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DiningDining at Disney Springs

The Boathouse – 7 Things You Need to Know

Since its opening in April 2015, The Boathouse has been a welcome addition to the newly refurbished Disney Springs area. The Boathouse offers fine dining, multiple bars, a lounge, a retail store, and amphicars! Here’s the short review – It’s fantastic! These are the top seven tips for planning your outing to The Boathouse.





 

7 – Reservations

While not always necessary, we recommend getting a reservation at the Boathouse. If you know you definitely want to dine there, start checking 60 days out, right at 6 a.m., as that will give you the best chances of making a reservation. You may also want to set the search to “lunch” or “dinner” rather than a specific time of day. Reservations can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE or at the Disney website.

6 – You Can Drive on Water

The Boathouse features nine rare amphicars that drive on both land and sea! Tours are available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and are offered hourly. The cost is $125 per car and hold the driver and 2 more people. Walk-up reservations are available.

Amphibicars at The Boathouse

5 – It Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

Editor’s Note: Disney Dining Plans are temporarily suspended. However, Disney has confirmed that they will return for vacation packages beginning January 9, 2024. Those packages are now on sale.

The Boathouse is a signature restaurant, so the prices reflect that. However, even if you are on a budget, The Boathouse can be within your reach. First, consider coming for lunch. The prices are reduced, but you get the same great food. Also, if you are a Walt Disney World Passholder, you will receive 10% off your meal with a photo ID and your passholder card. If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, be aware that the meal will use two credits for either lunch or dinner. Also, see tip #2 because you’ll be able to share dishes easily, which will also reduce your overall bill.

4 – Amazing Atmosphere

The Boathouse is expertly decorated. They have taken the nautical theme and went above and beyond. Some tables are even boats! You also can’t beat the view. Situated right on the water, you have beautiful views of Saratoga Springs and the lagoon. If you time it right, you’ll also get a great view of the sunset.

The Boathouse - Interior

3 – Bring a Jacket

Like most Disney restaurants, the air conditioning is on full blast to spare you from the hot Orlando heat. However, they’ve found another level and made it more like a meat locker. So, if you tend to get cold, bring a jacket with you.





 

2 – Bring an Appetite

The portion sizes at The Boathouse are substantial. Dishes could be easily shared if desired. You can also order off the sides menu for a main dish. My daughter, who is our pickiest eater, wanted the mac and cheese. Since she is too old for the kid’s menu, she ordered a side of mac and cheese. It turned out to be large enough to be its own meal, and at $12 turned out to be a bargain. Also, when they say the sides are sharable, they mean it! Sides could easily feed 2-3 people.

1 – The Food is Amazing

So, the food is a little more expensive, but is it worth it? The resounding answer is yes! The food is delicious, and it’s an excellent addition to the Disney Springs lineup. Even the bread at the beginning of the meal was fantastic. We talked more about the bread than anything else! I’m not going to lie to you; it was our favorite part of the meal.

Our steaks were excellent and cooked just right, which is increasing a rare art. Our consensus was that The Boathouse provides one of the best steaks on property (California Grill remains #1). One member of our party had a cheeseburger, which was a solid A-. We’ve also been back many times to enjoy other menu options and have never been disappointed.

The sides were delicious and, as mentioned before, ridiculously large. They say the sides are made for sharing. They aren’t lying. There wasn’t anything we tried that missed the mark. Everyone was happy with their meal, and everyone left very full.

For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.



 

Cindy E. Nykamp

After friends and family made them their go-to people for Walt Disney World advice, Cindy and Chad launched DisneyLists.com in August 2015 to share their knowledge and love of Disney. Cindy wears many hats for DisneyLists.com. As a content creator, she has written over six hundred articles providing news, tips, planning, and more, for trips to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line to our followers. She directs a team of authors to bring our fans up-to-date information so that they can have the best Disney vacation experience. Cindy manages DisneyLists.com's Instagram account, sharing photos and videos to bring some Disney magic into our followers' feeds. She is also our chief photographer and has her photos featured on the official Walt Disney World Instagram account. Finally, Cindy regularly represents DisneyLists.com at Disney media events. While attending these events, she gets an insider's view of all the new things that have come to Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line and passes this information and tips to our followers.
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