Disney's Boardwalk, Coney Island meets Pleasure Island
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Boardwalk Activities|Cheap Activities|Nightclubs|Restaurants|ESPN Club|Brew Pub And
Grill| Cheap Food And Drink| Shopping|Cocktail Lounge
So just what is Disney's Boardwalk? Well, it is many things: a recreation of a New Jersey seaside resort along the lines of Coney Island, a shopping venue, and a restaurant, nightclub, and entertainment district. Why should you go? For many reasons. This very different entertainment area of Disney World is an interesting mixture of shops, one of a kind restaurants, and nightclubs, presented in a unique carnival like setting, with a nostalgic turn of the 20th century feel. This one of a kind Coney Island like atmosphere makes the Boardwalk truly stand out from any other Disney Resort. By day the Boardwalk is a peaceful place to enjoy a nice lunch, shop, stroll, and just relax away from the crowds. But by night the boardwalk is a much different experience. Depending on the day of the week and season of the year, jugglers, fire eaters, stilt walkers, and all manner of other street performers will vie for your attention, and carnival barkers will try to entice you to their booths as you stroll along the Boardwalk.The Boardwalk is very different from Pleasure Island, smaller with only two clubs Jelly Rolls, and Atlantic Dance. It boasts a wide variety of places to eat and drink. Everything from the expensive and elegant Flying Fish Restaurant, to vendors selling Coney Island style hotdogs and pizza. The boardwalk provides a more intimate, less crowded alternative to the Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney hot spots. But make no mistake, there is plenty to keep you entertained here. One of my family's favorite things to do at the Boardwalk is to enjoy a meal at the outdoor seating that many of the restaurants provide. We love to sit and watch the lights glinting on the water, the boats coming and going from the dock, and the hustle and bustle of passers by. There is a obviously a charge for food and drinks and also for a few carnival style games, and the surrey bikes that are available for rent. All other entertainment on the Boardwalk is absolutely free. With the exception of Jellyrolls Club, which has a small cover charge (around $10), there is no charge to enter Atlantic Dance. You must be 21 or over to be admitted to either club. Below is a list with brief descriptions of everything Disney's Boardwalk has to offer.
Atlantic Dance: This Dance Club with a sophisticated feel and a state of the art light and sound system has no cover charge ( though you will of course pay for food and drink). The style of music varies widely and changes frequently but this club is always a great place to dance the night away. Live bands sometimes perform here. You must be age 21 or older to enter. Jelly Rolls: Stop by Jelly Rolls Club, home of the famous dueling pianos. Two talented pianists vie for your attention. If you have a request write it on a cocktail napkin or anything else that comes to hand, drop it on a piano along with a dollar bill or two and wait for the fun to begin! Audience participation is expected so keep your vocal cords well lubricated and be prepared to sing along! There is a cover charge around the $5 to $10 range and you must be 21 or over to enter. Open from 7PM to 2AM. Jelly Rolls is one of the best night time entertainment venues on Disney property. Great Fun!!!
The Belle Vue Room:
Located in the Boardwalk Inn the Belle Vue Room is a wonderful place to sit, relax ,and enjoy a quiet drink. This comfortable lounge has the feel of an elegant Victorian drawing room with it's comfy overstuffed chairs and polished wood. It's refined but not stuffy atmosphere invites intimate conversations and provides the perfect location to unwind after a long day touring in the parks. One nice touch and something you won't find anywhere else are the old fashioned radios playing vintage shows from the golden age of radio. The Belle Vue Room also serves coffee and a very nice continental breakfast from 6:30am to 11:30am every morning.
The Flying Fish: This is one of the best dining establishments at Disney World and indeed in Central Florida. You know you are onto a good thing when you find local residents as well as vacationers packing the dining room. The Flying Fish fits right in with the Coney Island theme. The backs of the booths are designed to resemble the shape of an old fashioned roller coaster track and the carnival theme is very much in evidence everywhere you look. The food is very upscale and expensive but parents need not worry. There is a children's menu and families are definitely welcome, this is after all Disney. The Menu is focused on fresh seafood but beef, poultry, and vegetarian dishes are also available. The potato wrapped snapper is the signature dish and if you enjoy fish dishes is not to be missed! Spoodles: More casual than the Flying Fish, Spoodles features cuisine from the Mediterranean coast of Europe. If you can't travel to Spain, Portugal, or Greece, to sample the delights of a traditional tapas, restaurant Spoodles is the next best thing. Light and airy, with hardwood floors and an open kitchen that fills the air with tempting aromas, Spoodles has a homey feel to it. The food is excellent and if you have never tried tapas this is a good place to start. Tapas are like appetizers. Instead of everyone ordering seperate entrees, they each order different items from the tapas menu and everyone shares. This is a great way to try different types of food and is a lot of fun. Spoodles also has excellent entrees ( the Portuguese seafood stew is wonderful but not always available) and fabulous desserts. Big River Grille & Brewing Works: For those who like to try different types of beer, this working brew pub is the place to be. Big River offers several examples of brewed on the premises beer and ale that have names such as Gadzooks Pilsner and Wowser's Wheat. Despite the funny names they are excellent. For non beer drinkers, a full bar is available along with soda, tea, coffee, etc. There is a wide variety of food to choose from and despite some criticism I have always found it to be very tasty, especially the burgers. My one complaint is that the service can some times be a little indifferent.Both indoor and outdoor seating is available. If you sit indoors you can watch the brew master at work through a window. When it is not too hot I like to sit outside and people watch, this is especially true at night when it is possible to watch the fireworks from Epcot bursting high in the air over the lake. This is a huge Sports bar and restaurant with an arcade chock full of the latest sport themed video games. The ESPN Club is split into sections, main restaurant, sports bar, and arcade. There are over 100 tv's (bet you can't count them all) scattered around the premises including several in the bathrooms so you won't miss a minute of the big game. The food at the ESPN club is nothing special typical sports bar fare wings, hot dogs, burgers, chili, soups, sandwiches etc, along with a full bar. The attraction here is sports not gourmet food! But portions are large and prices are not too outrageous. For those looking for a place to catch a game on TV or just a somewhere for a late night snack ( ESPN stays open till 1am) the club is the place to be. Occasionally sports stars stop by to be interviewed live on radio. To find out if a broadcast is scheduled during your visit call the club direct. Open for lunch and dinner from 11:30 am to 1:00am
Boardwalk Bakery: Mouth watering Pastries and deserts are available here along with a selection of delicious sandwiches. Mornings are especially nice, order a coffee and a breakfast sandwich, doughnut, or a bun. then stroll outside and watch the bakers at work through the window.
Seashore Sweets: This old fashioned ice cream and candy store is a real treat for those of us who love a hand dipped cone, or an ice cream sundae. If you really have a sweet tooth there are also mountains of candy to tempt you. Warning! If you are on any kind of a diet the temptation to sample some of the delicious items on offer may be more than you can stand! Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
There are a number of carts and kiosks along the Boardwalk some are only open at busy times of the year. Spoodles Pizza Window: 16" pizzas, pizza by the slice, beer, wine, sodas, and bottled water. Outdoor seating is available. Broadway Joe's Coffee Cart: The name says it all Coffee, Cappuccino, latte. Very limited snacks such as churros and popcorn. Boardwalk To Go: Hot dogs, corn dogs, chilli dogs, sandwiches, nachos and cheese, sodas, etc Tasty Sensations: Funnel cake, Pretzels, sodas etc.
Disney's Character Carnival: Carries a wide range of Character merchandise and childrens clothes. Dundy's Sundries:
This store located in the lobby of the Broadwalk Inn carries a range of assorted items from basics necessities such as toothpaste, shampoo, and suntan lotion to souvenirs. Screen Door General Store:Selection of groceries, snacks, sodas, beer ,wine ,magazines, postcards, etc. Thimbles & Threads: Mens and Women's casual clothing and swim wear. Wyland Galleries: This is a mix of a shop and an art gallery featuring sculptures and art work by famed marine artist Wyland. This is a fascinating place to browse around, my family and I have spent many an hour here viewing the outstanding artwork.. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and there is absolutely no pressure to buy anything.
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