Summer is the season of frozen treats, and while we don’t think you ever need a specific reason to indulge in ice cream, the heat in central Florida is certainly a sufficient and easy excuse.

Enter Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop!

Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop is located in the Marketplace of Disney Springs, with the “Spitting Stitch” entrance of World of Disney on one side and the Marketplace Co-Op on the other (Disneylanders can find Ghirardelli in Disney California Adventure, too). You might know Ghirardelli as the San Fran-sophisticated shop that emits the irresistible scent of chocolate (and the spot where you can still snag a free sample of the famously creamy Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares).

In addition to chocolate, Ghirardelli always plays a great Sundae game. Treats come complete with San Francisco-inspired names like the Golden Gate Banana Split. There’s also a spectacular four (or more) person delight called the The Earthquake with its EIGHT scoops of ice cream and full toppings (think of it as akin to Beaches and Cream’s Kitchen Sink, only without an Advance Dining Reservation).

So, everybody, grab a spoon, and join us as we try two Sundaes we hadn’t tried on previous visits: the Presidio Passion and the Crissy Field. 

FYI, Presidio National Park is located at the Golden Gate in San Francisco, and the Presidio Passion Sundae inspired by this unique park is a chocolate-covered strawberry lover’s dream!

Swirls of strawberry and chocolate come together in this indulgent cup (the cup is key here, as it’s easy to carry with you if you’ve grabbed your sundae on the go!). Just LOOK at it…

Vanilla hard packed ice cream is covered with strawberry topping (packed with real berries, not just preserves!). Hot fudge is drizzled IN AND ON the ice cream, and the whole beautiful thing is topped with a big ol’ chocolate-covered strawberry (which — Spoiler Alert — totally wins over the proverbial cherry on top).

Oh, and there’s whipped cream. Still, the best part of this sundae? All the fruity strawberry sauce intermingling with that rich hot fudge. Both the flavor and texture contrasts are a match made in Sundae Heaven.

At $11.95, this is — no doubt about it — more expensive than your friendly neighborhood ice cream parlor, but 1) You’re on vacation, and 2) the chocolate is Ghirardelli. Plus, similar to another strawberry lover’s treat — the Italy Pavilion’s Coppa Delizia in Epcot — this is EASILY shareable for a pair, bringing it down to roughly 6 bucks a person.

Basically, it’s Valentine’s Day in a huge cup. We weren’t entirely surprised to learn that this is a staff favorite.

But if your spirit animal craves less berry and more cookie, we’ve got another showstopper for you! It’s the Crissy Fields Cookie Bits Sundae. It’s named after Crissy Field park, which is known for offering incredible views of some San Franciso icons. I’d say this Sundae, though, offers quite a view of its own.

The deets: you’ve got two huge scoops of vanilla and one scoop of cookies-and-cream ice cream, for starters.

Next, there’s also a ton of homemade hot fudge. But the hilarious thing is you can’t even see any of that, what with the aforementioned “cookie bits.” I put that in quotes because the “bits” are essentially big, soft, buttery, half-baked chocolate chip cookies, crumbled up and topping the entire thing.

Oh, AND a smidgen of whipped cream 😉 .

The finishing touch? A couple of Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares… the caramel-filled ones.

I gotta take one more last look at one of those “cookie bits.”

This sundae has been on my Disney food radar for a while, and now I TOTALLY get it. It’s among the most indulgent “snacks” (yep, more quotes!) I’ve ever had at Disney World. At $12.45, it’s a terrific family share, especially if you don’t think you are quite up to tackling The Earthquake during your trip. The Crissy Field is like eating the greatest ice cream cookie sandwich of your life, only in a bowl and with a spoon.

Pardon me while I swoon.

Now, don’t forget: even though we enjoy showing you some of the most decadent, over-the-top Sundaes, you can still grab a cup, cone, or waffle bowl of your favorite flavor further customized with toppings for a lower price. No matter which you choose, a visit to Ghirardelli remains a must-stop even within the ever-expanding dining options of Disney Springs.

Wanna see more amazing Disney Sundaes? Check out our Best Disney Sundaes video below!

Do you have a Ghirardelli’s favorite? Please let us know with a comment below!