Restaurant Review: The Edison in Disney Springs
There we were on Halloween night. We had no plans, and our theme park had already closed for the day.
For the first time in many years, we were at Walt Disney World but couldn’t attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Photo: Disney
With no better option available, we boarded a bus and headed to Disney Springs.
On the way there, I pulled up My Disney Experience and checked available restaurant reservations.
To my total shock, one unexpected place showed availability.
Herein lies my review of The Edison, the Halloween meal we always wanted but could never book.
About the Edison
I felt bitterly amused when we scheduled an Advanced Dining Reservation at the Edison.
Since the restaurant opened in early 2018, it’d developed a reputation for its holiday parties, especially Halloween.
Photo: The Patina Group
Guests paid $85 per person to dine here and relish in the costumed festivities.
This restaurant specializes in steampunk style, theming that pays tribute to the lives of Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, among others.
Diners frequently show up in steampunk regalia on regular dates. You can imagine the one-upmanship involved for a Halloween gala.
Alas, the pandemic prevented such festivities for 2020. The place we’d wanted to eat each of the last two years had sold out on those occasions.
This time, we booked 10 minutes before arrival and discovered a somewhat empty restaurant.
You’ll find The Edison on The Landing Dock at Disney Springs. This facility resides right by Maria & Enzo’s, close to Aerophile.
In other words, you’ll have no trouble finding it. Walk toward the giant balloon that towers over Disney Springs.
Once you get there, follow the signs to The Landing.
The Edison is the second restaurant you’ll see…and it may have people in costumes or black-tie garb walking toward it.
That sort of thing sticks out at Disney Springs.
The Check-In Process and Getting Seated
When we entered The Edison, we stood on the top floor by the giant clock wheels, the ones that factor heavily into the restaurant’s marketing campaign.
We weren’t able to signal our arrival via the My Disney Experience app. This restaurant either doesn’t use that tech or didn’t have it available on the holiday.
Instead, we walked up to the three hostesses and announced our presence.
Frankly, this process worked better, as my wife had cleverly dressed as Kiki the Witch from Kiki’s Delivery Service.
One of the hostesses instantly recognized her and delighted in thoughtful touches in my wife’s Halloween costume.
We were seated quickly afterward in what I would call a romantic section of the restaurant.
Well, the term romantic may not fit here, as disturbing animated cartoons play on several of the walls of The Edison.
They’re super-weird and kinda off-putting, like the heel version of Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater.
Still, we loved the seats as we sat at a two-top overlooking the concert stage below.
To our delight, a solo musician would appear soon afterward and sing remarkably well.
I never caught the gentleman’s name, but his covers of some pop classics surpassed the originals in quality.
If someone could inform me of the name of this singer, I’d be grateful. I passed along our admiration to our server, but I wish I knew his name.
The Dining Experience
Our meal didn’t start the way that many do at The Edison.
While I heard the clarion call of the Clotheslined Candied Bacon on the bus ride over to Disney Springs, my wife had other plans.
She wanted an appetizer, and it would be absolutely insane for two people to order multiple appetizers at The Edison. Each one is huuuuuuge.
So, I punted on the famous candied bacon this time. Instead, we ordered Guacamole and Tortilla Chips, which proved delicious.
Better yet, this app is also vegan, something the bacon really isn’t.
Photo: Faebook.com/The EdisonFla
Neither of us ordered one of The Edison’s famous concoctions this time, as I’m not a drinker, while my wife was taking a medication that didn’t mix well.
We watched with envy as others at surrounding tables performed science experiments. You can see an example here:
Time passed quickly this evening as we watched some guests show off their Halloween attire.
Two different couples dressed as if The Edison were hosting its annual gala event. Their steampunk outfits stole the show.
Entrees
Almost before we realized it, our entrees arrived at the table. I ordered the signature burger, The Edison.
Well, this led to a bit of confusion during the ordering process. I tried to order only one kind of meat, as The Edison overwhelms me as a concept.
Image Credit: Disney
This “hamburger” includes short rib, brisket, and sirloin. I couldn’t guess how that would taste. So, I tried to simplify.
I asked for the brisket and short rib on the side. My server shot me an amused look and indicated this wouldn’t be possible.
When my plate arrived, I recognized why. During meal prep, the chef grinds these three types of meats together. It’s one giant patty.
A bite of The Edison will blow your mind and overwhelm your senses. You can taste each one of the three proteins in every bite.
I’m honestly not even sure whether I liked it or not, but I’ll never forget that moment when my palate tried to process what was happening.
I think I may have liked it, but I also probably won’t order it again. I’m just not ambitious enough for this kind of wicked meal prep.
My wife took the opposite approach. She nearly ordered a Beyond Burger but chose comfort food instead.
She picked the aptly named Organic Tomato Soup and Gooey Grilled Cheese.
We laughed when we read it on the menu. There was a terrible 2020 movie called The Hunt that we hated, but it somehow impacted our lives.
During the movie, a woman explained why gruyere cheese is best for grilled cheese sandwiches…and it’s true! Well, The Edison uses that recipe!
My wife adored her entrée, and I did as well. Next time I eat here, it’s what I will order. That Gooey Grilled Cheese is magic!
Dessert/Final Thoughts
We were both quite full by the time our server provided the dessert menu.
However, since we hadn’t ordered a drink, we weren’t about to skip on dessert.
We picked the Triple Chocolate Voltage Cake, although it was close between that and the Lollipop Tree.
I doubt we could have gone wrong with either option, but the cake wowed us with its depth and richness.
We tore through that thing like we hadn’t already stuffed our faces with an appetizer and entrée. I don’t think that dessert lasted five minutes at our table.
The cake was legitimately one of the best things we had at Disney during our entire trip.
Overall, our meal cost about $125, and that was only because we tipped well.
I’m not 100 percent sure of our server’s name – I think it was Shauna or Saundra – but she adopted us as the normal people on Halloween.
(Matt Stroshane, photographer)
At one point, she asked us to eat slower so that she could hang out at our table more. It’s the kind of next-level customer service you’d expect at Disney.
We loved her and regretted that we didn’t write down her name to give her a cast member compliment. That was our mistake, as she deserved it.
Image Credit: Disney
Overall, our meal at The Edison lived up to the expectations that we’d developed from two previous failed attempts to spend Thanksgiving there.
The Edison’s kind of a weird place and decidedly not very Disney in style…or cartoons on display.
However, this restaurant’s probably the coolest place at Disney Springs. I highly recommend it!
