What's at the Boardwalk?

[gwek]

We're travelling in early November, and should be arriving mid-day. We were thinking of going to the Boardwalk rather than Downtown Disney for the evening of the first day (since it will be too late to get in any park time).

We have a party of four (non-drinking) adults and one six-year-old girl. Is it worth the trip, or should we just hang out at our hotel pool?

My nieces enjoyed the Boardwalk a few years ago, but I've heard there's less kid stuff there now?

Another consideration is that our first park day (the next morning) has Extra Magic Hours, so we wouldn't stay out too late.

Thoughts?

 

[Yensid67]

There are several restaurants, a bakery, a candy shop (where you can buy ice cream), a general store loaded with Disney merchandise, a pickup pizza window, some carnival-like games, and several Disney resorts (Boardwalk Villas, Beach Club and Yacht Club).

 

[gwek]

How about entertainment? I heard there were wandering performers?

 

[PantherPete]

Not sure about now, but in the past there have been some wandering performers. The Boardwalk is very nice, but there isn't much to do there. I'd say, including a sit down dinner, that 2.5 hours there is plenty of time an hour to an hour and 1/2 without a sit down dinner. So if you are hoping for something more than that, I'd head to DTD instead.

 

[Cynister]

We were there in May. There were 2 performers every night. If I recall 1 was doing tricks & the other may have been doing Magic, I'm not sure. There's a few kiosks to get carnival type food like cotton candy in top of the stores & restaurants already mentioned. I would highly recommend doing a Surrey bike ride. It is a blast trying to navigate through the crowds. Provides entertainment for sure. The night views you get from all sides of the lake while on the ride are very pretty. Don't forget pin trading at the stores & hotel. If you run out of things to do you can easily walk to Epcot in 5 minutes or Hollywood Studios in about 15. It it a very convenient location.

 

[Alesia]

How about entertainment? I heard there were wandering performers?

Allegedly there are some at night, but I have never managed to see one.

 

[jsbowl16]

If you like ice cream, there is Beaches and Cream and you can also walk over to the Swan and Dolphin hotels. One of them has an ice cream shop that has a peanut butter and jelly sundae along with I think an apple pie sundae with actual apple pie in it. We stayed at the Boardwalk in July and a walk around the lake would likely be a nice way to wind down after you arrive, enjoy some good food or ice cream and just take in the beautiful views all around the lake. I would also avoid DTD at night because it is much more enjoyable during the day with all of the construction there right now.

 

[JoeyEmmaMomma]

There are performers in the evening.

 

[gwek]

Thanks, folks. DTD is not really an option for us. We were there last year, and although it was enjoyable, I don't think we'll be going back until construction is complete.

What's our best bet from Art of Animation? I guess bus to Hollywood Studios, then the boat?

How bad is the stroll from Hollywood Studios? We're not lazy, but I don't want to tire my daughter out before we even get to the parks. (Also, okay, maybe we are a LITTLE lazy...).

What's the situation like in Epcot? If we take a bus there, can we hop on the boat without park admission?

 

[Alesia]

Thanks, folks. DTD is not really an option for us. We were there last year, and although it was enjoyable, I don't think we'll be going back until construction is complete.

1. What's our best bet from Art of Animation? I guess bus to Hollywood Studios, then the boat?

2. How bad is the stroll from Hollywood Studios? We're not lazy, but I don't want to tire my daughter out before we even get to the parks. (Also, okay, maybe we are a LITTLE lazy...).

3. What's the situation like in Epcot? If we take a bus there, can we hop on the boat without park admission?

1. Yes.
2. It's about a mile.
3. No.

 

[gwek]

Thanks!

We CAN get the boat at Hollywood Studios without park admission, though, yes?

 

[Raenstoirm]

Thanks!

We CAN get the boat at Hollywood Studios without park admission, though, yes?

Yes. Boardwalk is in between the front of DHS and the back of epcot (hence why you can't take a bus to epcot and get there without entering the park). We traditionally stay at a boardwalk resort and just bought a boardwalk DVC, I would skip the boardwalk. I find it painfully boring. 20 minutes max unless you have dinner. It is 5 little stores, a juggler or two and surreys to rent. Thats it. People always think it is the great thing until they get there. The whole area of kid friendly activity is 300 yards long, if that.

 

[lovndisney12]

I would explore and enjoy your resort. As Raenstoirm mentioned there really isn't a lot there to make a special trip over. Plus, you will be there in November and not sure how the crowds and activities will be then compared to summer. We haven taken a break from Epcot in December and found it quite dead - fine for a break to get out of the crowds of the park - but that is about it in my opinion.

 

[Alesia]

Yes. Boardwalk is in between the front of DHS and the back of epcot (hence why you can't take a bus to epcot and get there without entering the park). We traditionally stay at a boardwalk resort and just bought a boardwalk DVC, I would skip the boardwalk. I find it painfully boring. 20 minutes max unless you have dinner. It is 5 little stores, a juggler or two and surreys to rent. Thats it. People always think it is the great thing until they get there. The whole area of kid friendly activity is 300 yards long, if that.

I agree. It'll take you 45 to 60 minutes to get there and you'll likely be ready to go in 30 minutes.

 

[gwek]

Again, thanks!

This will be our third year in a row at Art of Animation, so we were looking for something to spice up the first day. (Last year, we did Downtown Disney, but we also arrived a few hours earlier, so we were able to spend about 3-4 hours there, including dinner... this may be a little tighter).

I'm on the fence about it. We were mostly thinking of going because my daughter's cousins (a few years older) said they enjoyed it. I may leave it to fate -- and my daughter's mood after a day of travel, to see if we want to head out to "do" something, or stay at the hotel for dinner and a night swim.

Once again, thanks to everyone for their information! I'm always able to research the parks themselves very easily, but the smaller stuff can sometimes be more of a challenge to get reasonable info on.

 

[helenb]

We like to stay at the Epcot Resorts, and we appreciate the Boardwalk as a 'mini-Downtown Disney', so that we have a few more food alternatives. It is pretty, but I'm not sure I'd make a special trip to be there if I wasn't staying at a resort in the area.

That being said, I see a couple of alternatives for you. First, you could stay at a different resort. If you're familiar with AoA, try something else and explore the new resort on the first night. Another possibility is to go into a park. Generally the cost of an extra day on your parkhopper isn't that much. You could make FPs for 3 rides somewhere of your choice, have dinner, see an evening show.

 

[GreatLakes]

How bad is the stroll from Hollywood Studios? We're not lazy, but I don't want to tire my daughter out before we even get to the parks. (Also, okay, maybe we are a LITTLE lazy...).

Not bad at all. I make a point of making that walk every trip. It is one of the hidden gems on property IMO.

 

[luvallprincesses]

If I were you, I'd bus to MK, get on the resort monorail, and tour the monorail resorts. No ticket required.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

There are performers most nights at the Boardwalk. There are typically three. One will do a 10-15 minute show. Once he wraps up another guy will start down a maybe 2 minute walk. As he finishes a third will start a couple minutes away. Once he is done guy one repeats his show and so on from about 6:30 till 10. They are off a couple nights a week in low seasons and will be in the lobby if it is raining or very cold.
There is also a Wyland gallery which we love to stroll through. All the resorts have a movie showing somewhere each night. You can see some of Epcot's Illuminations and some of Wishes from the Boardwalk. If you don't want to walk to the Studios there is a boat.

 

[wisblue]

To the OP, if you are staying at AofA with a 6 year old and don't have a lot of time, I would recommend strolling around the resort enjoying the different large character statues and related displays and/or just relaxing around one of the resort pools. I think that would be more enjoyable and less tiring than the trek to the Boardwalk. There are also some fun decorations in the hotel lobby. All of that should get everyone in the right frame of mind for your first day in the parks.

But, if the resort itself is old hat because of previous stays, maybe they have a movie or something outdoors that would provide some restful entertainment. We love the Boardwalk area, but usually go there if we are staying at one of the nearby resorts or are on our way to or from Epcot or DHS.