Just back-split stay POFQ and BWI(long)

[momimouse27]

We just got back late last night from our WDW trip...there are some other things to say, but I'll post them on the Trip reports board and stick to our resort experiences.

I have positive and negative about both resorts, so I'll post both. Please don't flame me, since I am only presenting my opinions from our family's point of view. There was nothing really awful about either of our resorts, but a few little negatives:

POFQ:

Negatives first! :
1. Always long bus lines back to resort from parks. For such a compact resort, there sure are a lot of people riding the bus there! After day 2, we drove...
2. My husband was unhappy that the beds were full and not queen. I found them perfectly fine and very comfortable, but he's a big guy.
3. I wish they would add another hot tub. It was always full-I know its a smaller park, but it would be nice to have an extra one!

Positives:
1. Overall we loved this resort! It is beautiful, kept very clean and nice and small. We enjoyed being close to everything.
2. Food court is great.
3. Pool is awesome-my son loved the kiddie pool.
4. Staff was very friendly and helpful, and housekeeping did all kinds of cool stuff with my girls barbies!
5. The refrigerator in the room was highly convenient.
6. It might seem unimportant, but I really liked the curtain between the room and sink area. I have a modest 12 yr old daughter, and she liked having this area to dress.
7. Easy to park close to room and load and unload.


Boardwalk Inn

Okay, let me say this is the 2nd deluxe I have stayed in and had high expectations from my previous Beach Club experience. It was a beautiful resort, but overall I would have to say I would not pick this resort again for a few reasons:

Negatives:
1. No matter where you park, it is forever to your car!! And the buses took a loooonnng time to pick up at the resort.
2. Some staff, especially some of the valet folks, were quite rude and um, "unmagical". I know this is the real world, and everyone is not peppy all the time, but isn't basic friendliness one of the hallmarks of being at Disney? I still believe it should be. However, we did have a very sweet lady check us in and a very nice gentlemen at bell services take our our luggage when we left.
3. My girls were kind of dissapointed that they left their dolls and toys in the room and never once did housekeeping do anything neat with their stuff. We got something new every single night at BC, POFQ, and at all the AllStars. Don't know what was going on...
4. Took forever to get to the pool, and took a long time from the Inn side to find it.
5. This probobly shouldn't be counted against the resort itself, but rather against the Boardwalk, but we were very excited to try the Boardwalk Bakery. Everyone had raved about it. We did get the famed chocolate croissant(wonderfu!) but the terribly rude-and thats an understatement-woman behind the counter kind of ruined the moment. I though maybe it was me, but later my mom came back and mentioned it to me as well.
6. I know all the deluxes are like this, but I sure miss having a food court

Positives:

1. Obviously, the location is awesome. We could walk easily to Epcot, our favorite park.
2. The decor in the resort is breathtaking. We were awed by the lobby and loved the room. Plus the size of the room and the beds were much larger than at the Port Orleans.
3. Our balcony(rooms 4300 and 4302) had wonderful nighttime views of the fireworks at Epcot.


Like I said before, everyone has different expectations, but we just felt like the BWI was not our favorite resort. We didn't have that "magical" feeling there like we have had at other places. We had an excellent experience at Beach Club, plus we liked the pool better there. The staff went out of their way to be friendly at BC. Actually, I really liked the pool at POFQ better that the one at Boardwalk. I was also struck at French Quarter, that they were painting shutters and iron work and keeping the lawn trimmed always. They keep it very neat and welcoming. We will definitely go back there. We are thinking of next time trying WL or Poly.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

3. My girls were kind of dissapointed that they left their dolls and toys in the room and never once did housekeeping do anything neat with their stuff.

I can understand that they would be disappointed after having the other housekeepers arrange their toys, but it is not required of staff to do this. Unfortunately, some housekeepers are just more magical than others.

If you were treated rudely by any staff member, you should report it immediately to Guest Services. We all know that Cast Members can't possibly blow pixie dust out of their rears 24/7, but downright rudeness is unacceptable.

Thanks for the reviews. I have stayed in strictly deluxe resorts, but there's something about POFQ that is calling my name. I may have to stay there for a few days and try it out.

 

[GailT]

Thanks so much for your reviews, I have stayed at both and like them both, never had anyone rude but then again maybe they all got up on the right side of the bed the days that I was there.

 

[tinkermell]

We just got back late last night from our WDW trip...there are some other things to say, but I'll post them on the Trip reports board and stick to our resort experiences.

I have positive and negative about both resorts, so I'll post both. Please don't flame me, since I am only presenting my opinions from our family's point of view. There was nothing really awful about either of our resorts, but a few little negatives:

POFQ:

Negatives first! :
1. Always long bus lines back to resort from parks. For such a compact resort, there sure are a lot of people riding the bus there! After day 2, we drove...
2. My husband was unhappy that the beds were full and not queen. I found them perfectly fine and very comfortable, but he's a big guy.
3. I wish they would add another hot tub. It was always full-I know its a smaller park, but it would be nice to have an extra one!

Positives:
1. Overall we loved this resort! It is beautiful, kept very clean and nice and small. We enjoyed being close to everything.
2. Food court is great.
3. Pool is awesome-my son loved the kiddie pool.
4. Staff was very friendly and helpful, and housekeeping did all kinds of cool stuff with my girls barbies!
5. The refrigerator in the room was highly convenient.
6. It might seem unimportant, but I really liked the curtain between the room and sink area. I have a modest 12 yr old daughter, and she liked having this area to dress.
7. Easy to park close to room and load and unload.


Boardwalk Inn

Okay, let me say this is the 2nd deluxe I have stayed in and had high expectations from my previous Beach Club experience. It was a beautiful resort, but overall I would have to say I would not pick this resort again for a few reasons:

Negatives:
1. No matter where you park, it is forever to your car!! And the buses took a loooonnng time to pick up at the resort.
2. Some staff, especially some of the valet folks, were quite rude and um, "unmagical". I know this is the real world, and everyone is not peppy all the time, but isn't basic friendliness one of the hallmarks of being at Disney? I still believe it should be. However, we did have a very sweet lady check us in and a very nice gentlemen at bell services take our our luggage when we left.
3. My girls were kind of dissapointed that they left their dolls and toys in the room and never once did housekeeping do anything neat with their stuff. We got something new every single night at BC, POFQ, and at all the AllStars. Don't know what was going on...
4. Took forever to get to the pool, and took a long time from the Inn side to find it.
5. This probobly shouldn't be counted against the resort itself, but rather against the Boardwalk, but we were very excited to try the Boardwalk Bakery. Everyone had raved about it. We did get the famed chocolate croissant(wonderfu!) but the terribly rude-and thats an understatement-woman behind the counter kind of ruined the moment. I though maybe it was me, but later my mom came back and mentioned it to me as well.
6. I know all the deluxes are like this, but I sure miss having a food court

Positives:

1. Obviously, the location is awesome. We could walk easily to Epcot, our favorite park.
2. The decor in the resort is breathtaking. We were awed by the lobby and loved the room. Plus the size of the room and the beds were much larger than at the Port Orleans.
3. Our balcony(rooms 4300 and 4302) had wonderful nighttime views of the fireworks at Epcot.


Like I said before, everyone has different expectations, but we just felt like the BWI was not our favorite resort. We didn't have that "magical" feeling there like we have had at other places. We had an excellent experience at Beach Club, plus we liked the pool better there. The staff went out of their way to be friendly at BC. Actually, I really liked the pool at POFQ better that the one at Boardwalk. I was also struck at French Quarter, that they were painting shutters and iron work and keeping the lawn trimmed always. They keep it very neat and welcoming. We will definitely go back there. We are thinking of next time trying WL or Poly.

Thanks for your great review. My family of 10 will be going to the POFQ this Dec. 19th -25th. This is our first time at WDW and so looking forward to everything. I have been a little concerned about the bus system, and I go back and forth about renting a BIG van for all of us. When you were returning back to the resort, were people also riding to the POR??? Were there long lines to get to the parks from the POFQ??? Thanks again.

 

[lucky1]

:
6. I know all the deluxes are like this, but I sure miss having a food court

AKL.. did have a food court... Kind of nice when you wanted something quick and informal. I am not sure about other deluxe resorts.

Thanks for your opinions.. We had very similiar observations. As for the buses.. I think it really depends on the time of year on how long the waits or crowds. Unfortunately at BWV and BWI we have always had a long wait for buses.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Thanks for the report. We where considering BWI but you just reminded me of our BWV stay, and I am really reconsidering. We had the same valets, and we stayed there back when it opened. Their parking is absolutely the terrible. ( a close 2nd to self park at GF). Although good for your calf muscles.

Mky

 

[Tinkbell]

BWI is my favorite resort. I've read many reports about the bus service being less than desirable, so we always use the car. We use the valet and luckily have never met any rude ones (knock on wood). I agree with you that a food court would come in very handy there for a quick bite.

 

[GailT]

I have stayed at both resorts n=and liked them booth. I have never come across a rud e CM Maybe the days I was there they always got up on the right side of the bed

 

[TwingleMum]

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Sammie]

Thanks for sharing, actually your account of what you do not like at the BW Inn would be the same as mine. It is not a favorite of our family unless we stay concierge.

I think it's a beautiful area but I much prefer to be at the Yacht Club looking at it, rather than staying there.