How accessible is the Boardwalk?

[Tiiiigergirl]

How accessible is the Boardwalk? How easy is it to get from the rooms to the boardwalk. We stayed at the BC last year and I don't remember seeing an entrance but I know there must be.

 

[teri]

The Boardwalk is built on an artificial hillside - there are inclines and steps all over the place. To get from one level to another, there is one single bank of elevators for the BWV's, off of the main lobby, that go down to the pool area on level with the shops and boardwalk itself.. those 3 elevators serve all of BWV. The rooms there are deluxe size, but smaller than OKW rooms.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Assuming you are referring to Wheelchair access ...

There are elevators each end of the lobby down to the Boardwalk, Pools and Epcot/MGM ferries, these serve Boardwalk Inn one side and Boardwalk Villas the other. The bus stop is out the front lobby door then down a ramp to the stop. This is the only ramp you will encounter other than the one down to the boat dock. The bus stop is effectively one floor lower than the lobby, so you will find the ramp hard work if you are in a manual chair. However, there is a house phone at the bus stop, so you can call bell services to get someone to push you up the hill.

I have stayed in 'handicap' rooms at both Inn and Villas, and both were right up near the elevators. If you are staying at the Inn, ask for a handicap room with roll in shower. These are situated (one on each floor above each other) where the building makes a 135 degree change of direction. These rooms are therefore wedge shaped and have half as much room again as a regular room. One year my wife & I each had ECVs, and I was still able to do a figure of eight in the room without bumping any of the furniture or my wife's ECV which was parked up for recharging!!!

The ferries to MGM and Epcot are wheelchair/ECV accessible. Both parks are just about within walking distance, though I wouldn't want to do either in a manual chair because of the slopes over the bridge on the way to Epcot, and the greater distance to MGM.

None of the main or quiet pools have 'handicap' access. The nearest pool if you can't get in & out of the water in the regular way, would be Storm along Bay at Yacht & Beach Club just across the water, which has 'bump steps' rising out of the water, useful if you have good upper body strength.

Andrew

 

[SueM in MN]

Andrew, I got a mental picture of you doing figure 8's in your room. Funny!
We have used the bridge/path to walk from BW to and from Epcot. It is faster than waiting for the ferry boat, but, as Andrew said, it is quite steep. You need a stong pusher (or very strong arms) to get up the hill and hold on tight when you go down!

 

[teri]

I found that ramp from the bus stop to be quite challenging when pushing a wheelchair with a heavy person inside.

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

Yes how silly of me, I did mean handi-access. Thank you for your quick replys. For the first evening and last morning we will just have George the purple wheelchair. For the other full days I will be renting an ECV. I do think the room we got was one with a roll-in shower. I don't transfer easily, although I can do it, I just though it would be nice to let hubby have a vacation too. I'm really glad now that I did! I loved the beach club last year but my better half wants to try the Boardwalk this year.

The pool isn't a great concern for me as I am photo-sensitive and have to watch how much sunlight I get. I can't believe that our once in a lifetime trip 2 years ago has now turned into an annual event! We have given up every luxury in life to afford to be Disney Pigs as my sister calls us.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

If your room is in the Inn rather than the Villas, ask for floor four or five from where you will be able to watch the Epcot fireworks from your room. Avoid the first floor room which is somewhat dark being at the bottom of the building and tucked in behind planting.

My own 'once in a lifetime' trip evolved into an annual week, then an annual three weeks and finally DVC membership.

(correction: something in the back of my mind says the handi-room of floor 5 has a bath not roll in shower, you will need to check)

Andrew

 

[SueM in MN]

You can call this number: WDW Resort Special Reservations at (407) 939-7807 (voice) or (407) 939-7670 (TTY), to check on where the accessible rooms are and take care of any of your other accessibility needs.
have fun.

 

[Nanajo1]

I think the "quiet" pool at the Community Hall has bump down steps. I was just there but I can't remember for certain. I do know that the umbrella tables were all elevated up one step. There is one H/P automatic door on the ground level. It is tucked under the porch on the boardwalk side at the end of the Flying Fish windows. It is on Inn side but I took it to the lobby level and crossed over to the Villa side.