We are so excited to finally shed some light on what’s happening behind those construction walls over at Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney!
Disney Springs Construction
It seems that after stops, starts, delays, and renamings, Disney Springs is finally taking shape. And today, we’re sharing with you not one, but TWO new confirmed restaurants that will join the Disney Springs lineup sooner rather than later. And BOTH restaurants were featured on early posts here on DFB highlighting future Disney Springs dining.
The Boathouse
The Boathouse
will offer waterfront dining with a nautical theme. Located at The Landing within Disney Springs, the restaurant is the brainchild of Schussler Creative, the same company that brought you other super-themed restaurants around Disney like T-Rex, Rainforest Cafe, and Yak & Yeti. Gibsons Restaurant Group will operate the spot.
The Boathouse — Inside
Guests can expect a mulitfaceted menu featuring American fare, including seafood, steaks, and chops. In addition, the restaurant will feature three different themed bars, including The Captain’s Raw Bar, The Admiral’s Club Bar, and The Dock Bar. Rooms within the restaurant will also carry a nautical theme and decor.
The Boathouse will offer guest more than just food, however. The restaurant will also serve as the launching spot for a number of boat-themed attractions. Guests can ride on a 40-foot Italian Water Taxi while they enjoy champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. There will also be guided “Amphicar” Tours that highlight sites around Disney Springs.
The Boathouse — Outside View
Live music and private dining space round out the offerings at The Boathouse. The new restaurant is scheduled to serve Disney Springs guests until 2:00 AM.
The Boathouse is slated to open in the Spring of 2015.
Morimoto Asia
You may know him best as an Iron Chef, but soon, Chef Masaharu Morimoto will become the latest celebrity to have a dining outpost at Disney. Chef Morimoto is set to be the face of Morimoto Asia, his first Pan-Asian restaurant.
Located in the spot that was once Mannequins Dance Palace, Morimoto Asia will be a waterfront restaurant showcasing selections from across the entire Asian continent.
Morimoto Asia — Outside View
The two-story venue will feature show kitchens where chefs will exhibit traditions like Peking Duck Carving. Dim Sum will also factor into the menu. Guests can enjoy waterside seating or grab a drink in the cocktail lounge as well. “It’s a wonderful chance to share some of my favorite foods from across the Asian continent,” Morimoto said in an interview.
Morimoto Asia — Inside
To bring the concept to life, Chef Morimoto is teaming with Patina Restaurant Group, the company behind established Disney restaurants like Via Napoli and Tutto Italia in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion. The group also runs the table-service Naples Restaurant and the counter-service Napolini in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney. We first told you that the company had filed permits for a new restaurant in this spot last Spring. We thought it would be another Italian offering, so this is a fun twist!
Look for Morimoto Asia to open its doors in Summer 2015.
With the news that we’re seeing early predictions come to pass (including Food Truck Row, and Splitsville — Trader Sam’s will open at the Polynesian), it makes us wonder…what else is on that poster that might pop up at Disney Springs? Hmmmm…
What Else Might Show Up at Disney Springs?
And now we want to hear from you!
Are you looking forward to experiencing The Boathouse, Morimoto Asia, or both? Leave us a comment and tell us your thoughts!
Sources: Business Wire, Orlando Sentinel
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We are definitely looking forward to Morimotos Asia. It will be a nice change from the other offers.
I can’t wait for Morimotos Asia!!!!!!! I have been a huge fan of his for years and cant wait to eat at a restaurant of his!!!!
I wish morimoto asia was opening sooner! Ill be there late april/early may. Both will be amazing, I mean its disney after all!
These artists renderings always make me laugh. Show it like it will be!! Jam packed with lines a mile long waiting to get in. LOL. You never see anyplace in Disney that empty.
I am really looking forward to…walts place. I hope it’s like the 50’s prime time with animation (or something to that effect).
I hope they include Character Dining options. I love filling my tummy while visiting with my favourite Disney Characters 🙂 I’m so excited about this expansion and I’ll only be back in 2016 (sobs) but that means I’ll be back once the expansion is complete and I get to see everything new. YAY!!! Eeek!!!! I can’t wait!!!
Our family can not wait to come to Orlando and see all the changes that are taking place for Disney very exciting !
Love the Morimoto addition, just wish that is something that could have been done within. I understand for locals that may not be the same wish but Instead of another Italian place maybe it could have went on the Boardwalk….
I’m so excited for the Boathouse and Morimoto! Our next WDW trip is in July 2016 and I can’t wait to see Disney Springs then. It’s interesting following and watching everything unfold, amazing!
With the closing of Kouzzina, a beloved favorite of ours at our DVC home resort, it is comforting to know that there will be fantastic choices at Disney Springs. While the new breakfast menu at flying Fish (which presumably will be the Trattoria al Forno breakfast menu starting in December) looks really great to us, the dinner menu doesn’t appeal to us and we will skip it…we eat plenty of Italian food in our house and at our favorite Italian restaurant here (Brooklyn, NY). So now we will just have to travel a little bit but that’s fine! I’m very excited for this.
I really hope Shake Shack does open there. Even though I live in NY, I’ve never been there. The lines are always super long and there isn’t one very close to our house, plus I’m usually watching what I eat but on vacation anything goes for me as far as food! It would be the perfect vacation lunch to have that available at WDW.
Really excited about Morimoto’s…the Boathouse seems like it may be a little kitschy. I hope The Edison is coming next.
Looks like they’ve only licensed his name:
http://www.scottjosephorlando.com/index.php/news/2698-morimoto-in-name-only
Nah, bring back the clubs. I can eat out any day of the week at places like this where I live. The last thing I need is the same crap but pumped up prices.
Got a peek at the Boathouse Restaurant through the construction fence as they were training the “Captains” of the Amphicar fleet. Hard to believe there are that many Amphicars remaining but they were all lined up ready for launch. Very interesting theme and totally Disney. Disney Springs is finally materializing after much consternation and the finished product was well worth the wait.
We are going back in November and I can’t wait to take the Italian water taxi ride with my hubby. Champagne and strawberries and maybe we will see some fireworks too! Sounds so romantic! #briningmymotherinlaw #freebabysitteryes!!! #datenightfor7nights
Anybody any clues on when Morimoto Asia is opening. We’re there thru Aug 10th so desperately hoping it’s open by then!
Does anybody know, when it will be possible to do a reservation through WDW’s reservation system?