Disney's BoardWalk Villas

Step back to a 1940s Atlantic City boardwalk with entertainment, dining, and walking access to two theme parks.

Disney's BoardWalk Villas opened in 1996 alongside the BoardWalk Inn, on the same lake that fronts the Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Swan/Dolphin resorts. The theme is a romanticized version of the East Coast boardwalks of the 1920s through the 1940s — Atlantic City, Coney Island, Asbury Park — and the resort succeeds in conjuring that atmosphere with carnival games, street performers, hand-painted murals, and a quarter-mile waterfront promenade.

Like the Beach Club, the BoardWalk's superpower is location: the International Gateway entrance to EPCOT is a 6–8 minute walk along the promenade, and Hollywood Studios is about a 25-minute walk or a 15-minute boat ride. The BoardWalk itself becomes lively in the evenings, with surreys (cycling carriages), magicians, jugglers, and dueling pianos at Atlantic Dance Hall and the Jellyrolls bar (where two dueling pianists perform nightly).

Room layouts here are slightly older than newer DVC properties, but renovations have refreshed the interiors. View categories include Standard, Pool/Garden, BoardWalk View (looking down on the promenade), and a small number of Theme Park View rooms with EPCOT fireworks visible. The BoardWalk's pool, the Luna Park Pool, has a Coney Island theme with a 200-foot wooden roller-coaster-style slide.

Resort Highlights

  • Walking distance to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios
  • Lively boardwalk entertainment district at your doorstep
  • Unique midway games, street performers, and nightlife
  • Charming seaside architecture with garden courtyards
  • Disney Skyliner access via the EPCOT International Gateway station
  • Theme Park View rooms can catch EPCOT fireworks

Getting Around

Walking distance to EPCOT International Gateway (~7 minutes) and Hollywood Studios (~25 minutes). Boat service to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Disney Skyliner from the EPCOT International Gateway station. Bus service to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the water parks.

Who It's For

Couples and adult travelers who enjoy nightlife and atmosphere, foodies who want quick access to EPCOT's World Showcase, and anyone who appreciates a lively, after-hours scene on property.

Dining

Flying Fish is a signature seafood restaurant. Trattoria al Forno serves wood-fired Italian and a popular Bon Voyage character breakfast (with Ariel, Eric, Rapunzel, and Flynn). Big River Grille & Brewing Works is a casual brewpub. The BoardWalk Bakery is a beloved breakfast and pastry stop, and BoardWalk Joe's serves espresso drinks alongside seasonal cocktails.

Insider Tips

  • Evening strolls along the BoardWalk are magical — street performers and live music nightly
  • BoardWalk Bakery has excellent pastries for a quick breakfast before the parks
  • Request a boardwalk-view room for the best people-watching experience
  • Jellyrolls dueling pianos is a 21+ favorite — open Tuesday through Saturday
  • Garden Suite villas are unique two-story townhouse-style accommodations facing the gardens