The Boardwalk Inn Information Thread

[floridascgirl]

When we book Standard at the BWI I always request "rose-garden courtyard view, upper floor". We've always had our request granted & have had wonderful views of the quiet courtyard and the Eiffel Tower. Perfect for watching Illuminations on the balcony

Enjoy the Boardwalk!

Thanks for your reply. Sounds like a nice location...I'll look at a resort map and try to orient myself.

Do all Standard Rooms have balconies?

 

[OregonGirl]

floridascgirl -

BWI is my favorite and we have stayed there at least 5 or so times, and CL the last 3. It's great.

While I am not absolutely 100% on this, I can say with great confidence that yes, all BWI rooms have a balcony. Some are a little bigger than others but to my knowledge all are big enough to sit out on with two chairs and a little table.

Regarding CL - If anyone wants a view of Illuminations you DON'T want Boardwalk View. Also, you want to be pretty close to the Inn Keeper's Club otherwise the resort curves and you can't really see EPCOT even if you have a garden view.

That being said, you can't go wrong with this resort. It is just fabulous and I highly recommend CL for anyone who wants some extra perks. The snacks alone are worth it. Also, you can bring free water, soda, or coffee back to your room or out into the parks in a throw away travel mug any time you want (saves a bundle on drinks). The rooms are all quite big and the walls are thick. My ONLY slightly negative comment is if you prefer quieter rooms, request one AWAY from the ESPN club because otherwise you can hear drunken football fans until 2 AM on some nights.

And did I mention the snacks? There is food available (from true baggy snacks to full on meals) available pretty much consistantly throughout the day at the Inn Keepers Club. Plus you have a dedicated staff of CM specifically assigned to CL all the time to cater to your every whim. Not to mention that check in happens at the CL desk upstairs and NOT in the main lobby.

I have nothing bad to say about BWI and especially not about CL. I love this resort!

 

[floridascgirl]

OregonGirl-

Thanks for all of your info. on BWI We can't wait until our first stay.

 

[ukintheus]

OregonGirl-

Thanks for all of your info. on BWI We can't wait until our first stay.

Ditto - we have our first CL and BWI stay coming up in November - thanks for the review.

 

[heidijanesmith]

Hi all-

I am looking to plan a stay at BWI in Sept/Oct. Can you give me some pros and cons about staying at this resort.

We would like to see Illuminations, so I have read that I should not request to stay on the promonade side.

The only con that I have heard of is that there are no quick service eateries, like Mara at AKL or Captian Cooks at the Poly. Do people just get park hoppers and eat quick service at EPCOT?

Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Hi all-

I am looking to plan a stay at BWI in Sept/Oct. Can you give me some pros and cons about staying at this resort.

We would like to see Illuminations, so I have read that I should not request to stay on the promonade side.

The only con that I have heard of is that there are no quick service eateries, like Mara at AKL or Captian Cooks at the Poly. Do people just get park hoppers and eat quick service at EPCOT?

Thanks for any and all advice!

My pros and cons, and this should answer some of your questions anyway.

First you might want to note that of the 5 resorts I've stayed at, I've listed it as #5 in terms of my favorite. Do I hate it? No, absolutely not. But it's just not my favorite. But I think it's something to be seen. I probably won't choose to stay there again, fwiw.

Pros
1. Proximity to Epcot. I really liked being able to walk to Epcot, especially since I go there the most.
2. Epcot rope drop. You are put in a different roped off area that everyone else, along with your fellow Epcot resort guests. You won't have much of an advantage though in terms of being #1 on Soarin' or Test Track... or which ever ride you go on first. But I was #1 on Soarin' two days... just saying...
3. The atmosphere of the Boardwalk. It's nice to be in all the action and just walk up to your room afterward.
4. Proximity to Hollywood Studios. Take a boat, walk, either way will take about the same amount of time. It's nice to be really close and not having to rely on something getting me to/from the resort (I almost always walk).

A few notes
1. Along with #2 of Pros, staying at the Beach Club will put you at the approximate same walking distance that if you stay at BW. And I LOVE the Beach Club.
2. Along with #3 of Pros, you can stay the Swan & Dolphin or Yacht Club or Beach Club and basically have the same feeling of being really close to the BW.

Cons
1. No counter service restaurant. When all you want is a full meal but not a TS meal you're left without an option, unless you go to Epcot. Not that going to Epcot is a bad thing, it's just a hassle when you're already starting to wind down.
2. I feel like it really is necessary to have park hoppers. You'll end up going to Epcot a lot.
3. The buses are terrible. It's nice when you're going to Epcot or HS but the bus for MK is shared with Swan & Dolphin; the bus to AK and DTD is shared with Swan, Dolphin, Yacht and Beach. To MK you're stop 1 on pick up and drop off but to AK and DTD you're stop 5 on pick up and drop off. It takes a LONG time. If you're staying on the BWV side, it's not too bad because you can get off at Swan and walk.
4. If you're a refillable mug person, you'll be disappointed to find that there's only one spot to fill up the mugs and it's at the nearly always crowded Boardwalk Bakery. And they have to fill it up for you.
5. The walk from the elevator to your room might be a FAR one.
6. The clown pool freaks some people out.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hi all-

I am looking to plan a stay at BWI in Sept/Oct. Can you give me some pros and cons about staying at this resort.

We would like to see Illuminations, so I have read that I should not request to stay on the promonade side.

The only con that I have heard of is that there are no quick service eateries, like Mara at AKL or Captian Cooks at the Poly. Do people just get park hoppers and eat quick service at EPCOT?

Thanks for any and all advice!

We are looking forward to staying at the BWI for the first time in November. We love the atmosphere there and the proximity to Epcot and DHS. We will not have park hoppers. We plan to leave 5 of our 8 days open for those 2 parks though.

While there is not a food court for CS dining, I have researched this and I think that between the BW Bakery (which has sandwiches and other offerings besides bakery/breakfast stuff) , the BW To Go Kiosk, the BW pizza window, the BW pool bar, the funnel cake kiosk, and Seashore Sweets we will not go hungry when wanting a CS meal/and snacks! Plus we will be within walking distance to the YC, BC, Swan, and Dolphin for whatever CS options they offer.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

While there is not a food court for CS dining, I have researched this and I think that between the BW Bakery (which has sandwiches and other offerings besides bakery/breakfast stuff) , the BW To Go Kiosk, the BW pizza window, the BW pool bar, the funnel cake kiosk, and Seashore Sweets we will not go hungry when wanting a CS meal/and snacks! Plus we will be within walking distance to the YC, BC, Swan, and Dolphin for whatever CS options they offer.

I thought that as well but I came to realize that finding something that was hot (temperature hot, not spicy) and not 100% junk food was impossible at the BW. There isn't a CS at YC. The BC has a CS but it's extremely limited, the sandwiches are ok but there are only 3 choices. I didn't try Swan or Dolphin though but every time I've walked in, their CS-like place is closed .

I'm not picky about food but I don't like eating junk all the time. I also like to eat hot food and with that I found nothing. I often had to go to Epcot to get food which I felt inconvenient.

Often I found myself eating at Captain's Grille at the YC which was always delicious, both for breakfast and for dinner. It opened at 7:30 every morning- I was often there at opening and headed to the park right afterward. But this is still a TS place so it was a little more and took longer but definitely worth it.

 

[MastaMind]

Hi all-

I am looking to plan a stay at BWI in Sept/Oct. Can you give me some pros and cons about staying at this resort.

We would like to see Illuminations, so I have read that I should not request to stay on the promonade side.

The only con that I have heard of is that there are no quick service eateries, like Mara at AKL or Captian Cooks at the Poly. Do people just get park hoppers and eat quick service at EPCOT?

Thanks for any and all advice!

We'll be staying at the BWI in October, which will be our third time overall. The boardwalk has a great atmosphere, and I've never had an issue with dining. We always have park hoppers, so we typically eat at whatever area we're at/going to, or we just go over to Epcot--its very close.

I can't provide any insight on the room/view. We'll have a water view for the first time, so I'm interested to see where we'll end up.

 

[cmpdw4me]

I'm SUCH a Starbucks girl, its' my morning drink. Just wondering if the bakery there sells Chai Lattes? Most places have a drink that's pretty close.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I thought that as well but I came to realize that finding something that was hot (temperature hot, not spicy) and not 100% junk food was impossible at the BW. There isn't a CS at YC. The BC has a CS but it's extremely limited, the sandwiches are ok but there are only 3 choices. I didn't try Swan or Dolphin though but every time I've walked in, their CS-like place is closed .

I'm not picky about food but I don't like eating junk all the time. I also like to eat hot food and with that I found nothing. I often had to go to Epcot to get food which I felt inconvenient.

Often I found myself eating at Captain's Grille at the YC which was always delicious, both for breakfast and for dinner. It opened at 7:30 every morning- I was often there at opening and headed to the park right afterward. But this is still a TS place so it was a little more and took longer but definitely worth it.

As far as the hot food goes -- I hope the menus I am looking at are correct! All the items at the BW To Go Kiosk are listed as hot food (although not very healthy!). And the bakery lists hot ham and cheese paninis. Plus the pizza would be hot. And I see some healthy options as well - salads, and yogurt & fruit parfaits, fruit plates, and so on. . .

We also love to eat at Big River Grille!

 

[lissiesmum]

hi everyone! I've never been over here on the Boardwalk FAQ thread and was hoping you experts could help

I'm thinking of splitting a stay next year between AKL and the BC/YC, and I am very interested in the BWI. I heard there are performers at night, as well as "midway" type games. I was wondering if you could share any info/photos of these performers and what they do, when they come out, etc as well as the games you can play and how much? Sounds like a fun place to hang out in the evenings after a busy day in the parks! TIA for your help!

 

[SRUAlmn]

hi everyone! I've never been over here on the Boardwalk FAQ thread and was hoping you experts could help

I'm thinking of splitting a stay next year between AKL and the BC/YC, and I am very interested in the BWI. I heard there are performers at night, as well as "midway" type games. I was wondering if you could share any info/photos of these performers and what they do, when they come out, etc as well as the games you can play and how much? Sounds like a fun place to hang out in the evenings after a busy day in the parks! TIA for your help!

Make sure you check out the magician in the purple suit!! I know...magician?...really? But he is more of a comedy act with some magic! We were lucky enough to have a balcony right over Seashore Sweets which was right where he performed and we could just sit out there and watch. Plus, he even 'involved' us in his act great memories!!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

As far as the hot food goes -- I hope the menus I am looking at are correct! All the items at the BW To Go Kiosk are listed as hot food (although not very healthy!). And the bakery lists hot ham and cheese paninis. Plus the pizza would be hot. And I see some healthy options as well - salads, and yogurt & fruit parfaits, fruit plates, and so on. . .

We also love to eat at Big River Grille!

That was my problem, the not healthy (relatively) AND hot. I eat healthy at home but I like to kick back and relax by eating whatever I want on vacation but I still can't load my body with fried, fatty foods. It was making me feel terrible.

The options for hot food at the BW are hot dogs, corn dog nuggets, fried chicken sandwiches (offered without veggies), pizza... all things are are great every once in a while but I would like to eat a little better.

It wasn't the end of the world. I ended up bringing stuff back to the room from Earl of Sandwich or from Epcot a lot, it was just VERY inconvenient. The dining, along with the buses, were big reasons enough for me to put Boardwalk lower on the list though.

I've never eaten at BRG before. It looks really good and our room was above it so we were always looking down and people-watching the diners. I've always wanted to try the New York Oscar, minus the crab... I love NY strip, asparagus and bearnaise. Yummmmm.

 

[jackemail]

I'm SUCH a Starbucks girl, its' my morning drink. Just wondering if the bakery there sells Chai Lattes? Most places have a drink that's pretty close.

Any help is appreciated!

Is there not a Starbucks over at Dolphin? If so, that's just a 5 minute walk from BWI.

 

[jackemail]

hi everyone! I've never been over here on the Boardwalk FAQ thread and was hoping you experts could help

I'm thinking of splitting a stay next year between AKL and the BC/YC, and I am very interested in the BWI. I heard there are performers at night, as well as "midway" type games. I was wondering if you could share any info/photos of these performers and what they do, when they come out, etc as well as the games you can play and how much? Sounds like a fun place to hang out in the evenings after a busy day in the parks! TIA for your help!

The magician does several shows a night and is great. There is also a grymnast/acrobat type performer who is good. The midways games include a water squirting game, a basketball type game, a ringer type game, and a game where you flip a plastic lobster/crab with a mallet and try to land it in a basket. I thought the games were expensive--maybe $3 each?--but the stuffie prizes were cool.

 

[heidijanesmith]

Thanks for all the great info! We normally do not get park hoppers, as we tend to just stay at one park per day. I do like the theme of BWI and the boardwalk in general. The clown pool looks pretty cool to me. Luckily I am not afraid of clowns!

With free dining being offered when we are going back, I am not sure that BWI will be the best choice for us.

Thanks again!

 

[5DisneyNuts]

We have been to the BWI a few times and it is becoming a favorite because of the location. We have stayed at the CR, WL, POR and CSR and while those are great places we like being on the boardwalk. As Lax_lady says the lack of CS can be annoying. The places listed below with the exception of the bakery are not on the dining plan and may be operating on limited hours.

That said, we didn't really mind since the bakery was great for the kids in the morning - we mainly used snack credits for bakery items and CS for the hot breakfast sandwiches. The cold sandwiches at lunch are good too and a change of pace from the parks. If we were around in the evening and wanted a hot CS meal, we walked over the the BC. Hatties had some nice hot sandwiches in addition to the chicken fingers/cheeseburgers. YC/BC is limited in their CS offerings too and the S/D places do not accept the dining plan.

Our kids are older now so we don't spend as much time at the MK (maybe 2 days) and the AK (one day) and we really like walking to DHS and EPCOT. The buses aren't an issue for the limited time we use them. Many times we will get off at the S/D stop on the way home and walk. We never have park hoppers either.

Hope that helps. Have fun.

We are looking forward to staying at the BWI for the first time in November. We love the atmosphere there and the proximity to Epcot and DHS. We will not have park hoppers. We plan to leave 5 of our 8 days open for those 2 parks though.

While there is not a food court for CS dining, I have researched this and I think that between the BW Bakery (which has sandwiches and other offerings besides bakery/breakfast stuff) , the BW To Go Kiosk, the BW pizza window, the BW pool bar, the funnel cake kiosk, and Seashore Sweets we will not go hungry when wanting a CS meal/and snacks! Plus we will be within walking distance to the YC, BC, Swan, and Dolphin for whatever CS options they offer.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I've never eaten at BRG before. It looks really good and our room was above it so we were always looking down and people-watching the diners. I've always wanted to try the New York Oscar, minus the crab... I love NY strip, asparagus and bearnaise. Yummmmm.

You should definitely give BRG a try!! It is very good and has some different tasting food than most of the WDW TS restaurants since it is not Disney owned. It's nice for a change of pace, plus no ADR needed!

We have been to the BWI a few times and it is becoming a favorite because of the location. We have stayed at the CR, WL, POR and CSR and while those are great places we like being on the boardwalk. As Lax_lady says the lack of CS can be annoying. The places listed below with the exception of the bakery are not on the dining plan and may be operating on limited hours.

That said, we didn't really mind since the bakery was great for the kids in the morning - we mainly used snack credits for bakery items and CS for the hot breakfast sandwiches. The cold sandwiches at lunch are good too and a change of pace from the parks. If we were around in the evening and wanted a hot CS meal, we walked over the the BC. Hatties had some nice hot sandwiches in addition to the chicken fingers/cheeseburgers. YC/BC is limited in their CS offerings too and the S/D places do not accept the dining plan.

Our kids are older now so we don't spend as much time at the MK (maybe 2 days) and the AK (one day) and we really like walking to DHS and EPCOT. The buses aren't an issue for the limited time we use them. Many times we will get off at the S/D stop on the way home and walk. We never have park hoppers either.

Hope that helps. Have fun.

Thanks for the info!

We are not getting the DDP because of DS now being considered an adult by Disney, but still wanting to order off the kids menu. The DDP is just not a good deal for us anymore. So that will be a plus for us when we are at the BW since some of those places/carts don't take the DDP.

We are only planning to spend one day at MK scared1: I know) and one at AK. So I think the BW is going to be a great spot for us since we do Epcot & DHS so much!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I was wondering if you could share any info/photos of these performers and what they do, when they come out, etc as well as the games you can play and how much? Sounds like a fun place to hang out in the evenings after a busy day in the parks! TIA for your help!

This is the only pic I could find. We haven't stayed at the BW yet, so I don't know the times and details. We just happened upon this guy after dinner at BRG one evening. We only stayed for about 10 minutes, but the kids thought he was hilarious!