BWI unbelievably noisy standard view room

[Kalamazoo2]

I’m writing this partly for catharsis for my frustration, and partly to help others because there are lots of questions on the net about noise from outside at the BWI but little mention of noise from inside.
Location is great for the purposes of visiting Epcot and DHS but BWI will be at the bottom of the list next time when choosing an Epcot hotel. The hallway traffic noise is amplified by narrow hallways and low ceilings that allow sound nowhere to go but through the 1 inch gap under the door to the room. Neighbors talking, laughing, etc. are as if in the same room though this is exacerbated by a connecting door (but this is not the whole problem because you can hear neighbors talking in their rooms across the hall too).
When planning this part of our trip it was narrowed to a choice between BWI and Swan Reserve - oh well, hindsight is 20/20. Don’t know if Swan Reserve would be any better but it can’t be any worse.
I’ve stayed at many Disney hotels (Deluxe, Moderate and Value) and, for noise, BWI has been the worst at any price.

 

[DaviVascaino]

I have stayed twice at Boardwalk and never had issues with excessive noise. I don't think the acoustics of BWI is worse than other hotels.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Disney soundproofing sucks, especially when you get stuck with a connecting door, but I definitely found POFQ & Pop worse than BWI. Did you talk to the front desk about switching rooms? A one inch gap under your front door doesn’t sound normal.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Never had that problem at BW but of course there are many rooms at that resort so sorry you got one that didn’t agree with you.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I don't think this is a Boardwalk specific issue. This is a Disney soundproofing issue. I've been woken up by screaming children in the room next to me at Polynesian every single day of my stay, which was just absolutely lovely /sarcasm.

Have also had neighbors over at Gran Destino Tower at Coronado that played their TV so loudly that I could hear what they were watching from my room.

 

[LRdismom]

I’m writing this partly for catharsis for my frustration, and partly to help others because there are lots of questions on the net about noise from outside at the BWI but little mention of noise from inside.
Location is great for the purposes of visiting Epcot and DHS but BWI will be at the bottom of the list next time when choosing an Epcot hotel. The hallway traffic noise is amplified by narrow hallways and low ceilings that allow sound nowhere to go but through the 1 inch gap under the door to the room. Neighbors talking, laughing, etc. are as if in the same room though this is exacerbated by a connecting door (but this is not the whole problem because you can hear neighbors talking in their rooms across the hall too).
When planning this part of our trip it was narrowed to a choice between BWI and Swan Reserve - oh well, hindsight is 20/20. Don’t know if Swan Reserve would be any better but it can’t be any worse.
I’ve stayed at many Disney hotels (Deluxe, Moderate and Value) and, for noise, BWI has been the worst at any price.

I recently stayed at The Boardwalk and I agree completely. We loved it, but I can't overlook the gigantic gap at the bottom of the door making the hallway noise even more intrusive. I was prepared and blasted the rain sounds on my iphone all night.

 

[jo-jo]

Never tried it, but I've read putting a rolled up towel at the base of the door helps.

Not sure which resort, but yes, there have been times hearing a voice and you're sure they are in the room with you.

 

[Kalamazoo2]

Thanks for the tips. I might try rolling up the towel. And the white noise (I think the new Disney gizmos in the rooms might have that feature. Not sure if my room mate will want it though. Not worth moving I think- leaving tomorrow

 

[JulieBeeRN]

I live for my white noise app on my phone. Hope that you enjoy your last day regardless!

 

[Dave006]

Thanks for the tips. I might try rolling up the towel. And the white noise (I think the new Disney gizmos in the rooms might have that feature. Not sure if my room mate will want it though. Not worth moving I think- leaving tomorrow

The hallway noise levels appear much higher without the carpets and that also explains the larger gap under the Guest room doors. But there is no specific lack of sound proofing at the BWI. The suggestion from @jo-jo on using a towel under room door and even under a connecting room door.

What floor are you on and how close are you to the elevators? Guests on vacation tend to be loud and talk all the way from their room to the elevators and back from the elevators to their room. Not to mention guests running up and down the hallways.

Dave

 

[pixiegoose]

When we stay at Disney we always request a box fan when we check in and set it up in front of the connecting door. Gives us the white noise we always sleep with and helps drown out the noise from neighboring room.

 

[Kalamazoo2]

The hallway noise levels appear much higher without the carpets and that also explains the larger gap under the Guest room doors. But there is no specific lack of sound proofing at the BWI. The suggestion from @jo-jo on using a towel under room door and even under a connecting room door.

What floor are you on and how close are you to the elevators? Guests on vacation tend to be loud and talk all the way from their room to the elevators and back from the elevators to their room. Not to mention guests running up and down the hallways.

Dave

We’re on the third floor, not near the elevators however you are right that people do not attempt to be quiet as they roam the halls. The hallway is carpeted, though the room is not. I wonder if different parts of the hotel are different. I think when we got here there was no one in the room next door so we were just dealing with mainly hall noise and more distant noise from rooms across the hall. Then someone moved in next door and they were up talking well beyond midnight - not screaming or crying but, like I said before, we could hear everything.

 

[Dave006]

The hallway is carpeted, though the room is not. I wonder if different parts of the hotel are different.

I was talking about the carpets being removed from the guest rooms. That is what has shown a larger gap under the door and does increase the noise levels heard in the room. It is surprising how much having carpets in the rooms help with noise reduction.

I think the hallways will continue to be carpeted to help with noise.

Dave

 

[Marthasor]

I’m writing this partly for catharsis for my frustration, and partly to help others because there are lots of questions on the net about noise from outside at the BWI but little mention of noise from inside.
Location is great for the purposes of visiting Epcot and DHS but BWI will be at the bottom of the list next time when choosing an Epcot hotel. The hallway traffic noise is amplified by narrow hallways and low ceilings that allow sound nowhere to go but through the 1 inch gap under the door to the room. Neighbors talking, laughing, etc. are as if in the same room though this is exacerbated by a connecting door (but this is not the whole problem because you can hear neighbors talking in their rooms across the hall too).
When planning this part of our trip it was narrowed to a choice between BWI and Swan Reserve - oh well, hindsight is 20/20. Don’t know if Swan Reserve would be any better but it can’t be any worse.
I’ve stayed at many Disney hotels (Deluxe, Moderate and Value) and, for noise, BWI has been the worst at any price.

I have had so many noise issues at BWI that I simply can't stay there any more. We tried it one more time after the last refurb and we had the same problems you are having with the addition of hearing all of the plumbing, toilets flushing etc. at 7 am each day as people were waking up to make VQs. The walls are SO thin and the hallways are loud. I never had these issues on the villa side of the resort. I'm at the point where I will only stay in one or two bedroom villas so my bedroom doesn't have a hallway facing door or staying at mods with no interior hallways. Our last stay was in a 1-bedroom at BRV and it was heaven in terms of noise levels.

 

[wilbur]

Stayed at BWI in November......there is quite the gap space under the door letting in much noise & light from the hall....after the first night I did the rolled towel to cover up the gap....worked like a charm to reduce both the noise & light.

 

[eandt]

In our experience the worst noise resort for adjacent rooms was by far OKW … have stayed at BWV 3-4 times both prior to and after the renovations and didn’t notice excessive noise except one time when we were there during one of the races. The noise of the race was ridiculous even though we were on the 5th floor. Also towels at the bottom of the door had zero effect mitigating the noise at OKW …

 

[wendlle]

Why don't Disney add a door seal to the back of the door to stop the gap?

I'm a huge fan of carpet in hotels, I know people don't like it for the "germ" factor but no one is getting sick from carpet and it really cuts down on the noise being heard.

 

[Genie+]

I live for my white noise app on my phone. Hope that you enjoy your last day regardless!

I love mine too! Programmed it to open just by holding down top left button on my iPhone. It’s set to ocean and that’s my jam while flying with noisecancel airpods. So comfy. Cuts out the engine noise and crying babies while I get lulled to sleep.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Never tried it, but I've read putting a rolled up towel at the base of the door helps.

Not sure which resort, but yes, there have been times hearing a voice and you're sure they are in the room with you.

I was just about to say this. I've done this for connecting doors but never had to do it for our front door. I would do it in a heartbeat if I needed to.

 

[Kalamazoo2]

Checking out today but just wanted to add to the discussion one more time for those looking at using white noise players to mitigate hotel noises. It looks like using your phone is the best option for strictly white noise but the Hey Disney gizmo has a “Soundscapes” feature that plays white noise with a music overlay. There are several options, all Disney themed of course