One of the things that we really wanted to experience on our trip to Walt Disney World was Disney Springs and in particular some of its most popular restaurants for families.
Disney Springs is home to so many restaurants and it can be hard to decide where to eat out, but we are so glad that The Boathouse restaurant was highly recommended to us before our trip.
Located on the waterside at the ‘Landing’ area of Disney Springs it’s a really popular restaurant so make sure you make a reservation in advance. The exterior of the restaurant is striking with a large boat suspended over the entrance and we also saw their famous amphicars taking customers around Lake Disney – more on that later.
I loved the modern nautical theme and colour palette of deep blues and rusty browns of the interior of the restaurant, which really connects it to its waterfront setting.
It was surprising just how large the Boathouse was, with multiple dining rooms and I loved the fact that each table is set with linen tablecloths, in-keeping with its upscale yet family friendly ambience.
It was not just the décor and ambience of restaurant that was impressive – the staff were so friendly and a credit to the Boathouse . Although we had arrived slightly earlier than our reservation time, we were warmly greeted by several of the restaurants staff, already creating a great first impression.
We were really happy with our table which had great views out over the lake, but if you wanted to dine al-fresco and it was a gorgeous evening in Florida many were dining on the patios that wrap around the restaurant or at their floating Dockside bar.
Menu
The menu at the Boathouse is extensive and although its speciality is seafood there was a wide range of land based dishes available and a great kids menu. It also has the largest selection of Oysters in Florida which you can see at their most aesthetically pleasing Oyster bar at the entrance to the restaurant.
Before we get to the meals we chose from the menu, I really need to mention the Boathouse house bread that is brought to the table to enjoy as you browse the menu. The rolls were some of the very best we’ve had, served warm with a buttery glaze, they were so good and a taste of things to come.
To drink I went for one of the Boathouse signature cocktails, the Duck Duck Razz, bright blue in colour and super cute with its rubber duck floating in the glass – it was not only delicious drink but a really fun one. The restaurant also boasts a range of locally brewed craft beers, including the Duck Duck Boathouse beer which my husband loved and the homemade lemonade for Chloe was excellent.
The kids menu offered a good range of dishes even for the fussiest of eaters. The girls chose the chicken tenders and fries for mains which was served in a fun Boathouse amphicar.
Moving on to mains, I couldn’t resist the NY Steak and Fries which came with Maitre d’ Butter and roasted Garlic and my husband chose the one of their famous Gibson Boneless Ribeye Steaks. This was served with red potatoes – all of the mains were as good as they looked.
We also ordered two sides, fresh cut fries and their famous mac n’ cheese – these were huge portions so I’m glad we got them to share. Their mac and cheese in particular was so tasty, but if we knew the size of the mains before we ordered them we would have skipped the sides.
Toward the exit of the restaurant, like most of the restaurants here at Disney Springs, the Boathouse also had a merchandise shop. Here you could purchase clothing, rubber ducks and more to take home as a keepsake of your visit.
For one of the most popular restaurants in Disney Springs I thought that the prices were reasonable and our dinner experience was excellent with very attentive staff.
Amphicar Experience
What makes this restaurant a unique attraction in Disney is that you can also take a ride on one of their vintage 1960’s amphicars ($125 a car up to 3 people – although you can get a $25 discount if you spend $50 at the restaurant). These vintage cars are unique amphibious vehicles that drives on land until it enters the water with a 20 minute captain guided tour of the sights of Disney Springs – this was a really memorable experience.
The launch area draws quite a crowd and the girls said they felt like celebs as everyone was waving and cheering as we entered the water from the dock. Watching the water hit the windscreen is such a memorable moment and the look on the girls faces was a picture.
Being able to see the sights of Disney Springs from this vantage point and in such a unique vehicle was one of the most unique experiences we have had, the girls loved it and our captain was really fun and knowledgeable.
Although it’s a little pricey, it was the perfect way to end our Boathouse dining experience at Disney Springs.
Overall
Would we recommend the Boathouse at Disney Springs? Yes without a doubt, I can now see why it’s one the of most popular restaurants here. Finding a quality family friendly restaurant is so important to us when we travel and the Boathouse ticked all the right boxes – we had such a wonderful meal.