Enjoy Dining, Entertainment and Shopping at Disney's BoardWalk

Disney’s BoardWalk is a quarter-mile of dining, entertainment and shopping located in the Epcot Resort area.  The BoardWalk is an area designed to make you feel like you are back in the early days of Coney Island and Atlantic City at the turn of the century. Even if you're not staying at the resort, this is a great place to visit during your vacation!

In the daytime Disney’s BoardWalk is a quiet relaxed place. In early morning, you'll often find runners and other early risers enjoying the Epcot resort area as it wakes for a new day. In the evening, the BoardWalk really comes alive.  The lights, sounds, and entertainment help create a fun, energetic atmosphere that can't quite be described. The performers are at two different locations; one in front of the Screen Door General Store and the other across from the Flying Fish Restaurant.

The International Gateway entrance for Epcot is a short, leisurely walk or boat ride away.  You can also take the pathway to walk to Disney’s Hollywood Studios which will take you around 25 minutes, or you can take the boat.

A really fun activity at the BoardWalk is renting surrey bikes and taking a ride around Crescent Lake. If you do decide to rent surrey bikes, here is a word of caution.  There are two hills along the way that you will need some momentum to get up!  It's quite the workout but all in all it is a wonderful way to spend time around the BoardWalk.

The best time to visit Disney’s BoardWalk and take advantage of all the offered activities is in the evening.  The hours run from 7:00am – 10:00pm.

Disney’s BoardWalk offers a partial view of Epcot's fireworks. Tip: go past the ESPN Club and watch from the bridge.  They usually are at 9pm but check the Times Guide or My Disney Experience Mobile App for the start time to be sure.

The BoardWalk offers a few different shopping options.  Seashore Sweets is where you can grab some candy or ice cream.  The Screen Door General Store is where you can by souvenirs and food items like milk, bread, etc. to take back to your room.  Thimbles & Threads is an apparel store and Character Carnival that sells character souvenirs.

Disney’s BoardWalk has restaurants to suit everyone's needs.  The BoardWalk Bakery is a nice way to start your day with pastries for breakfast and this is also where you will find your refillable mugs.  The Pizza Window sells whole pizza pies or you can just get a slice if that is more to your liking.  You can find other food options at Tasty Sensations where you can get funnel cakes or cotton candy or at Disney’s BoardWalk to Go which serves hot dogs, corn dogs, sandwiches, burgers & fries.  A favorite is Ample Hills Creamery, which offers a variety of ice cream flavors and floats to cool off on a hot day.

There are numerous full service restaurant’s you can choose from.  The ESPN Club is a great place for lunch or dinner and they don't take reservations so it's a great place to visit on the fly.  It is especially fun when there is a major sporting event, however be sure to arrive early as it can get very crowded.  I personally have been there when the Stanly Cup playoffs were on and all I can say is it was very exciting & intense!  Another one of our favorite places is Big River Grille & Brewing Works and they also do not take reservations.  You can dine inside or if it’s a nice day grab a table outside and enjoy the scenery.  Trattoria al Forno offers a character dining experience for breakfast with characters from Tangled and the Little Mermaid (one of our favorite character meals by far) and delicious Italian food for dinner.  Finally, The Flying Fish is a signature dining experience and is only open for dinner.  It’s an excellent seafood restaurant with an open kitchen so you can see the kitchen as your food is being prepared.

Disney’s BoardWalk also offers two nightclubs for those over 21.  Jellyrolls featuring dueling pianos and Atlantic Dance Hall have live music and or a DJ most nights.  The hours for both are from 9:00pm – 2:00am.  Please note that both nightclubs have a cover charge.

Not quite feeling the nightclub vibe?  The Abracadabar is an upscale lounge with hints of magic throughout.  Pop in for a nightcap and sit inside to relax or outside and people watch


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Day or night, Disney's Boardwalk is a beautiful place full of wonderful story and fun authentic decor. With fun entertainment and plenty of delicious dining options to suit every taste, it is a great way to spend a few hours. I hope you find some time on your next visit one of my favorite areas of Walt Disney World!