Disney's BoardWalk Inn

[BuenaVistaBob]

Review for stay at Disney's Boardwalk Inn (non-DVC section):
I have stayed at the following Deluxe Resorts: Beach Club, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Polynesian. Unfortunately the only one I would not stay at again is the Boardwalk based upon my recent experience. The Disney Refillable Mug station is the size of a closet located within the public Boadwalk Deli with only one small soda station with a very unclean and crowded area with broken soda sections. The main pool (The Luna) heater was broken the entire week and was told by a lifeguard there will be a major pool refurbishement with no intent of fixing the heater until next year. Hope that is not true for future guests. There is no table or desks in the rooms. There is inadequate tables within the lobby so if you want a to sit down some place and eat it's difficult. Very minimal staff checking people (only one) and no one at the concierge table for long length of time. You will find yourself going up and down stairs or elevators constantly as the lobby is on the second floor. Very difficult layout. There is extreme catering to DVC so you feel like a second class citizen if you are not a DVC member. I have actually had better service and food court for drinks etc at the value resort Pop century. Please think twice before booking a stay here as a non-DVC member.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Sorry to hear about your experience. I would also send your feedback to guest.services@disneyworld.com. You will get a canned response most likely, but the letter is always sent to the appropriate leadership team for them to review. The current resort leadership team is very aware that the quick service dining is not working and I think some of this construction activity is going to help address that.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

It’s surprising they didn’t install a coke machine for mug refills in the coffee shop - that would be really convenient for guests.

 

[BuenaVistaBob]

Sorry to hear about your experience. I would also send your feedback to guest.services@disneyworld.com. You will get a canned response most likely, but the letter is always sent to the appropriate leadership team for them to review. The current resort leadership team is very aware that the quick service dining is not working and I think some of this construction activity is going to help address that.

Thanks for your validation. I actually took the time before I left to talk with management. I escalated it as a supervisor I first talked with was not helpful or appropriate. Management told me they are aware of the issues and many have complained before but they did validate my concerns. I told them I just want Disney to do well and provide good service to their guests. I don't have a lot of hope because this Hotel opened in 1996 and 30 years later they have not addressed these issues. I assume it's not the staff but leadership of this Hotel. It's actually the opposite at Beach Club just a 5 minute walk away. Great service there. I just like to try different places but I have moved on and will not be back to this one. Thanks again for your acknowledgment.

 

[BuenaVistaBob]

It’s surprising they didn’t install a coke machine for mug refills in the coffee shop - that would be really convenient for guests.

Agree!

 

[mattpeto]

These are all valid criticisms for my favorite resort on property. Hope they listen!

 

[Horizons '83]

Sorry you had this experience. We stayed in December and had the opposite experience so I'm hoping they work out some of those kinks. The location is hard to beat, and the room updates were well done, but agree the QS options are the worst on property.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Review for stay at Disney's Boardwalk Inn (non-DVC section):
I have stayed at the following Deluxe Resorts: Beach Club, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Polynesian. Unfortunately the only one I would not stay at again is the Boardwalk based upon my recent experience. The Disney Refillable Mug station is the size of a closet located within the public Boadwalk Deli with only one small soda station with a very unclean and crowded area with broken soda sections. The main pool (The Luna) heater was broken the entire week and was told by a lifeguard there will be a major pool refurbishement with no intent of fixing the heater until next year. Hope that is not true for future guests. There is no table or desks in the rooms. There is inadequate tables within the lobby so if you want a to sit down some place and eat it's difficult. Very minimal staff checking people (only one) and no one at the concierge table for long length of time. You will find yourself going up and down stairs or elevators constantly as the lobby is on the second floor. Very difficult layout. There is extreme catering to DVC so you feel like a second class citizen if you are not a DVC member. I have actually had better service and food court for drinks etc at the value resort Pop century. Please think twice before booking a stay here as a non-DVC member.

Sorry you had a bad experience. The lack of pool heater is significant. Were you able to use the quiet pool? At most hotels, I tend to prefer the main pool, but the quiet pool at BWK is somewhat of an exception.

Yes, it is a big resort. That is one reason why I don't tend to choose it very often, but also that is also well-known, and frequently mentioned in hotel reviews. Perhaps before your next stay, it would be helpful to read some reviews so you have a better idea of what to expect. Another option is to spend a little time exploring resorts during your next vacation.

I enjoyed my 2025 stay there, but I didn't get a refillable mug. Compared to WDW other room renovations, I think the BWK is one of the better ones, but I agree the rooms should have a desk. All hotel rooms should have plenty of table/shelf space to put things down, and most of the new room redo's have the problem of not enough places to put stuff down. I especially miss the glass desks CR used to have. Don't the people doing the WDW redesigns have any experience actually staying on hotel rooms? It doesn't feel like they do.

I did not personally feel like I was secondary to DVC, but I do agree Pop has a nice food court.

Last, having myself had multiple stays at multiple WDW resorts, they all vary over time. I had one stay at CR where LOTS of things were down/broken/wrong: most of the elevators, the escalator, not enough lifeguards at pool, faucet dripped, lackluster CM, and more. If that had been my only stay, I would not have gone back. Luckily, other stays there have been much better. Much of what you list are things that probably won't change, but the CM interactions were perhaps luck of the draw.