait to go back here again, that banana split looks sooooo good!
Rebecca — How romantic! 🙂
How did I not even know this place was there? Adding it to the list.
I absolutely love the peanut butter sundae. I don’t know what kind of peanut butter they put in there, but its so wonderfully rich and creamy. I wasn’t as impressed with the “warm brownie” sundae.. maybe because it was a cold day and my brownie wasn’t as warm as I was hoping it to be. 🙂 The Haight AshBerry is definitely on the list for the next trip.
Chris: Glad to help!
Angie: I’m a BIG fan of peanut butter sundaes, so that one’s on the list for me, too.
It was lunchtime and I thought Mom and I would enjoy a scoop of ice cream to tide us over until we got back to Port Orleans Riverside for lunch. Mom never had ice cream before lunch and was shocked that I even suggested it. It ended up that we had hot fudge chocolate sundaes, not just one scoop in a dish, and instead of this being ice cream before lunch, it WAS our lunch. Mom was corrupted, mortified, horrified by this nutritional irresponsibility, but she loved every drop of the incredible confection and looks forward to being “corrupted” again when we return to Disney World! 🙂
Ha ha!! Judi and Evelyn, what an awesome story! Disney has corrupted more than a few of us, I’m absolutely certain. But it really is a place to let your hair down and eat dessert first, eh? 🙂
this place is awesome.. i think its the only play i have visited everytime ive been to disney… last time we had the mint chocolate with dark fudge.. with was very very good..
I’d kill to go to Disney World and eat ice cream all day long! LOL!
I love this place the cable car is what I get. I am a lover of Rocky Road ! Plus you get that little delicious square!
I’ve had a chocolate malt, but never a sundae. I think the ‘Strike It Rich’ would definitely be the one I would chose.
AJ, if the size of your thighs becomes an issue, I will gladly move to Celebration and immediately start trying all of the WDW food, treats and snacks for you. Just give me the word; I will make the sacrifice.
Wow! These look great, too bad the one in California serves their ice cream in plastic Solo cups. Wish they served it just as good as Florida
Did not see chocolate sodas on menu.