Arrival Night: Boardwalk or Disney Springs?

[Emilie988]

Please help me decide! We arrive at MCO next Saturday (May 27) around 1:00pm. We are staying ta AKL. I was able to snag a Beaches & Cream reservation at 6:10. I have heard great things about their burgers and desserts. We plan to walk around the boardwalk after. However, my husband really wants to eat at D-Luxe in Disney Springs. I am nervous about going to DS on a Saturday night, but there seems to be more to do there.


What do you suggest? Keeping our ADR or heading to DS? I do think we will have time to go to DS later in the week for lunch, but I just want to be sure going to Beaches & Cream would be worth the trip.

 

[brertoad]

D-Luxe on a Saturday is more hellish than Beaches and Cream on a Saturday in my opinion. The crowds in Disney Springs are higher on the weekends. We notice because when our friends can get together it is always on Saturday, when it is just me and DH, we go during the week and it's not as busy.

Foodwise, we haven't eaten at D-Luxe yet, we almost did, but the lines were too long and we bailed - that was on a Saturday I might add.
Food at B&C is good. It's diner style food, their burger patty is just a regular patty, it's not a gourmet burger. My current favorite burger is the one at Raglan Road/Cooke's of Dublin.

Memorial Day weekend...crowd levels are going to be higher. Some people aren't bothered by crowds, I can't stand it though.

But all that being said, if your husband has his heart set on it be sure to take that into account before deciding.

 

[JZCubed]

Please help me decide! We arrive at MCO next Saturday (May 27) around 1:00pm. We are staying ta AKL. I was able to snag a Beaches & Cream reservation at 6:10. I have heard great things about their burgers and desserts. We plan to walk around the boardwalk after. However, my husband really wants to eat at D-Luxe in Disney Springs. I am nervous about going to DS on a Saturday night, but there seems to be more to do there.


What do you suggest? Keeping our ADR or heading to DS? I do think we will have time to go to DS later in the week for lunch, but I just want to be sure going to Beaches & Cream would be worth the trip.

While a bit dated, here's a review of what to expect at Beaches & Cream:
http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/disney-world-beach-club-beaches-and-cream-review/

There is nothing particularly special about either their burgers or ice cream.

While I might typically recommend a stroll along the Boardwalk after a big meal, there is not nearly as much window shopping at Boardwalk as Disney Springs.

But keep in mind, Disney Springs does become more crowded on weekends.

Frankly, if husband wants D-Luxe over Beaches.....

 

[steg]

You could do the Big River Brewery/Restaurant at BW?

They have 4 different kinds of burgers that should be better than Beaches and Cream's burgers from looking at pictures of them on yelp and tripadvisor.

Although both "parks" will be crowded on a Saturday night BW should be significantly less so.

 

[k8Davies]

Never been to Beach and Cream couldn't get a booking on my last two trip - I am determined to go next time.

Which means I can't say if the food is better than D-Lux which I have been to, all I can say is when I visited D-Lux the queue was so long and then finding a table was another fun thing to do. The food was nice but for the wait and the seat search took slightly away from the experience.

So as it's a Saturday night on a holiday weekend in my humble opinion, I would keep the booking as at least your guaranteed a seat and maybe even quicker service.

You could always split the difference, as your booking is fairly early, have you dinner at B&C then hop on a bus down to Disney Springs and you can check out the fun without the Hunger pangs.

Also if you hubby is anything like mine a few hours after eating dinner he could probably pack away another snack, so you could pick up a d-lux burger before you get the bus back to the hotel.

 

[Emilie988]

Thank you all for the replies! I think we will stick with the boardwalk and go to DS during the day later in the week. Only 11 days... getting so excited!

 

[VAfamily1998]

Is it just you and your husband? Are you both 21 or older? I highly recommend a visit to JellyRolls on the boardwalk after dinner (it doesn't really "get going" until about 10pm or so, but you need to get there early if you want to be guaranteed a seat) Drinks only, no food. Cover charge that is about $12/pp I think. SO MUCH FUN if you like singing and piano bars.

 

[PantherPete]

Please help me decide! We arrive at MCO next Saturday (May 27) around 1:00pm. We are staying ta AKL. I was able to snag a Beaches & Cream reservation at 6:10. I have heard great things about their burgers and desserts. We plan to walk around the boardwalk after. However, my husband really wants to eat at D-Luxe in Disney Springs. I am nervous about going to DS on a Saturday night, but there seems to be more to do there.


What do you suggest? Keeping our ADR or heading to DS? I do think we will have time to go to DS later in the week for lunch, but I just want to be sure going to Beaches & Cream would be worth the trip.

I've been to Beaches & Cream. It is good. But it is small. I'd expect a hefty wait even with the ADR. The Boardwalk on a weekend night is fun. They'll have some strolling entertainment and there are a few shops and games. But it isn't all that big whereas Disney Springs is huge. If you are planning to hit a rope drop the next day, I'd stick with the Boardwalk. Dinner, casual stroll and back to the hotel for a good night of rest before the craziness begins is what I'd do.

 

[cruisin5]

Check out Ample Hills on the Boardwalk for ice cream.

 

[Farro]

In my opinion....

Unless you are going to the Boardwalk to eat - which you are - I don't understand why people recommend going there. I've stayed at Yacht/Beach numerous times. The Boardwalk is, for lack of a better word, boring? Performers aren't out all the time, and if they are, how long will you stand and watch them, 20 minutes? There's a couple of games, some shops, otherwise that is it.

If you are looking to eat, then spend about half hour walking around then go back to hotel, sure, do it!
If you are looking to eat and then spend a couple to a few hours after dinner for some fun...go to Disney Springs.

Forgot to add - burgers are okay. Ice cream is fine.

You can definitely get better burgers and ice cream elsewhere! This is the one at Deluxe:

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I would also choose a Boardwalk restaurant rather than Disney Springs for arrival evening, and would then go to Jellyrolls. Boardwalk is a fun area to go for a scenic walk, and Jellyrolls is great entertainment. However depending on when you go back to AKL, you may end up having to change buses at Disney Springs, if relying on Disney transportation. Disney Springs can be overwhelming on arrival evening, so I think you made a great choice to plan your meal there for later in your visit.

BTW I'd choose one of the other Boardwalk area restaurants, as steg suggested.

 

[jcvalenti]

I love the Boardwalk (staying there in 195 days !), but on arrival day, I tend to like Disney Springs. It's like dipping your toe into Disney. So many great places to eat at Disney Springs now - it's hard to pass up. Beaches and Cream is fun, but I'd take the steak sliders at the outdoor bar at Boathouse any day of the week. And while it can get crowded on the weekends, 1 - 2pm isn't bad.

Of course, if I was staying at AKL, I'd be perfectly fine spending the whole afternoon there, hanging at the pool, having a cocktail at Victoria Falls and dining at Boma or Jiko. Sounds like a perfect way to start a trip.

 

[AllieBoo]

In my opinion....

Unless you are going to the Boardwalk to eat - which you are - I don't understand why people recommend going there. I've stayed at Yacht/Beach numerous times. The Boardwalk is, for lack of a better word, boring? Performers aren't out all the time, and if they are, how long will you stand and watch them, 20 minutes? There's a couple of games, some shops, otherwise that is it.
View attachment 237768

Definitely agree with this! We stayed at YC on our last trip and had heard a lot of talk about the Boardwalk here on the boards, so we were excited to check it out. I think boring is a good word for it. Not many shops, a few performers, and that's pretty much it.

If I were you OP, I would go to Disney Springs, much more to do there, although it will be much more crowded than the Boardwalk.