Disney's BoardWalk Inn

Disney's BoardWalk Inn Resort sits on the aptly named Crescent Lake and brings back memories of a 1940s Atlantic City seaside bed and breakfast hotel, with its own lakeside boardwalk.

Rating: 4 stars
Rooms: 372 rooms
Rates: from $335 to $825 Check rates

Address: 2101 North Epcot Resorts Boulevard, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Area: Epcot Resort
Nearest airport: Orlando International (MCO)
Map: Click to view

It is about a 10 minute walk (less than a mile) from the International Gateway entrance to Disney's Epcot theme park and about a 20 minute walk from Disney's Hollywood Studios.

If you don't fancy walking then both parks can be reached by boat. Disney's Yacht Club Resort and Beach Club Resort are also close by.

The BoardWalk is really three complexes in one; along the lakeside boardwalk is the BoardWalk entertainment district with its shops, restaurants and nightclubs and then behind it on one side is the BoardWalk Inn Resort and then on the other side are the Disney Vacation Club BoardWalk Villas.

Rooms/Suites

The accommodation in the picture postcard BoardWalk Inn is in a series of 5-storey buildings, most with private balconies.

The rooms continue the seaside nautical theme in their blue drapes and bedding complete with French doors, wrought-iron headboards, cherrywood furniture and striped canopies.

Standard rooms will sleep 5 (plus a baby in a crib) on two queen beds and a day bed (some rooms are available with a king sized bed instead).

With the standard rooms, there are two views; Standard View overlooking the grounds or Water View overlooking Crescent Lake.

The Deluxe rooms offer a bit of extra space and sleep 6; available with Standard View.

There are also suites sleeping up to 8 people available; one bedroom Garden suite with a king bed, pull-out sofa and 1 1/2 baths (sleeps 4), two bedrooms with 2 1/2 baths, separate sitting area, wet bar and refrigerator (sleeps 8), Vice Presidential with 2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths (sleeps 6) or Presidential with 2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths (sleeps 6).

Dining

The BoardWalk complex offers a variety of eating places and of course the World Showcase restaurants at Epcot are only a few minutes away.

The Flying Fish Cafe takes its name from a Coney Island roller coaster. It is open for dinner only and offers a fabulous range of fish and steak dishes including potato-wrapped snapper and Peeky Toe crab cakes.

For Mediterranean styled cuisine including tapas, pizzas and paella as well as meat and pasta dishes, why not try the family restaurant, Spoodles with its lively open kitchen. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (pizza available until midnight).

The last full service restaurant is the Big River Grille & Brewing Works which combines restaurant and brew pub brewing five of its own award winning specialty beers.

Floor to ceiling glass walls allow you to watch the master brewmasters at work whilst dining on house specialties including drunken rib eye, sesame tuna and grilled apple chops. Open for lunch and dinner.

The quick service BoardWalk Bakery is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves take-out sandwiches, pastries, bagels and sweet rolls. Huge glass windows let you watch the bakers preparing the recipes. There also a number of kiosks serving things like chili dogs and cheese fries.

For something a bit different there is the ESPN® Sports Club bar where you can get lunch and dinner featuring American fare such as ribs, hot wings, chili, steak, fish, pasta, hamburgers, sandwiches and salads. There are 100 TVs (all showing sports) plus a giant 108 square foot screen; they are even in the restrooms plus there are video games and ESPN merchandise at The Yard.

Recreation

On the BoardWalk Inn side of the complex is the Belle Vue Lounge where you can relax in comfy chairs listening to old-time radio dramas or looking out over Crescent Lake from the balcony. It is open from 5 pm to midnight plus it opens for a light breakfast menu in the mornings.

For a change of scenery you can try the Crew's Cup Lounge at the nearby Disney's Yacht Club Resort or Martha's Vineyard at Disney's Beach Club Resort.

The BoardWalk Inn Resort has three heated pools; the main themed pool (190,000 gallons) is called Luna Park and features a 200 foot water slide called Keister Coaster which is built to look like a 1920s wooden roller coaster. The nearby carousel shaped Leaping Horse Pool Bar serves both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages plus burgers, fries, hot dogs and ice creams.

There is also a 24 hour children's playground and two smaller quiet pools.

You can rent a Pontoon Boat, a Canopy Boat or Mercury WaterMouse from the Marina. Disney also offer specialty cruises.

You can just lie on the beach, play tennis (you must bring your own equipment), hire a bike or a surrey, go fishing (catch and release only) or walk the scenic 1 mile path around Crescent Lake past five Epcot area Disney Resorts.

At the Muscles & Bustles Health Club you can work out on state-of-the-art exercise equipment like Cybex, life cycles, treadmills, dumbbells and stairmasters or enjoy a massage treatment or tanning bed. There is also a steam room and sauna.

The Boardwalk's Harbor Club which offered childcare for children aged 4 to 12 years is closed indefinitely; as an alternative try the Sandcastle Club at the Yacht Club Resort and Beach Club Resort on the other side of the lake.

Near the fitness center is the Side Show Games Arcade where the children can play video games.

Amenities

The BoardWalk Inn Resort offers a host of amenities including:

• room service (including pizza delivery)
• concierge service
• rooms and facilities for guests with disabilities
• free parking, valet parking (charge applicable)
• minibar, iron and ironing board, wall safe
• coffee maker and microwave (available on request)
• refrigerator (available on request)
• TV with Disney Channel and ESPN
• babysitting and childcare services, Pak-n-Play Crib available
• laundry facilities/services (coin operated)
• bath robes and hair dryer
• voice mail, wireless internet access (surcharge for high-speed access)
• plus a number of shops; Wyland Galleries exhibiting marine art from the renowned artist Wyland and others, Thimbles and Threads for women's children and infant apparel, toys and Disney plush characters, Disney's Character Carnival for adult and golf apparel plus Disney character merchandise, Screen Door General Store for snacks, beverages and dry goods and Dundy's Sundries located in the Resort lobby for gifts, souvenirs and film

Meeting Facilities

The Boardwalk Inn has 20,000 square feet of function and meeting space with 14 breakout rooms, a beautiful 10,000 square foot ballroom, an elegant boardroom and outdoor pavilions plus Business Center and meeting planner's office.