The Boardwalk-Best all-around resort area?

[eclipseSD]

7 Hotels:
-Swan
-Dolphin
-Yacht Club
-Beach Club
-Beach Club Villas
-Boardwalk Inn
-Boardwalk Villas

20 restuarants:
-Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
-Big River Grille & Brewing
-Works
-Boardwalk Bakery
-Cabana Bar & Grill
-Cape May Cafe
-Coral Cafe
-Dolphin Fountain
-ESPN Club
-Flying Fish Cafe
-Garden Grove
-Gulliver's Grill
-Kimonos
-Palio
-Seashore Sweets
-Shula's Steak House
-Splash Terrace & Pool Bar
-Spoodles
-Tubbi's Buffeteria
-Yacht Club Galley
-Yachtsman Steakhouse

7 lounges:

-Ale & Compass
-Belle Vue Lounge
-Crew's Cup
-Lobby Court Lounge
-Martha's Vineyard
-Riptide Lounge
-Shula's Lounge

4 Entertainment Venues:

-Atlantic Dance
-Boardwalk Buskers
-ESPN Club
-Jellyrolls

Fantasia Gardens MiniGolf

14 shops:

-Atlantic Wear and Wardrobe Emporium
-Brittany & Company
-Daisy's Garden Gift Shop
-Disney Cabana
-Disney's Character Carnival
-Dundy's Sundries
-Fittings & Fairing Clothes and Notions
-Indulgences
-Pin Station
-Screen Door General Store
-Statements of Fashion
-The Yard
-Thimbles & Threads
-Wyland Galleries

And, of course, 20 minute walk at most to either EPCOT or MGM from anywhere in the BW area.

Does any other resort area in WDW compare to this as far as hotels, shopping, dining, entertainment, and convinience to the parks is concerned?

 

[Calcio]

Yes, it is the best resort area, hands down. Choose the hotel you like BC, YC, BW, Dolphin, Swan. Choose the restaurants, lounges, entertainment, and parks (2 in walking distance) you like.

The shopping, however, is pretty thin. Lots of shops, but all pretty small, with limited offerings. Probably better than the other WDW resorts, but less than DTD.

 

[Blondie]

After staying at the Wilderness Lodge in January, I can honestly say the Epcot resorts (Boardwalk area) rule!

As we were walking around World Showcase, I was so envious looking over towards the Swan and Dolphin!

The other areas are all fine and good....but for me and my family...there is nothing better than the Epcot resort area!

 

[ducklite]

The only thing you didn't include was the AKL. That is the only WDW resort that wraps it'self around you like a warm blamket on a cold day. You simply don't want to leave. Watching the animals from your balcony, going to storytelling at the firepit, enjoying a cocktail in Victoria Falls, visiting the largest African art collection outside of Africa scattered around the hotel, it's all simply mesmerizing.

Anne

 

[DebbieB]

We stayed at the Beach Club in 1998. I remember one night we watched Illuminations fireworks from the beach and then sat there for awhile eating ice cream from Beaches & Cream. It was so peaceful, watching the boats go by and looking across at the lights of the Boardwalk, listening to the music from the dance hall. I kept saying "this is the life.........".

Almost 2 years later I bought DVC at Boardwalk. What's great about staying at the Boardwalk is having so many restaurant choices, being able to walk or boat from Epcot or MGM. I love the atmosphere at night.

 

[wdwnut]

hi: i'm a little biased-dvc owner with bwv as my "home" resort. i really think it depends on the people going. for those with younger children, the mk area would probably be a better choice. we stayed at the contemporary& polynesian many times when the kids were little. we also stayed at the wilderness lodge a couple times when they were older. our whole family loves the bw area now- epcot and mgm are the 2 main parks we visit.

 

[goofymom23]

We agree the Boardwalk area is the best. Its got everything you need. Its a great place to stay with kids, and without kids. There is so much to do and so little time in which to do it.

 

[slp87]

My family loves Epcot and thinks the Epcot Resorts are the best!

 

[Lexxiefern]

after staying in the Epcot area and the MK area in January, we will never stay anywhere else but the Epcot area. Having a toddler, it is so convenient to be able to walk or boat to Epcot and MGM. I loved how close the other resorts are and being able to watch Illuminations from our balcony. Can't wait to go back in October!!

 

[ead79]

I didn't quite know how to vote. I love splitting my stay between a monorail resort and an Epcot resort. The monorail is a very fun way to travel to the parks and really puts me in a Disney mood, so I like staying at the monorail resorts for at least part of my trip. However, I stayed at the YC part of my last trip and really loved the Epcot resort area too. It is so convenient, and I love being able to quickly walk back to my room from Epcot and Disney Studios. I love them both!

 

[princess angel]

I agree all the way! The Epcot Reosrt area is the best! For all of the reasons you said!
It is so easy to just walk around to anywhere you want to go, with so many dining choices, 2 parks within walking, mini golf, the whole BW area.... It is true, and we can go on and on...

Our first 4 trips to WDW, we stayed at the GFm we thought it was the best... then we ventured over to the Epcot resorts.... take a look at my signature, ever since the first time, we have incorporated an Epcot resort into every vacation!!!
(except on weeknd at the Poly, but that was only a 3 night trip!)

even to get to MK isnt a big deal, from the BWV, it takes 12 minutes.

cant wait, 16 days til my next Epcot resort trip!!!!!

Laura

 

[doc hog]

I agree with all of the post!!! The Boardwalk area is great for families because of the location. So much to do & see all in walking distance.

 

[eclipseSD]

I didn't list AKL because it is one resort, not an entire resort area.

 

[jdads2]

As you can see by my tag line we haven't stayed at an "Epcot resort", so I post this more as a question than a comment.

It seems that the you can't compare resorts so easily. I can book AKL concierge for the same price as a non-concierge room at BW (we have a family of 5 so we have to have a deluxe room). Is the resort area that much nicer that we wouldn't miss the concierge services? I should also say that we let concierge book 1 event for us and that was the Sunrise Safari, we like to book and plan on our own...that's half the fun!!

Thanks

 

[wendyq]

Taking all our family, 3 rooms, 10 people, to BWI the first week in August in celebration of our 40th wedding anniversary. We considered AKL because of price and all the good reports but we have lots of horses and animals and I just can't see staying there for 7 nights on the FTP. I believe it might be "overkill" for us because even though we are big animal lovers, we look at animals all the time here at home. I think I'd love to try AKL sometime for a few nights with maybe a split visit.

Thanks to all you posters. It really helps with the planning. I'm down to trying to decide on which style of Teva sandals to buy now!!

 

[BCVNovember]

The one thing that would make the monorail resorts unbeatable for me would be some DVC villas. I know there are villas at WL, but WL is NOT on the monorail. With the make-up of my family this time, me, my dad and my 3 daughters, we really needed the space of a 2 bd villa. I just could not imagine us cooped up in 2 hotel rooms for an entire week. We do take breaks and will not be gone from sun-up to sundown.

I was able to reserve a 2 bd villa at BWV on the FTP for November, and the cost is less than the 2 courtyard rooms I had reserved at WL. I am also excited about being so close to EPCOT and MGM, and having the option of walking through EPCOT to the monorail. The only resort we'll end up needing a bus to would be AK, but I'm pretty sure we'll rent a car for the week.

We'll see how this vacation goes, but I'm thinking we'll try BCV next time. Maybe when my girls get older we'll try the Poly and maybe a split visit at AKL....