DVC Resort Tips and Tricks: BoardWalk Villas
Nestled between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, the BoardWalk Villas are charming and quaint. Whether you are a repeat guest at the BoardWalk or you’re thinking of renting a stay at the BoardWalk for the first time, here are some tips and tricks for a great stay.
Booking and Availability
The BoardWalk has three different booking categories: Resort View, Boardwalk View, and Preferred View. Resort View is the lowest point value with views of the resort grounds while Boardwalk View and Preferred View (formerly the Garden/Pool View) are equal in points.
While it may be nice to have the picturesque Boardwalk View or save points with the Resort View, both of these booking categories have limited availability and are often hard to book even at the 11-month mark. If you want to increase your chances of booking at the BoardWalk, it helps to broaden your search to a Preferred View room.
Getting Around
Friendship Boats
While you’ll need to take a bus to Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom, the Friendship Boats are the main mode of transportation for EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. They’re great when you’re traveling with a stroller or ECV. You’ll just have to enter and exit from the rear of the boat, and there is space in the back to pull in. You won’t need to collapse your stroller.
The Friendship Boats are a leisurely ride, but if you’re returning from Hollywood Studios and are in more of a hurry, you can get off the boat at the Swan and Dolphin and walk over the bridge to the BoardWalk. You’ll make it back to the BoardWalk more quickly than staying on the boat since it stops at the Yacht and Beach Club first.
Walking
If you prefer to get around on foot, EPCOT is an easy walk, but if Hollywood Studios seems long, you can take a shortcut. You don’t have to walk the full length of the boardwalk and pass Atlantic Dance Hall to get on the Hollywood Studios walking path. Instead, go from the lobby to the Luna Park Pool. Follow the path around the pool and past Leaping Libations to catch the Hollywood Studios walking path to shave off some travel time.
Dining Along the Boardwalk
Flying Fish is often overlooked when it comes to signature restaurants at Disney World, but its seafood never disappoints. There’s the classic potato wrapped red snapper, the seared scallops, and char-crusted New York strip. If you can’t get a reservation, you can always order from the full menu at the bar.
Italian fare from Trattoria Al Forno may bring to mind their lasagna, chicken parmigiana, and other specialities, but don’t forget about their breakfast. With breakfast pizza, oak-grilled steak and eggs, a Florentine frittata, it’s a hearty breakfast that’s sure to fuel you up for a day at the parks. If coffee is a must, be sure to try the Trattoria al Forno press pot coffee by Joffrey’s Coffee that serves two.
Cake Bake Shop is a beautiful addition to the BoardWalk dining scene with its ornate decor and sparkly desserts. If you’d like to make a dining reservation, don’t search on My Disney Experience. You’ll find the Cake Bake Shop on Open Table instead. If you only want dessert, don’t forget that you can get cake slices, cookies, and more at the bakery next door to the restaurant.
Recreation and Entertainment
The BoardWalk is known for its sideshows at night from magicians and a capella singers to acrobats and jugglers. However, there are lots of activities to enjoy during the daytime. Rent a surrey bike to ride around Crescent Lake, take little ones to the Luna Park Crazy Play Area, or make crafts or play games at Ferris W. Eahlers Community Hall. On select days you’ll also find pickleball clinics and yoga on the Village Green.
Don’t forget to capture your memories at the photo booth along the boardwalk! While you do have to pay if you would like a printout of your photos, you can get the digital photos with your Memory Maker without needing to pay anything extra.
Enjoy the seaside charm of the BoardWalk Villas for your next Disney World trip! Browse the confirmed reservations, or request a free quote to rent DVC points and save up to 65% compared to booking directly through Disney.
