🎆 Living Near Disney’s BoardWalk: Walkable Charm, Fireworks Views & That Old Florida Feel

Welcome to Theme Park Thursday, where we bring you behind the curtain of the Disney Bubble…revealing what it’s like to actually live near the magic.

And today, we’re focusing on one of the most underrated gems on Disney property:

✨ Disney’s BoardWalk

While many think of the castle or the monorail when they imagine life near Disney, those in-the-know dream about the BoardWalk—where cobblestone paths, glowing lanterns, and nightly fireworks combine to create an atmosphere that feels like a permanent vacation.

Let’s explore what it’s like to live near this beloved stretch of magic…and why it’s one of the best-kept lifestyle secrets in Central Florida.

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🗺️ What is Disney’s BoardWalk?

The BoardWalk is a turn-of-the-century-themed entertainment district that sits between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, wrapping around Crescent Lake.

It’s walkable, whimsical, and nostalgic in the best way.

🎡 It offers:

• Restaurants like Flying Fish and Trattoria al Forno
• Cake Bake
• Surrey bike rentals, nighttime entertainment, and classic carnival vibes
• Nightly fireworks views from the International Gateway

It’s where locals go when they want to feel like they’re on vacation without ever entering the parks.

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🏡 Where Can You Live Near the BoardWalk?

Here are some of the top communities with easy access to the BoardWalk experience:

🎈 Golden Oak at Walt Disney World®

• Disney’s luxury residential community
• 5–20 minutes from EPCOT by car
• Million-dollar estates with concierge services
• Price Range: $4M+
• True ultra-luxury magic with private perks

🏘️ Reunion Resort

• Located off I-4 and CR 532, ~15 minutes to EPCOT
• Gated community with condos, townhomes, and estates
• Golf courses, pools, and Disney proximity
• Vacation home options with short-term rental zoning

🚲 Celebration & Encore at Ovation

• Celebration: charming Disney-planned town, walkable downtown
• Encore at Ovation: newer builds, ~10–15 minutes to EPCOT
• Great for families and retirees who want Disney nearby but not on top of them

🌆 Horizon West Communities (like Lakeside at Hamlin)

• Modern shopping, dining, and a growing town center
• 15–20 minutes to BoardWalk/EPCOT
• Homes for every price point…from condos to custom lakefront estates

🚶‍♀️ While no one lives on the BoardWalk itself, many locals treat it like their own backyard…popping over for dinner, date nights, or just to walk off dinner with a view of fireworks over the water.

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💬 What Locals Are Saying

“We bike to the BoardWalk, grab gelato, and catch the fireworks from the bridge. It’s magic, every time.” – Alicia G.

“It’s where we go to reconnect. It feels like the Disney of our childhoods, but it’s part of our real life now.” – Marcus & Jen D.

“Some nights we grab pizza and sit by the water. It’s so peaceful and you forget you’re near two theme parks.” – Caleb S.

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If you’ve ever wished you could bottle up that Disney twilight feeling…the music, the glow, the breeze over the water…this is the closest you’ll come to living inside it.

The BoardWalk isn’t just a destination.
It’s a rhythm you get to adopt into your daily life.

And once you’ve felt it?
You’ll never want to live without it.

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