Check Out My Review of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn!
We stayed at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, in one of the DVC Villas, on our last trip to Walt Disney World. This was a new resort for us. It was lovely, peaceful, and a new type of experience that we fully enjoyed. So let’s get into it! Like all Deluxe-level resorts at Walt Disney World, there is Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, which is the DVC Property. When DVC Owners don’t use their points at DVC resorts, those rooms are then available for anyone to book and pay for.
ROOMS
The Inn rooms sleep 5 (2 queen beds and a pull down bed) or you can book a Club-Level room (when available) which sleep 5-9 people, depending on the type of room you book. The Villas offer Studios and 1-3 bedrooms. The Studios offer kitchenettes, while the 1-3 bedrooms offer full kitchens and washer/dryer in the unit. If you have a larger family staying for a longer trip, I would highly recommend the Villas. Having the full kitchen and washer/dryer is a game changer!
For Club-Level rooms, you receive turndown service, concierge services, access to signature services (including VIP tours), Continental breakfast, midday snacks, evening wine, cheese, cordials, and dessert service, complimentary health club, personalized guest services, Club-Level Lounge, and more. If you have the means and want to have most everything taken care of for you while you are there, Club-Level is the way to go!
We stayed in a 1-bedroom Villa, as we normally do for long trips. 1-bedroom villas have a bedroom, jacuzzi tub, bathroom, washer/dryer, sofa bed in the living room, and full kitchen. There is plenty of storage for luggage so that it was out of the way the entire 10 days, and plenty of storage for all of our clothes, shoes, ears, and magicbands. The room was nice and clean and modern and we really liked the location. We were facing France, so we had a great view of the Skyliner and EPCOT fireworks, as well as a great view of the Hollywood Tower Hotel!
DINING
Dining options are truly out of this world at the Boardwalk. You do not get the normal quick service options that you get at the other resorts, as there is not one location for quick service dining. But there is the Boardwalk Bakery (drink filling station), Pizza Window, Leaping Horse Libations (Luna Park Pool, with food, drinks, and, of course, Libations), Funnel Cake Cart, and To-Go Cart. This is all in line with the Coney Island/Atlantic City Boardwalk feel of the resort.
Now if you want to make reservations and sit down, you have Trattoria al Forno (one of our favorite places!), Big River Grille and Brewing Works, and Flying Fish. Want to grab a drink to unwind after a long day? Boy oh boy, the Boardwalk is for you! Of course, you can stop on the Boardwalk and get one of Boardwalk Joe’s Marvelous Margaritas! You can also get a drink at the wonderful AbracadaBar or pop up to the Belle Vue Lounge.
If you don’t mind walking, Beach Club and Yacht Club are directly across and a short walk along the Boardwalk, where you can pop into their Quick Service location or make a reservation at any of the restaurants there!
RECREATION
Boardwalk has SO many recreation opportunities!! There is the Luna Park Pool, with it’s no-longer-freaky-clown waterslide, plus 2 leisure pools! You are just a short walk to Fantasia Gardens miniature golf. Right next to the Luna Park Pool you will find the Arcade and Muscles and Bustles health club. There are also tennis courts as well as fishing and surrey bike rentals! You can also do Yoga on the Lawn, enjoy a campfire, or catch a movie on the Lawn! There are plenty of non-park activities to enjoy on your non-park days!
TRANSPORTATION
Boardwalk offers bus transportation to all parks and Disney Springs. You can also Lyft or Uber. In addition, you can take a Friendship Boat to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Beach and Yacht Club, and Swan and Dolphin. In addition to THAT, the Skyliner Station at EPCOT is just a short walk away. And finally, the piece de resistance: you can easily walk to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In my opinion, the Boardwalk area (including the Boardwalk Inn AND Beach and Yacht Clubs) is the best location, simply because you can easily walk to two parks. This means less time waiting on transportation during your trip. It is also a beautiful area to sit and relax. One night on the Boardwalk, we watched the Magic Kingdom fireworks, followed by Hollywood Studios fireworks, with a grand finale of the EPCOT fireworks. Boardwalk was a great resort but does have some disadvantages that lands it below some of our other favorites. BUT… LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION! It truly was a game changer!
Have you stayed on the Boardwalk before? Where does this rank for you in resorts? And COMING SOON: updates! Ready to book your trip? Contact me today!!