CBR or Boardwalk?

[CanadianKrista]

So I had Caribbean Beach book for our trip this summer in August. I'd done a lot of research into it, made sure we had a 5th sleeper so we had 3 sleeping surfaces so my kids each get a place to sleep, checking out the skyliner, etc. Then today the Disney+ subscriber sale comes along. For $600 more for 7 nights, I have us in a a standard Boardwalk room. It should have a daybed right, so we still have that extra sleeping surface? And we'd get the extended evening hours if they are still happening in August. I never really looked into Boardwalk at all when I was looking at resorts - I had looked at Beach club for the pool, but Boardwalk was under my radar. I know it's walking distance to HS an EP, anything else I should know? I have both reservations right now, so I need to decide which one I'm going to cancel. I saw the clown pool is no longer a clown, so I think my kids (DS 14 DD 11) will love that slide/pool.

 

[Marionnette]

So I had Caribbean Beach book for our trip this summer in August. I'd done a lot of research into it, made sure we had a 5th sleeper so we had 3 sleeping surfaces so my kids each get a place to sleep, checking out the skyliner, etc. Then today the Disney+ subscriber sale comes along. For $600 more for 7 nights, I have us in a a standard Boardwalk room. It should have a daybed right, so we still have that extra sleeping surface? And we'd get the extended evening hours if they are still happening in August. I never really looked into Boardwalk at all when I was looking at resorts - I had looked at Beach club for the pool, but Boardwalk was under my radar. I know it's walking distance to HS an EP, anything else I should know? I have both reservations right now, so I need to decide which one I'm going to cancel. I saw the clown pool is no longer a clown, so I think my kids (DS 14 DD 11) will love that slide/pool.

Not all rooms have a daybed. They are assigned to parties of 5 guests first. Since they are not a booking category, you will not be guaranteed a room with 3 sleeping surfaces, although you can request one and hope that you get one.

 

[3.14nTrader]

We are trying to decide between Beach Club and Boardwalk as well. We are leaning Boardwalk, but both seem to be difficult to rent dvc points for right now. Still trying!

 

[Nabas]

We are trying to decide between Beach Club and Boardwalk as well. We are leaning Boardwalk, but both seem to be difficult to rent dvc points for right now. Still trying!

Both are always difficult to get points at. We have points at BWV and when we offered some extra for rent, they were sold within an hour.

BCV is most famous for its pool, called Stormalong Bay. Some DVC members swear by it. We dislike the pool. It's difficult to get around (all the bridges!) and nearly always difficult to get a seat.



Most of the time, we end up at the BCV quiet pool, where it's always easy to find a seat.



The main advantage of BWV is that it's the closest hotel to Disney's Hollywood Studios, making it an easy walk. (Both BWV and BCV are within walking distance of Epcot.)

Not all rooms have a daybed. They are assigned to parties of 5 guests first. Since they are not a booking category, you will not be guaranteed a room with 3 sleeping surfaces, although you can request one and hope that you get one.

I agree.

BoardWalk Villa Studios will always have a third sleeping surface. BoardWalk Inn does not always have the third sleeping surface.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

I vote Boardwalk.

It’s one of my favourite resorts, maybe my top one. The hallways are long and there’s no proper quick service food location. Those are my only complaints about it so it is pretty much perfect.

(There is plenty of food, including the ability to pop into Epcot easily, I’ve just been spoiled by the quick service and cafeterias that other resorts have.)

I can’t speak to the sleeping set up but I think the other posters above have covered it off well.

Skyliner is fantastic, and it’s very easy to ride it between the parks or just for fun from Boardwalk, but nothing beats being able to walk to your room when you want to, even when there’s heavy wind or lightning in the area. (Friendship boats are also lots of fun - but don’t run when there’s lightning either.)

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

If you can figure out the sleeping situation, do everything you can do stay at Boardwalk. The difference between CBR and Boardwalk is night and day.

Photo from January 2022:

 

[bakerworld]

Any time I can be in walking distance to a park I'm staying there. You might want to check out the Dolphin - although I'm not sure about the day bed issue.

 

[Nick Boerger]

Love Boardwalk. We stayed there with our 3 kids on the hotel side. It had two queens an a "junior bed" fold down. I think the DVC side has a queen and a pull out sofa / Murphy bed in the studio rooms.

 

[mouschievous]

We've never stayed at Boardwalk, but we stayed at Caribbean Beach and our whole family loved it. It's 3 minutes to Hollywood studios on the Skyliner (I timed it) and I think it was 13 to Epcot? I don't recall the exact time, but it was short enough that we made the trip multiple times a day. If it were me, I would stay at CBR and use the extra money to splurge on other things - fireworks dessert party, photopass, breakfast at Topolino's, etc.

We actually did a split stay between Wilderness Lodge and CBR, and we actually preferred CBR, even though people told us that CBR would be a let down after staying at WL for two nights. We realized quickly that we just aren't Disney deluxe resort people (though we love a luxe resort elsewhere, it just wasn't what we were looking for at WDW).

 

[3.14nTrader]

Both are always difficult to get points at. We have points at BWV and when we offered some extra for rent, they were sold within an hour.

BCV is most famous for its pool, called Stormalong Bay. Some DVC members swear by it. We dislike the pool. It's difficult to get around (all the bridges!) and nearly always difficult to get a seat.

View attachment 661193

Most of the time, we end up at the BCV quiet pool, where it's always easy to find a seat.

View attachment 661194

The main advantage of BWV is that it's the closest hotel to Disney's Hollywood Studios, making it an easy walk. (Both BWV and BCV are within walking distance of Epcot.)

View attachment 661196

View attachment 661197


I agree.

BoardWalk Villa Studios will always have a third sleeping surface. BoardWalk Inn does not always have the third sleeping surface.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. And the pictures look amazing. I wish I could just go tomorrow

 

[3.14nTrader]

I vote Boardwalk.

It’s one of my favourite resorts, maybe my top one. The hallways are long and there’s no proper quick service food location. Those are my only complaints about it so it is pretty much perfect.

(There is plenty of food, including the ability to pop into Epcot easily, I’ve just been spoiled by the quick service and cafeterias that other resorts have.)

I can’t speak to the sleeping set up but I think the other posters above have covered it off well.

Skyliner is fantastic, and it’s very easy to ride it between the parks or just for fun from Boardwalk, but nothing beats being able to walk to your room when you want to, even when there’s heavy wind or lightning in the area. (Friendship boats are also lots of fun - but don’t run when there’s lightning either.)

Previously we've stayed at All Star Movies, which we really did enjoy. But the possibility of being so close to the parks would be fantastic. And Boardwalk just looks like such a beautiful place to get to hang out the rest of the time. Feels like you can't go wrong.

 

[Sunshine11]

Boardwalk over CB for sure! The atmosphere is best. Plus the late hours for deluxe resort guests. Oh and a balcony and walkable to two parks! BWI hands down!

 

[3.14nTrader]

Boardwalk over CB for sure! The atmosphere is best. Plus the late hours for deluxe resort guests. Oh and a balcony and walkable to two parks! BWI hands down!

I'm hopeful that we can rent the points to get there. The base Disney cost unfortunately isn't reasonable for us. But it sure looks amazing! Fingers crossed

 

[Anna131517]

We stayed at both CBR and Boardwalk Inn this most recent trip. The CBR rooms are so tiny and the bathroom set up is horrible. Who wants to hang their clothes right next to where they brush their teeth and over the trash can? Or have everyone in the room watching them when they get ready at the sink? That being said, I like the food situation there better. It has a QS that isn’t horribly priced and you can walk to Riviera or take the skyliner to other resorts to eat moderately priced meals that don’t require ADRs. CBR has more to do at the actual resort. It’s pools are better and less crowded. It has a nice playground. The hammocks are cool.

Boardwalk rooms are better sized and the bathroom is much improved but what drives me nuts is they only have one chair. We ate breakfast in the room at BWI and every single morning my kids complained they didn’t have a chair. They spilled food on the beds and floor. How do they charge that much for a room and not provide a table and at least two chairs? The Luna Park pool was very crowded. The quiet pool is nice though. Despite being near a bunch of restaurants it’s nearly impossible to get food that is even moderately healthy. You need an ADR for almost everything and it’s also overpriced and mediocre, it pisses me off. I guess if you want to eat a $20 pizza or overpriced hot dog every night you’ll be fine but I’d rather just not eat. Yes,you can walk to Epcot if you have park hopper but sometimes after a long day you need an easy meal. If you plan on staying at the parks all day including all meals you will probably have a better experience in terms of food. I know I am probably in the minority here, but I was really disappointed in our experience at BWI. The bus transportation at BWI is also horrendous. Super crowded, not nearly enough or often buses. While Deluxe resorts get early entry it’s only 30 minutes with limited rides so it’s not all that useful. And we had to use lyft sometimes to get to the parks early due to the bussing problem. This trip has made me decide to stay off property and rent a car if we go back, which will be a first.

 

[TSR6]

I have not stayed at CBR yet - but I do love Boardwalk for the location. Plus you can walk to 2 parks (Studios, Epcot) and 3 if they ever drop the park reservations deal (walk to Magic Kingdom via Epcot & Monorail) - so we avoid the buses on our stays as much as possible. Can't do the EC to MK trip right now due to no hopping till the afternoon, but one can wish that will return.

The Boardwalk rooms are nice, decent space, the bathroom & sink areas have plenty of room.

The only issues I have with Boardwalk is that you do have to go outdoors for quickservice food (Bakery), it's a little quirky to get to the Boardwalk with strollers. (You have to take two elevators with strollers - one from the room to the main floor of Boardwalk, and a second to get to the Boardwalk level).

Overall, it's been our home resort and our preferred location until we stayed at Yacht, which is our current #1 - but Boardwalk is still a close #2.

Here's our room from last month:

 

[karen4546]

We stayed at both CBR and Boardwalk Inn this most recent trip. The CBR rooms are so tiny and the bathroom set up is horrible. Who wants to hang their clothes right next to where they brush their teeth and over the trash can? Or have everyone in the room watching them when they get ready at the sink? That being said, I like the food situation there better. It has a QS that isn’t horribly priced and you can walk to Riviera or take the skyliner to other resorts to eat moderately priced meals that don’t require ADRs. CBR has more to do at the actual resort. It’s pools are better and less crowded. It has a nice playground. The hammocks are cool.

Boardwalk rooms are better sized and the bathroom is much improved but what drives me nuts is they only have one chair. We ate breakfast in the room at BWI and every single morning my kids complained they didn’t have a chair. They spilled food on the beds and floor. How do they charge that much for a room and not provide a table and at least two chairs? The Luna Park pool was very crowded. The quiet pool is nice though. Despite being near a bunch of restaurants it’s nearly impossible to get food that is even moderately healthy. You need an ADR for almost everything and it’s also overpriced and mediocre, it pisses me off. I guess if you want to eat a $20 pizza or overpriced hot dog every night you’ll be fine but I’d rather just not eat. Yes,you can walk to Epcot if you have park hopper but sometimes after a long day you need an easy meal. If you plan on staying at the parks all day including all meals you will probably have a better experience in terms of food. I know I am probably in the minority here, but I was really disappointed in our experience at BWI. The bus transportation at BWI is also horrendous. Super crowded, not nearly enough or often buses. While Deluxe resorts get early entry it’s only 30 minutes with limited rides so it’s not all that useful. And we had to use lyft sometimes to get to the parks early due to the bussing problem. This trip has made me decide to stay off property and rent a car if we go back, which will be a first.

All on property guests get early entry but deluxe resort guests get EEH on select nights at select parks.

I agree on the QS options at the BWV, BCV, And YC.

we are staying BWV and i hope to pop over to the swan/dolphin and check out their options.

 

[Skip Coffee for Rope Drop]

So I had Caribbean Beach book for our trip this summer in August. I'd done a lot of research into it, made sure we had a 5th sleeper so we had 3 sleeping surfaces so my kids each get a place to sleep, checking out the skyliner, etc. Then today the Disney+ subscriber sale comes along. For $600 more for 7 nights, I have us in a a standard Boardwalk room. It should have a daybed right, so we still have that extra sleeping surface? And we'd get the extended evening hours if they are still happening in August. I never really looked into Boardwalk at all when I was looking at resorts - I had looked at Beach club for the pool, but Boardwalk was under my radar. I know it's walking distance to HS an EP, anything else I should know? I have both reservations right now, so I need to decide which one I'm going to cancel. I saw the clown pool is no longer a clown, so I think my kids (DS 14 DD 11) will love that slide/pool.

If you have 5 in the room, they will give you a room with a daybed, no exceptions. They will have that reserved for you. Boardwalk +'s besides what you mentioned is that you can walk to the 24 hour Speedway gas station for groceries, gas station fast food and emergency medicine, whereas at the Boardwalk and others, the shops close at 11-midnight. So if you get back at 1am from the parks, walked 10 miles that day and need protein but no food at the hotel, you can walk and get a 1.99 burrito and a slice of gas station pizza. The negative is the mug refill is far, you have to go bakery, there is no refill station inside the resort as the other deluxe hotels. Another negative is that if you are from Canada, the Boardwalk pool is based on the Jersey boardwalk and there are no palm trees, etc...you don't feel like you are in Florida. For little kids, we felt the boardwalk is better when the kids are older and are 21 and can enjoy the bars/clubs. You may want to spend a little extra and try the yacht club, the kids will like that pool better and sometimes their rooms are the same as Boardwalk.

 

[SwanVT2]

If you have 5 in the room, they will give you a room with a daybed, no exceptions. They will have that reserved for you. Boardwalk +'s besides what you mentioned is that you can walk to the 24 hour Speedway gas station for groceries, gas station fast food and emergency medicine, whereas at the Boardwalk and others, the shops close at 11-midnight. So if you get back at 1am from the parks, walked 10 miles that day and need protein but no food at the hotel, you can walk and get a 1.99 burrito and a slice of gas station pizza. The negative is the mug refill is far, you have to go bakery, there is no refill station inside the resort as the other deluxe hotels. Another negative is that if you are from Canada, the Boardwalk pool is based on the Jersey boardwalk and there are no palm trees, etc...you don't feel like you are in Florida. For little kids, we felt the boardwalk is better when the kids are older and are 21 and can enjoy the bars/clubs. You may want to spend a little extra and try the yacht club, the kids will like that pool better and sometimes their rooms are the same as Boardwalk.

When we were there, we could refill our mug at the pool bar and Belle Vue Lounge (morning coffee).

 

[Karebear]

Not all rooms have a daybed. They are assigned to parties of 5 guests first. Since they are not a booking category, you will not be guaranteed a room with 3 sleeping surfaces, although you can request one and hope that you get one.

I have never stayed at the Boardwalk....but have multiple times at the YC/BC. At YC/BC if you do not get the pull down bed for the 5th person, they will bring you a rollaway free of charge. I think that the Boardwalk does the same. I would definitely pick the Boardwalk! That is my favorite area to stay in and it is so nice to be able to walk to 2 parks.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

So I had Caribbean Beach book for our trip this summer in August. I'd done a lot of research into it, made sure we had a 5th sleeper so we had 3 sleeping surfaces so my kids each get a place to sleep, checking out the skyliner, etc. Then today the Disney+ subscriber sale comes along. For $600 more for 7 nights, I have us in a a standard Boardwalk room. It should have a daybed right, so we still have that extra sleeping surface? And we'd get the extended evening hours if they are still happening in August. I never really looked into Boardwalk at all when I was looking at resorts - I had looked at Beach club for the pool, but Boardwalk was under my radar. I know it's walking distance to HS an EP, anything else I should know? I have both reservations right now, so I need to decide which one I'm going to cancel. I saw the clown pool is no longer a clown, so I think my kids (DS 14 DD 11) will love that slide/pool.

We've stayed at both of these resorts before and hands down I will vote for BW every time but we only do the studio or larger on the villas side that has the queen bed, sleeper sofa and pulldown murphy. I'm not so sure all BWI rooms have the daybed. The location of the BW cannot be beat and the deluxe accommodates are certainly more appealing than CBR. Our kids (15/13) love the pool and even loved it when it was still a clown. LOL