Disney Springs is hoppin' with new restaurants, and it's music to our ears. With all of the shopping and fun available at Walt Disney World's largest shopping destination (and one of this shopaholic's favorite places in the world), we could spend a whole day having fun here! Patina Restaurant Group is making its presence known with the 2018 additions of The Edison, Maria & Enzo's, Enzo's Hideaway and Pizza Ponte at Disney Springs. We're hoppy with everything they've cooked up so far!
There was so much buzz surrounding The Edison when it was announced, especially with the mention that there might be a cabaret or more risqué entertainment than typically found in family-friendly Disney Springs. While the detailing, decor and entertainment are absolutely on point, we're here to tell you that it's perfectly family friendly most of the time (it's 21 and up after after 10 p.m.) We'll get into all of those details below! Spoiler alert: This is our new go-to spot for lunch or an early dinner. Read onto to hear about our experience and then hop to our tips so you can get in and make the most of your meal or cocktails at The Edison at Disney Springs!
Hop to It: Backstory & Overview | Dining | Nighttime Entertainment | Tips
Back Story and Overview of The Edison at Disney Springs
The Edison at Disney Springs was originally an electric power plant that opened in 1901 (coincidentally, the year of Walt Disney's birth) and later transformed into a restaurant in the roaring '20s. It fits perfectly with Disney Springs' historical narrative. The Edison at Disney Springs (there is also one in Los Angeles) opened with a bang with a New Year's Eve party to ring in 2018. The steampunk décor gives The Edison at Disney Springs a unique atmosphere, fun for family daytime meals or a night on the town. The restaurant is divided into seven distinct areas. Yep, seven!
Lab performance space: By night, most tables on the bottom floor of the restaurant are cleared to make room for a dance floor, complete with stage for live bands, DJs and other performers.
The Ember Parlour, Telegraph Lounge, The Tesla Lounge: The Edison at Disney Springs boasts three bars, complete with every beverage imaginable, despite the prohibition-era atmosphere surrounding you.
The Radio Room, The Patent Office: These tucked-away, luxury sitting areas are a great place to laze away with a cocktail in hand. These spots are overflowing with antique gems to admire.
The Waterfront Patio: The Edison at Disney Springs may offer the best view in the area. Overlooking the water, you'll find a picturesque backdrop featuring the iconic Aerophile balloon to your left and Saratoga Springs on your right. Truly a wonderful place to dine during sunset, weather permitting!
With such hoppin' nighttime entertainment and an admirable bar scene, there's no question that The Edison at Disney Springs is an outstanding choice for a grownup's night out. No tadpoles (kiddos) are allowed at the restaurant after 10 p.m. when nightly entertainment begins with bands and DJ's during the week ... and a wider range of talent, including cabaret dancers and aerialists, Thursday through Sunday nights.
Before the 10 p.m. transformation into a nightlife destination, The Edison is a toadally family-friendly restaurant. The place is decked out in fascinating antiques with old-fashioned cartoons playing on nearly every wall. We might even dare to say that it has the best restaurant theming in all of Disney Springs! During the day, the restaurant experience is comparable to a low-key version of Universal Orlando's Toothsome Chocolate Emporium. The almost imaginative steampunk environment will have everyone fascinated, parents and kids alike. The expansive menu has something for every set of tastebuds and the staff is super friendly and awesome.
Enjoying a Family Meal at The Edison at Disney Springs
To bluntly answer the question on every mama and papa frog's mind: The Edison at Disney Springs is a great place to bring the whole family, and there is no reason to worry about it being anything but tame before the 10 p.m. entertainment begins. We recommend making reservations no later than 7:30 p.m. to be sure your meal has come to a close if you're worried about breaking that "curfew." We weren't sure how The Edison at Disney Springs would fit into our family-focused lifestyle. But we knew Disney wouldn't disappoint!
Rory the Inventor stopped by our table to show us a few of his inventions, appropriately focused on electricity ... Rory is, of course, a descendant of the original owner of The Edison electric power plant! Tad and Lily loved chatting it up with him about his magnetism device and bright lights conducted by their very own energy. It was like a magic trick and a science lesson all in one!
The Edison at Disney Springs kids' menu is so impressive, Leap and I were tempted to order off of it! The "Junior Scientist Patented Meal Kit" is a multi-compartment meal tray for kids. Compartment 1 (appetizer) offers the choice of a market salad, fresh fruit or chickpea dip with carrots and celery. Compartment 2 (entrée) allows your tadpoles to choose from a burger, cheeseburger, macaroni and cheese or tomato soup and grilled cheese. Compartment 3 (dessert, YUM!) has the options of chocolate cake, Nutella dippers or a chocolate chip cookie. For $15 across the board, the kids' meal also includes a choice of beverage.
Dining for Grownups at The Edison at Disney Springs
For our first visit to The Edison at Disney Springs, we snagged a late lunch reservation. We opted for lighter meals and were not disappointed! We split the deviled eggs as our appetizer, at the recommendation of our waitress, and they were gobbled up in no time. We can't wait to try the clothesline candied bacon that we spotted at a neighboring table next time. Yum! We honestly could've indulged ourselves in a full meal of appetizers with the amazing selection The Edison at Disney Springs offers.
I ordered the organic tomato soup and gooey grilled cheese, stuffed with fontina, muenster, gruyère and alpine swiss, as my entrée. I might be part mouse considering my affinity for cheese (and that would make sense of why I feel so at home with Mickey and Minnie!) and this meal was perfect in every way. The sandwich was HUGE, filling and incredibly unique in taste for being "just a grilled cheese," as Leap (later regretfully, after sampling) declared.
The kiddos fixed up their own variation of the "Junior Scientist Patented Meal Kit." Leap, not following my light eating suggestion, went all out and ordered the restaurant's namesake entrée: signature beef blend of sirloin, shortrib and brisket, cabot cloth bound cheddar, onion rings, smoked bacon, housemade pickles, lettuce, tomato, and special sauce served with fries. But I couldn't blame him ... this meal looked absolutely delish. He highly recommends it to those of you with a heartier appetite.
If Leap and I were here for date night, we would have opted for the "mile-high" chocolate cake with raspberry coulis. But we couldn't pass up on the kid-in-a-candy-store-dream Black Cherry Cream shake to share with Tad and Lily. Read every sugary detail on this delicious dessert in our tips section.
The Edison at Disney Springs Nighttime Entertainment
The Edison features multiple themed areas for guests to explore, such as the Lab performance space, The Ember Parlour, Telegraph Lounge, The Patent Office, The Tesla Lounge, The Radio Room and the Waterfront Patio. The downstairs of The Edison at Disney Springs becomes an entertainment hot spot beginning at 10 p.m. nightly. Tables are stowed away to make room for a dance floor, and the stage is occupied by a live band or DJ. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights are chock full of even more entertainment, including cabaret dancers, comedians, aerialists, acrobats and more.
Leap and I briefly visited The Edison in the evening, where entertainment had already kicked off at 9 p.m.! We imagined the different forms of entertainment to be rotated nightly ... The Edison at Disney Springs exceeded our expectations! A full variety lineup was offered, and this was on a Thursday night alone. The house band, The Pearl Street Players (named appropriately after Pearl Street Station, the first commercial central power plant in the U.S.) performed swinging' 1920's versions of contemporary and classic hits. My personal favorite was their unique take on "Toxic" by Britney Spears!
We also caught The Pearls, The Edison's resident cabaret dance group. Their playful performances were a blast to watch. The Edison's "Flying Ballerina" aerialist performed as well, flying high in the sky to classic tunes. The Edison truly doesn't miss a beat when it comes to their evening entertainment — it was above and beyond all that was promised. We can't wait to come back for more and highly recommend this swingin' spot as a parents' night out!
You must be 21 or older to hang around The Edison at Disney Springs after 10 p.m. on a nightly basis, and there is a $10 cover charge beginning at 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Speaking of being over the age of 21, The Edison boasts an unbelievable beverage selection. As far as we're concerned, they offer every bourbon, whiskey, tequila, wine and beer imaginable! Choose one of their signature cocktails (I opted for the Electric Mule, with strawberry and lemongrass cordial) or create your own with the endless mixers and in-house liquor selection. While we frogs aren't huge partiers, Leap and I officially declare The Edison the most enjoyable place to indulge in beverages at Disney Springs. We counted three bars in this restaurant alone, the main one being the absolute place-to-be with ultimate ambiance.
Tips for Visiting The Edison at Disney Springs
- Reservations are not yet available on the MyDisneyExperience app or Disney World site. Book through OpenTable to save your spot!
- The Edison at Disney Springs is decorated with authentic antiques found around the world! Keep an eye out for admirable light fixtures, decór and furniture.
- The huge clock at the entrance of the restaurant rings every hour on the hour. This is fun to check out if timing allows on your way in or out of The Edison at Disney Springs.
- Different old-timey cartoons and television shows are playing on televisions and projectors throughout the restaurant. Point these out to your little ones to show them how much TV has changed!
- The Black Cherry Cream shake is the perfect dessert to split with your whole family. This 32 oz. candy-coated masterpiece was met with squeals of joy from Tad and Lily ... and let's be honest ... Leap and I as well. Topped with Pixy Stix, gummy poppers and Nerds, this is an overwhelmingly (but oh-so-enjoyably) sweet dessert is a delight to share with the kids and kids at heart.
- Splitting the adult grilled cheese and tomato soup entrée ($16) between two tadpoles is a great way to save a couple bucks, especially if you plan on splitting dessert anyway.
- Don't miss out on meeting Rory the Inventor, especially if you have tadpoles in tow. Ask your server if he's on duty and willing to stop by your table. This is a super fun interaction for kids and adults alike.
- Check the daily schedule for the Magic Kingdom fireworks time. If they coincide around your meal, be sure to view them from the patio overlooking the water at Disney Springs. We hear it's an excellent view!
- If you didn't catch it above — guests must be 21 or older beginning at 10 p.m. at The Edison at Disney Springs. Don't make the mistake of booking late-night reservations with your little ones. There is also a $10 cover charge starting at 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
- The Edison has an enforced dress code Thursday through Saturday evenings beginning at 10 p.m. Men must wear slacks, jeans or dress shorts. No ball caps, sleeveless shirts or flip-flops are permitted. Jackets are optional.
- Annual Passholder and Cast Member discounts are accepted during lunch hours only.
- Tables in Wonderland is already accepted at The Edison at Disney Springs! Cardholders can use this discount all day.
- If you go past the restrooms (they’ll be on your right) and go through the gray door straight ahead, it leads to a “secret tunnel” to Maria & Enzo’s. You’ll first enter an empty room, but if you go directly straight through door #2, you’re there! This secret trick will impress your kiddos and make them feel like they're on a secret mission. We recommend this as a fun way to make your exit!
Disney Springs has tons and tons to offer in the dining department, but we do declare The Edison to be our new favorite restaurant. If your mouth is watering like mine, reserve your discounted Disney Springs-area hotel today so you can hop on over to The Edison ASAP!
