Boardwalk Review from MK resort fan

[justme0729]

I am currently laying in bed in a one bedroom villa pool view at the Boardwalk. We are only staying this one night. We have always stayed at MK resorts (Poly, GF, Wilderness) so I thought I would write a short post on some of our thoughts.

Pros:
-Really beautiful rooms- love the decor, layout, and new furnishings
-First stop on boat coming home from Epcot and last stop going to Epcot so always a direct ride to/ from Epcot in less than 4 minutes

Cons:
-Really long hallways... I think our room was the farthest possible room and we had to walk through at least 4 very long hallways to get to our room. We were so tired from traveling/ parks that this really was a downer and I'm used to walking miles per day. It was a hike after a long day
-Quiet (we like people watching, entertainment, or feeling like we are in the middle of the magic)
-Didn't really feel the "magic" like I would from seeing the castle from the room or the grounds at MK. Seemed a little generic in theming
-No door on the spa bath part of the bathroom in the master

Conclusion:
It's a nice resort but I think it's only worth it if you get a Boardwalk view AND want to go to the world showcase a lot. I think the Poly is better for future world because entering through the international gateway adds quite a bit of walking. We felt somewhat isolated with the quiet and lack of views of the park/ shows. I could see this being a good resort for us later when we have a baby and want to be able to just stroll and shop around the world showcase at night with a baby in the stroller if we can't go on rides. But... if the goal is to ride rides I think another resort is actually more convenient to future world if you want to minimize walking.

 

[writerguyfl]

Cons:
-Quiet (we like people watching, entertainment, or feeling like we are in the middle of the magic)

This is an interesting comment. I'd definitively list "quiet" as a major pro. It just goes to show that different people value different things.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

To each his own. BWI/BWV is our favorite resort and we prefer the standard views so we aren't overlooking the Boardwalk. We like the quiet. EP is my favorite park, so I like to be within walking distance. I actually need a sensory break after a day in MK, so BWI/BWV is perfect for us.

 

[goofy4tink]

The 'long hallways' comments always get me! I stayed at the Polynesian a few weeks ago, in a studio in Moorea. The walk from the buses/monorail platform was pretty much the same as the walk to my BW studio from the bus stop. Granted, there is more to look at when at the Polynesian, but steps are steps. And yes, it is quiet...a huge plus for me. I'm always trying to book a standard view just to keep things quiet. I do like a boardwalk view on occasion but it's not an every stay thing for me.
Getting to Futureworld, from BW, is a bit of a hike. But, all things considered? Not much different than arriving via the monorail. You have to walk to get the monorail...either at the Polynesian or walk over to the TTC and get it there, then ride to Epcot, walk down and around that never ending platform. If might just be me, but the walk from the IG isn't that big a deal.
It's always interesting to see how different people view the exact same things...just goes to show that at Disney, no one thing fits all needs! Thanks for your thoughts...very interesting.

 

[Aurora0427]

Are there any restaurants on site at the resort? We've always hesitated booking here, because it looks like your only option is the bakery.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Are there any restaurants on site at the resort? We've always hesitated booking here, because it looks like your only option is the bakery.

In addition to the bakery, the pizza window and other food kiosks, the TS restaurants include Flying Fish, Trattoria al Forno, Big River Grille and ESPN. Within walking distance, you also have every TS restaurant at BC/YC (Cape May, Beaches and Cream and Yachtsman), every restaurant at Swan/Dolphin (bluezoo, Garden Grove, Fresh, Il Mulino, Shula's, Kimono's) and every restaurant in EP WS. A little longer walk (or boat ride) and you have every restaurant in DHS. This is one of the reasons we stay there almost every trip!

 

[Epcot82Guy]

A second to DisneyWishes14. Being part of the Epcot Resort Area is a huge perk for me. (But, noting I agree with just about all of the original poster's statements. As many have shown, it's whether you view them all as a positive or negative). It does depend on what you prefer food-wise. The bakery is the closest they have to the "food court" type places Poly, GF and Wilderness Lodge have. But, the access to so much (with a bit of walking, and assuming World Showcase is open and you have a valid ticket) more than makes up for that to me.

There's also the DVC cost factor in that Boardwalk is typically more available and for fewer points than the others.

Bottom line - if you're struggling to decide if you should stay at BWV or one of the MK DVC resort areas, I envy your life.

 

[TJA]

I could see this being a good resort for us later when we have a baby and want to be able to just stroll and shop around the world showcase at night with a baby in the stroller if we can't go on rides.

YES - this is very true! The Epcot resorts used to be our favorite and it was very hard for us to stay elsewhere when our kids were babies. Particularly the Beach Club. It was soooo relaxing -- just put the babies in the stroller (we had twin babies), recline the seats, canopies up, and off we'd go! It was something to look forward to every night. We'd walk into World Showcase and have some drinks and snacks as we'd stroll around. I'm dating myself, but those Beaver Tails in Canada were our first go-to! Sometimes we'd eat a later dinner and sit at the outside tables in Italy cause we could have our stroller right next to our table.

Depending on the age of your baby, of course, mine loved the BC pool because of the sandy-bottom and mounds of sand all around. I can't remember the exact age that they outgrew that pool, but it was a very sad, sad day for me when that happened! So many great memories.

Fast forward 7 years and we are now MK resort lovers, like you OP. It's funny how that happens -- I think it all depends on your family make-up at the time. We used to love quiet views, or not even care about the views to be honest. But now an exciting view is right at the top of our requests. As far as room location at BWI, we felt like we were in a maze that we could not quite figure out. It became a joke with another family that we'd see in the halls quite often as to which one of our families were lost! My DH got it all figured out within a couple of days, but it was still kind of crazy to me!

 

[loves to dive]

Interesting how everyone sees things differently. We were at WDW last week and toured all the deluxe resorts to see the decorations. We are fans of the Epcot resorts and stay there every trip (we were at Dolphin this trip). We walked to the Poly from TTC and I was joking about the long hike to the main lobby and saying how everyone complains about the walks at the moderates and it was just as long if not longer. I agree about the hallways at BW, always reminds me of REDRUM, but they are just about the same at BC or YC just depends on where your room is located. I would imagine if you had a room in one of the outbuildings at GF the walk would be just as long. I'm actually getting ready to book for my son's spring break in March and we will end up doing a split stay between Dolphin and WL just because I have a thing against being forced to use the monorail to get to Epcot unless you hop over to MK and get a bus. We are the opposite, when my son was little the MK resorts made more sense but as he got older, the Epcot resorts became our go to for just the reasons you mentioned, we prefer the quiet and less in your face theming.

 

[RAD]

The 'long hallways' comments always get me!

Same here. We stayed at BLT earlier this month and while it's not in a hallway it's a long walk to the bus stop and an even longer walk to get to the monorail station in CT. I've also stayed at BCV and it's a long walk from the boats back to your room, going through the BC lobby, then outside and then back inside to get to your room.

 

[TJA]

We are the opposite, when my son was little the MK resorts made more sense but as he got older, the Epcot resorts became our go to for just the reasons you mentioned, we prefer the quiet and less in your face theming.

That does makes total sense! I think the reason we're reverse logic is because when my girls were babies/toddlers, they were happy anywhere. So staying at BC was a real treat because DH and I had the World Showcase to stroll around every night, then just an easy walk back to BC. I can't describe how relaxing all of our trips were when our girls were babies/toddlers, and I think staying at the BC had a big role in that. We liked the quiet and getting-away-from-it-all feeling. However, as my kids got older and became aware of everything, MK suddenly became our favorite park. Thus, the MK resorts turned into our new favorites.

 

[addiln]

We are more of a MK resort people ourselves but stayed at BWV this past August. I really enjoyed the resort and the walk to EPCOT and HS. I think over all we are still more of a fan of BLT but this was a nice change. My biggest issue was that I think both the pool and hot tub need a little attention. The jets in the hot tub were not anything special and not enough of them. Also the pool was ok at best. We did love having Jelly Rolls right there and the that will be enough to have us go back there for an adults only trip again.

 

[willmccready]

There's also the DVC cost factor in that Boardwalk is typically more available and for fewer points than the others.

We're renting DVC points this year and ended up choosing the Poly, but were VERY close to Boardwalk because it's a relative bargain for a studio that can hold 5.

Great perspectives in this thread for future trips.

 

[xlsm]

We just got back from our first visit to the Boardwalk. We're Wilderness Lodge people.

I didn't actually believe anyone who said the hallways were long. Holy cow!! I tracked it, and we were .17 miles from the elevator, LOL! We had a Boardwalk view, but were waayy down by ESPN club. Like, only one room away. It was SO LOUD at night, and the day my 13 year old was sick and napping after a visit to urgent care, it was during trivia time and we could hear everything. We also had terrible luck with housekeeping, and our tub wouldn't drain so we had to have a visit from maintenance. It was the resort I was really looking forward to staying at, so I'm glad we did it once, but I don't think we'd stay there again. Definitely not in a Boardwalk view room. It is such a beautiful resort though, and the Boardwalk area is fun. There's just not much convenient about things within the resort itself, which was a bummer.

We considered switching resorts several times, but I wanted to give it a fair shot.

Overall, by the end of the trip, we enjoyed the resort, but not enough to book it again. If we stayed in the area again, it would probably be at Yacht Club. We really enjoyed our visit to yacht/beach to do a character meet and dinner at the Yachtsman. And now my kids are obsessed with being able to use Stormalong Bay.

 

[justme0729]

I was joking about the long hike to the main lobby and saying how everyone complains about the walks at the moderates and it was just as long if not longer. I agree about the hallways at BW, always reminds me of REDRUM, but they are just about the same at BC or YC just depends on where your room is located. .

I haven't stayed at the YC or BC but I think it just seems so long at BW because you think you're "home" and your walking in hallways with nothing to look at

 

[JJsmama]

I agree about the long hallways in the epcot resorts. One year at BC, we walked and walked and turned corner after corner to get to our rooms, so if BWI is like that, I get it.

We are also deciding between epcot and monorail resorts, so I appreciate your review. i love the monorail resorts-- well CR and Poly. I did not like GF. LOVE walking from CR to MK and the ease of poly to TTC is wonderful (although this perk has been decreasing lately with the shortening of Monorail hours.) But then I remember walking home from epcot to BC after dinner and that was great too. We have ressies at YC for June because my ds18 requested it, but in my planning have realized that entering through IG may be a Con instead of a Pro for RD and I am rethinking staying there. Especially since i do rmember that breakfast and lunch were a real pain if we were at the resort during those times.

Yes, i realize there are First World Problems.

 

[Aurora0427]

It does depend on what you prefer food-wise. The bakery is the closest they have to the "food court" type places Poly, GF and Wilderness Lodge have. But, the access to so much (with a bit of walking, and assuming World Showcase is open and you have a valid ticket) more than makes up for that to me.

It was never a big deal until we had kids. We'd always do the World Showcase restaurants, YS, etc... when we stayed at the Beach Club. But, it's nice to have a proper QS restaurant like Captain Cooks or Gasparilla Grill incase the toddler can't handle another restaurant.

 

[toodycat]

I enjoyed our stay at BWV. I liked the quiet and the pool area. We also enjoyed the buskers on the Boardwalk at night. However, I am not sure that we would return just because if we were to stay at Epcot resort again, it would likely be the BC because of the quicker walk to Epcot and the onsite restaurants.

 

[hakepb]

Are there any restaurants on site at the resort? We've always hesitated booking here, because it looks like your only option is the bakery.

QS dining using the DDP is limited at the Boardwalk compared to most other resorts. (Especially if you expect Mickey waffles and chicken strips)

It's a decent QS selection if you are paying cash and include the non-Disney owned stands on the Boardwalk.

And it's great if you have park hoppers and use World Showcase as the best food court at WDW.

 

[Jennasis]

BWV is our least favorite resort. The staff was less than magical. The scary-clown pool...yikes. We did like the location, near Epcot, but getting to our car??? Holy moses!

BLT is our favorite. The location is so convenient. The staff is amazing. The decor is right up our alley. It's peaceful and serene and still right in the middle of all the action.