Are you looking for
a free, unique Disney experience away from the theme parks?
If so, I'm going to go over why you'll want to visit Disney's
Boardwalk, which is a charming shopping area located just next to Epcot.
And you won't want to miss it.
So let's get into it.
Disney's Boardwalk is a quarter mile promenade
filled with dining, unique shops and exciting nightlife.
The Boardwalk is styled around turn of the century boardwalks
in coastal cities such as Coney Island and Atlantic City, and encircles
Crescent Lake, which is conveniently located within walking
distance of both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
If you don't want to walk to the parks,
you also have the option of catching one of the Friendship boats for free.
These boats run continuously between the Boardwalk, Disney's Yacht
and Beach Club, Swan and Dolphin Hotel, Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
If you're driving to the Boardwalk, the parking here is always free
and there's no fee to enter.
Just let the guard at the gate
know that you're looking to visit the Boardwalk
and they'll instruct you on where to park.
So it's a perfect place if you're looking to squeeze
in a little bit of Disney magic on a budget.
Once you've parked, you'll walk straight through the Boardwalk
Inn and right into the Boardwalk area itself.
If you go clockwise around the Boardwalk loop,
the first shop that you'll come across is Wyland Galleries.
This art gallery features artwork from world famous marine life artists
Wyland and has some truly amazing sculptures.
You'll definitely want to stop in and check out some of this amazing work.
Just a short walk from Wyland Galleries is the boat dock
where you can catch the Friendship boats
as well as the Surrey Bike Shop where you can rent a Surrey bike built
for 2 to 4 people for an easier ride around the Boardwalk.
You'll come across these several times throughout your trip
around the Boardwalk and they look really fun.
Just after the Surrey Bike Shop is the Screendoor.
General Store, Disney's Character Carnival and Thimbles and Threads.
These shops are all connected and is where you can pick up
some groceries or treats from the bakery,
which is convenient if you're staying in any of the nearby hotels.
But you can also pick up some Disney gear, Tommy Bahama
threads or some other Disney souvenirs.
If you want to try your hand at a few carnival games,
just outside of Thimbles and Threads are several booths
where you can take in the nostalgic Coney Island boardwalk theme.
Just a short walk from the carnival games is Big River Grille
and Brewing Works.
This family friendly microbrewery and restaurant serves award
winning beers with a fresh twist on American pub favorites.
This is the only working brew pub at Walt Disney World,
and you can watch the onsite brewmaster craft five
specialty beers throughout floor to ceiling glass windows.
Just past Big River Grille is Jellyrolls.
And if you're over the age of 21, you can enjoy this lively dueling piano bar.
There is a nightly fee to enter, but you get to sit in front of a stage
featuring twin baby grand pianos, where the players will take turns,
dazzling the audience with their showmanship and easy report.
If you stay at the Boardwalk until the evening and are looking
to dance the night away, then you'll have to stop
by the Atlantic Dance Hall.
This fun dance hall is open from 8 p.m.
till 1 a.m.
from Thursday to Sunday for guests 21 and over.
And the party gets started in this stunning art deco ballroom
where the stars will twinkle on the ceiling
above this expansive dance floor.
If you walk past the Atlantic Dance Hall, you'll come across
a fork in the path
where if you go left, you can visit the majestic Swan and Dolphin Hotels.
They have their own amazing restaurants to try if you can get reservations.
You can find some of the best steaks
in Disney at Shula's Steakhouse, located in the Dolphin Hotel.
Or if you want, you can swing by Il Mulino
at the Swan Hotel, which has New York Italian fine dining.
The Swan is also home to Kimonos, which was voted
the best sushi in Orlando by Orlando Sentinel's Critics Choice.
If you decide to go right at the fork in the road,
then you'll walk towards Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort.
The Yacht Club is themed as a formal and elegant New England style
yacht club, where you'll find this beautiful gazebo right up front
with some adorable little rabbits roaming around the garden.
And while you're here, did you know
that you could rent a pontoon boat and get out into the water?
You can rent any of these motorized pontoon boats at the Bayside Marina.
Or you can pay to take a guided fishing excursion for a two hour trip.
Just a short walk from Bayside Marina is the Boardwalk signature
lighthouse where you can get a ride on any of their Friendship boats.
If you want a bite to eat
while you're on this side of the boardwalk,
then you'll have to head into the Yacht Club Resort,
which is home to some amazing restaurants.
First, there is the Ale & Compass, and at the Ale & Compass
you can dine on New England comfort food and classic seafood dishes
in a coastal inspired restaurant that resembles a cozy lighthouse.
There is also the Yachtsman Steak House, which is one of Disney's
signature fine dining restaurants, where you can enjoy premium
steaks and fresh seafood in this New England styled steakhouse.
These steaks are really good and give Shula's a run for its money.
After leaving the Yacht Club, you'll come across this life size
shipwreck on the beach, which is a giant waterslide that you'll
actually walk under as you make your way around the loop.
This slide is part of Stormalong Bay, which is a three acre water park
that's a part of both the Yacht and Beach Club hotels
and is available to you if you're staying at either one.
In the water park itself there is a pool and a sand bar,
but if you're not staying at either hotels, the beach is open to everyone.
So if you want to take a stroll along the beach, you can do that here.
If you do stay until the evening, there are these free
events like the campfire and marshmallow roast.
Where you can grab a stick and some marshmallows and enjoy
a perfectly roasted marshmallow on the beach.
If you would much rather have a frozen treat,
then you'll have to make your way over to the Beach Club Resort,
which is home to the popular Beaches & Cream Soda Shop.
This retro soda fountain offers burgers, chili cheese
tater tots, onion rings and some amazing sundaes and shakes.
The signature dish
here is the kitchen sink, which is eight scoops of ice cream,
all of the toppings and a whole can
of whipped cream.
It truly is everything and the kitchen sink.
And this will easily serve four people and the fun part
is that when it's ordered,
they will make a whole celebration about it like this.
If you're looking to enjoy some classic arcade games
after enjoying some ice cream right next door to Beaches & Cream,
it is Lafferty Place Arcade where you can get out of the heat
and let your kids enjoy some video games.
If you're staying at the Beach Club
there are also a couple of dining options that include Cape
May, which is a New England inspired buffet that you can enjoy
for breakfast or dinner.
That also includes character dining that starts back up in October 2022.
If you're not looking for a full meal, then you can always head over
to Martha's Vineyard, where you can grab some appetizers,
some signature cocktails, beers and wines
in this New England Beach House inspired lounge.
After leaving the Yacht and Beach Clubs, you'll come across
the International Gateway where you can actually enter Epcot
if you have a reservation or jump aboard
one of the Friendship boats or take a trip aboard the Skyliner.
After leaving the International Gateway, you'll walk over the bridge
and head back into the Boardwalk Hotel area.
Here, you'll pass the former ESPN Club,
which will become a new cake bake shop by Gwendolyn Rogers.
This shop is expected to open in 2023 and will offer both savory
and sweet desserts,
along with afternoon tea service in a whimsical atmosphere
that complements the magic and charm of Disney's Boardwalk.
If you didn't get enough cold treats while you're at the Boardwalk,
then you'll have to swing by Boardwalk
Ice Cream where you can get ice cream and sundaes to go.
Here you can enjoy items like the Shoreside Sundae with Snickers,
Bayside Brownie a la mode, and the Strawberry Splash Shortcake,
which is all inspired by the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop.
If you want something
a bit warmer, then you'll have to stop by the Boardwalk Bakery
for their house specialties salads, sandwiches and a selection
of hot and cold beverages and irresistible just baked treats.
Right next door to the Boardwalk Bakery is the Pizza Window
where you can stop and grab a slice of pie to-go.
If you want a margarita to go with that slice just across
the walkway is Boardwalk Joe's Marvelous Margaritas.
Where you can also grab a margarita to go.
Next up is the Trattoria Al Forno,
which is a casual Italian eatery showcasing an artisanal menu.
This restaurant celebrates the diversity of Italian cuisine
with authentic ingredients and recipes hailing from Milan and Rome.
Here you can try their Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast,
where you can encounter characters from Tangled,
The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder.
The character dining isn't currently available,
but we're hoping that they bring it back in the near future.
If you're wanting to experience some golden age
magic, then you'll have to step into AbracadaBar.
This enchanted speakeasy style lounge is where you can find
magician, props and secrets decorated to fit Harry Houdini himself.
Right next door to AbracadaBar is the Flying Fish.
The Flying Fish is another one of Disney's signature
fine dining restaurants, where you can discover a warm,
welcoming ambiance that defines luxury dining.
Here you can enjoy sustainable seafood and oak grilled steaks.
Each one of their dishes are even more
beautiful and mouthwatering than the next.
If you're looking for an amazing, fine dining gourmet experience
on the Boardwalk, the Flying Fish is definitely one you can't miss.
If you want to grab a quick drink, you'll have to step inside
the Boardwalk and head over to Belle Vue Lounge, where you can step inside
this quaint, 1930s style sitting room
where radios play programs from that era.
If you stay at the boardwalk until the evening you'll find
some amazing live entertainment throughout the boardwalk.
While we were there,
we were able to catch the incredible Juggling Jacks who perform some amazing
juggling, hula hooping and some balancing stunts.
On the other side was another talented performer
that showed off some fun balancing and some giant hoops stunts.
There are also several fun activities that happen throughout the Boardwalk
entrance area,
so you'll have to check
one of the schedules nearby to see the full list of things
that are happening on the day that you go.
There is everything from free marshmallow roasting,
complimentary movies under the stars where you could just cop
a squat on the grass and relax in the fresh evening air.
The movies are different
every day of the week and they change the lineup every month.
But it's a fun way to just sit back and enjoy the evening.
If you're looking for another fun and free Disney area to enjoy,
then you'll have to check out my video on Disney Springs
that just popped up on the screen.
Disney Springs is a huge shopping and entertainment area
that has hundreds of amazing shops and restaurants,
and I'll walk you through the entire thing.
Until next time, everyone!
I hope you have an amazing day and go out and enjoy some Florida sunshine.