Summer in Southern California means long days in the parks, and that heat's no joke. When you need to cool down, the Disneyland Resort has plenty of cold treats waiting for you. We've rounded up the spots worth knowing about, from classic ice cream to slushies and cold brew.
Ice Cream, Shakes, and Sundaes
If you're after something cold and creamy, you've got options all over the parks.
The vending carts scattered throughout both parks stock the classics: Mickey bars, ice cream sandwiches, frozen bananas, and chocolate chip cookie sandwiches. They're perfect when you want something quick to eat while you walk.
Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street U.S.A. has that old-fashioned ice cream shop feel, and they do it right. You'll find hand-scooped cups and cones, plus sundaes like the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae (vanilla ice cream, fresh-baked cookies, fudge, whipped cream, cherry) and the Strawberry Street Car Sundae (strawberry and vanilla in a dipped waffle cup). Different sizes mean you can split if you're feeling generous.
Over in Disneyland, The Golden Horseshoe offers ice cream floats and the Cookie Butter Churro Sundae, which combines cookie dough ice cream, cookie butter sauce, a cinnamon sugar churro, and whipped topping. It's the kind of thing you get when you want to go all out.
In Disney California Adventure, Flo's V8 Cafe in Cars Land does simple, satisfying milkshakes in vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry, topped with crushed cookies to look like road gravel. They come in a souvenir glass if you want to take the Cars Land theming home with you.
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop in San Fransokyo Square uses premium Ghirardelli chocolate in everything. The World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae is the signature: vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, almonds, a cherry, and a milk chocolate caramel square. If you want something different, try the Ocean Beach Sea Salt Caramel Sundae or a Frozen Hot Cocoa.
Clarabelle's Hand-Scooped Ice Cream in California Adventure is named after Clarabelle Cow and gives you the freedom to customize. You can grab a float (two scoops of vanilla with your choice of beverage), hand-dipped ice cream bars, or just a simple scoop or two.
For soft serve, Cozy Cone Motel in Cars Land has vanilla and chocolate, swirled or separate, in a cone or cup. The walk-up windows make it quick and easy.
Slushies, Soft Serve, and Frozen Drinks
When the temperature climbs and you want something lighter, these frozen options hit the spot.
Bengal Barbecue is known for skewers, but they also make slushies. The Thai Tea Slushy comes with brown sugar spheres and cold foam. The Jungle Julep blends pineapple, orange, grape, and lemon juices. If you like heat with your sweet, the Tropical Slushy adds chile-lime to passion fruit, orange, guava, and lychee.
The Tropical Hideaway in Adventureland is where DOLE Whip lives. Pineapple is the classic, but you can also get peach or strawberry. Order it as a float if you want that extra refreshment.
Kat Saka's Kettle in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge reimagined their famous Cold Brew Black Caf as a slushy topped with chocolate sweet cream and chocolate cookie crumbles. It's got real visual appeal and gives you that caffeine boost.
Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats on Pixar Pier leans into non-dairy options. The Pixar Pier Frosty Parfait layers non-dairy soft serve (lemon, mango, or raspberry) with blue raspberry swirl. It's as much fun to look at as it is to eat.
Schmoozies! makes blended drinks beyond their famous waffles. The Mangonada Smoothie blends mango, banana, and peach with pineapple and guava juices, finished with chamoy and chile-lime seasoning. The Strawberry Banana Sensation is simpler but satisfying. If you want an afternoon pick-me-up, they do a blended mocha with cold brew, chocolate sauce, and vanilla ice cream.
Cold Brew and Chilled Beverages
For sustained energy through a long park day, cold brew and chilled drinks are your friend.
Pym Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus offers seasonal chilled beverages alongside their menu. Experiment 7290 is a Cookies & Cream Cold Brew with chocolate cookie cold brew and sweet cold foam. It's the kind of drink that fuels those longer park days.
