Resort Thread Disney's BOARDWALK INN Resort

[lbv7]

I just noticed when I was looking at room availability at the BWI that they seem to be separating out Boardwalk view from standard view at the club level. When I booked our CL room I'm pretty sure there was only three choices a standard CL room, a deluxe CL and the garden cottages. Now when I look they have a standard CL priced at $596, a boardwalk view $696, a deluxe view for $719, and the garden cottages for $782. We have stayed at the BWI CL numerous times in the past and have booked the standard CL and requested a boardwalk view. Now it looks like we will have to pay an extra $100 to get a boardwalk view. For that price I think it makes more sense to pay the extra $23 and get a deluxe room that is much bigger with a large balcony that will be a boardwalk view.

Does anyone know anything about this? I"m wondering if since I booked standard CL will I even have the option now for the boardwalk view? We didn't have an option when we booked but I did request a boardwalk view.

Some of the standard rooms past the Innkeeper's door have a view of the Boardwalk that is partially obstructed. If I remember correctly you have a clear view if you look to your right (toward Epcot) but if you look to the left all you see is the roof of either the Boardwalk Bakery or Trattoria restaurant. This applies to rooms 4223 and 4235 for sure, and a few other rooms whose numbers escape me now. It certainly isn't worth $100 a night if you get an obstructed view. I don't know how Disney can try to "get away with this" at least for these rooms, because guaranteed there are going to be complaints from guests who stay in those rooms and say when they first walk in " I'm paying $100 a night extra for this, I want to change rooms right now!"

 

[Disneytam]

I love room #4235 for it's location just across the hall from the lounge. I wouldn't call that room an obstructed view, but it is recessed back into the building and you don't get the wide view of the lake like you do in some of the other rooms. The rooms that concern me are the "new" CL rooms that are outside of the Innkeepers door and look over the green area were they often show movies. From photos I have seen if you look to the right you can see the lake and the boardwalk as well so are these boardwalk rooms? I like the secure feeling of being within the Innkeepers doors, that's why I pay for the CL and have no interest in the "we want $200+ more a night for these rooms so now they are CL rooms".

You have a good point though about unhappy guests. I have heard several complaining guests who requested boardwalk rooms and were very unhappy and demanding a change when they ended up with garden view rooms. So maybe it's a win all the way around for Disney. Make $100 more per night per room and quiet all the guests who wanted boardwalk view rooms.

 

[JanetMom]

I think you are right, Disneytam. Some guests will see this as a win and be willing to pay the extra $100.

There are always those guests who complain no matter how good things are. For those guests it won't matter if they paid $100 extra or got the room at a good discount. They'll still complain about the view.

I'm the type that is happy to get any view, as long as it's a Disney view!

 

[Disneytam]

I think you are right, Disneytam. Some guests will see this as a win and be willing to pay the extra $100.

There are always those guests who complain no matter how good things are. For those guests it won't matter if they paid $100 extra or got the room at a good discount. They'll still complain about the view.

I'm the type that is happy to get any view, as long as it's a Disney view!

We never book the deluxe rooms because for the 2 of us I always feel guilty using all that space when someone else could really use it with 4 people. Our next trip that I haven't booked yet I think we will book the deluxe. Only a $23 difference from the regular sized rooms and on the Boardwalk. Of course 50/50 chance of not being on the fourth floor. Decisions, decisions are making my head spin!

 

[pas130]

We never book the deluxe rooms because for the 2 of us I always feel guilty using all that space when someone else could really use it with 4 people. Our next trip that I haven't booked yet I think we will book the deluxe. Only a $23 difference from the regular sized rooms and on the Boardwalk. Of course 50/50 chance of not being on the fourth floor. Decisions, decisions are making my head spin!

That is kind of why my DH didn't want me to switch to a cottage this past trip. Why do we need all that space? However, I will let you know all about the Deluxe room in 22 days And a $23 dollar difference...DO IT! You and DH can sit on the couch watching TV and being near the balcony if you need a break

 

[gwynne]

Excellent sleuthing, as always, @gwynne. I guess this enables a guest to guarantee a BWV and of course, generates more revenue. I wonder when WL-CL will follow suit?

I guess it was only a matter of time until they started charging. I also wonder if booking changes are on the horizon for WL-CL. Disney is often on the lookout for ideas to make a little (or a lot) extra.

When did you book? I'm glad to know I'm not crazy What are your travel dates? I did send an e-mail to the IPO but haven't heard back yet.

@Disneytam
I called and booked the last week in Sept 2015. Our dates are Oct 20-Oct 31st 2015. If you hear anything helpful from the IPO could you PM or post? Thanks!

I love room #4235 for it's location just across the hall from the lounge. I wouldn't call that room an obstructed view, but it is recessed back into the building and you don't get the wide view of the lake like you do in some of the other rooms. The rooms that concern me are the "new" CL rooms that are outside of the Innkeepers door and look over the green area were they often show movies. From photos I have seen if you look to the right you can see the lake and the boardwalk as well so are these boardwalk rooms? I like the secure feeling of being within the Innkeepers doors, that's why I pay for the CL and have no interest in the "we want $200+ more a night for these rooms so now they are CL rooms".

You have a good point though about unhappy guests. I have heard several complaining guests who requested boardwalk rooms and were very unhappy and demanding a change when they ended up with garden view rooms. So maybe it's a win all the way around for Disney. Make $100 more per night per room and quiet all the guests who wanted boardwalk view rooms.

I agree about being inside the CL doors. For us, that is more important than a Boardwalk view. I need to get my thoughts together and make a room request this weekend.

I think you are right, Disneytam. Some guests will see this as a win and be willing to pay the extra $100.

There are always those guests who complain no matter how good things are. For those guests it won't matter if they paid $100 extra or got the room at a good discount. They'll still complain about the view.

I'm the type that is happy to get any view, as long as it's a Disney view!

I'm with you there! Give me a balcony, a chair and a morning cup of coffee and I'm a happy girl. It's the best way to start a vacation day!

That is kind of why my DH didn't want me to switch to a cottage this past trip. Why do we need all that space? However, I will let you know all about the Deluxe room in 22 days And a $23 dollar difference...DO IT! You and DH can sit on the couch watching TV and being near the balcony if you need a break

I think the Deluxe rooms are amazing. I highly recommend them whether it's for a couple or a family.
I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip @pas130
I hope you all have a wonderful time!

 

[Disneytam]

That is kind of why my DH didn't want me to switch to a cottage this past trip. Why do we need all that space? However, I will let you know all about the Deluxe room in 22 days And a $23 dollar difference...DO IT! You and DH can sit on the couch watching TV and being near the balcony if you need a break

I'm really looking forward to your report ! Hope you have a great time. The new way they are pricing things at the BWI has the standard room at $596 boardwalk view at $696 and Deluxe at $719 (all rack rates) so only a $23 difference. I will be surprised if this stays this way for next year but time will tell. Does it matter if you get the third or fourth floor with the deluxe rooms? I don't know how much of a pain it would be going to the lounge from the third floor.

 

[JoeyEmmaMomma]

Anyone there and have pictures to share of the Christmas decorations gingerbread display in the lobby?
Disney Food Blog posted a picture of holiday gelato available at a gingerbread display!
I'm dying for a peak!

 

[Sandi]

That is kind of why my DH didn't want me to switch to a cottage this past trip. Why do we need all that space? However, I will let you know all about the Deluxe room in 22 days And a $23 dollar difference...DO IT! You and DH can sit on the couch watching TV and being near the balcony if you need a break

You can only have 2 in the cottages now, so the idea of using space that a group of 4 could use shouldn't factor in anymore.

 

[pas130]

You can only have 2 in the cottages now, so the idea of using space that a group of 4 could use shouldn't factor in anymore.

Oh I know, it was for our couples trip. We are a family of 7, requiring 2 rooms. This will be our only opportunity to stay in a deluxe room, well until next December when our DS14 will be with his HS chorus

DisneyTam and Gwynne I can't wait to give my report! And post a pic here or there. Always exciting to try a new CL and resort!

 

[tiger4me2]

I love room #4235 for it's location just across the hall from the lounge. I wouldn't call that room an obstructed view, but it is recessed back into the building and you don't get the wide view of the lake like you do in some of the other rooms. The rooms that concern me are the "new" CL rooms that are outside of the Innkeepers door and look over the green area were they often show movies. From photos I have seen if you look to the right you can see the lake and the boardwalk as well so are these boardwalk rooms? I like the secure feeling of being within the Innkeepers doors, that's why I pay for the CL and have no interest in the "we want $200+ more a night for these rooms so now they are CL rooms".

You have a good point though about unhappy guests. I have heard several complaining guests who requested boardwalk rooms and were very unhappy and demanding a change when they ended up with garden view rooms. So maybe it's a win all the way around for Disney. Make $100 more per night per room and quiet all the guests who wanted boardwalk view rooms.

The new rooms out side the club (there are three in the corner that has been club levels for quite some time). Disney want to make most of the rooms on the 4th ( not sure all of the 4th floor or just near the door) club level. I was told. This by several managers I know at the BWI plus some of the club level cast members. Some of rooms have great views. At least the garden views. I stayed in one of them and the view was better then inside club level. Just saying.

I would rather have a garden view than a Boardwalk view unless it is a deluxe room

Each to their own.

 

[Disneytam]

The new rooms out side the club (there are three in the corner that has been club levels for quite some time). Disney want to make most of the rooms on the 4th ( not sure all of the 4th floor or just near the door) club level. I was told. This by several managers I know at the BWI plus some of the club level cast members. Some of rooms have great views. At least the garden views. I stayed in one of them and the view was better then inside club level. Just saying.

I would rather have a garden view than a Boardwalk view unless it is a deluxe room

Each to their own.

I would believe that they are planning to make all the fourth floor rooms CL. Years ago before the last rehab I was told by some of the CM that when they received the next rehab that the lounge was going to be expanded. I think they were aware then that the upper ups were planning on adding more rooms to the CL and that they would need the extra room in the lounge. Totally my opinion but I feel that is why they made all the cottage rooms only able to hold 2 guests instead of the four that they used to hold with the queen sofa bed. Now they promote these rooms as honeymoon suites. All the EPCOT hotels are becoming more and more popular every year for the F&W festival and now I see that the Flower &Garden festival will be nearly 3 months long. That means nearly 6 months of really strong bookings just for these two festivals.

The only problem with this is that they are adding more rooms to the CL but the lounge did not get expanded and it was on the small side to begin with. That's why I am really looking forward to hearing how pas130 and others trips go.

 

[likesdisney]

If a person wanted a chance at one of the obstructed boardwalk views mentioned you would have to request 4th floor? Or are there similar obstructed views on different floors? It's not a big deal to us but just curious. We have reservations before park opening for GG in Epcot so a little bit nervous about trying to get in by International Gateway. Never actually had to do this before with Epcot. On an early morning walk with coffee while I was staying over at YC I noticed a white gate up somewhere near that entrance.

 

[1971DBday]

Hello! Just checking in to introduce myself as a first time to the BWV, but this will be our 16th trip to Disney! We finally bit the bullet to DVC in 2012. I really need some assistance from the BWV experts on a room request. We will be in a preferred studio and I love a pool view. However, I am a very, very light sleeper. Last year we had a bad experience with our lake view at the Poly because of those damn boat horns. I do not want to relive that experience. Please help and thank you!

 

[ciera321]

Hello! Just checking in to introduce myself as a first time to the BWV, but this will be our 16th trip to Disney! We finally bit the bullet to DVC in 2012. I really need some assistance from the BWV experts on a room request. We will be in a preferred studio and I love a pool view. However, I am a very, very light sleeper. Last year we had a bad experience with our lake view at the Poly because of those damn boat horns. I do not want to relive that experience. Please help and thank you!

Can't help with the room request since our first stay at BWV will be next December, but I'm a light sleeper also and have a sound machine app the I use EVERYWHERE we travel. Many different sounds to choose from, and you will be able to sleep through most anything. I plug it behind the nightstand, adjust the volume, and charge the phone at the same time.

 

[Tess]

Hello! Just checking in to introduce myself as a first time to the BWV, but this will be our 16th trip to Disney! We finally bit the bullet to DVC in 2012. I really need some assistance from the BWV experts on a room request. We will be in a preferred studio and I love a pool view. However, I am a very, very light sleeper. Last year we had a bad experience with our lake view at the Poly because of those damn boat horns. I do not want to relive that experience. Please help and thank you!

The main pool closes pretty early and doesn't open early in the a.m. The other pool view overlooks the "quiet pool" on the DVC side and it has never been raucous when we have stayed. In fact, when we were there in October we had the pool entirely to ourselves from around 1:00 p.m. until we left late afternoon. There were a few folks sitting around reading, but other than that--quiet. Obviously during busier times that would change. I would think around the main pool you would be fine unless you go to bed before 9:00 p.m. and don't get up until lunch. A higher floor might also be your friend for quiet.

 

[AngiTN]

I just switched us from AoA to BWV 1 bedroom for our stay next month. 12/17 to 22. It will be our very first Villa stay. I'm looking so forward to it. Can't figure out what room requests though. I'm thinking maybe near lobby. But I see they have 1st floor rooms. We stayed on the Inn side last month and I know they have no 1st floor rooms. Are the 1st floor villa rooms a good location or is upper floors preferred?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Goof, what time of year were you trying to book? I've never had a problem at the 11 month window, but then we usually go at the less busy times of the year, like October, early December and March.

The first two weeks of December are the hottest booking time for DVC members. And anytime from mid-Sept through mid-Jan is a busy time for DVC.

 

[DebbieB]

I just switched us from AoA to BWV 1 bedroom for our stay next month. 12/17 to 22. It will be our very first Villa stay. I'm looking so forward to it. Can't figure out what room requests though. I'm thinking maybe near lobby. But I see they have 1st floor rooms. We stayed on the Inn side last month and I know they have no 1st floor rooms. Are the 1st floor villa rooms a good location or is upper floors preferred?

If you booked through CRO, most likely you will be facing one of the pools or the courtyard near The Swan. The lobby is on the second floor. If you want a good view, I would request upper floor. For convenience, I would request first floor. If you have a car, I would request quiet pool view, you'll be near the parking lot.

 

[VbChristy]

I was there last weekend and stayed club level. The Lounge was crowded during the morning rush. Some people had to sit on the couch but everyone that came in had a seat. We also had s cottage (were upgraded). So the walk was involved to the lounge. It was either 4 flights of stairs, which weren't bad actually or stairs, an elevator and long hallway walk. All and all it was fine and we LOVED the cottage. We didn't go to the lounge as much as we otherwise would have if we were one floor or the same floor as the lounge.