Disney's BoardWalk Villas
are part of the timeshare resort that belongs to the Disney Vacation
Club (DVC).
Disney's BoardWalk Inn is a Disney hotel in the "Deluxe
Resort" category.
Can I rent rooms in the BoardWalk
Villas or do I have to be a member of Disney's Vacation Club (DVC)?
As with all the Disney Vacation
Club resorts on property, anyone can rent rooms or suites at the
BoardWalk Villas, subject to availability of course. You do NOT
have to be a member of the DVC.
NOTE: To help relieve the confusion about the availability of Disney Vacation Club (DVC) accommodations as nightly rentals, Disney vacation planners are now using the term "Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts" in reference to the DVC properties for non-members.
Where are the BoardWalk Villas located?
The BoardWalk is located
in the Epcot resort area. It is located just across Crescent
Lake from Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and
near the Dolphin and Swan hotels. You can walk to Epcot
and the Disney's Hollywood Studios from the BoardWalk.
What are the different room options?
There are 383 Villas
that range from Studios to Grand Villas,
29 are handicap-accessible.
Studios: - These rooms are 359
square feet and come with one queen bed, a double sleeper sofa, small
dining table and two chairs, armoire, TV, bathroom and a private balcony
or patio which has two chairs and a small table. Also included are
a microwave, coffee maker, toaster, mini-refrigerator, wet bar, hair
dryer, iron, ironing board and vacuum cleaner. Outside the bathroom
is a small area with vanity, large mirror and one sink. You will find
coffee, paper plates, plastic utensils and "real" glasses
and coffee cups in the room. Per Disney, this Studio will accommodate
"four adults maximum, plus one child under the age of three in
a crib". The Studio has very limited drawer space for clothes.
Studio with Daybed: - Includes
everything in the Studio room plus a five-foot daybed. Per Disney,
this Studio with Daybed will accommodate "four adults maximum,
plus one child who will fit in the daybed, plus one child under the
age of three in a crib".
One-Bedroom Villa: The average
one-bedroom Villa is 712 square feet and has one bedroom with a
king-sized bed, TV, chair and armoire, plus a
living room with queen-sized sleeper sofa, VCR and TV,
and dining area with a table and four chairs. The unit also has a
fully equipped kitchen, complete with refridgerator, stove/oven, microwave,
toaster, blender, and pans, dishes and utensils. One-bedroom units
have one full bathroom with toilet, sink and shower, plus a separate
connecting area with a whirlpool tub and a sink/vanity.
Also included are a stacked washer and dryer, hair dryer, a nice walk-in
closet as well as a smaller closet, and a private balcony or patio
which includes two chairs and a small table.
Click Here for A Listing of Supplies Provided in the Villa.
Per Disney, this One-Bedroom Villa will accommodate "four adults
maximum, plus one child under the age of three in a crib".
Two-Bedroom Villa: The average
Two-Bedroom Villa is 1,071 square feet. This is basically a Studio
Villa and a One-Bedroom Villa that are connected with a communicating
door. (See description above of both rooms to see what's included.)
Per Disney, this Two-Bedroom Villa will accommodate "eight adults,
plus one child under the age of three in a crib".
Grand Villa: The average Grand
Villa is 2,142 square feet. This is a three bedroom, three bath Villa,
that has a master bedroom which includes a king-sized bed and private
whirlpool tub, two other bedrooms which each include two queen-sized
beds and a private bathroom, a living room area that has a queen-sized
sleeper sofa, fully equipped kitchen, dining room, full-sized washer
and dryer and a private balcony. There are both one- and two-story
Grand Villas at the Boardwalk. Per Disney, this Grand Villa will accommodate
"twelve adults maximum, plus one child under the age of three
in a crib".
How much will it cost for me to stay
in one of these Villas? Below
is a table of room rates. Annual Pass holders can
sometimes get discounts on rooms, depending on season and availability.
January and September are typically good months for discounts.
2009
RATES
(Resort Tax Not Included)
| Room
Type |
|
Value
1/1-2/12
7/19-10/1
11/29-12/17
|
|
Regular
4/19-7/18
10/2-11/28 |
|
Peak
2/13-4/18 |
|
Holiday
12/18 - 12/31 |
| |
|
Studio
Max 4
|
|
$335 |
|
$380 |
|
$455 |
|
$505 |
| |
|
1BR Villa
Max 4
|
|
$450
|
|
$510 |
|
$595 |
|
$665 |
| |
|
2BR Villa
Max 8
|
|
$630
|
|
$820 |
|
$1035 |
|
$1175 |
| |
|
3BR Grand Villa
Max 12
|
|
$1530
|
|
$1745 |
|
$1965 |
|
$2215 |
| |
Are
there nonsmoking rooms?
As
of June 1, 2007, all Disney resorts and
guest rooms are now smoke free. There are designated outdoor
smoking areas. Check the resort map or with a Cast Member for locations.
A $250-$500 room recovery fee, plus tax, will be charged for smoking
in Guest Rooms, on balconies or patios.
What time is Check-In and Check-Out?
Check-In for the Villas is 4pm
and Check-Out is 11am. You will be allowed to check in earlier if
your room is ready when you arrive, but based on my experience, don't
count on it!
Upon arriving at the resort, if your
room is not yet ready, you pre-check in. The Front Desk staff
will issue you activated "Key to the World" cards which
you can use for charging. You will also receive a card with the BoardWalk's
phone number. You can use any resort phone on Disney Property
to call and inquire if your room is ready. If so, your "Key
to the World" card will automatically be updated to work on the
room that has been assigned to you. There is no need to return
to the Front Desk.
If your room is not ready when you
check in, don't expect it before 4pm. For some reason, the rooms seem
to be released from housekeeping in blocks, not as individual rooms
become ready.
What's the difference between the
different views?
Disney describes the views as "Standard",
"Preferred", and Boardwalk.
Standard villas cost less money/points but there are not many of them.
The Preferred and Boardwalk cost is the same, but, again, not many
Boardwalk Views.
From my observation, these are the
main views:
- view of Crescent Lake/BoardWalk
entertainment area
- view of the Main Entrance (looking
out towards the BW Inn and in the direction of Epcot), parking lots
- view of the Luna Park pool area
- view of the quiet pool area
- view of Dolphin/Swan hotels
- view of tennis courts/parking lo
What's this I hear about having a
long walk to the elevators?
True, depending on where your room
is located you could have a very, very long walk to the elevators.
If that's of concern to you then you need to request a room near the
elevator when you book your room. There is only ONE bank of elevators
(three actual elevators) on the Villa side of the resort. It goes
from the first floor to fifth floor. There is also a separate key-entry
way on the ground floor next to the BoardWalk's Health Club.
Some villas actually require you to
exit the resort and reenter -- exit past the Fitness Club and walk
across the path to the door. You will need your room card during off
hours to enter.
Are the Villas noisy with all that
activity outside?
Some guests staying in rooms that overlooked
the main entrance found that area to be extremely quiet. However,
others who have stayed in rooms overlooking the Boardwalk have said
that noise can sometimes be an issue, depending on how much activity
there is. I have overlooked the pool at Luna Park on several occasions
and never heard noise from that area. I also recently had a
Boardwalk View room on the 4th floor. With my balcony door closed,
I didn't hear a thing inside the room, except for the nightly fireworks.
With the door open, I was able to hear sounds from below. The lower
the floor your room is on the more likely you will hear noise from
below.
How do I get around Walt Disney World
from the BoardWalk Villas?
Disney's BoardWalk Villas and
Inn share the same transportation depot. Transportation
to both Epcot and Disney's Hollywod Studios is via boat or
walkway. The boats leave every 20 minutes from the dock that is located
in the center of the Boardwalk. The boat that docks on the
left side will take you to Disney's Hollywood Studios and the boat
that docks on the right side will take you to Epcot. Since
these boats also service the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and
the Dolphin and Swan hotels, the trip can take over 20 minutes.
Epcot is within walking distance (5 minutes) and I would suggest
taking that option over the boat.
There
is a walkway between the BoardWalk and Disney's Hollywood Studios.
It's about 3/4 - 1 mile long, and should take about 15 minutes at
a comfortable walking pace. The path is lighted at night, and it's
really a very pleasant walk along the waterway that connects the Epcot
resort area with Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Transportation to the rest of WDW
from the BoardWalk Villas is via bus. There is one bus stop
located just outside the main entrance. Buses stop there approximately
every 20 minutes. Buses will take you directly to the Magic Kingdom,
Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Buses
will take you to the Downtown Disney Area with stops at the
Marketplace and Pleasure Island. From the Disney Marketplace,
or from the parks, you can catch buses to the other Disney resort
hotels.
Where can I get a meal?
Big River Grille and Brewing Works
(located on the Boardwalk): American cuisine. Specialties include
beers, burgers and salads. Lunch and Dinner. Hours: 10am - 2am. Click
Here for Menu
ESPN Club (located on the Boardwalk):
American cuisine. Specialties include burgers and hot dogs. Features
TV monitors in the rest rooms. Lunch and Dinner. Hours: 11am
- 2am. Click Here for Menu
Flying Fish Cafe (located on
the Boardwalk): American/seafood cuisine. Specialties include seafood,
steaks, warm chocolate lava cake, and seasonal items. Dinner only.
Hours: 5pm - 11pm. Click Here for
Menu
Spoodles (located on the Boardwalk):
Mediterranean cuisine. Specialties include dishes from Spain, France,
North Africa, Greece and Italy. Serves: Breakfast and Dinner. Hours:
Click Here for Menu
Are there refillable mugs?
Yes, the Boardwalk complex
sells refillable mugs at the Bakery or Boardwalk
Joe's Coffee Cart. You can refill your mugs at those locations;
refills are free. Click HERE for
more information on the Refillable Mug program.
How about a cup of coffee and/or an
ice cream?
BoardWalk Bakery (located on
the Boardwalk): Fresh baked goods, cappuccino and espresso to go.
Hours: 7am - 11pm.
Seashore Sweets (located on
the Boardwalk): Hand-dipped ice cream, salt water taffy, chocolate,
cookies, fresh-brewed coffee. Hours: 1pm - midnight.
There are several food stands on the
Boardwalk where you can get specialty coffees, crepes
on a stick, popcorn, etc.
Is there a lounge in the hotel where
I can relax and have a drink?
The lounge is the Belle Vue Room
located on the BoardWalk Inn side of the complex. There
is a balcony that offers a view of Crescent Lake. Hours are
5pm until midnight.
What are the pools like?
There are two pool areas. The themed
pool is called Luna Park. It's a 190,000 gallon pool that dates
back to the days of the 1920's amusement parks. The slide is called
Keister Coaster and is built like a wooden roller coaster.
Nearby is the Leaping Horse Pool Bar (looks like a carousel)
that serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in addition to burgers,
hot dogs, fries and ice cream treats. The other pool is considered
the 'quiet' pool and is much smaller. TIP: If
you wish to order beverages from the Leaping Horse Bar, you can simply
leave your resort room key with the bartenders to run a tab... this
also saves you from being concerned where your key is.
What is the Community Hall?
Community Hall is
a "recreation" area located near the quiet pool of the Villas.
Bicycles, noodles, life jackets and tennis equipment are available
for rent. Movie rentals are also available for $3/night (free for
Disney Vacation Club members). There are daily activities for children,
including face painting, sand art, necklace making, water balloon
toss, fishing trips and more. Activities change daily, and some require
a fee, so it's best to check with the Cast Member at Community Hall
for a schedule and more information.
Is there a club for kids?
The Boardwalk's
Harbor Club --a supervised activity center for children 4-12
-- is closed indefinitely. Guests may use the Sandcastle Club
at the Yacht and Beach Club on the other side of the lake.
Visit our Childcare FAQ for
more info.
A private
sitting service, Kids' Night Out, also provides babysitting
services at WDW. For rates and more information, they can be reached
at (407) 827-5444.
Can I work out/exercise while I'm
there?
Muscles and Bustles offers cybex
equipment, life cycles, treadmills, stairmasters, dumbbells, coed
steam room, coed sauna, tanning bed and massages. The health club
is located adjacent to the Side Show Games Arcade, facing the court
yard green, and is open from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm daily. Membership
is free to guests at the Boardwalk resort for the length of your stay.
Tanning sessions are 15 minutes long and are $10 per session. Massage
therapy is available by appointment and ranges from $50+. You can
call the Health Club directly at 939-2370.
The Front Desk also has jogging maps
available for those who'd like to run around the property.
What other services do they offer?
There is a complete office environment,
including personal computer, Telefax machines, copier and secretarial
service available at the BoardWalk Conference Center.
In addition, single copies can be made at the front desk as well as
sending facsimiles (for a fee).
Where can I shop?
Dundy's Sundries (located just
off the main lobby): There you can purchase some personal items, film
and souvenirs.
Screen Door General Store (located
on the Boardwalk): A much more complete selection of items for purchase, including groceries, snacks
and beverages.
Thimbles and Threads (located
on the Boardwalk): Sells resort apparel, swimwear and accessories
for men and women.
Disney's Character Carnival
(located on the Boardwalk): Sells all kinds of Disney merchandise.
What kind of clubs are there out on
the Boardwalk?
Atlantic Dance Hall: Dance to
a live band or DJ nightly. (Must be 21 or over to get in.)
ESPN Sports Bar: High energy
sports bar. Video game room. Hours: 11am - 2am.
Jellyrolls: Entertainment includes
dueling pianos nightly from 7pm till 2am. Jellyrolls is very entertaining
and interactive, but VERY loud. Go there for the show but not to talk.
$10 cover charge, must be 21.
Visit our BoardWalk section for more
details HERE.
What else is there to do on the Boardwalk?
There are a few midway games that you
can play, an arcade, street performers, vendors, face painting, hand
wax, and you can rent pedal powered surries.
The Surrey Bikes are
rented by the half hour right on the Boardwalk. Prices vary. Available
for rent 2-Seaters, 4-Seaters and Grand Surrey 6-seaters. The Rental
Counter is open from approximately 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tell me about meeting facilities at
the BoardWalk.
The BoardWalk Inn and Villas
has a 20,000 square foot Conference Center that contains a 10,500
square foot ballroom, 14 breakout rooms, business center, meeting
conference planners' office and a registration area. Call (407) 828-3074
for additional information.
Is there any other information I may
want to know about?
- Lines
at the Boardwalk Bakery for morning coffee/pastries can be quite long!
Suggest making coffee in your room and getting baked goods the night
before.
- Packages
sent to your resort from the Disney parks and shops will be left for
you at the Screen Door General Store.
- Valet Parking is $10 per day. If
you are a Disney Vacation Club member, show your "Key to the
World" card for free valet parking. Please remember to tip the
valet when both dropping off and picking up.
- There is a picnic area with tables
and a grill down by the tennis courts on the Villa side of the complex.
- There is a small jacuzzi at the quiet
pool.
- If you would like to see the fireworks
from Epcot's IllumiNations (you won't be able to hear the music or
see the water screens), either stand on the bridge that crosses to/from
the Boardwalk area to the Beach Club/Epcot area; OR go out the back
door at the Boardwalk Inn side and watch from the steps.
How do I contact the Boardwalk?
BoardWalk Inn and Villas
2101 Epcot Resorts Boulevard
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000
Phone: (407) 939-5100
Fax: (407) 939-5150
Note: To make a reservation call CRO at (407) 934-7639.