(CLOSED) Disney's BOARDWALK INN and VILLAS Information Thread ~2012~

[WDWKOOK]

I am certain that this question has been posted and answered on this thread before, but my search-fu skills have failed me. Apologies in advance for the repetition.

I just booked myself into the Backstage Magic tour for my upcoming trip in June.

:good vibes

I'm supposed to be at Guest Relations by the main entrance of Epcot by 8:45 that morning. I'm staying at BWV (my DVC home resort), so I'm very accustomed to entering Epcot through the International Gateway, but I've never had to be at the front of the park before rope drop. Will I be able to enter the park through the International Gateway and walk to the front, or will I have to get to the main gate some other way? Off the top of my head, the first possibility that comes to mind is to take a bus from BWV to MK, then hop the monorail from MK to Epcot.

Thanks in advance. 50 days and counting!

-- Dave

I have read that for pre park-opening ADRs, they have a list of names at the IG. If you give them your name, they should match it against the list they have. I'm assuming the list also contains those booked for tours

Let us know how you liked the tour!

 

[gwynne]

Thanks! Are you stay at BWI for your next trip?

Hi Jessica 527,
Thank you for asking. I'm making a trip soon. I'll spend some time with our daughter--lucky duck she lives in Orlando. Then I will be back in Orlando in Oct. with DH at BWI.

We love that resort! We enjoy walking on the boardwalk around Crescent Lake, having a glass of wine at the Belle Vue Lounge, and being able to walk to Epcot to taste all the yummy food at Food and Wine.

Is this your first time at BWI, or have you stayed there before?

I'll bet the time flies by in the next week or so. How wonderful to get married and honeymoon at WDW!

Hope you get a chance to post your thoughts about BWI when you return! Cheers!

 

[AirGoofy]

I am certain that this question has been posted and answered on this thread before, but my search-fu skills have failed me. Apologies in advance for the repetition.

I just booked myself into the Backstage Magic tour for my upcoming trip in June.

:good vibes

I'm supposed to be at Guest Relations by the main entrance of Epcot by 8:45 that morning. I'm staying at BWV (my DVC home resort), so I'm very accustomed to entering Epcot through the International Gateway, but I've never had to be at the front of the park before rope drop. Will I be able to enter the park through the International Gateway and walk to the front, or will I have to get to the main gate some other way? Off the top of my head, the first possibility that comes to mind is to take a bus from BWV to MK, then hop the monorail from MK to Epcot.

Thanks in advance. 50 days and counting!

-- Dave

As KOOK said, they will have the list of names at IG. Keep your confirmation # and/or Charge receipt (I keep email one in my phone) if you are worried.

 

[monami7]

5 more days!

 

[WDWKOOK]

5 more days!

Yippee! Will you be posting a TR or review of AKL CL? I'd love to read what you think of their CL.

Have a great vacation!

 

[Jessica527]

Hi Jessica 527,
Thank you for asking. I'm making a trip soon. I'll spend some time with our daughter--lucky duck she lives in Orlando. Then I will be back in Orlando in Oct. with DH at BWI.

We love that resort! We enjoy walking on the boardwalk around Crescent Lake, having a glass of wine at the Belle Vue Lounge, and being able to walk to Epcot to taste all the yummy food at Food and Wine.

Is this your first time at BWI, or have you stayed there before?

I'll bet the time flies by in the next week or so. How wonderful to get married and honeymoon at WDW!

Hope you get a chance to post your thoughts about BWI when you return! Cheers!

Yes this is our first time staying at BWI. This is actually the first time staying deluxe. The past 10 years I have been on a high school and college budget. So this is the first time to fully indulge!!

 

[AirGoofy]

I just used the online DVC website to book BWV at the 11 month mark. I was actually able to book it this AM, but forgot ? I was able to get Easter week 2013. I like my new BWV points. Does the Boardwalk have anything special for Easter?

 

[Jessica527]

I received a miss call today with no voicemail, so I looked up the number. It was the boardwalk calling me with no voice message?? I called back and the CM said everything looked normal. Anyone have a clue what it would be?

 

[stefani_]

Hi Stefani! We have stayed at both BWI and YC previously. We have not stayed at BC mostly because the theming has not appealed to us and it is a bit nosier than the other two options due to the Character breakfast and such.

So, having already stayed at the BWI and now choosing to go back is because I really love the feel of the resort. There are certainly pros and cons to each resort, but some of the reasons I love the BWI is:

* I love the BW area in the evening, it's so alive with fun and entertainment!

* I prefer the decor of the rooms and resort, in general, over the YC/BC

* Location - now, this won't help much in the way of comparing to YC/BC because they are obviously all in the same area


Now, the cons would be:

* Limited counter service options - there is a lounge to purchase continental breakfast type items in the morning, but there is not a marketplace type option.

* There seems to be a big issue with seagulls - I guess this goes along with the theming, however, one of those birds stole a piece of pizza right out of my daughters hands one year!

* Going with the above, we won't pay for the Water view upgrade again for this reason as well - the balcony was loaded with bird feces and not very useful. (Although staff was seen cleaning it regularly, just couldn't keep up I guess)


Honestly, in my opinion, the difference for a standard room between the three resorts comes down to what decor you prefer. They are all beautiful resorts.

Thanks a lot for your breakdown!!
Seagulls? You mean on the balconies, or just around the grounds of the resort?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks a lot for your breakdown!!
Seagulls? You mean on the balconies, or just around the grounds of the resort?

On the balconies. Some guests think it is a good idea to feed the wildlife on the property. Even though there are signs all over the place not to feed them. It just makes them very aggressive.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

I received a miss call today with no voicemail, so I looked up the number. It was the boardwalk calling me with no voice message?? I called back and the CM said everything looked normal. Anyone have a clue what it would be?

Could be about this new Fastpass system they are testing out. Calls are being made to guests arriving in May.

 

[Jessica527]

Could be about this new Fastpass system they are testing out. Calls are being made to guests arriving in May.

Interesting... I will keep everyone posted!

 

[monami7]

Yippee! Will you be posting a TR or review of AKL CL? I'd love to read what you think of their CL.

Have a great vacation!

Sorry no AKL this trip we had to change to BWI CL to add another person. I had just not been on a computer to change the ticker!

We are so excited to go CL at the inn. we have never stayed CL before!

 

[Princess Dolly]

I received a miss call today with no voicemail, so I looked up the number. It was the boardwalk calling me with no voice message?? I called back and the CM said everything looked normal. Anyone have a clue what it would be?

Same thing happened to me. I even started a thread on the board about it. I then figured it was about the new Fastpass system after reading some info on the Theme Parks Board. I feel slightly better knowing somone else had a missed call as well with no notation in the system. I was convinced that something was going to be terrible wrong when I check in on Thursday.

 

[Jessica527]

I received a miss call today with no voicemail, so I looked up the number. It was the boardwalk calling me with no voice message?? I called back and the CM said everything looked normal. Anyone have a clue what it would be?

Same thing happened to me. I even started a thread on the board about it. I then figured it was about the new Fastpass system after reading some info on the Theme Parks Board. I feel slightly better knowing somone else had a missed call as well with no notation in the system. I was convinced that something was going to be terrible wrong when I check in on Thursday.

So my curiosity overwhelmed me and I started a Disney chat with a CM online. They gave me a number to call that explained the following to me (not exact works):

You received a call letting you know that you may be picked to participate in the new FastPass program. Walt Disney World guests arriving at the Orlando airport and taking the magical express will be picked randomly to be in the program. This is only open to resort guests at this time. If you have any questions at that time, please feel free to ask.

And that was the end of it… I didn’t know what else to ask?

Any thoughts?

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I am so excited - we officially made our reservation for 2 nights in October at BWI for our 10th anniversary trip today through AAA. We haven't booked through AAA before, but I believe we will be saving about $120 - I know that's not much, but at least it is something! I can't wait for our first visit!

Thank you! I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to this

I definitely don't want to forget to add our anniversary to the res - I have a couple of questions about this, if anyone could answer them for me

Can I note the anniversary on the online check in? Can I still do online check in with a aaa res?

Would it be better to call before online check in to have it added? If so, can I call Disney directly to do this, or do I have to call aaa?

I am so unfamiliar with how booking through aaa works. I know you have to call them instead of Disney to make any changes, but I wasn't sure how to handle something like this. I appreciate any info you can give me

I have booked through AAA (and also not booked through AAA) so I can help you out a bit on your questions. First, make sure you know your reservation numbers and your Travel Agent's full name! You can call Disney about your reservation but they will ask you for the TA's name. Your TA should have asked you if you were celebrating anything special and had Disney add it to your reservation. If not, or if you just want to check, call Disney directly and have them add that celebration.

You can also pull up your reservation online. Use your disney login/password. Go to my reservations. Click on the add reservation and they will ask if it is resort or dining so choose resort. Then put in your information for the reservation (using YOUR name on the reservation, not the TA). It can take a few moments so be patient but it should pull up. Then it is linked to your login and will be there everytime you log in. You can use online check in as well. When you are ready (and it is within 10 days of arrival), go online and pull up that resort reservation and just click the online check in.

Now, I have used online check in for WL and Poly and neither of them allowed me to enter in a request although they did provide some pre-text requests like 'adjacent rooms' or something. They only had two request options in there. But I've heard others say that their resort had different request options and some allowed a free form text. I am not sure if that's true or what BW has as options. I would say either way, call in your requests to Disney as soon as you know them. Then if you check in online and you can't add your requests - and you don't see them noted - call Disney to make sure your requests are noted.

Hope that helps!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

So my curiosity overwhelmed me and I started a Disney chat with a CM online. They gave me a number to call that explained the following to me (not exact works):

You received a call letting you know that you may be picked to participate in the new FastPass program. Walt Disney World guests arriving at the Orlando airport and taking the magical express will be picked randomly to be in the program. This is only open to resort guests at this time. If you have any questions at that time, please feel free to ask.

And that was the end of it… I didn’t know what else to ask?

Any thoughts?

Fascinating! I am going to CBR in two weeks but didn't book ME because I am renting a car. Makes me think I should book ME! Well, whomever gets picked for it - please report back with details!

 

[Jessica527]

Fascinating! I am going to CBR in two weeks but didn't book ME because I am renting a car. Makes me think I should book ME! Well, whomever gets picked for it - please report back with details!

I will check in this Sunday after our arrival to MCO! I will do my best to keep everyone updated!

 

[sjs314]

We will be returning to BWI For our 2nd stay this November/ December

Can not wait to see the resort decked out for Christmas!

 

[WDWKOOK]

We will be returning to BWI For our 2nd stay this November/ December

Can not wait to see the resort decked out for Christmas!

YIPPEE! You'll have to take a look at the Christmas photos on the first page/last post