Visiting Disney in Hollywood, at Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store

April 27, 2010, 2:42 PM · With my parents in town this past week, we took that as an excuse to play tourist, and visit parks of Los Angeles that we rarely visit as residents. Natalie wanted to take pictures in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre, so we drove down to Hollywood for the afternoon.

What's the theme park angle, you ask? Well, the kids wanted a snack, so we walked across the street to Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store.

Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store

Think the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor, but on Hollywood Boulevard. Take a moment to look down as you enter, so that you don't miss a certain theme park's "star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Disneyland's start on the Walk of Fame

The store's located next to Disney's El Capitan Theater (now showing "Oceans"), but it's a separate facility, offering table service soda, sundaes and sandwiches on one side, and a small selection of Disney souvenirs on the other. (The store does, however, offer a healthy selection of Disney Blu-Ray and DVDs.)

Inside Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store

Laurie ordered a junior hot fudge peppermint sundae ($5.95):

Peppermint Sundae

And I went for the non-dairy Strawberry Ice ($2.95):

Strawberry Ice

Ultimately, though, we ended up polishing off the kids' chocolate malt ($6.50):

Chocolate malt

We also ordered a Coke Float ($4.95). A variety of sandwiches are also available, as are cupcakes and a few over-the-top treats, such as a "Mickey's Masterpiece" sundae with eight scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, caramel and marshmallow, served in a Sorcerer's hat ($29.95).

The Soda Fountain's a convenient stop when visiting the tourist sites in Hollywood, located across the street from Grauman's, the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards) and Hollywood and Highland shopping center, and next door to the El Capitan and the Jimmy Kimmel Live theater. Park under Hollywood and Highland ($2 for four hours with validation from any store in the mall - the Disney Soda Fountain, across the street, doesn't count). Or take the LA Metro Red Line, which has a stop right on the corner.

Replies (4)

April 27, 2010 at 5:44 PM · All your Disney Store Coupons are NOT good there.


There you go: all I know about this place!

Thanks for the report!

April 27, 2010 at 6:26 PM · Wow looks really cool, nice pictures. "Mickey's Masterpiece" sounds tempting.
April 27, 2010 at 11:14 PM · The whole area is really cool. I'm a Los Angeles native, so it doesn't have the same wonder to me as it does to a tourist, but my family still makes a point to generally see at least one movie a year at El Capitan. Their VIP packages, with popcorn, drink, and reserved seating, are a good deal considering the prices you pay at most conventional theaters, and the ambiance more than makes up the difference. Putting it even further over the top is the organist who plays Disney show tunes while you're waiting for the movie to start. There is generally an exhibit related to the film, and a live stage show, when a new-release is screened there. We'll always kill time before or after the movie in the Studio Store, and about half the time we'll grab a meal at the Soda Fountain, eating at Hollywood and Highland the other half. I hate city driving, so the convenient metro station is very welcome. I highly recommend this location to anyone who hasn't been there yet, even native Southern Californians.
April 27, 2010 at 11:29 PM · This is definitely a place worth stopping in, as a part of a trip to the El Cap, or just a Hollywood visit. I often fill in at Jimmy Kimmel and will usually stop in to see what is new. For pin collectors, they have their own line of collectible pins, not available any place else. There are typically (current) movie related things for sale. The food is good, and a place we will eat on any H'wood trips.

The El Cap has a fun acoustical thing, if you can get the chance to try it - sit on opposite sides of the theater, in the same row, under the opera boxes; talking in a normal voice, you can hear the person at the other end of the row as if they are sitting right next to you. It may not work with the theater full, and ushers may need to be persuaded to let you try it. If you can, it's a cool effect. The theater itself is always themed inside and out for the movie playing at the time, with some sort of extra display (props...) It is a fun place to see a movie, too, especially with the extras if you can afford it once in a while.

If you are into more late night type content, it isn't too hard to get into Jimmy Kimmel show. There are people outside the theater a few hours before showtime to sort of sign in with.

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