Disney’s Boardwalk Area Hotels, Restaurants, Fun

The Disney Boardwalk area offers entertainment, restaurants, shopping and a relaxed seaside ambience feels more like the Eastern seaboard than Orlando, Florida. Walking down the wooden Boardwalk is an experience that’s takes people back in time to their days at the shore, or to old photographs of people strolling the Atlantic City beaches before the casinos.

Disney World Boardwalk Inn and Boardwalk Villas Deluxe Hotels

The Boardwalk Inn and Boardwalk Villas are two of the hotels found in the Epcot area at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. The Boardwalk Inn is a deluxe hotel; the Boardwalk Villas, which are part of the Disney Vacation Cub timeshare program, has studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom suites, but is only available to the public if not filled by owners. Both hotels are served by a central check in area, valet and bell services area. Both are decorated to complement the seaside atmosphere of the Boardwalk; the Inn side is cream colored, while the Villas side is painted in more lively colors.

Disney Resort Boardwalk Restaurants; Flying Fish, Kouzzinas, ESPN, Big River Grilling

Although there are no restaurants within the hotel itself, and no food court, the Boardwalk hosts several very good restaurants, a bakery and an ice cream/ candy store. ESPN, located at the end of the complex closest to Epcot, is a great place for a casual meal in a fun atmosphere (unless there’s an exciting game going on; then the atmosphere can be intense, not to mention deafening).

The Flying Fish is an upscale restaurant with excellent food located right next to the Boardwalk Inn. Kouzzina, run by chef Cat Cora, the newest restaurant in the area, features Mediterranean food. Big River Grilling is a place for sandwiches or a quick meal; this restaurant also has its own microbrewery. There are tables for those who want to eat outside on a nice day.

The Boardwalk Bakery has typical bakery items also with some breakfast items, the Seashore Sweets is great for those with a sweet tooth, and the pizza window fits the bill for a late night snack. There are also vendor carts with funnel cakes, hot dogs and candy.

Disney Transportation Buses and Boats

Both sides of the Boardwalk are served by a centrally located boat dock for transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and a bus stop located at the back of the hotels for service to the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney. Disney buses don’t go directly from one resort to another. It’s also a short walk to Epcot and a slightly longer walk to the Hollywood Studios.

Swimming Pools at the Boardwalk Hotels

There are two pools at the Boardwalk resorts: the main pool, which features a large slide that looks like a mini roller coaster and also has a kiddie pool nearby, and the quiet pool, which also has a hot tub.

Entertainment at the Boardwalk Resort; Jellyrolls, Atlantic Dance Hall, Street Performers

The street entertainment on the Boardwalk is fun for everyone, young or old. At different times, there are magicians, jugglers and other street performers set up; look for a crowd and there’s probably a street performer in the middle of it.

Jellyrolls, a dueling piano bar, is a fun place to spend a few hours; the pianists take requests. The Atlantic Dance Hall, at the far end of the complex, is open late for those who want to dance or hang out; both clubs are open to those over 21.

Boardwalk Resort Shopping at the Screen Door, Wyland Galleries, Dundrie’s Sundries

The Boardwalk has a small sundries shop, Dundrie’s Sundries, inside the hotel, and a long shop directly on the Boardwalk, the Screen Door, that looks like it’s broken into a number of shops but is all one shop on the inside. Clothing, toys, Disney merchandise and food items like bread, milk and alcohol are all available there. There’s a also an upscale art gallery, the Wyland Gallery, on the corner of the building, separate from the other stores.