Disney Boardwalk Inn Garden Cottage duplex with CL access vs AKL CL savanna view.

[dineyvip]

Hello, For an upcoming trip I have access to either a Boardwalk Inn Garden Cottage with Club Level access or an Animal Kingdom Lodge CL savanna view room. The Boardwalk cottage is better from the transportation aspect but is pricier. The AKL is beautiful and we've stayed there several times but as far as transportation goes it not so great. Does anyone have thoughts about the Boardwalk cottage? It looks pretty cool with your own garden and entrance gate, but the interior looks dated. This will be for the week leading up to Halloween and that's why I'm worried about the transportation angle of things, especially with the 50th anniversary in full swing. We will have a rental car so that would probably help. I just could use some guidance on this one. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. Michael

 

[NicoleLarson]

We love both of these club levels so you can't make a bad choice. However, neither is on the same floor as the CL so that makes it a bit more inconvenient and you may find that you don't use the CL as often as you would normally. I'm assuming there's only 2 of you since the cottages only sleep 2. They are adorable in every way, don't let the decor make you think that they are old. The bathrooms are nicely updated. They are nice if 1 person is a night owl and the other isn't, since the bedroom is upstairs which is a pro but also a con. Like you come back so tired from your day and then you have to climb stairs to get to your bed or if you forget something in your room....back up the stairs. Also a pro is that you have 1 and 1/2 bathrooms which makes getting ready a lot easier. Can you share how much more are they? It's tough to put a price on convenience.

 

[Cheburashka]

What will the weather be like when you go? Staying at a cottage means that you 'll have to go outdoors to get to the lobby, restaurants, club level services, etc. That can be very inconvenient during inclement weather.

 

[Dave006]

Does anyone have thoughts about the Boardwalk cottage? It looks pretty cool with your own garden and entrance gate, but the interior looks dated.

Are you buying one or just spend a few days there?

On a more serious note:

The BWI is a great location with easy access to 2 parks by walking or making use of a Friendship boat. There are only 2 downsides to the Cottages is that they are outside of the main building and they are 2 levels. The bedroom is upstairs and the sitting area on the first level.

It is a quite a hike for some guests to the Inn Keeper's CL lounge on the 4th floor of the BWI. From your cottage you have to walk through part of the courtyard (outside) and up stairs to the 2nd floor (lobby level) or into the first floor to take the elevator to the 4th floor and walk down the hallway to the CL entrance.

At the AKL the regular CL rooms are on the 4th floor and the CL lounge is on the 6th floor so you are much closer to the lounge.

Dave

 

[Marthasor]

Hello, For an upcoming trip I have access to either a Boardwalk Inn Garden Cottage with Club Level access or an Animal Kingdom Lodge CL savanna view room. The Boardwalk cottage is better from the transportation aspect but is pricier. The AKL is beautiful and we've stayed there several times but as far as transportation goes it not so great. Does anyone have thoughts about the Boardwalk cottage? It looks pretty cool with your own garden and entrance gate, but the interior looks dated. This will be for the week leading up to Halloween and that's why I'm worried about the transportation angle of things, especially with the 50th anniversary in full swing. We will have a rental car so that would probably help. I just could use some guidance on this one. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. Michael

We've done both. We stayed in a garden cottage a few years ago and it was dated then. I was not a fan. They look very cute from the outside, but the space is a little funky with the bedroom/bathroom on the second floor and the living room on the first. If I were to do CL again at BWI, I would want to be on the actual floor of the CL lounge. It is definitely not worth it to spend more and be that far away from the lounge. It was never convenient to go up to the lounge from the cottage and then head to the parks or vice versa. If these are your only two choices, I would save some money and opt for AKL CL.

 

[dineyvip]

Are you buying one or just spend a few days there?

On a more serious note:

The BWI is a great location with easy access to 2 parks by walking or making use of a Friendship boat. There are only 2 downsides to the Cottages is that they are outside of the main building and they are 2 levels. The bedroom is upstairs and the sitting area on the first level.

It is a quite a hike for some guests to the Inn Keeper's CL lounge on the 4th floor of the BWI. From your cottage you have to walk through part of the courtyard (outside) and up stairs to the 2nd floor (lobby level) or into the first floor to take the elevator to the 4th floor and walk down the hallway to the CL entrance.

At the AKL the regular CL rooms are on the 4th floor and the CL lounge is on the 6th floor so you are much closer to the lounge.

Dave

Hello Dave,
I was thinking of picking out some wallpaper!
I think I'll go with the AKL I'm not to thrilled with the transportation from there, but this garden cottage is also pretty pricey and dated.
I appreciate your help and your sense of humor.
Thanks,
Michael