
Add a touch of understated elegance to the summer ambiance of the turn of the century summer homes found on Martha's Vineyard, and you have Disney's Boardwalk Inn. The pale blue and white three- to five-story buildings, with their fancy cut shingles, French doors and seashell motifs, were designed by renowned architect, Robert A.M.Stern. Designed 'stick-style', this was a popular architectural style for seaside wooden cottages in the 1860's and 1870's.
Decorated with the white wicker furniture, natural Spanish limestone flooring and 24-foot high ceilings, the seacoast imagery continues on to the outdoors where beachside cabanas line the white sand shores of Crescent Lake. The landscaping is also reminiscent of a New England style with magnolias, Japanese elms, Bradford pear trees, crepe myrtle, gardenias and roses lining the courtyards and walkways. This deluxe resort is joined in the center by Disney's Yacht Club Resort. The five-storey building offers 372 smoke-free guest rooms with garden designs and nautical theming.
For groups requiring meeting facilities, these resorts offers 73,000 square feet of meeting space, a 52,000 square foot convention center with a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system. The Harbor Ballroom is over 36,000 square feet and can accommodate 2,800 guests for dinner. With 21 breakout rooms, a business center, satellite up/down link capabilities, vast exhibit capabilities, and comprehensive meeting support, the Disney's Yacht and Boardwalk Inns conference facility is a very attractive location for businesses.
Accommodation
Standard Rooms
Standard View - sleeps up to 4. 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds or 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed
Water View - sleeps up to 4. 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 2 Queen Beds or 1 King Bed
Facilities include :- Free Wi-Fi, Air-conditioning, TV, Mini Bar, Hairdryer, Iron & Board, Coffee Maker and In-room Safe.
[IMG]http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/../web_images/resorts/fp_boardwalk_inn.gif[/IMG
Rooms & Suites with Club-Level Service
Standard Room - Club Level - sleeps up to 4. 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds
Deluxe Room - Club Level - sleeps up to 6. 2 Queen Beds and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa
Sleeps up to 6
Outer Bldg - Garden Room - Club Level - sleeps up to 2. 1 King Bed
Includes All Room Amenities, Plus: DVD Player
Club Level Facilities include :- Evening Turndown, Secured key access to the club-level lounge, serving refreshments 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, Complimentary fax assistance, Continental Breakfast, Midday Snacks and Evening Wine, Cheese, Cordials and Dessert, Complimentary health club access, Pre-arrival Walt Disney World Resort itinerary planning, Personalized Front Desk and Guest Services, Access to Concierge service at the Innkeepers Club, Complimentary newspapers in Club Level lounge.
Dining
Disney's Boardwalk offers guests a really great choice of Restaurants to dine in. Take a walk along the picturesque promenade as you decide!
Flying Fish Cafe
The Flying Fish Cafe offers a Signature Dining Experience to guests. It has been themed to reflect an Atlantic Boardwalk and has been decorated with funhouse mirrors, parachuting fish and even a backlit Ferris Wheel.
The restaurant is a large open space which creates a boisterous and lively atmosphere, this is something to bear in mind if you were planning on having a quiet intimate dinner! The restaurant specialises in freshly caught mouthwatering seafood and for those who like Surf 'n' Turf they serve delicious steaks cooked to perfection on there grill.
Big River Grille and Brewing Works
Big River Grille and Brewing Works is located on the waterfront and is open daily from 11.30am to midnight. It is unique in the fact it has the only working micro Brewery in Disney.
Through floor to ceiling glass windows watch the brewmaster craft the six speciality beers that are available on site. Indoor seating is available, however if you sit on the patio area it allows you a great view of the lake and the Illumination Fireworks. The fare on offer is themed on American pub classics.
ESPN Club
The ESPN Club is located on the Boardwalk Waterfront and is open daily from 11.30am. For those who like pub grub and are avid sports enthusiast's then you will be in heaven here. The restaurant has been themed with sports memorabilia adorning the walls along with big screen televisions, streaming live games from around the world. Sports Central is the main dining area and has a 108 square ft video wall with a 100 video monitors that can receive up to 30 channels. There is also the Sidelines Bar that has a 90 square ft projection screen. It is worth noting that during major sports events the place fills up quickly, so to guarantee a seat it's best to arrive an hour before. There's the ESPN Club, Kouzzina's Walk along the pretty promenade as you make your choice.
There are also a few Counter Service options if you want a quick bite to eat without having a full sit down meal.
Recreation
The feature of the Resort's main pool is the 200ft Keister Coaster water slide, ride it if you dare! There are two further pools and a Spa Tub offering guests peace and relaxation. You can also hire a Boat at the Marina or maybe arrange a fishing trip. For those who enjoy working out there's a Fitness Centre with free weights and weight-training equipment. Tennis lovers can enjoy a game not only by day but also at night, on then floodlit courts. Keep the kids entertained at the children's outdoor pool and a night they can enjoy the Sandcastle Club located at Disney's Beach Club Resort, it offers free evening activities for children aged between 4 and 12.
Services/Amenities: - Parking
- Valet Parking
- Bus Transportation
- Free Wi-Fi
- Babysitting/Childcare Services
- Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services
- Coin Operated Laundry facilities - located at each quiet pool and near room 1532 (Disney's Boardwalk Inn). Cost is $1 each to wash and dry and detergent can be purchased from a vending machine for $1
- Express Check-out
- Refillable Mugs
- Poolside bar
- Complimentary Local Newspaper
- ATM machine - located in the lobby
- Shops
- Beauty/Barber Shop - Periwig?s Beauty and Barber Salon is located in the Central Common area and is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Services offered include haircare, facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures
- Refrigerator Rentals - for $15/day plus tax (subject to change), limited supply available
- Vending and Ice Machines located on each floor near the elevators
- Facsimile service - available at the Front Desk
- Shoeshine - touch Housekeeping on your in-room phone to request
Take a Virtual Tour of Disney's BoardWalk Inn
Click Here...
I've stayed on the Inn side, which by Disney standard is very small with only around 358 rooms and (non DVC) suites. This is a deluxe resort and the rooms are larger than the moderate and value rooms, with a mix of 2 queen beds and a day bed (sofa bed) or 1 king bed and a day bed (sofa bed).
The rooms here are categorised as water/boardwalk view or standard view. The standard views range from overlooking the front of the resort (i.e. parking lot) to garden view (overlooking the inner gardens of the Inn which are beautiful), there are however a few undesirable views overlooking the rear of ESPN, these should be avoided (!), some of the garden view rooms have the added bonus of a view of illuminations.
I've had rooms overlooking the garden and the boardwalk and found both special in their own ways, I've never had a 'noise' problem overlooking the boardwalk.
The location of the Boardwalk is one of its major selling points, if Epcot is one of your favourite parks, as it is mine, being able to stroll in and out when you like is fabulous, especially when Illuminations finishes.
The walk to Hollywood Studios is a pleasant 10 minute walk, although it's best to avoid in the heat of the day (if you're travelling in high season).
Of course if you don't want to walk, the boat provides an efficient transfer to/from Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
There's a good selection of restaurants not only on the Boardwalk itself but also at the other Epcot resorts and Epcot.
In addition to the main themed resort pool which is located on the DVC side of the resort, there is also a 'quiet' pool in the beautiful inner courtyard gardens.
Although this is a Disney resort I've found the Boardwalk Inn to have more of an adult 'feel', maybe it's because of it's size it therefore seems quieter than other resorts. It's a great resort and whether you're a family, adult couple, or a solo traveller, the Boardwalk has something for everyone.
We usually stay in a one bedroom villa, but have stayed in a studio.
The ambiance of the accomodation is really welcoming, comfortable, and friendly. The rooms have been recently upgraded and are of a high standard, the bathrooms are beautiful as are the furnishings and of course the disney beds.
It is amazing to be able to sit on the balcony in a morning or night and watch the world go by, either on the boardwalk itself (boardwalk view rooms)or either of the swimming pools, or the many greens and pathways.
There are two swimming pools, the main one has a slide and water features and usually has organised childrens games on an afternoon. The second pool, smaller and quieter, has numerous loungers to catch the sun and a large hot tub /spa.
There is a community hall where you can play table tennis, air hockey and fooseball. It also has big screen computer games and organised crafts,DVDs available for rental, as well as toys for younger children.
Outdoors there are many rocking chairs/benches and spots to sit and watch the goings on along the boardwalk. The boat to HS & Epcot stops right in from of the green, and the numerous restaurants and shops and bars are all just a stroll away.
There are sideshows, bike rentals and street entertainers (especially night time and busy periods) which make it a lovely place to spend an evening.
The walk to Epcot & Hollywood Studios are short and pleasant, and takes park hopping to a new dimension.
All in all its a wonderful place to stay!