My family stayed in a luxurious $827-a-night villa at Disney World. We walked to the parks and saved money with some key perks.
I recently stayed in a beautiful, $827-a-night one-bedroom villa at Disney's BoardWalk Inn.
The accommodations had a split bathroom, a full kitchen, a laundry area, and two sleeping areas.
We could walk to two Disney World theme parks and save money by cooking meals in the great kitchen.
I've been going to Disney World for over 30 years, and I've been lucky to stay at every on-property hotel.
On a recent trip, my parents and I booked a one-bedroom villa at Disney's BoardWalk Inn using our Disney Vacation Club points. We pay an annual fee for a set number of travel points to use across the Disney property.
The flexible timeshare system has allowed us to stay in large villas located everywhere, from Orlando to Disney's resort in Hawaii. The standard-view villas at BoardWalk Inn typically cost about $830 a night, but three nights (two weekend days and one weekday) cost us 84 points.
Disney is refurbishing its BoardWalk Villas, a project that's estimated to be completed in 2025. But we were lucky enough to stay in a newly completed one.
Here's what it was like taking full advantage of everything the BoardWalk Inn offers.
The fun hotel is within walking distance of both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
From the moment you walk in, the resort feels like a turn-of-the-century Atlantic City boardwalk.
I was able to check in on the My Disney Experience app a few days before my arrival, and my room was ready when I got to the resort around 1:30 p.m.
The lobby is grand, with miniature models of boardwalk rides, large carousel horses, and plenty of places to sit after a long car ride or plane journey.
The best part about staying here is having easy access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios via complimentary boat transportation or walking. We visited both parks while staying here.
Our recently refurbished villa was bright, spacious, and well-thought-out for families.
Our one-bedroom villa was clean and had a charming turn-of-the-century feel. Plenty of themed Mickey and Minnie artwork adorned the walls.
The entrance of the villa had a small foyer with a closet where we put our suitcases once we unpacked.
The entryway led into a large kitchen, dining room, and living room.
The kitchen and dining room were plenty big for my family to make a few meals while staying at the resort. We love to save money by cooking our breakfasts and lunches.
I loved that the kitchen had full-sized appliances, including a fridge/freezer, oven, stovetop, microwave, and dishwasher. There was also a coffee pot, toaster, and all the cooking utensils and serving ware we needed.
The dining space was plenty big for my family.
Just off the kitchen was the dining room, which had a table, two chairs, and bench seating. The table could easily fit four adults.
We ate our meals here, and at night, we played games while we watched the Epcot fireworks out the window.
Past the kitchen was the massive living room.
I loved the living room because it had ample storage for anyone who was sleeping on the Murphy bed (on this trip, me).
Across from the couch that pulled down into the bed, there was also a large TV and a chest of drawers.
The main bedroom was spacious and comfortable.
The main bedroom featured a comfortable king-sized bed.
Across from the bed was a chest of drawers and a TV.
The outdoor balcony ran the length of the room.
I loved that we could access the outdoor balcony from the living room and the bedroom.
The long outdoor space was adorned with a few chairs and a small bistro table. It was a great spot to enjoy my morning coffee.
From the balcony, I could see the Disney Skyliner gondolas, the front of the resort, and a nearby fountain.
Half of the bathroom is connected to the main bedroom.
One of the main reasons we booked a one-bedroom villa was because it had a split bathroom.
Off of the main bedroom, there was a room with a large tub and a vanity. This part of the bathroom could be closed from the bedroom.
Having a second bathroom area made getting ready in the mornings easier.
The second bathroom had a toilet and stand-up shower.
You could access this from the main bedroom or through the kitchen.
The resort has three pools.
I loved that there were three different pools at the resort.
The main pool is more family-centric, with a slide and a nearby bar. There were lifeguards on duty here.
One pool was tucked away from the rest of the resort but easy to find from our room.
Another pool was smaller and quieter, with plenty of shaded loungers. It did not have a lifeguard.
My family hung out by the quiet pool when we weren't in a park.
We never made it to the third pool on the opposite side of the resort from our room.
Outside, the Disney BoardWalk has plenty of entertainment and dining options.
The BoardWalk Inn is located on the Disney BoardWalk, a free dining and entertainment area.
Because we had a full kitchen, my family chose not to eat at any of the restaurants at the BoardWalk, but I have in the past.
One of my favorite places is AbracadaBar, which features a variety of drinks in a cool space themed like a magician's hideout.
Jellyrolls is also a popular spot for adults.
Jellyrolls is also a popular spot to hang out at the BoardWalk, especially on weekends.
The dueling piano bar often has a line to get in.
Overall, this was a great way to spend a few days at Disney World.
My parents and I loved our stay at Disney's BoardWalk Inn. The newly refurbished villas feel fresh and vibrant and provide all of the necessary amenities.
I loved being able to walk to Epcot to ride Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and Hollywood Studios to see "Fantasmic!"
I definitely plan on staying here again since we had such a good time — having two theme parks at your fingertips is just so ideal.
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