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9 Things You’ll Love About The Boathouse At Walt Disney World

With so many memorable restaurants taking up residency at Disney Springs, choosing which ones to visit during your next Disney trip is no easy feat. From dine-in movie theaters and luxury bowling, to classic fried chicken and barbecue the dining and entertainment choices are endless. One restaurant however stands out due to its one-of-a-kind recreation, vibrant menu, and stunning location. If you haven’t already made this a must-do in Disney Springs, here are 9 things you are sure to love about The Boathouse.

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1. Location

The location of The Boathouse in the Landing really can’t be beat. The Landing is located right in the center of Disney Springs, making it a convenient spot to stop for a lunch or dinner between visiting the theme parks or Disney resorts or for breaking up a day exploring Disney Springs. In addition to this convenient (and scenic) spot, The Boathouse is also right on the water, with gorgeous views from tables both indoors and outdoors and from the Dockside Bar.

2. Watercraft excursions

In addition to waterfront dining, guests can take to the water for an Amphicar tour of Disney Springs. Manufactured in Germany in the 1960s, Amphicars were originally thought to be the transportation of the future, though consumers found them to be too cost prohibitive and their popularity never took off as intended. Today, The Boathouse is the only place in the world where public Amphicar tours are offered daily.

3. Theme/Atmosphere

The retro décor of The Boathouse transports guests back to the days of classic waterfront fun of the mid-20th century. The restaurant’s interior is adorned with fine artwork and actual boat mechanisms, and the dock around the building houses an incredible collection of watercraft that guests can view by land or sea.

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4. Specialty cocktails

While there is no shortage of tasty cocktails to be found at Disney Springs, there are a few that varieties from The Boathouse that are worth the trip. The Blueberry Lemonade, made with Stoli Blueberry, Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, homemade lemonade, and fresh blueberries is the perfect drink to kick back with on the Dockside Bar or with lunch or dinner, and the drink menu goes on to include an extensive beer and wine list, along with unique takes on classic cocktails like margaritas and martinis.

5. Fresh seafood

The fresh seafood offerings at The Boathouse are the real deal. If you are from New England (like myself) you are probably used to skipping over any menu item with the term “Maine lobster” in the description while visiting a Florida tourist attraction, but do not bring this mentality with you to The Boathouse. From the beautiful raw bar display to the fresh lobsters, oysters, salmon, shrimp, and more to enjoy with your meal, the seafood here should not be passed up.

6. Expansive menu options

Everyone loves a good steak and seafood restaurant… unless you don’t love steak and seafood that is. Thankfully the menu at The Boathouse is accommodating for guests of all tastes, including steak and seafood lovers, vegetarians, vegans, and guests with other special diets. In addition to the well-known steak and seafood dishes, The Boathouse serves an award-winning barbecue chicken entrée, burgers, salads, and pasta, and like all restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort chefs are happy to accommodate guests with more specific dietary restrictions.

7. Desserts

If you can save room for dessert while visiting The Boathouse, you won’t want to miss stand-out desserts like the Double Chocolate Bundt Cake or the NY Style Blueberry Cake Cheesecake. For the most impressive dessert (that should definitely be split among at least four or five guests) check out the S’mores Baked Alaska, which is served in the form of a tower of Graham Cracker crust, Rocky Road ice cream, toasted marshmallows, and milk chocolate.

8. The Boatique

No trip to Disney Springs is complete without doing some shopping, and The Boathouse has everything to satisfy the maritime fan adjacent to the restaurant in The Boatique. This shop is full of items that can be personalized with engravings like paddles and life rings, and along with jewelry, clothing, boating accessories, and more. If you happen to go for a tour aboard an Amphicar, you’ll also want to stop at The Boatique to view and purchase photos to remember this experience.

9. Immersion

The Boathouse follows suit with areas within Disney theme parks in creating immersive experiences for guests. This restaurant doesn’t just pull off a nautical theme because you happen to be dining dockside, but rather it fully immerses you into the story of a classic art deco waterfront dining experience. Here guests can interact with pieces of history by touring Disney Springs via Amphicar and enjoy classic waterfront dining in style in a venue that feels like nowhere else on Disney property.

About Brittany DiCologero

Brittany is a New England-based writer focused on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. She is the author of "Red, White, and Disney: The Myths and Reality of American History at the Walt Disney World Resort," and "Brittany Earns Her Ears."