Aug 1, 2023 · However, this also means that by ~June 2025 the rooms will be (presumably slightly) updated at the resort. The Basics of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. The Yacht Club is a deluxe level hotel at Walt Disney World in the Epcot Resorts Area. Deluxe resorts are Disney’s best hotels. ... Sep 15, 2024 · Yacht Club Resort is a luxury hotel at Walt Disney World within walking and boat distance of EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. This Deluxe Resort review features reimagined room photos, and info about pools, restaurant, transportation, on-site benefits & amenities. Plus, pros & cons of these accommodations. (Updated September 15, 2024.) ... Feb 7, 2024 · Book a fishing excursion on Crescent Lake for a truly unique experience while staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Eat Ice Cream. Disney’s Yacht Club is home to one of our favorite WDW restaurants, Beaches and Cream. While reservations can be difficult to snag at this popular dining spot, you can access the walk-up window to order shakes ... ... Related: Disney’s Beach Club Villas Review. Most of Disney’s Yacht Club rooms sleep up to five guests. However, club-level rooms usually sleep four guests. If you’re curious about club level, we have an entire article covering the experience. Related: Club Level at Disney’s Beach Club ... Feb 8, 2021 · Disney’s Yacht Club opened back on November 5, 1990. Its sister location is the Beach Club located right next to it. The Yacht Club is a beautifully themed resort with nautical and beach themes. We are going to tell you everything you need to know about this wonderful resort in our Ultimate Disney Yacht Club Review + Insider Tips! ... Now $667 (Was $̶7̶8̶8̶) on Tripadvisor: Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Orlando. See 3,084 traveler reviews, 2,516 candid photos, and great deals for Disney's Yacht Club Resort, ranked #103 of 377 hotels in Orlando and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. ... ">

Review of Disney's Yacht Club Resort

In this post, we’ll review Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, a deluxe resort at Disney World situated in the Boardwalk area between Epcot and Hollywood Studios. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from pricing to transportation to special perks. Read on to learn all about Yacht Club at Disney World!

disney yacht club resort review

Important Note: Disney has announced that from January 2025 through June 2025, Stormalong Bay, the feature pool at Yacht Club and Beach Club will be closed. We do not recommend staying at these hotels during this time, and recommend you instead consider Boardwalk Inn .

Another Important Note: Per Disney, “From January 2025 through May 2025, some guest rooms at Disney's Yacht Club Resort will be under refurbishment.” We already recommend against staying here during this time because of the Stormalong Bay closure. However, this also means that by ~June 2025 the rooms will be (presumably slightly) updated at the resort.

The Basics of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

The Yacht Club is a deluxe level hotel at Walt Disney World in the Epcot Resorts Area. Deluxe resorts are Disney’s best hotels. If you’re considering Yacht Club, you may want to read some of our other posts. We have a ranking of the best Disney World deluxe resorts . We also have a guide to all the hotels of Walt Disney World .

And here are our reviews of all the deluxe resorts (links open in new tabs):

Review of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Review of Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Review of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

Review of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (you are here)

Review of Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Review of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Review of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Review of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

And if you’d like to see where this resort falls overall, check out our complete Disney World hotel rankings .

One notable thing about Yacht Club is the convention center. This isn’t necessarily a problem, but when large conventions, or those with raucous participants, are around, the ambiance of the resort is somewhat disrupted. Everything will be louder and more crowded, and you’ll find it harder to get tables at the restaurants.

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As we’ll mention repeatedly in this review, Yacht Club’s biggest perk is its location, which leaves you within walking distance of Epcot (7 minutes), several resorts, the Boardwalk, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (20 minutes or 12 by boat). If you have a trip specifically focused on these two parks (common during Epcot festivals or just for groups without young kids), Yacht Club is a particularly good option.

Yacht Club and Beach Club

If you’ve read our Beach Club review , you’ll notice several sections of this review are similar or identical to that review. Because the resorts are connected and share a pool, there is a lot of overlap in the two experience.

Regardless, the rooms and theming are distinct, and we cover the restaurants separately (even though you could easily walk to the other hotel’s restaurants if you wanted). Here’s the official map shared by the resorts:

disney yacht club resort review

Booking Yacht Club

For our most recent visit, we booked a Club Level Standard View room through our choice travel advisor, Lauren Quirk of Travel With Character LLC . We paid $946.13 per night, which was rack rate. There were unfortunately no Annual Passholder offer rates available. That’s usually our preferred way to book Club Level stays.

Rack rates for standard rooms at Yacht Club in 2025 start at $622 per night. Between standard offers and maybe discounted prices at Expedia or Priceline, there may be times when rates get down below $500.

Staying at Yacht Club, you get the perks of any Disney stay. You’ll have access to free transportation to and from the parks and Disney Springs. You’ll also have access to Early Theme Park Entry and the ability to purchase and book Lightning Lanes 7 days in advance of your trip , rather than 3 days in advance of your visit date.

Yacht Club is a deluxe hotel, so guests have access to Extended Evening Hours, granting these guests extra time in select parks on select nights.

disney yacht club resort review

Arrival and Check-In at Yacht Club

There are several ways to get between the airport and Walt Disney World. We used Mears Connect this trip, which will likely be the last time we use it (update/confession: it wasn’t). Our hotel was originally set to be the sixth stop. After an hour on the bus, we exited at the fifth stop—BoardWalk Inn—to get pizza and coffee there before walking to Yacht Club. It’s worth noting that Yacht Club’s stellar location was a convenience to us even before we got to the hotel.

Disney has pushed people toward online check-in the last few years. We checked in online and had a room assignment just before we got to the hotel, so we were able to head straight to our room. I had some Magic Band issues , but was able to use my phone to unlock the door until I visited the club concierge to recode my band (the front desk can also do this).

If your room isn’t ready via online check-in, you might be able to get bumped up the list by visiting the desk. Usually we’ll arrive at a resort and eat lunch, swinging by the desk before or after lunch if there’s no line. If we can get a room, great, otherwise we drop off our bags with bells services and go to a park.

If you’re staying club level, they’ll place a call upstairs and escort you up to the Regatta Club Lounge, Yacht Club’s Club Level lounge (which we’ve reviewed separately here). Alternatively, you can just head straight to the club yourself.

disney yacht club resort review

Yacht Club Grounds, Theming, and Activities

Yacht Club and Beach Club, while they are separate resorts, are connected and share a pool area (this isn’t a downside in our experience, more below). For this review, we’re going to talk exclusively about Yacht Club’s offerings.

As we emphasize repeatedly, all of Yacht Club, Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, and the Swan & Dolphin are within walking distance. One loop around the Boardwalk, which takes you past all those hotels, is 0.8 miles.

disney yacht club resort review

(Ignore pricing on this old screenshot)

While the Boardwalk doesn’t compare to Disney Springs, the variety of bars and restaurants at your fingertips, plus the proximity to Epcot, make Yacht Club especially worth consideration for adults visiting Disney World , which is no doubt why the area is home to two of Disney’s conference centers.

Yacht Club consists of a single hotel building and a second building for the convention center. Most guests don’t need to know anything about the convention center, but we’ll note it does have a business center. The feature item in the lobby is a beautiful, large globe. It’s one of the cooler features in a Disney resort.

disney yacht club resort review

BoardWalk, Beach Club, and Yacht Club all have “smaller” lobbies that are easily contrasted with the grandiose, open lobbies of Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Animal Kingdom Lodge.

That said, it’s not really a small lobby:

disney yacht club resort review

Yacht Club is, as its name suggests, nautically themed. It doesn’t really hit you over the head as hard as it could (i.e. it isn’t as visually loud as the value resorts), sticking to the deluxe hotels trend of using understated features and simple displays more than kitsch to convey the theme.

The feature pool at Yacht Club is Stormalong Bay , the pool shared with Beach Club and widely regarded by experts as the best pool on Disney property . Stormalong Bay features a lazy river, a sand-bottom zone, and a water slide.

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We don’t want to belabor this point, but Stormalong Bay (above) is one of the biggest reasons to stay at Yacht Club (or Beach Club), and it—along with the proximity to the Boardwalk—makes the hotel particularly good for planning a Disney World no parks day . If you’re not a pool person, then obviously this shouldn’t impact your decision, but it is a major highlight of the hotel.

There is also a secondary pool on the far end of the resort if you hate fun (there’s also a tennis court right next to this pool):

disney yacht club resort review

The farthest rooms on the first floor are a three-minute walk from the lobby at our relatively quick pace. That’s not huge, but it is sort of a bummer that they’re in the direction away from Epcot. You will be three minutes closer to Hollywood Studios, though.

The resort maintains a standard roster of activities:

disney yacht club resort review

Our Yacht Club Room

There are a variety of room configurations at Yacht Club, but this room has two queen beds. Please note that since this is a Club Level room it may have a slightly different configuration than other rooms. In particular, items such as individual toiletries may not be available outside Club Level.

Yacht Club was the first of the deluxe resorts to receive this type of refurbishment—hardwood, sleek but themed at every opportunity, better use of space. While I’m overall a huge fan of these changes, I will say that more recent updates, particularly at Polynesian, Contemporary, and Animal Kingdom Lodge impress me even more. ( Note: pictures come from multiple stays just because, e.g., lighting on some item was better one day than another)

disney yacht club resort review

The room was relatively spacious, as is standard for rooms at the deluxe resorts.

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On the bathroom and amenities end, it was nice to see mouthwash and lotion provided, and the shampoo and conditioner were bottled for personal use (values and moderates use large dispensers). The vanity area was actually a little smaller than expected, maybe even about the same size as at the moderate resorts.

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There were plenty of outlets and a nice desk, which is a necessity for us. The furniture is all brilliantly designed, creating a very cohesive aesthetic. The curtains contain star patterns, and absolutely brilliant touch. A Keurig coffee maker is standard in the Yacht Club rooms.

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I guess the couch is a little blugh. Nothing’s perfect.

disney yacht club resort review

We’d booked a standard view, which to be honest should be renamed something like “Bad View.” Here’s a look at the view from the balcony before I go on to talk about some…related…aspects of this most recent stay…

disney yacht club resort review

(Begin rant.) Okay. So, yes, we booked a “Standard View,” and that’s on us. But let’s be real, no one should ever get this view for $946 per night. This is a view of steam escaping from the hotel’s laundry room. It’s no fun to look at, and if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction it just renders the balcony unusable.

If this were the only issue with the room location, I could let it go (even though, as a professional, I shouldn’t, because $946 a night!). But the laundry room also emitted vibrations throughout the night that really messed with my head.

To be fair, Emily didn’t notice this sound the first night. The second night, she didn’t mind. But to me it sounded like having a car parked outside blasting bass all night. It wasn’t loud , but it was there. And by its nature, it was very hard to block out with white noise or headphones.

Weirdly enough, this isn’t even our first issue with sound at Yacht Club. Last visit, someone was having an absolutely explosive breakup over the phone well after midnight. That’s not something Disney can account for, so I’ve never held it against them.

But even weirdlier enough, we had another noise issue this stay—DOGS. Yacht Club is a “dog friendly” resort. This is good particularly for accessibility reasons. But what isn’t good is placing barking dogs in proximity to sleeping toddlers. Since Disney knows the ages of hotel guests, this is something they should account for. Fortunately, Zoe has grown up in relatively noisy environments, so the dogs didn’t pose a huge barrier to sleep (white noise machine helps, too).

One might rightly wonder “well did you bring these issues up to anyone?” And the answer is a resounding “NO,” for several reasons. First, we’re personally low maintenance, despite what this review (in my professional capacity) sounds like. I’m not going to waste my time and the time of hotel staff to maybe get a room change ( if one is available) as long as my kid can sleep. (And if I’m going to get a note in my file, I’d much rather it be because someone actually took the time to read this review.)

Second, guests don’t ordinarily have time to address these issues during Disney vacations. Unlike typical resort stays, where guests plan to spend several days at the resort, Disney stays are mostly about the parks. If you’re leaving at 7AM and returning at 8PM, you don’t have much time to waste dealing with these issues. This brings us to the main reason I don’t complain about these issues…

For $946 per night, it shouldn’t be incumbent on a guest to bring these things up. These issues simply shouldn’t happen. Again, a screaming guest in a neighboring room is something Disney can’t control without me bringing it to their attention. But shoddy views, rooms adjacent to laundry facilities, and dogs booked near toddlers—these are all things a competent hotel charging $946 per night should account for in advance.

But all I can do is share my experience and reasoning. You very well may feel you either (1) wouldn’t be bothered by these issues or (2) would be wholly comfortable requesting a room change if anything like this happened to you. (End rant.)

Location & Transportation at Yacht Club

Yacht Club has one of the best locations on property. Along with Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, and the Swan & Dolphin, this is one of the few hotels you can actually walk to two parks—Epcot and Hollywood Studios—from.

Epcot’s World Showcase is about an eight-minute walk from the Yacht Club lobby. Hollywood Studios is about a 20-minute walk from the Yacht Club lobby.

Keep in mind that when visiting Epcot, you’ll be using a different entrance than other guests. the World Showcase entrance is between the U.K. and France pavilions. We briefly discuss this in our Epcot Rope Drop Strategy .

Besides the two parks, you can also walk to all those other hotels and any other spots along the Boardwalk, which has restaurants like Flying Fish and Cake Bake Shop as well as a pretty good bar in AbracadaBar.

disney yacht club resort review

Besides walking, you can take a boat to Hollywood Studios (approximately 12-minute trip, running every 15 minutes) and Epcot (about 5-7 minute trip).

For the most part, we stopped using the boats years ago (we walk), but we occasionally ride them just to keep tabs on them. Generally, they’re more reliable than buses because they run on constant loops, but nothing is ever as reliable as the walking path.

Realistically, you’ll probably always prefer to walk to and from Epcot, at it would take you just as long to walk to the boat dock as to walk to Epcot. Hollywood Studios is a bit of a different story.

It makes sense to take the boat to Hollywood Studios and walk back, particularly if you’re at the park when it closes. The line for the boat gets quite long when the park closes, though we’ve often seen it long during the day as well:

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To reach Magic Kingdom , you’ll have to rely on bus transport (15 - 20 min). Keep in mind that although you can walk to Epcot, you use a different entrance than the main entrance, so it isn’t practical to walk to Epcot and take the monorail to Magic Kingdom .

And, as always, to Animal Kingdom (15 min), Typhoon Lagoon , Blizzard Beach , and Disney Springs you’ll rely on bus. We’ve been satisfied with bus transportation at Walt Disney World. For whatever reason, it seems somewhat improved from 5-10 years ago when it was a constant source of ire.

disney yacht club resort review

Keep in mind that if you’re flexible, you can always hop on a bus for BoardWalk or Beach Club and walk back to Yacht Club from there. This won’t always save you time, but particularly in the middle of the day (when bus transport is at its worst), if you see a bus to Beach Club or BoardWalk, hop on it.

We always recommend you also consider using Uber at Walt Disney World when you’re in a hurry. There’s also Minnie Vans , the more expensive but “Disney official” option.

If you’re bringing your car to Disney World (or renting one), parking is once again free. Guests of Disney hotels also have free parking at the theme parks.

Finally, the Epcot Skyliner station is a short walk away, past Beach Club. This would allow you pretty quick visits to Caribbean Beach, Riviera Resort, Pop Century, and Art of Animation if you had cause to visit those places.

Theoretically you could walk to that station and then take the 20-minute trip to Hollywood Studios. It’s a bit awkward to go so “out of the way”, but it could be your fastest option, depending on your walking speed.

Food and Dining at Yacht Club

One of the nice things about staying at Yacht Club, is that for the most part your dining options are unlimited.

From Yacht Club you can easily walk to all the restaurants of Beach Club, the Boardwalk, the Swan & Dolphin hotels, and Epcot. That’s a really awesome feature. So keep that in mind while we quickly discuss the thing I hate most about Disney’s deluxe resorts…

Quick Service Food at Yacht Club

I have a huge gripe about the lack of quality quick service at Disney’s deluxe hotels. I’m very drawn to the food court setup at the value and moderate resorts. At Yacht Club, you’ve got two quick service options.

disney yacht club resort review

The Market at Ale & Compass is actually the Yacht Club’s store in addition to offering a very limited selection of quick service food. While we were there, they offered your choice of four hot sandwiches and a soup of the day for lunch and dinner.

Additionally, you’ll have pastries, chips, and pre-packaged food (cold sandwiches, salads). Market is usually open a bit after the parks close, between 10PM and Midnight.

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Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar & Grill is the pool bar (and grill) at Yacht Club and Beach Club. It has an okay lunch menu, which includes burgers, a buffalo chicken wrap, and a vegetarian quinoa wrap. Hanna’s closes earlier than Market, usually around 8PM to 9PM.

disney yacht club resort review

(Begin rant.) I’ll never understand why deluxe resorts don’t offer better quick service options. If you come back to your hotel after a regular Epcot or Hollywood Studios close, you’ll have no dinner options besides expensive table service (if you can get a table), expensive room service ($3 delivery and 18% service included) or very limited, unimpressive options at Market.

Yes—guests at deluxe resorts tend to be willing to spend a bit more. But that doesn’t meant they’re going to want a table service meal after being at the parks all day, or that they’ll want to deal with the delays and hassle of in-room dining. To me, nothing beats being able to come back at 11PM from an exhausting day, walk right up to a counter, and order a burger or pizza at a reasonable price. (End rant.)

Table Service Restaurants at Yacht Club

Yacht Club has three table service restaurants. We’ll provide brief overviews of them and link to reviews we trust. Our limited experiences with them (and our limited food knowledge generally) don’t qualify us to really speak to their quality.

Ale & Compass is the newer restaurant at Yacht Club, having opened in November 2017. It’s the resort’s casual table service restaurant, adjacent to the lobby, and requiring a single table service credit. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations are recommended. Here’s a review from Disney Food Blog. 

disney yacht club resort review

Yachtsman Steakhouse is the signature table service restaurant at Yacht Club, requiring two table service credits. It’s open only for dinner.

You’ll have to follow the hallway past Ale & Compass toward Beach Club to get there. Reservations are highly recommended. Here’s a review from Ziggy.

disney yacht club resort review

Beaches & Cream is a fun little soda-shop themed spot right on the border of Yacht Club and Beach Club, off the Stormalong Bay pool.

It’s most known for its legendary “Kitchen Sink” dessert—an ice cream sundae designed to serve four—but it also serves burgers, sandwiches, and a variety of alcoholic ice cream floats. In the past, it didn’t take reservations but now does, mostly because it has very limited seating. Here, again, is Disney Food Blog.

disney yacht club resort review

Bars at Yacht Club

Besides Hurricane Hanna’s which is a combo bar-quick service stop, there are two bars at Yacht Club.

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Ale & Compass Lounge is the lobby bar at Yacht Club, neighboring the Ale & Compass restaurant. It’s in keeping with the modern aesthetic of the Yacht Club rooms—with dark wood and deep blues. Ale & Compass Lounge is a fantastic spot for a cocktail, but it can get crowded due to its proximity to the lobby.

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Crew’s Cup Lounge is the bar attached to the Yachtsman Steakhouse It’s actually easy to miss if you’re not eating at Yachtsman, as the sole hall-facing door is a bit hidden. Crew’s Cup really captures the former aesthetic of Yacht Club.

The wood is something like oak / walnut—dark but lighter than Ale & Compass Lounge. It’s maybe better for wines than Ale & Compass due to sharing a selection with Yachtsman.

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If you’re looking for bars, you have more options just outside the hotel. The Boardwalk is perfect for a bar crawl , and gems like AbracadaBar and the dueling piano bar, Jellyrolls, are a good reason to step outside your resort if you’re looking for a drink.

Shopping at Yacht Club

We previously mentioned The Market at Ale & Compass in the context of its limited quick service options, but it’s also the store at Yacht Club. As with all Disney’s hotel stores, it offers basic travel essentials as well as a limited selection of hotel-branded items. More recently, the hotel line has been sadly limited. As it’s a deluxe resort, you’ll also find some higher end options, like items from Vineyard Vines.

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Disney’s Yacht Club Resort — Conclusions

Overall rating — 3/5.

I’m really torn on Yacht Club. Really, really torn. If I’d never actually stayed at the resort, it would easily be one of my favorites at Walt Disney World. I’ve been a fan of the rooms since they debuted. I love the location with walking access to two parks and the beautiful Boardwalk. I’m even willing to overlook the mediocre quick service options because access to the Boardwalk and two parks more than makes up for it.

It has two of my favorite bars—Ale & Compass Lounge and Crew’s Cup. And it has a fantastic pool, Stormalong Bay. It seems like to find anything wrong with Yacht Club you have to, well, stay there.

Our last two visits just have not gone well. The noise issues detailed in this post are a big part of the problem. I’ve also felt the crowds are a bit heavier than other deluxe resorts. All three nights of this recent stay I found Ale & Compass Lounge at full capacity when I walked by.

I should admit here that I’m also perpetually unsatisfied with the club lounge here ( separate review ). Since that’s part of the reason for the high price we pay, it’s only fair to say maybe I’d evaluate these issues differently at, say $600 per night than I do at $950 per night. Then again, isn’t $600 per night really enough to complain about whatever bothers you?

Let’s circle back to my own feelings once we cover some objective points. Families with younger kids or who will be focusing on Magic Kingdom aren’t getting much out of this location. It may make sense to pay more for a monorail resort or less for a place like Gran Destino Tower or Port Orleans French Quarter , since you’ll be taking the bus to Magic Kingdom either way.

If you like the convenience of this location for getting to Epcot and Hollywood Studios but you don’t like the price, consider Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, and Art of Animation. These three resorts are less expensive than Yacht Club but have Skyliner access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

If you’ve settled on this location, the choice comes down to Yacht Club vs. Beach Club vs. Boardwalk . That link covers that debate in more depth (Sidenote: Marriott operated Swan & Dolphin are also in this area, and are worth considering, but we’re pushing them aside for a moment as they aren’t Disney-operated hotels.) The short of it is that while some days I still like Yacht Club’s rooms the most, the new rooms at BoardWalk are beautiful enough to—along with a tiny location advantage—make that hotel my preference in the area.

So, how to wrap up this…experience…of a review? For me, it comes with “take my review with a grain of salt.” Disney manages Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk. If I fault management for the issues of my stay at Yacht Club, it’s hard to instead recommend Beach Club or Boardwalk. (In fact, I’ve had more bizarre noise issues— not kids screaming etc.—at Disney resorts than all the other resorts I’ve stayed at in my life.)

But the fact is that with new rooms now available at Beach Club and Boardwalk, there’s no longer a good reason to give an advantage to Yacht Club. Objectively, those hotels have at least caught up to Yacht Club when it comes to room quality. Subjectively, I won’t be rushing back to Yacht Club. Maybe I’m just salty, but I can’t get over the small headaches my recent visits have come with.

All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered

Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.

Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars . For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.

When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets . Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans ! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations !

Don't forget to master your Disney World Lightning Lane Guide and Strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy , Epcot Lightning Lane Strategy , Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy , and Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Strategy .

Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides , Hollywood Studios rides , Epcot rides , and Animal Kingdom rides ! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon ! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World .

Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip . And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish .

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Review

disney yacht club resort review

Yacht Club Resort is a luxury hotel at Walt Disney World within walking and boat distance of EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. This Deluxe Resort review features reimagined room photos, and info about pools, restaurant, transportation, on-site benefits & amenities. Plus, pros & cons of these accommodations. ( Updated September 15, 2024 .)

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is themed to a New England yachting club. It’s an elegant and refined hotel contrasting with its more airy and lighthearted sister resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort. The relationship between Yacht and Beach Club Resorts is an interesting one. They share facilities and are located next to one another, and are basically one giant resort complex.

However, despite their numerous similarities and shared features, Yacht & Beach Club are technically separate hotels. On the outside, the main noticeable differences for most guests will simply be color choices: Beach Club is light blue and Yacht Club is grey. It’s also abundantly clear when stepping into each lobby.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort feels stately. With deep, masculine woods, dark colors, leather furniture, and an antique-looking globe, it reminds you of someplace that you’d imagine senators and titans of industry might have puffed on cigars and made power plays in the early 1900s.

By contrast, Beach Club is geared towards party-people who shout “I’M ON A BOAT!” from the bow of a ship . Okay, maybe not to those extremes, but the idea is that Yacht Club feels a bit more stuffy and refined in terms of theming, whereas Beach Club feels more relaxed and lighthearted.

disney yacht club resort review

Most people informally lump them together as one resort: Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club and overlook the thematic differences. We think this is a mistake. As we discuss in our Yacht Club vs. Beach Club comparison, the differences in atmosphere are fairly pronounced, and this is likely driven in part by Yacht Club being one of Walt Disney World’s main convention hotels.

If you’re debating other options in the Crescent Lake area–or beyond–we’d recommend first reading our  Rankings of ALL Walt Disney World Hotels from Worst to Best . Yacht Club actually is the lowest-ranking Crescent Lake on that list, but it still performs fairly well. Moreover, Yacht Club is a very taste-specific hotel, as explained here.

If Yacht Club does “click” for you, there’s a very good possibility it’ll be your personal favorite of the Crescent Lake area resorts. So don’t take that list as the gospel. Read the explanation and check out the photos here to understand whether this might be a good or great fit for your family!

Let’s check out what the guest rooms offer…

disney yacht club resort review

These new rooms have been really divisive with Walt Disney World fans. Unpopular opinion, but we are big fans of the new look. Many fans have complained that they look drab and boring, but these are pretty consistent with the common areas of Yacht Club and there are a ton of subtle details and thematic touches.

We can understand why some people don’t like the new rooms given the colors now versus the patriotic color explosion of the old rooms (the old style was more cheery and lighthearted, but also off kilter with the resort’s otherwise stately appearance). The new Yacht Club rooms use of navy blue and beige contrasted against white, is really sharp in the context.

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Beyond that, there’s an extensive use of dark woods, which really give the room an air of sophistication. It reminded me of the interior of a Brooks Brothers, oddly enough.

There’s also a variety of textures, the extent of which might be tough to ascertain from the photos. Our New Yacht Club Rooms Photo Tour shares more thoughts and images of the new rooms (including a different room style with a couch).

disney yacht club resort review

Much like BoardWalk Inn, Yacht Club is also great for the dashes of Disney presented in a restrained manner. The only Disney characters in the entire room appear in star constellations hidden on the curtain.

There are numerous other thematic flourishes reinforcing the nautical style, but many people want something overtly Disney in their hotel room. If that’s what you’re looking for, Yacht Club is not the resort for you.

disney yacht club resort review

The restrooms are divided, with double sinks outside of the shower and toilet area. Pretty standard–no complaints or praise here.

In terms of amenities, there is a nice benefit in their proximity of the Crescent Lake resorts to one another: better and more amenities as a result of sharing.

disney yacht club resort review

Between the Yacht Club and Beach Club, there are some seriously excellent dining options, including Beaches & Cream , Cape May Cafe , and Yachtsman Steakhouse , putting them, collectively, right up there with the best of the Deluxes in terms of quality restaurants.

We’ve also slowly become big fans of Ale & Compass Restaurant, which is a newer addition to Yacht Club. This is home to the Best Value Breakfast at Walt Disney World , and we highly recommend it.

disney yacht club resort review

Add to that the nearby Swan & Dolphin Resorts and Disney’s Boardwalk Inn , none of which technically share amenities but are so close that they might as well, and you have more high-quality restaurants within walking distance when staying at any of these resorts than at any other Walt Disney World hotel.

If dining is going to be a highlight of a trip, staying at one of the Crescent Lake resorts is the best option as there are numerous excellent dining options all within walking distance. This is especially true during Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival, when you can graze and drink in World Showcase and then stumble back to your hotel!

disney yacht club resort review

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort has a ton of amenities, but it’s biggest selling point is Stormalong Bay. This is the crème de la crème of Walt Disney World pools. For those unfamiliar with Stormalong Bay, it is a sprawling 3 acre pool complex with sand at the bottom. That’s right, it’s a hotel pool with sand at the bottom!

Not only that, but it also has a lazy river, an excellent ‘shipwrecked’ water slide, tons of places for lounging, and an excellent poolside bar. While many Walt Disney World resort hotels now no longer allow “pool hopping,” this was the first that introduced the concept, and the pool that most vigorously enforces the no-hopping rule.

The excellence of this pool really cannot be understated. It’s basically a mini water park. (For everything you need to know about Stormalong Bay and its policies, see our Guide to Pools at Walt Disney World: Rules, Info & FAQ .)

disney yacht club resort review

The close proximity to both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (we consider both walking distance, but most guests opt to take a boat to Disney’s Hollywood Studios instead of the 15 minute walking path–even if the path is usually faster) is another huge benefit. Boat service is also available to both parks, and it’s a certifiable fact that boat transportation at Walt Disney World is awesome.

Additionally, there’s now a Skyliner station at Epcot’s International Gateway, which means guests staying at Yacht Club can walk there and take the gondolas to Hollywood Studios, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Art of Animation, and Riviera Resorts. That can be useful in opening up other dining options. (Plus, the Skyliner is just plain fun.)

The Skyliner makes for easy midday breaks when you’re doing Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and is extremely advantageous for Early Entry. Knocking out Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash before the park even opens to day guests is huge. The benefits of the Skyliner cannot be overstated–we prefer it to the monorail.

With that said, the Skyliner is much more valuable for Art of Animation, Pop Century, and Riviera Resorts than any of the Crescent Lake ones. That’s because it’s seldom faster to take the Skyliner than it is to simply walk to DHS. Sure, the Skyliner is more fun and easier (and won’t tire out your feet), but walking is the most efficient–and predictable–option.

disney yacht club resort review

On the other hand, bus transportation is decidedly un-fun. Getting to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom via bus can be a hassle. There’s always some sort of shared bus service operating, but exactly how many buses share the service depends upon the season.

When you consider the prices guests are paying to stay at a Walt Disney World resort hotel with “Deluxe” accommodations, it’s ridiculous that the buses make stops at multiple resorts. On the plus side, at least there’s one centralized stop.

It’s frustrating that Pop Century, a budget hotel, has dedicated and efficient bus service but it can take an hour to get to Magic Kingdom via buses from the pricey Epcot-area resorts. (Although makes us happy when we pay the comparative bargain price to stay at Pop Century!)

disney yacht club resort review

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort offers other amenities, including a health club, volleyball court, arcade, marina, business center, babysitting, tennis courts, and other recreational facilities, but none of these measure up to Stormalong Bay. This pool complex is the ultimate trump card that makes Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts stand out from the other Deluxes.

All of this comes at a cost, as regular rack rates at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort start at around $500 per night and go up from there depending upon the season and room category. This puts it among Walt Disney World’s most expensive hotels, but still not as expensive as the Magic Kingdom area hotels.

While we love the Yacht Club, we would not stay here without a 30% off room-only Walt Disney World resort discount or the Free Disney Dining Plan promotion . Thankfully, you can find bargains here thanks to discounts–so long as conventions aren’t being hosted at Yacht Club.

disney yacht club resort review

As with all on-site hotels, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort offers the standard perks of a Disney-owned hotel, such free transportation around Walt Disney World , Early Entry , and the extended Advance Dining Reservation window. Yacht Club guests can also purchase the Disney Dining Plan , but whether that’s a real perk is debatable. On-site guests are also able to purchase discount MagicBands pre-arrival. Whether these last two things are actual perks is debatable.

One really-for-real on-site advantage is early access to Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, which replaced the Genie+ system in mid-2024. We’re not going to get into the nuts and bolts of it here–see our  Guide to Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Walt Disney World   for that–but the bottom line is that on-site guests have a significant head-start on making Lightning Lane ride reservations. It’s pretty much the only way to score the most popular picks, such as Slinky Dog Dash, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

None of that’s unique–guests of all Disney-owned hotels (and a few third party ones!) also offer this. So there’s really no reason to opt for a more expensive Deluxe Resort over a Value or Moderate for the sake of perks. To that point, the one  big  perk offered to Deluxe and DVC resorts is  Extended Evening Hours , which typically occur on Mondays and Wednesdays at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. We love Extended Evening Hours–it’s arguably the best on-site perk of all, and Yacht Club guests are eligible for this!

disney yacht club resort review

Overall, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is a solid option for a Deluxe Resort stay at Walt Disney World. The pool is great, the restaurants are solid, and location is great for visiting Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Yacht Club is especially appealing if you’re a New Englander from Nantucket who wears an ascot aboard your vessels.

Joking aside, Yacht Club’s theme is a bit more taste-specific and adult. Those considering Yacht Club are probably also considering Beach Club. For us, the overall ambiance and laid back vibe of Beach Club screams “vacation” in a way that Yacht Club just doesn’t, and this ambiance appeals to us. Still, both resorts are great options–two of our favorites at Walt Disney World–and whether you should choose Beach Club or Yacht Club if considering the two should really only be a question of whether you prefer the elegant nautical look or the relaxed beach look.

Not sure which Walt Disney World hotel is right for you? Let a professional help you  for free.  Click here to get a quote from a recommended, no-fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner (Disney’s term for travel agent). They get their commission from Disney, so there is no charge to you for them to book your trip and help you plan! They’ll book your trip, help you with dining reservations and itineraries, and apply the best discounts to your reservation. Using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is the win-win option if you’re overwhelmed by the complexities of Walt Disney World and don’t want to do all of the “homework” yourself.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? If you’re interested in learning more about hotels, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page is a good place to start. For where to eat, try out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. If you want to save money on tickets or determine which type you should get, 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 unconventional things you should take on your trip. Once you arrive at the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides” are great for determining what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of these topics and so much more, the best place to start is our comprehensive Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide to make the most of your experience!

Your Thoughts

Do you agree with us that Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is one of the best Walt Disney World hotels? Do you think Stormalong Bay lives up to the hype? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

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Written by Tom Bricker

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They lost our car key. This place is a disaster if incompetence. They don’t care about anyone.

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Completely disagree on Yacht Club being at all stuffy! We usually stay at Beach Club but booked Yacht Club with our three kids, 18, 16, 9, in April and FELL IN LOVE!! The staff was excellent, rooms simple & clean, lobby beautiful and airy, convenient shop-not a snobby, stuffy vibe to be felt. Last time we stayed at BC the room (Club level) was dated, felt small and had peeling paint on the wall! We alway stay in walking distance to Epcot because of the food and later hours. Yacht Club is our new favorite. The entire experience was like a dream. Also, we did the masks in 90 degree weather and were surprisingly unbothered. Every staff member we interacted with was wonderful. And we are Northern MI folk. I can assure you, none of us own yachts or ascots

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^ wes’ comment about starving to death is 100% accurate. the resort has over complicated everything “because of covid.” you can’t just walk in anywhere, the staff is rude and condescending. we are staying in a villa paying out the ass and they won’t even change our sheets? hello? how do the other hotels manage? don’t get me started on the self righteous mask police here. if you are outside alone not surrounded by anyone for WAY over 6 ft you MUST wear a mask, in the 90% humidity and 90 degree weather. but as soon as you step foot in the pool no masks required. covid knows when and when not to be contagious. also you can sit INSIDE surrounded by people without a mask. but not outside guys. such a joke. the staff here all give you different answers as well. would never stay here, would rather stay at a motel 6. we are speechless at how rudely everyone has treated us.

forgot to mention last night we called the front desk for water. we waited an hour and called to follow up on the water and were told they only have two bottles and we would have to come get them ourselves. for a 20k villa we expected much more, this is below what i would expect from a hole in the wall hotel.

on a positive note the best thing about this resort is the ferry transportation to and from the parks, the location and the actual room is great. that’s literally all i can come up with it. really bad customer service.

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I have lost 10 pounds since we’ve been here. You will starve to death. I am considering flying home two days early. About 65% of the staff have been great, but the others act like they are miserable. This is the furthest thing from hospitality you could imagine. I have been to jail before and it wasn’t this bad. If you want to lose weight quick and want to feel like a second-class citizen, stay here.

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Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Review (Is it worth it?)

Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is one of the most beautiful and convenient hotels in all of Walt Disney World. With its classy design, enormous pool, and prime location, it’s easy to see why the Yacht Club at Disney World is such a highly sought after place to stay.

My family and I have visited numerous hotels on Disney property, but the Yacht Club always keeps us coming back for more. We love the close proximity to Disney’s Boardwalk, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios.

The multiple transportation options are a huge plus, especially for those who don’t like to solely rely on Disney buses. And of course we have to mention the Yacht Club’s pool, Stormalong Bay. This elaborate resort swimming area is arguably the best pool at the Walt Disney World Resort!

If you’re still not quite sold on the Yacht Club at Disney World or if you would like more information, continue reading below. In this post, we will cover everything you need to know about this deluxe Disney resort , including the activities, restaurants, and rooms available at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy at the bottom of this page for more details.)

Yacht Club Restaurants

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is full of all different types of restaurants. Since this hotel shares dining options with its sister resorts, you’ll find even more places to eat within a short walk of your room.

blue walls and club chairs with sign reading Ale and Compass Lounge

These are the Yacht Club restaurants you will find just a short stroll away:

  • Ale and Compass – sit-down restaurant in the Yacht Club that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner (also available to-go)
  • The Market at Ale and Compass – quick service restaurant at Yacht Club with to-go items and menu options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Yachtsman Steakhouse – fine dining restaurant at the Yacht Club that is open for dinner
  • Crew’s Cup Lounge – bar at the Yacht Club that features a small dinner menu and full bar
  • Cape May Cafe – offers a character meal breakfast buffet and sit-down dinner with no characters
  • Beach Club Marketplace – features to-go items and menu options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Beaches and Cream – available for lunch and dinner with reservations highly recommended
  • Martha’s Vineyard – offers appetizers and full bar
  • Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill – pool restaurant with full bar and lunch/dinner options

Furthermore, the Yacht Club is located just a short walk away from Disney’s Boardwalk , where you’ll find additional restaurants and bars.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is home to the most popular pool on Disney property. It’s such a hit that you’ll find cast members handing out wristbands at the entrance so that only hotel guests can enter.

pirate ship water slide

The main pool, Stormalong Bay, features a large sand bottom swimming area that’s super shallow and great for toddlers and little kids. There’s also a lazy river that’s a fan favorite in my household.

Guests can also enjoy other large swimming areas at Stormalong Bay, including an activities section where you’ll find games like pool volleyball. Stormalong Bay offers a large waterslide as well as a smaller slide that empties into a shallow pool.

empty pool and clubhouse at Yacht Club

In addition to Stormalong Bay, the Yacht Club in Disney World features a “quiet” pool that is seldom busy. This is a great spot to relax or swim laps.

Rooms 

My family and I love the nautical decor and ambience of the Yacht Club guest rooms. Additionally, we appreciate that the rooms offer full balconies. In our post on Disney’s Beach Club vs Yacht Club , you’ll read about why these balconies are a major pro for Yacht Club compared to its sister resort.

toilet room, shower, and vanity and Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s Yacht Club features standard rooms and club level rooms. If you book a room with Club Level benefits, you get access to the Regatta Club. Here, you’ll find food and beverages offered at certain times throughout the day.

2 Queen beds and day bed at Yacht Club

Guest rooms at the Yacht Club come with views of the lake, pool, garden, or hotel rooftop/parking lot. These rooms typically feature 1 king bed or 2 queens. Some of them also offer a daybed. This means that if you book a room with 2 queens plus a daybed, you can sleep a family of five!

Prices at Yacht Club

Since Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is classified as a deluxe hotel at Disney World, you’ll notice that the prices are higher than at some of the other hotels. This is because the Yacht Club offers deluxe room space, extra amenities, and a prime location.

We will explain all the significance of all of these perks in more detail below, but it’s important to note that Disney’s Yacht Club truly offers a deluxe experience. The updated guest rooms feature plenty of space, including private balconies. Plus, the hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of other Disney hotels, restaurants, theme parks, and more. 

Disney's Yacht Club Resort

If you would really like to experience the location, amenities, and entertainment at the Yacht Club without the hefty price tag, we suggest booking a room at the sister hotel through David’s Vacation Club Rentals. You will be blown away by the cost savings on David’s DVC rental site! We usually save hundreds of dollars per night by using this method to book a room at a deluxe resort.

Just use the cost calculator to see exactly how much a room costs at Yacht Club’s sister resort, Disney’s Beach Club Villas. These villas are located just a short walk away from the Yacht Club hotel, and they both share restaurants, pools, and activities. While you can reserve one of the villas on the official Disney website, we prefer to book through David’s DVC rental website . We have used this reputable company for years to rent timeshare points at Disney villas.

Things to Do at Disney’s Yacht Club 

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort sits on the same property as two sister resorts: Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Villas. These three hotels share restaurants, activities, amenities, and entertainment options with each other.

sand bottom pool with Disney's Yacht Club in background

One of my family’s favorite things about the Yacht Club is that you don’t need to leave the property to have fun. So, if you’re looking for activities at Disney outside of the theme parks, the Yacht Club offers lots of great options. These are our favorite things to do at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort when enjoying a relaxing day at Disney:

See Epcot Fireworks

We recommend walking to the bridge that connects the Disney Boardwalk to the Yacht and Beach Club Resort to enjoy the nightly Epcot fireworks show. You can even grab some ice cream to enjoy during the presentation.

Take a Ride on the Skyliner

Since the Disney Skyliner sits just outside of Epcot’s International Gateway entrance, you can easily access it from the Yacht Club Resort. Just take the short (less than ten minutes) walk toward Epcot and hop on the Skyliner for free!

Book a fishing excursion on Crescent Lake for a truly unique experience while staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.

Eat Ice Cream

Disney’s Yacht Club is home to one of our favorite WDW restaurants, Beaches and Cream . While reservations can be difficult to snag at this popular dining spot, you can access the walk-up window to order shakes and ice cream to-go.

Dine with Characters

Check out Cape May Cafe during breakfast/brunch when it becomes Minnie’s Beach Bash. Guests can meet Goofy, Minnie, and Donald while they dine at the breakfast buffet.

Float along the Lazy River

The Beach Club’s main pool, Stormalong Bay, offers many fun features. One of our favorite things to do at the pool is to grab (free) tubes to float along the lazy river.

Play Games in the Arcade

Lafferty Place Arcade offers lots of fun games for kids and adults to enjoy. This is a particularly great place to spend time at Disney World when it’s raining.

Ride the Friendship Boats

The Disney water taxi picks up visitors near the Yacht Club. You can ride this free boat to the Disney Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin Resorts, Epcot entrance, and Hollywood Studios entrance.

Build Sandcastles

Did you know that Stormalong Bay features a shallow, sand bottom pool and beach area? Kids love digging in the sand and splashing around in this section of the pool.

Make S’mores

Visit the nightly campfire to roast marshmallows during your visit. You can even purchase S’mores Kits for a few dollars.

Rent a Boat

Spend time on Crescent Lake on your own private pontoon boat. Guests can rent boats from the marina near the Yacht Club.

Disney’s Yacht Club offers a large fitness center for guests to use during their stay. Ship Shape Health Club is even open 24 hours a day, so you can squeeze in a workout at any time.

Stroll along the Disney Boardwalk

The Disney Boardwalk is full of amazing activities and entertainment options and is just a short walk away from the Yacht Club. 

Play Volleyball

As you walk along the boardwalk in front of the Beach Club, you’ll notice a sand volleyball court. This is a great spot to pick up a game with friends or family. You can also often join a game of volleyball at Stormalong Bay Pool.

Enjoy an Evening Movie

Each evening, Disney Yacht Club guests can watch a movie under the stars. These family friendly movies are a great way to unwind after a long day.

Play Mini Golf

Stroll over to Fantasia Gardens and Miniature Golf Course where you’ll find two 18-hole courses. This fun spot is located near the Dolphin and Swan Resorts.

Swim Some Laps

If you’re looking for a quieter poolside experience to swim laps or relax, check out the leisure pool at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. You’ll also have access to the quiet pools at Beach Club and Beach Club Villas.

If you’re not into running or jogging on vacation, you can spend time strolling along the jogging paths at the Yacht Club. You’ll find lots of great spots to take pictures and may even catch some surprises along the way.

Join a Kid Friendly Party at the Pool

Each afternoon, Stormalong Bay hosts fun poolside activities like hula hoop competitions and limbo. 

Play Tennis

Guests can find tennis courts near the Yacht Club’s quiet pool. 

Zoom Down Waterslides

Stormalong Bay features two separate water slides for guests to enjoy. The main waterslide stretches from the pirate ship and across the Beach Club boardwalk to the main pool.

You’ll also find a smaller slide that’s perfect for toddlers and small kids at the entrance to the main water slide.

Book a Fireworks Cruise

Take in the sights and sounds of the Epcot fireworks show from your pontoon boat on Crescent Lake.

Transportation

As mentioned above, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort sits in a prime location in the center of all the magic at WDW. If you’re planning to visit one of the theme parks, you’ll be happy to know that several of them are just a super short walk or ride away.

hotel lobby with seating areas

These are our preferred ways to get from Disney’s Yacht Club to other places in Walt Disney World:

  • To Magic Kingdom – You can access the Disney buses in front of the hotel. The ride to Magic Kingdom should take 15-20 minutes. 
  • To Epcot – Exit the back of Yacht Club (toward Crescent Lake) and turn left. Epcot sits just under a ten minute walk away!
  • To Hollywood Studios – You have several options for getting to Hollywood Studios. We find the quickest option *usually* is walking. Hollywood Studios sits just a 15 minute walk away from the Yacht Club. You can also ride a Friendship Boat to Hollywood Studios. However, by the time you wait on the boat to make stops, this method can take longer than walking. You could also walk toward Epcot to catch the Disney Skyliner. With this method, you should be able to reach Hollywood Studios in around 25 minutes.
  • To Animal Kingdom – You can hop on one of the Disney buses to get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. This is roughly a ten-minute ride.
  • To Disney’s Boardwalk – You can make the five-minute walk around Crescent Lake to easily reach the Disney Boardwalk. Guests can also take the Friendship Boat from the Yacht Club lighthouse and ride across the lake to the Boardwalk.
  • To Disney Springs – You can take a bus to Disney Springs, which typically takes 15-20 minutes.

Is Disney’s Yacht Club Worth It?

Since Disney’s Yacht Club may be my personal favorite resort in all of WDW , I would definitely say it’s worth the cost! I love the classy guest rooms and bathrooms with their nautical decor.

The lobby seems to be quieter and calmer than that at other resorts, and the cast members are super friendly and helpful. My family and I enjoy the food at all the restaurants on site, and we appreciate the ability to easily walk from the Yacht Club to the Beach Club’s dining options.

pin for Disney's Yacht Club Resort

The close proximity to Epcot makes the Yacht Club an ideal place to stay since there’s no rush to get to the park in the morning or back “home” at the end of a long day. Plus, you enter and exit through the International Gateway entrance to Epcot (near World Showcase), so the lines to enter are basically nonexistent.

Additionally, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is just a short walk, boat ride, or Skyliner ride away. And if you feel like venturing out, you can take the scenic stroll around Crescent Lake to the Disney Boardwalk.

David's Vacation Club Rentals banner

Overall, we highly recommend the beautiful Yacht Club Resort! For additional information on Disney resorts, join the conversation on our Facebook page: Mom’s Guide to Disney Resorts ! Do you have a review of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort? Comment below to share your thoughts with us!

Shari is an experienced planner and organizer for Disney vacations, cruising, and U.S. travel. Her family vacation information, reviews, and tips provide insight for moms and dads everywhere. You can read more about her story, including her journey through breast cancer, in the about me page.

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Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Review (Why We Love This Nautical-Themed Hotel)

Often, I forget how much I enjoy a resort until we get to stay there again. However, Disney’s Yacht Club is not one of them. I’ll never forget the first time I stepped ashore at the Yacht Club’s dock in the misting rain on a cold December evening. It was nearly dark, and it was probably the worst time to visit a resort for the first time.

But I had heard many nice things about the Yacht and Beach Club. So, I was determined to visit during this vacation. “This is where we’re staying next time,” those words rang through me. That’s when it all started: my love for the resorts at Walt Disney World .

We felt warm and welcome upon entering the lobby and seeing the massive globe and holiday decor. Eventually, we figured out how to navigate our way to the Beach Club. Both resorts are charming in their unique ways. The Yacht Club is the more formal, masculine side of the resort, while the Beach Club is soft and casual.

Anyone with a love for sailing or all things nautical will find themselves at home at Disney’s Yacht Club. Between its prime location and a long list of amenities, the resort is hard to top. As we continue this review of Disney’s Yacht Club, we’ll share our latest stay at the resort. Additionally, I’ll include a few pros and cons to consider when planning a stay. Let me unravel the knot for you.

Disney's Yacht Club sitting on the shores of Crescent Lake

Over the years, I’ve overheard many describe the New England-style Yacht Club as stuffy. I find it anything but that. Since our initial visit, it’s become a place I call home. Disney’s Yacht Club indeed has a more formal feeling than its sister resort, Disney’s Beach Club. However, I find the resort to be stylish while remaining casual. Of course, the Beach Club offers a more beachy vibe with a softer color palette. Those considering both resorts will likely want to read that review as well.

Related: Disney’s Beach Club Review

Before we go any further, there is one other essential item you might like to consider. Disney’s Yacht Club is a dog-friendly resort. That means there are designated rooms or floors where you can bring a dog.

Disney’s Yacht Club underwent a complete refurbishment several years ago, updating nearly every portion of the resort. However, it’s been a while since the rooms were completed, so we expect to see a room renovation sooner rather than later. The resort’s exterior boasts a pretty grey siding with white trim. Its subtle colors make for a lovely backdrop against the luscious green grass and landscaping.

disney yacht gazebo with crisp green grass and red paver walkway

If you’ve been following our recent coverage of the resort, you know we planned a stay at Disney’s Yacht Club for a variety of reasons. But first and foremost, it was time for several updates on the site regarding the resort. We also planned to attend After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We have a separate review of that experience if you want to learn more: Hollywood Studios Disney After Hours Review .

For reference, Disney’s Yacht Club is part of the Epcot Resorts Area , so the resort is directly between Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Therefore, you can walk from the resort to both theme parks. This location will be hard to beat compared to other alternatives. Furthermore, staying here made it convenient for us to switch between our planned priorities.

Not only is walking to two parks a considerable benefit, but the hotel resides on beautiful Crescent Lake . So it’s one of the most pleasant places to take a leisurely stroll at Walt Disney World.

a stream that leads to the lake at Disney's Yacht Club with the lighthouse in the distance

If you plan to spend a decent amount of time at Epcot or Hollywood Studios, I strongly suggest considering any resorts within walking distance of the parks . Other resorts in this area include:

  • Disney’s Beach Club Resort
  • Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
  • Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort

Another reason I love this area is that it provides teens with a great place to roam without worrying too much. When my son turned 14 (the age at which you can enter a park without an adult), he loved that I gave him some freedom to walk over to the nearby parks. Additionally, Epcot has multiple festivals throughout the year. If you plan a vacation primarily to visit any of the festivals, Disney’s Yacht Club is an excellent hotel option.

Disney's Yacht Club with crystal clear blue skies in the background

Disney’s Yacht Club has a classic interior with elements like sailboats, knots, and leather mixed with pretty shades of blue and gold. Modern furnishings were added to the lobby during its latest refurbishment.

Disney Yacht Club lobby with large blue rugs and saddle leather chairs and nautical details

You might even catch a glimpse of a giant hidden Mickey in the central rug. It’s the largest one I’ve encountered.

a giant hidden Mickey in the carpet of Disney's Yacht Club

A massive globe, the lobby’s centerpiece, sits prominently on display.

the giant globe that sits in the center of the Disney Yacht Club Lobby

On this visit, we were in room 2126, which was only a short walk down the second-floor hallway. We enjoyed walking out of our room and down the stairs to the lobby so quickly.

Disney Yacht Club lobby staircase with landing

If you want to enjoy a more private space, there’s a small sitting area at the top of the stairs.

an upper level lobby with private sitting areas and a compass in the carpet at Disney's Yacht Club

You might also notice the carpet is on point. No pun intended. It features a compass pattern.

decorative display cases in the lobby of Disney's Yacht Club

Disney’s Yacht Club is slightly different from the other deluxe resorts regarding accommodations. It’s the only upscale resort without a separate Disney Vacation Club. However, next door, Disney’s Beach Club is home to the Beach Club Villas, a Disney World Villa Resort . All of the villa resorts are Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Resorts.

Related: Disney’s Beach Club Villas Review

Most of Disney’s Yacht Club rooms sleep up to five guests. However, club-level rooms usually sleep four guests. If you’re curious about club level, we have an entire article covering the experience.

Related: Club Level at Disney’s Beach Club

Here are the following room view categories at Disney’s Yacht Club:

  • Standard View (Roof or Parking Lot View)
  • Garden or Woods View (View of Gardens)
  • Water View (View of Crescent Lake or Stormalong Bay)

Additionally, the Yacht Club has several two-bedroom suites for those needing a larger space. Those suites sleep up to six guests.

We booked a standard guest room with a garden or woods view for this stay. Our room had two queen-size beds and a futon-style sleeper.

room at Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Some rooms have king-size beds with a daybed. However, those rooms are usually considered an upgrade. Rooms at Disney’s Yacht Club have solid surface flooring that resembles hardwood. Here is the fold-down sofa that converts to a fifth sleeper.

fifth sleeper futon style couch in the room at Disney's Yacht Club

Our guest bath was split with a separate vanity area from the water closet. There were two sinks, and our bath had a tub with a shower combination.

guest bathroom layout in room at Disney's Yacht Club

While our view was private, there wasn’t anything outstanding about it.

a garden view room at Disney's Yacht Club with balcony

We’ve stayed in a water-view room at Disney’s Yacht Club in the past. This is my all-time favorite room view at Walt Disney World, and I’ve stayed at many resorts.

water view room at Disney's Yacht Club

I enjoyed this view so much that I woke up every morning and sat on the balcony. During the day, we would visit the parks for a bit before coming back for a break. My first thought upon entering the room was to head out to the balcony. We would get ready for dinner in the evenings and enjoy a drink on the balcony before leaving. Then, when we returned to the room after dark, we would enjoy the view of the fireworks from Epcot.

I could have sat there all day and indulged in the comings and goings below.

Overall, the guest rooms at Disney’s Yacht Club are relatively simple and modern. The beds are platform-style, which allows room to store luggage underneath. One of the items that I liked the most was the curtains, which feature Disney-inspired constellations.

curtains that are dark navy blue with golden constellations and Disney characters

In addition, our room had a built-in closet across from the bath area with a safe, coffee maker, and mini-refrigerator. We have a separate article that features a video tour of the room and photos of all the details.

Related: Room Tour of a Standard Guest Room at Disney’s Yacht Club

an alternate view of our room at Disney's Yacht Club

There are plenty of dining options at Disney’s Yacht Club and within the nearby area. However, all of the resorts in the area lack counter-service options.

The Market at Ale and Compass is the primary counter-service dining option at Disney’s Yacht Club. Unfortunately, most of the items are pre-made, which is not a good look for a high-end hotel.

Related: The Market at Ale and Compass

entrance to the Market at Ale and Compass with signage

During our stay, I stopped for a few updated photos, but not much has changed since our last visit.

a long table with various snack offering at Ale and Compass Market

Plenty of chips, candies, and allergy-friendly alternative snacks were available.

disney yacht club resort review

Here is the refrigerated case with various bottled waters, beverages, soda, juice, and pre-packaged meals.

disney yacht club resort review

There’s a case with several novelty ice cream treats toward the back. To the left of the case, there’s a microwave for anyone to use.

a microwave and in cream case at Disney's Yacht Club

Disney Rapid Fill Mugs are available for purchase at The Market. They are good for the entire length of your stay at any resort refillable beverage station.

Related: Rapid Fill Mugs at Yacht and Beach Club

rapid fill mugs in orange and green accent colors

Additionally, The Market at Ale and Compass has a decent coffee bar. Here are a few of the available items.

refillable beverage stations at Disney Yacht Club

You can preview the full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu here on Disney’s site. Below is a photo of the dining area inside the counter service.

tables and chairs in the Yacht Club's quick service

Ale and Compass Lounge is located off the resort lobby. It offers a small appetizer menu and a fairly unique selection of cocktails. We often enjoy stopping in for an order of Parker House rolls.

Related: Ale and Compass Lounge Review

Parker House rolls with three spread from Ale and Compass

Ale and Compass is one of our favorite restaurants at Disney’s Resorts. This location serves one of the best breakfasts at Disney, as well as lunch and dinner. Plus, they have a to-go menu on the mobile-order portion of the My Disney Experience app.

We had breakfast one morning during this stay, and I had the Salted Caramel Apple French Toast. It was divine. But as you already know, my favorite item here is the chocolate waffle.

Related: Ale and Compass Breakfast Review

a platter with French Toast stuffed with caramel apples and bacon

We’ve had everything from the Vermont Cheddar Burger to the Fish with Fries for lunch and dinner.

Related: Ale and Compass Lunch and Dinner Review

fish and chips at Ale and Compass at Disney's Yacht Club

Crew’s Cup Lounge is located down a hall off the Yacht Clubs’ lobby. This location serves as the lounge for Yachtsman Steakhouse. Don’t skip out on this location, thinking it’s just “another lounge” because it’s not. Crew’s Cup doesn’t require reservations and has a full menu with food and beverage options. On this visit, we stopped in to try the charcuterie board. It was delicious and more than enough for two people to share.

Related: Crew’s Cup Lounge at Disney’s Yacht Club

a charcuterie platter with various meats and dried apricots

Yachtsman Steakhouse is the signature dining location at Disney’s Yacht Club. We’ve had the opportunity to dine here several times in the past. Yachtsman specializes in serving prime cuts of beef. On your way to the table, you will pass a butcher-style display of said meats.

However, the best part about dining at Yachtsman Steakhouse is the onion rolls. They are delicious, and the server will bring roasted garlic to the table for you to enjoy with them.

Related: Yachtsman Steakhouse Review

the hallway with wooden floors and accents in front of the entrance of Yachtsman Steakhouse

Lastly, we have Hurricane Hanna’s, a walk-up waterside bar and grill that serves Stormalong Bay, the pool area. This counter-service location offers burgers, chicken nuggets, sandwiches, and similar items.

Related: Hurricane Hanna’s Review

the entrance of Hurricane Hanna's with a sign over it that read Waterside Bar and Grill

Additionally, you might enjoy a meal at one of these restaurants located on the Beach Club side of the resort:

  • Beaches and Cream Soda Shop
  • Beach Club Marketplace
  • Cape May Cafe (Character Breakfast)
  • Cape May Cafe Seafood Buffet
  • Martha’s Vineyard

We have a complete guide that lists the options at both resorts.

Related: Restaurants at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club

disney yacht club resort review

In addition to its location, the Yacht Club has one of the best pools at Walt Disney World . Stormalong Bay is a huge feature pool that’s more of a water park than a pool. It has the following: a lazy river, a water slide, a sand bottom pool, multiple hot tubs, a kids’ pool, and much more!

Related: Everything You Need to Know for Stormalong Bay

the Stormalong Bay Pool area at Disney's Yacht Club: a pool with red and yellow flags in the background

We always plan an entire day at Stormalong Bay during our visits. For this trip, we checked into the hotel early to spend the day at the pool. Since our room was ready upon arrival, we were able to put our things away and then head directly out to the pool. However, a large bathroom behind the pool has a separate changing area for guests.

Additionally, there’s a shower with toiletries for guests. So, if you have a late flight, you could spend the day at the pool, shower, and change before heading to the airport.

guests using the lazy river at Disney's Yacht Club

There’s one other thing I wanted to mention about the pool. The Yacht Club’s water slide sits across the walkway from the pool area at the top of the shipwreck.

Sometimes, guests complain that children have to leave the pool area to enter the water slide. However, I’m sure most guests are unaware that there’s a kiddie pool inside the shipwreck. It’s a hidden surprise to those who dare to take on the Flying Jib water slide.

the kids shipwreck pool at Stormalong Bay

On a previous visit, we splurged on a cabana rental at Stormalong Bay. While the rental was pricy, it was an experience we won’t soon forget. We have a separate article that details our day.

Related: Poolside Cabana Rentals at Disney World

esserts at a cabana rental at Disney's Yacht Club

Outside the pool area, several beaches are available with chairs and swings. Below is a photo of the fire pit where marshmallows are roasted each evening. Additionally, Movies Under the Stars are usually held in this area on the beach when it’s warm.

a beach shared between Beach and Yacht Club with rows of wooden chairs

There should be several activity schedules posted around the resort.

a sign with Captain Mickey that lists the Movie Under the Stars schedule at Yacht Club

These schedules list the times for the campfire, poolside activities, crafts, and other various recreational items. Toward the bottom, it lists the nightly movie schedule. It was cooler in the evenings during our stay, so movies were being held at the Beach Club’s Solarium.

the Admiral Pool at Disney's Yacht Club

Guests looking for a more private relaxing spot at the Yacht Club will enjoy the resort’s quiet pool, the Admiral Pool.

Related: The Pools at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club

a side view of the Admiral Pool at Disney's Yacht Club

It has a whirlpool spa.

a hot tub at Disney's Yacht Club with a mobility lift and four lounge chairs

There is even a tennis court.

the tennis courts at Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Additionally, the resort’s main laundry facilities are located near the quiet pool, so if you need to do a little laundry, this is an excellent location. I usually start our laundry, then grab a bite to eat and enjoy a peaceful lunch by the pool.

Related: Laundry Facilities at Disney’s Yacht Club

Laundry at Disney's Yacht Club

Disney’s Yacht Club is home to Bayside Marina. The marina offers motorized boat rentals that you can reserve in advance.

the Bayside Marina at Disney's Yacht Club

This is also the location to meet for Epcot’s fireworks cruises.

a sign that list prices for Fireworks Cruises and Guided Bass Fishing Excursions at Disney's Yacht Club

Disney’s Yacht Club has a fitness center called Ship Shape Health Club. It sits directly behind Stormalong Bay and is shared with the Beach Club. Ship Shape is a convenient facility that offers anything needed to get a good workout while on vacation. In addition, the gym has cooling towels and a place to refill a water bottle.

Related: Fitness Centers at Disney World

Ship Shape Health Club at Yacht and Beach Club.

If you prefer to run outside, there’s no better place than the running trail around Crescent Lake. You’ll run into several trail maps around the resort during your stay.

Related: Best Jogging Trails at Disney World

Posted running trail around Crescent Lake at Disney's Yacht Club.

Lastly, Disney’s Yacht Club shares an arcade with the Beach Club. Lafferty Arcade sits next door to the Ship Shape Health Club. Here is a look inside.

Resort Arcade

As we discussed earlier, the Yacht Club’s location is one of the resort’s most significant benefits. In addition to being able to walk to two parks, the resort offers boat and bus services. The Yacht Club has a dock right outside its back door at the lighthouse. Disney’s Friendships boats provide transportation to the surrounding resorts, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios.

Related: Disney’s Friendship Boat Service

Friendship Boats at Disney's Yacht Club

If you prefer to walk, Epcot is less than 10 minutes away. For Hollywood Studios, the walk takes approximately 15-20 minutes. Walking on the way back to the resort is a great way to decompress after visiting the parks. Guests traveling to the following theme parks and destinations will want to take a bus from the Yacht Club.

  • Magic Kingdom
  • Animal Kingdom
  • Disney Springs
  • Blizzard Beach
  • Typhoon Lagoon

Yacht Club’s bus stop is outside the resort’s main entrance.

Bus Stop at the Yacht Club

Both resorts (Yacht and Beach) share bus service, so don’t be surprised if your bus stops at Beach Club before heading to your destination. Yacht Club is the first stop upon return. Guests can also walk to the International Gateway or Hollywood Studios to use the Skyliner gondola transportation. This is a great option for anyone visiting Caribbean Beach or Disney’s Riviera Resort for a meal. For more information, we have a guide with tips on the best way to get to and from the Yacht Club.

Related: Disney’s Yacht Club Transportation Guide

View of Disney's Yacht Club from the boat dock.

Resorts Gal’s Spin on Disney’s Yacht Club

Is a stay at Disney’s Yacht Club worth the price? My answer is that it’s entirely up to your budget. However, if you can reasonably afford to stay at the Yacht Club, I don’t think you’ll regret it.

We love to stay at Disney’s Yacht Club because we enjoy the classy style of the resort, the pool, and the location. It’s our vibe. That said, Disney has a ton of excellent deluxe resorts that might be more what your idea of a vacation is than mine. All of the great options can make the decision difficult.

For example, while I love the Yacht Club for its location, you might enjoy a resort like Disney’s Polynesian. It has a tropical Hawaiian feel that you might consider more relaxing. ( Disney’s Polynesian Resort Review )

Another favorite is the Animal Kingdom Lodge. While this is not my favorite resort, it ranks as our choice for the best resort at Walt Disney World due to its uniqueness. ( Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Review ) Additionally, we love to stay at Disney’s Contemporary Garden Wing . However, the Contemporary is not for everyone.

Final Thoughts

We hope this review of Disney’s Yacht Club provided an overview of whether or not the resort will work for your family. We love staying at both the Beach and Yacht Club. Even during this most recent stay, I thought about how I’ve never tired of staying here. These are also the resorts I almost always compare with other hotels.

As someone fortunate to travel often, I always eventually get a little homesick for this place I love dearly. Some of the days we’ve spent at Stormalong Bay are my best Disney memories. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.

Wrapping up this Disney’s Yacht Club review, I wanted to add a few points to remember about the resort.

  • Staying at Disney’s Yacht Club offers the opportunity to save a considerable amount of travel time between two parks. Additionally, the ease of being close to Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot only add to the convenience.
  • Since Yacht Club is a Disney Resort, resort guests are eligible for early theme park entry .
  • Resort guests of the Yacht Club will also have access to extended evening hours for deluxe resort guests .

Disney's Yacht Club

For more nearby Disney World Resort Reviews , try these articles:

  • Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Review
  • Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Review
  • Disney’s Riviera Resort Review
  • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Review
  • Disney’s Coronado Springs Review

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In the comments

What do you think of Disney’s Yacht Club Review? Have you had the chance to stay at this resort? Do you hope to stay here in the future, or do you have any reservations about the resort?

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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 visit the resorts and parks regularly and would love for you to follow along!

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view of the back entrance to the Yacht Club Resort

The Ultimate Disney Yacht Club Review + Insider Tips

February 8, 2021 //  by  Kimberly Jones //   2 Comments

Disney’s Yacht Club opened back on November 5, 1990. Its sister location is the Beach Club located right next to it. The Yacht Club is a beautifully themed resort with nautical and beach themes. We are going to tell you everything you need to know about this wonderful resort in our Ultimate Disney Yacht Club Review + Insider Tips! 

There are so many great aspects to this resort such as its location, pools, transportation options, and amenities. If you are thinking about staying at the Yacht Club, read on to find out if this resort is a good fit for you!

woman sits on the sand area at Stormalong Bay

Where Is The Yacht Club At Disney Located?

One of the best reasons to stay at Disney’s Yacht Club is the fantastic location! This resort is within walking distance to Epcot and Hollywood Studios . There are also several different transportation options to all of the parks, Disney Springs , and the water parks .

The Yacht Club is directly next to the Beach Club, and they share the pool. Now you not only have access to all of the Yacht Club’s restaurants and amenities, but you also have access to the Beach Club’s! 

The Yacht and Beach Club are right across the water from Disney’s Boardwalk Resort . It is a short walk away to enjoy everything the Boardwalk has to offer! There are some fun restaurants, bars, and shops to explore there.

The Yacht Club is also very close to the Swan and Dolphin Hotels. There is a pathway to take you right over to these hotels for some extra fun as well! 

Not only are there other resorts within walking distance of the Yacht Club, but there are also resorts that are a quick Skyliner trip away! Taking the Skyliner from Epcot’s International Gateway, you can visit Disney’s Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century , and Art of Animation! 

Disney’s Yacht Club is in a very prime location with quick access to two of the parks and multiple resorts!

view of the back entrance to the Yacht Club Resort

Checking in to The Yacht Club At Disney

Checking into the Yacht Club is extremely easy, and it doesn’t even require you to visit the front desk! The day of your reservation, you can check in to the resort from the My Disney Experience app . The app will let you know when your room is ready and what your room number will be! If you have magic bands or even your phone , you can head straight to your room and unlock the door. 

Of course, you can always go the old school route and check-in at the front desk. All the cast members at Disney’s Yacht Club are extremely friendly and accommodating! A great tip to keep in mind is you can always see if there are any upgrades available for your room. We were able to get a free upgrade from a standard view to a water view! 

The lobby is also absolutely amazing here. It has a very adventurous and nautical theme to it. You can find everything you need right in this area, such as the restaurant, lounge, bell services, and the front desk. 

Right outside the backside of the lobby, there is a boardwalk that will lead you to the boat transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

view of the lobby at Yacht Club Resort

Transportation Options From The Yacht Club

We love all of the transportation options the Yacht Club has to offer, and we’re sure you will too! As mentioned before, there are walking paths to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The Epcot walking path is very short and will get you to the International Gateway in about 5 – 10 minutes. The entrance at International Gateway is on the back side of Epcot by World Showcase . 

The walking path to Hollywood Studios is a little bit longer than the Epcot one. This one can take 20 minutes or more. However, there is boat transportation to Hollywood Studios if you don’t want to walk! You can find boat transportation right behind the lobby that will take you to Epcot or Hollywood Studios. 

If you don’t want to walk or take the boat to Hollywood Studios, you can always take the Skyliner! There is a Skyliner location right outside International Gateway that will take you first to Disney’s Riviera Resort, and then to the Skyliner central hub at Caribbean Beach Resort. From here you will get off the Skyliner and get in line for a different Skyliner track to take you to Hollywood Studios. 

So there are so many options to get to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, but what about the other parks? Disney has bus transportation from the Yacht Club to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Spring, and the water parks. 

If you plan on spending a lot of time at either Epcot or Hollywood Studios, the Yacht Club is one of the best resorts to stay at.

view of a big globe and the staircase inside the lobby of the Yacht Club Resort

Disney Yacht Club Room Review

There are several different room options at the Yacht Club. There is Standard View, Water View, Garden or Woods View, and 2 Bedroom Suites. All of the view rooms also have club level options. 

I was able to stay in a Water View room. The room was absolutely delightful! It had a nautical theme to match the rest of the resort, and it was quite spacious. The room had two queen beds and a pull out couch, so it was able to sleep up to 5 guests. We only had 4 guests in our room, but I could imagine the pull out bed might make the room feel a little more cramped.

The room had large closets with space to hang clothes, and a big sink and bathroom area with two sinks. The shower had a sliding glass door, which I prefer over a curtain. 

I really liked that this room had wood flooring compared to carpet. It added to the nautical theme very well. The room also had a balcony that looked over the back entrance of the lobby and the water. Overall, the room was very nice, and I thoroughly enjoyed its set up! 

Yacht Club rooms average in price anywhere between $400 to over $3000 per night depending on what room you stay in and what time of the year you visit. 

the room at the Yacht Club Resort

Dining Options At The Yacht Club

There are some really great and delicious dining options at the Yacht Club. This resort has two restaurants, two lounges, a quick service restaurant, a restaurant located in between the Yacht and Beach Club, and a pool bar. 

The two restaurants at the Yacht Club are Ale & Compass and Yachtsman Steakhouse. Yachtsman Steakhouse is currently temporarily unavailable, but Ale & Compass is open for breakfast and dinner. This restaurant follows the nautical theme with a relaxing atmosphere and some delicious coastal eats. 

The Ale & Compass Lounge is located adjacent to the restaurant. Here, you can order off the lounge menu and even the restaurant menu. This lounge can fill up quickly at night though, so make sure to grab a seat early if you want to eat or drink here.

The other lounge, Crew’s Cup Lounge,  is right next to Yachtsman Steakhouse and is also temporarily unavailable. We hope that the lounge and restaurant will open soon! 

The quick service location shares a spot with the Yacht Club’s gift shop. When you enter the Market at Ale & Compass, on the right is the gift shop and on the left is the quick service restaurant. They serve coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and more. This is a great place to stop for a quick bite to eat to or from the parks! 

Beaches and Cream Soda Shop is the hidden gem of the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts! This restaurant is located in between the two resorts and serves some wonderful food! They are open for lunch and dinner and they serve sandwiches and burgers. My favorite is their Grilled Cheese sandwich, its delicious! 

However, save room for the best part of this restaurant. The ice cream! They have shakes, floats, and sundaes! You can’t go wrong with whatever you choose. If you’re feeling really brave though, try the Kitchen Sink sundae. This sundae is meant for 4 or more people, and includes every topping and a whole can of whipped cream! I have attempted it twice, and I still haven’t been able to finish it. Maybe you can! 

Hurricane Hanna’s Grill is the pool bar located right next to Stormalong Bay. They have a few food items and some refreshing drinks. 

If you’ve tried everything at the Yacht Club and want something different, head over to the Beach Club! Here you can find even more restaurants and tasty eats!

Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club Resort

Yacht Club Swimming Pools

The Yacht and Beach Club have hands down the best swimming pools on Disney World property. It’s considered more of a small water park than swimming pools because it’s so large! 

Stormalong Bay is 3 acres of refreshing fun! It includes a large sand bottomed pool and a lazy river. There are waterfalls, a volleyball net in the pool, and a water slide. 

This water slide is no joke. You climb a large shipwrecked ship all the way to the top and then slide down this long and exciting slide! Stormalong Bay even has a “beach” area with sand to play with! After all that fun, go relax in one of 3 whirlpool spas.

Right by the entrance to the water slide is a small kid play area with a mini water slide. This is a great introduction to the big slide for nervous kids! 

Don’t need all the excitement of Stormalong Bay? There are also 3 leisure pools at the Yacht and Beach Club for guests to enjoy.

If you plan on staying at the Yacht Club, you must plan a resort day into your schedule! Make some time for this awesome mini water park and relax away from the parks! You won’t regret it. 

view of the Stormalong Bay and one of its hot tubs

Amenities At The Yacht Club Resort

There are so many fun amenities and things to do at Disney’s Yacht Club. When it comes to activities, there are fishing excursions, a tennis court, a sand volleyball court, jogging trails, motorized boat rentals, an arcade, and a fitness center. Just ask the front desk if you’d like to book a fishing excursion or rent a boat to go out on the water! 

The Yacht Club even has a spa! Ship Shape Massage Salon is a full service spa that can do massages, facials, hairstyling, and nails. We all need a relaxing day every once and awhile! Why not enjoy the spa on your day off from the parks?

The resort also has campfire activities, movies under the stars, and a Pirate Adventure Cruise (which is unfortunately temporarily unavailable at the moment). The Yacht Club is within walking distance of the Fantasia Gardens & Fairways Miniature Golf. Go show off your mini golf skills at this adorably themed course!

This resort really has a lot of fun things for you and your family to enjoy! You will definitely want to take a day away from the parks to enjoy this amazing resort! 

boats for rent on the dock of the Yacht Club Resort

Overall Thoughts On Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

We at Disney Trippers absolutely love Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. The whole place is incredibly peaceful and beautiful. It has the perfect mix of being family friendly and adult friendly with lots of things to do. So whether you’re traveling with a bunch of adults or your kids, everyone will enjoy it! 

Most everything is in super close distance to this resort. The only time you will have to take the bus is to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Spring, or the water parks. The other parks and some resorts are really easy to get to, making this a top notch location for a resort.

If you have a day off from the parks, make sure to enjoy all of the amenities the Yacht Club has to offer. You could spend a whole day just having fun at the resort! You definitely don’t want to miss out on this place!

the lazy river at Stormalong Bay

Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort? If so, did you enjoy it as much as we do? What do you liked to do while staying there? We want to hear your opinions on this Disney resort! 

desserts in disney bakery case

Reader Interactions

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February 23, 2021 at 3:18 pm

We stayed at the Disney Yacht Club the last time we were at DW. We loved it. The staff was outstanding. It was an adult family vacation, and due to different work schedules, some family members had to fly in at different times. The staff accommodated each one and made them feel as if they already knew them. We loved the location as we could walk to different locations. We tried the Kitchen Sink sundae, but couldn’t finish it. We sure had fun trying. We actually took one day to enjoy the resort and were not disappointed. We spent time in the swimming pool, which was amazing with the sand bottom. Lunch was an delicious lobster roll and we finished off at the steakhouse. I would certainly recommend this resort to all who are considering a trip to Disney World.

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February 23, 2021 at 9:27 pm

Thank you for sharing!!!! We LOVE this resort too!!!

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COMMENTS

  1. Review of Disney's Yacht Club Resort - Mouse Hacking

    Aug 1, 2023 · However, this also means that by ~June 2025 the rooms will be (presumably slightly) updated at the resort. The Basics of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. The Yacht Club is a deluxe level hotel at Walt Disney World in the Epcot Resorts Area. Deluxe resorts are Disney’s best hotels.

  2. Disney's Yacht Club Resort Review - Disney Tourist Blog

    Sep 15, 2024 · Yacht Club Resort is a luxury hotel at Walt Disney World within walking and boat distance of EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. This Deluxe Resort review features reimagined room photos, and info about pools, restaurant, transportation, on-site benefits & amenities. Plus, pros & cons of these accommodations. (Updated September 15, 2024.)

  3. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Review (Is it worth it?)

    Feb 7, 2024 · Book a fishing excursion on Crescent Lake for a truly unique experience while staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Eat Ice Cream. Disney’s Yacht Club is home to one of our favorite WDW restaurants, Beaches and Cream. While reservations can be difficult to snag at this popular dining spot, you can access the walk-up window to order shakes ...

  4. Disney's Yacht Club Review (By Resorts Gal)

    Related: Disney’s Beach Club Villas Review. Most of Disney’s Yacht Club rooms sleep up to five guests. However, club-level rooms usually sleep four guests. If you’re curious about club level, we have an entire article covering the experience. Related: Club Level at Disney’s Beach Club

  5. The Ultimate Disney Yacht Club Review + Insider Tips

    Feb 8, 2021 · Disney’s Yacht Club opened back on November 5, 1990. Its sister location is the Beach Club located right next to it. The Yacht Club is a beautifully themed resort with nautical and beach themes. We are going to tell you everything you need to know about this wonderful resort in our Ultimate Disney Yacht Club Review + Insider Tips!

  6. Disney's Yacht Club Resort - Tripadvisor

    Now $667 (Was $̶7̶8̶8̶) on Tripadvisor: Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Orlando. See 3,084 traveler reviews, 2,516 candid photos, and great deals for Disney's Yacht Club Resort, ranked #103 of 377 hotels in Orlando and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor.