Gonzalo Gómez
We recently stayed at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and while the hotel is beautiful and has some strong points, several practical issues kept the experience at a solid 3 stars instead of more.
The biggest drawback: there is no proper breakfast option.
For a Disney resort of this category, this is honestly hard to understand. The lobby café is very small, sells only pre-made sandwiches and croissants, and cannot even heat or bake them. Seating is extremely limited: about five tiny tables in the middle of the lobby, fully exposed, with armchairs that are not comfortable at all for larger or older guests.
The hotel recommends nearby BoardWalk restaurants for breakfast, but most require reservations and open too late to take advantage of Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry. They also suggest the BoardWalk Deli, which sounds great until you get there: it’s essentially the same sandwiches and croissants (at least warmed this time), but with no indoor seating at all. Outside there are only a few tables exposed to weather—unpleasant in heat, cold, or rain.
Access to the rooms is another major issue.
The hallways are long, narrow, and confusing. Getting to our room took a long time, especially using a mobility scooter. Even when the parking lot is physically close in a straight line, you cannot access it directly—you must go through the lobby and walk long internal routes. Valet parking is offered, but I personally dislike depending on others to access my car.
We booked one of the larger rooms for four people. The room itself was very nice and spacious, with two queen beds, a good-sized bathroom, and a lovely shower. Privacy is limited for a family, but it works well in terms of comfort, storage, rest, and functionality.
Staff was generally helpful, but scooter policies seem inconsistent. My wife was allowed to charge her scooter battery at Bell Services, while I was denied the same request later that day. Eventually, I had to charge it without asking. Hallways are very tight for scooters, and taking the scooter to the room is inconvenient—but absolutely necessary for guests with mobility issues.
Accessibility to the BoardWalk itself is limited.
There is essentially one poorly marked elevator for wheelchairs and scooters. It is always crowded, and having only one elevator makes the experience slow and frustrating.
On the positive side, the resort is beautiful: gardens, water views, architecture, and atmosphere are excellent. The BoardWalk area has great shops, a very good Italian restaurant, and one of the best bakeries I’ve tried in the U.S. There’s also a 21+ nightlife option that looked interesting, although we didn’t visit.
The best and most valuable feature by far is the walking access to Epcot.
That alone would make me consider returning—but only if the breakfast situation and room access issues were significantly improved.
Nicole Johnson
I really liked the Boardwalk but in comparison to some other Deluxe resorts, there were some aspects that knocked it down on my list. First of all, I ended up with a tiny balcony that couldn't even fit chairs on it. It was about 3' by 4' and only had space for the door to open out. I stayed at the Yacht club before and I didn't notice any balconies like that there. I talked to the front desk and the cast member basically said it was just random. I've never stayed there before so I wouldn't have known to request a full balcony like all other deluxe resorts have. I also felt limited by the one quick order breakfast option of the Boardwalk Deli. They had pastries and some breakfast sandwiches, but those aren't as kid friendly. It was a beautiful resort and had great location but I think I'll stay at the Yacht Club again for another close option to parks and the skyliner.
Amanda Krzysiak
DVC side is definitely better. Had to stay on the inn side for one night. The front desk was able to check us in 4 hours early, but the noise volume of kids running up and down the hallways as well as the children not using indoor voices made for a hard time winding down at night. I will stay with DVC again, but absolutely not on the inn side. Oh, the vent fan in the restroom didn’t work and there was a large crack under the door leading to the hall.
Kaylie Jade
During my quest to stay at all the Disney resorts, I recently had the opportunity to stay at the Boardwalk, and I completely fell in love with it. I think I've found my home at Disney. The service from the cast members was top-notch, and I adored my room and the vibrant atmosphere. There was always something to do, including surprise character appearances in the lobby every day. This resort is within walking distance of my two favorite parks, and I can't wait to go back!
TheOneTrueGriswel
Good location for Epcot and the building looks great from afar. And afar is where you'll be parking. Poor service at the desk meant that a problem we could have easily solved with a phone call was locked in and the staff made it clear that the only time we've had trouble with the Disney app at a hotel - in eight or ten stays - was clearly our fault, though they could not point to anything we could have done differently.
