Disney's Boardwalk Inn
The intimate charm at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn captures the feeling of a 1930's mid-Atlantic seacoast retreat. In the lobby is a nostalgic living room scene of chintz-covered, oversized chairs, invitingly plump sofas, floral rugs, and potted palms set atop gleaming hardwood floors and plush area rugs. Walls are a soothing sea green with cream-colored trim and looming overhead is the barrel-shaped, chandeliered ceiling embellished with delicate latticework. Views from the lofty windows are of a lush courtyard green fronting a festive, old-fashioned boardwalk. Step outside to the wide verandah lined with wicker rocking chairs, a perfect early evening spot from which to bathe in the pink glow of sunset as the Boardwalk slowly comes alive.
The resort’s gleaming white four-story buildings dotted with latticework and crowned with sea green roofs and striped awnings, surround interior courtyards fragrant with blooming roses. Disney’s Boardwalk Inn is just a short walk away from the International Gateway entrance of Epcot®.
Check-in 3 p.m.; Check-out 11 a.m.
Accommodations
Guestrooms
Well-appointed accommodations average 390 square feet, all with French doors leading to full-size balconies or patios. Newly renovated guestrooms have a crisp new look with white duvets topped with a white and cream-colored brocade runner and a raspberry red throw pillow. Most offer two queen-size beds with new cherry two-poster beds, a blond wood bureau topped with a built-in flat screen TV, and a desk/vanity topped with a Mickey lamp. Apple green twin-size sofa sleeper, gold and white-striped wallpaper combined with soft yellow paint, and fresh blue and cream carpeting completes the soothing look.
A second clothes bureau is near the bathroom. In one area of the bath is a white vanity topped with cream marble, pewter-hued mirrors, double sinks, hair dryer, and makeup mirror. In a separate room is the toilet and a tub/shower surrounded by white tile and a curved shower curtain in sea blue and green. Amenities include H2O bath products, keyed wall safe, iron and ironing board, IPOD docking station alarm clocks, coffeemaker, small refrigerator, and daily newspaper.
Standard-view rooms could mean either a view of the front of the resort and perhaps a bit of the parking lot or a delightful one of the peaceful, interior courtyard and with any luck the nightly Illuminations: Reflections of Earth fireworks spectacular. Water-view rooms are pleasing, but those closest to Disney’s Boardwalk Entertainment District or overlooking the pool could be a bit noisy.
Concierge Rooms
Consider upgrading to one of the 65 concierge-level rooms. The Innkeeper’s Club, a bright, airy lounge on the fourth floor enjoys a view of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth fireworks spectacular from its stand-up balcony and a great concierge staff. Unfortunately, they have covered the windows with sheers that block the outside view. Breakfast is fruit bagels, toast, pastries, yogurt, cereal, juice, coffee, and tea. Midday refreshments are cookies, chips and salsa, popcorn, pretzels, goldfish, and beverages. Early evening comes with hot and cold hors d’oeuvres of hummus, crudites, PB&J sandwiches, cheese and crackers, and two hot dishes such as chicken nuggets, chicken skewers with pineapple, pot stickers, empanadas, crab phyllo purses along with wine (Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Crest Merlot, Beringer White Zinfandel). After dinner are cordials and desserts like petit fours, chocolate-covered strawberries, fruit tarts, and cookies. There’s also a self-service cappuccino machine. All this, along with nightly turndown, private check-in and checkout, and robes makes for one delightful vacation.
As well as standard-size rooms, the concierge level has ten very spacious, 644 square feet Club Level Deluxe Rooms, all with a spectacular view of Disney’s Boardwalk Entertainment District and Crescent Lake. They come with two queen beds, bureau with flat panel TV, desk, and a spacious seating area outfitted with a sleeper sofa, coffee table, easy chair, and extra bureau with another flat panel TV and DVD player. Two actually adjoin, room numbers 3227 and 3229, which would be perfect for families.
Suites
A gated, white picket fence encircles the serene, two-storied Garden Suites (915-1100 square feet), most with a private rose garden front yard complete with arbor, mailbox, bird house, and porch. Downstairs is a living area with an entertainment center with TV, queen sofa bed, coffee table, easy chair, two-person dining table, wet bar with coffee maker and small refrigerator, and half bath, while upstairs is a loft bedroom with four-poster bed, entertainment center with TV, and a double-sinked bath with whirlpool tub, separate shower, and mini-TV. Three of the fourteen Garden Suites have a large, upstairs balcony instead of a front yard so be sure to request your preference.
Two-Bedroom Suites offer a small parlor with sleeper sofa, coffee table, easy chair, desk, bureau with built-in flat panel TV, and small dining table for four. There’s also a wet bar with microwave and small refrigerator with a half bath off the foyer. French doors off the living area lead to the master with a king bed and walk-in closet with a marble bath featuring a whirlpool tub, separate toilet area, double sinks, and shower. Off the other side of the living area is a standard room with two queen beds. There are three balconies. All have a view of the gardens. Suite number 4205 has a bonus of a view of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth fireworks spectacular, but also a view of two satellite dishes and a slice of the road; good nighttime view, but not so great during the day.
The Vice-Presidential Sonora Suite’s lovely living room is perfect for entertaining with plush floral furnishings in a soft green, blue, and rose palette combined with an armoire with TV, VCR, and stereo, two easy chairs, sofa, coffee table, eight-person dining table, wet bar, buffet, kitchen minus a stove, half-bath, and balcony. On one side of the living area is a standard guestroom with an upgraded rose motif bedspread and carpeting; on the other side a somewhat feminine master bedroom features a four-poster king bed, armoire with TV, and easy chair. The marble master bath comes with double sinks, separate shower, whirlpool tub, mini-TV, and separate commode area. In my opinion, the master bedroom in the less expensive One-Bedroom Suite is really nicer and larger that this one. But I do like the story behind the suite's name: Sonora Carver was a woman who had a diving horse act in the 1920s at the Atlantic City Boardwalk, plunging 40 feet on the back of a horse to land in a tank of water.
From very deep balconies that run the length of the two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath Presidential Steeplechase Suite are sweeping views of Disney’s Boardwalk Entertainment District and Crescent Lake. This 2,170-square-foot beauty comes with a muraled domed ceiling above the massive living room done in shades of soft blue, gold, green, and yellow featuring hardwood flooring topped with rugs, two seating areas, and an eight-person dining table. Off the dining area is a service kitchen with wet bar, under-counter refrigerator, microwave, and its own entrance with a pass through counter to the dining room. The lavish master bedroom boasts a curtained king four-poster bed, and in the marble bath is a giant-size walk-in closet, vanity area, very large whirlpool tub, shower, separate bidet and toilet area, and double hand-painted sinks. The second bedroom while a standard size with two queens has upgraded bedding and wallpaper. A marble half bath is off the hardwood floor entry.
You’ll find complete information on dining, recreation, services, and transportation at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn in The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World® Resort.
