Disney's Boardwalk Hotel

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Disney's Boardwalk Hotel

Disney's BoardWalk was planned as a "village across the water," a place where frazzled tourists could take a day off from the theme parks or spend a romantic evening.

The complex, which opened in 1996, features the BoardWalk Inn hotel and a lakefront entertainment area with restaurants, nightclubs and a brew pub all located on a wooden boardwalk.

The theme of the resort is familiar to anyone who grew up with summer vacations taken in a  Mid-Atlantic or New England beach town. The BoardWalk is modelled after seaside towns from the early 1900s. Architecture is similar to Cape May, N.J., with a Coney Island feel to the boardwalk.

The Coney Island theme is carried over into one of the BoardWalk's restaurants, the Flying Fish Cafe. A Coney Island roller coaster inspired the design and the name of the restaurant; though don't worry if you have a weak stomach as it doesn’t move. The restaurant specializes in seafood and although I visited it some time ago I remember thinking it was good.

Spoodles restaurant specializes in Mediterranean cuisine and offers a wide menu for the more adventurous. There is a tapas-oriented menu for sampling the authentic dishes of the Mediterranean. You can order a table-full of small dishes, and share them all.

I have two personal favourites the first being the ESPN Club. It has 100+ televisions and a 108-square-foot screen. Its menu includes pasta, sandwiches, salads and hamburgers. If you’re a sports fan you can watch lots of different events but I have always found the food to be excellent along with the service. The best tables in the restaurant section are by the mirrored windows where you can look out while not feeling like a zoo animal. The bar snacks section is good and the size of the portions will ensure you don't need breakfast the next day. If you need to use the rest room don't worry about missing the end of that sport event you have been following as there is a TV above each facility.

The Big River Grille & Brewing Works is a restaurant and a brew pub that produces its own beers and is my second favourite. You can sit outside on cooler days enjoy a good beer, nice food and a pleasant view. They do seem to change the menu in this location more than some of the others so it is hard to recommend a particular dish. Last time we went back my favourite had been replaced with something else.

If dancing is more your thing, then visit Atlantic Dance, which offers swing dance lessons five nights a week. Lessons start at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday and Monday, and at 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. It also has live bands but you need to pay for admission. The general parking is free and it’s only a short walk to the main boardwalk. If you plan to go into Epcot just to see the evening fireworks then you may want to park here and walk through the world showcase entrance which brings you out just after the Rose and Crown pub.

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