Reviews of Boardwalk Villas (Disney Vacation Club)
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 12/25/2023
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
Not as bad as Art of Animation...
Pros:
The only thing good about this hotel is its proximity to the two parks.Cons:
As with all things WDW, the pricing of the product compared to the value of said product is wildly mismatched. Rooms that are no better than a regular hotel and they are 4 or 5 times the price. Convenience store quality food that has a Michelin star price attached. Requested room add ons that never happened... Patently ridiculous WDW continues to get away with this.Reviewed by ProfM Review Date: 01/20/2021
Rating: (6) Not Recommended
We stayed in a studio overlooking the boardwalk for two nights. We were not impressed with the check-in staff. They were rude and assumed we had stayed there in the past. When I asked where the pool was, I was told, \"it hasn't moved, it's over there!\" Helpful for a first-time guest?!
Don't even get me started on the walk back to the lobby from the car, it was at least a fifteen-minute walk. One and done for us...
Pros:
Very close to EPCOT.Cons:
Over-intoxicated people returning from EPCOT at night.Reviewed by mv9393 Review Date: 08/04/2016
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
First, the couple reviews that I have posted I like to put some thought into and give a detailed review. This post is strictly a WARNING to anyone contimplating staying here.....DO NOT.
I have stayed at 75% of the current disney resorts both hotels and DVC. This was without a doubt the WORST customer service experience I have EVER encountered at Disney. When have you ever passed a Disney employee in the halls and they ignore you? Well that happens here. How about asking the front desk where the locations are to fill up your refillable mug and being told, when you buy it at store ask them because I do not know. How about the only place to fill your refillable mug after 11 is a bar that the bartender pours your drink into a plastic cup and makes YOU pour it into your mug. How about asking for a couple more washcloths only to be told to go and wash the ones you were supplied. Or how about asking for toilet paper and it not get delivered for over 12 hours.
What an atrosity we experienced here!!!! That's not to mention the fact of being placed in room 4136 which is a .35 mile walk from the lobby.
I am a DVC member but I use the parks, I do not visit to hang at the resort like some. And after expressing that I was told that no other studio was available during my stay.
Why did I give it a 4? Because you cannot argue with the location, even if each day coming and going I had to walk over half a mile to and from the bus.
Never again will I stay at the Boardwalk....
Pros:
LocationCons:
EVERYTHING ELSEReviewed by crazystamperjill Review Date: 09/13/2014
Rating: (3) Not Recommended
Before I start my review I'd like to make clear that we are HUGE Disney fans -- we visit at least once a year. Two years ago we actually stayed 4 times in 11 months. We truly love all things DISNEY, so to place this review breaks my heart, but I feel I have to share.
As always, the Magic Express was a pleasure to use and the cast members we encountered during our week stay were all lovely to deal with.
My significant other and I stayed in a one-bedroom villa at the Boardwalk on a timeshare trade in late August/early September. The villa was our best view yet -- front and center of the fabulous Luna Park Pool area. We had a large balcony, which you could access from the bedroom or living room. Awesome, right?
Upon check-in we noticed some small issues but nothing serious enough to warrant a call to the front desk. (broken bi-fold door to the laundry closet and a broken seal on the refrigerator door).
The location of the Boardwalk Inn/Villas is second to none with the beautiful oldtime look of the Boardwalk, restaurants, entertainment, etc., it really is just great. Sadly, our last 2 visits to the Villas were not up to our (or Disney's) standards. Perhaps it's a property management issue? My complaint is with the bathroom. This time their was MOLD everywhere in the tile shower. If you've stayed there you're familiar with the corner shower set up and how there's a partial wall/half glass window in the shower -- well this is where I first encountered the mold -- where the glass window meets the the ledge -- both inside and outside the shower. After bending down to retrieve the shower gel I dropped, I then saw more mold splotches all over the tile/grout near the shower door.
Understand that this truly would be unacceptable to me at any hotel chain, but I really feel like I shouldn't even have to think about cleanliness while staying at a DELUXE Disney property. And my biggest problem is, if the shower is outwardly moldly, what else hasn't been cleaned/sanitized appropriately before my checking in? Scary thought, huh?
I can't express how unhappy we were with this -- a moldy shower -- again. I kept seeing the young families at the pool thinking I could NEVER bathe my small children in that bathroom!
After seeing the quarter size mold spots in the shower early that first morning, I did stop by the front desk to see what they could do about it and they assured me housekeeping would be in asap to take care of it. Well, Housekeeping did come in -- they left fresh soaps/shampoo products, refilled our towels and took our trash (none of this was needed as we had been there less than 24 hours at this point) and did nothing to rectify the mold situation in the shower. The second disappointment came when no one from the Villas staff followed up with us to see if the problem had been rectified. As this was our second stay at the Villas in 2 years and the second time we had a mold issue in the shower I have to imagine they knew it wasn't taken care of and didn't want to deal with an unhappy guest. Our arrival was at the beginning of Labor Day weekend and they seemed to be at capacity, so perhaps they didn't have the option of moving us elsewhere.
Do we LOVE the location of the Boardalk and all the entertainmenet, etc., is has to offer? You bet we do! But sadly I think this was the last time we'll be staying at the Boardwalk Inn/Villas.
Pros:
Location!Cons:
Age/Condition of accommodationsReviewed by sparky Review Date: 02/08/2014
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
We have in the past stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge Villa's, Saratoga Springs Villa's and Beach Club Villa's. Comparing Beach Club (since so close) to Boardwalk we would stay at Beach Club again and not Boardwalk. Rooms were nicer, mug refill's very close to rooms, Pools nicer and working order. The parking lot at Beach Club was a lot more user friendly vs Boardwalk which appears more oriented to valet parking instead of regular parking and it was quite a walk to your car if you needed it. We stayed 9 days at the end of January the private pool heater was broke the entire stay. And the heated pool closed to early to use it. Very disappointing for as many trips we have taken and this resort was not up to our expectations. Also if you go to Downtown Disney from this resort you will stop at Swan, Dolphin, Beach Club and Yacht Club and are on the bus forever. It is a major plus being able to walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studio's and that is why we booked in this location. We asked for a pool view and we had a huge tree that was directly in front of the pool. Since we have been to other resorts that is why we are stating this one was a disappointment since we know there are better places to stay.
Pros:
location to Epcot and Hollywood StudioCons:
lots of ware /long walk to fill mug/no heat in pool/dirty stairwellsReviewed by travelwiseotown Review Date: 04/19/2013
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
When checking in, be sure to get keycard pins for all those in your room using the Disney Dining Plan, even your 5 year old. Not charging privileges for kids, just pins for their keycards. We were told teens pins did not work when they tried to use my pin at 3 eateries. These quick service locations should have called the Boardwalk in order to contact us. Took our entire stay to get it straight thanks to the CM who didn't tell us this at check-in. We even asked if it would be a problem with DDP with no charge privileges or pins-the CM replied "no". Should retrain. Concierge could not add park tickets to our key cards after we checked-in. She didn't ask for supervisor help either so we had 2 sets of cards instead of 1 card. Poor training.
Shower did not drain well and finally clogged leaving us in 2 inches of standing water. Fortunately maintenance arrived quickly and solved the problem at 10:30 at night. Maids could easily check showers during room clean-up. House keeping repeatedly referred to guest as "Mama". Very derogatory. Should retrain. Had to battle foreign speaking concierge just to get a supervisor. She couldn't understand the problem we described to her.
Bellman unpacking us cold and unfriendly on arrival. Lots of job seekers can at least force a smile. He should look for noninteracting position like grounds keeping, etc. but even the grounds keepers and maintenance employees tried harder to be friendly.They couldn't speak English well but they knew how to smile and be friendly to guests.
Elevator out several days, jacuzzi at main pool not working and Boardwalk Bakery closed for remodeling during Spring Break. Overnight "guests" either pay $15/day for valet parking or park at the lot closest to employee parking, quite a distance away from guest rooms. Poor Imagineering.
We are DVC members and will stay elsewhere next time, even though Boardwalk is our home resort. With the Downtown Disney remodel, more people may stay at SSR and the Boardwalk can concentrate on being the $600/night Disney resort it should be. Maybe they'll pay a little more to front desk employees who can properly perform their job, problem solve quickly and in a friendly manner. We did find one employee who could do this, so it is possible. If you're not happy with your experience, Disney or otherwise, the best way to bring about change is by saying so.
Pros:
Epcot Resort LocationCons:
Cast Member Training and AttitudeReviewed by Tex Review Date: 07/30/2022
Rating: (9) Recommended
Our latest stay at the BW was May 2022. We love the BW and have stayed here many times since 1997. The rooms are spacious, the amenities are great, the location can't be beat. Cast were friendly. But the gray walls are really awful. Gray was a fad when they were doing the latest rehab. The rooms now look like generic HG TV. A couple contemporary pictures of the Atlantic City Boardwalk on the walls with some Disney characters passes for the theme. I am sure someone likes the new look. But I remember the rooms when new and all the little touches that are now gone. It is still a great place to stay but some of the magic has been lost.
Pros:
Room size, locationCons:
Ugly gray wall in living roomReviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 12/14/2021
Rating: (7) Recommended
Member since 1997
We stayed last week of November
A first floor one bedroom
The bed was lumpy and terrible
This was the first time that’s been a problem
Rooms clean and smelled nice
Pools great
Pros:
Walk to EpCOT Fun st boardwalkCons:
Bed was lumpyReviewed by PattyMayonaise821 Review Date: 11/11/2021
Rating: (9) Recommended
My husband and I stayed at the Boardwalk Villas for 4 nights and 5 days in a 1 bedroom villa, with a great view of the Tower of Terror.
We loved the room size, the kitchenette, the double bathroom, and the ability to do a little laundry during our stay.
The pool at the hotel is the perfect size, and there's a quiet pool to lounge without having to worry about the waterslide! It's an easy walk to Epcot, and we found the boats to run like clockwork and were a great option for getting to and from Hollywood Studios!
While I wouldn't call it a negative, as New Yorkers who live near Coney Island and Atlantic City, we do feel that the Boardwalk can really amplify the theming to really hammer home that 1900-1920's feel that they're going for. It would be great to have more unique shops, snacks, and entertainment that takes you back to that time and place.
Pros:
Location to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and The Boardwalk shops and dining. The room size! In room laundry!Cons:
Many restaurants were closed.Reviewed by PunzieSpiritGuide Review Date: 11/06/2021
Rating: (9) Recommended
I stayed at the Boardwalk Villas in January 2021 and my stay was absolutely amazing. The pool and slide are amazing. During the day they had activities at pool, when I was there they were doing trivia. The location is premier being so close to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. We had a boardwalk side view and it was beautiful being right on the water.
