is pool and yacht club open

Welcome to the Pool and Yacht Club

 where friends are family and memories are made.

The Pool and Yacht Club is located on the shores of the mighty Mississippi River in Lilydale, Minnesota. Just five minutes from downtown Saint Paul and ten minutes from downtown Minneapolis, it is the ideal spot to enjoy the riverside beauty, changing with every season! The friendliness of this unique club is never outdone, nor its superb food and service ever excelled. We extend our warmest welcome to our members and their guests... an invitation to enjoy the ultimate in cuisine and liqueurs.

Meeting & Events

Pools at Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Stormalong bay.

Splash it up at this 750,000-gallon, beachside wonderland that offers 3 acres of aquatic fun.

Immerse yourself in an expansive sand-bottomed pool or a lazy circular river. Explore a life-size shipwreck replica. Slide down one of the highest hotel waterslides at Walt Disney World Resort. Then, feel your cares melt away as you soak up the sun's golden rays atop an elevated tanning deck, or simply escape to one of 3 whirlpool spas.

Children can wade into the main pool from the gently sloping, sandy beach and cool off in the Shipwreck Pool—complete with a miniature waterslide!

Boasting an impressive complex of pools that range from swirling to placid or open to secluded, every member of your family can find a place to cool off and have some fun at Stormalong Bay.

3 Leisure Pools

Looking for a more peaceful swimming experience? Choose from 3 leisure pools at Disney's Beach and Yacht Club Resorts.

Disney's Beach Club Resort pool is located in the garden area on the far end of the resort facing Crescent Lake. Disney's Yacht Club Resort pool can be found in its own tranquil garden area. A third pool is privately located in the Disney's Beach Club Villas ; although it is situated for the convenience of Beach Club Villas Guests, Guests of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort are welcome to enjoy it. All pools include steaming whirlpool spas.

Poolside Activities

Know before you go.

Hours and lifeguard availability vary by pool and are subject to change.

Complimentary towels are provided at all pools.

Everything You Need to Know about Disney’s Stormalong Bay

Stormalong Bay is the tremendous feature pool area at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Resorts. A day spent here might be the best part of your Walt Disney World vacation.

We planned our first stay at Disney’s Beach Club many years ago and fell in love with the entire Epcot Resorts Area during that stay. But what surprised us most was how much we enjoyed the massive pool. We found ourselves wanting to spend more and more time at Stormalong Bay than anywhere else.

On our last vacation day, we completely blew off our park plans and spent the entire day (and evening) at Stormalong Bay. I picked up a paperback novel in the hotel’s gift shop and found a place in the shade to read while my son played with other children at the pool.

Even though the day was made up of small things like reading a book, it’s still one of my favorite memories. We both know that sometimes the little things become the best memories.

For some, that might be helping your child build a sandcastle at the sand bottom pool. That is until they meet a few pool friends. Soon after, you can return to reading that book. Meanwhile, the children will conspire to meet back at the pool the next day, oblivious to your vacation plans.

Whatever it is, Stormalong Bay has a way of making you want to linger a little longer than expected. Below, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about Stormalong Bay. Additionally, we’ve included a video with clips of various pool areas toward the bottom of this article.

Refurbishment Announcement for Stormalong Bay : From January 2025 through June 2025, Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will be closed for routine maintenance. Guests may see or hear construction work during daytime hours. (This was originally scheduled to end in May of 2025.)

Stormalong Bay Pool

Stormalong Bay is more of a mini water park than a pool. The pool area is over three acres and holds 750,000 gallons of water.

Those areas include a lazy river, multiple whirlpool spas or hot tubs, sand bottom pool areas, waterfalls, a waterslide, a kiddie pool, a sand bar, and a shipwreck, among other things.

It’s important to be aware that Stormalong Bay has deep areas. The various pools range from zero-entry to 8′ (feet) deep. That 8′ deep area is limited to a portion of the lazy river. However, some other pool areas transition from shallow to 4′ and 5′ (feet) deep.

The photo below shows a shallow pool for children at the far end of the pool. A sand bar sits in the center of the pool, where children spend hours building sandcastles. However, looking toward the photo’s center, you’ll notice a hot tub. Then, on the opposite side, steps lead into the lazy river, where it’s immediately 6′ deep and soon after 8′ deep.

Complimentary lifejackets are provided for anyone who needs them. Additionally, lifeguards are stationed across the entire pool deck.

Stormalong Bay Pool Hours

Stormalong Bay is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. during the busier times of the year. Guests of either Disney’s Yacht or Beach Club can access the pool during regular operating hours.

Wristbands are provided at the gate, allowing guests to come and go from the pool. If you want prime seating (AKA by the pool, in the shade, or a table and chairs), you’ll want to rope-drop the pool when it opens.

On our last stay (in mid-August), guests lined up as early as 9:30 a.m. at both pool gates to secure seats. While plenty of chairs are provided at the pool, it’s often one of those scenarios where people throw their items or a towel down and then mysteriously disappear.

Pool hours might be reduced depending on several factors. For instance, when we stayed at the Yacht Club in January, the pool was only open until 10:00 p.m. due to fewer crowds. (We had no trouble finding seats during this time of year.)

Another instance is if you visit on a colder day. The pool might not open until the temperature increases to a certain degree, or if it’s exceptionally cold, it might remain temporarily closed.

However, the pools at Walt Disney World, including Stormalong Bay, are heated to 82 degrees year-round. So when it’s cooler outside, the pool will often feel pleasant, especially in the evenings.

The Sand Bottom Pool at Stormalong Bay

Most of the pool area at Stormalong Bay has a sand bottom. It’s soothing, unlike the typical abrasive concrete bottom pools that leave knees scraped.

Stairs in the center of Stormalong Bay lead up to a private alcove.

Here, you’ll find two separate hot tubs nestled among the rocks.

It was so hot in August that the pool water felt like a hot tub. So, no one was using the whirlpools. However, during our stay last winter, they were constantly packed.

Waterfalls cascade down the rocks on both sides of the hot tub area.

Here are a few more photos of this area from various angles.

One side of this area adjoins the lazy river. A rope acts as a divider between the pool area and the lazy river.

Here is a view looking back from the lazy river.

The pool stretches linearly on the opposite side (toward the right). A volleyball net made from pool noodles provides an excellent place to get up a game.

This area is where the afternoon activities for children take place. Those with children (who want to participate in the pool activities) will want to grab a spot on this end of the pool early.

Unfortunately, the pool deck in this area is narrow, so it can be difficult to find a seat. You can tell in the photo below that most of the chairs under umbrellas are already in use. This photo was taken within 15-20 minutes of the pool opening!

From around 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., recreation cast members provide entertainment every afternoon. They play pool games like Disney trivia and guess that tune. You might be surprised at how much everyone enjoys it.

As the day shifts to dusk, cast members invite everyone to join in on campfire activities like roasting complimentary marshmallows and Movies Under the Stars. Both resorts have a recreation calendar detailing the nightly movie and other specifics.

Past this portion of the pool, the area continues to Bubblin’ Bay and a lagoon with whirling waters.

You’ll find the slide’s exit at the end of this area.

Lazy River at Stormalong Bay

At the opposite end, we find the lazy river, the deepest pool area. It has several entrances. But you’ll want to remember that some of those entrances lead into 5′ to 8′ deep areas.

It’s not a large lazy river. You can see its entire circular shape in the photo below.

Hurricane Hanna’s , the poolside bar and quick service, sits directly behind the lazy river.

A few clear inner tubes are available for guests to use. Naturally, the river does have a bit of a current that keeps you moving. However, on our last stay, less than ten were available. A good deal of guests were complaining about the lack of tubes.

In case you’re wondering, most of these photos were taken from a large deck on the Crescent Lake side of the pool.

Additional seating is available at the top. However, like everywhere else, it can fill up quickly.

A few coveted spots in the shade are available if you get there early enough. A pool table was also present.

Stormalong Bay Water Slide (The Flying Jib)

From the upper deck, you can see the Stormalong Bay slide. It’s one of the best waterslides at the Disney Resorts. Called The Flying Jib, the slide is in a shipwreck across a walkway from the pool.

The shipwreck sits on the shores of Crescent Lake. Therefore, guests have to cross the walkway to get to the slide. You can see where the tunnel portion of the slide extends across the walkway from the ship back to the pool area.

Once you cross the path, you’ll climb into the ship and up the spiral staircase to access the slide.

It’s a speedy slide that almost always has a long line!

As far as the shipwreck goes, this is the same area where the nightly Movies Under the Stars are held. Cast members inflate a projection screen in front of the chairs sitting on the beach.

And here is a photo of where guests roast marshmallows each evening.

Kiddie Pool at Stormalong Bay (Shipwreck Pool)

Most guests have no clue that an additional kiddie pool sits inside the shipwreck. If you never took the time to check out the area, you’d have no idea it existed.

It has a separate kiddie water slide!

No sand is involved at this pool. It’s a fun area.

Sand Bar Kiddie Pool

The other kiddie pool is back on the Yacht Club side of Stormalong Bay. This large wading pool has a sand bottom and a massive mound of sand in its center.

Additionally, Stormalong Bay’s third hot tub resides in this area.

A word of warning–young children will probably always remember this trip to the Beach Club after spending time in this area. They will always ask to return to that place with the sand pool.

They will not want to leave when it’s time to prepare for your dinner reservation. And if you take them to the pool early on during your vacation, they will continuously ask when you’re going to the pool–even when you’re in the parks. Can you blame them?

Toward the back of the sand bar pool, the area forms another lagoon that’s approximately 3.5′ deep.

It’s a pretty area that looks out to Crescent Lake and Disney’s Boardwalk.

Cabanas at Stormalong Bay

Four cabanas are available to rent at Stormalong Bay. These cabanas are available at 60 days out and sell out quickly. They come with the following amenities:

• A dedicated cast member providing service to the cabanas.
• Cocktail Service
• Ceiling Fan
• Padded furniture, including chairs and a couch
• Television with cable access
• Charging Outlets/USB Ports
• A mini refrigerator stocked with complimentary sodas and water.
• Fruit Basket/Dessert Tray
• A Cabinet Safe

Find details for cabana reservations and pricing on Disney’s site . Since we stay at these resorts often, we’ve rented a cabana at Stormalong Bay. You might enjoy reading about our experience in this article: Renting a Cabana at Disney World

Towels, Lockers, and Changing Areas at Stormalong Bay

Before we wrap things up, I wanted to share a few other details that might help you plan time at the pool. For instance, towels are provided at Stormalong Bay. So you shouldn’t need to pack them. Guests can get as many as they need throughout the day.

Additionally, a locker area is available for guests who might need to store a few items while in the pool.

Restrooms are available immediately behind the pool area.

When you enter this covered area to the restrooms, you’ll notice a sign that says showers on the far right-hand side. This area leads to showers and changing areas for men and women. Inside, you’ll find a couple of showers, towels, a bench, and a place to hang items.

Toiletries like body wash, shampoo, and conditioner are available in the shower stall. This area provides a wonderful place to change or freshen up if you have a late flight on your check-out day. Or you might use this area to change into your swimsuit if your room isn’t ready on arrival.

Stormalong Bay Video

Here is a video of Stormalong Bay.

Disney’s Stormalong Bay Photos

Here are a few more photos of the pool.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this review of Stormalong Bay provided you with everything you needed to know about the area to plan your vacation. We recommend spending at least one full resort day here during your vacation. Or maybe you can carve out time to spend here every day! We do!

If you want to learn more about the resorts, we have an entire resort guide for Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort . You might also enjoy our guide to the best pools at Disney World . Spoiler: This one’s pretty hard to beat!

Or you might enjoy one of the following hotel reviews. They are all located within the Epcot Resorts Area:

• Disney’s Beach Club Review
• Disney’s Yacht Club Review
• Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Review
• Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Review
• Swan Reserve Review

Feel free to comment below and share your thoughts on Stormalong Bay. Do you have any questions? What are you looking forward to experiencing here?

Disney’s Stormalong Bay Pool Area

Hi, I'm Amber the owner of Resorts Gal . We have stayed at every single Disney Resort Hotel. Our philosophy? We believe you can have an incredible time at the resorts without ever setting foot in a theme park. We live near the parks and visit weekly and would love for you to follow along.

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Stormalong Bay Yacht & Beach Club Pool Closing in 2025 for 6-Month Refurbishment

Walt Disney World has announced a pool closure of Stormalong Bay at Yacht & Beach Club Resorts in 2025. This covers dates & details, plus other info about ongoing & upcoming construction work around Crescent Lake, recommendations for those planning vacations during this timeframe, and more.  (Updated March 8, 2024 .)

Let’s start with the big news, which is the pool refurbishment at these two Deluxe Resorts. Here’s the original official announcement by Walt Disney World: In an effort to continually enhance the Guest experience, we refresh our offerings from time to time. From January 2025 through May 2025, Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will be closed for routine maintenance. Guests may see or hear construction work around Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool during daytime hours. During this time, guests of Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are welcome to swim at the Tidal, Admiral and Dunes Cove leisure pools.

Here’s the updated official announcement by Walt Disney World: From January 2025 through June 2025, Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will be closed for routine maintenance. Guests may see or hear construction work during daytime hours. During this time, Guests are welcome to swim at the Tidal, Admiral and Dunes Cove leisure pools.

While some of the other verbiage has changed, the key difference is that the refurbishment has been quietly extended until June 2025. This is a big deal from our perspective, as the closure is creeping into the hotter and busier summer season when guests are more likely to be making resort reservations on the basis on the pools.

Just a heads up for anyone who already has a reservation at Yacht and Beach Club or is planning to make one. Unless generous discounts are offered or you’re not “pool people,” we’d highly recommend looking elsewhere. (As discussed in greater detail below.)

This isn’t the only project occurring around the Crescent Lake Resort Area. Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Villas is undergoing refurbishment. During this time, all resort amenities will remain available.

This is due to a soft goods refurbishment on both the hotel side and the Disney Vacation Club wing of the Beach Club. Most of the resort rooms have already emerged from this, and not much has changed. There’s new carpet in the hallways, and inside the room the carpet has been replaced by a laminate flooring.

There’s also new furniture–chairs and couch–as well as new curtains, Donald Duck wall art, and other refreshed surfaces. That’s all I noticed. These rooms were bland before, and they’re still pretty bland now–but minus carpet and plus better on-theme artwork. All of this will be wrapped up well before 2025, though. (This was pretty close to being done late last year, so it might already be finished.)

It sure seems like there’s been perpetual construction at Yacht & Beach Club for the last couple of years. All small scale stuff, but it’s persistent and can be annoying if your room is impacted. ( Speaking from experience. ) There have also been a lot of starts and stops, as Walt Disney World drags out construction seemingly everywhere.

Regardless, we’re definitely expecting this work to be finished before the Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool closure commences. It remains to be seen whether more projects are scheduled between now and then, though. Not much left to redo at either resort, except maybe Big River Grille and Brewing Works. Possibly yet another new concept at Trattoria al Forno? (Fingers crossed for a better ice cream shop!)

It’s a similar story across Crescent Lake at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. Renovations are also occurring here in both the regular resort rooms and DVC villas. I stayed on the hotel side in one of the new rooms recently, and didn’t see or hear any room construction. That doesn’t mean it’s not happening–BoardWalk is a huge hotel–but it seems like it’s pretty close to completed. About the only thing I did notice inside the hotel is a lobby restroom being closed–hardly earth-shattering construction news.

The bigger deal is what’s happening outside along the turn-of-the-century promenade. Repainting is occurring to facades all throughout this area and other refreshes have been happening. Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs is also slated to open soon in a food cart along the water.

The biggest project at the BoardWalk is the new Cake Bake Shop Restaurant being built to replace ESPN Club. This was originally slated to open in Late 2023, but now Summer 2024 seems more likely. But if that continues at its current snail’s pace, maybe Cake Bake Shop construction will still be ongoing in early 2025 when Stormalong Bay is closed!

Finally, there’s what is not yet announced. Obviously, there are the unknown unknowns, and we have no clue what those could be. Very helpful and insightful, I know!

Then there are the known unknowns. On that front, it’s possible that the Disney Skyliner gondolas–which connect EPCOT’s International Gateway to Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, Pop Century and Disney’s Hollywood Studios–will close in early 2025.

Walt Disney World hasn’t made any official announcements yet, but the Skyliner went down for refurbishment early last year and early this year. In 2022, the Skyliner was closed from January 23 through January 28. The gondolas went down for refurbishment January 22-29, 2023. The longest closure just happened this year, from January 16 to 27, 2024.

This is not a huge deal if you’re staying at a Crescent Lake Resort. The Skyliner technically serves EPCOT, not these resorts. You can still use the FriendShip boats for transportation to International Gateway or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or you can walk. The Skyliner is the least efficient transportation for getting to DHS from Yacht & Beach Club or BoardWalk–it’s really only useful for getting to the aforementioned Skyliner resorts. (To do breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace or dinner at Sebastian’s Bistro, for example.)

Nevertheless, the ‘double-whammy’ of the Stormalong and Skyliner closures certainly makes these resorts less attractive–especially at anything approaching full price. (For what it’s worth, we definitely would  not  stay at Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, Pop Century, or Riviera Resorts during the Skyliner closure–those hotels are more dependent upon the gondolas, so the refurbishment is a brutal blow to them.)

Circling back to the pool project, the scope of the refurbishment work on the Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts has yet to be revealed. Walt Disney World indicates that it’s routine maintenance, which we have no reason to dispute.

The best recent comparison is probably the Dig Site at Coronado Springs, which was refurbished about a few agos for the same duration of time. That pool was essentially just refreshed and had routine/preventative maintenance done. It emerged looking fresh and like-new, but not fundamentally different.

The key difference between the Dig Site (or any other recent pool project) and Stormalong Bay is location. This sprawling pool complex is essentially in Yacht & Beach Club’s central courtyard, with a high percentage of rooms directly overlooking the pool. The closure will almost certainly impact some guests staying at Yacht & Beach Club, even those who didn’t plan on packing their speedos.

Last summer, we did a stay at Yacht Club in a water view room at a time when ‘routine’ maintenance was occurring. To my recollection, it wasn’t even listed on DisneyWorld.com. And yet, our balcony was out of commission as cherry pickers were often outside and construction workers used the balcony to paint the exterior of the hotel. This will be a different project, but a similar idea. Point being, don’t book a water view room at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts from January to June 2025.

Frankly, we’d hesitate to book Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts  at all from January through June 2025 unless significant discounts are offered. And given that the closure was just extended from May to June over a year in advance, I wouldn’t book these resorts during the month of June 2025, period. Perhaps this is a matter of Walt Disney World erring on the side of caution and the refurbishment will be done by early June…but having seen the pace of projects lately, I’d be more worried about a late reopening than an early one.

If you’re wondering why Walt Disney World is announcing the pool project so far in advance, it’s to minimize/avoid giving out recovery or relocating guests to different resorts. Publishing pool closure dates in the distant future has become common practice for this reason–the pools are cited as one of the top reasons people book specific resorts.

Nowhere is that more true than at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, where Stormalong Bay is the biggest selling point. That’s widely viewed as the best pool in all of Walt Disney World ( including by us–and we don’t think it’s even a remotely close call ).

To each their own, but we think that if Stormalong Bay is unavailable, Yacht and Beach Club are not “worth” the same nightly rates. This would be akin to not having the monorail while staying at the Contemporary or the wildlife all going to the vet while staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Whether Walt Disney World offers a deeper discount or not at Yacht and Beach Club for these dates depends almost entirely on how many other guests “agree” with us and vote with their wallets by booking elsewhere. Promotions are dictated by demand (or lack thereof), so it could go either way. With the closure announced this far in advance, we’d expect to see an actual impact on Yacht & Beach Club bookings. It’s possible discounts will hit 30-40% off during those months, but too early to say for sure. We’ll keep you posted–and reminders of the Stormalong Bay refurbishment as the 2025 closure draws nearer.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

Your Thoughts

What do you think about Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts closing for routine refurbishment in January through June 2025? Do you like these Deluxe Resorts, or do you prefer the cheaper options? Any other improvements you’d like to see Disney make to Stormalong Bay? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment of the projects? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

At what point would you feel “safe” booking a July or August stay here, if Stormalong Bay is a must-have? There’s no way they keep it closed all summer, right? Right?

Unpopular opinion: we aren’t fans of that pool at all, but maybe the closure will open up some availability for our trip to Festival of the Arts in January? We have Riviera booked already, but would consider modifying. We don’t own any Boardwalk area resorts, and haven’t had much luck getting any rooms there.

We were just at Yacht Club for a week in early February. That is our week and resort of choice! Because of next year’s pool closure, I used the bounce back offer to book a late Sep/early Oct trip in lieu of a 2025 trip. We haven’t done Mickey’s Not So Spooky Halloween Party yet, so I thought this would be a good reason to do it! Of course, we could just plan on Halloween 2025 instead, but that seems too far away and the deal I got was great. Still deciding, but had to jump on the offer just in case we go for it.

Do they typically release reopening dates for pools once it gets closer? I’ve never paid attention to any other resort pool closures being we only stay at beach club.

Up until this announcement I was planning a trip in May 2025, and I still would if the pool reopened in May. Im wondering if they mean it’s expected to reopen 5/1, any time in may or be closed the entire month and reopen 6/1. Guess we’ll see!

I’m DVC so I would be booking at the 11 month mark, I suppose I could always push the trip back if it got too close without an announcement.

That’s great planning on their part that they inform the community about the loss of that pool..I would be DEVASTATED (I know it’s a bit of a pathetic first world problem) if I didn’t know before I booked-that pool makes the stay next level! And I tend to book over a year out for most stays…I definitely will always choose a deluxe over the other resorts! I do wish they’d announce water park closures in the same way…I keep wanting to try Blizzard Beach and just can’t seem to swing a visit when they’re open. But when looking at Universal’s website was pleasantly surprised to see they don’t take down the Volcano Bay all at once for refurbs, just individual rides intermittently…

Surprised to see you call the sky liner the least efficient transportation to DHS. Just got back from a week at BC in mid-August and that was our go to for DHS transportation. We didn’t walk it bc of the heat, and the boat didn’t seem shorter in terms of time once the wait for the boat was added in. We found the 5 min walk to gondola station, quiet uncongested ride, and no lines to be the height of efficiency for getting to DHS from BC.

Not sure if you’ve ever watched Allears videos…they did a race/experiment a year or two ago from Crescent Lake/Yacht club area to DHS using the 3 modes of transportation-one being your feet. Walking was quickest, then boat, then the skyliner. Obviously, time of day, crowd levels, seasons, etc play into the variables. It was interesting though.

I just got back from a stay at Beach club, and two days ago the pool was shut down in the morning for emergency maintenance and was down until at least noon. It also seemed like it could use some TLC while I was walking around it. I’m probably a loner on this, but we spent several hours at the pool this past week and I just didn’t enjoy it much. It was crowded, hot, and unrelentingly sunny for most of the day, with an exceptionally high number of seat hoarders. I didn’t hate my time there, but I enjoyed Kidani’s pool a lot more since most of the seats were shaded and there weren’t nearly as many people. Glad the rooms are getting a refurbishment, too…it was perfectly serviceable, but very simple. I also had a really difficult time because there wasn’t a full-length mirror! It seemed like an odd omission that would be easy to fix. Now, off to take a survey on my experience~

Agreed. We like Kidani more as well. For many of the reasons you stated, I believe Beach Club’s pool is overrated imho.

I like the vibe at Beach Club better than Yacht Club. Stormalong Bay cost us a day at the Parks one trip (though we got it back via a trip extension), as it required backhoes and dynamite to finally get my wife out the pool for dinner at Cape May. Whether it’s the best pool complex at a hotel in the Orlando area is up for debate, but as you have repeatedly noted, it is far and away the best pool complex at WDW. I have felt that if they were doing it today from scratch, they’d make some changes, namely a MUCH longer lazy river. It would be great if they were to redesign the pool complex to that end… but they’re not, certainly not over such a relatively short time. Which is okay, as Stormalong Bay is fantastic as it is right now. I expect they’ll be replacing pipes, pumps, doing resurfacing, etc. It will be a bright, shiny new Stormalong Bay, but the same one anyone who has had the pleasure to stay and play there knows and loves. But, yeah discounts, HUGE discounts during that time would be needed. It still has an amazing location, being a short walk to the Skyliner and International Gateway… but that while that pretty short walk turns into a longer, but still very reasonable walk from Boardwalk, I’d stay there instead if pools are your thing instead, or even Swan/Dolphin/Reserve. But, as someone who lived next door to a guy who owned a pool company has heard, repeatedly, pools need maintenance and every certain number of years, it is likely to need a major maintenance. That memory now has me curious: When was the last time Stormalong was shutdown for a major maintenance?

I love Stormalong, but that lazy river is a waste of space. Why is it so deep?!

Just at the Yacht club for the grilled cheese and tomato soup (thanks for the recommendation TB). Walked around both resorts doing the scavenger hunt. Whenever we’ve been there we come away feeling it’s nice but a bit sterile, kind of snooty and a typical fancy hotel I can stay at anywhere USA but OMG!!!! that pool !!!! with real sand!!!! There is no discount that can make up for such a loss. Especially as there are so many terrific resort options. I won’t deny that walking back from EPCOT on an extended evening night isn’t an attractive fun incentive but Stormalong Bay is the real attraction here.

BTW – you stop mid-sentence right before the picture of the Cake Bake Shop. I’m a little curious what remains to be seen? Thought you’d want to know.

Thanks for catching that–I’ve fixed it.

What remains to be seen is whether more projects are scheduled between now and then.

Tom, any insight into whether the remaining rooms at Beach Club Villas will be receiving murphy beds? I know the top two floors received murphy beds earlier this year before the refurb was paused. Due to our party size we have an adult sleeping in the living area and we find that the murphy beds are levels of magnitude more comfortable than the pull out couches. Whether or not a resort has the murphy bed definitely affects where we stay.

Thanks for the report! We’re just about ready to book our Spring 2024 trip, but that necessitates looking forward to a potential January 2025 trip and debating the pros and cons of staying at any given resort next time, versus the next-next time. Beach Club is high on our list, and knowing it’s not an option for January 2025 is great to know

We usually stay at the Yacht Club, primarily because of the pool and it location near Epcot. We usually visit between January and March; so, this closure and construction will have an impact on us. We will need more information. Thank you for letting us know.

“Frankly, we’d hesitate to book Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts at all from January to May 2025 unless significant discounts are offered.” As being DVC Members and that this is our Home Resort it would be hoped that significant discounts are offered, significant discounts ! Not having had many “freebies” in the past offered, I don’t imagine there will be many surprises here. It really has felt that the Beach Club is under perpetual refurb these last few years and we can understand Stormalong would in need of a refurb, but wasn’t that what was going on recently ? If not why not ? and what really needs a refurb now ?

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