Hello, Catherine, and welcome to planDisney! Your visit to Walt Disney World is just around the corner, and I'm sure you're counting the days until you're hugging our friend Mickey!
I'm so excited to hear that you're planning a trip to
Disney's Boardwalk during your stay. With incredible eats and high-spirited live entertainment, the Boardwalk is always one of my favorite places to stay, dine, and play in Disney World. In the mornings, I love watching the boats come and go with a fresh cup of coffee in hand. And at night? Those glowing lights transform the promenade into something extraordinary and
entirely magical. As a New Jersey native, this kind of energy makes me feel right at home!
Catherine, if you'll have a car during your stay in The Most Magical Place on Earth, your easiest option will be to drive directly to
Disney's BoardWalk Inn. You can park in the resort lot as long as you have a confirmed dining reservation at one of the resort's restaurants, like my personal favorite,
The Cake Bake Shop® by Gwendolyn Rogers! Just present proof of your reservation to the Disney Cast Member at the gate, and you'll receive a complimentary parking pass that's good for several hours.
Without a car, it's a little trickier to get to the Boardwalk from your home away from home, the
Residence Inn by Marriott at Western Entrance. But I promise, it's well worth the effort! As a Disney Gateway Hotel, your hotel does not have direct access to Disney transportation. However, it
does offer a convenient shuttle system that will take you to all four of Disney's major theme parks. This means you can take the hotel shuttle to any theme park, where you can transfer to a Disney bus bound for the BoardWalk Inn.
Now, if you take the hotel shuttle to Disney's Hollywood Studios, you'll also have the option to ride a Friendship Boat to the Boardwalk, or to walk there via the footpath. You can even take the Disney Skyliner to the EPCOT station and walk to the Boardwalk from there! You'll find the boat launch, Skyliner stations,
and footpath outside of the park gates, so there's no need for a park ticket. If you happen to be visiting EPCOT on the day that you're visiting the Boardwalk, you can also exit the park from the rear entrance (located between the United Kingdom and France pavilions) and walk straight over to the Boardwalk. The scenic stroll will take you about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on your pace.
Because I know how important it is to feel prepared for a big vacation, I called the Residence Inn to gather some more useful information. A helpful representative confirmed that the shuttle does not include service to Disney Springs, and that guests must make reservations for the shuttle in advance. The shuttle runs three times each morning (at 7:35, 9:35, and 11:35 AM) and then periodically throughout the day.
I hope this information is helpful, Catherine!
See ya real soon,
Allison