Should You Eat at These Disney Springs Restaurants?

A few years ago, Disney officials recognized that the famous Walt Disney World shopping complex needed an upgrade.

So, Disney added a bunch of new places to eat, hoping that guests would visit more if there were better food. The results speak for themselves.

Disney Springs has become a hotbed for vacationers and Central Floridians alike. In fact, you may feel overwhelmed by dining options while you’re here.

So, let’s take a closer look at several places. Should you eat at these five Disney Springs restaurants?

The BOATHOUSE

You’ll find The BOATHOUSE at The Landing, right by the water. In fact, some of the exterior seating comes with a view of the lake.

The restaurant includes a nautical theme so detailed that one of the “tables” is an actual boat.

Pros

This restaurant offers one of the deepest menus at Disney Springs. Now, I should add that most Disney Springs establishments have more extensive menus.

Disney knows that guests here are locals and vacationers alike.

So, all the places serve an incredible variety of cuisines. But, even by those standards, The BOATHOUSE stands out.

This place also comes with its own merchandise, with a gift shop close to the host station.

I also love that there’s a piano bar that provides live entertainment on many nights.

You may want to bring cash. A tip usually ensures that the pianist plays your song.

Finally, the staggering pro at The BOATHOUSE is the cuisine. There’s legitimately something for everyone here, and I’ve never had a bad bite yet.

Cons

This restaurant is one of the priciest at Disney Springs. With the Disney Dining Plan (return unknown at this time), it qualifies as a Signature Dining Experience.

That means you must use two Table Service entitlements for one meal at The BOATHOUSE.

When you pay for the meal, you’ll find that you can structure it to fit your vacation budget, though.

I’ve had a meal for two for $37 and another that was almost $200.

Verdict

Yes, you should eat here.

We’ll discuss several other quality eateries here. Even so, I feel strongly that The BOATHOUSE presents the best dining option of all sit-down meals.

I’m not discussing counter service restaurants today, but the only other place in the conversation is Earl of Sandwich.

The Edison

Also located in The Landing, The Edison offers superlative theming, especially to fans of the steampunk style.

You’ll know you’re in some quasi-19^th century sci-fi story when you enter the building, as gigantic cogs and wheels provide the backdrop.

This place feels like the set for some mid-range budget movie that you’d watch a lot on Netflix.

Pros

The Edison provides several forms of live entertainment, including live musicians and dancing.

Other tumblers and twirlers work here, some of them trained in the classic Cirque style.

Projection screen televisions decorate some of the walls. However, you won’t find the game playing here. Instead, it’s super-strange classic cinema and cartoons.

Think of this place as the sibling of Sci-Fi Dine-In, only The Edison wears a goatee to demonstrate it’s the mirror universe version.

As for the food, you can eat the best grilled cheese sandwich in Orlando here. One of the appetizers is an entire strip of candied bacon.

Glow drinks also populate the menu. Some of them will fizz and smoke, demonstrating that they’re science-y. Tesla would approve.

Cons

Do you stick your nose up at Hot Topic? Are you not a fan of the weird and arcane? If not, this place absolutely is NOT for you.

The Edison has chosen a different path from other Disney restaurants. There’s nothing kid-friendly about this place. At night, it’s VERY adult.

Also, the prices may prove a sticking point. All the apps cost between $16-$20, and most entrees are at least $35.

Finally, the projector screen visuals may prove off-putting, if not outright disturbing to some.

Verdict

The answer depends on your personality. We go to The Edison regularly. I spent last Halloween there and loved every second.

Still, I just listed some criteria that would indicate it may not be the place for you. So use your best judgment based on that information.

Splitsville Luxury Lanes

This place resides at the West Side of Disney Springs, between the AMC Disney Springs 24 and Cirque du Soleil.

You can’t miss it because it’s the one in the oddly shaped building with the retro colors and heavy use of neon at night. Also, it has bowling alleys.

If you walk into a restaurant and don’t see bowling alleys, you’re not at Splitsville.

Pros

The ambiance of this place includes three pros, two if you don’t like to bowl.

Obviously, Splitsville will qualify as the classiest bowling alley you’ve ever visited. So, it’s fun as a one-time-only group thing for non-bowlers.

For those who love the sport, this restaurant has evolved into a popular hangout spot.

Everyone else likes it because of the loose atmosphere and massive number of TVs.

Seriously, if you want to catch a game, Splitsville is THE place to go at Disney Springs.

Currently, this entertainment complex doesn’t host an actual sports bar. So, a bar with a sport in it is the closest you’ll come.

The cuisine at Splitsville may pleasantly surprise you as well. It’s a robust menu with eight appetizers and 30 entrees, not counting salads.

You can order sushi AND pizza here! Have you ever been to a bowling alley with those menu items?

Okay, have you visited one where you were sure you could eat there without the fear of food poisoning? Exactly.

Cons

This place is loud, busy, and often crowded. Also, you don’t have to want to bowl to eat here, but it sure helps.

Beyond that, Splitsville doesn’t have any serious negatives. The place is kinda spread out.

However, if that’s a dealbreaker for you, you’re not vacationing at Walt Disney World anyway.

Verdict

I describe Splitsville to friends the same way that I do the Orlando Harley-Davidson at Disney Springs.

You know by the name whether you’re interested in it or not.

I would suggest that you eat here at some point. However, if you hate bowling or loud restaurants, this place isn’t for you.

T-REX

Most people know about Rainforest Café, the popular restaurant chain that’s prevalent at tourist traps. Even Walt Disney World includes two of them.

What you may not know is that Landry’s, Inc., the owner of Rainforest Café, also runs T-REX.

This place is similarly touristy, only it focuses on dinosaurs more than fish. I say “more than” because T-REX at Disney Springs has an aquarium, too.

Still, you’re here to watch audio-animatronic dinosaurs re-live their worst trauma, the comet that wiped out the species.

Pros

Landry’s has gone all-out with the theming here. For example, one side of the restaurant is actually a Build-A-Bear workshop, only it’s Build-A-Dino.

You’ll love shopping here, especially if you have kids. In fact, it’s a great way to pass the time while you’re awaiting a table.

Once you sit down for your meal, the sights and sounds may hypnotize you. T-REX feels alive due to its activity, both staged and unplanned.

When the show begins on the ceiling and the asteroid hits, kids lose their minds with glee. You may experience an unforgettable moment or two during a meal here.

The menu will also shock you with its depth. You can tell from reading this that Disney Springs retails cater to a wide swath of people.

Still, I marvel at T-Rex’s menu, which can satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. I’m a carnivore, and my wife’s a vegetarian.

We can happily share appetizers and desserts here without issue. For the entrée, I can order a stack of ribs while she gets a plant burger or mushroom ravioli.

Not many places at Walt Disney World can satisfy both of our palates this effectively.

Cons

I’ve been to sporting events that measured more than 110 decibels. T-REX is louder.

Imagine sitting in front of a speaker at a death metal concert, and you’ll get the gist of what this place is like.

When the comet strikes on the ceiling, your table may shake from the loudness…and excitement coming from the children here.

If you want a quiet dinner in an intimate setting, pick literally anywhere else in Orlando. You’d probably find less noise at an Orlando Magic game.

Verdict

Whether you’re taking a family vacation or eating here as a couple, you should try T-REX.

We were skeptical the first time a family member asked us to dine with them here.

Now, we’re downright evangelical about the place. I firmly believe that anybody who dines at Rainforest Café rather than T-REX has made an enormous mistake.

Go to T-REX and be a shameless tourist, my friends!

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