Another trip to Orlando means another stay in a Disney resort! We chose Disney’s Yacht Club Resort for its proximity to Hollywood Studios, but we discovered that the deluxe resort hallmarks were reason enough to stay here.
How We Chose Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
For this visit, we had a very specific reason to come to Walt Disney World: Opening Day at Galaxy’s Edge. We planned to hop over to Opening Day at Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival, too. As such, we were looking for a hotel that provided easy access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot. We found that in Yacht Club.
First Impressions
Yacht Club has a similar theme to Beach Club, located just next door. In fact, the hotels are indistinguishable from a distance except for color.
The check-in process went smoothly. The front desk had a book of trading pins. We browsed that for trades and asked about the dinner options nearby.
The Lobby
Elegant theming abound.
I’ve heard the Yacht Club lobby called “stuffy,” but I didn’t get that. It definitely seemed older than it is, but in a grand and refined way rather than an impersonal or inaccessible way.
Dining Options
With the exception of a snack at Hurricane Hanna’s (the pool bar), we didn’t eat at the resort because our schedule simply didn’t allow it.
Unfortunately the restaurant I most looked forward to visiting, Beaches & Cream, was closed for refurbishment during our trip. (Have you heard of their Kitchen Sink?! I’m still disappointed I missed it.)
Cape May Cafe is known for its character dining and though we didn’t visit, we passed by and we could smell it! I considered this an enhancement of the seashore theming, but you should avoid the area if you dislike seafood.
It was clear we missed out on some excellent food by not dining at Disney’s Yacht Club. The Yachtsman consistently has stellar reviews. Ale & Compass also caught our eye, but the thunderstorm gods had other plans. It’s on the list for next time!
[This evening of our stay, we planned to eat at Disney’s Yacht Club, but instead dined at Flying Fish. It is the restaurant we happened to be closest to when we took a stroll on the boardwalk and the sky opened up.]
The Room
The room theming is much more subdued than other resorts I’ve visited, but still beautifully done.
The amount of space didn’t seem much larger than that at value or moderate resorts, especially in the bathroom. Despite this, the space felt large due to the clean lines and lack of clutter.
The room sleeps five. The card on the sofa offers instructions for converting it into a bed.
I’d heard the resort was upgraded recently. This was evident from the technology touches: plentiful USB ports and bedside lights that lit automatically when positioned.
The Pool
Wow. Just wow.
Stormalong Bay tops many lists of best resort pools and reasons to stay at Yacht and Beach Clubs. I read so many articles on this pool that I even knit a beach bag to take on this trip!
It should! Though I called it “the pool,” it actually is several separate pools in a central location. There’s a shallow pool with a sand bottom, a lazy river (partially sand-bottomed) with clear tubes, and a deeper swimming pool.
The sand in the pool has larger grains than fine sand on most public beaches. It reminded me of the beaches I visited with my parents in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The size of the grain keeps the water from clouding and keeps the filters free of sand clogs.
Check out this sunken ship.
It’s actually a slide!
As I mentioned, we did pick up a quick snack at Hurricane Hanna’s. The service was excellent! Completely lost in the theming, I almost made a comment to the bartender about “working in paradise.”
Well played, Disney.
I had the coconut shrimp, which was delicious, and a cookie. Yes, seriously. I had a big, fat, chocolate chip cookie. I was still mourning Beaches & Cream and it hit the spot.
Admiral Pool, the second pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Clubs, is considered the quiet pool. We didn’t visit it.
The Boardwalk
From Disney’s Yacht Club, you are able to walk or take a boat to both Hollywood Studios and Epcot. You’re also able to walk to the Boardwalk, an entertainment area themed around Coney Island/Atlantic City boardwalks in a former era.
We spent some time exploring the Boardwalk, snapping photos of Disney’s Yacht and Beach Clubs across Crescent Lake, browsing shops, and finding out more about each of the clubs.
We dined at Flying Fish and returned to our room after the weather had settled.
Plan Your Visit
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Boulevard
Orlando, Florida 32830
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