Staying at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn!

[DduzDis]

I'm a kid at heart. With this in mind, there's a few things to consider:

1. Make sure that you get a schedule of activities at the front desk when you check-in. There usually is a sign posted and sometimes it's just easier to take a photo of that.
2. The Boardwalk Inn/Villas has 3 pools: the main pool and 2 quiet pools. If you have time, give one a try.
3. The water slide at Luna Park pool is, IMO, the best water slide at any of Disney's WDW hotels.
4. Take some time to explore the boardwalk after sunset. The boardwalk tends to get more active in the evening, especially near Epcot's closing time. It really can be lovely.
5. The boardwalk has a pizza window.
6. The Boardwalk Bakery has some fun baked goods. It also has some food. My spouse particularly likes the soup and sandwich.
7. The Boardwalk's main store (called the General Store) has pastries and sweets too. Plus other food items you might find at a convenience store.
8. Stop at least once at the Boardwalk Ice Cream shop.
9. The boardwalk has some carnival games at night that I have seen adults enjoy playing. Also cotton candy and funnel cakes.
10. The boardwalk offers bike rentals. (These are 4-wheel bikes the seat four or five.)
11. Entertainers are there most nights on the Boardwalk. Ask at the front desk for a schedule.
12. Take a stroll around Crescent Lake (the lake in front of the Boardwalk) and explore the other hotels (Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club, and Beach Club).
13. Book at least one nighttime reservation at Beaches & Cream for some ice cream. (Beaches & Cream is located across Crescent Lake at the Beach Club.) If you cannot get a reservation, Beaches & Cream also has a walk-up window.
14. Trattoria al Forno (the table service restaurant on the boardwalk) is known for Italian food. However, it also serves breakfast, which is pretty good. Reservations are required.
15. The Big River Grille is a good choice for burgers & beer for lunch or dinner. They have an outdoor patio, which can offer a beautiful view around sunset and is comfortable if it's not too hot. They take reservations through Google.
16. Even though Disney's Hollywood Studios (DHS) is within walking distance, try riding the Skyliner to DHS or one of the other hotels at least once.
17. Also try riding the boat to DHS at least once for a different experience.

This is an excellent summary! 10 - Make sure you have more than one person to pedal with a full load...again ask me how I know. The 'hills' at each end can be a make or break situation.

 

[DduzDis]

The Bellevue lounge by the lobby offers pastry and coffee in the morning. You can also mobile order from the bakery. Both are pretty convenient, but the lounge is definitely faster. If you aren’t in a hurry, you can take your pastry and coffee out on their patio.

I still need to visit the Bellevue Lounge myself. Putting it as a priority for our next stay!

 

[grannyminnie]

Will we be there at the same time?! May 6-9th for us!!

No, the 11th to 14th for me. I would have just booked a room but there were no CL rooms available with the AP discount, and I'm hoping I won't be so far from the lounge it will discourage me from enjoying it so much. (I did request a cottage close to the lobby, but as we all know, no guarantees)

 

[nancipants]

Don't miss Abracadabar!

 

[Once.Upon.A.Time]

The Bellevue lounge by the lobby offers pastry and coffee in the morning. You can also mobile order from the bakery. Both are pretty convenient, but the lounge is definitely faster. If you aren’t in a hurry, you can take your pastry and coffee out on their patio.

Thank you. That sounds perfect!

 

[McFlea]

DH and I also have our first stay at BWI coming up in May! We’re celebrating our 30th anniversary, and will be in WDW for the first time without our kids since our honeymoon. I’m loving this thread!

 

[Anna131517]

Get a room on the ground floor overlooking the quiet pool. We recently stayed in room 1340. It was easy to get to and it was super easy to walk out to the quiet pool.

 

[Once.Upon.A.Time]

Get a room on the ground floor overlooking the quiet pool. We recently stayed in room 1340. It was easy to get to and it was super easy to walk out to the quiet pool.

Thank you! Every room has a balcony, right?

 

[TammiMcMan]

Thank you! Every room has a balcony, right?

Yes, but not all balconies are standard size. There is a range of small to full size.

 

[SuzErwin]

Hi all,

I made a post a little while back while trying to choose between GDT/AKL and POFQ. Well, with the Disney Plus promotion we were able to swing staying at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. We booked a Garden View room. Any advice is greatly appreciated. We are a couple in our 30’s with no kids. We will be going to MK and Epcot and it’ll be July. Is there any section I should request? Again, thank you all!

We are at BWI in December/January.

My tips: they have Keurig coffee makers in the rooms and will stock them with I think? 6 pods (2 decaf, 4 regular) per day - but if you're like me and love coffee, or you have a preferred blend/favor, you can bring pods from home or have them delivered. We were there over New Year's so we were able to have our Starbucks holiday blend coffee!

For quick service, the Yacht & Beach Club are really not that far away - I would run over to the QS at the Yacht Club nearly every morning to pick up breakfast. The Swan and Dolphin are also within walking distance for QS/restaurant options.

The Epcot Skyliner station is a quick stroll away which means you can also easily get to the Riviera and other resorts if you want to try their restaurants (we really loved the QS at the Riviera).

There are some lovely chairs to sit in for people watching on the terrace off the lobby.

Flying Fish (which wasn't open when we were there :cries) is one of our favorite restaurants on the WDW property. Pricey but we always enjoy the splurge!

You can make reservations for Big River Grille on OpenTable and they are fairly easy to get if you need a last minute sit down restaurant and everything else is booked.

The rooms ARE a little dated - but I find the overall hotel to be charming. We also had amazing cast members - we had a family medical emergency while we were there and they took excellent care of us (everyone is perfectly healthy now).

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I heard there’s no QS options. Would the bakery be a good alternative? We aren’t big breakfast eaters. A pastry or something quick will do.

That's incorrect. The bakery is the QS option

 

[Mrs.AMC]

There is a thread here dedicated to all things Boardwalk Inn that has all these questions, along with others you have even thought of yet. There's one for all resorts.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

We are at BWI in December/January.

My tips: they have Keurig coffee makers in the rooms and will stock them with I think? 6 pods (2 decaf, 4 regular) per day - but if you're like me and love coffee, or you have a preferred blend/favor, you can bring pods from home or have them delivered. We were there over New Year's so we were able to have our Starbucks holiday blend coffee!

For quick service, the Yacht & Beach Club are really not that far away - I would run over to the QS at the Yacht Club nearly every morning to pick up breakfast. The Swan and Dolphin are also within walking distance for QS/restaurant options.

The Epcot Skyliner station is a quick stroll away which means you can also easily get to the Riviera and other resorts if you want to try their restaurants (we really loved the QS at the Riviera).

There are some lovely chairs to sit in for people watching on the terrace off the lobby.

Flying Fish (which wasn't open when we were there :cries) is one of our favorite restaurants on the WDW property. Pricey but we always enjoy the splurge!

You can make reservations for Big River Grille on OpenTable and they are fairly easy to get if you need a last minute sit down restaurant and everything else is booked.

The rooms ARE a little dated - but I find the overall hotel to be charming. We also had amazing cast members - we had a family medical emergency while we were there and they took excellent care of us (everyone is perfectly healthy now).

Disney will give you all the coffee pods you want. You are not limited to 6 pods a day, just in case anyone is not aware

 

[Palaura]

Disney will give you all the coffee pods you want. You are not limited to 6 pods a day, just in case anyone is not aware

I always ask for more upon check in-not when we need them. We always need them…

 

[MamaBear58]

Getting concerned because I DO have kids! They are 12 and 15, and I chose Boardwalk because I was afraid SAB would be an absolute nightmare in late June, plus I heard there was some construction going on at YC and BC. Am I making a mistake? Is the Boarwark Inn not for kids?

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Getting concerned because I DO have kids! They are 12 and 15, and I chose Boardwalk because I was afraid SAB would be an absolute nightmare in late June, plus I heard there was some construction going on at YC and BC. Am I making a mistake? Is the Boarwark Inn not for kids?

It's Disney. What makes you ask if BWI is for kids? What has you concerned?

 

[Dave006]

Am I making a mistake? Is the Boarwark Inn not for kids?

No it's great for kids small and large and has a great water slide that is more fun than SAB when are kids were that age. And the best news is that it is all contained withing the pool area. No need to exit the pool area as is required at SAB to access the slide.

Not sure that 12 & 15 year olds need a sand area or lazy river as that's really all they will be missing by not being at SAB at YC & BC.

Note: and now it is even Clown free.

 

[MamaBear58]

It's Disney. What makes you ask if BWI is for kids? What has you concerned?

Just the number of folks on this thread staying there without kids. That's all.

 

[mrsap]

Getting concerned because I DO have kids! They are 12 and 15, and I chose Boardwalk because I was afraid SAB would be an absolute nightmare in late June, plus I heard there was some construction going on at YC and BC. Am I making a mistake? Is the Boarwark Inn not for kids?

We frequently stay at Boardwalk, and have both a 14 year old and 10 year old… they both LOVE Boardwalk… the pool is great, especially the slide. They love hanging out on the Boardwalk/Village Green at night. We can walk to both EPCOT and HS! The community hall activities are great (arts and crafts, video games - PlayStation and Arcade games), pool table, corn hole and ping pong table by the quiet pool, tandem bike rides, walk to the ice cream parlor… etc. I think they’ll have fun!

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Just the number of folks on this thread staying there without kids. That's all.

Ah. Just a fluke. There's always a fair number at any resort without kids. Someone just happened to start a topic here about it. Always remember, posters here at Dis are a very small percentage of Disney visitors.

We've been taking our granddaughter to Disney since she was 3. She turns 15 next March. She recently pointed out that she got to spend her 5th and 10th birthday's at Disney (yeah, poor neglected child) so she should go for her 15th too. So naturally I asked where she wanted to stay. She's stayed at all resorts over the years, expect for the 3 All Stars. Her pick, Boardwalk Inn. So she thinks it's great for that age bracket. She could have picked any at all, including YC/BC, with SAB. Hope that helps relieve some worries.