(CLOSED) Disney's BOARDWALK INN and VILLAS Information Thread ~2012~

[WDWKOOK]

Just booked out first stay at BWV for March 2012!

Congratulations! I think you meant 2013. Happy planning!

Imagine my surprise in learning that for the same $4,000 package price that I'd be able to secure for AoA, I'm able to rent DVC points for a 1BR villa @ the Boardwalk for a mid-December booking.

The only downer is that if and when Disney offers things like room discount or free dining, we aren't able to realize those benefits, right?

We have stayed previously @ WL in 2011, CBR in 2010 and Pop in 2005.

I've heard nothing but great things about the property, and visited it once for a few hours, so hoping that this will work out for us in the end.

Question- Is the Master BR in the Standard view 1BR villa big enough to fit a Disney Crib? We'll have an infant with us and would rather have the baby sleeping in our room, leaving the other 2 to doze on the pull out. Also, have you found the views from these standard views to be "ok?" What are you really looking at? Since we don't intend on spending much time in the room, upgrading to a better view isn't necessarily a priority.

Thanks!

Great thread you guys have going here.

Just wanted to add that I believe that the cancelation/change penalty for points reservations is much more inflexible than when booking a cash reservation. Also, you can amend a cash reservation to add a discount or pin code if one is released before your arrival date.

Just booked a trip for Aug. 29th to Sept. 4th for the BWI, my 2nd home!!! Cannot wait to go. Have a trip booked for December, but couldn't wait that long

That's great that you have TWO trips booked. It's so nice leaving WDW knowing when you'll return

 

[psac]

Congratulations! I think you meant 2013. Happy planning!


Just wanted to add that I believe that the cancelation/change penalty for points reservations is much more inflexible than when booking a cash reservation. Also, you can amend a cash reservation to add a discount or pin code if one is released before your arrival date.


That's great that you have TWO trips booked. It's so nice leaving WDW knowing when you'll return

WDWKOOK is right, plus when renting, it's not just about penalties, basically everything is totally non-refundable. It's a risk to take, but as you see, you can get much more for your money that way. Plus you have to plan much more in advance than with paying cash to get a good reservation. And you don't get daily housekeeping and all that stuff. Having said that, the 1BR villas at the Boardwalk are awesome. Enjoy!

 

[Koz]

Guys thanks very much for your feedback, I appreciate it!

A few things I wanted to confirm:

1) With DVC there is no daily housekeeping?

2) How are the quick-serv type options @ Boardwalk? I know that they don't have a traditional restaurant.

3) I've seen alot of comments that transporation to places other than HS and EP can be a complete nightmare, with some trips to DW being more than an hour. What have your experiences been in this respect? Do they really share 1 bus between 4 properties?

 

[madelyn]

I can only answer:

1) With DVC there is no daily housekeeping?

Yes, this is true unless you opt to pay for the service. We have an upcoming first time stay at BWV in a few weeks so I'm awaiting the replies to your other questions. I have stayed at the Dolphin and Beach Club before and don't remember terrible bus service to the other parks though.

 

[Koz]

I can only answer:

1) With DVC there is no daily housekeeping?

Yes, this is true unless you opt to pay for the service. We have an upcoming first time stay at BWV in a few weeks so I'm awaiting the replies to your other questions. I have stayed at the Dolphin and Beach Club before and don't remember terrible bus service to the other parks though.

If it's not daily, what is it? Is there a frequency where you would expect to get new soaps/shampoos, fresh towels, clean sheets.

It's hard to justify spending over $4000 for a one-week stay and there isn't even someone there to take care of the room.

 

[madelyn]

If it's not daily, what is it? Is there a frequency where you would expect to get new soaps/shampoos, fresh towels, clean sheets.

It's hard to justify spending over $4000 for a one-week stay and there isn't even someone there to take care of the room.

Are you paying cash through Disney or renting points or are you the DVC member? If paying cash to Disney at a DVC resort you get daily housekeeping services. If renting points or if you are the DVC member, for stays of 7 or less nights, you get "Trash and Towel service" on day 4. Housekeeping will: Empty trash and replace liners in trash bins, provide fresh bathroom linens, replace shampoo, facial soap and bath soap, replenish facial tissues, paper towels and toilet paper, replenish coffee, sugar, cream and sweeteners, replenish dishwashing liquid, dishwashing detergent, sponges and laundry detergent as needed in one-, two- and three-bedroom Vacation Homes. For stays of eight or more nights, Full-Cleaning Service is provided on day four and Trash & Towel Service is provided on day eight. After that, the cycle begins again on day 12. With Full-Cleaning service, Housekeeping will provide everything included with the Trash & Towel Service, plus: Change the bed linens, vacuum and dust, clean the bathroom(s), clean the kitchen/kitchenette and wash the dishes.

 

[bowbat]

Guys thanks very much for your feedback, I appreciate it!

A few things I wanted to confirm:

1) With DVC there is no daily housekeeping?

2) How are the quick-serv type options @ Boardwalk? I know that they don't have a traditional restaurant.

3) I've seen alot of comments that transporation to places other than HS and EP can be a complete nightmare, with some trips to DW being more than an hour. What have your experiences been in this respect? Do they really share 1 bus between 4 properties?

This seems to vary. While I've also seen reports of all the Epcot resorts sharing a bus, when we stayed at BWI in November, there was one bus for BWI & Swan/Dolphin and a separate bus for YC/BC. We had no problems with the bus service -- the buses were prompt & relatively uncrowded (it was SRO when we headed to MK first thing in the morning, but because BWI was the first stop, we were seated).

 

[Koz]

Are you paying cash through Disney or renting points or are you the DVC member? If paying cash to Disney at a DVC resort you get daily housekeeping services. If renting points or if you are the DVC member, for stays of 7 or less nights, you get "Trash and Towel service" on day 4. Housekeeping will: Empty trash and replace liners in trash bins, provide fresh bathroom linens, replace shampoo, facial soap and bath soap, replenish facial tissues, paper towels and toilet paper, replenish coffee, sugar, cream and sweeteners, replenish dishwashing liquid, dishwashing detergent, sponges and laundry detergent as needed in one-, two- and three-bedroom Vacation Homes. For stays of eight or more nights, Full-Cleaning Service is provided on day four and Trash & Towel Service is provided on day eight. After that, the cycle begins again on day 12. With Full-Cleaning service, Housekeeping will provide everything included with the Trash & Towel Service, plus: Change the bed linens, vacuum and dust, clean the bathroom(s), clean the kitchen/kitchenette and wash the dishes.

Thanks very much for the information. I can tell you right now that with 3 kids in tow, and a wife who would at least want her bed made with fresh towels daily, there is no way this is an option. We had looked at possibly renting through David's.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks very much for the information. I can tell you right now that with 3 kids in tow, and a wife who would at least want her bed made with fresh towels daily, there is no way this is an option. We had looked at possibly renting through David's.

You can pay for extra towels (a towel pack is $6 - four bath towels, two hand towels, four face cloths and a tub mat). You can pay for extra trash and towel service (that is based on the size of the villa). Or you can pay for extra full cleaning (which is also based on the size of the villa and it isn't cheap).

If it's not daily, what is it? Is there a frequency where you would expect to get new soaps/shampoos, fresh towels, clean sheets.

It's hard to justify spending over $4000 for a one-week stay and there isn't even someone there to take care of the room.

DVC is a timeshare. Members pay for everything they get with a timeshare. You can get lots of extra service to take care of the room, but you will pay for it.

No interruption from Housekeeping is just a nice feature of DVC. When you come back after lunch and decide you want to take a nap, you don't have to wait for the housekeepers to leave.

Plus with a one bedroom or larger, you get a washer and dryer in your villa. It's nice not to have to pack so many clothes and you can go home with a suitcase full of clean clothes. Nothing brings you down from that vacation feeling like wading through piles and piles of dirty clothes when you empty out the suitcases when you get home.

 

[Catira]

It's all one big place and nothing is really closer. Except you might want to request close to elevator. Or Luna Park pool instead of leisure (quiet) pool. You won't get a BW view if you didn't reserve that on points. It is a specific booking category for points stays. Not available for cash stays.

I realize we won't have a boardwalk view since we did not book that category. Just hoping there were certain buildings that we might request that would be closer. But, I am sure the kiddos will prefer being closer to the pool after a hot day at the parks

Someone mentioned wanting clean towels.. we usually take extra detergent with us to the resort. I put all the towels in the washer while we go to the parks and then once we come back just pop them in the dryer. Having the washer and dryer is a bonus, since we can pack less clothes and have room for disney souvenirs.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I realize we won't have a boardwalk view since we did not book that category. Just hoping there were certain buildings that we might request that would be closer....

BWV is one building.

 

[Catira]

BWV is one building.

Well there goes that idea. We have only stayed at OKW and SS so I thought we could request a particular area. Well just be happy to be there and celebrate my daughter's high school graduation.

 

[exmli03]

Is there a clothesline in the tub at BW? I have a travel one but if there is one already there then that is one less thing I have to pack.

 

[Koz]

Is there a clothesline in the tub at BW? I have a travel one but if there is one already there then that is one less thing I have to pack.

No, we just hang all of our items over the balcony railing!

 

[Deb & Bill]

No, we just hang all of our items over the balcony railing!

Seriously?? I hope you were just kidding. Disney asks guests not to hang clothing/towels on the balcony.

 

[psac]

Seriously?? I hope you were just kidding. Disney asks guests not to hang clothing/towels on the balcony.

The Boardwalk is supposed to be modelled after old New York. Hanging clothes off the balcony would be very authentic. Personally I would be concerned with damage to the clothing.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Boardwalk is supposed to be modelled after old New York. Hanging clothes off the balcony would be very authentic. Personally I would be concerned with damage to the clothing.

Old New York?? I think you mean Atlantic City, NJ.

 

[gometros]

Old New York?? I think you mean Atlantic City, NJ.

Deb & Bill is correct. The Boardwalk is modeled after early 1900s Atlantic City. It doesn't look anything like the Lower East Side

 

[psac]

From the Disneyworld web site:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/disneys-boardwalk/

With sherbet-colored building facades, striped awnings, rising columns and archways, Disney's BoardWalk is designed after the boardwalks that were famous during the turn of the 20th century along such coastal cities as Coney Island, New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The miniature carousel located in the lobby of Disney's BoardWalk Inn was hand-crafted in the 1920s at Coney Island by M.C. Illions, a master designer and manufacturer of merry-go-rounds.

 

[psac]

From Mouseplanet:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/dvc/4_Resorts/BVR.htm

Theme
Disney's Boardwalk Villas Resort is reminiscent of turn of the century Coney Island. In the 1890's through about 1930, Coney Island was the main vacation destination for New Yorkers and others on the East coast. The resort includes a real boardwalk (purists point out that it's more of a pier than a boardwalk, since there is no beach) along a waterfront filled with stores, restaurants, dance halls, and other entertainment. The pool area is themed like Luna Park, one of Coney Island's legendary amusement parks, and has a distinct amusement park atmosphere. It even includes a roller coaster which is really a water slide and a pool bar dressed up as a carousel.