Hi Maureen,
I'm so glad to welcome you to planDisney today, and love that you are hoping to visit
Disney’s BoardWalk! It’s one of my favorite spots at Walt Disney World and always reminds me of childhood summer visits to the Jersey Shore.
Whether you’re hoping to grab
a scoop of ice cream, a cocktail from
BoardWalk Joe's Marvelous Margaritas or AbracadaBar, or simply stroll the boards and soak up the ambiance, you are certainly welcome to visit without a resort reservation. However, in my experience, guests are not typically permitted to park there without being a hotel guest or having a table service reservation at one of the many delicious restaurants, as
I recently shared with another guest.
If you are looking for an incredible meal, I'd recommend a dinner reservation at
Flying Fish (the Potato-wrapped Red Snapper is hard to beat), breakfast or dinner at Trattoria al Forno (try the Al Forno Eggs or Truffle Gnocchi, depending on the meal period), or some glitter-dusted dining at
The Cake Bake Shop Restaurant. I've visited Cake Bake for brunch, lunch, and happy hour, and the entire menu is practically perfect. You can check for reservation availability there on OpenTable if everything is already booked through Disney’s
advance dining reservation system.
If a sit-down meal doesn't fit your plans, I'd recommend parking at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and traveling to BoardWalk by
Disney Skyliner (you'll make a quick transfer at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort to the EPCOT line) or on one of the
FriendShip Boats that journey along Crescent Lake between Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, making resort stops along the way. I love sailing along this peaceful route, but if you're up for some added steps, you can also walk from Hollywood Studios to the BoardWalk in about 15-20 minutes.
Maureen, I hope this helps. If you need further guidance or clarification, please come right back and let us know.
Magic and memories,
Amy