disney yacht club resort view room

Resort View Room Tour at Disney’s Yacht Club (Is an Upgraded View Worth It?)

This article provides a tour of a resort view room at Disney’s Yacht Club. We were assigned room #4216 on the fourth floor of Disney’s Yacht Club. We’ll also discuss where and when an upgraded view is worth your consideration.

Disney’s Yacht Club is one of our favorite resorts at Walt Disney World . So, when it came time to pick a resort for a personal trip, Yacht Club was at the top of our list.

You may remember we stayed at Disney’s Yacht Club earlier this year. Therefore, I won’t write another review of the Yacht Club for this trip. But I wanted to provide a tour of our room and discuss room view categories.

You may be aware that Disney recently changed the description of their room views. Formerly, Yacht Club rooms offered the following views: standard, garden or woods, or a water view. Now, those categories (at the Yacht Club) are standard, resort, or water views.

A standard view is of a rooftop or parking area. A resort view is a view of a garden, rooftop, or parking area. Lastly, a water view is considered a view of Crescent Lake or the quiet pool.

Disney’s Yacht Club is one of the few resorts I would consider splurging on a water view. However, we went with the resort view for this trip because it was within a reasonable price range that fit our budget.

We spent the greater portion of each day at Stormalong Bay , so I didn’t necessarily miss having the water view. But I did catch myself thinking–next time, we’ll do a water view.

If we had booked this upgrade and our water view had been of the quiet pool, I would not have been happy. If and when I upgrade to a water view, I want to see Crescent Lake. To me, a view of the quiet pool versus a view of Crescent Lake isn’t comparable. So you’ll want to consider this when booking a room upgrade.

Also the same goes for a standard view. If you get a rooftop view or have a large HVAC unit sitting outside your room, it will likely put a damper on things. So make sure you consider these things when planning a trip.

However, if standard view pricing allows you to stay at the Yacht Club within your budget, the view probably won’t matter. But don’t go into the trip with expectations of waking up each morning to a stunning view–because you probably won’t have one!

Here is our room.

Standard rooms at Disney’s Yacht Club feature two queen beds with a sofa that converts to a single sleeper. This room sleeps up to five guests. We were a party of two adults and one child. So we each had a bed. This sleeper is comfortable and comparable to the single sleeper in the Incredible rooms at Disney’s Contemporary .

Here is a close-up of the futon-style bed.

When the bed is not in use, it makes for a nice sitting area. Since we used the bed, we left it converted the entire trip. Housekeeping made up the bed each day. I also wanted to mention that we had excellent service during our stay. We came home to towel creations and a well-attended room each evening.

Our room had a dresser with plenty of storage.

On top of the dresser, there was counter space, plus several outlets and USB ports.

An extra pillow and blanket were tucked away inside. If you need more, call housekeeping or leave a note. They will leave what you need in your room.

One of the things I like about the rooms at Disney’s Yacht Club is the built-in closet area.

This area provides multiple spaces to hang clothes or store items. When traveling with others, having a place to organize your personal belongings is helpful. Not only does it simplify things, it also provides the ability to get ready more efficiently.

An in-room safe, steam iron, and ironing board are available.

At the front of the foyer, a separate built-in provides shelving and a few other in-room amenities.

An individual Keurig coffee maker with accompaniments was available.

Underneath, a door opens to provide a beverage cooler. A separate drawer above the fridge provides extra storage space. It had a few paper cups and lids for coffee cups.

However, it’s disappointing that Disney has not replaced paper products in the rooms with glassware. I don’t know how you feel, but paper products are cheap. They are also not environmentally friendly.

Here is a look at the layout of the guest bathroom.

Rooms have a single vanity with two sinks and plenty of toiletries.

A ledge is available underneath the mirror, which allows plenty of space to store personal items. Additionally, a make-up mirror, hairdryer, and a plethora of towels were available.

Our room had a stand-alone (walk-in) shower.

It had a primary showerhead and a detachable one.

Disney’s Yacht Club offers individual toiletries, including body wash, bar soap, facial soap, shampoo, and conditioner.

We had a desk with a chair in the far corner of our room. A roll-out table is tucked underneath the desk. It can be moved anywhere in the room.

Curtains at Disney’s Yacht Club are designed to look like constellations. Each cluster of stars connects to form a Disney character.

We ended up with a large balcony and a pleasant resort view.

Here is a photo. This view faces the front of the resort, and that’s the Yacht Club’s convention center in the distance. If I leaned out and looked to the left, I could see the port cochere at the Yacht Club’s main entrance.

Video: Resort View Room at Disney’s Yacht Club

Here is a video tour of our resort view room at Disney’s Yacht Club.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we were satisfied with our resort view room. If you or someone in your party plans to spend a decent amount of time in the room, a resort or water view upgrade is worth consideration.

However, if you’ll spend a ton of time at the pool or park-hopping between neighboring Epcot and Hollywood Studios–you might prefer to save the money and book a standard view.

Those are decisions you’ll have to make. But, ultimately, it’s hard to go wrong with Disney’s Yacht Club. We love this hotel and are always excited to stay here.

For more details about one of our favorites, we have a resort guide for Disney’s Yacht Club . Or you might enjoy the following:

• Restaurants at Disney’s Yacht Club
• Ale and Compass Breakfast Review
• The Market at Ale and Compass
• The Pools at Disney’s Yacht Club

What do you think about the resort view at Disney’s Yacht Club? Is an upgraded view at the Yacht Club worth it to you?

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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Complete Guide to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (w/ review)

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is 1 of 8 Deluxe Resort hotels (not including Deluxe Villas) on Walt Disney World Property. It offers stunning views, popular dining, and a fan-favorite swimming pool that guests can’t get enough of. Yacht Club is also located right next to Disney’s Beach Club Resort , which is accessible just by walking.

Here’s everything you need to know about Yacht Club.

In this article

Pros and Cons

Pros:  Location is about a 5-10 minute walk to Epcot and the Boardwalk area, boat ride or walk to Hollywood Studios, close to Disney Skyliner Station , Stormalong Bay is the best on-site pool, Cast Members get higher praise than most other resorts, all rooms have balconies, dog-friendly

Cons:  Not as well suited for families with small children, shared buses with a few other resorts can mean long bus rides

Resort category:  Deluxe

Resort area:  Epcot

Address & Phone Number 1700 Epcot Resorts Boulevard Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-8407 (407) 934-7000

• View Yacht Club Resort Maps

Located in the Epcot Resort Area, Yacht Club isn’t just within walking distance of the Beach Club , but Epcot itself. There is a path that leads directly to the International Gateway. What’s better than that?

It’s definitely a pricier resort, but for good reason. Based on location, sharing several amenities with Beach Club, just a boat ride away from Hollywood Studios, access to the Skyliner at Epcot, and much more, Yacht Club has a lot to offer. 

Plus, the New England-style resort sits on the water and truly is a gorgeous resort right on property. Here’s everything you need to know.

Guest Rooms and Bathrooms

Yacht Club offers a variety of rooms that can sleep up to 6 people, depending on the type of room you book.

Each rooms offers your standard amenities, like a hairdryer, TV, free WiFi, a Keurig coffee maker, telephone, in-room safe, iron and ironing board, and a mini-refrigerator. Plus, there’s a range of views, including a view of the water, pool, garden, woods, rooftop, or parking area.

There’s even a selection of rooms that feature Club Level Service , which we go over in more detail below.

And, don’t worry, there are plenty of outlets and USB ports for charging all of your devices. Better yet, there’s plenty of storage for your belongings, including space under the bed, drawers, and closet space. 

The bathrooms have storage underneath the sink and vanity area, as well, which is also separate from the shower and toilet area. 

Let’s go through the types of rooms available to book.

Room Types without Club-Level Access

The are several types of rooms to book that include:

• Garden or Woods View
• Standard View
• 2 Bedroom Suite – Club Level Access
• Standard View – Club Level
• Garden View – Club Level
• Water View – Club Level

Here is a further breakdown of rooms and what they include view and bed-wise.

Keep in mind that the day beds are not pull-down beds. Day beds are made for an adult, like a twin bed.

• Standard View : Views of Rooftop or Parking Area; 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair and 1 Day Bed or 1 King Bed or 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed

• Water View : Views of Crescent Lake or Quiet Pool; 2 Queen Beds or 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair and 1 Day Bed or 1 King Bed or 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed
• Garden or Woods View : Views of Garden; 2 Queen Beds or 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair and 1 Day Bed or 1 King Bed

• King Bed : Room views vary; 1 King Bed

Rooms and Suites with Club-Level Access

These rooms and suites have the same amenities provided in the rooms above, in addition to Club-Level Service perks. They include:

• Evening turndown
• Secured key access to the club-level lounge (serves refreshments 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily)
• Complimentary fax assistance
• Club Level Concierge – Regatta Club
• Complimentary health club access
• Complimentary newspapers in Club Level lounge

Guests also have access to a DVD Player and Disney Signature Services for personal assistance with your trip.

Here are the rooms:

• Standard View Club-Level : Views of Rooftop or Parking Area; 2 Queen Beds or 1 King Bed

• Garden View Club-Level : Views of Garden; 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds or 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed
• Water View Club-Level : Views of one of the Stormalong Bay Lagoons; 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 2 Queen Beds or 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed

• 2 Bedroom Suite – Club-Level Access : Views of Stormalong Bay or Crescent Lake; 2 King Beds and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa

Note: There are also both wheelchair and hearing accessible rooms available that include accessible bathrooms and visual alarms.

You can check out room layouts below.

Pet-Friendly Policy

Yacht Club is pet-friendly , but there are certain conditions that must be met. First, there’s a limit of 2 dogs per room. In order to bring your dog with you, you’ll need to call (407) 939-7539.

There’s also a day and overnight kennel care at  Best Friends Pet Care  located on property.

Yacht Club Resort Room Options

VIDEO: Disney’s Yacht Club Resort tour (rooms, pools, dining)

Checking In And Out

When it comes to checking in and out, you have a few options: at the front desk, online through the official Walt Disney World website, or via the My Disney Experience app.

The front desk is located in the lobby of the main building. Even though the front desk is there to assist guests, especially with checking in and checking out, all Disney World Resort guests are encouraged to check-in online  or by using MDE.

• Checking-In : After you check-in online or using the app, you’ll receive a room-ready notification via next. You can then use your MagicBand or MDE’s digital key feature to  unlock your room door .
• Checking-Out : Currently, guests will automatically be checked out of their rooms. But, if you have unresolved charges to your hotel folio, you’ll need to visit the front desk.

Note: Guests also have the option of to chat virtually with resort Cast Members via MDE for any assistance. 

The lobby is a nice size, with plenty of seating. Ale & Compass Restaurant and Ale & Compass Lounge are nearby, along with the Crew’s Cup Lounge . 

The pickup and dropoff location for  Mears Connect  (which is the replacement for Magical Express) and the bus stop are also right outside the main lobby. As for Bell Services and  luggage storage , you can find that counter inside in the lobby.

Note: Resort Airline Check-In and Magical Express are no longer available.

• Learn about how to get from the airport to Disney World

Package Delivery & Pick Up

You can have packages and groceries delivered to your Disney Resort hotel, along with shipping select items home.

• Learn more about how to get groceries at Disney World
• Learn more about shipping packages to and from Walt Disney World

Disney used to have a service where you were able to purchase items in the parks and then have them delivered to your resort’s gift shop. However, that service has been unavailable for several years now.

Although parking at Disney World resort hotels used to cost a nightly fee for resort guests, Disney has changed their policy so that parking is now  free  for all on-site resort guests. This change was implemented on January 10, 2023.

Valet parking is also available for $33 per night.

Complimentary standard self-parking is available for non-resort guests exploring dining, shopping, entertainment, and other experiences during the day.

We also have a complete  Walt Disney World parking  guide you can browse.

Important: Valet parking might not always be available.

Yacht Club Building

Yacht Club rooms are located in one main building. As soon as you enter the lobby, you’ll see a sitting area, the front desk, and Bell Services.

There is a set of stairs, which you will climb to find your room. There is also a set of elevators.

Amenities And Shops

From gift shops, to on-site laundry services, to spa and fitness, there are several amenities offered to guests at Yacht Club.

Important note: Some of the following amenities might not be available at all times.

• Beach Club Marketplace Gifts : An all-purpose shop with souvenirs, apparel, grab ‘n’ go food items, beverages, and more.
• Market at Ale & Compass : Find everyday essentials, souvenirs, beverages, and snacks.

• Laundry Services : There are 24-hour  self-service laundry facilities available near Admiral Pool.
• Dry Cleaning Services : Dry cleaning and valet laundry services are also an option.

• Movies Under the Stars : Watch complimentary Disney movies in the Solarium or on the lawn outdoors near the volleyball courts.
• Ship Shape Massage Salon Fitness : Full-service exercise facility with fitness equipment and spa offerings.

• Childcare Services :  In-room babysitting  for children 6 months to 12 years old.

Pools And Recreation

Yacht Club has one main feature pool and two leisure pools. If you need a non-park day, we recommended spending the day at your hotel and enjoying a Disney Resort pool .

Important note: Some of the pools and recreation options might not be available at all times.

Feature Pool

• Stormalong Bay : A sand-bottomed pool with a lazy river that also has a life-size shipwreck replica. It has one of the highest hotel waterslides. There’s pool covers three acres. Guests can also enjoy the pool bar and grill, Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill.

Leisure Pools

• Yacht Club : The Admiral Pool is located in the garden area near the tennis court. Located in the garden are
• Beach Club : The Tidal Pool is in the garden area near the volleyball court. 
• Beach Club Villas : Yacht Club guests are allowed to use the Beach Club Villas’ leisure pool, the Dunes Cove Pool.

All of the leisure pools also have steaming whirlpool spas. Guests can also rent pool cabanas , which are exclusively for Yacht and Beach Club guests.

Some other recreational options include:

• Lafferty Place (arcade games)

• Motorized Boat Rentals

• Jogging Trails
• Campfire to roast marshmallows

There are also specialties for an additional price, including:

• Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf : Two 18-hole miniature golf courses inspired by Fantasia .
• Pirate Adventure Cruise : For those 4 to 12 years-old. The pirate adventure follows clues to discover hidden treasures.

Restaurant & Dining Options

Yacht Club has a variety of dining options. You can find Quick Service and Table Service options, along with lounges.

The Market at Ale & Compass offers Mobile Order, while Ale & Compass Restaurant offers Mobile Dine Check-In, meaning you’ll check-in using the My Disney Experience app rather than going to the host stand. When your table is ready, you’ll be notified to proceed to a specific location.

Ale & Compass Restaurant also has Table Service To Go, which allows guests to Mobile Order and take their meal back to their room.

Yacht Club is also located within walking distance to Beach Club, meaning guests have access to even more dining, including the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, a popular place to snag some delicious ice cream.

You can read more about the dining options at Yacht Club below.

Quick Service

Although you don’t need reservations to dine at the Quick Service locations at Yacht Club, you may want to consider using Mobile Order where available.

The Market at Ale & Compass

This is a grab-and-go spot for those who want a quick breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can find a range of items that aren’t too out-of-the-box, like eggs, breakfast sandwiches, Mickey-shaped waffles, salads, and hot and cold sandwiches.

Location type:  Grab-and-go Type of food:  American Meals served:  Breakfast, lunch, & dinner

• Link to breakfast menu
• Link to lunch and dinner menu
• On the Disney Dining Plan?  Yes, 1 Quick Service credit(s)
• Pros:  Plenty of grab-and-go options and specialty coffee plus bakery cases and Coke Freestyle machines for drinks and refills, mobile ordering in My Disney Experience available
• Cons:   Limited selection and no outdoor seating

Table Service

Table Service locations typically require Advanced Dining Reservations. You can make those online or inside of the Disney Experience app.

Ale & Compass

Here you can enjoy New England comfort food and classic seafood dishes in a coastal-inspired restaurant.

Location type: Casual dining Type of food:  American Meals served:  Breakfast, lunch, & dinner

• Link to lunch menu
• Link to dinner menu
• On the Disney Dining Plan?  Yes, 1 Table Service credit(s)
• Pros:  Reasonably priced, food appeals to many people
• Cons:  Difficult to get to using Disney transportation unless you are staying in the Epcot resorts area

Crew’s Cup Lounge

In addition to beverages, you can also order dinner here between 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., including a wedge salad, a prime rib, lobster bisque, and more.

Location type:  Lounge Type of food:  American Meals served:  Dinner

• On the Disney Dining Plan?  No, 0 Table Service credit(s)
• Pros:  Specialty drinks available (in addition to standard drink options), good appetizer options, usually pretty quiet
• Cons:  Disney Dining Plan not accepted

Yachtsman Steakhouse

A New England-style steakhouse serving premium steaks, fresh seafood, and more.

Location type:  Fine/Signature dining Type of food:  American, Steakhouse Meals served:  Dinner

• On the Disney Dining Plan?  Yes, 2 Table Service credit(s)
• Pros:  Amazing service, fantastic food
• Cons:  Expensive

Everything Else

Looking to grab a snack or maybe just a cup of hot coffee or even a cocktail? Here’s where you can do that:

Ale & Compass Lounge

This lounge serves both cocktails and appetizers beginning at 4 p.m. daily. Food is only available until 10 p.m.

Location type:  Bar and lounge Type of food:  American Meals served:  Drinks and appetizers

• Link to lounge menu
• Pros:  Contemporary design with a cozy and intimate setting, good appetizers and drinks
• Cons: Small seating area, limited food options

VIDEO: 6 Dining Options at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort

How to get from Yacht Club to anywhere at Disney World

You can choose from several forms of complimentary Disney transportation at Yacht Club, including buses (takes you to all the parks and Disney Springs), the Disney Skyliner at the International Gateway (walk the Epcot path), and a boat to Hollywood Studios (you can also take a 20-minute walk here). 

The bus stop is right outside the main entrance. All of the different ways to get from Yacht Club to anywhere in Disney World is detailed below.

Scheduled Refurbishments

None scheduled right now.

• Check all known refurbishments
• Yacht Club Resort Maps
• Pros and Cons of on-site Walt Disney World Resort hotels

Yacht Club Trip Reports

• Christine from Hawaii’s WDW Trip Report – PREP309
• Kat from Australia’s 3 week adventure – PREP300
• Amanda’s Long May Trip – PREP278

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Ultimate Guide to the Best Rooms at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Staying at a Disney World deluxe resort usually comes with beautiful theming, nice rooms, and perks like Extended Evening Hours . One might argue, though, that one of the most beautiful deluxe resorts in Disney World is Disney’s Yacht Club .

This deluxe resort is a popular choice for guests wanting easy access to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, which are both just a walk or boat ride away, or because of the epic pool, Stormalong Bay, which is almost like its own waterpark. It’s easy to decide why guests stay here, but, which rooms are the best ?

The Yacht Club is a five-story deluxe resort and is themed around the refinement of a New England yachting club. The resort has a soft gray exterior accented by striking red and white striped awnings and the interior is lined with warm woods, nautical instruments, and a giant globe as the lobby centerpiece. The resort faces Crescent Lake, is close neighbors with Beach Club Resort, and has the best resort pool on property. You’ve picked a beautiful resort to spend your Disney vacation, but let’s look at the best rooms!

The Yacht Club rooms are elegant and stately and might be a bit “executive” and bland when compared to some of its counterparts. Keeping with the nautical theme, you’ll find warm woods, navy blue and beige contrasted against crisp white. But one of the favorite elements in the room are the navy curtain which features fictional Disney constellations and a bit of whimsy to this otherwise rather corporate feeling room.

There are 635 guest rooms and 21 suites at the Yacht Club. The rooms are typically 381 square feet and feature two queen-size beds, a daybed, and a desk with chairs. There are some different categories to choose from: Standard View, Garden View, Water View, and Lagoon or Pool View .

For an extra cost, there are also 70 club level or concierge rooms on the fifth floor Regatta Club. Those these rooms are basically the same as standard rooms, they do offer access to additional amenities, including:

• An exclusive check-in area
• A concierge cast members to assist with personal vacation needs
• Nightly turndown service
• Access to a club lounge stocked with complimentary food and beverages

4th Floor Rooms

The top floor is typically reserved for the Club level rooms, but the next best thing without that concierge price tag is the fourth floor. These rooms provide better views (no matter what you’re direction you’re looking), but particularly if you have a Pool View where lower level rooms would just give you views of the back of pool lounge chairs.

Gazebo View

You won’t find “Gazebo View” listed in the options, but rooms ending –48, –50, –52, –54, and –63, as well as odd-numbered room –67 through –97 over look the gazebo which make for a serene view. And you even be in for a show if one of the Disney’s Fairytale Weddings occurs there during your stay (no invitation required!).

Corner Rooms

Rooms that fall on the corner of buildings sometimes come with a little extra elbow room or even an extra window. For that chance to snag not just one views, but two look at these options, rooms ending in: -001, -009, -114, -122, -027, -043,  -065, -155, -163, -164, -201, -209, -210.

If you’re looking to be closer to EPCOT, Stormalong Bay, and the Beach Club, ask for rooms ending in -190 through -241. If you’re looking for rooms closer to the Swan and Dolphin and Hollywood Studios, ask for rooms ending in -001 to -054.

So if you’re looking to book a stay at Disney’s Yacht Club and want the best room available, keep these in mind! You can also always check out our reader reviews of Yacht Club here .

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

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Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort? Let us know in the comments!

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Full Guide to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s yacht club resort.

Dive into the nautical ambiance of this New England-style yacht club along Bayside Marina. An upscale, quiet atmosphere with plenty of ship-shape touches from the lobby to the rooms. Take a walk along Disney’s BoardWalk for more shopping and dining or head out to the beach to catch a view of the fireworks from EPCOT just steps away. Anchors away!

Resort Category: Deluxe

The resort is located along Disney’s BoardWalk at the EPCOT resort area. It is next to Disney’s Beach Club Resort and across from Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and within walking distance to EPCOT .

Plenty of nautical touches can be seen throughout the resort. Soft blues, navy, and wood flooring give a seaside feel to the lobby and restaurants. 

Find shopping & dining all in one place at The Market at Ale & Compass where you can also grab resort-exclusive merchandise .

VIDEO: Watch Our Full Tour of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Resort Rooms 

Standard, Water View, and Resort View Rooms are available to book at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Rooms can sleep 4-5 guests. Club Level rooms are also available.

PHOTO TOUR: A Water View Room at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Dining & Lounges

The market , ale & compass restaurant, ale & compass lounge, crew’s cup lounge, yachtsman steakhouse, hurricane hannah’s waterside bar & grill, transportation.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is located along the Disney Skyliner Route which has access to and from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, & surrounding resorts including Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s POP Century Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Disney Skyliner

Friendship Boats

Recreation & Amenities 

• Stormalong Bay Pool & Waterslide – shared with Disney’s Beach Club
• Admiral Pool 
• Dunes Cove Pool – located at Disney’s Beach Club
• Tidal Pool – located at Disney’s Beach Club
• Poolside Cabana Rentals
• Motorized Boat Rentals
• Located Near Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Mini Golf Course
• Ship Shape Health Club 
• Tennis & Pickleball
• Jogging Trail
• Lafferty Place Arcade

Movies Under the Stars

Enjoy complimentary screenings of Disney films on select nights at the Beach Club Beach

Campfire Activities

Roast marshmallows and join in on family fun each night at the Beach Club Beach

Related Articles 

REVIEW: Dinner at Ale & Compass

All of the Resort-Exclusive Merchandise Available at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Your Guide to Choosing the Right Disney World Hotel

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Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Last updated: September 18, 2024

The Yacht Club's nautical beach theme includes model ships and antique navigation instruments. The Resort's best features are its top-rated pool, walking paths to EPCOT and the Studios, and Skyliner access.

$722 - $4,093

Lodging Area

Boat, Bus, Skyliner, Walk

Guest Overall Rating

Based on 268 surveys. (See our Ratings and Research page for details)

Lighting: A

modal#open click->video-modal#modalVideo">Club Level at Yacht Club

modal#open click->video-modal#modalVideo">Yacht Club Room Review and Tour

Best pool complex of any WDW resort

Excellent staff/service

Walking distance to EPCOT and DHS

Close to many BoardWalk and EPCOT dining options

Well-themed public spaces

Bright and attractive guest rooms

Boat and Skyliner transportation to DHS

Views and balcony size are hit-or-miss

Bus service to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, water parks, and Disney Springs is shared with other EPCOT resorts

Our stay at Yacht Club was great. Room was good sized, as well as nicely designed and decorated. Without exception, all cast members encountered displayed helpful, courteous and friendly attitudes.

Our stay at Yacht Club was great. Room was good sized, as well as nicely designed and decorated. Without exception, all cast members encountered displayed...

April 7, 2021

We chose to stay at Yacht Club and couldn't have been happier.

May 5, 2018

Rooms at Yacht Club are lovely. The laminate floors are not noisy at all (if we had neighbors above us, we never heard them). Soundproofing on the balcony is good. Lots of USB ports.

Rooms at Yacht Club are lovely. The laminate floors are not noisy at all (if we had neighbors above us, we never heard them). Soundproofing on the balcony is...

October 10, 2017

We love the Yacht Club! We picked it the first time based on details - distance to the parks, reviews, etc - were not disappointed.

November 27, 2016

The Yacht Club's rooms are decorated in white with blue and brass accents. The most recent update also replaced carpeting with vinyl "hardwood" floors, freshening the rooms' look.

• Room with Queen Bed(s) and en-suite bathroom
• Balcony or patio
• Dresser with drawers
• Full-length mirror
• Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi)
• Flat-panel TV
• Coffee maker and starter supply of coffee pods
• Ironing board and iron
• Digital thermostat
• In-room safe
• Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and bar soap

Most rooms are 381 square feet and have two queen-size beds. All upper-floor rooms have full balconies, while ground-floor rooms have patios.

Yacht Club Standard Room

Yacht Club Dresser and TV

Yacht Club Fold Down Bed

Yacht Club Desk and Chair

Yacht Club Closet and Storage

Yacht Club Fridge and Coffe Maker

Yacht Club Standard Room Bathroom

Yacht Club Room 4073 View

We’ve mapped and taken photographs of the views from every single room on Walt Disney World property! Our Room Finder helps you find the perfect room for you and then request that room from Disney.

Dining isn't a strength at Yacht Club, but tons of options are short walk away at EPCOT or the four other resorts.

Ale & Compass Restaurant The cuisine is advertised as “New England comfort food.” Reader ratings have improved substantially over the years, without compromising the diversity of the menu.

Yachtsman Steakhouse Open for dinner only, Yachtsman Steakhouse serves up steak, seafood, and sides. This is a signature restaurant that tries to create an atmosphere, so expect high prices and to adhere to a minimal dress code.

Market at Ale and Compass A small spot carved out of the gift shop, the Market has coffee, pastries, and other small items.

Ale and Compass Lounge Ale & Compass is a competent restaurant, the kind of place you'll be happy to find at dinnertime if it's raining and you don't want to go outside; or everyone is starving and you need to eat right now. Ale and Compass is a better choice for breakfast. You'll find something for everyone in various combinations of eggs, potatoes, bacon, tofu, French toast, and so on, with a la carte options if you just want a quick bite.

Crew's Cup Lounge The Crew’s Cup Lounge is one of the better bars in Walt Disney World, although the reason for that statement is hard to explain. The entire room just feels...well, cool. It starts when you approach the door, which is found in the Yacht Club’s hallway, heading towards the Beach Club Resort. One of the things that makes Crew’s Cup cool is the understated sign hanging in the hall, a few steps up, as well as a plain door. The facade is easily overshadowed by the Yachtsman Steakhouse, but that secret, speakeasy style entry makes it a little hard to find, and we all know that the coolest places don’t need to advertise. Walking in you immediately notice the theme, which is rowing, but are not overwhelmed by it. There are a few images of rowers here and there and a few oars along the walls, but it is mostly just a quaint, slightly dark, overwhelmingly wood-paneled lounge. The rowing theme obviously fits in with the Yacht Club Resort and the Crew’s Cup looks as if it would be a place that a crew team would hang out after practice. While many Americans do not think of crew or rowing as major sports, it certainly has a long history in the United States. It began as soon as the English landed, having been popular there several centuries prior. Yale University boast the oldest American college crew club, started in 1843, and the Harvard versus Yale regatta is the oldest intercollegiate sport in the U.S. It is so old in fact (started in 1852), that it had to be paused during the American Civil War! The entire Crew’s Cup Lounge hints toward this history. The shell (or boat to you landlubbers) hanging from the ceiling is a common place for storage when there are no racks. The oars along the walls are each painted differently, which is how a team identifies itself (although these oars match no teams that we could find). Even just the exposed rafters and craftsman touches point toward a New England style around the year 1900. For those interested in what goes on in a kitchen, there is a window that looks into a section of the Yachtsman Steakhouse’s back of house. Often during dinner time you will see a prep chef getting ready for the mealtime rush. Once you decide to have a seat, there are a few different options, with seats at the bar, a handful of booths, a few tables and chairs, and also a few couches. Whether you are there for dinner, relaxation, or to watch the television, you will find a seat to match. Speaking of dinner, there is both food and drink aplenty, although the drink list is our one big knock on The Crew’s Cup as it follows the standard Disney drink menu. The food here is above average and consists of hearty appetizers, burgers, and chicken tenders. Nothing fancy, but good quality and decently priced (for Walt Disney World). The Crew’s Cup Lounge is not often mentioned as a favorite spot, and we will hope it stays that way because that just means more room for us. After all, if everyone knows it might stop being so cool.

Fittings & Farings Fittings & Farings is Yacht Club's souvenir shop. A small selection of snacks, drinks, and other groceries are available.

Refillable Mugs Allows guest self-service soft drink refills from quick-service locations in hotels ( NOT in theme parks ) for $21.99 for the length of stay.

SWIPE TO EXPLORE

Yacht Club has Disney World's best pool - Stormalong Bay with a lazy river, fabulous water slide, and acres of water fun. Three other pools are available across Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts, for use by both Beach and Yacht Club guests.

Lafferty Place Arcade arcade is near Stormalong Bay between the Yacht and Beach resorts. It features relatively recent video games of all kinds.

Free Disney Movies Under the Stars are shown most evenings, weather-permitting, either at the Beach Club Beach, or in the Solarium.

The Ship Shape Fitness Center has weights, treadmills, and other equipment for your workout. Hours are typically 6 AM to 9 PM. Joggers will enjoy the 0.8-mile loop around Crescent Lake too.

The Beach Club Beach hosts marshmallow roasts around 5:30 PM nightly. It's really great during the cooler months of the year.

Disney resort guests get into each theme park 30 minutes earlier than off-site guests, every day.

Those staying at Disney's Deluxe and Deluxe Villa hotels can buy Lightning Lane via Individual Purchase at 7:00 a.m. each day. Others cannot make that purchase until the official park opening time.

Disney's Deluxe and DVC resort guests get two extra hours in select theme parks on certain days of the week. The schedule changes, so check with the front desk.

Practical Matters

Check-in is 4:00pm Check-out is 11:00am

All Disney resorts participate in Disney’s Online Check-In program. If you’ve checked-in online and provided a mobile phone number or email address, you will receive your room number electronically. Then you can go straight to the room and use your smart phone or MagicBand to open the door, skipping the lobby altogether.

These rubber and plastic wrist bands can function as your room key, park admission, charge card, and more! MagicBands cost money, but if you'd like a free option you can use the official Disney World app on your phone or request an RFID-embedded card at the front desk.

Park tickets are best purchased online in advance either directly through Disney or via our Least Expensive Ticket Calculator . However, if you arrive without park tickets, head to the concierge desk in the hotel lobby.

Dining reservation are best made online in advance or on your phone or tablet during your visit. You can also use our Disney World Reservation Finder .

Washers and dryers are availabile in laundry facilities at each Disney World hotel. Cost is $3 per wash, and another $3 per dry cycle. A small selection of soap, fabric softener, and dryer sheets are also sold, for around $1 each. Only credit/debit cards can be used for payment. For more information, see our Disney World Laundry Facilities page.

If you lose something in a theme park or during your stay at a Disney-operated hotel, visit Disney's Lost and Found website or call (407) 824-4245.

Disney hotels have gifts shops near their lobbies with a decent collection of Disney-branded souvenirs. You will also find basic pharmacy items such as sunscreen, aspirin, allergy and cold medicine, baby diapers and formula, shampoo, and the like. Resort hotels with Deluxe Villa rooms offer an assortment of groceries, as well.

Disney recommends a third party company, Kid's Nite Out , to provide babysitting services at the resort hotels. See our Disney World Child Care page for more information.

The Yacht Club is located in the EPCOT Resort Area. All modern GPS apps, and Google Maps, will have clear driving directions to it. As a backup, look for Disney road signs directing you toward the EPCOT resorts (not EPCOT) once you're on property, and then look for signs for the Yacht Club once you're close.

Disney Skyliner gondola system has a station at EPCOT's International Gateway entrance. The ride to Hollywood Studios is about 12 minutes (plus waiting time in line).

Disney provides free bus service to the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, and Disney Springs from the bus stop at the front of the resort. Buses run about every 20 minutes. For all destinations except the Magic Kingdom, it's probably faster to drive or walk.

If you have your own car , it's faster to drive yourself to Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach water parks, and Disney Springs. Disney's transportation system is faster to the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney's Hollywood Studios.

EPCOT is a short walk from the Yacht Club, and the walk to Hollywood Studios is just a little longer.

Disney provides free boat service to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios from the resort.

You can walk between the Beach Club, Yacht Club, BoardWalk, Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin. Boat service is available to all of those, too, except the Swan Reserve. The Skyliner at EPCOT's International Gateway can take you to Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Pop Century, and Art of Animation. For all other resort destinations, the fastest option is an Uber, Lyft, or taxi. Disney's bus service is free but slow, and will probably require you to use an intermediate destination like Disney Springs, to get to your destination. And that can take a couple of hours each way if you're unluckly.

if you have a car, the easiest way to get to Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and other tourist destinations is to drive. Alternatively, Mears Transportation operates shuttle services between the Disney hotels and other theme parks.

tabs#change">Driving to the Resort

tabs#change">Getting to the Parks and Disney Springs

tabs#change">Getting to Another Hotel from Yacht Club

tabs#change">Getting to Universal Orlando

Disney Dish with Jim Hill Podcast

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Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Review: Standard View Room

Disney’s Yacht Club is a beautiful deluxe resort at Disney World within walking distance of Epcot and several other resorts . Take a tour of our Yacht Club room and find out why this is one of our favorite Disney World resorts.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is considered an Epcot area resort and located next to Disney’s Beach Club Resort with many shared amenities. Yacht Club is a short walk to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas and Epcot’s International Gateway.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Overview

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort has an upscale nautical ambiance. The lobby has a huge globe over a round, compass inspired rug. The lobby has several seating areas where you can relax while enjoying the sophisticated decor.

Railings along the second floor of Yacht Club Resort alternate traditional railings and wooden panels with an embossed ship’s wheel. There are also rope swags along the railing. The carpets throughout the resort have ships and compasses to continue the nautical feel as you walk to your room.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Pools

One of the best things about Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is Stormalong Bay which is so much more than a normal hotel pool. Stormalong Bay is a 3-acre (12000-sq-m) shared water park area for both Disney’s Yacht Club and Disney’s Beach Club resorts.

We generally don’t reserve a lot of pool time on our vacations, but Stormalong Bay is our favorite Disney World pool. This means we always pack a swimsuit when staying at Yacht Club to enjoy a dip in the sand covered pool or float on the lazy river.

Stormalong Bay has one of the highest hotel slides at Disney World which is an impressive 230 feet (70 m) long. Although the slide is extremely fun, guests must access the slide by leaving the pool area and crossing a walkway connecting several hotels to Epcot.

Families with small children may not be comfortable letting kids head to the slide alone because of this often crowded and unmonitored walkway.

After crossing the walkway, climb to the top of a huge shipwreck replica before plunging down to the pool below. There is also a smaller water slide for younger, or less adventurous guests, of Disney’s Yacht Club.

Stormalong Bay’s lazy river winds around one section of the water park with free tubes available near the entrance. Looking for something a little simpler? Yacht Club also has a small leisure pool near the tennis courts.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Dining

There are several dining and lounge options located in Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club complex. I’ll cover a few of our favorites below. Check here for a complete listing of dining options.

Yachtsman Steakhouse

I was worried that this fine dining restaurant at Yacht Club might be a bit stuffy, since it is one of only a handful of Disney World restaurants with a dress code. However, we saw lots of families and many groups without kids enjoying the warm ambiance of Yachtsman Steakhouse for dinner.

While waiting to be seated we got to watch a butcher hand-trim steaks and some of the chefs working in a partially open kitchen area. This was a great way to get excited about our meal.

I thought the quality of our meal was good, and we liked the atmosphere of Yachtsman Steakhouse. I would definitely go there again if I had time for a nice sit-down dinner.

Cape May Cafe

Located just off the main lobby of Beach Club Resort, Cape May Cafe is open for breakfast and dinner daily. Breakfast is a fun character buffet featuring Minnie and some friends . Dinner is also a buffet, which heavily features seafood dishes.

Beaches and Cream

This fun diner is near Stormalong Bay in between Yacht Club and Beach Club. Beaches and Cream serves burgers and sandwiches for lunch and dinner, but for us their ice cream is the main event.

Beaches and Cream is a popular restaurant with limited tables, booths, and counter seats even after a big expansion and remodel. Make advanced dining reservations 60 days before your trip for the best availability, but keep checking for last-minute reservations if you don’t at first succeed.

No reservation, but you only want some ice cream treats? No problem! Order take-out shakes, ice cream, and floats at the walk-up window.

My favorite Beaches and Cream treat is an ice cream sandwich of vanilla ice cream wedged between two huge chocolate chip cookies . I get one of these delicious ice cream sandwiches any time I am near Beaches and Cream.

Review Of Disney Yacht Club Resort Standard View Room

Entering the Yacht Club Resort Standard View Room I immediately noticed several things. The room feels open and spacious with great nautical details throughout.

Laminate floors and thoughtful spacing allows the room to sleep up to five guests without feeling cramped. We’ve stayed in two different room configurations: two queen beds plus a day bed that transforms from a couch to a twin-size bed and a more traditional two queen room.

Please note that a Yacht Club Resort Standard View room can have any of the following configurations: 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair and 1 Day Bed or 1 King Bed or 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed.

Just inside the entrance to the room is a small coffee station with Keurig coffee maker nestled on top of a trunk. This trunk conceals a small beverage cooler.

The Yacht Club Resort beverage coolers hold less than the traditional mini fridges found at other Disney World resorts. A half gallon of milk only fits sideways on the shelf and bottled waters are also a tight fit.

For a short stay the smaller fridge isn’t a problem, but may be annoying when staying for a longer vacation with lots of groceries.

A huge wooden closet along the entryway contains an in-room safe, several shelves, a full length mirror, and areas for hanging long and short items. Find an iron and foldable ironing board on one of the closet shelves.

Yacht Club Standard Room Bedroom Area

From the entryway you can see the entire bedroom area. The bedroom decor is a mix of dark wood with cream, navy, and brass accents. If you need more storage space than the closet provides, there is a large dresser in the room just below the wall mounted television. This dresser also has several electrical outlets which is extra helpful now that we are using Magic Band+.

In the two queen plus day bed configuration the couch/day bed is a great way to have seating during the day plus additional sleeping space at night. The two queen room option only has the desk chair and a upholstered chair with matching ottoman.

The beds have a bedside table between them. On the other side of the bed where normally there is nothing the standard room at Yacht Club had a little shelf with an outlet. This is a perfect spot for someone to charge a phone overnight and still use it as an alarm.

The room also has a desk and chair. The desk is actually two different pieces: the normal desk and a rolling table underneath. This gives extra table space in case you want to eat in the room, write, or draw.

The Yacht Club Resort Standard Room has a sliding glass door leading out to a small patio or balcony. There are cute blackout curtains on the window and door leading to the balcony. Look closely at the curtains to find fake constellations of some favorite Disney characters.

Yacht Club standard view rooms can have a view of anything , but are generally parking lots or roofs. Sometimes we’ve been surprised with a nicer view, but that shouldn’t be the expectation when booking the standard view rooms.

Yacht Club balconies have privacy walls on both sides of the balcony plus two chairs and a small side table. This makes it a nice place to relax especially if you have a little one taking a nap or a teen sleeping in.

Yacht Club Standard Room Bathroom Area

The Yacht Club bathroom is just inside the entryway opposite the closet. The bathroom has the split configuration where the sinks are in one room and the shower/toilet in a small separate area.

At first I was concerned that the door to the bathroom is a sliding barn door.  Sometimes this style door doesn’t close fully, but this one was great. In fact, the sliding door to the bathroom even has a soft-close feature so it can’t be accidentally slammed.

There are double sinks with storage in the vanity and a slender shelf above the sinks. The shower and toilet area is a bit tight, but manageable. A pocket door closes it off from the rest of the bathroom allowing multiple people to get ready at the same time.

The room had the following great features:

• Laminate Floors
• Soft close sliding bathroom doors
• Wonderful closet area with tons of storage
• Split bathroom with a double sink
• A plug and small area for phone on side of bed
• Keurig coffee maker
• Blackout curtains

In Room WiFi

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort has complimentary wi-fi. The free wi-fi works pretty well overall, but does not always support streaming video from services like Netflix.

Yacht Club Parking

Self-parking is complimentary for resort guests while valet parking costs $33 per night at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas

Transportation To Parks

Yacht Club To Epcot And Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is located within walking distance of both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The walk to Epcot takes you past Beach Club Resort and into the International Gateway entrance between France and United Kingdom in World Showcase.

The walk to Hollywood Studios from Yacht Club is considerably longer, but is possible. If you prefer to save your steps, take a boat from the dock located behind Yacht Club which brings you, and guests from other resort stops, to Hollywood Studios.

Yacht Club To Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom

Hop a bus to Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom from Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Find the bus stop on the left side of the main entrance when exiting the lobby area.

This article can help you learn more about the vast transportation system at Disney World.

Overall Impression Of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is a beautiful deluxe resort with great restaurant options and the best pool at Disney World. We love the sophisticated take on nautical design in the resort and the easy walk to Disney’s Beach Club , Disney’s Boardwalk , and Epcot.

I am overall very happy with our rooms here, but do think the rooms could be better maintained. On a recent stay our shower caulk was damaged and water leaked out onto the floor.

Despite this we still love the laminate floors, beautiful closet, split bathroom, and comfortable beds which make for a pleasant stay at Yacht Club.

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Photos: Inside New Rooms at Yacht Club

Following its latest refurbishment, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort has redesigned rooms, which are one component of a resort-wide re-imagining of this Walt Disney World hotel. In this post, we’ll review the new rooms, share some photos, and thoughts on the changes at Yacht Club.

While other changes are still underway throughout the resort, it’s worth noting that the room refurbishment at Yacht Club is now entirely finished. I suppose this is good or bad news depending upon your opinion of the new rooms. Either way, there’s no need to request an old or new room. They’re all new.

This was yet another stop on our recent Walt Disney World “vacation” during which we stayed in 6 different new or newly-refurbished rooms. Given that the room refurbishment coincides with a convention center expansion, I was not exactly optimistic about what we’d find at Yacht Club…

This is because the changes at Yacht Club are, in large part, aimed at making it more appealing to the convention-going demographic. Elsewhere at Walt Disney World where the goal has been making rooms more appealing to non-families or non-fans, the result has left something to be desired.

We’ve harped on this in the past, so I won’t rehash it all here. Basically, the more ‘mainstream’ Walt Disney World makes a hotel room, the less-themed the result. There have been some exceptions to this, and these room designs have been a bit hit or miss. At least, from my fan perspective. Conventioneers and others might (and do) disagree.

Anyway, let’s take a look at the old rooms before we offer further commentary:

Fairly bright and airy, albeit having a 1990s quality to them. Personally, I liked these rooms, but I wouldn’t say they fit well with the Yacht Club’s aesthetic in common areas, which is generally more stately and sophisticated.

Now, let’s take a look at the new rooms:

Perhaps it was because my expectations were low going in, but I loved this room. If anything, I would say it is more themed than before, with excellent use of navy blue and beige contrasted against white, which really looks sharp in the context. The color palette alone reinforces the nautical theme.

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.

Most notably, there are small rivets or other ship fastenings throughout, including on the dresser and other furniture. Then you have the headboards, mirror, and desk. Some of the nice features of the room now include a built-in ironing board, wood floors, abundance of storage (including under-the-bed room for luggage), and Keurig coffee makers.

The attention to detail in the new Yacht Club rooms is incredible, and all of it works to cement the theme. If your idea of a good Walt Disney World room includes an infusion of characters, you will be disappointed. Aside from a couple of them hidden in constellations on the curtain (a really cool curtain, by the way), the room is devoid of Disney IP. Fine with me, as I regularly stress that Disney characters are not “theme.” Really, the only thing I dislike is the framed pictures on the walls (too modern and ‘artsy’), but the rest works well.

One thing that I think most definitely was a mistake was not putting a runner on the bed. As mentioned in our Pop Century New Rooms post, I think the beds look naked without this, and it’s an industry-wide trend I hope stops. Imagine how much better this room could look with the simple addition of a runner that looks like the throw pillows on the couch.

During our visit, we spoke with a higher-level Cast Member at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort who indicated that they had solicited a lot of feedback, particularly from conventioneers, prior to making the updates to the room.

Generally speaking, this is not particularly noteworthy. Disney regularly prefaces whatever decision is being made with, “Due to feedback from our guests…” Often, it’s used as cover to justify decisions that are going to be unpopular with fans.

What’s interesting here is that the Cast Member was clear that this feedback was actively sought from convention attendees, as opposed to families or other demographics. Supposedly, Disney created multiple different test rooms to aid in the redesign, too.

While we absolutely love the new style, I can envision a couple of complaints. The new style is a bit dark and drab; I think this is appropriate, as that’s the visual style of the resort as a whole, and if you want to brighten it up, opening the curtains fixes that.

I think this will also lead to people finding the rooms stuffier or less inviting. The older rooms were no doubt lighter and had more of a quintessential ‘fun’ Disney vibe to them, but I still think these rooms are nicer and more appropriate thematically.

Moreover, I think most business and convention-going guests, these new rooms will be a very welcome improvement, even if they don’t win over some Disney fans. Among hardcore fans and repeat families, Yacht Club is not a particularly popular resort. Like any resort, it has its fans, but many people regard it as stuffy and less kid-friendly.

I don’t see these changes moving the needle one way or the other for families. On the other hand, I think the changes make Yacht Club much more compelling for conventioneers, adults without kids, and those looking for a room that’s more understated.

While I liked the old room at Yacht Club, it look was starting to feel a bit tired and some of the rooms were worse for wear. The changes are nice upgrades, and make it feel more commensurate in quality with the high nightly price being charged.

(Note: If you’re wondering why the sheets aren’t discolored, the furniture is not trashed, and there’s not feces spread over every inch of the walls, it’s because we were here before Yacht Club became a post-apocalyptic canine wasteland. Now that Yacht Club is dog-friendly , we can only assume it looks like a worse version of Parkside Hotel & Suites now . Walt is rolling in his grave. Smh.)

Beyond the room changes, the hallways and some common areas have also been refurbished and look great. Some areas of Yacht Club were looking a bit worse for wear, so these refurbishments are very welcome.

As noted, Walt Disney World is currently expanding the Yacht Club convention center facility to nearly 100,000 square feet. Speaking of which, this DisneyMeetings.com press release details the other upgrades being made to improve the convention experience at Yacht Club. (It’s also an interesting read to see how Walt Disney World markets itself to conventioneers, I think.)

The dining scene at Yacht Club is also in the process of changing . The Market at Ale & Compass has already opened, with the next steps being a re-imagined lobby lounge and new concept for the former Captain’s Grille, which will become Ale & Compass Restaurant. Too bad none of these changes entail a fully-fledged counter service restaurant or food court. (Yacht Club is admittedly not the best spot for that, but one of the Crescent Lake resorts could use one!)

Overall, the Yacht Club room refurbishment seems like one of those rare times a change has been made in a Walt Disney World hotel that will please both the fan and non-fan constituencies. Conventioneers will appreciate the modern and fresh-looking rooms that are well-appointed and classy. Disney fans who were likely to book Yacht Club before will appreciate that there’s still a lot to the themed design. I’m sure there are still legitimate quibbles to be made with these new rooms, but frankly, I didn’t spot anything that I’d consider even remotely major. From my perspective, this is a job exceptionally well done by Walt Disney World.

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

Your Thoughts

Do you agree or disagree with our take on the new Yacht Club rooms? Would you stay here, or is this resort off of your radar due to the refurbishment? 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!

Written by Tom Bricker

The new rooms look great. However….those dresser drawers look useless. Incorporating the fridge into the dresser at wdw resorts was the worst idea ever. I love the corner units at PoP and AKL. Adds so much functionality to the rooms. I’ll ignore your comment about dog rooms

I love love love that the rugs are Being pulled up, and a hard surface is down in its place. I wish all hotels would do this!

Have stayed at the Yacht Club both in October and November. We like the Yacht Club with respect to location. As for the rooms. We love them overall. The safe is much larger. There are plenty of outlets to charge your phone. Nice lamps built into the bed frame for reading. The HVAC unit seemed very quiet and efficient. Both my wife and I enjoyed the shower with the glass door. No curtains here! One interesting item they added was a sliding door to close off the sink area so it gave you privacy without waking up that late sleeper. We stayed at a first floor room and a third floor room on our visits. The only difference between the two was a large lamp in the center of the ceiling on the third floor room. Finally, my only complaint was the absence of a pen and notepad. Housekeeping told me they were cutting back! Could have used it when I was booking a Bounceback offer on the phone.

Like the Yacht Club redo but the bathtub and shower didn’t see any grab bars for safety. Don’t want room with room in shower not handicapped but where’s the safety, put in grab bars please.

We LOVE the more refined decor in the Yacht club rooms. We’ve stayed there twice since the new make-over. Never would stay there before because of the blinding red and blue child’s bedroom vibe. LOVE the sleek floors (carpet is not a very clean feel). It now looks like a Yacht Club would look – elegant, nautical, high-end. Good taste Disney.

Took family of 5 to a split stay with yacht club first then poly. Absolutely loved the yacht club rooms. So functional and convenient. Only problem was we could not use balcony due to love bugs but also a problem at poly. Think I actually prefer Yacht club to poly. One bummer was they moved the beautiful giant globe from the lobby to near the convention center. Boo!

More drabness!!!!!!!! These refurb are a 100% fail. A Disney resort should look DISNEY!!!!!!!! These rooms do not.

I do not understand why so many Disney room remodels are removing the ceiling fans!! In Florida with the year round heat and humidity, ceiling fans are a tremendous benefit and in my mind, they are an absolute necessity!!

We just got back from a 6 night stay at the Yacht Club! I loved it! Would be happy to only ever stay there! We were in room 2133 and the view was incredible! I would highly recommend the Yacht Club!

I think you are spot on about having a runner on the bed to match the pillows on the couch being an addition that would improve the decor greatly. That and maybe a few subtle details- such as adding a couple nautical tiles in the bathroom shower – would make for a sophisticated yet fun room. We stayed in a one bedroom DVC rental at Jambo House. I was amazed at how small things – like a tiny, carved lion cub on a piece of furniture, bedroom lamp with a large bird egg worked into the base, a couple of themed tiles in the shower – made the room so warm and interesting.

I don’t understand this trend of installing “hardwood” floors in hotel rooms. I understand that they are easier to clean but don’t they alter the noise level? I think the room looks fine, although like you I think the “art” is too modern, but it could benefit from a runner between the beds and the dresser at the very least.

Your comments about it being “dog friendly “, lol

We’re booked to stay at YC in January. It was a fail safe in case our planned December trip fell through – which it did, halfway, but that’s a story for another time (one of us is going!) – and I got an awesome rate from Disney Visa offers. (Under $300 for a deluxe room? Why heck yeah!!) Since it just us two oldies (chronologically speaking, that is) a more sophisticated environment sounds lovely. We toured the lobbies last year during the holiday season, and I fell in love with the whole Boardwalk area. We were staying at the Swan then – again, we appreciate the “lack of theming” and a more grown up aesthetic. We stayed at CBR last September, and construction and hurricane and all aside, it was nice, very casual where you’d feel comfortable running to the Coke station in your sweat pants and bare feet, but not Motel 6 like. I’ve visited the values – sorry but not my cup of tea with the bright, garish color schemes, noisy, Disney-in-your-face-24/7, over excited kids running everywhere – and stay off the lawn too, ya darn kids!!

I’m excited to see the new rooms in the spring. It is one of our favorite resorts, but we are just 2 adults. I love the proximity to the Boardwalk & Epcot, the smaller size, access to the nicer pool, and I love the full balcony. The balcony alone is a huge seller for me.

I love these new higher beds! They had them at the Grand Californian when we stayed last month. It’s super practical to be able to slide your luggage under the bed to get it out of the way. It also really helps when you are cramming people into the room like sardines.

I do really like the look of the new rooms, but I agree with you about the bed runner. The bed looks cold. Like I’m going to freeze all night. I thought the same thing about the new Pop rooms. Maybe I just need to pack a blanket.

Just came back from Disney and stayed at All Star Movies. The remodeled room was absolutely nice and the bed was incredibly comfortable. Perfect place to stay if your going with some little ones.

I really like the look of the new rooms. To be honest even though I’m an AP holder (from California that stays in the resorts when at WDW) and not a conventioneer I was not a fan of the previous rooms but now I’m anxious to stay at YC.

With these new room refurbs, is Disney taking steps to lesson the impact of bed bugs? Things like mattress encasements, etc?

I have wanted to stay at the Yacht Club for years – ever since I saw a Rick Steves piece on the resort. I was allured by the YC as it was then We finally stayed at the Yacht Club in April ’17 during the refurbishments. We ended up on the first floor in a not-yet-renovated room. Because of unrelated issues, we were moved to a new room on the 4th floor toward the end of our trip and were blown away! The rooms feel spacious and carry the yacht theme well with nautical tones and subtle touches. The common areas are both sophisticated and fun. I am not a conventioneer, but a Disney fan and a mother of two, and my family will stay at the Yacht Club again.

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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!

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!

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.

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.

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. 

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!

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. 

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! 

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!

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! 

Reader Interactions

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.

February 23, 2021 at 9:27 pm

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

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Disney's Yacht Club Resort

View Gallery 

While Guests may see or hear construction work during daytime hours, most Resort hotel amenities will remain available.

What Makes This Resort Hotel Unique

Disney Skyliner Transportation

This gondola system offers a bird's eye view as it whisks you and your family away to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Outdoor Water Recreation Area

Discover a life-size shipwreck, pools, lagoons and more at Stormalong Bay—a 3-acre water wonderland. Read More

Discover a life-size shipwreck, pools, lagoons and more at Stormalong Bay—a 3-acre water wonderland.

Climb the mast and zip down one of the highest hotel waterslides at Walt Disney World Resort. Catch currents on an inner tube in the lazy river, unwind in one of 3 whirlpool spas and relax on the elevated tanning deck. Children can wade into the main pool from a gentle slope and splash about in 2 kiddie pools—including one with a miniature waterslide.

Prefer a more tranquil experience? Explore 3 all-ages quiet pools—each with a whirlpool spa—located throughout Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.

Learn more about recreation at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.

Yachtsman Steakhouse

Savor mouthwatering steaks, seafood and more at this sophisticated, family-friendly restaurant.

Ship Shape Health Club

Enjoy a workout or indulge in a massage at this full-service fitness center.

Dog-Friendly Accommodations

Bring your pampered pooch to stay with you at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Read More

Bring your pampered pooch to stay with you at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.

Here at Walt Disney World Resort, we know that dogs aren’t simply pets—they’re members of your family. And since family is at the heart of everything we do, for a limited time, your furry friends are welcome to join you at select Disney Resort hotels. Let the tail wagging commence!

Note: Limit 2 dogs per room. Restrictions and fees apply.

How to Book Bring your dog along on your upcoming visit by calling 00 800 2006 0809. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

Services for Guests with Dogs During your stay, Best Friends Pet Care can provide assistance with day care and other pet services (fees apply). For details, please call (877) 4-WDW-PETS or (877) 493-9738, or visit bestfriendspetcare.com . Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

Some restrictions on certain pets may apply. Before you arrive, be sure to download the official dog policy PDF .

Need More Room?

Consider booking a Disney Deluxe Villa with just-like-home amenities like a kitchen, washer, dryer and private bedrooms. Read More

Consider booking a Disney Deluxe Villa with just-like-home amenities like a kitchen, washer, dryer and private bedrooms.

When you stay at Disney’s Beach Club Villas , you’ll enjoy the same benefits offered at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort—along with spacious Disney Deluxe Villa accommodations. It’s an outstanding home base for your Walt Disney World vacation.

Discover the Villa Difference Disney’s Beach Club Villas and other Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts offer accommodations with just-like-home touches that go beyond the traditional hotel room.

Choose from 1-, 2- and 3-Bedroom Villas—as well as Cabins and Bungalows at select Resort hotels—with the following features:

• A full kitchen , so you can prepare meals and snacks from the comfort of your villa
• Spacious living and dining areas where your family can share even more quality time together after you return from the parks
• Separate bedrooms that offer space, privacy and tranquility – so it’s easy to rest, relax and recharge your spirit after each exhilarating vacation day
• A washer and dryer , so you can pack lightly and avoid airline baggage fees

A little more than you need? Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts also feature Deluxe Studios, which feature a kitchenette and sleeper sofa—a great option for smaller travel parties and shorter stays.

Reservations and Rates Check availability and nightly rates at Disney’s Beach Club Villas.

More Magic for Your Stay

A More Magical Stay Starts with "Hey Disney!”

The "Hey Disney!" voice assistant experience features tons of character fun plus a helpful host, who can order you extra towels and answer lots of your park questions.

Disney Signature Services

Guests staying in Club-level rooms and suites are eligible for personalized vacation-planning support.

Enhance Your Stay with the My Disney Experience App

Simplify your arrival, access your room and discover a world of fun with this helpful app. Read More

Simplify your arrival, access your room and discover a world of fun with this helpful app.

Be sure you have the latest version of the My Disney Experience app to enjoy these handy features during your stay.

Check In and Check Out with Ease

Enjoy a simplified arrival at your Disney Resort hotel! Use the app to begin the check-in process , view your room number and even unlock your door .

At the end of your stay, there’s no need to stop by the Front Desk if you have a valid payment card on file or a zero-dollar balance on your account. Instead, check out of your room via the app by visiting My Reservations or your Hotel Account.

Plan, Play, Dine and Unwind

There are many more ways to enhance your stay! With the app, you can:

• Make vacation plans during your stay—and review existing plans
• Enter the theme parks (with a valid park reservation and valid admission) using Disney MagicMobile service
• Order food and beverages with mobile order service
• Check park schedules
• Get directions
• Explore transportation options
• View your Disney PhotoPass photos

And that’s only the beginning!

Learn more about the My Disney Experience app .

Available for iPhone®, iPad® and smartphones for Android™. Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc .

Lightning Lane Passes

Plan ahead and save time in line for select attractions and experiences! Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels or other select hotels can purchase Lightning Lane passes—and choose experiences—up to 7 days in advance of their stay.

Save up to 20% at Disney Resort Hotels in 2025

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Hotel with the best pool complex at Disney World: Review of Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

When you think of a Florida theme park hotel, I'd bet you probably don't think of deep, rich colors, hardwoods and a refined turn-of-the-century, New England-style nautical-themed resort.

And when you think of a hotel pool, you likely don't conjure up images of a 3-acre waterpark complete with a life-size shipwreck replica that is home to a long, twisting, turning waterslide.

But all this, and actually a lot more, is precisely what you'll find at what has to be one of the best hotels at Disney World , Disney's Yacht Club Resort. In fact, when we picked this resort for a short Florida getaway, we actually considered not spending any days in the Disney theme parks to go along with it. We amended that plan for one day at Epcot, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to do an entire vacation here without getting on a single ride. In this case, the resort could be the destination.

Disney's Yacht Club (1990) opened in the same era of rapid Disney World development as Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort (1988), and both share a type of ocean theme. However, the two couldn't be more different from one another. With just over 600 rooms (compared to more than 1,500 at Caribbean Beach), this deluxe Disney resort offers guests a vacation within a vacation both in terms of comfort and amenities.

After a recent stay at the property, it was all I could do to not add another night when the time to check out unfortunately arrived. And while not everything is postcard-perfect at this Disney resort at the moment, I promised myself (and my kids) we'd be back. It's that special.

Let's start with some bad news: Disney's Yacht Club is often expensive.

This is one of Disney's deluxe resorts and there is no Disney Vacation Club wing of this hotel. This means you can't rent DVC points to potentially book a room for less the way you can at places such as Polynesian Village Resort. (Note that you can do this at the neighboring Beach Club Resort.)

If you can snag a room during a sale or with a solid discount, you can probably get the rate down to $350-$400 per night, but it's unlikely to go much lower. It's common for rooms here to go for $500 and up, especially once standard rooms are sold out and you need to pay even more for a water view, which is precisely what I had to do. The view itself is (in my mind) not actually worth an upcharge, but sometimes that's all that's available.

While I booked during a 30% off sale, my water-view room at the Yacht Club still came to just over $500 per night. There are some ways to use points for Disney World vacations , such as using miles from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to offset the expense at a 1 cent = 1 mile valuation , but there's no way to get outsize value for your credit card points at Disney properties.

If you do decide to book a Disney resort like this one, it can make sense to go through a Disney Vacation Planner as that doesn't add to your cost and they do a great job staying on the lookout for sales and discounts and keeping track of all those ever-changing components of a trip to Disney World.

Related: How much does a trip to Disney World cost?

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

No doubt it sounds a touch insane to spend $500 for a theme park-adjacent hotel room, but the location is one reason why Disney's Yacht Club commands that rate (and often sells out).

This hotel is just a 5-10 minute walk from the World Showcase entrance of Epcot. It is also within walking distance of Disney's Hollywood Studios, or you can hop on a boat to take you there since that walk is a bit longer.

Being so close to Epcot also means that the Skyliner stop at Epcot is within very easy reach, opening up even more Disney locations such as the Riviera Resort , Caribbean Beach Resort and more.

Yacht Club is also an incredibly short stroll away from the BoardWalk, which is home to even more shops and restaurants.

I'm happy to save money and stay off Disney property on the first night of the trip, or for trips when we aren't going for an all-in Disney family vacation. But when we do go all-in on Disney World, I want to be in the "Disney bubble." Staying at Yacht Club puts you in the heart of the Disney bubble, well-cushioned in your own deluxe nautical-themed space, but just an arm's reach from lots of great Disney dining and entertainment options.

Related: Guide to visiting Walt Disney World

We arrived at Disney's Yacht Club in the early afternoon, after starting the vacation off with a character brunch at Topolino's Terrace at the top of the nearby Disney Riviera Resort . (Which I highly recommend you add to your to-do list if you love characters and can snag a reservation.)

Since we arrived a few hours before official check-in time, I didn't have high hopes our room would be ready, given the era of pandemic precautions, but that became the first pleasant surprise of the trip when Room 2077 was ready and waiting for us several hours early.

Check-in is also where we were informed that while room service has returned as an option for breakfast and dinner, regular housekeeping had not yet returned to Disney resorts . Towels and trash would be attended to every other day. For our two-night stay, that meant there would be no formal housekeeping services, though we could ask for more towels and such.

If you are able to manage stairs, you can easily access the second level of the resort — where we stayed — via the lobby without using the elevators.

In fact, heading up the lobby stairs reveals some fun touches, such as a ship's wheel, among other themed decor.

Our room was a bit of a walk down several hallways, so if that's an issue, ask for a room closer to the lobby if available.

Inside a room at Disney's Yacht Club, you aren't going to find bright colors, Disney characters or loud decor. If that's what you want, I recommend Disney's Art of Animation , which has plenty of color and characters.

Yacht Club was renovated in recent years to appeal not only to traditional Disney vacationers but also to conventiongoers who frequently stay at the resort during normal times. And in this case, everyone won with a redesign that maintained the overall theme but upgraded the offerings.

The rooms still carry out the resort's high-end nautical theme, but in a way that is elegant and more refined than the previous 1990s-era version.

Like with other Disney resort upgrades, the beds are now raised and the floors are now hard instead of carpet. As Disney renovated rooms across its properties, this has been the standard it is changing to.

There's a pullout sofa that can be used as a sleeper and a small writing desk.

Most notably, there were outlets everywhere. We travel with a lot of things that need charging and we didn't come close to using them all up. Some furnishings may be made to look like turn-of-the-century New England, but they are loaded with modern-day power.

The two queen beds were perfect for a good night's rest after a busy day at Disney.

In the room, you'll also find a minifridge and Keurig.

We were impressed with the amount of storage the room had in the form of shelves, racks, cubbies and drawers. We were able to stay far more organized than normal with a family's worth of stuff, thanks to the storage options.

There was a balcony with two chairs that overlooked a well-manicured green lawn and technically some water. Remember, this was a pricier water-view room after all.

I adored the drapes, both because they did a great job keeping light out in the morning but also because they were adorable and perfect for the room, featuring constellations.

Like at many other similar Disney resorts, the bathroom had a vanity with two sinks located in a cubby between the main room and the bathroom, so it could be used while someone was in the shower.

The bathroom area had a sliding door for both the room itself and the tub/shower combo. There were plenty of Disney H2O+ bath products in the shower and bathroom area.

We found the room incredibly nice, but do know that it doesn't take much to hear what's going on in the hallway or other rooms around you. If you like total silence, you'll be well-served to pack some earplugs and a white noise app to go along with your Mickey ears.

Related: Why you need more than just a ticket to get into Disney World this summer

The Yacht Club room is plenty comfortable, but that's probably not why you stay at Disney's Yacht Club — it's certainly not why we paid what we did to stay here.

Stormalong Bay pool complex

What makes this resort so special is the 3-acre pool complex shared with the neighboring Disney Beach Club Resort.

Dubbed Stormalong Bay, this pool complex has everything from a 230-foot waterslide to a lazy river, whirlpool, shallow splash area, toddler slide, hot tubs and more. It even has a sandy bottom in some of the areas, which feels so much nicer on your tired Disney feet than a hard surface.

This pool area is almost a mini-waterpark and certainly worthy of planning some time in your schedule just to enjoy it. Right now, it can get busy to the point where there is no way to get in during peak times.

However, we had a blast also going late at night after the parks closed, when there were very few people in the pool at all. While the hours can vary, it was open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. during our stay.

There are four cabanas at the pool you can book if you want extra space and service, but you need to reserve well in advance if you want those because they go quickly.

Getting into the pool requires verification you are a resort guest and you're then assigned the colored wristband of the day to wear. There's plenty of towels at the pool, as well as a small army of lifeguards keeping a close watch on the various areas of the pool.

Stormalong Bay is adjacent to Hurricane Hanna's Waterside Bar & Grill, so it's pretty easy to pop over there and order a snack or cocktail. The $12 seafood roll turned out to be a perfect snack for us.

My 11-year-old gave the $6 Lava Smoothie (made of raspberry, coconut and pineapple flavors) high marks and my $14 Frosé was excellent.

Whether your group is made up of adults, some teens, tweens or toddlers, this pool area is truly excellent, especially if you build in some time to enjoy it when most people are sleeping, eating or in the Disney parks.

Evening movies on the beach

Several nights per week at 8 p.m., a Disney movie is shown along the "beach" at the Yacht Club. This is free to enjoy and the week we were there the films showing were "Zootopia," "Sleeping Beauty," "A Bug's Life" and "Disneynature: Earth."

I'll never fully understand who needs a treadmill at Disney when it's normal to walk 10 miles a day in the park, but Yacht Club has those and more in its gym that overlooks Stormalong Bay.

Magical Express Bus

Until the end of 2021, if you want to take the included Magical Express Bus transportation to and from the Orlando airport, that's available to those who stay at this and any other full-fledged Disney resort hotel. If you decide to self-park at Yacht Club, it's going to cost you $25 per night. The upside is that the fee also gives you access to parking at the Disney theme parks at no additional charge.

The Magical Express Bus stop is right in front of the hotel entrance, and the bus stop to go to the various Disney theme parks is just to the side of the hotel entrance.

Still-closed amenities

If you remember when I mentioned there are still some small bumps at Yacht Club, here's where they begin.

Those looking for the ultimate, once-in-a-lifetime Yacht Club experience may want to hold off a tiny bit longer if you want to experience all the amenities. The Club Lounge remains closed, as does one of the main sit-down restaurants.

On top of that, the onsite Ship Shape Salon is still closed, along with the Lafferty Place Arcade.

Normally, you can rent boats or even sign your kids up for a pirate-themed adventure that leaves from the dock outside of the Yacht Club, but all of that is also still on pause.

We had plenty to do for a few days without any of those amenities, but just keep in mind that some things remain shuttered for now.

Related: Changes to expect at Disney World in 2021

Ale & Compass Restaurant

Just off the lobby of Yacht Club is a dark, subdued restaurant called Ale & Compass. While you do need reservations to eat breakfast or dinner here, it's one of the easier reservations to get at Disney World.

Described as "Yankee comfort food," this menu has options such as lobster-and-corn chowder; a fantastic salad called the Ale & Compass salad with additions such as pumpkin seeds and beets; steak; pasta; and a burger with bacon and Vermont cheddar served with thick fries.

Getting good photos in the dark restaurant was next to impossible, but we enjoyed our salad and burger.

And while we didn't eat breakfast here, I've heard good things about the dark chocolate waffles.

Our service here was quite friendly but incredibly slow. The wait for our reservation was pretty extensive, followed by another wait for a server to arrive at our table to start the meal-ordering process. This is likely at least in part due to the restaurant having a brisk business of to-go orders that you can make from the Disney app, along with the other sit-down restaurant at the hotel remaining closed.

Related: These are the best restaurants at Disney World

Ale & Compass Lounge

Another alternative to the restaurant is the adjacent Ale & Compass Lounge, which also has a sleek, updated, but pretty dark look once day turns to night.

In the back of the lounge is a bar, with the front portion offering a variety of seating options and a reduced menu that still includes the burger and chowder.

The Market at Ale & Compass

In the gift shop area of the hotel is the Market at Ale & Compass, where you can order grab-and-go options in the Disney app.

We tried the $12 breakfast bowl that had a little bit of everything on it and was actually almost enough food for myself and two kids for a quick pre-park breakfast.

The $7 ham and cheese breakfast sandwich on a pretzel roll also looked really solid.

In the afternoon and evening, you'll find a variety of sandwiches, a hot dog and a panini on the menu.

Beaches and Cream Soda Shop

If you're going to splurge cash on staying at the Yacht Club, I highly recommend also splurging some calories at Beaches and Cream. You're going to need to make a reservation here well in advance (dining reservations are accepted 60 days before your trip) or get very lucky.

We planned our trip pretty close-in and were never able to snag advance reservations, but got lucky with timing that they had an outdoor table available for us to order the most exciting item on the menu ... the Kitchen Sink.

This $35 sink of ice cream is made of eight scoops (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream and mint) along with every single topping in the house. Oh, and there's also an entire can of whipped cream on top.

It's epic, huge, ridiculous and a lot of fun.

The three of us barely put a dent in it but certainly had fun trying.

There are more regular-sized ice cream options on the menu, too, but if you're doing a once-in-a-lifetime trip, try this once-in-a-lifetime dessert.

Should you want more than just sugar for your meal, this is also where you'll find burgers, sandwiches, chili and other 1950s classic-style treats.

Yachtsman Steakhouse

This second sit-down restaurant has not yet reopened, but when it does, this is where you can go for those post-convention expensed sales dinners ... or a very nice meal out for two. The menu features a $135 seafood tower, prime porterhouse, lobster, filet mignon, elk, lobster and other similar entrees that start around $50.

Overall impressions

I'm a total and complete sucker for a well-themed, well-located Disney World resort. Resorts such as this one, along with Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and others, have me hook, line and wallet.

For me, the resort hotel isn't just a place to sleep at night, it's also a destination much like the theme parks themselves. I enjoy the scent in the lobby, the storyline of the property, the Disney touches throughout and the convenience of being fully immersed in Disney magic.

While my kids vetoed the idea, I'd have been totally happy having Disney's Yacht Club Resort serve as our actual final destination for the weekend with no park time at all. However, since it is such an easy walk to Epcot, adding that park on was actually a whole lot of fun, too.

If what you want is just a decent bed close to the parks, don't stay here. You're probably overpaying to stay at Yacht Club if you don't truly value the Stormalong Bay pool area. You can stay at the next-door Disney Swan and Dolphin for a fraction of the cash if you're just after location.

And right now, with some amenities still closed, I don't recommend staying here if you are going to be upset when things aren't 100% full service and perfect. The prices are as high as ever to match demand, so don't expect a reduced price to match the reduced amenities.

But if you can overlook a few things and what you want is a fun, slightly grown-up hotel theme, a great location, access to the best resort pool at Disney World and easy access to multiple restaurants, Disney's Yacht Club Resort is now officially one of my favorite Disney hotels — and one that I can't wait to return to in the coming years.