Aaaaawwwwww yeah!

OK, I know most people probably don’t think it’s fun to write a blog post on Christmas Eve while their family is playing games at the kitchen table, but 1) I don’t want to play Minecraft on their giant family realm, and 2) THIS IS SUCH GOOD NEWS I COULDN’T HELP MYSELF!!! I get to tell you ab0ut BEACHES AND CREAM reopening and that is the best. Christmas. present. ever.

Now, yes, I did mention that our amazing DFB reporting team was spending the holidays at HOME with their FAMILIES; but it just so happened that one of our incredible team members swung by the Boardwalk in Disney World after all and was delighted to pop into Beaches and Cream for their soft opening today! Win-win!

For those unaware, Beaches and Cream Soda Shoppe in Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a guest favorite spot for burgers, grilled cheese, comfort food galore, and MASSIVE sundaes!

 

Atmosphere

They’ve been closed for refurbishment since August, and are scheduled to reopen on Thursday. But today they were sharpening their skills with a soft opening, and we got to pop in for the fun!

The restaurant’s refurb changed a few things, though, so let’s focus on those for a second. First, the location has been significantly expanded. In the past, Beaches and Cream was T-I-N-Y! Just a few tables and a counter seating area meant that many many families were turned away on a regular basis (and waits for tables were long).

Now that the location has expanded into part of the arcade next door, there’s lots more space for everyone! There are now 31 tables and 14 counter stools — and a whole WALL of booths!

We’re loving that the signature soda shoppe vibe survived the update, though!

You’ll still find the adorable beach ball decor elements that were so signature to the former space.

But adding to the look and feel is this incredible tile…

…some incredible and exclusive artwork featuring the fab five…

…and some exceptional touches, like these sherbet colored light fixtures!

And of course you’re going to find a few NEW hidden Mickeys!

Now don’t fret — the jukebox is back in a place of honor as well.

We’re so excited to see one of our favorites back open — but we need to see what’s happening with that menu! Let’s take a peek at the eats!

Eats

The menu at Beaches and Cream is very much the same as it was before — quintessential soda shoppe favorites like Chicken Noodle Soup, Grilled Cheese, and Burgers. Oh, and of course some incredible sundaes and shakes return!

And of course that guest-favorite Kitchen Sink is back! This massive sundae is made to SHARE, and comes piled high with scoops of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and cookies and cream ice creams, EVERY topping in the house, and a WHOLE CAN OF WHIPPED CREAM!

Check out the Kitchen Sink HERE!

On this visit, we wanted to try some of the NEW stuff! First up, we had to tackle the brand new Signature Shake!!

Beaches and Cream debuted these baked-goods-topped crazy shakes in October 2018, and they’re clearly guest favorites. But with the new opening, they’re bringing in the brand new Storm Along Shake! This one’s cotton candy flavored and topped with a Lifesaver Donut.

This one is SUPER sweet (not surprisingly), so you may want to share it. (The kids are gonna LOVE it, though!) And the donut on top was surprisingly fresh.

There was plenty of icing on top, but the donut itself was soft and delicious — not stale at all as some “I’m-a-baked-good-on-top-of-a-milkshake” cake donuts can be (we have lots of experience).

We do love the signature shakes here, though — they’re much better than others of their ilk that are so trendy these days; and you can order them with confidence that you’re not wasting your $$$ on thin, icy milk with a week-old cupcake on top.

On to our new ENTREE choice! We love a good French Dip, so when we saw there was one coming onto the menu at Beaches and Cream, we knew exactly what we were going to indulge with when it came to mains.

This sammie is packed with thinly-sliced roast beef, swiss cheese, and fried onions, and it’s all piled on a crispy-chewy roasted french baguette.

Now, Beaches and Cream is no stranger to an au jus, and the one served with the French Dip here is flavorful and savory for sure.

We also tried out one of the brand new dessert options on the menu. I bet you can guess which one — everyone’s been gaga over it since Disney noted it was coming onto the menu!

The Cookie Fries are HERE!

This is a new plant-based option for dessert, and comes with three dipping sauces — marshmallow, strawberry, and chocolate.

These are reminiscent of biscotti — so don’t be expecting a super moist, chewy situation. They’re kinda dry…so use those dipping sauces or dip ’em in your shakes or ice cream!

The concept is cute and fun, but this isn’t your super-indulgent Beaches and Cream dessert. That space is still reserved for the No Way Jose, IMO!

There’s lots more to try on the menu, and we’ll be back in a couple of days to do just that!

By the way, drinks and spiked shakes are still here!

Overall

After visiting, we’re still SO glad Beaches is BACK. Yes, it’s gotten a reno. Yes, it’s all grown up now. But it’s still our favorite soda shoppe with a lot of our favorite menu items…and a few well-thought-out additions.

The renovation makes this space much larger and a lot less “kitschy.” It feels a bit fancier, but you can still expect amazing service (many of Beaches’ cast members are returning after the renovation) and a fun, enjoyable vacation atmosphere here.

And when it comes to eats, comfort food still rules the menu — and it’s great stuff. We’re enjoying the expanded menu, but will likely keep going back to old favorites (I luv u grilled cheese) over and over again.

Welcome home, Beaches and Cream! We’ve missed you, but we’re fully aware that we’re still going to have to fight to get a reservation for you!

Stay tuned to DFB for more reviews from this beloved spot soon!

Are you a Beaches and Cream fan? Let us know in the comments!