Not only is Walt Disney World Resort home to four amazing theme parks, it also boasts a variety of excellent hotels. Disney World hotels range in the categories of Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Available accommodations include Standard Rooms, Family Suites, Studio Suites, Villas, Cabins, and Bungalows. When staying on property at Walt Disney World, there’s something for everyone no matter what their budget is or preferences are.
For frequent visitors, it’s not uncommon to have a favorite Disney World hotel. It’s rumored that even Disney CEO Bob Iger has his own hotel preference for his stays on property.
What is it that makes one Disney World hotel stand out among the rest? All of the hotels on property have amazing amenities, nice rooms, dining locations, pools, and more! Let’s take a look at Bob Iger’s (rumored) favorite hotel to see everything that it has to offer.
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Bob Iger's Favorite Disney World Hotel
Allegedly, Bob Iger’s favorite Walt Disney World Resort hotel is Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. If this is true, we really can’t blame him! Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is a beautiful Deluxe Resort that holds so much charm. While Iger hasn’t specifically come out and stated his reasons for enjoying this resort so much, we have a pretty good idea of the things that he might find so appealing about this Disney World hotel.
We are even more prone to believe this rumor because just recently Iger hosted his executive leadership meeting that includes his direct reports from across The Walt Disney Company at Disney's BoardWalk Inn.
Disney's BoardWalk Inn
As a resort, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is a complete package. This waterfront resort offers everything that you could want including easy accessibility to theme parks, a variety of transportation options, fantastic pool areas, recreational activities, direct access to surrounding resorts, and perhaps the best thing – it’s connected to Disney’s BoardWalk.
The BoardWalk has a variety of offerings including dining locations, lounges, bars, shopping, entertainment, and even a dance hall! Not only can you enjoy the BoardWalk during the day, the fun also extends into the evening. While you may notice similarities between the offerings at Disney’s BoardWalk and Disney Springs, the locations at Disney Springs generally close around 11:00pm. The BoardWalk has multiple nightlife locations that don’t close until around 2:00am.
The Inn portion of this resort has been newly refurbished and is absolutely gorgeous. New offerings have been added to the hotel and updates have been made to the rooms, lobby, and other areas around the resort.
Reasons Why BoardWalk Inn May Be Bob Iger's Favorite
Muscles & Bustles Health Club
One thing that we do know for sure is that Bob Iger enjoys early morning workouts. In his book The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons in Creative Leadership from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company, Bob gives us insight on how he values his morning routine. In the book, he says:
“To this day, I wake nearly every morning at four-fifteen, though now I do it for selfish reasons: to have time to think and read and exercise before the demands of the day take over. Those hours aren’t for everyone, but however you find the time, it’s vital to create space in each day to let your thoughts wander beyond your immediate job responsibilities, to turn things over in your mind in a less pressured, more creative way than is possible once the daily triage kicks in. I’ve come to cherish that time alone each morning, and am certain I’d be less productive and less creative in my work if I didn’t also spend those first hours away from the emails and text messages and phone calls that require so much attention as the day goes on.”
Disney’s BoadWalk Inn provides the opportunity for Bob to get up early in the morning and get his exercising done. At Muscles & Bustles Health Club, the fitness center at BoardWalk Inn, a wide variety of exercise equipment is available for Guests to use. Within the health club, you’ll find treadmills, bicycles, ellipticals, weights, and weight machines. There is also a sauna on site.
Muscles & Bustles is open daily from 12:00am to 11:59pm. With the health club’s open hours, the fitness equipment, and sauna, Bob is sure to be able to get his calming morning routine in when he’s staying at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn.
Carousel Coffee
One of the newest additions to Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is Carousel Coffee. This is a quaint coffee shop that’s located within the hotel. An onsite coffee shop is not something that’s very common among Walt Disney World Resort hotels. While you can find coffee makers within your room or even fresh brewed coffee at a dining location, an actual coffee shop isn’t something that many Disney World hotels have.
At Carousel Coffee you’ll be able to find a variety of handcrafted drinks made with Joffrey’s Coffee. Teas are also available. If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, fresh pastries are an option as well. On the menu, you’ll find items such as:
- Specialty Iced and Frozen Coffees (Seasonal flavors included)
- Pomegranate-Green Tea Lemonade: Fresh-squeezed lemon juice blended with pomegranate green tea and a touch of agave
- Crunchy Raspberry Danish: Crispy sugar dough layers, hibiscus fondant, and raspberry
- New Jersey Crumb Cake: Moist butter cake topped with cinnamon crumbs
Considering his morning routine, we wouldn’t be surprised if a stop at Carousel Coffee is on Bob Iger’s schedule when he stays at BoardWalk Inn. After taking his personal hours in the morning, Carousel Coffee offers the perfect opportunity to grab a beverage and quick breakfast before jumping into the busy day of a CEO.
Easy Theme Park Access
Disney’s BoardWalk in has an incredible location which makes it extremely easy to get to the Walt Disney World theme parks. While we are talking about the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, who I’m sure has his own convenient forms of transportation wherever he’s going, BoardWalk Inn still provides this amazing access if he so chooses to use it.
BoardWalk Inn is so close to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios that you could walk to either park if you wanted to. Since BoardWalk Inn is located on Crescent Lake, Disney’s Water Transportation is another option that can be used to get to either one of these theme parks! Guests can simply hop on a water taxi and take a short cruise across the lake to get to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios.
Again, I’m sure Iger has his own personal transportation options. However, the opportunity to be so close to two of the four Walt Disney World theme parks has to be a convenience for him. Especially when he has work that needs to be done at either one of those parks.
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Disney's BoardWalk
There’s no doubt that the direct access to Disney’s BoardWalk is one of the many reasons that Bob Iger favors Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. As the CEO, he may not go out amongst the crowds as often as he’d like to, but with a great view of Crescent Lake and the BoardWalk right below, even the simple charm and atmosphere of Disney’s BoardWalk could be enough of an appeal.
On Location Activities
As I mentioned earlier, Disney’s BoardWalk is somewhat of a miniature Disney Springs. There are multiple dining locations that range from simple snack stands to full service dining restaurants. A variety of lounges and bars create fun spaces for Guests to relax and enjoy themselves. As you stroll along the BoardWalk, you can enjoy fun entertainment such as midway games and street performers. You can also enjoy those amazing lake views! Not only do you have the option to walk along the BoardWalk, you can also rent a surrey bike! You can bike along the BoardWalk, around the resort, and even visit the other resorts surrounding Crescent Lake.
When the day starts to come to an end and the younger crowd heads in for the night, Disney’s BoardWalk still has plenty of nightlife available for Guests who aren’t quite ready to put an end to their day yet. If you want to dance the night away, head over to Atlantic City Hall. Here you can enjoy songs, music videos, and drinks as you shimmy and shake to your favorite tunes. For more musical fun, stop by Jellyrolls to watch a dueling piano show. This action-filled musical experience is sure to liven up your evening.
Along with all of the dining and entertainment options, you can also shop at the BoardWalk!
Disney’s BoardWalk has so much to offer. Bob Iger and other Disney World Guests are sure to enjoy everything that can be experienced there. Plus, how amazing is it that the BoardWalk is part of BoardWalk Inn? Having this delightful area as part of your Disney World hotel is something that truly can’t be matched.
Not Only a Fan Favorite, a CEO's Favorite Too
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is a fantastic hotel option at Walt Disney World. It has so much to offer Guests as well as the CEO of the company! While we mainly focused on the reasons why we feel BoardWalk Inn may be Bob Iger’s favorite, there is so much more about this resort that makes is the favorite of many.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main Disney hotel?
At Disney, there is not one main hotel. Walt Disney World has a variety of resort hotels that provide options and availability that fits everyone's needs, wants, and budgets. The Disney World hotels fall within the category of Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Within all three of these categories, you'll find hotels with great accommodations and exceptional amenities. Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels also receive additional perks. These perks include Early Theme Park Entry, free transportation around Disney property, and the option to purchase a Disney dining plan.
What is the oldest Disney hotel in Orlando?
There are three hotels that are the oldest Disney hotels in Orlando. The three hotels that were open and running when Disney World opened on October 1st, 1971 are Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
Where did Princess Diana stay at Disney World?
When Princess Diana stayed at Disney World in 1993 with her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, she stayed at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. During their time there, the three stayed in a 3-Bedroom Suite at the Grand Floridian. Many Disney fans refer to this specific suite as the Princess Diana Suite (although it's not officially referred to by that name).
Do people wear jeans to Disney?
Yes, people wear jeans to Disney. While jeans may not be the most comfortable option due the weather and amount of walking you'll most likely be doing, jeans are allowed to be worn at Disney. For the most part, Guests can wear whatever clothing they feel comfortable in. However, there is a simple dress code that is expected to be followed. As a general rule, Guests are expected to dress appropriately and not wear anything that is offensive or takes away from other Guest's experiences. Within Disney, there are a few locations (mostly fine dining areas) where a more sophisticated dress code is required.
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