Boardwalk vs Beach Club

[Superman'sWife]

Hi -
I am new posting to this board, but have been a creeper for years. (sounds weird saying that out loud )

We just booked flights for this coming Spring. YAY! This will be our fifth WDW trip staying on property. We have always wanted to stay closer to EPCOT, and after researching, we dwindled it down to the Boardwalk and Beach Club. But! after talking to some experienced Disney friends, we are being told to stay away from the Boardwalk because it is so run down. I haven't seen it in person in years, walked though during a rainstorm in 2014. Which we didn't see much, but it looked fun, that is all I remember.

Can anyone, that has stayed at both, give me some insight on the pro/cons of what you liked/didn't like about those two places? I am leaning towards the Beach Club, but I want to make sure the whole family has a good time while we are hanging out there/swimming.

Any feedback is appreciated!

Superman's Wife

 

[100acreHiker]

I like both and have stayed at both. I would not describe Boardwalk as run down, but maybe my standards are lower than your friends'. Boardwalk has balconies for most rooms, Beach club only has a minority of rooms with full balconies. But BC has Stormalong Bay pool complex. It's also a bit closer to Epcot if you like to walk. You don't say if you have kids or what their ages are: BC is more kid-friendly, I suppose, but my kids liked BWI pool better because it was less crowded than BC's. BWI has more nightlife with clubs and bars; BC is pretty sleepy at night.

 

[Superman'sWife]

Thanks for all that! I will share this w my husband.
Yes, sorry I had deleted that part for some reason, we have two kids, under twelve, who are big into swimming. Love slides, large/deep pools. They would prob love the scene at the Beach Club but the nightlife side at the Boardwalk is prob more their speed than mine. I'm usually spent after a day closing out the parks, and willbe snooring by 10:30p!

 

[CrankyDad]

We did Beach Club (just wife and I for a short trip a few years back). Just booked this Jan a full week at Boardwalk.

We love EPCOT so the location is key. That said, we did research on both.

BC has what we think is a better pool and little closer to EPCOT.

BW has more action with the dining and “shows”. Since the adult kids are coming this time we felt they would enjoy the more busy vibe that BW offers.

But we did not see anything about BW being beat up or run down. We got quotes for both and they were pretty much same price. I would have been fine taking one or the other if one was sold out.

 

[100acreHiker]

If your kids are under twelve and big swimmers and love slides then BC is the better bet.

 

[Princess Mulan]

Hi -
I am new posting to this board, but have been a creeper for years. (sounds weird saying that out loud )

We just booked flights for this coming Spring. YAY! This will be our fifth WDW trip staying on property. We have always wanted to stay closer to EPCOT, and after researching, we dwindled it down to the Boardwalk and Beach Club. But! after talking to some experienced Disney friends, we are being told to stay away from the Boardwalk because it is so run down. I haven't seen it in person in years, walked though during a rainstorm in 2014. Which we didn't see much, but it looked fun, that is all I remember.

Can anyone, that has stayed at both, give me some insight on the pro/cons of what you liked/didn't like about those two places? I am leaning towards the Beach Club, but I want to make sure the whole family has a good time while we are hanging out there/swimming.

Any feedback is appreciated!

Superman's Wife

We stayed at Boardwalk this spring and had one of the best Disney vacations we've ever had. The room (standard view) was in great shape and clean, and our balcony had a beautiful view of Epcot. We've stayed at Beach Club and Yacht Club also. Stormalong Bay is fantastic, but it can be crowded. The Boardwalk pools (clown and quiet pools) are calmer, and it's easier to find chaise lounges. We like the entertainment (jugglers, magicians, etc.) along the Boardwalk at night, but you can access those from any of the Epcot resorts. We also love Ample Hills ice cream and the Boardwalk Bakery, but again you can access those from any of the resorts. Also, Flying Fish cannot be beat in terms of service and food: delicious!

We last stayed at Yacht Club in 2016, and it was seriously run down. Our room was disappointing. However, the rooms are being refurbished now, so you should be fine no matter which Epcot-area resort you choose.

 

[lady_hlh]

When my DD was still big on pools she fell in love with YC and SAB. She thought the lobby at BC was too loud and crowded when we stayed there, she preferred the more sedate YC vibe. I also love YC with all the rooms having balconies and now they have added a small food service to the gift shop for morning coffee and such which was always a slight drawback to YC. We mostly ate food from Hurricane Hannahs at the pool or went in to Epcot for food. We have never stayed at BW, no one in my family ever thought it looked that interesting.

 

[Tigger's ally]

When we had to make the same choice, it was just the wife and I and if you are looking for more peace and quiet and relaxation, then Boardwalk is the way to go. Yes, there is the nightlife below, but the quiet pool area out back by the honeymoon cottages is as quiet as it gets on Disney property! The loud pool is actually over on the DVC side.

 

[NH-to-FL]

DW and I made many trips to the BWI. We love the theming and enjoy the ambience of the Boardwalk. A nice balcony on every room. We haven't been there recently so I can't comment on the current state of the rooms. We always found it to be a quiet hotel. We've had rooms that looked over courtyards and over towards Epcot. One trip we got a room that looked out over the Quiet Pool.

You might hear mixed reports about the Clown Pool. We are not pool people so it didn't bother us. Once we splurged on a 1 BR on the Villa side and ended up with a room that looked right into the Clown's mouth. It was kind of fun to sit on the balcony during our mid day break and watch the Clown spit out kids.

That said, if the pool is important to you then the BC with SAB is probably the better choice. I don't think you can go wrong with and of the Epcot resorts.

Wishing you a magical visit!

 

[Superman'sWife]

When we had to make the same choice, it was just the wife and I and if you are looking for more peace and quiet and relaxation, then Boardwalk is the way to go. Yes, there is the nightlife below, but the quiet pool area out back by the honeymoon cottages is as quiet as it gets on Disney property! The loud pool is actually over on the DVC side.

Ok, that is a bummer, that is the side we will prob be on. We are looking to buy points.

 

[Superman'sWife]

DW and I made many trips to the BWI. We love the theming and enjoy the ambience of the Boardwalk. A nice balcony on every room. We haven't been there recently so I can't comment on the current state of the rooms. We always found it to be a quiet hotel. We've had rooms that looked over courtyards and over towards Epcot. One trip we got a room that looked out over the Quiet Pool.

You might hear mixed reports about the Clown Pool. We are not pool people so it didn't bother us. Once we splurged on a 1 BR on the Villa side and ended up with a room that looked right into the Clown's mouth. It was kind of fun to sit on the balcony during our mid day break and watch the Clown spit out kids.

That said, if the pool is important to you then the BC with SAB is probably the better choice. I don't think you can go wrong with and of the Epcot resorts.

Wishing you a magical visit!

Thank you! That does sound fun, the Clown slide.
We like to hang out at the pool for at least one afternoon of our vacations for the kids to have a day to unwind and not be totally overwhelmed with parks.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We stayed at the Beach Club for the first time last September and it is now my absolute favorite resort! We loved everything about it - the rooms were nice, the lobby smell, the pool is the best on property IMO, the restaurants, proximity to Epcot and DHS, the transportation was actually the best we've experienced in 24 trips to WDW. We do the parks in the morning and take a break in the afternoon and head back out to the parks at night, so each afternoon was spent at SAB and it was amazing!! We walked over to the Boardwalk a few times, that entire area is just gorgeous.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Ok, that is a bummer, that is the side we will prob be on. We are looking to buy points.

There are wings over there that are around a quiet pool as well. Lots of people request to be close to the main pool. We don't.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I have stayed at both and am a DVC member at BWV. If you have kids who would prefer to swim, then I would say the BC, but if you are more interested in a little less kids, the the BW would be a good option. Personally, I love the location of the BW because it is a 5-10 minute walk to Epcot and about a 15 minute to HS. Also, the BW does not share a bus to MK or AK.

 

[Superman'sWife]

I have stayed at both and am a DVC member at BWV. If you have kids who would prefer to swim, then I would say the BC, but if you are more interested in a little less kids, the the BW would be a good option. Personally, I love the location of the BW because it is a 5-10 minute walk to Epcot and about a 15 minute to HS. Also, the BW does not share a bus to MK or AK.

Oh I didn't know that, about the buses to those parks from there. That was our biggest complaint the very first family trip back in 2012. We stayed at the POFQ and the stops were just horrendous with the Riverside and points forward. That is a huge bonus about the BW. TY for mentioning that!

 

[Tigger's ally]

Oh I didn't know that, about the buses to those parks from there. That was our biggest complaint the very first family trip back in 2012. We stayed at the POFQ and the stops were just horrendous with the Riverside and points forward. That is a huge bonus about the BW. TY for mentioning that!

We shared at BW too, every bus that left went to the Swalphin then carried on. But, we were there on a slow time.

 

[raddisneyfan]

Vote Boardwalk--intimate lobby and closer to HS--a tiny bit further to International Gateway--of course, depends where your room would be at BC. If all you want is pool time, then BC definitely has better pool, but I prefer quiet pool at BW. Good luck deciding!

 

[disneygolfer1985]

We shared at BW too, every bus that left went to the Swalphin then carried on. But, we were there on a slow time.

When did you stay at the BW? I believe they started the dedicated BW bus for MK and AK late 2015. We also always go over thanksgiving or Christmas.

 

[Tigger's ally]

When did you stay at the BW? I believe they started the dedicated BW bus for MK and AK late 2015. We also always go over thanksgiving or Christmas.

early October 2015

 

[partigus]

both are great- have stayed a half dozen weeks at the Yacht and beach club and did a week in the Boardwalk Club level a few years ago.

overall I prefer the Yacht club the most. I like the Yacht and Beach club over the BW. Why? Better pool and the view at night of the BW across the lake is fantastic!

I like the YC over the BC for 3 reasons- closer to 24 hour food/beverage at the Dolphin, enjoy the lobby style more- and alsoth BC lobby "smells of" the seafood buffet at all hours!

can't miss with any of them though- prefer them all to the GF/ Poly/ Cont/