The I Love BWV (yes, Hallways and Clown Pool too!) Thread

[disney-inspired]

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Just found pictures online, showing the newly renovated 1 bedroom villa!

View attachment 815755

Where did you find the photos? I want to send the link to my sister.

 

[CarolynFH]

Just found pictures online, showing the newly renovated 1 bedroom villa!

View attachment 815755

Thanks!

We’ll miss the ceiling fans tremendously, but I’m glad for the single-level kitchen counter and for two towel bars outside the shower. And I’m happy that at least four people can sit at the table to eat together! Can’t tell how big the bench is along the wall there, but if it’s the same size as SSR then maybe more than 2 people can fit. Even with the 2 stools at the counter, though, a 2BR won’t be able to seat full capacity of 8-9 people at one time for meals, unless the designers were counting on using the pull-up top of the coffee table for two people seated on the couch.

And somewhere else I saw a photo of a modern digital thermostat! Yay!

So I’m happy, as long as they fixed the plumbing problems too….

 

[Judique]

Thanks!

We’ll miss the ceiling fans tremendously, but I’m glad for the single-level kitchen counter and for two towel bars outside the shower. And I’m happy that at least four people can sit at the table to eat together! Can’t tell how big the bench is along the wall there, but if it’s the same size as SSR then maybe more than 2 people can fit. Even with the 2 stools at the counter, though, a 2BR won’t be able to seat full capacity of 8-9 people at one time for meals, unless the designers were counting on using the pull-up top of the coffee table for two people seated on the couch.

And somewhere else I saw a photo of a modern digital thermostat! Yay!

So I’m happy, as long as they fixed the plumbing problems too….

Don't hold your breath on that one. My first morning had cold shower water, but it was fixed when I returned later on.

However, I like this studio quite a bit. Sitting on my bed I can see Spaceship Earth while watching Judge Judy. Can you tell I've walked as much as I want to in the last few days?

Edit: for those who do studios: the small fridge is really cold almost to freezing. It's also a decent size, but no actual freezer.

 

[mrsap]

BoardWalk Villas Refurbishment Update - December 2023

Back in September, the first block of rooms closed for the wholesale refurbishment at Disney's BoardWalk Villas. All rooms with a BoardWalk View and a large block of Garden / Pool View rooms have been unavailable for nearly 3 months, providing hope that aggressive work would result in a shorter renovation timeline. However, that turned out to not quite be the case.

Access to the villas appears to be the reason for the extensive room closure. All rooms in the westernmost wing of the resort are accessed by a single entry point just off the main lobby and upper floor elevators. All of those rooms were initially closed to facilitiate updates. However, only a small portion of the rooms nearest the elevators have reopened.

The first section of the hallway has been updated with new paint, carpeting and Disney-themed lighting fixtures (above.) But guests cannot get far without running into a barricade beyond which rooms are still being updated.

Immediately surrounding the Luna Park pool, scaffolding has been removed and exterior work is complete. The pass-through walkway is clear and the building has been freshly painted.

However, a closer look at many rooms (below) reveals that the interiors are still being renovated. Plastic sheeting covers many of the windows and workers are visible inside many of the units.

On the BoardWalk side near Crest O' The Wave, a crane facilitates exterior work. The Disney Vacation Club preview center is currently closed as the model rooms are updated. This disruption extends around the end of the building beyond Jellyrolls bar.

And on the rear of this wing facing toward the Dolphin and Swan resorts, more construction equipment and vacant guest rooms are clearly visible.

Disney Vacation Club room availability suggests that all Standard View rooms will be closed beginning in January 2024. The entire project is expected to be competed by spring 2024.

 

[jekjones1558]

BoardWalk Villas Refurbishment Update - December 2023

Back in September, the first block of rooms closed for the wholesale refurbishment at Disney's BoardWalk Villas. All rooms with a BoardWalk View and a large block of Garden / Pool View rooms have been unavailable for nearly 3 months, providing hope that aggressive work would result in a shorter renovation timeline. However, that turned out to not quite be the case.

Access to the villas appears to be the reason for the extensive room closure. All rooms in the westernmost wing of the resort are accessed by a single entry point just off the main lobby and upper floor elevators. All of those rooms were initially closed to facilitiate updates. However, only a small portion of the rooms nearest the elevators have reopened.

The first section of the hallway has been updated with new paint, carpeting and Disney-themed lighting fixtures (above.) But guests cannot get far without running into a barricade beyond which rooms are still being updated.

Immediately surrounding the Luna Park pool, scaffolding has been removed and exterior work is complete. The pass-through walkway is clear and the building has been freshly painted.

However, a closer look at many rooms (below) reveals that the interiors are still being renovated. Plastic sheeting covers many of the windows and workers are visible inside many of the units.

On the BoardWalk side near Crest O' The Wave, a crane facilitates exterior work. The Disney Vacation Club preview center is currently closed as the model rooms are updated. This disruption extends around the end of the building beyond Jellyrolls bar.

And on the rear of this wing facing toward the Dolphin and Swan resorts, more construction equipment and vacant guest rooms are clearly visible.

Disney Vacation Club room availability suggests that all Standard View rooms will be closed beginning in January 2024. The entire project is expected to be competed by spring 2024.

Thanks for the update!

 

[mrsap]

The Cake Bake Shop Begins Installing Duct Work, Concrete Refurbishment at Jellyrolls & More Construction at Disney’s BoardWalk​

Concrete work at Disney’s Boardwalk is making progress outside of Thimbles & Threads, with crews spotted working behind the rolling planters during a recent visit.

Inside of Thimbles & Threads, guests were met with a sign asking to pardon the pixie dust and to use a different exit.

Next to Thimbles & Threads, crew members were working on the foundation.

A pile of stacked bricks can be seen behind the rolling planters.

Plastic sheeting was put up on the building as the work was done.

Jellyrolls​

Rolling planters surround the exterior of Jellyrolls.

We saw crew members working on the entrance to the dueling piano bar. It has remained open during the construction.

When we visited again later in the same week, we saw that the rolling planters had been moved.

Despite the concrete getting some TL, we spotted quite a bit of chipped paint that could use a touch-up.

Disney’s BoardWalk Villas​

During our recent visits, we also saw crews working inside one of the buildings for Disney’s BoardWalk Villas.

While we were there, the entirety of the BoardWalk smelled of construction dust and paint — not ideal for dining al fresco.

The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers

Construction on The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers has made progress since we last visited. The BoardWalk’s new dining location will replace the former ESPN Club, which closed in 2022.

Window boxes are taking shape and more tin has been added to the roofing.

Some wiring is visible along the roofline.

Upon closer look inside the framework of the building, you can see air ducts have been installed.

 

[JPKanks]

Wow, thank you for all the photos.

 

[mamaofsix]

Just found pictures online, showing the newly renovated 1 bedroom villa!

View attachment 815755

Wow, this looks beautiful. I know there are lots of opinions floating around that the refurb was too generic, but this looks amazing. Love the artwork.

 

[mrsap]

Renovated Grand Villa Pics:

*pics found online

 

[TinkAgainU]

Here now DVC 2nd floor facing the Commons Green. My Studio pool/garden view is renovated work is going on in units between me and Boardwalk but construction noise is minimal.

Some info photos for coffee pot (combo) and outlets … Hey Disney (Alexa) is here too.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Forgive the messy bed - have been here a couple days lol. Looks a little Disney Generic but still obviously Disney. DVC Studio Room feels larger than looks in photos (my iPad sucks at photos).

 

[disney-inspired]

Forgive the messy bed - have been here a couple days lol. Looks a little Disney Generic but still obviously Disney. DVC Studio Room feels larger than looks in photos (my iPad sucks at photos).

thank you for sharing! I'll be staying there in 2025 and loving the way it looks - so happy they got rid of the pull out beds.

 

[bobbiwoz]

For many years there was a Disboards Christmas Tree exchange. We often sent down a tree and included ornaments for participants. In 2012 a participant included this ornament for me and for everyone!
Maybe someone still on this thread made it!

 

[Princess Merida]

Hi all! Anyone over at the Boardwalk that can share any construction updates on the DVC standard/pool wing, cake bake shop, corn dog stand, or anything else that may be going on? Thanks!

 

[mrsap]

Big River Grille & Brewing Works Closing This Weekend at Disney’s BoardWalk in Walt Disney World​

In a notice shared with employees, Big River Grille announced that it will be closed effective this Sunday, January 21, 2024. No reasoning for the closure was shared.

In addition, the Walt Disney World website page for Big River no longer lists operating hours starting Monday, January 22. Per the internal announcement, the “clean-up process” following the restaurant’s closure will begin on that day.

Employees have the option to stay on through the completion of clean-up to receive $20 plus a $500 stay-on bonus, or can begin their termination process immediately.

Disney’s BoardWalk has been undergoing changes and refurbishments for the past few years. In early 2023, the resort’s lobby was remodeled, and we stayed in a remodeled roomthis past summer. In November 2023, the DVC showroom closed for ongoing work on the Villas. In that update, work on the boardwalk in front of Big River Grille was completed.

As for the actual BoardWalk, the Cake Bake Shop is still under construction, with its opening delayed to this year. The upcoming Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs location is also still under construction, set to open sometime this year.

Picture from FB.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Hi all! Anyone over at the Boardwalk that can share any construction updates on the DVC standard/pool wing, cake bake shop, corn dog stand, or anything else that may be going on? Thanks!

We just finished a quick stay over at BWV. We were in a refurbished room in the Boardwalk/PG wing. They have started work on the standard/PG wing, there are construction doors closing it off by the elevators. The DVC laundry is closed, you are able to use the Inn side.

The cake bake shop is still moving at a snail’s pace but they are working on it.

Corn dog stand also has work going on. They were replacing boards to the side of it and they are doing work on the actual stand as well.

The restroom “bridge” was closed while we were there so you had to use the elevator to go down and outside across the village green to get to the Inn side elevators. Not sure what was going on there.

 

[BlueStarKRK]

We just finished a quick stay over at BWV. We were in a refurbished room in the Boardwalk/PG wing. They have started work on the standard/PG wing, there are construction doors closing it off by the elevators. The DVC laundry is closed, you are able to use the Inn side.

The cake bake shop is still moving at a snail’s pace but they are working on it.

Corn dog stand also has work going on. They were replacing boards to the side of it and they are doing work on the actual stand as well.

The restroom “bridge” was closed while we were there so you had to use the elevator to go down and outside across the village green to get to the Inn side elevators. Not sure what was going on there.

Oh wow! Sounds like they are in the thick of it. Has anybody heard when all of this is supposed to be complete?

 

[mrsap]

UPDATE: Disney Shares Official Statement on Big River Grille & Brewing Works Closure, Announces Food Trucks Coming to Disney’s BoardWalk​

Walt Disney World has confirmed the closure, sharing that the restaurant’s last day of operation will be Sunday, January 21. Read their full statement:

Big River Grille & Brewing Works will have its last day of operation on Jan. 21, closing on Jan. 22. To provide additional lunch options, guests can explore a rotating selection of food trucks beginning Jan. 22.
Walt Disney World Resort

In addition to the rotating food trucks coming on Monday, January 22, Disney also shared other dining locations at the BoardWalk that guests can enjoy throughout their day:

Available All Day​

• BoardWalk Deli – Sandwiches and deli favorites to-go

Breakfast and Dinner​

• Trattoria al Forno – Casual Italian eatery with breakfast and dinner

Lunch and Dinner​

• Pizza Window – Garden salad, pizza by the slice, and mini cannolis

Dinner​

• Flying Fish – Contemporary American restaurant with premium seafood and oak-grilled steaks

Snacks​

• BoardWalk Ice Cream – Ice cream and sundaes

Bars and Lounges​

• Leaping Horse Libations – Hot dogs, Mickey pretzels, individual French bread pizza
• AbracadaBar – Specialty cocktails and bar snacks
• BoardWalk Joe’s Marvelous Margaritas– Margaritas, frozen smoothies, Mickey pretzels, and nachos
• Jellyrolls – Cocktails and entertainment

Not yet open but expected later this year are The Cake Bake Shop and Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs.

The closure of Big River was first announced in an internal announcement to employees, with no reason cited. The Walt Disney World website page for the restaurant was also updated to no longer have operating hours beginning Monday, January 22.

 

[mrsap]

Work Continues on Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort

The addition of Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs to Disney’s BoardWalk Resort was originally announced last July, and progress on the new stand has been slow.

Recently, however, the old BoardWalk to Go sign was removed from the structure, and planters were extended to cover the stand.

The other big change has been the removal of the old BoardWalk to Go blue color scheme.

The stand is currently white, although it may not necessarily stay that way.

Here is a look at the back side of the building. As you can see, work is currently underway.

At this time we do not have an opening for Blue Ribbion Corn Dogs.

 

[zackiedawg]

Thanks for all the updates. I was last at Boardwalk in September - this year, I'll be at Boardwalk in early June, mid-September, and mid-December. I do hope some more food options are finished by then - the loss of Big River is disappointing as even though the food wasn't great, it's nice having a bar-food type spot that doesn't need ADRs. At least for now, it looks like for standard burger and beer type food, it'll require a walk over to Dolphin or Beach.

All three of my upcoming stays are pool/garden 1-bedrooms, so sounds like those rooms are complete. The new designs look pretty much identical to all the other renewed villas - more generic, but better bedding for sure in the living room. Interestingly, they seem to have flipped the murphy bed/couch - in Boulder Ridge, the remaining couch seat section when the bed is down sits on the sliding door side in all the rooms I've been in - this one appears to put the bed part closest to the window.