OK, I promised you on Saturday that I’d have a full, extensive review of the new BoardWalk Bakery for you soon…and here it is!!
Last Friday, I was up bright and early to be first in line for the grand re-opening of the brand new BoardWalk Bakery at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn! And while I wasn’t FIRST in line, I came pretty close. 🙂
Long a fan favorite, this tiny bakery needed a major overhaul in the space department, and we couldn’t wait to see what Imagineers had dreamed up.
We’ll start with atmosphere pics and lead into the goodies. If you want to dive right into the super sugary part, scroll to the bottom section called “What Did I Pick?”
Atmosphere
When looking for the BoardWalk Bakery, head down the steps from the hotel’s main lobby to the BoardWalk, and you can’t miss it.
I wasn’t disappointed to see that the bakery had tripled in size. This place really needed to be larger!
You can see that there are now two entrances to the bakery — one for those queuing up for food, and one for BoardWalk Inn and Villas guests who just need to refill their resort mugs. A great system!
And, of course, Hue G. Krazont is still the proprietor. 🙂
Time to head inside!! Guests who were there first thing received these snazzy celebration buttons. (Okay, they’re the regular celebration buttons with handwriting. But still.)
We are ecstatic to see a lot more room inside the bakery, even though most of it is reserved for the actual queue line.
The classy red walls and checkerboard floor along with wrought iron, brass, and dark wood accents give this spot a been-there-forever kind of classic feel. The schoolhouse lighting is another fun addition!
Note, however, that the display cases have multiplied by about four! They’re not kidding around with the focal point here!
If you do find yourself in that long queue line, at least the large windows make people watching on the BoardWalk an easy sport.
Soon you’ll get up to the bakery and dessert cases to make your selections. We’ve got LOTS more pics of these in our “Eats” Section of this review…so scroll down for the goodies!
After you’ve made your selections and check out, it’s time to collect beverages, condiments, plasticware, etc.
As for the beverage set up, you’ll find the standard players: fountain drinks, tea, hot cocoa, and coffee.
In the old space there was a much larger, built-in refrigerator for bottled drinks and grab and go snacks. Here, you’ll find this small selection.
You can pick up extra napkins, plates, and plastic ware at this station. (You may want to grab a stash of each, since your to-go order will be placed in boxes.)
I love the incredible new mosaic!
Flanking the beverage station is this handy location for condiments, located right next to the “bakery fountain” refill door.
Once you get your goodies, head over to the giant picture windows next to the main entrance to watch cast members as they create all of those incredible bakery and pastry items.
This is seriously, incredibly cool. More than just a show kitchen, you actually have a front row seat to watching the creation of all the pastry components. If there weren’t four theme parks close by, I would probably spend a fair amount of time just staring through this window.
And right there by the window, I even spied a pastry in mid creation!
And now, it’s time to see what made the cut, and what’s new.
Eats
Ah…the FOOD!!!!
While you’re in the queue line you’ll have plenty of time to spy the new menus. Gone are the tiny menu boards, replaced by these larger versions. You’ll find sandwiches on the left, soup, salad, and beverage options on the right, and the hot selections in the middle.
The choices have changed dramatically since our last review of the spot. All of the sandwich options are different. Sides options of cucumber salad or chips remain the same, however.
Breakfast choices have changed, too. Savory breakfast croissant sandwiches have been replaced by a biscuit sandwich. New additions include a breakfast Bread Bowl and a Quiche of the Day.
They’ve also added a new selection of salads.
As for the Disney Dining Plan, many BoardWalk Bakery items qualify. Pastries and desserts are pretty much all worth a snack credit, and there continue to be a few items which meet the criteria for a counter service credit.
But in addition to menu items, there’s a pretty impressive selection of both bakery and pastry items. Let’s get started with a peek into the bakery side o’ things, shall we?
Bakery Items
There are the standard offerings that you’d expect to see, like bagels, muffins, and danish. But there are also some real standouts, too.
This is breakfast pastry heaven, with an incredible array. The Almond Croissants come in a regular or multi-grain version, and looked mouth-wateringly good.
We also spied this new item, an Apple Tart.
The small loaves of Pull-Apart Brioche are a classic inclusion. More on these later!
And check out the Sticky Buns! I couldn’t wait to try these!
Pull yourself away from the bakery items, and you’re onto the dessert case next. Everything is really beautifully arranged here. I mean, completely gorgeous.
Dessert Items
Almost all of the treats have been given a makeover. While the old look was “old-fashioned bakery,” now the pastries have a sleek, more contemporary vibe.
This is something you don’t see often — a display of Celebration Cakes. Choose from Vanilla or Chocolate.
The next shelf is devoted to the BoardWalk’s famous assortment of Cupcakes. All of the options available were return players! It was nice to see some familiar faces. First up was the Coffee Mocha Cupcake.
The much-loved Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake was here, too.
Lovers of Oreos will be happy to see the Oreo Bon Bon Cupcake as well.
Tempting desserts hold the bottom shelf in the case. We’ll see a few of these up close in just a minute, but I wanted to give you the view through the case first. The Eclair and Lemon Meringue Tart were first up.
The Key Lime Tart replaces the Key Lime Pie, and I’m not really sad about that (although there still needs to be more crust!). And you can probably guess that I’m taking that Salted Caramel Ganache home.
The Fruit Tart and Cheesecake Brownie return, although they have both received sophisticated makeovers.
You’ll also find Cannoli and the Mickey Ganache Tart — although here, the tart is called a Mickey Oreo…for some unknown reason. It also comes in a “Minnie” version!
Continuing with updates, the Peanut Butter Bar Cake has lost the garnish and rosette of peanut butter frosting. Sigh. But right beside it is a treat that I can’t wait to try — the Peanut Butter, Banana, and Candied Bacon Pie!
The Blackberry Macaroon was completely gorgeous, and the Cream Puff beside it was actually garnished with a mini macaroon!
Now that you’ve gotten your tour of the sweets (eat dessert first!), let’s take a look at some of the new regular food items as well.
Savory Items
BoardWalk Bakery is more than just a sweets stop; they’ve got some serious eats here, too. And now, there’s even more to savor.
When you’d like something a little more substantial than pastry for breakfast, check out the warm breakfast options. The bakery will feature a Quiche of the Day selection. On opening day, it was chorizo sausage with tomatoes and pepper jack.
There’s also a Buttermilk Biscuit Egg Sandwich that comes with fruit and your choice of ham or bacon. We’re hearing great reviews of this one!
Another new item is the very hearty Bread Bowl with scrambled eggs and potatoes. A choice of ham or bacon and a side of fruit accompany this option as well.
Meatless sounds pretty enticing when you’re talking about this Focaccia Sandwich featuring fresh mozzarella, oven roasted tomatoes, arugula, and an herb aioli.
If you’re looking to splurge on a special treat, try the Maine Lobster, served on a split top roll with buttered chive mayo. (Thanks to my good friend Patricia Brown for sharing this great pic!)
Salad lovers will find some interesting options as well. This Iceberg Wedge with Nueske’s bacon, tomatoes, and a buttermilk blue cheese dressing sounds pretty fantastic as salads go!
The Baby Spinach Salad features pickled shallots, prosciutto, tomatoes, and a soft-boiled egg. Check out the little pipette of dressing/oil included!
Finally, the Mixed Greens Salad is topped with apples, dried cranberries, and goat cheese, and is accompanied by a pomegranate vinaigrette.
So What Did I Pick?
With a dizzying array of options, it was hard to narrow it down to just a few choices! But in the end, I chose nine too-good-to-pass up goodies to show you up close. Here’s my stash as I got ready to buckle down and review! 🙂
Let’s begin with the true winners — here’s one of my new very favorite desserts, the Salted Caramel Ganache.
What’s that? You just heard angels singing? Yeah, me too.
The soft, rich ganache covers a surprise layer of salted caramel beneath!! Who knew?!?
Thick, rich, salty, sweet goodness. You had better either have a) a giant glass of milk; or b) someone to share this with.
The soft caramel inside against the texture of the cookie crust is astounding. And the salt is the perfect foil for the flavors. Just look at that pic! Hubba hubba!!!
It’s clear that the BoardWalk Bakery got the memo that the sweet salty flavor combo is super hot right now.
Next up, the BoardWalk Bakery’s new signature item — a Peanut Butter, Banana, and Candied Bacon Pie — blew me away.
This one has a flavor profile very much like Pop Century’s King Cupcake — but without all that cake getting in the way!
It’s like a pie made purely of toppings! And the garnish of candied bacon here is right on.
Now, the peanut butter cream cheese filling that makes up the middle is out. of. this world. I clearly need to make a big bowl of it and just sit on the couch with it while I watch Price is Right.
Seriously; it’s like nothing you’ve ever tasted (unless you’re super, super lucky and you get peanut butter cream cheese stuff a LOT in your life…in which case I’d like to meet you and follow you around).
You might wonder where the banana comes in? Well, the little scoop of bright yellow on top is actually a rich banana cream.
Next up: the Brioche Pull-Apart. First off, this gets points for serious cuteness. That plate is actually a Disney-sized dinner plate, so the loaf is a very large portion. You could definitely share it between a couple of people and get a good portion.
The classic garnish of pearl sugar is really the only sweetness that you’ll encounter in these loaves; but they are quite rich, and the egg and butter really come through. I’d imagine this would be a great breakfast for a coffee lover with just a little jam.
The newly re-vamped Jersey Crumb Cake had this beautiful but simple crosshatch design on top, made from a drizzle of icing over the streusel.
This is crumb cake perfection, with almost half of the content of the cake being made up of the best part — the topping! The cinnamon-y flavor and moist, shortbready cake makes this one stand out.
The Eclair featured a different look than we’re used to. The pastry and cream felt more Italian to me for some reason. It was very cakey, versus pastry-like.
The cream inside was incredible, and definitely seemed to be house made. This is going to be an excellent option for eclair lovers…and I’m thinking we need an Eclair Throwdown between the BoardWalk Bakery and Les Halles very soon!
As we mentioned above, one of our DFB favorites, the Cheesecake Brownie, has received a sophisticated facelift.
But although it’s a tad fancier than it used to be, I’m happy to report that the delicious factor has remained the same.
In fact, it might even be a little better. The brownie seems to be a little more fudgy and moist than the old version. And the thick, rich cheesecake has just as much flavor as it did before.
The equal distribution between the two means you get both flavors as a “pow” in your mouth when you take a bite! Super sweet brownie accompanied by the tart creaminess of the cheesecake…dessert overload!
The Blackberry Macaroon was one of the most gorgeous desserts in the shop, so of course, we had to try it.
I love everything about it, from the lavender hue, to garnish of gold leaf. This dessert signals to me that the staff of the BoardWalk Bakery is serious about showing off just how talented they are (especially in the bad-for-macaroons climate of Orlando).
Don’t expect an excess of sweetness here, though — that blackberry filling is actually much more tart than you’d expect!
OK, I admit that I saved a few other favorites to share with you later on the blog; but rest assured that everything I tried was excellent.
After that marathon of eating I headed back over to the bakery to check out who else had been lucky enough to find this gem of a breakfast spot. By 8 am, there were already lines out the door — and you remember that looong queue line inside, too, right? So these folks were gonna be waiting a while. Apparently, the word was out. 🙂
This issue with this? If you ONLY want coffee and have to wait in such a long line…well…that would be a major bummer.
Overall
The new menu at the BoardWalk Bakery is, in a word, brilliant. It’s been clear for quite a long time that the bakery here can put together some serious showstoppers. But now, they’re taking a more sophisticated approach to the offerings in the retail space, and I am very impressed with what I see.
Our big beef with the old BoardWalk Bakery, however, remains — there was still zero seating inside. You still have to take your purchases outside to the boardwalk to dine. This isn’t the end of world…unless it’s raining…or super extra hot…or freezing cold. So be prepared.
The BoardWalk Bakery has garnered a large following of fans over the years, and I’m confident that fellow fans will appreciate the new items. And with a heartier offering of meal options, the spot also fills a counter service breakfast and lunch niche that has been sorely lacking for a while.
Now, if they would just put some tables somewhere…
Are you excited to try all the new BoardWalk Bakery offerings? Leave us a comment and let us know what’s on your must-have list!
Stefanie Vandiver says
Great post. I have a question. My husband and I will be there in December to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Can you call the Boardwalk Bakery and have one of the celebration cakes delivered to your resort or room?
Sandy - winnieatepooh says
MMMM!!! Everything looks so delicious, especially the salted caramel tart! I must find some time to get myself over there…and figure out the easiest way to get there (I still have never been to the Boardwalk!) Thanks for the delicious review 🙂
Rune says
Oh my goodness… AJ, I can say with confidence that the Salted Caramel Ganache is going to haunt my every waking hour until I get back over there in September and the backberry macaroon / macaron isn’t too far behind it (along with a good half dozen other things.)
An eclair throwdown is definitely needed too, I’m more used to getting the choux pastry, fresh cream & chocolate coating type so these these ones intrigue me.
Fab review, never made it out to the bakery before but now the siren call salted caramel call can not be denied! =)
Heidi Bilotti says
Question for you what is available on the snack plan all the signs did not show the logo so I am just wondering and planning ahead a bit for July. Great Pictures
Tracy says
Oh wow! Must eat ALL the things!!! Seriously, what an amazing review! I can’t wait to get down there in October and try it out!
Laura says
Did you notice if they had any gluten free pre packaged foods anywhere or mention of options? I wrote to special diets about this bakery, specifically, but they gave me a non specific answer. Thanks in advance!
Pigletyyz says
OMG, it all looks so amazing! So glad they finally revamped this wonderful space and made it a true contender in the “out of the parks” arena!! Being loyal and frequent residents of the Boardwalk Inn, my husband and I are so excited to head back and pay a long overdue visit to one of the yummiest places in all of the MK!! If I knock anybody down as I clamor for the salted caramel let me apologize in advance…lol:-)
Becky says
That looks pretty amazing. Can’t wait to try the Salted Caramel Ganache Tart.
JenB says
Um….. I didn’t see any Mickey Cakes in the display case! I am going to cry if these litte cakes-for-1 are no longer offered!! Please tell me that you saw them there! – I can’t tell you how much I loved those little vanilla/confetti cakes covered in chocolate & in the shape of Mickey’s head! They were my favorite WDW treat!
Frankie says
I can’t wait to try the salted carmel tart! 🙂 It looks fabulous.
Tricia says
Ok the special K Pretzel bar lost taste as I read this review. Dang things look so yummy. This will be at least two breakfast stops in Septemeber… They are on the way to Epcot from the Beach Club right 😉
Summer says
Today I’m exactly 180 days out from my next stay at the Boardwalk so I was so happy to see your review…I’m really disappointed that the egg and cheese croissant has been replaced by a biscuit though. I may just order the biscuit sandwhich and a croissant on the side and build my own 🙂 However, my disappointment started to fade as I read further and saw your reviwes and pics of those amazing looking sweets. We’re going during Food & WIne fest time so I don’t know where in my stomach I’m going to have room for all this, but I HAVE TO! I think I’m most looking forward to that macaroon. Oh but then there’s that salted caramel goodness. And I’m taking your shout out for an eclair throw-down as a personal challenge 🙂
Jan says
OMG! I am so relieved to see the Peanut Butter Bar cake is back. I’ve been worrying about it for months! Thank you for the update.
Victoria says
Wow, everything looks so good!! We were at Disney a few weeks ago and just missed the re-opening, but will definitely check it out on our next trip!
Paul says
Oh man, that lobster sandwich looks heavenly. Looks like a larger version of what’s at the American pavilion during F&WF, rather than the lobster-salad concoction over at Columbia Harbor House. Can’t wait to try that. Thanks for all the pics and the review, AJ!
Mary says
Do you know if the lobster roll has onion in it? I have wanted to try one for the longest time but every place I have found one contains onions.
All of these treats (aside from the Mocha Cupcake (hate coffee) and the Blackberry Macaroon (hate coconut) look tasty.
Joy O says
So excited for this! Happy to see an option to get a french Macaron (wish they would have spelled it correctly as american macaroon implies coconut) – disappointed to not see one at Boulangeri. I was curious – was there a buttercream filling with the blackberries? Everything looked amazing – thanks for taking one for the team and trying all those. Must have been tough…. 😉 Can’t wait to get my hands on the peanut butter, banana and candied bacon pie! Thanks again AJ!
Barb Schmidt says
Your review was wonderful & we can’t wait to get back there! In October of 2011 we stopped in the bakery & they had a small assortment of desserts that were infused with various adult liquors. Do they still offer those since you didn’t mention them? Thank you! 🙂
Alan says
Aside from the great pastry options, this place becomes a great stop in the early afternoon for lunch. And, as the boardwalk is usually pretty quiet at lunch time the bakery probably won’t be that busy, line-wise. The lobster rolls remind me of some great summers spent on the Maine coast.
Christa says
Like Joy, I’m disappointed that Disney did not get the “macaron” spelling correct. A macaroon and a macaron are two totally different things. It’s a good thing I didn’t go over there on opening day because I would have never made it into a park! 😉 I have been contemplating changing my BCV reservation in December to VWL, but this review may make me keep that reservation at BCV!!
Laurie says
i write about special diets so I was very happy when the lady with the awesome site posted about how they have mini babycakes and OMG cookies available. Mouse something, she is the jogger, sigh.
for those on corn, soy, wheat, egg, vegan, and other diets it would be nice to know our options, thank you
Erin F says
This looks like they’re going for a model similar to the new bakery at Epcot France. If you had to choose to visit just one, which would you go for? Boardwalk Bakery or France bakery?
Brandy says
I may have to upgrade us to the DlxDP just to get the extra snack credits 😉
Louisa says
Thanks for the great review, but I’m a little worried — I don’t see anything about the no-sugar-added cheesecake! That used to be my “go to” Disney snack at the Boardwalk Bakery. PLEASE tell me they still have it! If not, I will be devastated (no, really)!
Helen says
Oh, my what to try first. It all looks so yummy, I will be in WDW on May 5th and heading to Epcot for the Flower & Garden Festival. I know where I am heading for my dessert.
Lynne says
What an incredible improvement! We arrive May 9th, so not long before we can check it all out in person.
I must say with all of the extra space, it is a shame they couldn’t have incorporated some indoor seating, as well as possibly a small covered area outside.
Tammy says
Thanks for the update. My only comment is about using Dining Plan credits (snacks). I tried to use dining plan (deluxe plan) snack credits there (March 2012) and I was told only a couple of their items were available as a “snack credit” I tried to get a piece of carrot cake and they made me pay cash as it was not an item that was available as a snack credit.
Not sure if the person I dealt with was uninformed or if the policy changed BUT I was not pleased with having to pay cash when I had 30 credits available.
Stacey says
Ah darn! Where has my Turkey Swiss gone! I adored that sandwich…. any other places I can get a similar sandwich?
Still…. their desserts look amazeballs!
Justin says
Nice post! I noticed that the cheesecake brownie looks to be much smaller than before the renovation. That’s disappointing. Everything else looks great. Can’t wait to go in a few weeks!
Carrie says
Gah!!!! What is that raspberry doing atop my beloved Peanut Butter Bar Cake?! And where’d all the lovely peanut butter frosting on the top and sides go?! I know… I should be grateful they didn’t do away with the thing altogether…. Plus, it looks like the banana part is pretty easy to remove from the Peanut Butter, Banana, and Candied Bacon Pie, so I might actually be able to eat that instead!
@Stefanie: You can order a cake for delivery to your room at the BoardWalk by calling Private Dining at the resort. There are a couple of pages on the Disney Food Blog devoted to cake-ordering info, starting with this one: http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011/04/27/how-to-order-a-cake-at-walt-disney-world/
AJ says
Joy O — Disney’s been calling them Macaroons lately. In a previous review, I made a big deal about the spelling, but got told by a commenter that the two are interchangeable. Ah well.
And they DO have a raspberry and lime macaron at Boulangerie now. 🙂
As far as I can tell, the macaroon/on filling is less buttercreamy and more fruity.
Barb Schmidt — I didn’t see any liquor infused eats, but I’m sure they have other options that weren’t out the day I visited.
Alan — so true!
Laurie — Most Disney bakeries and restaurants have options available for those with special diets. I’ve seen Babycakes donuts, cookies, and cupcakes available nearby at the Beach Club Marketplace, and I wouldn’t doubt they have them at the Boardwalk as well.
Erin F. — I would, honestly, choose the BoardWalk Bakery right now. That Salted Caramel Ganache is truly incredible, and I also tried the lemon meringue tart (coming up in another review) that was just about the best thing I’ve had on property in a while. I like the Boulangerie’s baguette sandwiches, but for sweets, I’ll choose BoardWalk.
Louisa — I didn’t see it there, but that’s not to say that they don’t have it available.
Tammy — According to the sign, all pastries and desserts are available for a snack credit now.
Justin — It’s not smaller, it’s just stretchd out. I felt like you still got the same amout of food, just in a different configuration.
BRP says
Where is the Roast beef and blue???? It was my favorite sandwich in all the world!!
Michelle B. says
A.J., Thank you for sacrificing your calories so we can all indulge via pictures! We are staying at the Boardwalk this fall and I’m trying to figure out how to best budget all that wonderful goodness!
Sarah says
Oh yum!!!! I cannot wait to try the macaron!!!! I can eat my weight in those things!!!! 😀
Kaelsma says
One of my pet peeves is when people think that a MACAROON and a MACARON are either the same thing or interchangeable. I’m disappointed to see that Disney obviously doesn’t know that there’s a difference either.
vickie says
Thanks for reviewing all of those pastry options; I knew you would not let me down. I check this sight twice a day because I know you often review that often. And yes! I do base my dining options, when I travel to DW, on these reviews. Thanks for a great review.
Erin says
I’m definitely looking to try the Apple cranberry salad and the salted caramel ganache tart. It would be a perfect entree and dessert choice. I’m glad the bakery has grown, but still saddened that there is no indoor seating.
Tanya says
Oh my! What works of art those desserts are. Almost too pretty to eat….. 🙂
Essie says
My head is spinning just from looking at all of that wonderful sweet goodness. The ‘Salted Caramel Ganache Tart’ looks like the offspring of a Werther’s Caramel Kitchen and Main St. Bakery liaison; it looks like pure joy!
Essie says
BTW, thanks for such a detailed report with so many great photos. Also, I didn’t expect it this soon; you’ll have us spoiled!!!!
Teresa says
Everything looks ahhmazing!!! I can’t wait for my Nov trip so I can kill my diet. I am sure it will be worth every bite.
Margie says
Oh dear So much deliciousness and so little room in the tummy! What to try first! How about the breakfast bread bowl then a bike ride then some pull apart brioche then a walk then the lobster roll. And the salted caramel ganache tart for dessert. I’ll have the eclaire as a snack and for dinner…….excuse me….I have a tummy ache.
Jodi says
Great Review! …my mouth is watering LOL!! Question…although it may have been answered (I apologize if it has)…I noticed the line outside the door in one of your photos, any idea how long the approximate wait would be if the line is that long considering the extended queue inside? I would imagine this wouldn’t be unusual earlier in the day as many guests stop for breakfast.
Michelle says
Great photos!
Tracy says
OMG my friends & I are hopefully staying here in December (my reservation window hasn’t opened yet). I may not need the dining plan since I think I may just eat goodies from here for breakfast, lunch, dinner, late night snacks…. :O)
Nick says
Where is the carrot cake? Did they just not have it displayed? Our family has a nightly ritual of grabbing the best carrot cake in the world on our way back from watching Illuminations. That would be incredibly disappointing if they discontinued it. Thanks for the great update though! It looks amazing!
Jacob says
Oh my, I’m shocked nobody has commented on this yet….
Did you notice something that’s MISSING??
NO NESCAFE LIQUID COFFEE BEVERAGE DISPENSERS!!!
That’s right folks it looks like we have REAL BREWED COFFEE on hour hands here…
Sue V. says
We are at BWV this Monday for 3 nights. I’m seeing a sweet (or two) a day in my future!
Jodi says
Thanks so much for “sacrificing” getting up early to go do this for us! I always experience a long line there 🙁 That tells you how good they – and – still are! YUM! It’s gotta wait for a year or so for us though… hohum…
Jo Hart says
It looks great but I am sad they have changed the salad menu as hey have taken off my much loved chicken salad with apple, and pomegranate. I have to eat low dairy and it Kent look like there s anything for me in the salad range.