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Anyone remember

ann0d1

Member
Original Poster
OK this is going back years and I haven't been to Downtown Disney in YEARS, but does anyone remember the riverboat where you can dine. I am sure it changed it's name if it is still there. But we ate at the most expensive place there and all I remember eating was the Chocolate Bell Cake for dessert. It was the best cake. Does anyone have that recipe or does anyone know if it is served anywhere else?
 

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
I can't help with the recipe but you are correct about the name change. It was originally called Empress Lily Riverboat back in 1977 when it opened. DTD itself has also has several name changes including Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village and Walt Disney World Village.
 

stalkingmickey

Active Member
When I was a kid the River boat was a character dining experience. This was around 83 maybe 84. My family had breakfast with mickey and all the regular disney characters. When I went back as an adult it was Fulton's. I even think when we had breakfast the river boat actually was operational.
 

davidpw97

Well-Known Member
I don't know about the chocolate cake. But I also remember having a character breakfast there back in the early 80's. It was so long ago I believe we actually have a film strip of it rather than video, I remember my brother chewing on some characters nose. good times
 

DznyGrlSD

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
I miss the Empress Lilly (Named after Walt's wife). The food there was always excellent. Fulton's is too overpriced (even for Disney)
 

Iakona

Member
When I was a kid the River boat was a character dining experience. This was around 83 maybe 84. My family had breakfast with mickey and all the regular disney characters. When I went back as an adult it was Fulton's. I even think when we had breakfast the river boat actually was operational.

It was 1980. You were about 4 years old and still cute.:eek:
 

jim1051

Active Member
Empress LIlly had 2 dining rooms, I think. One was empress room, which was upscale, I forget the other but i know they had character meals.
 

LuLaSue

Well-Known Member
Empress Lilly was the name! I remember it as a kid about 8 or 9 I guess, we went there for a character dining. I remember it vividly. It was a great time!
 

WEDisney

Active Member
If my memory serves (which isn't the case as of late) there were 3 restaurants on the Empress Lilly. The Empress Room was the premier restaurant of WDW, then there was the Fisherman’s Deck (I think) and a steak house Steersman’s maybe? I forget which had the character breakfast but I know I went to it. :)
 

ann0d1

Member
Original Poster
If my memory serves (which isn't the case as of late) there were 3 restaurants on the Empress Lilly. The Empress Room was the premier restaurant of WDW, then there was the Fisherman’s Deck (I think) and a steak house Steersman’s maybe? I forget which had the character breakfast but I know I went to it. :)

I ate at the Empress Room, and Fisherman's Deck. I remember we were on the "dining plan" and my dad couldn't decide which desert he wanted so the waiter brought out both! Of course he wanted to run the tab up because his tip was based off how much we spent! The Empress was quiet elegant. I was only 22 and had never eaten where they cleaned your table after each course with a "tongue depresser" to wipe away the crumbs!
 

WEDisney

Active Member
I ate at the Empress Room, and Fisherman's Deck. I remember we were on the "dining plan" and my dad couldn't decide which desert he wanted so the waiter brought out both! Of course he wanted to run the tab up because his tip was based off how much we spent! The Empress was quiet elegant. I was only 22 and had never eaten where they cleaned your table after each course with a "tongue depresser" to wipe away the crumbs!

I have fond memories of there also. We were there on the Gold Key Plan (back when Disney wasn't computerized and you could have multiple dinners every night). Because the whole trip, including meals, was paid for I used to order by looking at the right side of the menu :). I was about 10 years old and had Lobster for the first time. I think it was a $32.00 entrée back in the late 70's/early 80s. It freaked me out a little that the waiters stood by you the whole time cleaning and pampering you through the whole meal. I also remember the first time I had to have my palette cleaned (between courses) with what seemed like lemon sherbet :p
 

ann0d1

Member
Original Poster
I felt the same way and I was 22!~ That was the name of plan Gold Key- I would have never remembered that although I think I still have our card. That was the best way to go! We also had lobster there! I think I gained 20 pounds that trip. We had it for a week. We ate three huge meals a day. I remember we were so stuffed from lunch it was hard to eat dinner! Plus desert!
 

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