Help me get excited about Boardwalk!

[100acreHiker]

We've stayed both and really, really prefer Boardwalk! (Actually, we've stayed at 5 or 6 Deluxe resorts and BWI is tied for our first choice!) Number one: you are almost guaranteed a balcony (most rooms at Beach club don't have a full balcony). Second, we found Stormalong Bay to be super crowded and constantly noisy. It was just too much, too overwhelming, lots of screaming kids (and I have two kids, so that says something) and weirdly broken up. We love the style of Boardwalk lobby and common areas, the Boardwalk Bakery has the BEST sandwiches and baked goods I've had at any property, and it was really enjoyable to walk around the Boardwalk at night. One of our favorite things to do is have breakfast at the Bellevue Lounge in the hotel, and take our food out on the balcony early in the morning. It was so peaceful and really felt luxurious. We had a standard room but lucked out with a 5th floor view of Epcot, so we saw fireworks everynight from our balcony. Also, my kids prefer the slide at BWI/BWV to many others at other deluxe resorts. My husband, who is not the Disney person in the family but happily comes along and has stayed at 6 different deluxe resorts declared Boardwalk to be his favorite. We loved Grand Floridian as it's super luxurious, but we're just not a Magic Kingdom family anymore, so the access to Epcot is key and amazing.

Trust, me you will not be disappointed! I liked Beach Club just fine, but I really loved Boardwalk and can't wait to go back next year.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Well, we stayed Beach Club this past trip. Don't get me wrong, I loved the Beach Club, but it was the location that really made it worth it. At the end of the day, the Deluxe rooms aren't anything special. However, the location really is. And, when it comes to location, BW and BC are very similar.

For one, you can walk to EPCOT and DHS. It was cold one morning and my parents took the boat, but my sister and I wanted to walk to DHS. We got there before the boat and it took just under 20 minutes. Also, the walking distance to EPCOT is such a HUGE benefit. Imagine you're carrying around a backpack all day and wanna get rid of it. Well, if you're staying at, say, POP, then you'd have 3 choices: 1) keep carrying it, 2) find a locker or 3) take the bus back to the resort, drop it off, then head ALLL the way back. At BW, you can walk back to the resort, drop it off, then head back in all within 20-30 mins (depending on how fast you walk.) Same goes for if it starts pouring rain outside, gets too hot or gets too cold.

Also, nothing beats the short walk back to your room after a long day at the parks. Fo instance, in past years we had to wait 20 minutes for a bus. Now, we walk back to our room and are in bed within 20 minutes.

We also love the area. Imagine waking up and grabbing a coffee and pastry at BW bakery - or just walking into EPCOT and going to France if you feel like it.

And most of all, depending on your room's view, you will be able to see either Illuminations (the higher fireworks) or SW fireworks. If not, you can walk down to the BW or the YC pier to watch.

My favorite times were when I'd just go down and walk the boardwalk and areas around the lake. We loved BC, but it's funny - anytime we talk about how much we loved the resort, we talk more about the location than the actual resort.

 

[sharadoc]

I would love if someone would calculate the number of steps from the lobby to room in both resorts. I feel that BW feels bigger because it's all those windy hallways. Same thing for distance from boat or bus. In my mind, Boardwalk is the best Epcot resort. We've stayed there three times and we would love it any time.

 

[gingerfeathers]

I would love if someone would calculate the number of steps from the lobby to room in both resorts. I feel that BW feels bigger because it's all those windy hallways. Same thing for distance from boat or bus. In my mind, Boardwalk is the best Epcot resort. We've stayed there three times and we would love it any time.

Funny--I actually did this when I stayed at YC recently because I felt like I walked... and walked... and walked to get to my room. My room was .15 miles from the lobby.

 

[sharadoc]

Co

Funny--I actually did this when I stayed at YC recently because I felt like I walked... and walked... and walked to get to my room. My room was .15 miles from the lobby.

That's cool. There are charts for driving times from each resort, someone should undertake walking time and distance at the Epcot resorts: To bus; To Boat; To Epcot; To DHS. But from different rooms. It could be a logistical nightmare lol.

We loved Yacht Club, we had one of the furthest rooms that overlooked the water. They got rid of them - had a Murphy bed, small living area and wet bar. Fantastic!!

 

[BigredNole]

If I was willing to spend the money on either, it would be BC. I have not stayed there because I like my money. I stayed BWV in a 1BR unit and it was great. BWV has so much to as well. Truthfully, the only thing you would really miss is the pool. Other than that, BWV has so much more. You have the Boardwalk (BC can walk there too so it is not an exclusive). Night time street performers, ESPN Bar, Big River Grill (excellent by the way), dueling piano bar, dance club, several other shops on the boardwalk. If you search through the building, you can find many of the old Penny Arcade machines there.

Really, the pool is the difference between the two.