Disney’s Yacht Club Resort – 11 Things We Adore About This Deluxe Resort

The Yacht Club is hands-down one of our favorite places to stay when we go to Disney World. Located in the Epcot area, it is also walking distance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and there are so many reasons it’s our favorite place to stay. Here are 11 things we adore about Disney’s Yacht Club Resort:

 

11. The LOCATION

Situated between the International Gateway entrance to EPCOT and the Swan and Dolphin resorts, the Yacht Club is all about location, location, location. You can easily walk to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, not to mention the Boardwalk area and the Beach Club. Catching a Friendship boat from the lighthouse pier to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or across to the Boardwalk area is also an option. Plus, the short walk to the Disney Skyliner can take you to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Skyliner Resorts including Disney’s Riviera Resort, Art of Animation, and Caribbean Beach Resort. This is the prime location if you want to eat your way around the World Showcase, check out the nightlife on the Boardwalk, attend a character meal at the Dolphin or the Beach Club, or enjoy a beachside movie after dark.

10. The Pool

I think it would be hard to argue that the Yacht & Beach Clubs’ shared pool is the best pool on Disney property. Named Stormalong Bay, this three-acre pool boasts a sand bottom, complete with fun sandbars and zero-entry areas. A massive shipwreck themed waterslide completes this area. You can find both calm, quiet areas and more rowdy kid-friendly areas, depending on what floats your boat. Hurricane Hanna’s, the poolside bar and grill, has excellent walk up service and great music. Mid-afternoon you can usually participate in poolside dance parties or limbo contests. If you’re staying at the Yacht Club, do not miss an opportunity to spend some time in Stormalong Bay.

9. The Atmosphere

This resort has one of the most laid-back atmospheres of any Disney resort. Time seems to move just a little bit slower here, and the breeze coming from the shore of Crescent Lake sets the tone for a relaxing vacation.  It’s not quite as hectic or frantic feeling as some of the other resorts. It does have a little more of a formal feel, similar to the Grand Floridian, but don’t let that scare you away – there are tons of families with children here too, and plenty of magic to be found. 

 

8. The Food

The Yacht Club has access to so many great food options! Because of it’s close proximity to so many other Disney favorites, this is one of our top reasons for staying at the Yacht Club. You can take advantage of the nearby Beach Club for a character meal at Cape May Cafe, grab an afternoon treat at Beaches & Cream, or take a short stroll over to the Boardwalk for a walk-up pizza window or full bakery. The Yacht Club itself has several nice restaurants in the Ale & Compass Restaurant and Yachtsman’s Steakhouse.  Additionally, you’re just a quick walk over to the International Gateway entrance to EPCOT which pops you out right in the middle of the World Showcase and all its incredible food offerings. 

7. The Lobby

This is one of our favorite lobbies of all the Disney resorts. With oversized leather sofas and gleaming wood floors, you will want to sit and soak up the ambiance in this lobby all day. There are little alcoves with TVs playing classic Disney cartoons, and plenty of cozy places to chat. The theming is detailed in this lobby as well, with model yachts housed in large glass cases, nautical maps, and beautiful wood staircases reminiscent of luxury ships. 

6. The Rooms

The rooms are amazing at the Yacht Club. Most rooms have two queen beds and some have a sofa/daybed as well. They are spacious and well-appointed, with a refrigerator and in-room safe. The majority of the rooms have a small balcony with a table and chairs. The bathrooms do have a separate vanity area from the shower and toilet, making it much easier to get ready for the day when you are sharing a room with multiple people. This resort also offers pet friendly rooms, if you need that option.

5. The Gift Shop

The gift shop located in the Yacht Club is called The Market at Ale & Compass, and is one of the most fun places to shop on Disney property. You can find all sorts of clothing, home goods, toys, sunglasses, trinkets and coffee mugs here. A handful of them are themed to the resort itself, which is one of our favorite types of souvenir to buy. They also have a great market space for groceries, wine and beer selections, and toiletry items.

4. The Beach Area

The Yacht and Beach Clubs have a shared beach access area that overlooks Crescent Lake. Located on the pathway from the Yacht Club past the Beach Club to Epcot’s International Gateway entrance, you’ll find an immaculate beach area with lounge chairs. After the sun sets, you can usually find a giant movie screen playing one of your favorite Disney movies, which is one of our favorite ways to wind down a day spent at Disney.

3. The Proximity to the Parks

Seriously, our favorite thing about the Yacht Club is how close it is to two of the four theme parks! You can very easily walk into the back entrance of EPCOT, ride the Skyliner or Friendship Boat to Hollywood Studios, or take a short 15-20 minute walk to the front entrance of Hollywood Studios. When everyone else is lining up to catch a bus back to their resort after EPCOT’s fireworks, you can easily make it back to your room before others even get on a bus! It really is right in the middle of so much of the action. 

2. The Fireworks

Going right along with the proximity to the parks is the ability to see not one, but two fireworks shows from your resort. That’s right, you can catch the fireworks shows from both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios while standing outside the Yacht Club. The Boardwalk Inn tends to block the view of Hollywood Studios when you’re on that side of Crescent Lake, so we recommend standing on the Yacht and Beach Clubs side toward the Swan and Dolphin walkway to be able to see the nighttime fireworks from Hollywood Studios. For the best views of Epcot’s fireworks, we suggest the bridge that connects the Boardwalk side with the Yacht and Beach Clubs side. This is a great option if you have noise sensitive people in your party, but still want to enjoy some fireworks (they’re much quieter), or if you don’t have a park ticket or want to avoid crowds for fireworks views. It’s not a full view of them, obviously, but they are a great way to add a little extra magic to the end of your Disney day. 

1. The Disney Feel

Like all the other resorts, the Yacht Club simply has that Disney magic. From the moment you walk through the front doors and the staff tells you, “Welcome home!” you truly do feel like you are in a Disney bubble. You can find hidden Mickeys throughout the lobby and rooms, little princesses and pirates excitedly prance through the main lobby area, and the cast members are always ready to make your stay extra magical. 

If you’re looking for the best location with an amazing pool, nightly view of fireworks, and incredible food options, look no further than the Yacht Club. Start planning your Disney dream vacation now by contacting an authorized Disney vacation planner, and happy planning!