Date Night- Ghiradelli's Ice Cream Shop? No Way Jose!

I keeping with today's holiday of LOVE, I have decided to start my series of blogs called Date Night. My husband and I are very lucky to be able to travel to the Walt Disney World Resort with my parents each year. And although we never want to impose, a least once during our trip my parents keep an eye on the kids, so that my husband and I can have a night out alone.

Up until it's closing this past fall, our date night usually meant a trip to Pleasure Island. Since that is not an option anymore, we have had to find other options. This past trip, we decided to visit the Ghirardelli Ice Cream Shop, located at Downtown Disney Marketplace.

For years now, the smell of freshly made waffle cones have guided us in, only to have the large lines turn us right back around. (I have to mention that my husband and I met while working at our local ice cream stand. Similar hand made waffle cones and bowls were also made there, so the smell is a fond memory trigger.) This time there was no wait, although it did take us a while to scan the menu, and even longer to make a final decision.

I was stuck between the Domingo- Banana Hot Fudge Sundae. It consisted of Vanilla Ice Cream, Bananas, Hot Fudge, Whipped Cream, Chopped Almonds and a cherry for $8.50. My other option was the Warm Caramel Sundae- Vanilla Ice Cream, warm Ghirardelli Caramel, Whipped Cream, Chopped Almonds, and a Cherry. This topped with a Famous Chocolate with Caramel Square was only $7.95. Since Ghirardelli is known for it's chocolate, I opted for the Domingo. My husband, who was torn between the Domingo and every other option on the menu, opted to join me on the Domingo train.

We made our selections, paid and took our number stand to an outdoor table. It was a nice night, and we'd thought it would be fun to people watch. Within a few moments our huge sundaes arrived, and my husband proceeded to do his daunting job of eating the whipped cream from my sundae. While I don't dislike whipped cream, I'm not a big fan of the amount that comes on these kind of sundae's. I know that I can ask to not have it, but having previously worked in an ice cream shop, sometimes it's more of a hassle to break the routine, so I've just learned to go with it. My husband isn't complaining either.

We began to devour our sundaes when I started to notice something. I was only eating vanilla ice cream and bananas. I looked and saw the chocolate was at the bottom of the glass. I tried to reach the chocolate, but it sent the melting ice cream all over the edge of the glass. I thought that by eating the ice cream down, it would make it easier, but it only made me figure out the problem. The fudge had solidified into one large "glass shaped" piece of chocolate. I was so disappointed. I love chocolate, all kinds of chocolate. Cheap chocolate, expensive chocolate, I'm not picky (and I have the hips to prove it). Ghirardelli's is one of the top names in chocolate, and for $8.50 per sundae, I really expected warm gooey fudge.

Being an former sundae maker myself, I understand that the ice cream cools the fudge, but I really feel that the execution was where the sundae fell short (do you like my Top Chef lingo?). The ice cream should have been on the bottom, with the fudge smothering it. I thought I was the only one until my husband mentioned that the end of the sundae was like chewing chocolate bubble gum. We chose not to finish eating the hardening chocolate, cleaned up, left our tip and proceeded to walk off the calories around Downtown Disney.

It was a nice night, even though we were disappointed with the sundaes that we had looked forward to all trip. My husband and I walked and talked, even sat for a few moments of silence (which is rare when you have a 6 and a 4 yr old) by the water on the West Side over looking our resort, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.

Will we go back? I think not. We did it. Scratched it off our ever growing list of things to do at the Walt Disney World Resort. I think if we ever go out for an ice cream sundae "date" again, we'll be returning to Beaches & Cream for a famous No Way Jose sundae, a favorite of ours.

I want to thank anyone and everyone who reads my blogs. I certainly enjoy writing them and I hope that you enjoy reading them. I do plan to be writing more frequently, so stay tuned for more adventures.

Until then...keep on strolling!

Kristin

Outside the Parks: Taken for a Ride

There are many things at the Walt Disney World Resort that I want to experience. One of those things were the surrey bikes found at most Moderate, Deluxe, and Home Away from Home resorts. On our last trip, my family and I finally got to scratch it off our list.

Staying at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, we headed down to Horsing Around Rentals to rent our Surrey Bike. We chose a 4 seat surrey bike for our adventure.

There were six of us, my mother, father, husband, son, daughter and I. After pulling our red Surrey bike from the pack, my father was given his "driving" instructions. The kids were placed in the front baskets and given their own bell ringing instructions. We all hopped into postions, were given final rules and course to follow, then, we were off.

Our strategy for renting a surrey bike at the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa was that the course was flat and not that long. I must say, the course is not as flat as it seems. Actually, there are a lot more "small inclines" than we thought. Thankfully, we didn't do this at the Disney's Boardwalk Resort, like we had planned to every time we stayed there. We probably would have left the bike at the base of the large hill (you all know the one I'm talking about), and walked back to our room.

We left Horsing Around Rentals, rode past the DVC preview location, and headed towards the Congress Park section of the resort. We crossed the road and started around the lake. About halfway around the lake, we were exhausted and had to take a break. After a quick rest and a few excuses for our poor preformance, we continued on. It would have been easy for us to cross the bridge and cut the trip short, but the bridge is off limits to the surrey bikes. So, we reluctantly pushed on to finish the course.

The rental was for a 1/2 an hour, which translated (according to the Cast Member) to two trips around the resort. Let's just say we made it around once, then, we were done.

After we returned our bike, my kids tried out the single bikes. Each were given a helmet and their choice of a bike. They each got a bike equipped with training wheels (in their color choice), and off they went.

We followed the same course around the lake. We made a stop at the quiet pool (between the Paddock and Springs sections) and let the kids play on the playground. After a little climbing and sliding, the kids were back on their bikes and ready to hit the trail again. We decided to make a quick stop at our hotel room and change into our bathing suits. Pool attire and accessories in hand, we made our way back to Horsing Around rentals. We traded in our bikes and helmets for two very stylish (and necessary) life vests, and off to finish our day at the pool.

I know this sounds like an awful experience, but it's was actually a great one. My family joked and laughed about the ride for the rest of the day. I would even try it again next time, see if we can do better, or at least make it around the second time. My kids loved that they got to choose their own bike, and ride around the hotel. They get excited when they can go out and ride in the driveway, imagine how excited it was to ride with Walt Disney World as your backdrop.

All in all, it was a fun experience that everyone enjoyed. Okay, we enjoyed it more when the burning in our legs stopped, but more so, the time we spent together.

Surrey bikes and other rentals can be found at most Moderate, Deluxe, and Home Away from Home resorts. Prices, equipment availablity and hours may vary. Check with your front desk, concierge, or directly with the rental locations for specifics.

There's more to Walt Disney World than just theme parks, and a lot of time, the fun is just beyond your hotel room door. I advise every family to take a day, explore all that Walt Disney World has to offer...just outside the parks!

Stay tuned for more of my families experiences at the Walt Disney World Resort. So, until then... keep on strolling!