Disney’s BoardWalk Resort opened in 1996 in the Epcot Resort Area, across Cresent Lake from the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. The resort is divided into two sections, the Inn and the Villas, that share a common lobby area. The Inn is a deluxe Disney resort and the Villas were sold as part of the Disney Vacation Club, or DVC. DVC is Disney’s version of a time share.
Since we are DVC members, we booked a 1-bedroom villa for one night to give us increased access to the parks. With the new park reservation system, annual passholders (which we were, at the time) have limited availability of park reservations, while hotel guests have greater access to the more popular parks.
The DVC resorts have a later check in time of 4 PM We showed up just before 5, so we would miss the line. Now that Disney has online check in, there’s not as much of a rush to get to the counter as soon as your room is ready.
We had a room on the 2nd floor, just down the hall from the lobby.
When entering the room, you are in the main living space. Immediately to your left is the kitchen area which we dubbed “Sharon-sized.” Not often does she have to bend down to look in a refrigerator?
The living room has a dining nook, bar seating, sleeper sofa and a large screen TV. There are plenty of seats but they’re all divided into groups of two.
If you have four people, you will not be able to eat meals at the same table (which is a problem with many DVC accommodations).
The bathroom has entrances from both the main area and the bedroom. Like most older DVC properties, there’s a large soaking tub with a window into the bedroom, as well as a walk-in shower.
The bedroom has a king-size bed and an additional large-screen TV. There was a French door leading out to the balcony.
The “balcony” barely had room for 2 chairs.
There was a nice view of the pool area but this also meant a great deal of noise in the afternoon and into the evening.
The living room also had a door to a separate balcony. This one didn’t have as good of a view.
Depending on your height, you might not have any view at all.
Final Thoughts
I love the aesthetics of all of the Epcot Resort hotels. Besides the massive Swan and Dolphin hotels looming in the background, they have a coastal vibe throughout the properties.
That being said, the 1-bedroom units have limited functionality. While there’s a full kitchen, it’s small and there’s limited seating space for more than 2 people. There’s almost too much space for just two people and not enough space for three or four, particularly with only one bathroom.
While Old Key West, the original DVC resort, has spacious one-bedroom units, Boardwalk was the beginning of Disney shrinking the footprint of the rooms, and it shows.
Boardwalk’s location within walking distance to Epcot and a Skyliner ride from Hollywood Studios makes it a desirable location. What you gain in proximity to the parks, you give up in the size of your room. Is it worth it? Your Mileage May Vary.
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