Where Should I Eat at BoardWalk Villas

One of the best parts of a Disney Vacation Club visit is enjoying the restaurants. Foodies are in for a treat at all DVC resorts, as fine dining comes with the package. 

For example, at Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, you’re a short walk, a boat ride, a gondola ride, or a slightly longer walk away from many exceptional restaurants. So, where should you eat at BoardWalk Villas? Let’s evaluate the options.

Quick Service and Lounges

Something we should address upfront is that Disney’s BoardWalk blurs the line between dining at the restaurant versus near it. Technically, you’ll only find two dining locations onsite. 

The newest offering is Carousel Coffee, an ideal location to grab a pastry and a hot beverage. While this coffee shop’s footprint is small, you’ll find a relatively robust menu here. 

Technically, BoardWalk Deli is in a different category. It’s one of several dining options at Disney’s BoardWalk, which we’ll discuss in the next section.

However, we’ve got one other bar to discuss on the hotel grounds. That’s Leaping Horse Libations at Luna Park Pool. This throwback experience will transport you a century backward in time.

Even better, you can eat there! It serves a tasty Cuban Sandwich, a Power Bowl, and some pizzas and salads. So, this option works well if you’re hungry but someone in your party wants to swim/lounge by the pool.

Dining on the BoardWalk

BoardWalk Deli opened in August 2022 as the de facto replacement for the former BoardWalk Bakery. The surprise here isn’t that the deli part is good. Everyone expected that. 

Instead, the shocker is that the baked goods here are, if anything, better than before. You can read what’s available here. Importantly, this location accepts Mobile Ordering. So, you can either pick something up on your way back to the room or as you’re ready to leave for the park. It’s grab-and-go dining done right.

That statement applies to several BoardWalk dining options, most notably the Pizza Window and BoardWalk Ice Cream. In early 2024, Disney added a new dining option as well.

On most dates, a Cast Member will park a food truck at the BoardWalk. These trucks indicate that they serve food from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., although that could change depending on the popularity of the option. Right now, it’s primarily just lunch service. Disney has indicated that different food trucks will appear, thereby rotating menus. 

Of course, the other reason you’ll want to dine at the BoardWalk is that some places are fancy. Two of Disney’s best restaurants, Flying Fish and Trattoria al Forno, are less than 200 feet away from the steps to BoardWalk Villas. 

Some people claim the Flying Fish serves the best meal at Disney, and it does hold a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, which is rare air. Meanwhile, Trattoria al Forno may offer the best Italian cuisine on the Disney campus…or you may prefer a place a short walk from here. 

That’s the thing about staying at this hotel. The dining selections are comically great, and they’re all in a condensed radius. 

Drinking and Dancing at the BoardWalk

You may also prefer a drink. If so, you’ll enjoy a similar variety of options.

Fans of theming will have a magical time at AbracadaBar, where all the drinks do tricks. BoardWalk Joe’s is also famous for its margaritas, which are conveniently grab-and-go.

Should you prefer a more involved setting, you’ll find two nightclubs here. Jellyrolls hosts a dueling piano setup and offers a fun party vibe. Meanwhile, Atlantic Dance Hall offers dancing to your dining and drinking.

Finally, I’ll mention one change in case you haven’t heard. The parent company of Big River Grille & Brewing Works recently closed all the locations, including the Disney BoardWalk, which they’d previously indicated would remain open. So, that’s one less option now. 

Other Dining Options in the Area 

Here’s where the conversation turns plaid. You can walk across the street to Disney’s Beach Club Villas, home to DVC fan favorites like Beaches & Cream Soda Shop and Café May Café. 

If you keep walking, you’ll reach Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, home to Yachtsman Steakhouse, among others. Let’s say that you hop on a boat instead. It’ll carry you to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, which houses Shula’s Steak House, Todd English’s bluezoo and several others. 

Let’s presume you go the other way, though. You can hop on the Disney Skyliner at the International Gateway. It’ll take you to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and its beloved restaurant, Sebastian’s Bistro. 

Courtesy of Disney Tourist Blog

Alternatively, you can keep walking into EPCOT, where the World Showcase is your oyster. I don’t have to tell you about all the culinary wonders available here, especially during festivals. Here, you’ll discover top dining options like Akershus, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Rose & Crown Dining Room, Teppan Edo, and Tutto Italia.

So, I think you get the point. When you stay at the BoardWalk, you’ll be a short distance away from some of the best dining at Walt Disney World.