the yachtsman disney

Yachtsman Steakhouse Review: Disney World’s Most Magnificent Meats?

For the last decade, Yachtsman Steakhouse has been a staple of our Top 10 Table Service Restaurants at Walt Disney World . We’ve praised it as a carnivore’s paradise for glorious cuts of meat and the most approachable Signature Dining for guests who want something straightforward, delicious, and unfussy.

Yachtsman Steakhouse once ranked inside the top 5 on that list, and although it never hit #1, it has been a personal and sentimental favorite for years. With that said, nothing has quite lived up to our first couple of meals at Yachtsman Steakhouse during the heydey of the Disney Dining Plan, when the Porterhouse was served for one and was the size of my head.

It’s been a few years since we last revisited Yachtsman Steakhouse, and some of the recent reader reviews have not exactly instilled confidence. Nevertheless, we had ADRs here in late March until the closure nixed those plans. Since then, I’ve been “patiently” waiting for the last 527 days to devour a gigantic steak from Yachtsman–not that I’ve been counting or anything!

In terms of basic background info, Yachtsman Steakhouse is located at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and is easily accessible from there, Beach Club, BoardWalk, Swan & Dolphin, any Skyliner Resort, or even Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. No bus transportation is needed from any of those locations.

Once the Disney Dining Plan returns , Yachtsman Steakhouse is a 2-credit table service restaurant. As with all Signature Restaurants, it’s a poor use of DDP credits unless you’re on the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan. For now, DVC members or Annual Passholders receive a 10% discount.

Thematically, Yachtsman Steakhouse has a distinct New England nautical style. The dining room is light and airy, but punctuated with rich woods, knotty-pine beams, warm lighting, and nautical touches.

The restaurant is by no means loud, but it’s definitely unpretentious. You’ll see a range of patrons here, from families to well-dressed convention guests to older locals who have been dining at Yachtsman for years.

The last Signature Restaurant we did at Walt Disney World prior to Yachtsman Steakhouse was Citricos, and the two strike clearly different tones. Yachtsman is more like a supper or country club, whereas Citricos is akin to a haute cuisine establishment.

I’d hesitate to take kids to Citricos, whereas I’d have no such issue with Yachtsman. (That’s just me, though–it’s Walt Disney World, so children are to be expected pretty much anywhere.)

Both are fine dining, but they have very different “goals” and approaches. The difference is that you go to somewhere like Citricos to sample inventive cuisine and creative flavors, and may drop over $100 while not leaving full.

By contrast, Yachtsman Steakhouse isn’t pushing the envelope and is likewise expensive, but you might need to be wheeled out of there. Each have their place, and appeal to different guests–or even moods of the same guests.

One of the things we truly appreciate about Yachtsman Steakhouse is that it’s still allowed to be itself, free of any totally unnecessary “modernization.”

Some might see the photos here, particularly the carpet and woods, and think this looks dated. We fiercely disagree–this is completely on theme, and has a delightfully personable and warm atmosphere.

Before sunset, light pours in through the restaurant’s many windows, making it bright and fitting of Yachtsman Steakhouse’s more jovial atmosphere.

At night, the dining room is darker and moodier with the warm and low lighting providing a romantic environment. Or at least as romantic as aggressively eating a huge hunk of meat and garlic-laden sides can be. On second thought, perhaps “subdued setting” is the more apt term.

As always, dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse began with bread service.

The iconic onion pull-apart roll was predictably fantastic. It’s substantial but flaky, and you can peel off its layers, like an onion! It pairs perfectly with either the pink Himalayan salt butter or the roasted garlic…or both.

If you’re looking for something a bit healthier (?), there’s the multigrain cherry roll. This is dense and semi-sweet, but ultimately doesn’t hold a candle to the onion rolls.

No one is going to Yachtsman Steakhouse for multigrain rolls–it’s just not that type of establishment.

We were joined by friends for the meal, and they ordered the Lobster Bisque: Lobster Biscuits, Crème Fraîche and Espelette Oil.

Both of them enjoyed this twist on the New England staple, which appeared to have a hearty amount of lobster biscuits.

For one of their entrees, they ordered the 8-oz Filet Mignon served with Cognac-Truffle Butter and Truffle Fries.

While I believe that a good cut of meat should be able to speak for itself and not need to be bathed in butter for flavor, it’s hard to argue with Yachtsman’s use of that addictively delicious Cognac-Truffle Butter.

For the other entree, they opted for the 16-oz Prime Rib-Eye Steak served with Blue Cheese-Shallot Butter and Truffle Fries.

After stuffing myself on steak, I didn’t do a good job of requesting extensive tasting notes, but both of our friends enjoyed their steaks. No rave reviews or overly-enthusiastic accolades, but general satisfaction seemed to be the meal’s mood.

For our entree, Sarah and I ordered the Chef’s Signature Offering: 28-oz Porterhouse for Two served with Cognac-Truffle Butter and Choice of two Steakhouse Sides.

This is a behemoth, but also is priced at $139. If I recall correctly, it’s a 2-credit upgrade on the Disney Dining Plan, meaning that doing Yachtsman Steakhouse and ordering this Porterhouse will set you back 4 credits.

I hate to be one of those curmudgeonly old men who shouts, “ back in my day, Coca Cola cost a nickel at the corner soda stand! ” when seeing fountain drinks for $5 at a restaurant. However, it wasn’t too long ago when this Porterhouse was for one and only 2 credits or under $60 out of pocket. (In fact, when we dined here in 2012, the 24-ounce Porterhouse cost $46.)

Of course, times and prices change–that much is to be expected–but the cost has more than tripled in less than a decade. On the plus side, it’s 4 ounces larger and comes with one additional side now. Still, it’s a steep price even when compared to other options here–or the superlative Chuletón Bone-In Rib-Eye at Toledo Steakhouse .

The Chef’s Signature 28-oz Porterhouse for Two at Yachtsman Steakhouse was very good, but fell a little short of greatness.

It delivered in terms of tenderness, marbling, a robustly meaty flavor, and impressive presentation. If I weren’t paying for this and didn’t know how much it cost, I’d have no complaints. A satisfactory steak through and through, just not one that blew us away.

Perhaps we’re being unrealistic, but at this price point, we simply expected more. To each their own, but I’d say it’s about $40 overpriced at $139.

We’ve done a number of porterhouse or ribeye steaks (both for one and for two) over the years. This was above average, but still middle of the pack. I’d put it behind the aforementioned counterpart at Toledo (which is now served as a 4-course dinner for two, priced at $129) and also other options at third party hotels in both the Crescent Lake and Bonnet Creek areas at Walt Disney World.

Now let’s turn to the sides. For our first option, we chose the Truffle Macaroni & Cheese. An unsurprising pick given that we’re suckers for this dish.

I’ve previously remarked that there’s “no such thing” as bad truffle mac & cheese, only varying degrees of good or great. Assuming that’s true, this was the “least good” truffle mac & cheese we’ve had in years. It was surprisingly dry and lacking in flavor. None of the richness or cheesiness we’d expect.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Roasted Seasonal Mushrooms were absolutely phenomenal.

Consisting of four varieties of mushrooms, these had a deeply rich flavor and were prepared in a way that let the mushrooms stand on their own while enhancing them. These mushrooms were an unexpected standout from our meal.

We finished with Yacthsman’s Chocolate Cake: Dark Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Decadence Cake, Mixed Berry Curd, Peanut Butter Crunch and Mousse.

Like our Porterhouse, this signature dessert also serves two and has an impressive presentation.

We had very different opinions about this. For me, this wholly embodied Yachtsman Steakhouse–a pretty but straightforward and indulgent dessert. Big and totally unpretentious, with bold but crowd-pleasing flavors.

Sarah though it was all “too much,” with over-the-top decadence, plus flavors and textures that didn’t come together particularly well. I can’t totally disagree with her–this certainly isn’t among my top 10 desserts at Walt Disney World–but the presentation coupled with the chocolate, peanut butter, and berry flavors worked well enough for me.

Ultimately, Yachtsman Steakhouse has a sense of comfort and familiarity that you won’t find at many Walt Disney World restaurants anymore. Many of the Cast Members have been there for years and offer professional but personable service. The atmosphere and style are warm and welcoming. The menu is full of magnificent meats and other steakhouse favorites. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly why or how, but it’s the kind of place that would make Ron Swanson shed a single tear–and that’s something special.

However, Yachtsman Steakhouse no longer feels like the unparalleled Walt Disney World spot for steaks that it once was. Many other Signature Restaurants serve up similarly great cuts of meat, but with their own ambitious twists or more competitive pricing. Two recent additions–Toledo and Topolino’s Terrace–come to mind here, but so too do a wide range of restaurants at Disney Springs and in flagship restaurants at third party hotels that are on-site. To be sure, Yachtsman Steakhouse is still a restaurant we’ll revisit down the road, but between an improved “steak scene” elsewhere at Walt Disney World and higher prices at Yachtsman, it’s no longer the clear-cut chophouse champion.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Have you dined at Yachtsman Steakhouse recently? What did you order? Did you find the pricing commensurate with the quality? Do you agree or disagree with our review? Would you consider it one of the best (or the best) steakhouses at Walt Disney World? If you haven’t dined here, does this sound appealing to you or not? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Just found this new review via Google search, so please ignore my comment asking for a new review posted to your old review, which the site took me to yesterday. Love your Blog and perspectives!

Nothing touches the Yachtsman in my book. I’m blessed to have eaten in several steak houses across the country and this beats them all. I’ve also dined at the other signatures at WDW and the Yachtsman beats them all in my book, for a great steak dinner. When I eat at the Yachtsman, it’s an evening long experience shared with people I love, and we know how to live! Can’t wait to go back next month!

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The Essential Guide to Walt Disney World’s Yachtsman Steakhouse

in Walt Disney World

Looking for a great place to enjoy the perfect elegant date night on your next trip to Walt Disney World ? If so, you won’t want to miss dining at Yachtsman Steakhouse, located inside Disney’s Yacht Club Resort!

From great steaks to fresh seafood to savory side dishes, Yachtman’s Steakhouse is the perfect dining option for those looking for fine and signature dining.

Disney’s official website describes the table service restaurant as:

Savor premium steaks, fresh seafood and more at this New England-style steakhouse. Within the airy dining room’s knotty-pine beams and nautical touches, mouthwatering cuisine awaits!

High-quality, grain-fed beef is aged in-house and prepared on an oak-fired grill in the open kitchen. Feel your appetite begin to build while you watch butchers hand cut steaks to perfection in the dry-aging room. Then, give into anticipation as you delight in beef entrées like the 12-oz Prime New York Strip Steak with peppercorn-brandy sauce. Favorite sides include the Truffle Macaroni & Cheese, while the innovative kids menu pleases even the pickiest of eaters. Be sure to save room for a decadent dessert like our S’mores Sundae or Banana Bread Pudding.

Where is the Yachtsman Steakhouse located?

Yachtsman Steakhouse, which features high-grade steaks, fresh seafood, free-range chicken and more, is located at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort at Walt Disney World . 

Disney’s Yacht Club is located inside the EPCOT area, near Disney’s Boardwalk and Disney’s Beach Club. In case you aren’t familiar, Disney describes this resort as:

Delight in the formal grace of a grand New England-style yacht club at this lakeside hotel. Relax in the inviting elegance of a plush lobby replete with nautical touches, explore the whimsical Stormalong Bay and rent a variety of watercraft from Bayside Marina. Sharing many amenities with its pastel-toned sister, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is walking distance to Epcot and a convenient boat ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

How to get to the Yachtsman Steakhouse

If you are staying on property, there are a few different transportation options you can take in order to get to Yachtsman Steakhouse.

If you are staying at any of the EPCOT resorts — including Disney’s Yacht Club, Disney’s Beach Club , Disney’s Boardwalk , Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, or Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel — you can either walk to Disney’s Yacht Club by following the path around the lake, or you can opt to take the friendship boat. This also goes for if you are visiting the EPCOT theme park for the day, you can either walk over to Disney’s Yacht Club or take the friendship boat. Be sure to use the park exit near World Showcase and not the main entrance.

If you are staying at any of the other Walt Disney World hotels on property, you can either take a complimentary bus to one of the theme parks (or to Disney Springs) and catch a bus to Disney’s Yacht Club from there.

If you are visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the day and want to get to Yachtsman Steakhouse from the theme park, you can take the friendship boats directly to Disney’s Yacht Club by utilizing the launch outside of the park entrance.

If you are visiting one of the other theme parks, either Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can take a bus directly to Disney’s Yacht Club.

And lastly, if you opted, you could also use the Lyft app to call for a car to take you directly there, however, this is not complimentary, and depending on where you are located on the Disney World property, it can cost you upwards of a few dollars. For more information on using Lyft at Disney World, visit our website here.

Theming of the Yachtsman Steakhouse

Yachtsman Steakhouse is a fine dining restaurant, featuring signature American cuisine, including steak and seafood. The atmosphere is elegant with “knotty-pine beams” and “nautical touches” in the dining room.

How is the Yachtsman Steakhouse’s dining room decorated?

The dining room invites Guests in with its simple and rustic yet elegant atmosphere. Yachtsman Steakhouse is not decorated “over the top” and instead has simple lanterns that light up the room, wooden chairs that aim for that rustic feel, and beautiful wall decor, inviting couples for a perfect date night.

However, just because this is a fine dining restaurant does not mean children are not welcome. In fact, the Yachtsman Steakhouse has an entire kids menu — making this restaurant great for families, couples, and kids of all ages.

What is the dress code for the Yachtsman Steakhouse?

Guests are expected to follow the dress code requirements for Signature dining. The official Disney World website reads:

Guests are asked to adhere to the minimum dress code requirements at this Signature Dining experience. Dressier attire is also welcome. Please explore the minimum dress code requirements: Men must wear khakis, slacks or dress shorts and collared shirts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition. Sport coats are optional. Women must wear Capri pants, skirts, dresses or dress shorts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition. Not permitted are tank tops, flip-flops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, hats for gentlemen, cut-offs, torn clothing and t-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics.

Food at the Yachtsman Steakhouse

The food offered at Yachtsman Steakhouse is nothing like you’ve ever tasted before! This menu offers a variety of elegant and delicious American style dishes.

The prices listed here are subject to change. Be sure to check the menu on the  official Walt Disney World website for the most up-to-date pricing before arriving at Yachtsman Steakhouse.

First Course

• French Onion Soup — Sourdough Crouton, Gruyère Cheese, Onion Broth — $14.00
• Charcuterie or Cheese Board — $22.00
• Steakhouse Wedge Salad — Point Reyes Blue, Buttermilk Ranch, Honey-Miso Bacon. Plant-based Steakhouse Wedge Salad available — $15.00
• Caesar Salad — House-made Pancetta, Brioche Crouton — $15.00
• Badger Flame Beet Salad — Baby Greens, Goat Crème Fraîche, White Truffle Vinaigrette, Pepita Soil — $16.00
• Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail — Old Bay-poached, Lemon, House-made Cocktail Sauce — $21.00
• Lobster Bisque — Lobster Biscuits, Crème Fraîche, Espelette Oil — $16.00
• Ahi Tuna Tartare — Poke Vinaigrette, White Gazpacho, Wasabi Tobiko — $18.00

Chef’s Signature Offerings

• 28-oz Prime Porterhouse for Two — Signature Steak 21-Day Dry-Aged, Bone Marrow, Green Onion Brioche, Garlic Butter, choice of Two Steakhouse Sides — $135.00
• Chilled Captain’s Tower (not eligible on the Disney Dining Plan) — Jumbo Shrimp, Mussels, Oyster Shooters, Scallop Ceviche, Charred Octopus Salad — $38.00
• Chilled Admiral’s Tower for Two (not eligible on the Disney Dining Plan) — Maine Lobster, Snow Crab, Tuna Tartare, Jumbo Shrimp, Mussels, Jumbo Lump Crab Salad, Oyster Shooters, Scallop Ceviche, Charred Octopus Salad — $135.00

Butcher’s Cuts (served with one accompaniment selection)

• 8-oz Black Angus Filet Mignon — Cognac-Truffle Butter and served with one (1) Accompaniment Selection. Upgrade to a 16-oz Bone-In Filet Mignon +30 — $52.00
• 14-oz Roasted Prime Rib — Horseradish Cream and Au Jus served with one (1) Accompaniment Selection — $52.00
• 16-oz Rib-Eye Steak, Prime — Blue Heaven Shallot Butter and served with one (1) Accompaniment Selection — $57.00
• 12-oz New York Strip Steak, Prime — Peppercorn-Brandy Sauce and served with one (1) Accompaniment Selection — $53.00

Accompaniment Selections

• Mashed Potatoes
• Potato-Leek Gratin
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• House-made French Fries

Butcher’s Cuts Enhancements (not eligible on the Disney Dining Plan)

• Bone Marrow — Seasonal Jam, Toasted Green Onion Brioche — $9.00
• Oscar-style — Asparagus, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Béarnaise — $18.00
• Half Maine Lobster — Citrus Butter-poached — $28.00
• Thick-cut Steakhouse Bacon — Wild Oak Honey-Miso Glaze — $12.00

Land and Sea Entrées

• 7-oz Cervena Elk — Parsnip Purée, Blueberry Gastrique, Royal Trumpet Mushrooms, Pumpernickel Soil — $49.00
• Georges Bank Scallops — Herb-Truffle Spätzle, Corn Purée, Oyster Mushrooms, Lime Caviar — $45.00
• Whole Maine Lobster — Charleston Ice Cream, Blue Crab, Peas, Oyster Mushrooms, Citrus Beurre Blanc — $60.00
• Chicken and Dumplings — Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Red Eye Gravy, Rainbow Chard Greens, Pineapple Quince Chutney, Baby Turnips — $36.00
• Customized Plant-based Entrée — $34.00

Enhancements

• Broiled Half Maine Lobster — $28.00

Steakhouse Sides (not eligible on the Disney Dining Plan)

• Truffle Macaroni & Cheese — $12.00
• Creamed Spinach — $10.00
• Loaded Hasselback Potato — $13.00
• House-made Truffle Fries — $9.00
• Braised Mushrooms — $10.00
• Chocolate Lava Cake — Valrhona Chocolate, Coconut Ice Cream, Raspberry-Chambord Sauce, Gingersnap Crumbs — $12.00
• Banana Bread Pudding — Caramelized Bananas, Candied Pecans, Butter Pecan Ice Cream, Caramel-Rum Sauce — $12.00
• Carrot Cake (No Sugar Added) — Cheesecake Icing, Caramel Ice Cream, Walnuts — $11.00
• S’more Sundae — Salted Caramel, Chocolate, and Peanut Butter Gelatos, Graham Cracker Crumbs, Chocolate Chunks, Toasted Marshmallow — $11.00
• Seasonal Sorbet Trio — Coconut Tuile and Sparkling Wine — $9.00
• Crème Brûlée — Vanilla Custard and Mixed Berries — $11.00

Kids’ Appetizers (à la carte)

• Mixed Green Salad — $5.00
• Edamame with Citrus Butter — $5.00

Kids’ Create-Your-Own Entrées (choose one)

• Oak-grilled Chicken Breast — Served with choice of two (2) Selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice — $10.00
• Oak-grilled New York Strip — Served with choice of two (2) Selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice — $13.00
• Baked Fish of the Day — Served with choice of two (2) Selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice — $13.00
• Orecchiette Marinara — Served with Plant-based Sausage and choice of two (2) Selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice — $10.00
• Macaroni & Cheese — Served with choice of two (2) Selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice — $9.00

Kids’ Create-Your-Own Selections (choose two)

• Seasonal Vegetable
• Farro Wheat
• Mini-baked Potatoes
• Fresh Fruit Salad
• Frozen Yogurt and Berry Push Pop
• Mickey’s Art Palette
• Chocolate Pudding

What is the most popular meal at the Yachtsman Steakhouse?

With so many dishes to choose from it can be a bit overwhelming. Well, to give you an idea of what is popular here at Yachtsman Steakhouse, we made a list for you!

If you are looking to dive into a premium beef entree, Guests tend to order the 12-oz Prime New York Strip Steak with peppercorn-brandy sauce or the 14-oz Roasted Prime Rib with Horseradish Cream. In regards to the favorite savory side dish, Guests absolutely love the Truffle Macaroni & Cheese .

Looking for a fresh seafood dish? We highly recommend the Whole Main Lobster!

But be sure to save room for a decadent dessert because Guests rave about the S’mores Sundae and Banana Bread Pudding.

Wonderful World of Wine at Yachtsman Steakhouse

What goes perfectly with steak or seafood at a fine dining restaurant? Why, a glass of wine, of course! The Yachtsman Steakhouse is also known for its wide selection of fine wine, which Disney describes as :

Wine-lovers, rejoice! Sip and swirl your way through some of the world’s most renowned wine-growing regions—no passport required. The Yachtsman Steakhouse invites Guests to explore the wonderful world of wine every second Wednesday of the month. Sample the liquid legacies of some of the finest appellations and vineyards throughout California, Italy, France, Chile, Australia and more—and learn about their flavor profiles, winemaking techniques, and soil and climate conditions. This engaging class also includes a small tasting plate paired to go with the selected wine offerings. The cost is $45 per person and the wine tasting begins at 3 PM on the second Wednesday of each month. Guests interested in attending can call (407) 824-1391. All Attendees must be 21 or over with valid ID; no discounts accepted.

How do you make a reservation for the Yachtsman Steakhouse?

To make a reservation, you can book online at the  official Walt Disney World website or by calling (407) 939-3463. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

Advance reservations are highly recommended . All Guests may make advance reservations for dining and other experiences up to 60 days in advance. In addition, Walt Disney World Resort Guests staying at a hotel on property can make reservations up to 60 days in advance plus the length of their stay, up to 10 days!

What kind of Disney dining plans are accepted at Yachtsman Steakhouse?

If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, Yachtsman Steakhouse typically uses two table service credits. Every year, the credits are subject to change for the Disney Dining Plan so it is always good to check with the official Walt Disney World website  before visiting for the most up-to-date information.

Discounts available at Yachtsman Steakhouse

If yo u are an Annual Passholder, you can receive 10% off at this dining location.  Disney’s official website states :

10% discount applies to the non-discounted price of food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding applicable tax and gratuity) during all available meal periods. Special events and dining packages excluded unless otherwise noted.  Valid for the Passholder and up to three Guests. Please view  Passholder Discounts  for additional details.

Want to Visit Yachtsman Steakhouse on Your Next Disney World Trip?

If you need help planning your next Walt Disney World vacation to visit Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney Springs, the Authorized Planners at Academy Travel have you covered! Academy Travel has earned the highest designation that Disney can bestow upon a travel agency, EarMarked Diamond.

As long as you book your trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can rest assured that you will be working with an agency that Disney has vetted and is willing to associate their brand with that agency due to the knowledge and service level you will find at that particular agency.

Ready to find out what your dream vacation will cost?  Click here to get a free no-obligation quote .

Wandering In Disney

A disney theme parks blog.

Yachtsman Steakhouse Review

Yachtsman Steakhouse is a table-service restaurant in Walt Disney World’s Yacht Club Resort. Termed as a signature restaurant, Yachtsman Steakhouse would require two credits on the Disney Dining Plan (when applicable) and has higher prices than the usual sit down spot at WDW although they do offer Annual Pass and DVC discounts. The restaurant specializes in, you guessed it, steaks and is one of the few true steakhouses on property. In this post, we’ll review the restaurant’s atmosphere, food and value.

While I’ve had the pleasure to eat at many and most of Walt Disney World’s restaurants, Yachtsman Steakhouse seemingly was the one that I kept missing one way or another. There was always another restaurant to try or money to save and then the restaurant had a long closure due to COVID before opening late this summer. With the opportunity to finally catch the white whale, this yachtsman took advantage. I’m so sorry, that will be my last nautical/yachting/Moby-Dick joke of this post.

As much as I love red meat and consider myself a good carnivore, I’m not as drawn to steakhouses as some other restaurants. I don’t think they offer as much room for imagination in their offerings and I usually like seafood just as much as most steak. A steakhouse really has to wow me for me to feel like it’s worth the price, especially relative to other fancy restaurants. Thankfully, Yachtsman Steakhouse went above and beyond my expectations.

The restaurant makes no bones about who they’re appealing to. Immediately upon entry, guests are met by the dry-aging room also known as (by me) the meat room! The room is tucked away to the left of the kitchen and seating area. It’s an impressive room filled with incredible cuts of meat.

Inside of the actual restaurant, the restaurant is themed similarly to the rest of the Yacht Club. There’s some New England style architecture and heavy nautical theming. Warm wood tones abound along with a deep turquoise giving Yachtsman Steakhouse a masculine yet inviting feel.

There are several dining rooms throughout the restaurant, all of them are pretty light and airy. I wouldn’t say the restaurant is overly decorated or trying hard for a modern aesthetic, instead Yachtsman Steakhouse knows what it is and does that well. My favorite feature of the restaurant are the beautiful windows and ceiling on the far right of the dining room. Many of the windows in that area arch out giving the look of a captain’s quarters. I like these small, understated touches that make the dining room somewhat unique.

Let’s move on the menu , where the atmosphere of the restaurant takes its cues. There’s a few different offerings on the menu but everything revolves around the steak. Writing this while hungry was an absolute mistake.

Being a signature restaurant, Yachtsman Steakhouse offers a great bread service. The onion pull apart roll is perfectly flaky and delicious. It’s served warm and matches wonderfully with the roasted garlic or Himalayan salt butter that comes with the bread service.

There’s also multigrain cherry rolls, and I liked these almost as much even if they are supposedly healthy! The cherry gave them a nice pop of flavor.

Moving on to the entrees, I ordered the 16-oz Rib-Eye Steak which comes with Blue Cheese-Shallot Butter and is served with one accompaniment selection. The Rib-Eye was cooked a perfect medium rare and was exceptionally tender. The flavor of the meat alone was delicious and the Blue Cheese-Shallot Butter added to the rich and creaminess. This was huge and extremely rich. I had next to no chance of finishing this in one sitting but it was exceptional!

We also tried the 8-oz Filet Mignon which is served with Cognac-Truffle Butter and served with one accompaniment selection. This wasn’t as gigantic as the Rib-Eye but it was just as delicious, if not more so. The meat was even more tender, to the point where I’m not sure that you needed a steak knife to cut it. I preferred the Truffle Butter to the Blue Cheese Butter, although it was even more rich. Everything about this dish melted in your mouth.

Yachtsman Steakhouse was all an exercise in how much someone could eat and that included the sides. The mashed potatoes were delicious and, I say this in praise, you could really taste the butter in them. They were very smooth and paired well with the meat.

While I liked the mashed potatoes, the potato-leek gratin blew it out of the water. What’s better than buttery potatoes? Buttery potatoes with cheese on top of them. Yes, it was another dish in the line of heavy foods but I would be happy to eat a bowl of this anytime.

Each of the steaks came with one accompaniment and the option we didn’t have was the french fries. We have had those at the next door Crew’s Cup Lounge and they are outstanding, as well.

There were several sides that you can add to your meal and we decided to go with the Roasted Seasonal Mushrooms. While I didn’t think the mushrooms quite lived up to everything else on the menu, they were fresh and delicious. They paired well with each of the steaks and I’d be interested in trying any of the other sides there.

In the name of research, dessert seemed like a necessity 😉 We ordered the Yachtsman’s Chocolate Cake and it was a good decision. Here’s what it looks like when it is cut open!

The layers are made up of Dark Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Decadence Cake, Mixed Berry Curd, Peanut Butter Crunch and Mousse. Needless to say, this was very rich, delicious, and too much food. The menu does say it serves two and that is certainly accurate! The Mixed Berry Curd offset some of the richness of the chocolate. While maybe a little much for me, this was one of the most impressive desserts I’ve had anywhere.

I haven’t mentioned the prices here because they’re all very high and I thought I’d get the praise out of the way. All of the steaks are between the $50-$60 range with the sides under $15 and the cake at $19. While it’s a lot, I didn’t think this was out of line with real world steakhouses. The quality of the food certainly matches up to that. I do think there are more creative restaurants at Disney World where you can spend about the same amount but whether you should choose them over Yachtsman Steakhouse depends on how much you like steak.

Overall, Yachtsman Steakhouse is one of the best restaurants in Walt Disney World. While it may not be inventive or modern in its design, it’s a restaurant that has exceptional food and fits in well within the theme constraints. The only negative is the steep price although I’d consider it fair. For meat eaters, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Overall Rating – 9.5/10

Have you been to Yachtsman Steakhouse? Let us know your thoughts or any questions you might have in the comments below! Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Check out our  Disney World Trip Planning Guide  to help you out. If you enjoy what you’re reading here on Wandering in Disney, you can subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!

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Categories: Restaurant Reviews

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Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Dining Options

Make Dining Reservations

Plan ahead for delicious dining experiences during your stay. Read More

Plan ahead for delicious dining experiences during your stay.

When to Book Guests may make advance dining reservations at select restaurants.

• Guests with a Valid Disney Resort Hotel Reservation: Make reservations for your entire length of stay (for up to a 10-night stay) up to 60 days in advance of your arrival! This can help you enjoy streamlined vacation planning , since you can make all your reservations on the same day—rather than checking availability day after day.
• All Other Guests: Make reservations up to 60 days in advance.

Explore dining experiences available for booking during your vacation.

Dining in the Theme Parks To dine at an in-park, table-service restaurant, you need a confirmed dining reservation for the total number of Guests—regardless of age—along with a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on that same date for each Guest ages 3 and up.

Dining reservations do not guarantee access to a park, and Park Hopper availability may change daily. We recommend that Guests book in-park dining at the park where they have a park reservation.

View a full list of the dining options at Walt Disney World Resort.

Review important updates to dining experiences at Walt Disney World Resort.

Ale & Compass Restaurant

Set your sights on Yankee comfort food and seafood classics at this cozy gastropub-inspired eatery.

Ale & Compass Lounge

Bar Service Navigate your way to a cozy lounge with a great wine list, light snacks and overstuffed chairs.

The Market at Ale & Compass

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Find hot and cold offerings with grab-and-go convenience for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Cape May Cafe

Breakfast, Dinner Start your day with a hearty buffet breakfast or visit later for signature seafood and turf dishes.

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

Lunch, Dinner Satisfy your sweet tooth with old-fashioned ice-cream favorites or savor delicious hot-off-the-grill items at this 50s-themed eatery.

Beach Club Marketplace

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Enjoy a hot, made-to-order meal, grab a quick bite or stock up on snacks before heading out for a day of fun in the parks.

Martha’s Vineyard

Lunch, Bar Service, Late Night Gather for a glass—or bottle—of wine at this casual lounge reminiscent of a New England beach house.

Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill

Bar Service Brace for frosty beverages and beautiful bay views at this not-so-blustery walk-up bar.

Yachtsman Steakhouse

Dinner Relish premium dry-aged beef, fresh seafood and signature drinks at this New England-style steakhouse.

Crew’s Cup Lounge

Bar Service Ready all, row! Race to a place where refreshment awaits—serving beer, wine and cocktails.

Nearby Restaurants

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is conveniently connected by water taxi, bus or walking paths to numerous Disney restaurants within the EPCOT Resort area.

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Yachtsman Steakhouse Menu

At Yachtsman Steakhouse, salute your inner steak lover at this crisp and gleaming restaurant that serves top-notch steaks and seafood.

Yachtsman Steakhouse is located in Disney’s Yacht Club  Resort.  Find more Walt Disney World dining locations on our  Walt Disney World menus  page.

Restaurant Info: Steakhouse, Dinner, $$$

Find out how you can save money on dining at Walt Disney World by using one of Disney’s Dining Plans .

Dinner Menu   Kids’ Dinner Menu

Yachtsman Steakhouse Dinner Menu

Menu Date: 2023

First Course

Caesar Salad  – $15.00 Marinated White Anchovies and Croutons

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail  – $21.00 Poached, House-made Cocktail Sauce, Lemon

Steakhouse Wedge Salad  – $15.00 Candied Bacon, Farmhouse Eggs, Radish and Smokey Blue Cheese Vinaigrette

Lobster Bisque  – $17.00 Lobster Biscuits, Crème Fraîche and Espelette Oil

French Onion Soup  – $14.00 Sourdough Crouton, Gruyère Cheese and Onion Broth

Beef Carpaccio*  – $16.00 Truffle Aïoli, Parmesan, Fried Capers and Smoked Sea Salt

Butcher’s Cuts

Butcher’s Cuts accompanied by Fingerling Potatoes, Blistered Tomatoes, and Confit Shallots

8-oz Filet Mignon*  – $53.00

14-oz Roasted Prime Rib*  – $50.00

12-oz New York Strip Steak, Prime*  – $55.00

16-oz Rib-Eye Steak, Prime*  – $57.00

Butcher’s Cut Enhancements

Oscar-style  – $25.00 Crab, Asparagus and Béarnaise

Half Maine Lobster Thermidor  – $32.00 Creamy Cognac sauce, Aged Parmesan, Fines Herbs

Steakhouse Sauces

House Steak Sauce  – $3.00

Bearnaise  – $3.00

Peppercorn  – $3.00

Blue Cheese- $3.00

Land and Sea Entrèes

Red Wine Braised Short Rib – $52.00 Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Root Spinach, Roasted Parisan Carrots, Stone Fruit Compote

Seared Ora King Salmon – $42.00 Parsnip Puree, Roasted Baby Carrots, Port Reduction

Seafood Cioppino  – $50.00 Shrimp, Scallops, Clams, Mussels, Lucid Absinthe and Fregola Sarda

Coq au Vin-Braised Chicken  – $38.00 House-made Fettucine, Mushrooms, Cipollini Onions, and Pancetta

Trumpet Mushroom “Scallop” – $38.00 Power Grain Pilaf, Braised Kabocha Squash, Yuzu Spinach Emulsion

Steakhouse Sides

Truffle Macaroni & Cheese – $14.00

Creamed Spinach – $10.00

Mashed Potatoes  – $8.00

Hot Honey Bourbon Brussels Sprouts  – $12.00 Chili-candied Walnuts

Roasted Seasonal Mushrooms – $10.00

House-made Truffle Fries – $10.00

Loaded Baked Potato  – $10.00 Vermont Cheddar Butter, Bacon, Chives, and Sour Cream

Chocolate Cake  – $16.00 Chocolate Biscuit, 65% Dark Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Buttercream, and Raspberry

Strawberry Shortcake  – $14.00 Almond Financier, Vanilla Chantilly, Lemon Confit, Basil, Strawberries

Carrot Cake  – $14.00 Carrot Cake, “Cream Cheese” Icing, Candied Blueberries, Lemon, and Carrot Gelee

Brûlée Cheesecake  – $14.00 Citrus Cheesecake, Blonde Chocolate Ganache, Blood Orange Curd, Milk Chocolate Mousse, and Pomegranate Gelee

Orange Blossom Pilsner  – Orlando, FL – $9.75

Funky Buddha Floridian Hefeweizen – Oakland Park, FL – $9.75

Cigar City Brewing Jai Alai Pale Ale – Tampa, FL  $9.75

Scotches (Single Malt)

Assorted – $17.00 – $250.00

After Dinner Flights – $17.50 – $41.00

Coffee Drinks

Irish Coffee  – $13.50 Jameson Irish Whiskey

Starboard Coffee  – $14.50 Tia Maria, Drambuie, Grand Marnier and Brandy

Jamaican Coffee  – $13.50 Myers’s Original Dark Rum and Tia Maria

Keoke Coffee  – $13.50 Kahlúa, Brandy and Dark Crème de Cacao

Pressed Pot Coffee  – $9.00 Freshly Brewed Joffrey’s Coffee™ Yachtsman Custom Blend

Yachtsman Steakhouse Kids’ Dinner Menu

Appetizers (à la carte).

Chicken Noodle Soup – $4.00

Mixed Green Salad – $5.00

Kids’ Create-Your-Own Entrées (chose one)

Grilled Chicken Breast  – $13.00 Served with choice of two (2) Selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice 

Oak-grilled Steak  – $17.00 Served with choice of two (2) Selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice

Baked Fish of the Day  – $16.00 Served with choice of two (2) Selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice

Pasta with Marinara – $12.00Served with choice of two (2) Selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice

Kids’ Create-Your-Own Selections (choose two)

Steamed Seasonal Vegetable

Mashed Potatoes

Fresh Fruit

Brown Basmati Rice

Frozen Yogurt and Berry Push Pop

Mickey Puzzle

Macaroni & Cheese

Kids’ Specialty Drink

Specialty Character Drink  – $6.50 Minute Maid® Zero Sugar Lemonade with flavors of Cotton Candy served in a souvenir Character Cup

Kids’ menu items for children ages 9 and younger. Look for the Disney Check icon on printed menus to find options that meet Disney’s nutrition guidelines.

** Yachtsman Steakhouse Menu and Prices are Subject to Change Without Notice **

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Yachtsman Steakhouse

Ranked #69 of 97 Table Service Options at Walt Disney World Located in Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Last updated: July 10, 2023

At a Glance

• Dinner: Daily, 5:30 - 10:30p.m.

Full service

2 TS credits

• WDW Passholder: 10%

Dressy casual

Menus & Prices

Frequently Asked Questions

tabs#change" class="xs:text-18 md:text-30 font-light text-tp-black-300 xs:leading-7 md:leading-46 cursor-pointer"> What should you know?

tabs#change" class="xs:text-18 md:text-30 font-light text-tp-black-300 xs:leading-7 md:leading-46 cursor-pointer"> What’s it like inside?

tabs#change" class="xs:text-18 md:text-30 font-light text-tp-black-300 xs:leading-7 md:leading-46 cursor-pointer"> What are the specialties?

tabs#change" class="xs:text-18 md:text-30 font-light text-tp-black-300 xs:leading-7 md:leading-46 cursor-pointer"> Any discounts?

What should you know?

Open for dinner only, Yachtsman Steakhouse serves up steak, seafood, and sides. This is a signature restaurant that tries to create an atmosphere, so expect high prices and to adhere to a minimal dress code.

What’s it like inside?

Wooden beams, white linens, and a view of the Yacht Club’s sandy lagoon make Yachtsman feel light and airy rather than dark and masculine like the typical steakhouse. Beef is the star, of course, but there are other options on the menu.

What are the specialties?

Bread service with roasted, sweet garlic.

Any discounts?

Yachtsman Steakhouse offers the following discounts:

Other Dining Options You might enjoy the following alternatives to Yachtsman Steakhouse:

Rosa Mexicano

Fort Wilderness

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera

Ale & Compass Restaurant

Additional information on yachtsman steakhouse.

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Yachtsman Steakhouse

Yachtsman Steakhouse offering a variety of dishes, hand-cut in-house steaks, unique sides and delectable desserts. The steaks are the best on Disney property!  If steak isn’t for you, they offer chicken and dumplings, braised short ribs and handmade ricotta cavatelli.

The simple, rustic, yet elegant dining room and phenomenal food make this a perfect dining experience for those looking for a romantic night out or celebrating a special occasion.

Service: Table Service/Signature Dining

Cuisine: American/Steakhouse

Meals: Dinner

Location: Yacht Club

Hours:  5 pm – 9:30 pm

Reservations: Highly recommended

Disney Dining Plan:  Two table-service credits

Tables in Wonderland: Accepted

Book online or call (407) WDW-DINE

Menu Dinner/Wine

Dining Tips

• Credit card required at time of booking to reserve and will not be charged. If you must cancel, do so within one day of the reservation or it is considered a no-show and will be charged $10 per person.
• There is a butcher on hand cutting the steaks. You can see him as you enter the restaurant.
• The restaurant features an open kitchen so you can see the chefs preparing the food.

Yachtsman Steakhouse

Dinner menu.

Signature Dining

• Yachtsman Steakhouse Dinner
• Meal Period  - Opens menu - Dinner

First Course

Caesar salad, jumbo shrimp cocktail, steakhouse wedge salad, squash agnolotti, lobster bisque, french onion soup, beef carpaccio*, butcher's cuts, 7-oz filet mignon*, 14-oz roasted prime rib*, 12-oz new york strip steak, prime*, 22-oz angus bone-in rib-eye, prime*, butcher's cuts enhancements, oscar-style, half maine lobster thermidor, steakhouse sauces, sauce flight, land and sea entrées, chilean sea bass*, braised lamb shank, pan-seared chicken, trumpet mushroom "scallop", steakhouse sides, truffle macaroni & cheese, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, hot honey-bourbon brussels sprouts, red wine-braised mushrooms, smoked paprika fries, loaded baked potato, seasonal vegetables, chocolate cake, yachtsman signature chocolate cake, cranberry-vanilla cheesecake, carrot cake, crème brûlée, kids' specialty drink, specialty character drink, kids' appetizers (à la carte), mixed green salad, chicken noodle soup, kids' create-your-own entrées (choose one), grilled chicken breast, baked fish of the day, pasta with marinara, oak-grilled steak, kids' create-your-own selections (choose two), steamed seasonal vegetable, fresh fruit, brown basmati rice, frozen yogurt and berry push-pop, mickey puzzle, macaroni & cheese, orange blossom pilsner – orlando, fl, funky buddha floridian hefeweizen – oakland park, fl, cigar city brewing jai alai india pale ale – tampa, fl, scotches (single malt), glenkinchie, lowlands 12 yr, the macallan, speyside 12 yr, the macallan, speyside 18 yr, the macallan, speyside 25 yr, glenmorangie highland 10 yr, oban west highland 10 yr, lagavulin islay 16 yr, johnnie walker black label, johnnie walker blue label, rémy martin vsop, rémy martin louis xiii, coffee drinks, irish coffee, starboard coffee, jamaican coffee, keoke coffee, pressed pot coffee, payoff martini, cold brew martini, after-dinner flights, bourbon flight, scotch flight, allergy-friendly first course, guests must speak to a cast member about their allergy-friendly request, allergy-friendly butcher's cuts, allergy-friendly butcher's cuts enhancements, allergy-friendly steakhouse sauces, allergy-friendly land and sea entrées, allergy-friendly steakhouse sides, allergy-friendly desserts, allergy-friendly kids' appetizers (à la carte), allergy-friendly kids' create-your-own entrées (choose one), allergy-friendly kids' create-your-own selections (choose two), steamed seasonal vegetables, seasonal fruit allergy.

About our allergy-friendly menu items: Guests may consult with a chef or special diets trained Cast Member before placing an order. We use reasonable efforts in our sourcing, preparation and handling procedures to avoid the introduction of the named allergens into allergy-friendly menu choices. While we take steps to prevent cross-contact, we do not have separate allergy-friendly kitchens and are unable to guarantee that a menu item is completely free of allergens. Allergy-friendly offerings are reliant on supplier ingredient labels. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the contents of each food item. Allergen advisory statements (e.g., "may contain") are not regulated and therefore not taken into consideration when developing allergy-friendly meals. It is ultimately our Guests' discretion to make an informed choice based upon their individual dietary needs.

Menu items and prices are subject to change without notice.

* Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness.

Our plant-based menu items are made without animal meat, dairy, eggs and honey.

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Yachtsman Steakhouse Overview | Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Dining

Yachtsman Steakhouse is a high-end dining establishment that is renowned for its premium steaks, fresh seafood, and free-range chicken.

Dining Overview

The restaurant features a nautical, New England-inspired theme that complements the overall aesthetic of the Yacht Club Resort. The dining room has a craftsman-inspired design, catering to a variety of tastes with an array of dishes, incredible sides, and amazing, cut-in-house steaks.

In terms of location, the restaurant overlooks the water and beach area of the resort, creating a scenic dining experience. It’s easily accessible from the Beach Club, BoardWalk, and other areas of the resort.

The menu at Yachtsman Steakhouse is varied enough to appeal to any guest’s tastes. It’s known for serving high-grade steaks and has a reputation for being one of Disney World’s most impressive sources of magnificent meals. In addition to its steaks, the restaurant offers a selection of fresh seafood and free-range chicken.

One of the unique aspects of Yachtsman Steakhouse is its on-site butcher room where steaks are hand-cut. This attention to detail and commitment to quality is part of what makes dining at Yachtsman Steakhouse a memorable experience.

Overall, Yachtsman Steakhouse provides a signature dining experience at Walt Disney World near EPCOT, combining superb food with a charming setting and outstanding service.

Dinner (Served from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)

First course, caesar salad, jumbo shrimp cocktail, steakhouse wedge salad, lobster bisque, french onion soup, beef carpaccio*, butcher’s cuts (served with one accompaniment selection), accompaniment selections, 8-oz filet mignon*, 14-oz roasted prime rib*, 12-oz new york strip steak, prime*, 16-oz rib-eye steak, prime*, butcher’s cuts enhancements, oscar-style, half maine lobster thermidor, steakhouse sauces, house steak sauce, blue cheese, land and sea entrées, red wine braised short rib, seared ora king salmon*, seafood cioppino, coq au vin-braised chicken, trumpet mushroom “scallop”, steakhouse sides, truffle macaroni & cheese, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, hot honey-bourbon brussels sprouts, roasted seasonal mushrooms, house-made truffle fries, loaded baked potato, chocolate cake, strawberry shortcake, carrot cake, brûlée cheesecake, kids’ specialty drink, specialty character drink, kids’ appetizers (à la carte), mixed green salad, chicken noodle soup, kids’ create-your-own entrées (choose one), grilled chicken breast, baked fish of the day, orecchiette pasta and plant-based sausage, oak-grilled steak skewer, kids’ create-your-own selections (choose two), steamed seasonal vegetable, fresh fruit, brown basmati rice, frozen yogurt and berry push-pop, mickey puzzle, macaroni & cheese, orange blossom pilsner – orlando, fl, funky buddha floridian hefeweizen – oakland park, fl, cigar city brewing jai alai india pale ale – tampa, fl, scotches (single malt), glenkinchie, lowlands 12 yr, the macallan, speyside 12 yr, the macallan, speyside 18 yr, the macallan, speyside 25 yr, glenmorangie highland 10 yr, oban west highland 10 yr, lagavulin islay 16 yr, johnnie walker black label, johnnie walker blue label, rémy martin vsop, rémy martin louis xiii, coffee drinks, irish coffee, starboard coffee, jamaican coffee, keoke coffee, pressed pot coffee, payoff martini, cold brew martini, after-dinner flights, bourbon flight, scotch flight, allergy-friendly first course, guests must speak to a cast member about their allergy-friendly request, allergy-friendly butcher’s cuts (served with one accompaniment selection), allergy-friendly steakhouse sauces, allergy-friendly land and sea entrées, coq au vin braised chicken, allergy-friendly steakhouse sides, allergy-friendly desserts, allergy-friendly kids’ appetizers (à la carte), allergy-friendly kids’ create-your-own entrées (choose one), orecchiette pasta and ‘sausage’, allergy-friendly kids’ create-your-own selections (choose two), steamed seasonal vegetables, seasonal fruit allergy.

Rachel Van Norman

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Dining at yachtsman steakhouse.

Posted by: Caitlin Kane March 2, 2022

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is a beautiful location that brings the nautical elegance of a New England seaside Resort to life through upscale architecture, décor, amenities, recreation, and more. Guests who stay at or visit the Disney Resort love enjoying a meal at Yachtsman Steakhouse, a table service location that is open for dinner each night and serves up some of the most delicious steaks and menu items at the Walt Disney World Resort.

RELATED: Dining at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

Credit: Disney

Yachtsman Steakhouse features an upscale and elegant setting that immediately transports Guests to the seaside through its décor and beautiful views of the lighthouse and Crescent Lake just outside the windows. Featuring several dining areas, most of the Yachtsman Steakhouse charms Guests with rustic pine beams, subtly patterned carpeting, crisp white tablecloths, nautical details adorning the walls, and light fixtures that mimic lanterns.

RELATED: Romantic Restaurants in Walt Disney World

One particular room at Yachtsman Steakhouse features a curved wall of windows looking out at Crescent Lake that is accented with a deep teal color, rounded windows that mimic portholes, and stately wooden beams. The ceiling in this room is the most stunning feature, and Guests can look up to find a large, lantern-themed chandelier in the center of wavy wooden accents and a series of windows that would look at home on the back of a stately vintage ship.

RELATED: The Best Steaks in Walt Disney World

Yachtsman Steakhouse absolutely brings a nautical and upscale feel to its interior, and it is designed to immerse Guests in the setting of a New England-style steakhouse, complete with an in-house dry-aging room. The dinner menu features mouthwatering options including some of the freshest seafood at the Walt Disney World Resort as well as indulgent steakhouse cuts that Guests will love enjoying.

A great way to begin any meal at Yachtsman Steakhouse is by ordering up beverages for the table, and the restaurant features an extensive menu of soft drinks, coffee beverages, teas, beer, wine, and more. Those who are looking to truly indulge can also order up a specialty cocktail, scotch or cognac selection, or even an after-dinner flight with wine and scotch options.

RELATED: Where to Find the Best Margaritas in Walt Disney World

Moving on to appetizers, Yachtsman Steakhouse features several delicious options including light starts, like the Caesar Salad with marinated white anchovies and olive oil croutons and the Steakhouse Wedge Salad with candied bacon, farmhouse eggs, radish, and smoky blue cheese vinaigrette. Guests can also enjoy rich French Onion Soup or indulgent Beef Carpaccio served with truffle aioli, Parmesan, fried capers, grilled artichoke, and smoked sea salt.

RELATED: Where to Find the Best Salads in Walt Disney World

Those who are looking to begin their meal with fresh seafood options can opt for the very popular Lobster Bisque, which is creamy and thick and served with lobster biscuits, crème Fraiche, and espelette oil. The other seafood appetizer option is the classic Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, which is poached in Old Bay seasoning and served with lemon and house-made cocktail sauce.

The butcher’s cut steaks are obviously what Yachtsman Steakhouse is most popular for, and Guests have several indulgent options to choose from for their entrees, each of which is served with one accompaniment selection such as mashed potatoes, potatoes-leek gratin, or house-made French fries. Enhancements can also be added to each butcher’s cut steak and Guests will love decadent choices like Oscar-style with Alaskan King Crab, asparagus, and Bearnaise, or olive-oil poached Half Maine Lobster.

There are four butchers cut steaks to select from at Yachtsman Steakhouse, some of which can be seen hanging in the dry-aging room when entering the restaurant. Guests can opt for the 8-oz Filet Mignon served with cognac-truffle butter, the 14-oz Roasted Prime Rib with horseradish cream and au jus, 16-oz Rib-Eye Steak accompanied by blue-cheese shallot butter, or the 12-oz New York Strip Steak with brandy-peppercorn sauce.

Credit: TouringPlans.com

In addition to the butcher’s cut steaks, there are also several other land and sea entrée options at Yachtsman Steakhouse for Guests who are looking for something different. Guests who are still looking for a meat-based meal can enjoy the Dry-Aged Duroc Pork Chop with heirloom grits, charred rappini, and apple-cognac gastrique, or the Peruvian-Barbecued Chicken with colusari red rice, Brussels sprouts, fennel, and piquillo sauce.

Credit: TripAdvisor.com

Fresh seafood options are also available to Guests dining at Yachtsman Steakhouse, beginning with the Chef’s Catch of the Day, which rotates daily and is served with a charred tomatillo sauce, sunchokes, chorizo, pearl onions, and cilantro espuma. Also available is the delicious Seafood Cioppino which features a generous portion of shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, Ludic Absinthe, and fregola sarda.

Yachtsman Steakhouse is a largely traditional steakhouse, but there are also certain options to meet dietary preferences or restrictions, ensuring that there is something on the menu for every Guest to enjoy. The Sweet Potato and Seasonal Mushroom Dumplings are a plant-based entrée option that are accompanied by haricot vert, petite sorrel, and soubise.

Guests who are looking to truly indulge in an over-the-top meal at Yachtsman Steakhouse can choose from two Chef’s Signature Options which are designed to be shared between two Guests. The 28-oz Porterhouse for Two comes served with cognac-truffle butter and the choice of two steakhouse sides, and is the perfect romantic meal to share while dining at Yachtsman Steakhouse for dinner.

The other Chef’s Signature Offering menu option is the ultimate seafood indulgence that two Guests can share together. The Chilled Admiral’s Tower for Two is a massive and impressive serving of Maine lobster, snow crab, tuna tartar, jumbo shrimp, mussels, scallop ceviche, and charred octopus salad.

RELATED: The Best Seafood Restaurants in Walt Disney World

No traditional steakhouse meal is complete without some classic sides, and Guests can order up as many as they would like to accompany their delicious butcher’s cut steaks and more. Steakhouse side selections at Yachtsman Steakhouse include Truffle Macaroni & Cheese, Roasted Seasonal Mushrooms, Creamed Spinach, Grilled Colossal Asparagus with Meyer lemon vinaigrette, House-made Truffle Fries, and Haricot Vert with Parmesan cream and crispy shallots.

RELATED: Where to Find the Best Macaroni & Cheese in Walt Disney World

After so many delicious appetizers and entrée options, Guests might find themselves completely stuffed, but Yachtsman Steakhouse also serves up some totally decadent dessert options, including one specialty item that celebrates the Walt Disney World Resort’s 50 th anniversary. Celebrating Layers of Magic features a rich chocolate cake with alternating layers of caramel and espresso mousse, chocolate chiffon with salted caramel crunch, chocolate ganache, and cassis cake and cream garnished with cocoa nib tuile and coconut-cassis sauce.

The Yachtsman Chocolate Cake is a very popular dessert option big enough for two Guests that features a chocolate decadence cake, dark chocolate mousse, mixed berry curd, peanut butter crunch, and mousse. Other dessert options at Yachtsman Steakhouse include Strawberry Shortcake, Crème Brulée with pickled local blueberries, orange, and candied Meyer lemon, and the plant-based Pineapple and Coconut Tart.

RELATED: The Best Creme Brulee in Walt Disney World

Yachtsman Steakhouse is a truly indulgent dining experience at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort that perfectly combines the upscale feel of a New England steakhouse with perfectly prepared butcher’s cut steaks and fresh seafood. Guests should absolutely plan on enjoying a wonderful dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse during any visit to the Walt Disney World Resort.

About Caitlin Kane

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March 21, 2024

The Best Restaurants & Bars In Disney Springs

photo credit: Anne Cruz

Anne Cruz & Gabe Bergado

March 18, 2024

You don’t need a ticket to visit Disney Springs, but make no mistake: this outdoor mall with stores, restaurants, and live music is clearly in Mickey’s backyard. It’s a parallel universe taken over by amusement park frenzy, where tourists carry backpacks skewered by Winnie the Pooh pins and performers belt “Part Of Your World” while riding pianos on wheels. Even if you’re not a hardcore Disney fan, it’s possible to have a fun time and great meal here. In fact, some of the restaurants are better than their in-park counterparts . And when you want to get away from the Mouse, we have a guide to the best restaurants in Orlando proper as well .

Summer House on the Lake

Disney Springs

Disney Springs’ newest restaurant is a calming respite from fried snacks and gaggles of wailing children. Settle in with a spritz and some of their lighter options: the tuna watermelon tostadas are refreshing, and since acceptable salads are hard to find at Disney, we’re especially thankful for the cobb loaded up with corn, cucumber, and plenty of bacon. The fluffy double chocolate cloud cookies from their in-house bakery are a perfect dessert, much better than waiting in line at Gideon’s for an hour. It's all set inside an airy dining room with huge windows facing the water, which will help you mentally prepare before facing crowds back at the park.

It’s easy to feel overstimulated at Disney World. Between the pumped-in scents and roaming princesses, there’s a constant fight for your attention. Thankfully, there are no costumed characters in sight at Jaleo, making it a good choice for low-key dinners and splitting some small plates in peace. Other locations in Chicago , DC , and Las Vegas prove that it’s a reliable spot to graze on crispy patatas bravas and cured meats. But you can also ball out on larger plates like a hefty 16-ounce rack of lamb or a giant paella that’ll prompt the staff to ring a ceremonial cowbell—that’s the extent of the theater-kid energy here, we promise.  

The Boathouse

Disney World doesn’t have a yacht-themed attraction, but if they did, it’d look a lot like the Boathouse. The huge space (and menu) is great for large family dinners with picky eaters, and the boat that’s been turned into a booth is excellent bait for anyone in your group that’s obsessed with Jimmy Buffet. You can leisurely snack on coconut shrimp and drink frozen cocktails topped with rubber duckies on the patio all evening long, but if the kids are jonesing for a post-meal activity, the restaurant also runs lake tours in their ‘60s amphicars.

Amorette’s Patisserie

Bakery/Cafe

This little patisserie just across from the giant Disney store is useful for distracting your feral niece or nephew from begging for an $80 Stitch sweatshirt. There’s a huge selection of tarts, cookies, and macarons, but you need to get one of the glistening character cakes. The Mickey version is like a chocolate turducken: chocolate chiffon topped with dark and white chocolate mousse that’s light enough to enjoy on a steamy Orlando day. As with any fun dessert spot in Disney, the lines can get long, so place an order ahead of time and go catch whatever band is playing on the waterfront stage.

photo credit: Gabe Bergado

All the metallic surfaces make the Edison feel like you’ve sipped the shrinking potion from Alice In Wonderland and now you’re hanging out between the gears of a mechanical clock. It’s a lively nighttime spot, when charming musicians take the main floor stage and sing bluesy covers. This live entertainment goes well with an evening of gooey grilled cheese sandwiches and rounds of drinks. The cocktail list is all pretty good, but ask for the off-menu cherry limeade spiked with vodka and orgeat. At the bar, you might overhear an exhausted dad asking for a Bud Light to go—it’s stroke of genius worth copying for a boozy night-time walk around the Springs.

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New Disney Destiny Cruise Will Launch in 2025, Inspired by ‘Dynamic Duality’ of Heroes and Villains

“[It] will celebrate our most legendary Disney stories and characters, bringing them to life in new and exciting ways...,” said Disney Cruise Line's senior VP

Disney fans will soon get to set sail with some of the brand’s beloved characters on a new cruise.

Disney Cruise Line has announced new details about its latest ship being constructed, Disney Destiny — described as full of “legends and lore” — which is set to launch in 2025.

The brand said that the ship’s design theme will be “Heroes and Villains,” and will be inspired by different “Disney stories, characters and theme park attractions” in order to “empower guests to embrace their own calling” while on the voyage, according to a press release. 

“The Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering teams were inspired by the dynamic duality of every great Disney story, where opposing forces of light and dark drive characters to rise to their purpose, when developing the Disney Destiny,” the press release said.

People aboard the cruise will be able to meet and interact with characters from The Lion King , Hercules and One Hundred and One Dalmatians and other Pixar and Marvel movies— some of whom were present in Disney Parks' new video introducing the ship.

The video features Captain Minnie as she searches the ship for a Disney Destiny commemorative coin, and she comes across Disney villains Scar and Cruella de Vil. Captain Minnie eventually finds the ship’s commemorative coin with Hades, and Hercules helps her to get it back. 

The storyline of the video hints at some of the “spaces, experiences and entertainment” guests can expect while setting sail on Disney Destiny.

“The Disney Destiny will celebrate our most legendary Disney stories and characters, bringing them to life in new and exciting ways exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests,” said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Cruise Line in a press release.

She continued, “As we continue to expand our fleet, the Disney Destiny will further strengthen our position as a leader in family cruising as we offer even more ways for families to experience Disney magic and world-class service at sea.”

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Disney also revealed its commemorative coin for the voyage, which depicts Minnie Mouse “striking a valiant pose” while wearing a cape “waving majestically in the sea breeze” as she leads the ship. The same filigree artwork will be featured on the bow of the Disney Destiny.

The ship is slowly coming together, having celebrated a new construction milestone on Wednesday with a keel laying ceremony, which is a formal recognition of the start of a ship's construction, at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

The ship is part of a multi-year expansion of Disney Cruise Line’s fleet, which also includes Disney Wish and Disney Treasure. 

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Disney cruise line reveals name and theme of new ship.

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Disney Cruise Line revealed the name of its next ship, the Disney Destiny, along with details about ... [+] its design theme, “Heroes and Villains.” The ship, sister to the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, will draw on the legacy of beloved Disney stories, characters and theme park attractions to forge a cruise vacation that will empower guests to embrace their own calling aboard every unforgettable voyage. (Disney)

Disney Cruise Line continues its rapid expansion with the reveal of the third Triton-class ship name and theme. The ship will be called the Disney Destiny, be themed after heroes and villains and is scheduled to be delivered in 2025.

The new ship continues Disney’s commitment to its cruise line , which launched the first Triton class ship, the Disney Wish in 2022 and is getting ready to launch a second, the Disney Treasure in December 2024. The cruise line also bought and is currently renovating a partially built ship to be called the Disney Adventure, which will homeport in Singapore. Disney bought the Adventure for a reported $44 million after Genting Cruise Lines fell into administration.

Disney Cruise Line revealed the name of its next ship, the Disney Destiny, as it reached a new ... [+] construction milestone today with the keel laying ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. With the good luck garnered by this maritime tradition, this sister ship to the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure is beginning to take shape. (Omark Reyes, photographer)

About The Disney Destiny

The design theme of Disney Destiny will continue Disney’s legacy of storytelling by drawing inspiration from movies, characters and theme park attractions. According to a press release, “The Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering teams were inspired by the dynamic duality of every great Disney story, where opposing forces of light and dark drive characters to rise to their purpose, when developing the Disney Destiny.”

Those who take a cruise on the ship will be able to enjoy spaces, experiences and entertainment themed around stories like The Lion King , Hercules and One Hundred and One Dalmatians .

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“The Disney Destiny will celebrate our most legendary Disney stories and characters, bringing them to life in new and exciting ways exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests,” said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Cruise Line in a press release. “As we continue to expand our fleet, the Disney Destiny will further strengthen our position as a leader in family cruising as we offer even more ways for families to experience Disney magic and world-class service at sea.”

Home ports, cruise routes, cost and onboard activities are not yet known. Like the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, there will be plenty of spaces for kids to play and spaces dedicated for adults to enjoy all around the ship. There will also be three main dining rooms that cruisers will rotate through during a sailing.

Cruising Is Back

According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruising is back in full force as of 2023. This is good news for Disney, who has three new ships debuting before the end of 2025. The 2023 State of the Cruise Industry CLIA report states that 85% of travelers who have cruised plan to cruise again, which is nine percent higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Disney Cruise Line guests can look forward to a signature island experience that celebrates nature ... [+] and the spirit and culture of The Bahamas at a new Disney port of call, which will be located on the breathtaking island of Eleuthera at a place called Lighthouse Point. (Disney)

Other Disney Cruise Projects

Along with new cruise ships, Disney Cruise Line is getting ready to welcome cruisers to an all-new private island destination in The Bahamas, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The new island is set to welcome Disney fans for the first time in June 2024. With Lighthouse Point, Disney plans to invest between $250 million and $400 million into the project.

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The Billionaire Taking on Disney Just Wants Some Respect

The longtime corporate agitator feels misunderstood. Maybe his fight with Disney could change that.

Nelson Peltz, 81, has been battling the Walt Disney Company over its corporate strategy. Credit... Ahmed Gaber for The New York Times

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By James B. Stewart and Lauren Hirsch

• Published March 16, 2024 Updated March 19, 2024

At age 81, with over four decades of dealmaking and corporate cage-rattling under his belt, Nelson Peltz would seem to have pretty much everything.

He’s a billionaire. Until the hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin came to Palm Beach, Fla., Mr. Peltz had the largest property tax bill in town, with an oceanfront estate estimated to be worth $334 million. His 130-acre property in Bedford, N.Y., known as High Winds, has its own helipad, indoor ice rink and waterfall. He has use of his company’s jet. (But so far, he owns no yacht — he rents one instead.)

He also has an undeniably full life apart from his business: He has two children from his first marriage. He also has eight children (including two sets of twins) with his wife since 1981, the former model Claudia Heffner. His eldest child from that marriage, Matt, is a partner and co-chief investment officer at Mr. Peltz’s Trian Partners.

His photogenic younger children have thrust him into the tabloids and onto the Hollywood red carpet. Nicola, an actress (“Bates Motel,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Welcome to Chippendales”), married Brooklyn Beckham, son of David and Victoria Beckham, in a splashy wedding at the Peltz Palm Beach estate in 2022. Will is also an actor (“Unfriended,” “Euphoria,” “Manifest”). Brad played hockey for Yale and was drafted by the Ottawa Senators.

And yet Mr. Peltz yearns for something that continues to elude him: the respect from the corporate elite, which he craves and feels he deserves. Could admittance to the inner sanctum of one of the best-known and most respected companies in the world — the Walt Disney Company — deliver that?

On and off for almost a year and a half, Trian Partners has waged an intense corporate fight by controlling a $3.5 billion stake in Disney and pushing for two board seats and influence over the company’s strategy. Mr. Peltz’s ammunition is a barrage of criticism of Disney’s management and board: The stock has plunged; costs have spiraled out of control; a string of big-budget film flops has raised questions about the company’s creative engine — problems that Mr. Peltz says he can reverse with his operational skills and strategic insight. While he concedes he has no experience in entertainment, his opinions, he says, are informed by his children and their high-powered friends, including Elon Musk, who has been critical of Disney.

The proxy battle has pitted him against Disney’s chief executive, Robert A. Iger, one of the media industry’s most powerful executives and someone Mr. Peltz once considered a good friend. Mr. Iger and Disney’s board have pushed back hard, even enlisting the support of the Disney family , including Abigail Disney, who has long complained about Mr. Iger’s lofty compensation. The increasingly bitter contest is hurtling toward a climax on April 3, when Disney will hold its annual shareholder meeting and proxy votes will be counted.

That this fight is over far more than a couple of board seats, or even a multibillion-dollar stake in the company, was abundantly clear in a series of interviews with The New York Times at Trian’s offices on Park Avenue and in Palm Beach, and over the phone.

During the interviews, Mr. Peltz — who has had numerous similar run-ins with corporate giants such as Procter & Gamble, Heinz and Unilever — repeatedly lamented his reputation as a provocateur and “activist” investor, a thorn in the side of chief executives and their boards.

He hates being mentioned in the same company as a rogues’ gallery of activists, buyout operators and corporate raiders, as he often is. He thinks he should be compared to someone he admires and tries to emulate: Warren E. Buffett.

“Does Nelson feel misunderstood? He probably does,” said Arthur Winkleblack, who was chief financial officer at Heinz when Mr. Peltz waged a successful proxy contest there in 2006 and joined the board. “Not all activists are the same. There are activists who are not nice people. There are activists who are.”

Whatever label is attached to him, there’s little chance that Mr. Peltz will be embraced by the august members of the Business Roundtable, the Washington-based lobbying group of elite chief executives, given his long track record of public criticism of boards and chief executives, and his efforts, when rebuffed, to elbow his way into America’s boardrooms.

Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase and a former chairman of the roundtable, recently came out against Mr. Peltz in the Disney proxy fight, citing the disruption that activist investors can bring to a board. JPMorgan is advising the company in its proxy defense. Disney has paid JPMorgan over $160 million in fees since 2014 as a client, according to LSEG, a financial data provider.

One measure of Mr. Peltz’s continuing notoriety is the reluctance of many people who have worked with him to speak on the record — even people he counts as friends and admirers, some of whom he recommended The Times interview for this article. That’s especially true in the midst of the Disney fight; several people said they didn’t want to be caught in the crossfire between Mr. Peltz and Mr. Iger, let alone Mr. Dimon. Both chief executives cast long shadows in the entertainment and business worlds.

“He’s like the uninvited guest who crashes a dinner party,” said Charles Elson, a former director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware. “No matter how charming, he’s not going to be welcome.”

Ski Bum Turned Billionaire

Mr. Peltz can be funny and self-deprecating: He recently told The Times that he was the only person he knew who had gained weight while taking Ozempic, which seems to be popular in his Palm Beach neighborhood (The tanned, fit-looking Mr. Peltz shows no obvious need to lose weight.)

Mr. Peltz, who was born and grew up in Brooklyn, traces his social skills to his student years at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was president of his hard-partying Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. “Classes screwed up my day,” he said.

He left Wharton before graduating to pursue a passion for skiing, but en route to a job as an instructor at Oregon’s Mount Hood, he was pressed by his father into a two-week stint at the family’s small Bronx-based frozen food distribution company. He was soon brimming with ideas for building the business, investing in the stock market and staying. (He also shaved off his beard at his father’s request. He sports a neatly trimmed beard again today.)

In the decades that followed, Mr. Peltz’s career mirrored the history of modern dealmaking. His successful effort to buy out the notorious corporate raider Victor Posner from National Can in 1985 was the first all-junk-bond tender offer, using the low-rated, high-yielding bonds once shunned by conservative investors. It was also the start of Mr. Peltz’s relationship with the junk bond pioneer Michael Milken. (Mr. Peltz balked at Mr. Milken’s initial invitation, for a 5 a.m. meeting in Beverly Hills; Mr. Milken grudgingly moved the appointment to 6.)

Mr. Peltz forged a close friendship with another controversial raider, Saul Steinberg, who introduced him to Mr. Milken and whose own hostile run at Disney ended with a much-criticized greenmail payment in 1984. (Greenmail is a payment to a corporate raider in return for dropping a hostile takeover bid.)

After the National Can deal, Mr. Peltz’s Triangle Industries swallowed the rival American Can’s packaging division in 1986. He then sold Triangle to France’s Pechiney for $4.2 billion in 1988, including debt. The deal was widely acknowledged as one of the most successful leveraged buyouts, or deals largely funded by debt, and it established a model subsequently embraced by a generation of financiers.

Suddenly wealthy beyond his wildest dreams, and only 46, Mr. Peltz considered an early retirement. But he was quickly bored by golf. He went on to a series of other leveraged acquisitions, buying Snapple from Quaker for $300 million in 1997 and then selling it and some other brands three years later for $1.45 billion. (Mr. Peltz’s success at Snapple is the subject of a Harvard Business School case study .)

“He would often suggest new flavors — and he would push us to come up with different forms and different bottles,” said Ken Gilbert, who was Snapple’s chief marketing officer at the time. “We were spinning out new products every month — it was crazy. And he loved it.”

Mr. Peltz helped found Trian in 2005 to pursue businesses that “weren’t well run but were too big for us to buy,” he said. He and Peter May, his longtime partner, his friend and a former public accountant, courted outside investors and embraced a lucrative compensation model, taking both a management fee and a percentage of the fund’s gains, a model that soon swept the world of alternative investing and that has minted numerous billionaires.

A Builder, Not a Breaker?

For all Mr. Peltz’s business and financial success, not to mention longevity, his early associations with people like Mr. Posner (who pleaded no contest to tax evasion and fraud in 1988) and Mr. Milken (who pleaded guilty to multiple felonies in 1990 and was pardoned by President Donald J. Trump in 2020) no doubt tainted his reputation, fairly or not.

Even before then, he was turned down by the co-op board when he tried to buy an apartment at 740 Park Avenue in Manhattan, and not because he couldn’t pay in cash. The building, on the Upper East Side, is a residential haven for the corporate elite: His friend, Mr. Steinberg, lived there. And Blackstone’s Stephen A. Schwarzman subsequently bought Mr. Steinberg’s apartment, once home to John D. Rockefeller Jr. (The board later approved a purchase by Mr. May, Mr. Peltz’s partner and the president of the New York Philharmonic.)

On more than one occasion Mr. Peltz, who is Jewish, has encountered what he considered at least a whiff of antisemitism. He recalled that his arrival in London in the 1980s was greeted with a tabloid profile headlined “The Wild and Rocking World of Nelson Peltz.” The first sentence, he said, called him a “Jewish boy from Brooklyn,” and the British business establishment closed ranks against him.

Mr. Peltz, long a fierce critic of antisemitism, said he stepped down from his role as chairman of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in December because after 40 years in the position, it was time for a change. But The Wall Street Journal reported that he left after the center called for a boycott of Ben & Jerry’s. The center had deemed posts by the company’s chairman to be pro-Palestinian after the Hamas attack on Israel. Mr. Peltz is a board member of Unilever, the owner of Ben & Jerry’s.

His fellow billionaire Henry Kravis, the buyout pioneer, is one of the few Jewish members of Palm Beach’s old-money Everglades Club, but not Mr. Peltz. Mr. Peltz said he had “refused to set foot” in the club until it had a Jewish member and, now that it does, has had lunch there several times. (Mr. Peltz belongs to the Palm Beach Country Club, which has long accommodated members excluded from more restrictive Palm Beach clubs.)

Mr. Peltz’s reputation as a corporate troublemaker also cost him his longtime relationship with his Manhattan law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. In 2019, the firm cut ties with him even though he had been one of its biggest clients for decades. Paul Weiss handled his estate planning and other matters; a Paul Weiss partner left the firm to become his general counsel. But after Paul Weiss expanded its elite corporate practice in recent years, the firm told him that it could no longer represent activist investors, including him.

Mr. Peltz countered that he wasn’t an activist, he was a “constructivist” — someone who worked with management, not against it. He had never mounted a hostile takeover, he said, or even fired a chief executive. Paul Weiss was unpersuaded. “They dropped me like that,” Mr. Peltz said. “I was probably their oldest living client.”

Vitriol for Disney

Mr. Peltz’s argument that he’s not an activist has also fallen on deaf ears at Disney.

Before the proxy fight, Mr. Peltz had breakfast with Mr. Iger at the Beverly Hills Hotel on occasion when Mr. Peltz was in Los Angeles, and Mr. Iger visited Mr. Peltz in New York. Disney’s pension fund also invested in Trian.

When Elliott Management, led by the activist investor Paul Singer, took a stake in AT&T in 2019 and agitated for change, Mr. Iger asked Mr. Peltz to address the Disney board. Topics on the agenda, according to records reviewed by The Times: “What made AT&T vulnerable?” and “Who will be the winners and losers” as big technology companies move into entertainment and media content production?

But early last year, after Mr. Peltz bought roughly $1 billion in Disney shares and threatened a proxy contest for a board seat if Disney rebuffed his proposals, Disney attacked Mr. Peltz, saying he did “not understand Disney’s businesses and lacks the skills and experience to assist the board in delivering shareholder value in a rapidly shifting media ecosystem.”

Even though Mr. Iger and the Disney board had seemed eager to tap Mr. Peltz’s expertise in 2019, Mr. Iger only grudgingly gave him 45 minutes on Jan. 10 last year to present his plans. Mr. Peltz’s reception was frosty — only Mr. Iger asked a perfunctory question.

Little more than a month after Mr. Peltz started his campaign, Disney pledged $5.5 billion in cost reductions (later raised to $7.5 billion) and said it would resume paying a dividend. Mr. Peltz said the changes aligned with Trian’s goals, and he backed off the proxy fight.

By December, he was back. Frustrated by the ensuing slide in Disney stock— from over $110 a share in February 2023 to below $80 in October— and what he deemed Disney’s failure to follow through with its pledges, Mr. Peltz and Trian renewed their campaign.

This time, Mr. Peltz increased the pressure by allying with two Disney veterans with intimate knowledge of the company: Ike Perlmutter and Jay Rasulo.

Mr. Rasulo, a former Disney chief financial officer and theme parks head, was considered a potential successor to Mr. Iger until he was passed over for the chief operating job in 2016. Mr. Rasulo and Mr. Peltz are Trian’s nominees for the Disney board.

Mr. Perlmutter is the sometimes irascible former chairman of Marvel Entertainment, which Disney bought in 2009 for $4 billion in cash and stock, making him one of Disney’s largest shareholders. He remained chairman of Marvel Entertainment after the deal, but Mr. Iger sidelined him in 2015 by revamping Disney management. Mr. Perlmutter was unceremoniously laid off last year and has since been a vocal critic of Mr. Iger.

Mr. Trump introduced Mr. Peltz to Mr. Perlmutter in 2016 at Mar-a-Lago, where Mr. Perlmutter usually commands a prime dining room table next to Mr. Trump’s. Mr. Perlmutter has been a prominent financial backer of Mr. Trump’s presidential campaigns. Mr. Peltz, too, was a Trump supporter and raised $10 million for him at his Palm Beach estate in February 2020. But the two stopped speaking after Mr. Peltz went on CNBC and denounced Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and incite violence on Jan. 6, 2021, as a “disgrace.” His antipathy has only grown since, and Mr. Peltz said he would not raise more money for Mr. Trump.

Still, the falling-out hasn’t dented Mr. Peltz’s friendship with Mr. Perlmutter.

Mr. Perlmutter has entrusted Mr. Peltz to vote his Disney shares, inflaming tensions with the entertainment company. In its defense against the Trian campaign, Disney accused Mr. Perlmutter of bearing Mr. Iger “personal animosity” and blaming him for being fired.

Disney has also suggested that Mr. Peltz is motivated by a grudge against Mr. Iger, a claim that Mr. Peltz has vehemently denied. The company recently told investors that the men were never close friends, and that Disney ended its investment in Trian in 2021, angering Mr. Peltz, because the fund had underperformed the S&P 500 on an annualized basis over eight years. A spokesman for Mr. Peltz and Trian said they didn’t comment on client matters.

Lacking the information that he’d be privy to as a board member, Mr. Peltz doesn’t purport to have a novel solution to the streaming losses that have bedeviled Disney and other media companies trying to make the difficult transition to the direct-to-consumer digital era. He has been frank about his lack of direct experience in entertainment — something Disney has highlighted. But he said experience wasn’t everything. “They just put out five movies in a row that were big losers,” he said.

In Disney, he sees a company with great assets. But he also believes it’s a business crying out for greater operational accountability, more efficiency and better board governance. He considers Disney to be not that different from consumer-facing companies that he has helped turn around, like Heinz and Procter & Gamble.

Mr. Peltz also has better visibility into Disney’s operations than most of his past targets thanks to his alliance with Mr. Rasulo. Many were surprised that Mr. Rasulo would go up against Mr. Iger, his former mentor, in such public combat.

But Mr. Rasulo said in an interview that Mr. Iger’s abrupt departure in 2020 and the choice of the little-known Bob Chapek to replace him left him (and many others) mystified. So did Mr. Chapek’s sudden ouster and Mr. Iger’s return in 2022. Streaming losses soared, and Disney stock plunged.

“I was always a Disney guy,” said Mr. Rasulo, who spent three decades at the company, and the decline was painful to witness. “Something obviously went radically wrong.”

Mr. Rasulo didn’t know Mr. Peltz when they met for breakfast in Los Angeles a year and a half ago, but he said he had liked what he heard. He conducted his own interviews with people who had dealt with Mr. Peltz, and his research bore out what Mr. Peltz had emphasized — that he was a long-term investor looking to fix the company, not break it up.

Mr. Rasulo said he had no ambition to take Mr. Iger’s place as chief executive. He said he believed he could be an objective “voice of clarity” on the board as well as someone with intimate familiarity with the company’s operations and legacy. (Disney has countered that Mr. Rasulo left eight years ago and is out of touch with a radically changed media landscape.)

Mr. Peltz, too, said he looked forward to working closely with Mr. Iger if he gained a board seat. But that hasn’t stopped him from publicly criticizing Mr. Iger’s leadership. Waging his campaign on CNBC, in other media and in a recent whirlwind of visits to major shareholders, Mr. Peltz has argued that Disney grossly overpaid for 21st Century Fox assets in 2019, a $71 billion deal that saddled the company with enormous debt; that Mr. Iger and the board have repeatedly bungled succession planning; and that Mr. Iger has overseen an alarming decline in quality and financial results at the company’s core Disney animation, Pixar and Marvel entertainment units.

“The fact is, the emperor has no clothes,” Mr. Peltz said.

There have been no invitations from Disney to address the board this time.

In a statement for this article, a Disney spokesman said Mr. Peltz “has failed to demonstrate that he comprehends Disney’s strategic position in the modern media business, or to offer any compelling ideas, and we believe his presence in the boardroom would be disruptive and destructive.”

History as a Guide

A recurring issue in the Disney proxy fight will be Mr. Peltz’s investment record, which remains a closely guarded secret. Various academic studies have found that activist investors, on average, don’t generate superior returns over time.

Trian maintains that federal rules prohibit it from publicizing its results. But the firm said that from the time Mr. Peltz joined a company’s board — 11 in all — through the end of 2023, Trian’s investments in those 11 companies generated a 17 percent annualized rate of return. The S&P 500 has returned an annualized 9.5 percent since 2005, when Trian was founded.

Trian said it used that measure — from the date Mr. Peltz joined a board to the present — because the fund took a long-term approach and often continued to own shares after Mr. Peltz or one of his Trian partners left a board. If returns were measured until the date they stepped down, the returns would be slightly higher, it said.

Annualized returns in those companies range from 47 percent (Legg Mason, acquired by Franklin Templeton in 2020, a year after Mr. Peltz joined the board) to 3 percent (Unilever, which was Trian’s most recent investment before Disney and whose board Mr. Peltz joined in 2022).

Trian argues that these returns are what’s relevant to shareholders of the target companies, including Disney. Trian’s own investors haven’t reaped annualized gains that large, in part because the fund isn’t always fully invested and holds cash and shares in other companies.

One investor said Trian gained 12 percent in 2023 (well below the S&P 500’s 24 percent rise) and lost 10.6 percent in 2022 (when the S&P dropped over 18 percent). Disney said Trian’s annualized returns for its pension fund trailed the S&P 500 by 500 basis points, or 5 percent, over eight years. (Trian said that it offered multiple investment and fee options, and that individual investor results therefore varied.)

Still, many investors have been satisfied: Trian’s assets have gone from less than $1 billion when it was founded in 2005 to over $10 billion. Mr. Peltz attributes his investment success to his operational skills and long-term perspective.

“We’re not activists,” he insisted. “We’re not private equity. We’re not looking to just leverage up a business and sell. We’re looking to build a business over the long term. That’s what’s fun.”

Mr. Peltz noted that the average holding period for a Trian position was six years— long by activist standards, though about the same as private equity funds. Some holdings, like Wendy’s, have been much longer.

The Times interviewed a dozen former executives at companies targeted by Mr. Peltz, and all said he had bolstered results, even those who said they had no particular fondness for him and declined to be quoted.

Mr. Winkleblack, who orchestrated Heinz’s defense in the proxy contest, thought it possible, even likely, that he’d be fired once Mr. Peltz gained a board seat. On the contrary, he stayed in his role after he met Mr. Peltz one on one.

“We fought a good fight,” Mr. Peltz told him. “Now let’s go make money for shareholders.” That, in essence, is Mr. Peltz’s philosophy, Mr. Winkleblack said.

After an extensive listening tour, Mr. Peltz backed Heinz’s chief executive, William Johnson, and his turnaround plan. Mr. Peltz subsequently proposed Mr. Johnson, whom he now calls a “great friend,” for the PepsiCo board, and Mr. Winkleblack now serves as a Trian representative on Wendy’s board.

Mr. Peltz’s battle against DuPont was in some ways the beginning of modern-day activism: evolving into a full-blown fight in which an influential proxy firm, ISS, sided with Mr. Peltz while index funds, decisively, sided with the company’s management.

Though Mr. Peltz lost the proxy fight in 2015, DuPont’s chief executive, Ellen Kullman, stepped down not long after. Her successor, Edward D. Breen, developed a warm relationship with Mr. Peltz and embraced much of his strategy.

Mr. Peltz said Trian intended to remain a major Disney shareholder and keep up the pressure even if it lost the proxy battle, and pointed to DuPont as a precedent.

Procter & Gamble put up a spirited defense to Mr. Peltz’s proxy campaign but, after a narrow loss, reluctantly welcomed Mr. Peltz into the boardroom in 2017. Two years later, Mr. Peltz and the company’s chief executive, David Taylor, were heaping praise on each other.

“We’d rather be rich than right, and David has that same attitude,” Mr. Peltz said at a conference sponsored by CNBC and Institutional Investor. “That’s why we’re getting along so well.”

Several executives who have faced Mr. Peltz’s attention said they saw a common theme: He accelerated existing recovery plans, and then reaped credit for the success. Chief executives who get along with him have to swallow their egos — something that might prove difficult for someone as prominent as Mr. Iger, especially given all the recent vitriol.

Many also said that the care and feeding of Mr. Peltz was time-consuming. After Mr. Peltz joined the board of the snack food maker Mondelez International, then-chief executive Irene Rosenfeld created a new executive position to handle some administrative duties while she dealt with Mr. Peltz and other activist shareholders. Still, Mondelez shares rose an annualized 11 percent while Mr. Peltz was on the board, Trian said.

No one The Times interviewed could recall Mr. Peltz’s arriving on a board with bold ideas that no one else at the company had ever thought of.

“He’ll offer thoughts. He’ll have a thesis,” as one former chief executive said. “But the reality is no one can come from the outside and really know a well-managed company. They’re not going to walk in and tell them something they’ve never thought of.”

Still Rocking the Boat

Which is why, when all is said and done, Mr. Peltz may never escape the unsavory reputation that still dogs him, at least in some quarters, and why it’s unlikely he’ll ever be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway acquires companies only in friendly deals.

Mr. Peltz seems oblivious that even when he is invited onto a board, it’s often under duress: better to have him on the inside, with a director’s duty to shareholders, than on the outside waging a proxy war.

Mr. Peltz “may be a very smart investor and a very savvy operator, but he rocks the boat,” Mr. Elson the governance expert said. “People who rock the boat are naturally going to cross swords with the establishment.” (Mr. Elson’s family is also a pillar of Palm Beach high society; his father, Edward, was U.S. ambassador to Denmark in the 1990s, and his mother, Susie, was chair of Palm Beach’s Society of the Four Arts.)

“No one likes to be told you’re doing something wrong. That’s just human nature,” Mr. Elson continued. “When that happens, you’re viewed as a dissident, an irritant. Irritants aren’t loved.”

Loved or not, Mr. Peltz has Mr. Elson’s admiration, he said, even if he doesn’t always agree with Mr. Peltz’s approach. “Irritants,” he said, “are important to the proper functioning of a capitalist society.”

A previous version of this article misidentified Charles Elson. He is a   former director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, not its director.

How we handle corrections

James B. Stewart has been a reporter and business columnist for The Times since 2011, focusing on the human drama of the business world and the struggle for corporate power. More about James B. Stewart

Lauren Hirsch joined The Times from CNBC in 2020, covering deals and the biggest stories on Wall Street. More about Lauren Hirsch

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BREAKING: Disney Cruise Line Reveals New Ship Name & Theme

Disney Cruise Line has reveled the name of their new ship: Disney Destiny.

Announced March 20, 2024, the Disney Destiny, sister ship the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, is set to be delivered in 2025. The new ship will have a first-of-its-kind “Heroes and Villains” theme, drawing from films including “The Lion King,” “Hercules,” and “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.”

Per the official Disney Cruise Line announcement , the ship’s theme was inspired by the common thread found in every Disney story, where opposing forces of light and dark cause a hero to rise to their full potential.

This theme comes together in a new commemorative coin featuring Hero Minnie. The coin is meant to bring good fortune to every voyage of the Disney Destiny.

Along with the announcement came an animated short titled “Heroes & Villains on the High Seas” in which Minnie tries to find the Destiny’s missing commemorative coin. She encounters Scar, Cruella de Vil, Hercules, Pegasus, Hades, Pain, and Panic, all of whom will presumably play some role on the ship.

Of note, the short ends with a quick scene in a ship hallway. The hallway has different doors with Easter eggs that hint at what’s to come on the Disney Destiny. They feature nods to The Haunted Mansion, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Incredibles.

Back to Hero Minnie, she will be seen in new filigree artwork that’ll be on the bow of the ship. Her superhero outfit is new for the Disney Destiny.

With the announcement, Disney Cruise Line also shared that the Destiny hit a milestone on March 20, as the ship’s keel laying ceremony took place at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

Are you hoping to ride aboard the Disney Destiny? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on  Twitter ,  Facebook , and  Instagram .

The post BREAKING: Disney Cruise Line Reveals New Ship Name & Theme appeared first on WDW News Today .

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Reservations NOW OPEN for Yachtsman Steakhouse in Disney World!

By Jess Landers Leave a Comment

Disney recently announced the reopening dates of several Disney World restaurants.

Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club

We learned opening dates for  Pizzafari , Columbia Harbour House ,  Toledo — Tapas, Steak, and Seafood , and the Yachtsman Steakhouse .  Today reservations opened for Yachtsman , so let’s take a look at what’s available!

The Yachtsman Steakhouse is located in Disney’s Yacht Club resort hotel and will be reopening on August 5, 2021 . We’ve seen the new menu that looks a bit different, and today reservations opened! Now you can make reservations for dinner at the Yachtsman on August 5th or later, up to 60 days out from your trip !

Yachtsman Steakhouse Entrance

As of writing, we saw availability for dinner reservations from 5PM to 9:30PM on August 5th and most of the days after. We’re not seeing any times available on any Tuesdays or Wednesdays in August or September , but the rest of the days available now have reservations between 5PM to 9:30PM open.

Yachtsman Steakhouse

If you want a reservation at Yachtsman soon, you might not want to hesitate to schedule ! Stay tuned to DFB for a restaurant review with the new Yachtsman menu!

Read more about the new Yachtsman menu here!

Join the dfb newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox click here to subscribe, we know disney. you can, too..

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Disney Just Revealed Details About Its Brand-new Cruise Ship — With a Magical New Theme

Disney Destiny will be heroes and villains themed, scheduled for delivery in 2025

Courtesy of Disney

Life is full of tough choices, isn’t it? But soon, cruisers won’t have to choose between good and evil as Disney Cruise Line just announced its new ship: Disney Destiny . 

Disney shared that the ship design will be themed around legendary Disney heroes and villains, including those of Pixar and Marvel. The vessel will draw “on the legacy of beloved Disney stories, characters, and theme park attractions, to forge a cruise vacation that will empower guests to embrace their own calling aboard every unforgettable voyage.”

Disney Destiny is the third vessel in the liner’s Triton class of ships. It will join the Disney Wish , which debuted in the summer of 2022, and the soon-to-debut Disney Treasure . 

Omark Reyes/Courtesy of Disney

“The Disney Destiny will celebrate our most legendary Disney stories and characters, bringing them to life in new and exciting ways exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests,” Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Cruise Line, said in a press release shared with Travel + Leisure . “As we continue to expand our fleet, the Disney Destiny will further strengthen our position as a leader in family cruising as we offer even more ways for families to experience Disney magic and world-class service at sea.”

A partnership between Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering, the “teams were inspired by the dynamic duality of every great Disney story, where opposing forces of light and dark drive characters to rise to their purpose when developing the Disney Destiny .” Ship spaces, Broadway-style entertainment, and experiences will be inspired by some of Walt Disney Animation Studios biggest films, including “Hercules,” “The Lion King,” and “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.”

Disney unveiled exterior images and a brand-new filigree artwork for the bow of the ship, which is a Disney Cruise Line signature design tradition. The image depicts Minnie Mouse in a commanding, hero-inspired pose while donning her signature bow, along with a cape.

The Disney Destiny is currently being built at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. No announcements have been made on its itinerary or on-sale bookings.