There are some places at Walt Disney World that you visit once and tick off the list and then there are those places that become part of your family’s Disney tradition.
We first discovered Splitsville on a previous trip to Walt Disney World (you can read that review here) when we were looking for something different to do with our teenage kids. We had walked past it on previous visits to Disney Springs without really knowing what was inside, but after our first visit it quickly became one of our favourite places to spend an evening away from the parks.
So when we returned to Walt Disney World, there was one thing our teenagers were particularly keen to do again, to go bowling at Splitsville. And our second visit was just as much fun as the first.
If you’ve never been inside Splitsville, you might be surprised by just how big it is. Located on the West Side of Disney Springs, it is a 50,000-square-foot entertainment venue spread over two floors, with bowling, billiards, bars, live entertainment and a full-service restaurant.
It is so much more than just a bowling alley.
So after another visit, here are 10 reasons why we think families should add Splitsville Luxury Lanes to their Walt Disney World itinerary.
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Our teenagers actually wanted to go back!
Let’s start with what I think is probably the best recommendation of all. Our teenagers asked to go back when they knew we were going back to Disney.
When you’re travelling with teenagers, you quickly realise that they don’t always want to do exactly what their parents have planned. Walt Disney World has plenty to keep them entertained, but after several days of theme parks, rides and walking, it’s lovely to have something different that everyone can enjoy together.
Splitsville has become one of those places for us. Our latest visit wasn’t because we had run out of things to do. It was because the kids genuinely remembered how much fun we had here previously and wanted to do it again.
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It’s the perfect break from the theme parks
One of the things I love most about Splitsville is that you are still completely within the Disney bubble.
Walt Disney World holidays can be exhausting. Even when you’re having the best time, there are early mornings, long days, lots of walking and plenty of queues.
Disney Springs gives you the opportunity to slow things down a little and Splitsville takes that one step further. You can turn up (booking is recommended though), put your bowling shoes on have a game, eat some really good food and enjoy a different family activity when on holiday here.
There is no rushing from one ride to the next. For us, it was the perfect way to spend some time away from the theme parks without feeling like we had left Disney.
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It doesn’t feel like bowling back home
Now, I should say that bowling at Splitsville isn’t cheap, particularly when you compare it with what you would pay for bowling in the UK.
But this is Disney Springs and you are paying for the whole experience. Splitsville is enormous, with 30 bowling lanes across two floors, as well as pool tables, bars and dining areas. We headed upstairs again on this visit and it immediately felt like we were doing something special rather than simply going bowling.
There is a fantastic retro feel to the place, with colourful décor, American bowling alley touches and plenty of Disney details. Even the bowling balls have some fun Disney touches, including Mickey and Minnie.
It is familiar enough to feel like bowling, but different enough to make it feel like part of the holiday, and if a family member loves sports there are live sports being shown across multiple screens here, much to the delight of my husband.
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You can eat while you bowl
This is one of the things that makes Splitsville such a great family experience.
You don’t have to bowl first and then go somewhere else to eat. You can order food and drinks while you are actually on the bowling lanes.
On our latest visit we ordered some starters while we bowled, and even without bowling I would visit Splitsville just for the food.
We started with the chicken tenders, which are hand-battered chicken tenderloins served with ranch for dipping, and the cheeseburger sliders. The sliders come as three mini burgers topped with cheese, caramelised onions, special sauce, lettuce, tomato and pickles and are designed to serve two or more. Both were delicious. It also meant we weren’t wasting any time, we could eat, chat and bowl all at the same time.
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The food is genuinely really good
I’ll admit that when I first think of a bowling alley, great food isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind.
But Splitsville has always surprised us with its menu, and our latest visit was no different.
The restaurant offers a much more extensive menu than you would expect, including pizza, burgers, chicken dishes, salads, fried rice and plenty of starters and desserts. Disney itself describes the dining room as offering everything from sushi and pizza to burgers and other full meals. Once we had finished bowling, we moved through to the dining area.
My husband ordered the Buffalo Chicken, which is a breaded chicken breast with hot sauce and ranch dressing, lettuce and tomato, served with fries. My daughter and I both chose the Chicken Fried Rice, made with pan-roasted chicken, peas, carrots, broccoli, egg and bacon with sushi rice stir-fried in kimchee soy sauce. Like the starters, they were delicious.
And then there was my youngest, who decided to skip the main course completely. Not because they didn’t like the food, the opposite, really. The starters we had while bowling were so filling she decided to save room for dessert instead.
Which brings me to…
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The starters are big enough to share
If you’re visiting Splitsville with a family, don’t automatically order a starter for everyone.
The portions are generous and several of the appetisers are designed to share. The cheeseburger sliders, for example are specifically listed as serving two or more and there are plenty of other options that work well for sharing.
For us, having the chicken tenders and sliders while bowling worked perfectly. By the time we sat down for our main meals, we had already eaten quite a bit.
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The dining area has fantastic views over Disney Springs
After bowling, we moved into the dining area and this was one of my favourite parts of the evening. We had great views over Disney Springs, and after the noise and excitement of bowling it was lovely to sit down and relax.
This is another reason I think Splitsville works so well as an evening out. You don’t have to rush off after your bowling session. You can move through to the restaurant, order a meal and sit and watch the world go by at Disney Springs.
On our previous visit we were lucky enough to have a table by the windows too, so if you are making a reservation here, definitely ask for a table with a view.
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There is something for everyone
Family meals can sometimes involve a lot of negotiation.
One person wants a burger, another wants chicken, someone else wants something completely different and suddenly you’re wondering whether you’ve made the right restaurant choice.
Splitsville makes that a little easier. The menu is huge and there are plenty of different options, from classic American favourites to sushi and dishes with more of an Asian influence. The current Disney Springs menu includes everything from chicken tenders and cheeseburger sliders to sushi, salads, fried rice, burgers and desserts.
On our visit, we had completely different meals and everyone was happy. And if someone isn’t hungry enough for a full main course, there are plenty of starters to choose from. Or, like our youngest, you can just save yourself for dessert!
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You really don’t need to be a bowler
Part of the fun is the competition, but you certainly don’t need to be particularly good at bowling to enjoy Splitsville. It is about spending time together, having a laugh and seeing who can claim bragging rights for the highest score.
The dining room is a separate experience and you don’t have to bowl to eat at Splitsville. Disney specifically highlights that guests can enjoy the restaurant without bowling. So you could quite easily have one person bowling while another enjoys a drink or sits and watches. For families with different interests, that flexibility is really useful.
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Don’t leave without trying the Super Sundae
And finally, dessert.
My youngest skipped the main course and went straight for the Super Sundae, which is a rather spectacular combination of vanilla and chocolate ice cream topped with chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry.
It is exactly what you want from an American holiday dessert. It is also huge. Even if you think you don’t have room, this is definitely one to consider sharing.
So, is Splitsville at Disney Springs worth visiting?
For our family, we love the experience here when at Disney Springs. The fact that our teenagers wanted to return probably tells you more than anything I could write in this review.
On our first visit, Splitsville was somewhere we discovered almost by accident. This time, it was somewhere we deliberately put back on our Disney itinerary. And I think that’s because it offers something that you don’t always get on a Walt Disney World holiday, time to have family fun together
You don’t need a park ticket. You don’t need to spend the day queuing for rides. You don’t even need to bowl if you don’t want to.
You can simply head to Disney Springs, enjoy a game of bowling, eat some really good food and relax. For us, the combination of the bowling, the food and the atmosphere makes Splitsville one of our favourite things to do with teenagers at Walt Disney World.
It is also one of those places that I think many UK families might completely overlook. We certainly did on our first visits to Disney Springs. But having now been twice, we would definitely recommend putting it on your list, for the latest menus, offers and reservations visit the Splitsville Orlando website.