Why DVC Members Stay at BoardWalk Villas

Deciding where to stay during a Disney vacation triggers something called FOBO. It’s the corollary to FOMO, but FOBO occurs when you have “fear of a better option.” You don’t want to choose wrong and have regrets.

So, we’re publishing a series of articles explaining the enduring appeal of every Disney Vacation Club resort. Here’s why DVC members stay at Disney’s BoardWalk Villas.

The BoardWalk

I’m not trying to trick you with these explanatory reasons, and this one’s right there in the name. Disney built an entire hotel to capitalize on the appeal of Disney’s BoardWalk, an entertainment district centrally located between two Disney theme parks.

On the BoardWalk, you’ll discover plenty of entertainment options like a nightclub, a bar, live performers, and several great restaurants. So, you can eat, drink, and shop your way through your vacation when you stay at BoardWalk Villas. 

You barely even need to leave the area when you stay here. There’s so much to do here that the parks would almost be superfluous if not for their splendid attractions. That’s because the BoardWalk handles all your tourism needs. Best of all, you can book specific rooms that overlook the BoardWalk when you stay at this hotel. How great is that?!

The Short Walk to the Parks

In terms of logistics, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas rivals anything at Walt Disney World. It’s a short walk away from two different theme parks, reducing your reliance on Disney’s mercurial bus system.

Specifically, you can cross the bridge, turn right and arrive at EPCOT’s International Gateway entrance in a matter of minutes. For the average walker, I’d estimate it’s a seven-minute process. 

Even better, BoardWalk features a walking path to Disney’s Hollywood Studios as well. I’d say that it takes two or three minutes longer than the EPCOT walk, at least based on my experience. Then again, here’s a YouTube video of someone doing it in six minutes:

As far as I can tell, they didn’t speed up the video. If anything, they seem to have taken their time and enjoyed the lovely views along the way. The video starts from the BoardWalk itself rather than the hotel, which will add a couple of minutes, though. Still, this video demonstrates how easily accessible Hollywood Studios is when you stay at BoardWalk Villas.

The Disney Skyliner 

Then again, you may prefer not to walk as much. Alternatively, you might want to explore other parts of the Disney campus. If so, you’ll appreciate the proximity to the Disney Skyliner. 

Photo Courtesy of DisneyTouristBlog.com

Walt Disney World’s newest form of transportation provides gondola service to two theme parks and several official Disney hotels. The Skyliner station near EPCOT is actually a shorter walk than the International Gateway. 

From here, you can soar into the sky and look down over the World Showcase as you head toward Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Adding in Disney’s Beach Club Villas and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, that’s six different excellent Disney properties connected by the skyways. 

So, when you stay at the BoardWalk, you should consider the amenities of all these other hotels as well. You can quickly reach them thanks to the ever-reliable Disney Skyliner service!

Luna Park Pool

You’ll find one of the most stylish DVC pools at the BoardWalk. The Luna Park Pool underwent a makeover a few years ago that modernized the area and made it decidedly less creepy.

Disney removed the notoriously creepy clown from the waterslide facing here. In its place, Disney added splashy graphics that coordinated Luna Park Pool with the aesthetics of the Disney Skyliner.

Now, you’ll find imagery paying homage to the modern Mickey Mouse cartoons currently airing on Disney Channel and Disney+. I guess you could say that management chose cutesy over creepy here, but the basics remain the same.

At Luna Park Pool, you can swim and enjoy your serene surroundings. Disney has cleverly used trees as shade. So, you’ll get the right amount of sun while relaxing and enjoying your vacation. DVC members often debate the best pools in the library, but if we were simply talking about the best places to swim and relax, Luna Park Pool would be near the top of the list. 

The Points Chart

Why do DVC members typically prefer to stay near EPCOT? It’s because we want to attend the four annual festivals. Preferably, when we stay, we’d like to use the fewest DVC Points per day/week so that we can extend our vacation.

For many years now, the open secret in the DVC community has been that BoardWalk provides the best bang for the buck in this regard. On some dates, you can stay here for as little as nine points per night! 

In fact, during 50 weeks per year, the weekdays cost 15 DVC Points or less. That’s the kind of value you can use to maximize your DVC purchase. So, the DVC Points Chart is your friend if you book the right Room Type at the BoardWalk. 

You’ll need to hurry, though. The savviest DVC members know this trick and book early. Owning at the BoardWalk unquestionably gives you the best chance at taking advantage of its excellent bang for the buck. 

Check out all of the available Disney Vacation Club resale listings, or learn more about buying and selling with DVC Resale Market.