Disney's Boardwalk Villas Rooms

Recently renovated, accommodations at Disney's BoardWalk Villas are spacious, tastefully furnished and conveniently situated -- and come with a number of amenities that make an extended stay easy on families.

Located adjacent to Disney's BoardWalk Inn between the walkway to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot, the lively Disney Vacation Club property offers studios, one, two and three-bedroom villas, featuring furniture, linens, prints and wall decor in a classic and seaside theme.

Somewhat more spacious than accommodations at the neighboring Beach Club Villas, one and two-bedroom villas (814 and 1,226 square feet) sleep four and eight persons respectively, plus a crib sleeper under the age of three, and contain a king-size bed and a flat panel T.V. in the master bedroom, plus a whirlpool tub in the master bath -- connected to the bedroom by a set of shutters. While a nice luxury for parents, this feature isn't particularly kid-friendly -- you'll need to lock two doors to guarantee privacy while soaking.

In a separate living area, there's a queen-sized sleeper sofa as well as a second T.V. and a DVD player. Both types of accommodations feature a stacked washer and dryer and a compact, fully-equipped kitchen. A dining table with two chairs and a low-to-the-ground breakfast bar provide elbow room for diners.

Two-bedroom, two-bath villas are available only as a studio lockout -- with a queen-size bed and a double-size sofa bed as well as a kitchenette in the second sleeping room. Note that studios feature an outside entrance -- something to consider if you're traveling with little ones. Three-bedroom, three-bathroom Grand Villas sleep up to twelve and are in limited supply.

Slightly more spacious than and priced similarly to a standard view BoardWalk Inn hotel room, Deluxe Studio Villa accommodations (412 square feet) sleep four (versus up to five in a BoardWalk Inn hotel room) rental guests and feature a queen-size bed and a double-size sleeper sofa, a bathroom and a table with two chairs, as well as a kitchenette with a sink, a microwave, a toaster and a mini-refrigerator. For some families, the kitchenette is a selling point when choosing between a Deluxe Studio Villa and a standard hotel room, since the hotel room lacks a dedicated area (and a separate sink) for food preparation. In the trade-off, guests loose a second queen-size bed (available at the resort hotel) and gain a Vacation Club-furnished double-sized sofa bed. For Villa guests, a free laundry room (Key Card access; fee for detergent) is located on the first floor, not far from the resort arcade and fitness center.

For guests seeking V.I.P. service, concierge-level accommodations are available at Disney's BoardWalk Inn next door.

All rooms feature either a balcony (upper level) or a patio (ground level), as well as a Pack 'n Play. Bed rails and high chairs are complimentary, and Hi-Speed Internet service ($9.95/24 hours) is available.

With regard to location, "BoardWalk View" accommodations are considered by many to occupy the most desirable (albeit noisiest) location, while canal and garden view accommodations are a better bet for those seeking peace and quiet at lights-out time. There's a single bank of elevators, so plan accordingly.

If you're traveling with stroller-age children, consider requesting a ground floor lodging overlooking the Luna Park Pool, near the arcade and fitness center. Within the vicinity, there's a pass-thru to the Boardwalk and the walkway to Epcot. In the opposite direction, you'll find a walking path providing a direct route to Disney's Hollywood Studios.