When choosing a luxury hotel within walking distance of EPCOT and Hollywood Studios and also on the Skyliner at Walt Disney World, vacation planners have a few options, but we’ve found the two most popular Deluxe Resorts in this area are Beach Club and BoardWalk Inn. This head-to-head comparison weighs the pros & cons of each, picking a “winner” in theme, dining, transportation, pools, and other categories. (Updated August 6, 2024.)
This continues our Walt Disney World Hotel Comparison Series, which includes several other difficult dilemmas you might face when trying to pick a hotel. Other versus posts include Animal Kingdom Lodge vs. Wilderness Lodge, Port Orleans Riverside vs. French Quarter, and even Caribbean Beach vs. the Poly. It also compares many of the other resorts in the Crescent Lake or EPCOT area (Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve, Riviera, Yacht & Beach Club, BoardWalk) to one another.
With that said, this focuses on the two Disney resorts that rank the highest in our Rankings of ALL Walt Disney World Hotels from Worst to Best. That list takes price and a variety of other variables into account. If you’d prefer to read that for a rundown of how all resorts rank–from budget motels to monorail loop, have at it. But, spoiler alert, both Beach Club and BoardWalk rank very highly. If you’ve already decided on a Disney resort near EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and are having a tough time deciding between the two best options, this should help you narrow it down…
Theme: BoardWalk – Both hotels are similar in theme. DisneyWar contains an anecdote about former Disney CEO Michael Eisner’s obsession with his childhood vacations in the seaside communities of the Northeast, which at least in part drove the design of these Crescent Lake resorts. On the plus side, Walt Disney World got a cool resort ‘district’ out of it. On the downside, the 3 Disney hotels in the area are very similar in style.
Of these resorts, BoardWalk Inn has the most distinct theme, and goes the furthest to execute it. Beyond the actual Atlantic City-esque boardwalk, there are design references throughout the resort to Luna Park, Coney Island, etc., and turn-of-the-century pieces of decor pulled from those places.
Beach Club is more generalized, meant to recreate the seaside resort cottages scattered around New England in the early 20th Century. If you’re judging strictly based upon thematic execution, BoardWalk wins. However, for most people, this is probably going to come down to how they digest each theme, and how it makes them feel. A lot of people–us included–prefer the vibe we get from Beach Club, but this subjective “feel” from the theme is going to vary from person to person.
Rooms: BoardWalk – In terms of layout, size, and features, there are no noteworthy differences between the standard rooms in each. At least, not that I’ve noticed. With that in mind, let’s turn to style. I’ve spent a lot of time on this blog recently harping on the balance of theme and luxury.
Specifically, how many resorts at Walt Disney World used to skew (too far, in my opinion) towards theme at the expense of luxury, but have sense overcorrected and now do not incorporate a sufficient amount of theme. Beach Club’s new rooms are arguably Exhibit A in this regard. Aside from a few flourishes and Donald Duck art, it’s difficult to distinguish Beach Club’s rooms from a trendy, modern day hotel at the beach. I view that as a problem.
BoardWalk’s rooms have a few additional design details, from the art on the walls to the Minnie Mouse lamp and more, that help them do better with the balance. They also don’t feel like they’re trying to be modern or trendy, and yet still manage to feel sophisticated and nice. On that basis, they have the edge.
There’s a photo of the new BoardWalk rooms above, but if you want a thorough look, see Good & Bad of BoardWalk Inn’s New Rooms. When it comes to the hotel as a whole, the multi-year reimagining is also mostly finished–but to be honest, most of this is not noticeable.
Dining: Beach Club – Both resorts have highs and lows when it comes to dining. Being a hotel that doubles as an entertainment district, BoardWalk has a varied dining lineup with something for everyone on the table service front. At least, in theory (and in the past). However, BoardWalk lost ESPN Club and its replacement, Cake Bake Shop, is still under construction. BoardWalk also lost Ample Hills Creamery, and its replacement is a generic ice cream shop. Big River Grille & Brewing Works also closed without replacement…and nothing of value was lost.
On the plus side, BoardWalk still has Flying Fish and Trattoria al Forno, both of which are fantastic. When it comes to table service restaurants, Beach Club technically only has Beaches & Cream and Cape May Cafe. With that said, the restaurants throughout Crescent Lake are so incredibly easy to access–especially the ones in Yacht Club–that table service dining is tough to consider a selling point.
Instead, it might (should?) probably come down to the better, convenient counter service options at each hotel. Both are really weak. If you want counter service at BoardWalk, you’re stuck heading outside to BoardWalk Deli, which has a limited menu in addition to the baked goods.
The scene at Beach Club is slightly better, as Beach Club Marketplace has improved in recent years and now has a more robust menu and wide range of grab and go options. Hurricane Hanna’s is a decent option, but you have to go out to the pool–and that’s a hassle.
For now, we’ll give the narrow edge to Beach Club, but that might change within the next year or so when Cake Bake Shop (hopefully) opens and Disney finds a replacement for Big River Grille & Brewing Works.
Transportation/Location: Push – Location is one of the biggest selling points of these resorts, as it’s easy to stumble home after a day of Drinking Around the World or enjoying some wine seminars during the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival. Both are walking distance to Epcot via the International Gateway and also walking distance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The differences in the walking times are negligible, and influenced by the location of your room, anyway. BoardWalk is closer to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (on average) and Beach Club is closer to EPCOT (again, on average).
The Skyliner station at International Gateway is also closer to Beach Club, and that’ll take you to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or a range of other resorts (in particular Riviera and Caribbean Beach, where you might want to eat). We don’t view this as a real advantage, as walking to DHS is faster.
Boat service is also available to these two parks. Bus service is similar at both, although the close proximity of these resorts makes it easy, on the way back, to just hop off wherever the bus stops first.
Pools: Beach Club – Ranked #1 by us and everyone else, Stormalong Bay is the gold standard of Walt Disney World pools. This sprawling pool complex 3 acres in size with sand at the bottom and a lazy river is in a league of its own. It also has a 230-foot ‘shipwrecked’ water slide, ample lounging space, and an engaging environment that makes it fun to explore.
Just as the sand in the pool will literally stick to you and get all over your room, it will also stick in your memory and be one of the highlights of your trip (or at least, your kids’ trip). Stormalong Bay rivals Animal Kingdom Lodge’s savanna is the single most compelling amenity in all of Walt Disney World. This will be the reason you’ll find your family spending inordinate amounts of time at the resort, and BoardWalk Inn has nothing even remotely comparable.
Meanwhile, over at BoardWalk Inn, there’s Luna Park Pool. This used to be known informally as the Creepy Clown Pool due to a clown face that spit out guests from the water slide, but Disney killed the clown (none of that is a joke). Now it’s just a boring Mickey Mouse slide that doesn’t spit or creep out anyone. Sad.
Even if you think Stormalong Bay is slightly overrated, it’s difficult to contend that Luna Park Pool is superior to it in any way. And since there’s no pool hopping to Stormalong Bay, you have to stay there to enjoy that pool. Meaning that is far and away Beach Club’s biggest selling point. Stormalong Bay is the difference-maker, and why you should stay at Beach Club over BoardWalk. If you’re not a “pool person,” the outcome here is likely to be very different than if you are.
Cost: Beach Club – These are both pricey Deluxe Resorts that are among the most expensive in all of Walt Disney World. However, prices are consistently lower at Beach Club. It’s less than a 5% difference on average, but it all adds up. (Discounts and room availability can change the equation, but based on published rack rates, Beach Club is cheaper on average when making an apples to apples comparison of standard rooms.)
The gap grows as you move to nicer view tiers–no surprise since the BoardWalk view rooms are among the coolest at Walt Disney World and Beach Club has nothing that compares in that regard. Same story with the respective Club Level rates, although you probably aren’t quite as cost-sensitive if you’re thinking about booking concierge, as those rooms are just varying degrees of very expensive.
Verdict: Beach Club – Even though we’re declaring Beach Club the winner–and if you value all of the variables we’ve set forth here, it is–this is ultimately a case of “it depends.” Most categories here could be overridden by personal preference, except one: pools. Stormalong Bay is objectively better, and by a significant margin.
The question thus becomes, does that matter to you? If you’re planning a trip for December, January, or some other time of the year when the pools might be too cold for you to use, or if your party just doesn’t really care about the pool, that factor should be taken off the table.
Without Stormalong Bay serving as the trump card, BoardWalk has advantages in theme, rooms, and dining, but your personal preference might differ. Maybe you like the old timey Atlantic City atmosphere, giving BoardWalk the edge. Or, perhaps you prefer the airy, laid back style of Beach Club and are fine with its chic but bland rooms. Maybe not having to go outside to access Beach Club Marketplace is the difference-maker for you.
So where, exactly, does that leave this? It depends. If you’re a first-timer, especially one with kids, we would recommend erring on the side of Stormalong Bay pool being a deciding factor. Kids tend to love this pool, and Beach Club is usually cheaper, so that’s the safer bet. If you’re not a first timer but are still having trouble deciding…it probably still comes down to the pool.
As for us, it really depends upon the time of the year. If it’s a warmer month, Beach Club–no question. I love Stormalong Bay and think that plus a progressive dinner throughout the area makes a perfect ‘resort day.’ Plus, the whole atmosphere of the resort just feels right for summer…at least to us. If it’s a colder time of year, we prefer BoardWalk. (Although realistically, colder usually means Christmas, and I’d prefer to stay elsewhere completely then.) If you’re still having trouble decide and want more photos & thoughts, we suggest supplementing this with our full review of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and our Disney’s Beach Club Resort Review.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Does Stormalong Bay provide enough value for you to be the difference-maker? Is money the deciding factor for you, or is theme, counter service restaurants, rooms, etc? Are we missing a key variable that could, potentially tilt the scales in BoardWalk’s favor? Do you agree or disagree with our picks? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
