Set foot in the Atlantic Dance Hall

When Disney’s Boardwalk Resort opened in 1996, the company envisioned it as a kind of supplementary nightlife district that could work in concert with the then-Downtown Disney nearby. As such, they loaded it full of entertainment options — from restaurants and party games to piano bars and ESPN-themed clubs.

Of course, the late 1980s and early 1990s saw a dance club boom — and so, Disney felt a need to get in on the craze themselves. In addition to the Pleasure Island section of Downtown Disney attracting the party crowd, Disney’s Boardwalk would get the Atlantic Dance Hall — a nightclub of its very own.

It opened along with the rest of the resort in 1996. In the ensuing 20-plus years, I have never once set foot in the establishment. I’d be willing to bet most of you haven’t either.

It has become, for all intents and purposes, an event space designed to be rented out for parties and promotions. They do still have DJs perform, but the crowds are scarce. Jellyrolls, the dueling piano bar across the boardwalk, has seen itself become a kind of cult hit among the Disney faithful. Atlantic Dance Hall, on the other hand, has essentially become wasted space.

Dine at Olivia’s at Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Walt Disney World has so many incredible restaurants, it’s hard to know where to start planning your trip. From the California Grill to Narcoossee’s and everywhere in between, Disney cuisine is top notch — and new restaurants in Disney Springs and some resort expansions have made that decision tougher than ever.

So, sometimes, mitigating factors wind up making that decision for you. Perhaps you don’t want to go too far from a park, or you aren’t willing to try an unusual cruising — as such, restaurants quickly get scratched off the list for somewhat arbitrary reasons.

One restaurant that seems to always meet this fate is the perpetually underrated Olivia’s at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. Themed to the food of the so-called Conch Republic, there’s a Floridian-Southern style that is both wonderfully relaxing and incredibly delicious. Reservations are nearly always available, parking isn’t an issue, and it’s easily accessible via boat from Disney Springs (and bus, of course, from other points).

Something about it makes it seem forgettable — a kind of “out of sight, out of mind” effect. Even if you’ve been to the Vacation Kingdom dozens of times, you’ve probably never tried it. Although, to be honest, I can’t judge — Jiko is too good to eat anywhere else.

Ride the Main Street Vehicles

It may seem counter intuitive, but one of the very first attractions guests encounter when they enter the most-visited theme park on planet earth also tends to be one people basically never ride.

The Main Street Vehicles are legitimate transportation options that, to be fair, aren’t particularly useful. They only take you on a one-way trip to the end of Main Street, whereupon you must disembark and enjoy the rest of your day. Still, the charm is undeniable — and every time you see one cruising down Main Street USA, it’s hard not to be a bit jealous.

Now, sure, lots of people enjoy this attraction, and for some, it’s a must do. But I know you’re out there — you’ve been to the Magic Kingdom every year, but you still haven’t done this. “I’ll get to it someday!” you might say.

Hey, there’s no time like the present!