Last Updated on December 8, 2024
You’ll often hear the Disney World Disney Yacht Club and Disney Beach Club premium resorts mentioned in the same breath, and rightly so, since they are adjacent to one another and share the same incredible pool and other impressive amenities on property. My family has thoroughly enjoyed staying at both these New England-inspired seaside resorts for years.
Situated within walking distance of EPCOT’s International Gateway entrance (aka EPCOT’s back door), the resorts are set around the picturesque 25-acre Crescent Lake. Guests also have the option of walking to Disney Studios Park, or my family’s favorite way to arrive, taking a scenic boat ride to the entrance. All these options make these two amazing resorts extremely popular.
Yacht Club Resort
This resort evokes images of New England seashore resorts of the 1880s. Guests enter the five-story gray clapboard building along a wooden-planked bridge. The interior of the luxurious 630-room, nautical-themed hotel combines the perfect balance of elegance with a laid-back atmosphere evoking the charm of a New England yacht club.
Décor includes ship wheels, sailing ships, rope details, and dark polished wood finishes providing a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere.
The Yacht Club Resort offers a variety of room types including standard and club level rooms and suites with enhanced services. Accommodations feature a modern, comfortable design with the ideal number of nautical touches. Rooms are spread across the resort’s main buildings and additional wings providing a mix of views ranging from garden, Crescent Lake, and the Stormalong Bay Pool area.
Beach Club Resort
The Beach Club side of the resort is designed with a New England beach house theme, featuring pastel colors, light woods and coastal decor. It evokes a relaxed, beachy vibe, with elements like Adirondack chairs, seashell motifs and a casual, breezy atmosphere contrasting with the more formal, nautical theme of the Yacht Club.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort has a total of 583 rooms that include, like the Yacht Club, standard rooms, club level rooms and suites. Guests can choose between garden, Crescent Lake, and Stormalong Bay pool area views. Accommodations are designed to reflect the more casual, coastal New England beach house theme.
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
This vacation club property represents a fantastic option for Disney Vacation Club members or visitors and guests who want the convenience of a more home-like experience with extra room while still enjoying the amenities of a deluxe Disney resort. As Disney Vacation Club members, this is my family’s home resort and one that we so enjoy sharing on family and friend vacations.
The spacious villas range from studios and one-bedroom to two and three-bedroom villas. Families love this option to keep everyone together while providing more space and elbow room.
Studio villas offer a kitchenette with mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker, sink and stovetop with a small dining table. One to three-bedroom villas include a stove, microwave, full refrigerator, dishwasher, sink, washer and dryer and a separate living area. All villas sport private outdoor spaces or balconies.
Shared Resort Amenities
The top perk of staying at the Yacht Club or Beach Club is Stormalong Bay.
This picturesque three-acre pool complex features a sand-bottom pool, a lazy river, a phenomenal water slide, whirlpools, and a shipwreck play area for kids. It is the most impressive pool on all Disney World properties, and unless you are a paying guest of the hotel, you cannot access the pool area.
Hotel and villa guests can also use complimentary boat transportation to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios which are also within walking distance. In addition, the Disney Skyliner connects both resorts to Hollywood Studios and Epcot, with a quick transfer at the Caribbean Beach Resort. Guests may also use the free bus transportation system available to access the other Walt Disney World parks.
Both resorts offer boat rentals that include pontoon boats, small speedboats, and sailboats for a fun day on Crescent Lake. Each resort has its own well-equipped fitness center along with arcades and bicycle rentals.
If you’re looking to book a massage, you can do that at Ship Shape Massage at the Yacht Club. Those into tennis and pickleball will appreciate the lighted court and equipment available at no charge to guests.
Mention a campfire, and my family is in. On select nights during the week, resort guests are invited to gather round the campfire on Crescent Lake beach and make s’mores. There’s a $5 fee for the s’mores kits, but well-worth the price. Afterward, everyone is treated to a screening of a Disney movie. It doesn’t get better than this.
If you’re into shopping, you’ll be impressed with the gift shops at both resorts offering Disney merchandise, resort-specific items, snacks and sundries. I never leave these stores without a purchase!
Dining Options
I have always been impressed with the restaurant choices at these two resorts.
Cape May Café at the Beach Club is a family-friendly restaurant with an impressive clam bake buffet for dinner and a sumptuous Character Breakfast with Minnie Mouse and friends.
My family just can’t avoid the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, a festive all-day retro-style diner known for its ice cream sundaes and burgers. If you go with a group, order the famous Kitchen Sink Sundae with scoops of vanilla, chocolate, cookies ‘n cream, and mint chocolate chip ice cream, topped with hot fudge, peanut butter, Snickers pieces, a fresh baked brownie, and smothered in every topping from the eatery. Your mission is to finish it all.
Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar & Grill is located at the Stormalong Bar pool area serving casual sandwiches, burgers and tropical drinks.
Ale & Compass Restaurant at the Yacht Club offers a casual dining option for breakfast, lunch and dinner with New England comfort cuisine in a coastal-inspired setting reminiscent of a cozy lighthouse.
For a fine dining experience, signature restaurant Yachtsman Steakhouse serves high-quality aged steaks and seafood. The prices are exorbitant, but the quality, service and incredible views of Stormalong Bay make it a worthwhile special occasion dining experience.
