Just got back 8/11-8/18 from Boardwalk Villas

[donnahead]

Returned this afternoon from a week at the Boardwalk (and 3 days prior at Universal). Crowds were heavier than this time the last few years (due to Dining Plan based on restaurant crowds). Almost no rain - so parks never emptied out.

We used the Boardwalk check-in service for airlines on the way home. Dropped our luggage off and picked up boarding passes at the front desk, and went straight to the airport. This worked great - I'd recommend it to anyone staying at a resort with the service whose airline participates.

I'd be happy to answer any questions. We visited all four major parks and Typhoon Lagoon. Ate at: Le Cellier, Sci-Fi, Prime Time, Coral Reef, Crystal Palace, Palio's and Kona.

 

[JerseyGirl114]

Glad you enjoyed your trip!

We won't be staying at the Boardwalk, but plan on going there on a Friday night w/kids. Can you tell me what to expect?

 

[alicenwonder99]

I was thinking we would stay at the Poly for our trip next year, but I'm starting to think about the Boardwalk. How close is it to Epcot? What are some of the things you liked about it? How was the pool?

TIA

Mary

 

[antmaril]

I was thinking we would stay at the Poly for our trip next year, but I'm starting to think about the Boardwalk. How close is it to Epcot? What are some of the things you liked about it? How was the pool?

TIA

Mary

EPCOT is about a 5-8 minute walk from the Boardwalk. Really, the best thing about the Boardwalk Inn and Villas is the fantastic location. You can also walk or take the boat to MGM from the Boardwalk. There is always fun stuff going on in the evenings on the Boardwalk. It's "alive" and it's just fun to walk around.

I can highly recommend. We are going back to the Boardwalk Inn for the third time in January.

 

[purpliequeen]

How was the pool? How are the villas in all in terms of quality? I know that I should ask this question on the DVC board, but seeing as you just got back. We stayed from 8/13 to 8/18 and had an aweseome time at the AKL concierge. Welcome home fellow Disney fan!

 

[Tammi67]

We're staying there in October. Thanks for the info.

 

[bluejasmine]

So the parks were crowded before you left or was it just the restaurants? I would love to hear a review on CR and LC.. Thanks!

 

[donnahead]

Jerseygirl: The Boardwalk is always fun. The crowds aren't bad, but it is very lively. We had a grand villa with balconies over the general store area of the Boardwalk, and watched some of the entertainment from our room late at night. They have a man on a piano-bicycle (excellent player), a comedian-magician, and other roaming entertainers. There are carnival games, food and face-painters. And the surreys, of course. If you ride one, do it in the evening, because it is no fun in the heat of the day - too much work. My 10 DD got to act as the magician's assistance. Most of the acts are very interactive with the audience.

.

 

[donnahead]

Purlpiequeen: Quality is kind of subjective. We came from 3 days at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal, which really needs a refurbishment. Rooms there are very run down - and I remember how they started because we've been going there for years too. I understand they are starting a rehab this fall, though. Compared to Hard Rock Rooms, The Boardwalk was in excellent condition. We had (our first) grand villa there. It was a handicap unit, so the kitchen and bathrooms were different than we are used to, but we adapted ok. We loved the grand villa. The furnishings were in excellent shape. We've always loved the decor. Service was as great as we have been used to since it opened 10 years ago.

 

[donnahead]

Bluejasmine: The parks were just as crowded as the restaurants. It felt like June-July crowds to me. We are excellent crowd-avoiders (been doing this since 1986), but had a hard time avoiding them and still seeing what we wanted. The first 2 days (8/11-12) seemed like normal mid-August crowds, but after that, it seemed like they air-dropped the crowds in. We still saw what we wanted to, but not as many times. We skipped Splash Mountain on our second visit to MK because the wait times were over 60 minutes. Pirates was hit or miss - it was 20 minutes one morning, and only 10 minutes one evening when Jungle Cruise was 40 minutes. Even Stitch had a line. The Tiki Room had full houses all 4 tmes we saw it. This is unusual for mid-August. But we still had a great time. We always do.

 

[donnahead]

We eat at Coral Reef and Le Cellier just about every year we go. They were both packed and turning people away at 4:00 in the afternoon. I think the food at all of the table service restaurants has suffered with the Dining Plan. Menus are very limited (4-6 entre choices) and very plain. In comparison to other food choices, we still enjoyed these restaurants, we just mourn the death of the more diverse menus and less chaos. The Dining Plan seems to bring more families with small children into the sit down restaurants. Lots more screaming and running around the restaurants than there used to be. There was a large group next to us in Coral Reef, where the adults sat alone at one table and put all of their (under 12) children at a booth across the aisle from them and next to us. The kids were wrestling and rolling on the floor between the booth and table where the waiters had to walk to bring food to the tables. I felt very sorry for the servers. It was like waiting tables in a Middle School locker room. They were more tolerant than I would have been. Le Cellier was a little more sedate, but not much. The menus at both restaurants were pretty limited

 

[Tink1999]

Great to hear about your trip.

Did you do any of the Evening Magic Hours? If yes how were the crowds then?

How were the waterpark crowds? What day of the week did you do the waterpark?

I'm leaving in a few days. Any updates or advice are very much appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[donnahead]

We did not do any Am or PM EMH hours this year (except Typhoon Lagoon) - prior experience has taught us that it is not worth it. The waterpark crowd on the day we went wasn't bad - we wen to Typhoon Lagoon on a Monday. We were staying at Boardwalk, and they had EMH for one hour early every morning. From 8:30-9:30, it was empty - we did all the slides during this period, and then stayed in the Lazy River and Wave Pool until we left around 12-1. This worked great for us. If they have EMH for the waterparks when you are there, you should definitely take advantage if you can.

 

[tinker&belle]

Were you at Epcot at all on 8/16? Soarin was broken most of the day and it seemed really crowded compared to the other days. I just wondered if anyone else experienenced this?

 

[JerseyGirl114]

We're from NJ & we happen to like the boardwalk near here, but I can't wait to see the Disney boardwalk - I'm sure it's 100% better

The kids will be disappointed that they don't have rides like they do at home, but as long as there is different things going on I'm sure they will enjoy it.