Walt Disney World is reimagining BoardWalk Inn and including of Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, a brand new desk service restaurant and bakery changing ESPN Club. This publish shares particulars about what’s on the horizon, together with specifics about adjustments & additions. (Updated November 16, 2022.)
This follows reimaginings of Disney’s Contemporary and Polynesian Village Resorts final 12 months, which introduced with them a variety of enhancements together with character-inspired visitor rooms (Incredibles and Moana, respectively). It additionally comes after foyer overhauls to quite a lot of resorts, and as Walt Disney World converts quite a lot of visitor rooms at Grand Floridian to Disney Vacation Club villas. Expect components of these enhancements to seem at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, too.
In phrases of what the venture will entail, the announcement is pretty imprecise, with Disney stating that it’ll be making “a seaside splash at Disney’s BoardWalk!” Over the subsequent few years, Walt Disney World is including and reimagining components of the beloved turn-of-the-century promenade and contained in the Deluxe Resort, together with an enthralling new foyer design, close by espresso bar, delectable eating choices, refreshed visitor rooms, and different particular touches.
Per Walt Disney World, the primary of those main additions to debut will likely be storybook candy treats and dreamy desserts at The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, a brand new desk service restaurant and bakery that’s certain to please.
Expected to open in 2023, this restaurant will provide each savory and dessert menus, together with afternoon tea service, in a whimsical environment that enhances the magic of the idyllic appeal of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn that friends know and love.
November 16, 2022 Update: Walt Disney World has launched new idea artwork for the Cake Bake Shop, and the way its exterior will likely be redesigned because it takes form from the closed ESPN Club. As proven on this idea artwork, there will likely be two entrances. The current entrance will develop into the bakery, and one other will likely be added for the restaurant. In addition to that, giant french doorways will open to the surface, protecting the area mild and ethereal–a stark distinction to the ESPN Club.
I’m of two minds about this exterior idea artwork for the Cake Bake Shop. On the one hand, the bakery entrance jogs my memory of a fake storefront of a excessive finish store inside a ritzy mall. That’s not meant as a constructive. On the opposite hand, the restaurant facet softens up the blocky and uninviting exterior of the previous ESPN Club, which by no means appeared fairly proper as in comparison with the remainder of the BoardWalk. (It was merely extra acquainted to most followers, because it had at all times been there.) I don’t count on this to be an ideal match, both, but it surely ought to be higher than ESPN Club.
With this new desk service restaurant and candy spot on the horizon, the BoardWalk Bakery has develop into BoardWalk Deli, a “new” sandwich store for friends to take pleasure in a chunk alongside the water’s edge. This joins different meals and beverage areas, like BoardWalk Ice Cream.
Inside Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, mild and ethereal touches will reinvigorate the foyer, lounge, and visitor rooms. Just off the foyer, a brand new espresso bar with artisanal drinks and fast bites will likely be out there to-go or in newly refreshed seating areas inside or open air.
In phrases of commentary, most of that is fairly imprecise. Let’s begin with the primary element, which is that the Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers is becoming a member of the restaurant lineup at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. Although unspoken within the press launch, that is seemingly changing ESPN Club.
Although that’s a curious choice given the distinctive nature of ESPN Club and its recognition throughout main sporting occasions just like the Super Bowl, we’ve heard from a number of sources through the phased reopening that ESPN Club is completely closed. While it may substitute a special eating location, our sturdy suspicion is that the Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers is destined for the previous ESPN Club location.
In an ideal world, Disney would relocate ESPN Club to former location of the short-lived NBA Experience, giving the corporate’s flagship sports activities model a good bigger location–and one which’s simpler to entry for locals. There’s loads from NBA Experience that would presumably be reused and repurposed, with the venue changing into a hybrid interactive expertise and sports activities bar.
I’d not count on that to occur–that transfer is just too logical. More seemingly, Walt Disney World is glad with the variety of small sports activities bars in different resorts (and huge third get together ones at Disney Springs) and ESPN Club will fade away.
We are vaguely accustomed to the Cake Bake Shop because it’s extremely in style in Indianapolis, the place we used to reside. Neither of us have ever been there (it’s my understanding that it books up months upfront), however all of our mates and Sarah’s household rave about it. Locally, Gwendolyn Rogers is an aspirational success story.
In truth, between the time this information broke and we ready to publish the story, Sarah has obtained a number of cake photo-filled textual content messages from household and mates, a few of whom aren’t even Disney followers, who’re excited concerning the information. Word travels quick in Indy, I suppose.
The Cake Bake Shop’s second location in Carmel, Indiana is big, so that ought to clarify how they’re going to fill an area as giant as ESPN Club. (Above photograph isn’t from the Cake Bake Shop–I used to be simply reminiscing about my favourite Disney desserts and located that.)
Personally, I hoped that will be become a themed escape room, however world-class cake store is a pleasant comfort prize. I’m at all times in search of new and revolutionary excuses to eat cake, and this could match the invoice properly.
As for the remainder of this information, we’re cautiously optimistic about most of it. I don’t assume BoardWalk Inn wants foyer enhancements. The space is already the proper mixture of charming, well-appointed, and exquisitely themed. It’s not dated in a Nineteen Nineties approach, and is unlikely to profit from any reimagining.
I concern that any adjustments to the foyer will quantity to introducing design thrives touches that sign it’s a contemporary luxurious lodge, however are at odds with the underlying themed design. That’s already occurred at different Deluxe Resorts, with the refreshed Yacht Club foyer in all probability being one of the best instance of the adjustments that’ll come to BoardWalk Inn.
I additionally fear that a few of the quirky (and albeit, creepy) particulars will likely be misplaced. There’s minimal upside that may come from Imagineering messing with BoardWalk’s foyer, and plenty of draw back.
As for BoardWalk Bakery changing into the BoardWalk Deli sandwich store, the jury continues to be out on that. We’ve mentioned for years that the Deluxe Resorts within the Crescent Lake space want higher counter service restaurant choices. The not too long ago redone marketplaces at Yacht & Beach Club are enhancements, however actually solely half-measures.
Our expectation is that BoardWalk Bakery will likely be comparable in that regard–an imperfect answer, however nonetheless an improve from what’s there now. Given the area constraints and structure alone, it’s onerous to think about the present BoardWalk Bakery altering a ton. We shall see. (Update: we’ve since seen, and the most important distinction is the title change. They additionally repainted the partitions a lighter colour.)
It’s the same story with the close by espresso bar, which we assume will likely be a substitute for, or reimagining of, Belle Vue Lounge. The utilization and enchantment of this lounge may undoubtedly be improved, however Belle Vue does have a passionate fanbase as a ‘secret spot’ or ‘hidden gem.’
In that sense, this jogs my memory plenty of Mizner’s Lounge on the Grand Floridian. That was beloved amongst its loyalists, however however wanted a refresh to offer it new life and extra mainstream enchantment. So lengthy as Disney doesn’t go full “Enchanted Rose” on Belle Vue Lounge, this ought to be a very good improve.
From our perspective, a very good template right here can be Barcelona Lounge at Gran Destino Tower. Not in model (as fairly as that’s, it clearly shouldn’t be replicated at Belle Vue), however in its combined nature.
Barcelona Lounge does a pleasant job of embracing café society, with a day-to-night espresso bar that transitions to a Spanish-style Gin Tonic hub within the night. It’s completely fitted to each–ethereal and alluring with vibrant pure mild through the day, moody and alive at evening. Granted, Barcelona Lounge was purpose-built with this in thoughts and it’s unlikely Belle Vue Lounge might be retrofit into one thing like this, but it surely’s the precise concept.
The visitor rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort may undoubtedly use a reimagining. This goes for each the BoardWalk Inn (pictured above) and BoardWalk Villas.
The lodge facet rooms are well-themed and have some nice particulars, however they really feel increasingly like relics from the Nineteen Nineties with every passing 12 months. As a lot as I’d personally love themed-to-the-hilt lodge rooms, there’s additionally the sensible actuality of visitor expectations, and these merely don’t comport with the ~$700 nightly worth level.
Given the latest Moana Makeover on the Poly and Incredibles Injection on the Contemporary, it’s seemingly that the room overhauls at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn will function characters.
The greater query is, which of them? The redo of the creepy clown pool changed that cursed character with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and we’d like to see the identical occur with the visitor rooms. With our luck, it’ll really find yourself being Toy Story or another equally illogical IP.
Then there are the Disney Vacation Club rooms, that are among the many dullest villas at Walt Disney World. These have been refurbished initially of the ‘modernization’ wave, earlier than Imagineering hit its stride balancing theme, performance, and high-end finishings. They’re underwhelming as in comparison with the newer rooms at Riviera, Saratoga, Grand Floridian, or the Poly Villas.
However, there’s no phrase but on whether or not the BoardWalk Villas will likely be included within the room refurbishments. I don’t recall seeing this on the DVC schedule, so both they’ll be a late addition (which does occur) or this reimagining will solely deal with the lodge facet of Disney’s BoardWalk Resort.
Ultimately, we’re large followers of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and hope its quirky character and appeal are preserved via this reimagining and sure modernization. However, we are also cognizant of its shortcomings and room for progress. Aside from Trattoria al Forno and Flying Fish, the eating choices are pretty underwhelming. There are additionally plenty of areas which have stagnated for years and will use a shot within the arm.
Aside from the foyer, there’s not a lot trigger for concern about this reimagining of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. The upside with every little thing else is excessive, and the draw back low. While the BoardWalk wouldn’t be my subsequent choose for a lodge reimagining venture (Grand Floridian and Contemporary each want much more assist–past what the scope of their present building entails), I’m cautiously optimistic about this. Hopefully Imagineering makes use of a deft contact to carry BoardWalk into the twenty first century whereas sustaining its (final) flip of the century character.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the brand new additions and adjustments coming to Disney’s BoardWalk Resort? Excited for the Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers or will you miss ESPN Club? Think this reimagining will work with the lodge theme, or is it pointless? Have you stayed on the BoardWalk Inn or Villas in the previous few years? Do you assume the resort is dated and drained, or nonetheless has a very good look? Think the foyer, visitor rooms, or each want an overhaul? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Other ideas or issues? Any questions we may help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!