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Did Anyone Ever Eat at the Empress Lilly's Restaurants?

J

Jabroniville

New Member
Original Poster
I just saw a video on Disney Springs and its history, and it mentioned the Empress Lilly had three different restaurants in it at once when it first opened in 1977, and it wasn't until 1996 that it got turned into a seafood place (then with a different name). I was wondering if anyone had been to one of them, what they thought of it, and if they miss it.

I know Disney fans have a tendency to miss EVERYTHING that's cut out (the Adventurers Club being the big one, lol), but I'd never even heard of this one.
 
C

christine7257

Well-Known Member
I have vague recollection of going to a character breakfast there as a kid. I can't say I remember the food at all, but I remember the experience overall seeming very fancy and special compared to what we were used to at home. Just the idea of eating on a boat was wild to me as a kid.
 
J

Jabroniville

New Member
Original Poster
networkpro said:
My wife and I ate there during its last iteration and were not impressed with the atmosphere or the food.
Click to expand...
interesting! I'm bewildered by it somehow hosting 3 restaurants at once. Like... where were all the kitchens?
christine7257 said:
I have vague recollection of going to a character breakfast there as a kid. I can't say I remember the food at all, but I remember the experience overall seeming very fancy and special compared to what we were used to at home. Just the idea of eating on a boat was wild to me as a kid.
Click to expand...
It's funny because the "Boat" can't actually move and is just like... a building sorta in the shape of a boat. But it's good enough! And a very "Disney" touch!
 
K

KaliSplash

Well-Known Member
back in the early 19802, my wife and I visited a bar on the main level. Also had a wonderful meal uin a 2nd floor restaurant at the front of the boat where they would have steered the boat if it had been going anywhere
 
networkpro

networkpro

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
Jabroniville said:
interesting! I'm bewildered by it somehow hosting 3 restaurants at once. Like... where were all the kitchens?

It's funny because the "Boat" can't actually move and is just like... a building sorta in the shape of a boat. But it's good enough! And a very "Disney" touch!
Click to expand...
Like now, the central section of the interior with seating 'outboard'
 
Figments Friend

Figments Friend

Well-Known Member
Yes, I dined on the Empress Lilly back in the early 80s. Think it was 1983.
One of the very first character meal breakfasts used to be served there, if I am remembering right…and myself and my mom attended.
I clearly remember it as at the time it was a real novelty to be ‘dining on an old ferryboat’ as well as being surrounded by Disney Characters.
You have to realize that characters were very hard to come by back at that time.
You rarely saw them in the Park, if ever.

I also remember the meal as I was a shy kid and Pinocchio came over trying to get me to react to him and smile.
He gestured with his hands on his face the motion to ‘smile’ and I just wasn’t having it, being the shy kid who didn’t like all the sudden attention.
When I refused to smile, he stuck his fingers in my water glass and flicked the water at me….totally in character as a ‘naughty boy’ I suppose.
My mom thought it was hilarious…but of course it made me all the more embarrassed.
😆

Ha!
No way a character could get away with that now without some irate oversentive parent pressing for a lawsuit…

But I digress.

Food was good.
Boat was beautiful.
Wish the Empress stuck around for another decade of so as I would have enjoyed the more adult dining options with the live music!


-
 
Last edited:
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Jabroniville said:
interesting! I'm bewildered by it somehow hosting 3 restaurants at once. Like... where were all the kitchens?

It's funny because the "Boat" can't actually move and is just like... a building sorta in the shape of a boat. But it's good enough! And a very "Disney" touch!
Click to expand...
Here in Maine we have several "floating restaurants" on the water. The most popular one is in Portland and is a car ferry that was remodeled for use and has been in operation since the early 80s.
We dined at Fultons and Paddlefish in WDW when they were open. We love dining on the water.
 
D

djcobau

New Member
Jabroniville said:
I just saw a video on Disney Springs and its history, and it mentioned the Empress Lilly had three different restaurants in it at once when it first opened in 1977, and it wasn't until 1996 that it got turned into a seafood place (then with a different name). I was wondering if anyone had been to one of them, what they thought of it, and if they miss it.

I know Disney fans have a tendency to miss EVERYTHING that's cut out (the Adventurers Club being the big one, lol), but I'd never even heard of this one.
Click to expand...
Yes, my wife and her family ate at the Emperess Lily a number of times when it was open. There was a more or less formal dress code, suit and tie. Initially the wait staff was somewhat reserved and very formal, but after going back in successive years, we were on a first name basis and it became much more relaxed. The food, at least in my opinion was very good, typical steak and seafood selections, think filet and lobster. It was a special place and exclusive. It was I clded if you were on the Gold Key vacation plan. Sorry to see it close when Fulton’s took over and then finally Paddlefish. I thought Fulton’s was better than the current Paddlefish iteration.
 

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