Opinions needed and a new member introduction :)

[njBadLands]

Hello everyone! Long time viewer of the forums (mostly for my fix of disney between trips) and first time posting. Figured I'd do my little bit of contributing whenever I can.

I am 29, married and from NJ. My wife and I just had our first child, a beautiful boy at the end of June. Of course his first trip out of NJ will be to Disney in February.

Growing up my family always went to Florida for soccer tournaments, vacations etc, but we never really got into Disney. We actually always preferred Universal Studios. When my current wife and then girlfriend took our first ever trip together in 2006, we went to Orlando and planned a few days at Universal. Midway thru the trip my wife said, "you know we need to go to Disney at least one day." I had no interest of this, because at age 14 I wasnt a big fan.

Our last night in Florida was spent at the Magic Kingdom and I've been in love since. Needless to say I made sure I married this woman who loves the world as much as I do. 5 additional trips later and we are now planning our first trip with child (although our most recent trip in January my wife was preggo, so I guess he was there).

We have stayed at Coronado Springs twice and Wilderness Lodge our last two trips. This trip we are meeting up with my parents (who has recently relocated to Florida) and spending four days there. This is their first trip in over 15 years and we have really been talking it up.

He is our dilemna.... we have booked two rooms (nice discount that just came out) at the Beach Club. We have been there before to visit and really liked it. We also love Epcot so to be able to walk there is great. Unfortunately no 2 bedroom villas were available. I am now considering getting a two bedroom Villa at the Boardwalk Inn. the cost will be exactly the same (we are splitting it with my folks if we do this, vs paying for our hotel room on our own) and we would have the luxury of a living area and more room for baby. Plus my wife and I could go out a night or two just us while parents watch the baby.

My question to you, based on quality, Disney feel, and overall experience we will have with our unique situation... would you KEEP your Beach Club reservations and have two seperate rooms... OR would you spring for the Villa and all be together? Is beach club far superior to the Boardwalk? or would we love both? Keep in mind we both get along with my parents great, so four days close to them is no issue.

Thanks and cant wait to read the responses! :sohappy:

 

[Lynn1030]

Welcome! Our scenarios are very similar. I just started posting here after awhile of reading other wonderful posts, I did not like Disney after my first trip either, and I am from NJ too, but now live in Florida.

Congrats on the new addition to your family. I have not stayed at either resort, so I can't comment on that part, but I say go for the bigger villa if the price works out to be the same and improves the trip.

 

[Est1971]

Welcome... My wife and I are both big time Disney fans! We even got married at Disney... So it's awesome to share that with your significant other...

I like the the feel of Boardwalk much better... I must say I have not stayed at any of those hotels but come December I am staying at Boardwalk villas so if your trip is after that I can help you...lol... I have visited both plentiful of times and think Boardwalk is calmer and less hectic... Have a great time...

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I would do the Boardwalk villa. Not only does the room better meet your needs, but the Boardwalk is my favorite resort. It's got a great feel to it. Save the Beach Club for when your boy is older and can enjoy the pool.

 

[MDinMD]

We have stayed at both resorts. My son is 5 and daughter is soon to be 2. We pick Beach Club over Boardwalk for two main reasons. First is that it can be about 15 mins shorter walk from Epcot to Beach Club and with little ones going or coming, that can make a big difference. Second, we love that the Marketplace is available for snacks, mug refills, etc. and I think that is a lot easier to access Marketplace than the shop over along the boardwalk.

The two bedroom dilemma is a problem for us too since we are expecting baby number three in March. My wife's parents will possibly go to WDW with us next fall and we will need more space! Prior to now, the 1 bedroom villas has worked great.

We booked two studio rooms for this December at beach Club since the 2 br was very expensive, even with annual pass discount

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I can't speak for Boardwalk or Beach Club, but I do have some experience traveling with an infant and parents/grandparents. Back when DD5 was a baby I took a trip (nonWDW) w/my parents ... half of the trip we had separate rooms and half of the trip we had a 2 bedroom suite. You'd think there would be enough space in a 2 bedroom suite so that everyone felt like they had their own space and there were no privacy encroachment issues, but it was very uncomfortable. DD was about 9mos at the time and had some issues that trip, but the whole time in the suite felt like a very bad sitcom. I have never been so happy to have a trip come to an end. In fact, DH joined me, my daughter and my parents on a trip a couple of months later when DD was 11mos and we automatically opted for separate rooms.

 

[baylakebeliever]

Congratulations! As a parent of 3 (now teenagers) children who travelled with our inlaws quite a bit when they were small, I 'd say get the 2 bedroom villa. We are DVC members at Baylake and have only stayed here and the Poly while at the world so I can not speak for the BC or BW. However if they are set up like BLT having the living area is a wonderful. That way you are not visiting someones bedroom and can sort of baby proof this area and shut the door to your mom and dad's room. Also when the baby wakes up in the middle of the night you can also go there so one of you can get a little sleep. The thing I love about the villas especially with children is a full kitchen not just the microwave and a washer and dryer that I can use whenever I want to and not leave the room. My inlaws would also babysit for us , and having them there and not having to try to remember every item to bring in a diaper bag ( just in case) was great. All the toys, extra diapers etc were already there . Hope this helps with your decision and you have a wonderful time!

 

[Yanks07]

Boardwalk is really nice and it seems the 2br suits your needs the best, like was mentioned laundry and kitchen are a plus for familys in 1 and 2 BR's also all of the 2 Br's @ BW are lockoffs so you can have privacy if need be. We have stayed at both BC and BW a dozen times apiece and like them equally for differrent reasons. Have fun!

 

[Jake Massoni]

Board Walk is really cool, and Welcome

 

[Disneydreamer23]

welcome!!

 

[njBadLands]

Thanks for input!

Thanks all. We have just decided to book the Boardwalk Villas. The price was great for a two bedroom and with five of us + baby, it makes a lot of sense. I have been to Jellyrolls before and it will be great to be able to walk there from the room. The walk to Epcot will be awesome too.

Already booked all of our dinners (Cali Grille, Tony's Town Square, and Coral Reef) and psyched for my parents to finally experience the magic (little man too).

Now just need to figure out where we will spend our last day at parks (2 at MK, 1 at Epcot, 4th undecided).

 

[R W B]

I know you said you already decided but I figure I'll throw this out there still. Now I haven't stayed at either resort but have visited each and I like them both. With that said, I read a lot of trip reports while my office work is slow and I have read a couple of them posted by people from NJ that have stayed at the boardwalk and didn't like it because it felt like home. Now idk what part of NJ these people lived in or what part you live in but I guess that stands out to me from all the trip reports I've read because I could relate to it. I live in the suburbs of New Orleans and I have visited both Port Orleans resorts and while they are nice, I don't know how I would feel about staying there while on vacation because it world look and feel like home to me.

Just my .02

 

[worldfanatic]

Boardwalk > Beach club

 

[njBadLands]

I know you said you already decided but I figure I'll throw this out there still. Now I haven't stayed at either resort but have visited each and I like them both. With that said, I read a lot of trip reports while my office work is slow and I have read a couple of them posted by people from NJ that have stayed at the boardwalk and didn't like it because it felt like home. Now idk what part of NJ these people lived in or what part you live in but I guess that stands out to me from all the trip reports I've read because I could relate to it. I live in the suburbs of New Orleans and I have visited both Port Orleans resorts and while they are nice, I don't know how I would feel about staying there while on vacation because it world look and feel like home to me.

Just my .02

definitely a good point, but beach club would be the same too. I actually live 10 minutes from seaside heights in NJ, but I have visited the Boardwalk at WDW before and enjoyed it. Not too much like home because the Disney vibe. if it were up to me I'd stay at the WL every trip....

2 bedroom definitely works thought. Tempted by AK Villa, but its too far from everything with the baby.

 

[britdaw]

I don't have any advice on the hotel sitch, but welcome to the forum and congrats on your baby boy!