Hotels have been a part of the Disney World experience since the very beginning, when the Contemporary and Polynesian opened with the resort on opening day. In the 5+ decades since, Disney has opened up hotels at multiple tiers to try and appeal to guests at all levels.
The Boardwalk
Sometimes people prefer to pay as little as possible, still stay on property, but only plan to be in the room to eat and shower, so Moderate and Deluxe resorts wouldn’t be a great fit. Other families and guests want a beautiful resort with lots of amenities that are close to at least one of the theme parks, and in that case, a Value resort wouldn’t be the move. Other times it’s the theming that guests may not enjoy, but we have to be honest — we’ve seen some negative reviews recently for a hotel we weren’t expecting, so let’s see what’s going on here.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is a deluxe hotel in the EPCOT resort area, meaning you’re within walking distance to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, a major perk for many guests. However, there appear to be some major complaints about this hotel that some of our readers have had recently.
BoardWalk Inn
A reader left a relatively scathing review in February of 2025:
“We stayed at the Boardwalk Inn for the 2nd time in November, 2024. Our 1st visit had been back in 2006 — that visit was a truly magical stay and a wonderful memory for us. I’m sorry to say our latest visit left us disappointed. Our room was on a lower level, facing a pretty courtyard. The location meant we had to take 2 elevators and a staircase to get out to the Boardwalk Bakery/drink refill station. The room itself was spacious, but had no furniture other than 2 queen beds and a small pull out sofa, which my grandson was using as a bed. There were no chairs in the room, no table. Also, no rug on the floor, which looked and felt like cheap laminate. Our room was close to the elevator and we could hear the “ding” continually, as well as the conversation of all guests in the hallway/elevator area. I know that Disney now calls their mini fridges “beverage coolers,” but they should call them “barely coolers.” The half and half I purchased for my morning coffee spoiled. There were exactly 2 coffee pods provided. The main areas of the hotel are still beautiful. The pool & Boardwalk activities are still fun. The location is still sublime. However, we paid through the nose for a room we weren’t even comfortable in. For my money, Port Orleans Riverside is a nicer resort.”
Boardwalk Lobby
This wasn’t an isolated case of a bad review, either. Another reader left the following review for us in April 2024:
“The room was noisy late into the night with people
screaming on the lawn and movies playing. We did not have facecloths in the bath and the shower was awful. The faucets were difficult to work with. The room did not feel fresh and clean. We had refillable mugs that were useless and inconvenient. There were people yelling in the hallway all night. This resort totally ruined my vacation, and I will never stay in this Motel6 again.”
While we completely hear this person’s review, especially hearing that people were being noisy during Disney’s required quiet hours, there are some things here that can be easily solved! If you feel you need more towels or that some were forgotten, you can always call down to the front desk and ask for some to be delivered.
Garden Room entrance
Resort refillable mugs are also not required for your vacation and are an additional perk you can purchase (unless you have the Disney Dining Plan, in which case you’ll get a complimentary one for each person staying at the hotel). We often say these are only worth it if you and your party drink lots of soda regularly and are expecting to spend lots of time at the hotel, because they cannot be refilled outside of your hotel. It’s certainly something to really think about the logistics of using it before you purchase one!
If you feel your room is not clean, this is also absolutely something you can politely share with the front desk. Perhaps you can ask to move to a different room if it’s the first day of your vacation and you’ve just checked in, or ask if someone could come in and freshen up the room while you go out to explore the BoardWalk or Disney Springs.
A second negative review we’re like to share is from January 2024:
“While it certainly wasn’t as bad as the art of animation resort, the cons absolutely outweigh the pros especially when you factor in how exorbitantly expensive this place is.
I encountered one genuinely polite cast member.
The food at the restaurants on the boardwalk is worse than the food inside the parks and equally expensive. You cannot charge Michelin starred prices for convenience store quality food and propose it as a long term strategy.
For most people, a Disney world vacation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is sad to see what has happened with what is supposed to be the most magical place on Earth.”
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
Whew! There’s a lot going on here! Restaurants on the BoardWalk are certainly more expensive, that’s 100% true. We don’t know if this would have helped alleviate this guest’s issue, but we highly recommend looking up the menu for the restaurants you’re considering if you’re a pickier eater or you’re traveling with someone who is. Now, sometimes restaurants just have off days, and you do get a strangely bad meal, and there’s little that can be done about that.
The Boardwalk
So, is the BoardWalk Inn somewhere you should consider staying if you’re planning a vacation? Well, if you’re looking for a hotel that’s in close proximity to two parks and you don’t mind paying the higher price tag for a hotel that doesn’t have a lot of Disney theming (and the general theming is very toned down), this could be a good fit if you’re planning to at least have one resort day. Another review from 2023 reads:
“I’ve heard some people say it is too noisy, but my experience couldn’t have been any better. Wonderful view of the lake and Epcot. The pool is nicely tucked away, with great bar service and is compact enough it’s easy to keep track of the kids. Location can’t be beat. Epcot is a short walk. HS can be accessed via the skyline, boat or walking path (my favorite).”
It’s a short walk!
However, if you’re looking to save some money, you’re concerned about a higher level of noise, being close to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios isn’t really important to you, or you’re looking for more impressive/extravagant theming, this likely won’t be a good fit for you.
BoardWalk Inn Pool
We’re always here to bring the latest honest reviews from both ourselves and our readers! We want to hear YOUR thoughts!Leave a review right here on AllEars for the restaurants you’ve been to so you can help out fellow Disney lovers planning their next trip!
Disney’s BoardWalk
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6 Replies to “The $696 Disney World Hotel Room That “Totally Ruined My Vacation””
Like James, we were told about Boardwalk being pulled down too. We attended a DVC update at the DVC lounge in September. They said that when the Boardwalk Villa DVC contracts expired, they definitely wouldn’t be extended as there was too much structurally wrong with the resort. It would be pulled down and something else would be built there. I think that’s why they haven’t replaced some of the closed restaurants and shops as they can’t guarantee to new tenants that they can be there long term. I love the theme of the resort so it makes me sad. They do a great job of hiding any faults though as I can’t see any, although I’m not a structural engineer. Maybe this is why so many new DVC resorts have been built recently, so that if/when places like Boardwalk go there are still plenty of rooms for guests.
Just recently stayed at Saratoga Springs as a DVC member and during my stay I happened to talk to someone at one of the DVC desks about an unrelated matter. He said he had heard Disney is going to tear down the Boardwalk resort because there are ‘too many problems’ there. Have no idea if that is true, but I can’t imagine things are that bad there that the only way to solve them is to tear it down and start over.
I do think, however,that people would be a lot happier there if the Boardwalk was a vibrant active area with fun things to do. During our time at Disney we walked by there a couple times and most of the activities on the Boardwalk itself were closed down in the middle of the afternoon as well as nothing happening on the ‘green’ in front in front of the resort. Restaurants are closed , the nightclub closed, and the art gallery, not that it was a big attraction, also closed. Nothing more discouraging than to go somewhere with lots of stuff closed down. With no plans for what’s next. Maybe the DVC guy is spot on.
My stay at Universal’s Portofino last year far exceeded that of my visit in October at Boardwalk….very crowded along the lake from 4 pm to 10…limited seating…wedding processions on weekends. I don’t mind paying more for quality food though my usual corndog on the boardwalk this fall was not the same as it was when first opened…nothing like a soggy coating hanging limply on a lukewarm hotdog…
Personally, I find it easier to access the Boardwalk Resort more quickly and efficiently when I’m staying at a neighboring resort like Yacht & Beach Club, because it’s often faster to walk around the lagoon separating the two resorts than it is to take two elevators and a staircase when you’re staying onsite.
Well I’m staying there in a few months so hopefully I don’t have these issues although the late night atmosphere is one of the reasons I picked it so I wouldn’t mind late activity.
Like James, we were told about Boardwalk being pulled down too. We attended a DVC update at the DVC lounge in September. They said that when the Boardwalk Villa DVC contracts expired, they definitely wouldn’t be extended as there was too much structurally wrong with the resort. It would be pulled down and something else would be built there. I think that’s why they haven’t replaced some of the closed restaurants and shops as they can’t guarantee to new tenants that they can be there long term. I love the theme of the resort so it makes me sad. They do a great job of hiding any faults though as I can’t see any, although I’m not a structural engineer. Maybe this is why so many new DVC resorts have been built recently, so that if/when places like Boardwalk go there are still plenty of rooms for guests.
Interesting… we will definitely send a reporter in to find out what’s going on! Thanks for letting us know, James and Louise.
Just recently stayed at Saratoga Springs as a DVC member and during my stay I happened to talk to someone at one of the DVC desks about an unrelated matter. He said he had heard Disney is going to tear down the Boardwalk resort because there are ‘too many problems’ there. Have no idea if that is true, but I can’t imagine things are that bad there that the only way to solve them is to tear it down and start over.
I do think, however,that people would be a lot happier there if the Boardwalk was a vibrant active area with fun things to do. During our time at Disney we walked by there a couple times and most of the activities on the Boardwalk itself were closed down in the middle of the afternoon as well as nothing happening on the ‘green’ in front in front of the resort. Restaurants are closed , the nightclub closed, and the art gallery, not that it was a big attraction, also closed. Nothing more discouraging than to go somewhere with lots of stuff closed down. With no plans for what’s next. Maybe the DVC guy is spot on.
My stay at Universal’s Portofino last year far exceeded that of my visit in October at Boardwalk….very crowded along the lake from 4 pm to 10…limited seating…wedding processions on weekends. I don’t mind paying more for quality food though my usual corndog on the boardwalk this fall was not the same as it was when first opened…nothing like a soggy coating hanging limply on a lukewarm hotdog…
Personally, I find it easier to access the Boardwalk Resort more quickly and efficiently when I’m staying at a neighboring resort like Yacht & Beach Club, because it’s often faster to walk around the lagoon separating the two resorts than it is to take two elevators and a staircase when you’re staying onsite.
Well I’m staying there in a few months so hopefully I don’t have these issues although the late night atmosphere is one of the reasons I picked it so I wouldn’t mind late activity.