Currently have Boardwalk Villas booked for November

[FSU Girl]

I have Boardwalk Villas currently booked for my baby’s 2nd birthday in November. For cash. I’m on the fence though if I should keep that or switch. Was thinking of switching to Grand Floridian villas or Riviera. Riviera is available for my dates, GF isn’t but randomly pops up so I’m sure I could eventually get it.

How are the rooms at Boardwalk? Are they in need of a refurbishment? I think GF just had one and Riviera is still pretty new. This is one of the main reasons I’m thinking of switching.

Also worried about the construction happening next to GF villas and my baby napping in the middle of the day. But I really like this hotel and it’s location.

Should I make the switch?

 

[Mommb]

I haven't stayed at Boardwalk in a few years, so I don't know what condition the rooms are in. I do know that I'd consider the Boardwalk an ideal location for a stay with a young child, because it is walking distance from 2 parks. Folding a stroller onto a bus is a pain (especially if it contains a sleeping child) so being able to just push the stroller to Epcot and Hollywood Studies was helpful.

I know there is now a walking path from Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom, so if you think you'll spend more time there than at Epcot, GF could work for you. My family tended to spend more time at Epcot even with young kids -- several times we came back from another park for rest time, then got dinner at Epcot, which is easy to do from the Boardwalk if you have Park Hopper passes.

 

[Anthony1971]

When I had a 2 YO BW was on the bottom of my list. Everyone says how hard it is to fold a stroller and get on a bus (never had an issue). Try pushing that stroller in the Florida sun with a back pack before you even get to a park. A 2 YO will spend a lot of time sleeping especially at night when you want to eat and parks will be over by 6 on most days. As far as the rooms BW are in good condition and nice or at least I like them. Being MK is the park a 2 YO will be catered to the best I would switch to any of the 4 resorts near. WL and CR served us best as they were all covered for the QS meals you may see a lot of at night in case it rains. Back then I had the pleasure of going to the small store in BW as it was the only store at that time that sold the small jars of baby food being my son would not eating much of Disney food on that trip we needed more... well lets say that small hill to get to and from EPCOT did not feel so small after walking so much already plus the "baby gear" and stroller an air conditioned bus would have been by far welcomed.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

The rooms at Boardwalk are OK. They could do with a refurb, and aren't as shiny/new as some of the other resorts, but they are adequate. If you do find any issues, just tell maintenance and they'll fix it. Helps you and the next guest!

The location is fantastic. We did a trip one December with our then two year old and it was so convenient. I could pop back to the room for outfit changes or forgotten items easily (took either friendship boat or pushed stroller) from HS and Epcot. She usually fell asleep in her stroller while at the parks.

There is a little playground and a very shallow pool that is great for kids. (I know, I know, we didn't go to Disney to play on a slide but she was so happy.) The entertainment on the boardwalk itself was fun too, and there's a village green area (basically a patch of astroturf) that she liked to run around on and play with the other kids.

Main downside of Boardwalk for me is the lack of quick service dining. We made do with Bellevue Lounge and the Bakery, because I didn't know any better (Boardwalk was our first stay), but when I discovered the QS options at other resorts, my mind was blown.

I've never stayed at Riviera so can't comment on it. Grand Floridian would be a good choice too, if you plan to spend a lot of time at MK. My little one's favourite park was Animal Kingdom when she was 2 so the location of Boardwalk was pretty good - not a long bus ride to either MK or AK, and walking distance to the other two. Its really hard to predict what kids will love. And it seems to change every trip.

 

[Sandisw]

I’d go with RIV or GF over BW. The studios at RIV are larger, have the nice queen pull down Murphy bed and split bath.

 

[FSU Girl]

The rooms at Boardwalk are OK. They could do with a refurb, and aren't as shiny/new as some of the other resorts, but they are adequate. If you do find any issues, just tell maintenance and they'll fix it. Helps you and the next guest!

The location is fantastic. We did a trip one December with our then two year old and it was so convenient. I could pop back to the room for outfit changes or forgotten items easily (took either friendship boat or pushed stroller) from HS and Epcot. She usually fell asleep in her stroller while at the parks.

There is a little playground and a very shallow pool that is great for kids. (I know, I know, we didn't go to Disney to play on a slide but she was so happy.) The entertainment on the boardwalk itself was fun too, and there's a village green area (basically a patch of astroturf) that she liked to run around on and play with the other kids.

Main downside of Boardwalk for me is the lack of quick service dining. We made do with Bellevue Lounge and the Bakery, because I didn't know any better (Boardwalk was our first stay), but when I discovered the QS options at other resorts, my mind was blown.

I've never stayed at Riviera so can't comment on it. Grand Floridian would be a good choice too, if you plan to spend a lot of time at MK. My little one's favourite park was Animal Kingdom when she was 2 so the location of Boardwalk was pretty good - not a long bus ride to either MK or AK, and walking distance to the other two. Its really hard to predict what kids will love. And it seems to change every trip.

They have a playground? Or was it part of the pool? My baby just discovered her love of slides. I didn’t think there were any kid playgrounds at Disney

 

[GoingSince1990]

For a 2-year old, go GF. Your focus will be Magic Kingdom and you are 1 stop away on the monorail (you can keep your stroller open) or you can use the scenic walking path. Also the pool is zero-entry and there is a charming kiddie water play area that was sadly built too late for our kids, but hoping to watch grandchildren play there one day!

 

[CarolMN]

I assume you would only be able to.get a resort studio if you switch to the VGF. Remember that these studios do NOT have a mini fridge, just a beverage cooler. That's not good enough to keep milk or food items. With a toddler, that could be a deal breaker.

 

[FSU Girl]

I assume you would only be able to.get a resort studio if you switch to the VGF. Remember that these studios do NOT have a mini fridge, just a beverage cooler. That's not good enough to keep milk or food items. With a toddler, that could be a deal breaker.

Would be trying for a one bedroom villa so it would have a real fridge and washer dryer

 

[Stormalong Smiths]

They have a playground? Or was it part of the pool? My baby just discovered her love of slides. I didn’t think there were any kid playgrounds at Disney

There is a cute little playground at BWV and some other DVC properties, as well: https://touringplans.com/blog/faq-playgrounds-at-walt-disney-world/

 

[SleeplessInTO]

They have a playground? Or was it part of the pool? My baby just discovered her love of slides. I didn’t think there were any kid playgrounds at Disney

It is next to the pool (the shallow kiddie one) but not part of the pool. Its a very normal looking play structure, the kind you'd find at most municipal parks.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/recreation/playgrounds/

 

[FSU Girl]

This is awesome I had no idea that was at the hotels! My baby will love these playgrounds

 

[Shellyred8]

This is awesome I had no idea that was at the hotels! My baby will love these playgrounds

We stayed at the BWV with 2yo twin girls and they LOVED the playground there! It has a couple of slides and they spent a lot of time playing on them and building up their courage to go down them alone! It was a great experience for them and us.