Whit and I chose Disney’s Boardwalk Inn & Villas for our February stay. This was our fourth stay at this deluxe resort, and we have loved each and every one.
The waterfront resort embodies the charm and whimsy of turn-of-the-century Atlantic City. The resort is luxurious and inviting, with charming decor. Not only do you have immediate access to everything that the Boardwalk has to offer, but the resort is within easy walking distance (or a quick boat ride) to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios! This is a fantastic location for a trip with older kids where Magic Kingdom isn’t your main focus, and Epcot and Hollywood Studios are of interest.
The beautiful verandah off of the main lobby is such a hidden gem for an afternoon of relaxing and people watching. In the late afternoons, cast members bring out lawn games and the kids can play below!
Accommodations
BoardWalk offers a variety of accommodations, from regular hotel rooms to concierge rooms to studios, 1-, 2- and 3- bedroom villas.
Hotel Rooms
All Inn rooms have been fully renovated and are quite charming. The double queen rooms sleep 5, with the sofa converting to a twin bed. My favorite view is the BoardWalk view! Don’t underestimate how nice a view is on vacation. (Photos shared from friendly travel advisor!)
Garden Room Club Level
The Garden Rooms are charming cottages located in a secluded area of the Boardwalk Inn.
They are large and spacious, with a living room, 1.5 bathrooms and a bedroom that sleeps 2.
The living room features a sofa, chair, desk, TV, table and two chairs and bar area with microwave, sink and coffee maker.
Downstairs there is a half bath.
The upstairs loft is extremely spacious, with a king bed and large bathroom. Some rooms have a front garden area and some have an upstairs balcony. Either is the perfect spot for evening bubbles or morning coffee from the concierge lounge!
Those nighttime views are just gorgeous!
Sonora Suite
The Sonora Vice Presidential Suite features two queen beds and a beautiful living area. The primary bedroom has a king bed and bathroom. A second bedroom sleeps four more with two queen beds and a bathroom. (Photos shared from friendly travel advisor!)
Innkeepers Club Lounge
We absolutely loved the Innkeepers Club Lounge. It is a beautiful, completely renovated space with great seating, delicious food from the Boardwalk area restaurants, and attentive service.
Evenings tended to get busy, but early mornings and afternoons were so quiet. The cast members here were extraordinarily friendly and helpful. I can’t say enough good things!
Food and beverage service is available all day, starting with early bird coffee and ending with desserts, cordials and fireworks. There is a small balcony space, so we grabbed our evening treats to go and enjoyed them while watching fireworks from our room.
Breakfast was plentiful and different each day.
A mimosa and bloody mary bar was a lovely morning perk! There was also excellent coffee, juices and soft drinks.
Afternoons brought grab and go snacks, and the cast members made us fun bubbly spritzers / mocktails each day.
The evening service is a mixture of hot and cold hor d’oeurves You can easily make a light meal of this, although I wouldn’t do it daily.
And, finally, evenings mean sweet treats, wine, beer and cordials! Mickey ice cream is available all day on request!
Deluxe Studio
The deluxe studio is similar to a regular hotel room, but my family prefers the set up of 1 queen bed, 1 sleeper sofa and 1 pull down twin over 2 queen beds. The price is usually comparable and we love the extra floor space. These rooms are currently being renovated.
The BoardWalk studios are tastefully decorated, with whimsical art and without wallpaper borders (lol).
The murphy bed pulls down from where the little table and chairs are to reveal a Dumbo theme. So darling!
The studios contain a basic kitchenette in addition to the standard mini fridge. We usually eat our breakfast in the room so it is a nice amenity.
The bathroom area had one sink and was nicely updated. The potty and shower were in a separate room.
1 Bedroom Villa
For longer stays, we love the 1 bedroom villas. These rooms have a full kitchen, bedroom with king bed, living room with sleeper sofa and a large, spacious bathroom. They also have in-room washer and dryer sets and two balconies / patios. These rooms are being renovated now.
We absolutely love the BoardWalk view at this resort. The atmosphere out here was just fantastic, and we love sitting on our balcony and people watching. We were surprised at just how quiet the Boardwalk is during the day!
That’s Spaceship Earth peeking out over the trees!
When showing, from BoardWalk view rooms, you can catch Epcot fireworks from your balcony! You can also see Hollywood Studios fireworks in the other direction.
Activities
Like the other Disney resorts, Boardwalk had TONS of things to do. There is a large green space overlooked by the Boardwalk Inn’s sweeping verandas. During the day we found cast members out with all sorts of balls and hula hoops.
At night it is home to Disney movie! We always stock our mini fridge with drinks, waters and wine so we carried that down as well.
We have quite a few memories of us laughing so hard on our surrey bike that we didn’t think we’d make it up the hill. I highly suggest this for fun and comical relief. It’s not easy!
Pools and Amenities
The Luna Park pool is a ton of fun and we always spend plenty of time here! There is a main pool, water slide, baby pool, hot tub and pool bar / dining right here. The clown has been removed and replaced with carnival panels of classic Disney characters.
If you were wondering why the removal of the clown, this picture pretty much explains it. HA!
I’ve lost count at how many times we’ve flown down the Keister Coaster slide over the years. A hundred? Two hundred? I must admit, it’s a GOOD slide.
Just around the bend from Luna Park is a quiet pool. It is just off of the DVC Member Community Hall. There are video games, corn hole, board games, foosball, ping pong and more. It is a super fun respite from the sun and our favorite for a late night swim.
The BoardWalk
The Boardwalk Inn and Villas literally walk right out onto Disney’s Boardwalk! Its a great themed space with carnival games, dining, nightlife and entertainment.
As the sun sets and the twinkle lights come on, the BoardWalk becomes a magical place just to walk.
And then in the evening, you are transported!
Dining Around Disney’s BoardWalk
Carousel Coffee
A cup from Carousel Coffee makes the perfect snack to bring with you on a scenic walk along Disney’s BoardWalk. You’ll also find bakery items like muffins and croissants for a light breakfast on the go.
Belle Vue Lounge
The Belle Vue Lounge is a quaint 1930’s style sitting room where radios play programs from the era. It is a quiet spot for reading during the day, but draws quite the evening crowd. In addition to lounge seating, a lovely verandah runs the length of the lounge.
BoardWalk Walk Up Options
Because of the easy access to dining and snacks on the Boardwalk there aren’t any restaurants inside of the resort itself (outside of the lounge and pool bar). But, just steps away are all sorts of options! We sat on the lake with a pizza from the take out windows and Joe’s margaritas after our long drive down Friday night.
Quiet early mornings are my absolutely favorite on the BoardWalk. I get a coffee and breakfast from the BoardWalk Bakery and find a waterfront table all to myself!
Flying Fish
This signature dining location is absolutely delicious and a wonderful spot for guests staying in the BoardWalk area. The food is perfectly prepared and the inside is just beautiful. I highly recommend!
Trattoria al Forno
Trattoria al Forno, a casual Italian eatery, dishes up Old World favorites for both breakfast and dinner.
https://dixiedelightsonline.com/2024/04/trattoria-al-forno-at-disneys-boardwalk.html
Abracadabar
This charming, magic themed bar is another favorite. The lounge is tiny, but you can easily lose track of time exploring every nook and cranny filled with the props and memorabilia of the magicians and illusionists that once frequented the establishment. The menu is unique and we have enjoyed all of our visits here!
BoardWalk Bakery
We love the deli and dessert selections at BoardWalk Bakery. This is also where you fill the resort mugs that come with the dining plan. One of my favorites here is the grilled cheese and tomato soup! But, they have a nice selection of salads and sandwiches overall, and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
BoardWalk Ice Cream
What would a boardwalk be without ice cream?! Bring your sweet tooth to this “cool” ice cream parlor l featuring ice cream and sundaes to go. Menu items such as the Shore-Side Sundae with SNICKERS®, Bay-Side Brownie a la Mode and the Strawberry Splash Shortcake are inspired by Beaches & Cream Soda Shop and make for a GREAT alternative to the always massive line over there.
Transportation
In addition to the spectacular Crescent Lake location, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas is steps from Epcot and a long walk or boat ride to Hollywood Studios! You have access to spectacular dining in the parks, around the BoardWalk and on the Skyliner. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are bus rides away.
Overall, we have really loved our stays at Boardwalk and will definitely be back!
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