Boardwalk Area from Epcot

[eileenwarren]

This is our first trip to Disney. 12 year old niece and myself. We want to attend CLP on 11/26. Not sure which show. Maybe you all could help me decide. We also want to have time to walk to the Boardwalk area to the different resorts and see the Christmas decorations at night. I know each person is different but how long do you thing it would take to walk to the Boardwalk area from Epcot and view the different resorts. Really don't want to explore the resorts. Just want to take a nice stroll and view the decorations and be back in time Illuminations. Thanks

 

[LindySpirit]

It’s about a 10 minute walk (you can also take the Friendship boat). Each resort lobby would probably take ten minutes, and then ten minutes back. I would budget an hour to be safe.

 

[lovethattink]

If you know your way around the resorts, walk at a fast clip and know where there lobbies are, you can probably cover the area in an hour if you're only checking out the displays briefly and moving along.

I've spent hours already taking pictures and joining in the festivities. We use to take an annual Christmas picture of our boys at the Yacht Club's lobby tree.

 

[eileenwarren]

It’s about a 10 minute walk (you can also take the Friendship boat). Each resort lobby would probably take ten minutes, and then ten minutes back. I would budget an hour to be safe.

I was wondering if it would be possible to do this at a more leisurely pace after Illuminations. What would be the best way to get back to our resort if we chose to go tour Boardwalk area after Illuminations. I don't think the bus goes from resort to resort.

 

[heazer]

I would say you would catch a bus to Disney Springs from the Boardwalk resort you end with, and at Disney Springs you would then grab a bus to your home resort.

Alternatively, Uber/Lyft/Taxi/Minnie Van.

 

[MHSweb79]

I second the Uber/ taxi route. Going via Disney Springs could eat up hours, while a cab will get you there in 10 minutes..

 

[disneynutz]

I would plan on two hours and if you get done early, no big deal. That way you can take a slow relaxing walk, check out BCV, BC, Storm-a-long Bay pool, YC, walk over to BWI, along the boardwalk and back to Epcot. If you have extra time, you can walk to the Dolphin resort after the YC to see their decorations, then on to BWI.

Bill

 

[Mome Rath]

Just as an aside, don't forget that CLP takes up more time than just the show, as you'll have to line up for it pretty early. If you choose the late show, then you'll just have time to exit from CLP and find a spot before Illuminations starts. Will you be doing a dining package for CLP? Also, I don't know how long you are there for, or which parks you are going to, but have you thought about tacking on the Boardwalk area hotels to a Hollywood Studios evening instead of an EPCOT evening?

 

[eileenwarren]

Just as an aside, don't forget that CLP takes up more time than just the show, as you'll have to line up for it pretty early. If you choose the late show, then you'll just have time to exit from CLP and find a spot before Illuminations starts. Will you be doing a dining package for CLP? Also, I don't know how long you are there for, or which parks you are going to, but have you thought about tacking on the Boardwalk area hotels to a Hollywood Studios evening instead of an EPCOT evening?

We are there for 4 nights and 5 days. We are doing the CLP dining package. How far ahead of time do you suggest to line up before the show with a popular/not so popular narrator? If I choose the 815 show is it really that hard to get a good spot for Illuminations? I have thought about doing Boardwalk on another night. I kind of want to visit all the resorts that might be decorated for Christmas. Hopefully we will have time. My niece and I are not into many rides, just a few.

 

[Mome Rath]

We are there for 4 nights and 5 days. We are doing the CLP dining package. How far ahead of time do you suggest to line up before the show with a popular/not so popular narrator? If I choose the 815 show is it really that hard to get a good spot for Illuminations? I have thought about doing Boardwalk on another night. I kind of want to visit all the resorts that might be decorated for Christmas. Hopefully we will have time. My niece and I are not into many rides, just a few.

I felt that I had a good spot after the 8:15 showing, and it's the holiday finale to illuminations at that time of year that is so cool, and it's easily visible from almost anywhere around WS. I enjoyed going to the 8:15 to make sure it was really dark for the CLP. I had a really popular narrator (and did the dining package as well) and I got in line over an hour early because I witnessed how long the line was for the previous show! So, that can be a good indication if you want to check it out. I do think the line varies based on popularity.

I think you'll have time; hit the monorail loop of hotels one day, and the Boardwalk another. They are worth it to see! The Boardwalk area can be tackled from either park (EPCOT or HS) so you have some flexibility for sure.

 

[Robo]

There will be a half-hour of time between the end of the 8:15 CP and the start of IllumiNations.

 

[eileenwarren]

I felt that I had a good spot after the 8:15 showing, and it's the holiday finale to illuminations at that time of year that is so cool, and it's easily visible from almost anywhere around WS. I enjoyed going to the 8:15 to make sure it was really dark for the CLP. I had a really popular narrator (and did the dining package as well) and I got in line over an hour early because I witnessed how long the line was for the previous show! So, that can be a good indication if you want to check it out. I do think the line varies based on popularity.

I think you'll have time; hit the monorail loop of hotels one day, and the Boardwalk another. They are worth it to see! The Boardwalk area can be tackled from either park (EPCOT or HS) so you have some flexibility for sure.

Thanks so much. I never knew it would be so much planning.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I love The decorations at BW, but try to catch the MK deluxes as well, especially GF and WL, they’re the best IMO. It’s also fun to see all the decorated campsites at Fort Wilderness.

 

[DieHardJoe]

As you had mentioned, everyone is different, so I'll chime in with how we did the seasonal attractions last November. It was our non-park day and we had a great time and literally made a day of it. We had a car and drove to DS (you could of course take a bus as well) before it opened and grabbed a great (and affordable!!) breakfast at Earl of Sandwich and just relaxed before everything else opened at 10. After 10 we strolled around DS and then hopped a bus to the Contemporary and resort-hopped from there to Poly to GF to see all the Xmas decorations, etc, then took a bus back to DS. Around that time we had lunch at DS. We then hopped a bus to the Yacht or Beach Club and took our time walking around the Boardwalk and checking out the resorts over there. Eventually we made our way by bus back to DS. We had a dinner reservation at Homecoming and we then walked over to the Xmas tree trail. It was very good last year (much better than the year before!!) and I beleive they have added even more trees. We got some really great pictures over there. We ended the day with ice cream at Ghiradelli's before heading back to our resort.

I realize this is way more than you'll be able to do and still work in CLP and Illuminations. But I figured I would give you a few more things to think about as you plan your trip. As someone mentioned, they take their time, take pictures and join in some of the activities. I know we once must have spent an hour trying to find all the hidden Mickeys on the Carousel at BW. And if I remember there were also hidden Mickeys on the tree at the Comtemporary last year. And the GF is just amazing, with the gingerbread house. And just reading the ingredients that go into making these amazing structures takes time!!

So while it is impossible to accurately budget how much time you may need, my one suggestion is to allow more time than you think. It can really be a lot of fun.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Enjoy the show, grab a spot to view illuminations (good viewing spots all around the lagoon, no need to camp). After illuminations head out the international gateway. Luesurely stroll to BC, then YC, past Swan/Dolphin, then to Boardwalk. See the decorations, grab a drink at the Bellevue Lounge (even the virgin coladas are first rate), launch some lobsters, take in the BW scene at night, grab a late nite snack, Uber back to wherever for $10.

That’s my perfect evening....

 

[eileenwarren]

As you had mentioned, everyone is different, so I'll chime in with how we did the seasonal attractions last November. It was our non-park day and we had a great time and literally made a day of it. We had a car and drove to DS (you could of course take a bus as well) before it opened and grabbed a great (and affordable!!) breakfast at Earl of Sandwich and just relaxed before everything else opened at 10. After 10 we strolled around DS and then hopped a bus to the Contemporary and resort-hopped from there to Poly to GF to see all the Xmas decorations, etc, then took a bus back to DS. Around that time we had lunch at DS. We then hopped a bus to the Yacht or Beach Club and took our time walking around the Boardwalk and checking out the resorts over there. Eventually we made our way by bus back to DS. We had a dinner reservation at Homecoming and we then walked over to the Xmas tree trail. It was very good last year (much better than the year before!!) and I beleive they have added even more trees. We got some really great pictures over there. We ended the day with ice cream at Ghiradelli's before heading back to our resort.

I realize this is way more than you'll be able to do and still work in CLP and Illuminations. But I figured I would give you a few more things to think about as you plan your trip. As someone mentioned, they take their time, take pictures and join in some of the activities. I know we once must have spent an hour trying to find all the hidden Mickeys on the Carousel at BW. And if I remember there were also hidden Mickeys on the tree at the Comtemporary last year. And the GF is just amazing, with the gingerbread house. And just reading the ingredients that go into making these amazing structures takes time!!

So while it is impossible to accurately budget how much time you may need, my one suggestion is to allow more time than you think. It can really be a lot of fun.

Thanks for all the ideas. It certainly helps hearing what and how other people do Disney!

 

[eileenwarren]

Enjoy the show, grab a spot to view illuminations (good viewing spots all around the lagoon, no need to camp). After illuminations head out the international gateway. Luesurely stroll to BC, then YC, past Swan/Dolphin, then to Boardwalk. See the decorations, grab a drink at the Bellevue Lounge (even the virgin coladas are first rate), launch some lobsters, take in the BW scene at night, grab a late nite snack, Uber back to wherever for $10.

That’s my perfect evening....

Sounds like fun and my niece will love the Virgin drinks!

 

[eileenwarren]

I felt that I had a good spot after the 8:15 showing, and it's the holiday finale to illuminations at that time of year that is so cool, and it's easily visible from almost anywhere around WS. I enjoyed going to the 8:15 to make sure it was really dark for the CLP. I had a really popular narrator (and did the dining package as well) and I got in line over an hour early because I witnessed how long the line was for the previous show! So, that can be a good indication if you want to check it out. I do think the line varies based on popularity.

I think you'll have time; hit the monorail loop of hotels one day, and the Boardwalk another. They are worth it to see! The Boardwalk area can be tackled from either park (EPCOT or HS) so you have some flexibility for sure.

Thanks for the info!