Boardwalk/Boardwalk Villas: please tell me the pros and cons

[Fall1]

We are thinking of trying BWV or Boardwalk next trip but I really don't know much about it. Can anyone that's stayed there please share the pros and cons!
We've stayed at the BC and LOVE it, but the BW always looks so pretty across the way. Thanks!

 

[msp2mco]

We love BWI/BWV and we also love BC/BCV. We've stayed at both and probably prefer BW. I love having a view of the Boardwalk and being so close to the restaurants and activities out there. The lobby is beautiful, I love the bar, and I love sitting out on the porch. The hallways are long, and you may have to park quite far away compared to BC. Also, the pool isn't nearly as exciting for my kids as Stormalong Bay.

 

[blackacex2]

The boardwalk is the pinnacle of what Disney has to offer. The rooms are gorgeous with tons of attention to detail. The views of crescent lake and of the gardens are fantastic. The quiet pools are peaceful and relaxing. The location gives you access to one of the best restaurants on property (flying fish) the best bakery in disney world and some of the most reasonably priced counter service options anywhere. You also get all the entertainment and shopping that is at the boardwalk. The theme is fantastically executed, very refined and elegant while still being fun. You will have a great view of illuminations every night from the boardwalk. You are a short distance from the swan and dolphin restaurants and spa. I could go on forever!

 

[cmwade77]

I would also like to know the pros and cons for this location.

 

[Sammie]

Cons: if you are driving, this is the worst parking lot at a Disney resort in my opinion. It is always crowded due to non resort guests shopping and dining.

Long hallways, no counter service restaurant with indoor seating.

Hectic, circus type atmosphere.

I am sure the others will give you plenty of pros, which to us the only one is location. If staying in this area the BC and YC to me personally are a better choice.

 

[lbv7]

Everone has their own opinion, and if some people can only say negatives about the BW, it is amazes me that the hotel is still open and manages to run to almost full capacity most of the time.

The worst parking lot of any Disney hotel, I belive, is the Grand Floridian. Imagine having a very small self parking lot miles from the lobby, and you need to cross a street with traffic lights to get on to GF property. Yes they have valet parking, but not everyone wants to pay $15 a day.

The BW lobby is probably the quietest of any of the deluxe hotels, and is in no way hectic with a circus type atmosphere. If you want a hectic lobby, nothing beats the BC, GF, or Poly, which attracts throngs and throngs of visitors. If you want a hectic zoo like crowded pool, stay at the Beach Club.
Long hallways, sure they might be considered long by some, but the hallways at AKL and BC are also long. Also, I would much rather walk in the Boardwalk hallways then walk outside at the Poly (try staying in the Tahiti or Rapanui buildings and walking outside in the rain to the lobby) or at the GF if your building is far from the lobby.

 

[hygienejean]

Everone has their own opinion, and if some people can only say negatives about the BW, it is amazes me that the hotel is still open and manages to run to almost full capacity most of the time.

The worst parking lot of any Disney hotel, I belive, is the Grand Floridian. Imagine having a very small self parking lot miles from the lobby, and you need to cross a street with traffic lights to get on to GF property. Yes they have valet parking, but not everyone wants to pay $15 a day.

The BW lobby is probably the quietest of any of the deluxe hotels, and is in no way hectic with a circus type atmosphere. If you want a hectic lobby, nothing beats the BC, GF, or Poly, which attracts throngs and throngs of visitors. If you want a hectic zoo like crowded pool, stay at the Beach Club.
Long hallways, sure they might be considered long by some, but the hallways at AKL and BC are also long. Also, I would much rather walk in the Boardwalk hallways then walk outside at the Poly (try staying in the Tahiti or Rapanui buildings and walking outside in the rain to the lobby) or at the GF if your building is far from the lobby.

well said!
We just left BWV on Monday. We used SAB for one day(as Luna Park pool in refurb) but found ourselves using the quiet pool at community hall and loving it .

 

[Deb & Bill]

...The BW lobby is probably the quietest of any of the deluxe hotels, and is in no way hectic with a circus type atmosphere. If you want a hectic lobby, nothing beats the BC, GF, or Poly, which attracts throngs and throngs of visitors. If you want a hectic zoo like crowded pool, stay at the Beach Club.....

Circus elephant and great big clown at the pool. Circus atmosphere at Luna Park. Carousel in the lobby. Circus atmosphere. Carnival barkers on the boardwalk. Circus atmosphere.

The theming is a circus.

But we aren't fans of the Boardwalk because of the busy-ness of it. We prefer the quieter resorts/villas. We like to come back to our villa after visiting the parks and having a nice quiet place to relax. We don't find that at the BW. But others love it.

You are very close to dining at Epcot which is a plus to me.

 

[davedmaine]

We are thinking of trying BWV or Boardwalk next trip but I really don't know much about it. Can anyone that's stayed there please share the pros and cons!
We've stayed at the BC and LOVE it, but the BW always looks so pretty across the way. Thanks!

I prefer BW and my wife prefers BC. You really can't go wrong with either. We stay at both regularly.. If you have kids, they'll probably prefer the evening activities at BW (carnival games, magicians, etc)..

 

[lbv7]

Circus elephant and great big clown at the pool. Circus atmosphere at Luna Park. Carousel in the lobby. Circus atmosphere. Carnival barkers on the boardwalk. Circus atmosphere.

The theming is a circus.

But we aren't fans of the Boardwalk because of the busy-ness of it. We prefer the quieter resorts/villas. We like to come back to our villa after visiting the parks and having a nice quiet place to relax. We don't find that at the BW. But others love it.

You are very close to dining at Epcot which is a plus to me.

Yes I realize that the BW has a circus theme. The poster meant a circus like atmosphere in a derogatory way - as to hectic, busy, chaotic, etc.
I still stand by my original comment - the BW lobby is by far quieter and more relaxed the the Poly, BC. WL, GF or the Contemporary.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Yes I realize that the BW has a circus theme. The poster meant a circus like atmosphere in a derogatory way - as to hectic, busy, chaotic, etc.
I still stand by my original comment - the BW lobby is by far quieter and more relaxed the the Poly, BC. WL, GF or the Contemporary.

Agreed. The BW lobby area doesn't have any dining connected directly to the lobby. It's really rather small compared to the Polynesian, GF, WL, CR, BC, YC. It's basically just a check in area with a small seating area and a very small store connected to the lobby.

 

[Sammie]

Yes I realize that the BW has a circus theme. The poster meant a circus like atmosphere in a derogatory way - as to hectic, busy, chaotic, etc.
I still stand by my original comment - the BW lobby is by far quieter and more relaxed the the Poly, BC. WL, GF or the Contemporary.

Was not commenting on the lobby alone, the entire resort atmosphere is circus/carnival. It is a busy theme, some like that, we don't. Actually we have had to park in the over flow at the BW before, which actually is much further than the Grand Floridian lot.

As to it staying full, that is because some do like it and as I said, I was sure there would be plenty of people to list the Pros of staying there, I listed the cons, which the OP did ask for.

 

[ksu93]

Wow, I'm a DVC member and stay at BWV 2-3 times a year and it seems that a resort I've never witnessed is being described here. We love the BW because it makes us feel like we stepped off the bus into another time and place. Not a chaotic carnival or a crazy side show, but a place where time seems to stand still. You walk into the lobby and tunes from the 30's and 40's quietly pull you in. There's big overstuffed chairs to park your kids in while you check in. The bell man has balloons. The bathroom has real cloth hand towels. The same porter that assisted with our luggage ten years ago assists today. We put away our car keys because there's no where now we can't walk to-it's all in our neighborhood.Some people may do a drive by and see a circus at the BW but when we arrive there we're "home".

 

[ThumpersWorld]

We love the BWVs. We also own at the BCV and will agree that the pool at the BCVs is far better. Nothing in WDW can beat that pool. But I have to disagree about the long hallways. Yes, you have to walk. But if you are going to go to WDW, you walk all day. If you don't want to walk, then you shouldn't be going. My point being is that it's one of the nicest resorts at WDW and this shouldn't be deemed a con IMO.

 

[roydavid7771]

We've stayed at both BW and BC, and enjoyed both immensely. The deal breaker for me? The buses. We had to share the bus with he Swan/Dolphin after evenings in the parks, which led to long rides home since we were usually the last stop. Every time we've stayed at BC, we only had to share with the YC, which made for far more comfortable rides home.

Both resorts rock thoug, and we spend quite a bit of time at the Boardwalk each night after hanging out in the parks!

 

[DebbieB]

I own DVC at BWV, stayed there many times. Never thought of it as as "circus atmosphere". I think of it as a "by the shore" atmosphere. The hotel itself never seems busy, the boardwalk does get crowded at night but I've never had a problem with it. The festive atmosphere in the evening is actually what attracted me to it and continues to.

 

[fcole12369]

My family didn't like BW because it lacked the food court and we had the quick service dining plan which couldn't be used there except for a snack. We had to go back to the parks just to eat dinner. The resort itself is nice otherwise. Some rooms are an incredibly long walk from the front desk area.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

The boardwalk decor is a bit more busy or loud. the Beach Club decor is more sedate. However, there are more people running around the lobby at the Beach Club.

I love everything about the Boardwalk. I love walking around Crescent Lake. I love the porch overlooking Crescent Lake near the lobby. I love the lobby. Its very whimsical.

I agree about parking. Grand Floridian self parking is MUCH worse.

 

[Fall1]

OP here, we have stayed at the BC (and LOVE it), but never BW. Do you find it loud when you are in the room, due to the activities going on on the Boardwalk outside? Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I love everything about the Boardwalk. I love walking around Crescent Lake. I love the porch overlooking Crescent Lake near the lobby. I love the lobby. Its very whimsical...

How about those chairs, though? Do you know the ones I am talking about?