Resort Thread Disney's BOARDWALK INN Resort

[jolene63]

I know this is an odd question, but I'm hoping someone might have the answer. My son just became interested in the Disney pins after staying at WL this summer. We received the free ones because of the construction going on. They are so cute! Anyway, he now wants to collect some on our future visits. We are celebrating his 13th birthday this December and he chose to stay at BWV. His younger sister came up with the idea tonight to buy him a special pin for his birthday. She wants to get one that represents the Boardwalk. Does anyone know if they sell resort specific pins? I have always walked pass the pin section in the gift shops because my kids have never really been interested. Please let me know if you have ever seen a pin for the Boardwalk. Thanks!

 

[preemiemama]

I just found 2 on the Disney Parks App. One has Mickey and Minnie, the other just has Mickey. All I did to find them was search Boardwalk on the app.

 

[jolene63]

I just found 2 on the Disney Parks App. One has Mickey and Minnie, the other just has Mickey. All I did to find them was search Boardwalk on the app.

Thank you for this information! I just downloaded the app and found the two you were talking about. I just hope they sell them at the resort. I don't want to buy them ahead of time because they aren't from our actual vacation. I know that might sound weird, but we like to buy things when we are down there.

 

[chris31997]

Thank you for this information! I just downloaded the app and found the two you were talking about. I just hope they sell them at the resort. I don't want to buy them ahead of time because they aren't from our actual vacation. I know that might sound weird, but we like to buy things when we are down there.

If they don't sell them at the resort, look around the shops near his favorite ride. You can almost get a pin for a ride, character, time of year. Just keep your eyes open. Especially if his bday is after you arrive.

 

[preemiemama]

Thank you for this information! I just downloaded the app and found the two you were talking about. I just hope they sell them at the resort. I don't want to buy them ahead of time because they aren't from our actual vacation. I know that might sound weird, but we like to buy things when we are down there.

The app will tell you where they are available while you are there. Hopefully that will make it easier for you to get one then! We used it for a mug my husband saw and then we could not find again. It was really helpful!

 

[psac]

Thank you for this information! I just downloaded the app and found the two you were talking about. I just hope they sell them at the resort. I don't want to buy them ahead of time because they aren't from our actual vacation. I know that might sound weird, but we like to buy things when we are down there.

When you're at the Boardwalk, I would check the big store out on the BW, but also the little shop that's just past the lobby on the Villas side. That little shop seems to have a lot of BW specific items. Good luck!

 

[shb5007]

Staying at the BoardWalk Inn (Standard Room) for 1 night in December (staying 2 other nights at CBR, preferred king room). This will be my "proposal trip" for my now girlfriend and I am really hoping to get a room with a kind bed. It will be our first stay in a deluxe. I am not sure if the single night stay helps or hurts my chances. I do plan on requesting a king room when I do online check-in. I also plan on faxing in my request for a king room (5 days before arrival). Is there anything else I can do? And is there anything else that I should try to request? I am not sure where the king rooms are, but I was also thinking a "garden / courtyard" view. Thanks for the help, just trying to make this as "special" as possible.

 

[Disneytam]

Staying at the BoardWalk Inn (Standard Room) for 1 night in December (staying 2 other nights at CBR, preferred king room). This will be my "proposal trip" for my now girlfriend and I am really hoping to get a room with a kind bed. It will be our first stay in a deluxe. I am not sure if the single night stay helps or hurts my chances. I do plan on requesting a king room when I do online check-in. I also plan on faxing in my request for a king room (5 days before arrival). Is there anything else I can do? And is there anything else that I should try to request? I am not sure where the king rooms are, but I was also thinking a "garden / courtyard" view. Thanks for the help, just trying to make this as "special" as possible.

Don't be afraid to tell them the reason for your trip as well. Have you chosen a place to propose yet? There is a place on the Boardwalk that they hold weddings in that is really magical at night. Just saying

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hey Kook...
We ended up having to be moved again but this time to an entirely different resort .

Long story short, our new room had a strong musty smell and we noticed the carpet was damp. I mentioned it to the front desk when we headed out for the night and by the time we got back it was very late and the room smelled exactly the same. Went to bed & needless to say, my youngest DD woke up a short while later with a full blown asthma attack (she has allergy induced asthma) and we were up with her all night.

The very next morning, I returned to the front desk to speak to a manager. I will say this, in all of our Disney stays, we found management at BWI to be top notch! They tried to find us another room but unfortunately one of them (a few doors down from ours) had the same issue. The other, didn't smell but was smack in the middle of the "war zone" and the third, a 1BR villa, was so far away that it didn't make sense to take it. At that point we asked to be moved back to BC but were told it was sold out so they offered us GF and we took it for our last two nights.

What did we learn on this trip? No more split stays when we travel together as a family and never travel without packing DD's nebulizer.

I'm just grateful we were able to control her breathing with her inhaler and not have to make a trip to celebration hospital!

I think this was for the best. We've had to do it before and didn't regret moving. Being ill on vacation is the worst so I'm really glad your DD's condition improved without emergency intervention.

Hey guys do any of you have an idea of what updates are going to be put in the BWI pool? and what is the history of the clown slide?

This is just speculation, but I think they're putting up a fence, @mateojr. All of the pools will have them eventually, like WL and Poly have.

HERE is the link to an interesting 3-part blog by Jack Spence about the history of BWI/BWV. Part 3 covers the Luna Park pool which was modeled after a circus. I've also added the link to POST 1. The links to the next part is at the end of each blog entry

OK, I need some help. ( FYI, I am posting this on Y/BC thread as well)

So, usually I book a RO as soon as I can. After staying in a 2BR villa on our last trip, I knew that I wanted to do that again. I also know how difficult it will be to book that during F&W. So I am getting anxious that we may end up shut out of anything in the Epcot area, so I am thinking I should book 2 standard rooms now at either BC, YC, or BWI.

My question is, is there a significant difference in the standard rooms at each of these locations in terms of size, views, or anything else besides the pools? Also, why is the WV so much more expensive at the BW? ( approx rack rates for my dates, without tax, weekday/wknd: Y&BC SV: 422/490, GV/WV: 429/495, LV/PV: 509/561
BWI: S: 423/467, WV: 544/600

Any input on this choice is much appreciated! After hanging out here for a while, I know most of the differences, but I was puzzled by the difference in the cost of the WV. I have also been paying more attention to the info on the villas, so I need to get more info on the rooms.
Thanks!!

Well, the water view at YC/BC can, in some cases, also be a pool view. At BWI, the water view is of Crescent Lake only and a STD view can have a pool view. A STD view at YC/BC does not include a pool, garden or canal view like at BWI. Their SV rooms primarily overlook the parking lot area at the front of the resort.

Walked around the resort more today. I'm overlooking the main pool in villas no construction heard or saw. However, when I walked over to the quiet pool on villas side lots of noise from construction there they seem to be doing substantial digging near the pool (which is still open). That's all to report so far...

So if you are coming soon request to not overlook the quiet pool.

Thank you for posting an update and advice for everyone.

Does anyone know if all standard room at BWI have a sofa bed plus two queen beds?? Or are rooms with sofa bed very limited at BWI?

They all have a daybed which is about the size of a twin and a few have a king bed instead of two queens. To get a (queen) sofa bed/sleeper sofa, you would need to book a Deluxe CL room.

FYI BWV ressies: I just called guest services to ask about construction. The CM transferred me to the resort's front desk. From that portion of the call I was told that construction is scheduled to be completed on October 31, with the disclaimer that it may last a few days longer than that. Hope that helps someone in their planning.

Thank you for posting the update!

Not sure if you were actually transferred to the front desk as it's always been said you never get thru to an actual resort BUT I can tell you not even the CM's at the actual front desk have a clue. Perfect example... when we transferred to the BWI last Monday, 8/15, and were first given a "construction view" room, I headed back to the front desk and was told by one of their CM's that all the scaffolding & "cherry pickers" would be down and finished by the following morning. I can tell you first hand, that was NOT true!!

Just adding that sometimes this is in fact true and sometimes the CMs are told not to discuss certain things with guests.

We received the construction letter yesterday and we're not checking into the villas until January 31

2017? Well, this is a new twist.

Lots of discussion about people receiving letters and wondering when the construction will be over, but not much specifics from people at WDW that are saying exactly what construction is ongoing. I read some posts about work near the pools.

Does anyone know whether there is any exterior painting work going on? Any scaffolding up? Any rooms still being refurbished? If so, what sections and what floors?

Thanks for any help those staying at BWI/BWV can provide. Pics would help too. Thanks.

If you check back to some August posts, there are photos of some of the scaffolding and work being done in and around the balconies, such as painting. The BWV villa rehab is supposed to be wrapping up any day now, I believe. However, exterior work is being done around BWI/BWV, that may be going on through 10/31 or into next year, I'm confused about that. One poster was told 10/31 when they called and another poster received a construction letter for their 1/17 stay.

 

[WDWKOOK]

The water view at BWI is a Boardwalk View of Crescent Lake, which I think is what they call a Lake View at the BC/YC. You're also closer to the lake from the BW side. At the BC, not all rooms have full balconies, which is a big issue to some people. Also the standard views there have a lot of roofs from how the floors are layered in a weird way. I think the standard views at the BW might be a little nicer than the BC. Can't compare to the YC though. Of course BC/YC has Stormalong Bay, which is a big draw for some people, and BC is a little closer to Epcot.

Just adding that their water views also have roof views. We once booked a YC GV because with a WV, there was no guarantee of facing Crescent Lake and we didn't want to face a noisy pool. They "upgraded" us to a direct SAB view with a dirty-looking roof right beneath our balcony.

Just booked our stay at BWV for January 28-February 3rd 2017!

Never stayed at BWV before but was sold on the convenience to parks and the Murphy bed so my oldest doesn't have to share a bed with her younger sister LOL

I stayed at the Beach Club back in2001 for our honeymoon, but really don't remember any of it lol. Anyone got any tips for stuff to do around the resort for days where we don't go to the park? I'll probably get 4-5 day passes so we'll have some free time. I don't think we'll go to the park the day we arrive since it'll be a little later in the day. Mini golf? Blizzard Beach (we'll be coming from Alaska in January, so it'll be warm for us)

Any tips, info, dining recommendations etc would be greatly appreciated. We are traveling with my wife, and 2 daughters (8 & 11) and myself for reference. We will not have a rental car, so Disney transport or walking works for us as I consider us a decently fit family!

Congratulations and welcome to the thread. I'll add your dates to POST 1. Make sure to get Park Hoppers and the longer the pass, the less expensive each day gets.

First, when you used BWV Studio in your post, did you mean a Boardwalk View Studio or a Boardwalk Villa Studio?

If you have a Boardwalk view Studio, there are only 2 that are on level 1 ( aka right off the Boardwalk ). The bulk of the remaining BWV Studios will be on floors 2-5. Note: All the true BWV Studios would all be in the North building and the 5th floor rooms have a half wall balcony so I would suggest floors 2-4.

Let me know if you have a different view reserved and I can suggest other Studio locations.

Dave

Thanking you for always being so helpful with your very specific BWV villa advice.

Just back from my 5 day stay at the Boardwalk! I got exactly the room request I had put in for, a king bed room on an upper floor. I had room 4308, facing the courtyard at the very end of the hallway. It was very quiet and clean. I had one bad day of construction noise with three workers on my balcony and a lot of drilling. I went down to speak to the the front desk staff and expressed my concerns nicely. They were very sympathetic and while they did not promise anything, I had no more noise issues for the rest of my trip. I could still see the cherry pickers in the courtyard and workers painting along the eaves but thankfully there was no more drilling.

Pros: Very quiet and spacious. Excellent mousekeeping staff. Front desk and bell services were very polite, friendly and helpful. The CM working at the Bellevue Lounge in the mornings was fabulous. So friendly and welcoming. She made everyone feel special. Loved the seating area off the lobby facing the lake. So peaceful! Boardwalk bakery was great for morning treats. LOVED Abracadabar......so cool! Definitely check it out. The quiet pool was lovely and tranquil.

Cons: The Luna Park pool was SO small! I absolutely did not care for it. It was very crowded and noisy. On a family trip, this would have had a very negative impact on our overall satisfaction with the resort. As I was there on a solo trip, I was able to utilize the quiet pool. Buses to the MK very very hit or miss with waits of over 25 minutes being common. I had no trouble with AK buses and loved walking between the other 2 parks.

Overall, I could see staying here again on a solo or couples trip. I am glad I tried it and it has many lovely features but I do think overall, my heart belongs to the YC of all the Epcot area resorts. If I can answer any questions for anyone, please let me know.

Thank you for posting about your stay and offering to answer questions.

Walked around a bit more today. Construction is heavy on the Inn side whole area between bell vue lounge and pool.

My villa facing Luna park still sees no construction or noise. Seems most is on Inn side currently aside from the work around the quiet pool at the villas.

You've been so helpful posting your LIVE answers and updates.

I know this is an odd question, but I'm hoping someone might have the answer. My son just became interested in the Disney pins after staying at WL this summer. We received the free ones because of the construction going on. They are so cute! Anyway, he now wants to collect some on our future visits. We are celebrating his 13th birthday this December and he chose to stay at BWV. His younger sister came up with the idea tonight to buy him a special pin for his birthday. She wants to get one that represents the Boardwalk. Does anyone know if they sell resort specific pins? I have always walked pass the pin section in the gift shops because my kids have never really been interested. Please let me know if you have ever seen a pin for the Boardwalk. Thanks!

They sell a resort pin at Dundy's Sundries right off the lobby. It's usually in a basket right when you walk in, but may have been relocated. All the resorts have a pin of some kind that represents the resort. This is mine from Dundy's or was it Screendoor? It seems to encompass both BWV and BWI:

 

[oceanmarina]

I think this was for the best. We've had to do it before and didn't regret moving. Being ill on vacation is the worst so I'm really glad your DD's condition improved without emergency intervention.



This is just speculation, but I think they're putting up a fence, @mateojr. All of the pools will have them eventually, like WL and Poly have.

HERE is the link to an interesting 3-part blog by Jack Spence about the history of BWI/BWV. Part 3 covers the Luna Park pool which was modeled after a circus. I've also added the link to POST 1. The links to the next part is at the end of each blog entry



Well, the water view at YC/BC can, in some cases, also be a pool view. At BWI, the water view is of Crescent Lake only and a STD view can have a pool view. A STD view at YC/BC does not include a pool, garden or canal view like at BWI. Their SV rooms primarily overlook the parking lot area at the front of the resort.



Thank you for posting an update and advice for everyone.



They all have a daybed which is about the size of a twin and a few have a king bed instead of two queens. To get a (queen) sofa bed/sleeper sofa, you would need to book a Deluxe CL room.



Thank you for posting the update!



Just adding that sometimes this is in fact true and sometimes the CMs are told not to discuss certain things with guests.



2017? Well, this is a new twist.



If you check back to some August posts, there are photos of some of the scaffolding and work being done in and around the balconies, such as painting. The BWV villa rehab is supposed to be wrapping up any day now, I believe. However, exterior work is being done around BWI/BWV, that may be going on through 10/31 or into next year, I'm confused about that. One poster was told 10/31 when they called and another poster received a construction letter for their 1/17 stay.

Yes it's certainly giving mixed messages about the construction, while I expected just exterior painting when we checked on on 8/9, I was surprised by all the drilling noises and cement work. The misinformation I got by calling astounds me. From what I was told, I didn't get an accurate picture of what type of work to expect during our stay.

 

[jolene63]

The app will tell you where they are available while you are there. Hopefully that will make it easier for you to get one then! We used it for a mug my husband saw and then we could not find again. It was really helpful!

I noticed that feature last night after downloading the app. It's so cool! Disney seems to think of everything.

 

[jolene63]

If they don't sell them at the resort, look around the shops near his favorite ride. You can almost get a pin for a ride, character, time of year. Just keep your eyes open. Especially if his bday is after you arrive.

Thanks for the idea of getting his favorite ride. My daughter wants to get him one pin for Christmas and one pin for his birthday the day after. We will be arriving nine days before his birthday so we will have plenty of time to look for something special. I knew we needed to find a Boardwalk pin, but didn't know exactly what we should do for the second one. Now I just need to figure out what his favorite ride is. He has a few.

 

[preemiemama]

I noticed that feature last night after downloading the app. It's so cool! Disney seems to think of everything.

Anything to get you to spend money!

 

[BraveLittleToaster2]

Boardwalk has some pressure washing of the buildings and awnings today. Not too noisy but they have a big truck lifting the workers up to do it. So some boardwalk view rooms may have a view of that. Though I would assume that will be done by the end of the day?

I have not noticed anymore interior painting at least on the villa side.

Still some work on villa quiet pool area with lots of workers and digging...

Some workers were erecting the new fence around the Luna pool today. It wasn't noisy at all I just noticed as I walked by. No noise in my room from it.

Beach club had lots of work today on the beach. Lots of trucks adding many huge bags of sand to the beach. Obviously couldnt hear it from boardwalk, but figured I'd mention it.

This is my last update. I leave in the morning. Overall I found the resort to be quiet for my whole 10 day stay. There is sporadic work. Noisiest work is likely the rooms overlooking villa quiet pool. Though it was never being worked on early in the morning, only during the day.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Yes it's certainly giving mixed messages about the construction, while I expected just exterior painting when we checked on on 8/9, I was surprised by all the drilling noises and cement work. The misinformation I got by calling astounds me. From what I was told, I didn't get an accurate picture of what type of work to expect during our stay.

Resort management need to communicate better with booked guests before they arrive and do a much better job of taking impacted rooms out of inventory.

Anything to get you to spend money!

Boardwalk has some pressure washing of the buildings and awnings today. Not too noisy but they have a big truck lifting the workers up to do it. So some boardwalk view rooms may have a view of that. Though I would assume that will be done by the end of the day?

I have not noticed anymore interior painting at least on the villa side.

Still some work on villa quiet pool area with lots of workers and digging...

Some workers were erecting the new fence around the Luna pool today. It wasn't noisy at all I just noticed as I walked by. No noise in my room from it.

Beach club had lots of work today on the beach. Lots of trucks adding many huge bags of sand to the beach. Obviously couldnt hear it from boardwalk, but figured I'd mention it.

This is my last update. I leave in the morning. Overall I found the resort to be quiet for my whole 10 day stay. There is sporadic work. Noisiest work is likely the rooms overlooking villa quiet pool. Though it was never being worked on early in the morning, only during the day.

We're going to miss your updates, @BraveLittleToaster2. Safe travels home and thank you for all your LIVE posts.

 

[psac]

Just adding that their water views also have roof views. We once booked a YC GV because with a WV, there was no guarantee of facing Crescent Lake and we didn't want to face a noisy pool. They "upgraded" us to a direct SAB view with a dirty-looking roof right beneath our balcony.

That sounds awesome.

As a side note relating to YC and dining in the BW area, I saw that the executive chef at Yachtsman's Steakhouse (Daniel Sicilia I think is the right spelling) moved on about a month ago to now run Jiko. I think he directly transformed YS from getting poor reviews to be the best signature on property (note: never been to V&A, but that's different anyway.). So I really hope YS doesn't slip now that he's gone. And I'm interested to see what he does with Jiko! We made a reservation for our December trip, and dropped Akershus. No princesses this trip.

 

[Darla2016]

Can anyone tell me if any garden or pool view studios are ground level with patio? I tried making a request on the online check in but says lower floor not ground floor. Trying to avoid elevators.

 

[FoodieFriend]

As a side note relating to YC and dining in the BW area, I saw that the executive chef at Yachtsman's Steakhouse (Daniel Sicilia I think is the right spelling) moved on about a month ago to now run Jiko. I think he directly transformed YS from getting poor reviews to be the best signature on property (note: never been to V&A, but that's different anyway.). So I really hope YS doesn't slip now that he's gone. And I'm interested to see what he does with Jiko! We made a reservation for our December trip, and dropped Akershus. No princesses this trip.

We loved YS when we tried it last Sept so I also hope it has not changed since the Exec Chef has moved. I'll keep an ear out for upcoming reviews to see if we'll return to YS in March '17. it was requested, but not going back if it starts to backslide.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Can anyone tell me if any garden or pool view studios are ground level with patio? I tried making a request on the online check in but says lower floor not ground floor. Trying to avoid elevators.

Yes, but you'll have to take the elevator up to get to the check in desk/lobby and bus stop (or take the steps). The lobby is on the second floor.