Disney’s Yacht Club resort review

A look at Disney’s Yacht Club resort:

On my most recent trip to Disney I stayed at the Yacht Club. To be honest, it had never been super high on my list of places to try – if anything, I’d heard everyone talking about the Beach Club and figured I would stay there first. The Beach Club themeing seemed more my style than Yacht Club anyway. But I got a much better deal on Disney’s Yacht Club so it was an easy choice!

And to be honest I really loved it there. We stayed in November 2020 and even with things still being a little different we had a fantastic stay.

Location and Transportation

Probably the number one thing for me about Disney’s Yacht Club is the location. This resort is located around Crescent Lake by the Boardwalk, and to me it’s the perfect location. I know the monorail resorts get a lot of hype but I prefer being here. You can easily walk to Epcot and enter through the International Gateway. You can also take a slightly longer walk to Hollywood Studios. In addition they have a boat that goes to both of these parks. Buses run to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. If you’re interested in visiting another resort for a meal you also have easy access to the Skyliner resorts by using the Skyliner right outside of Epcot. This is perfect to try a meal like Topolino’s Terrace at the new Riviera Resort.

Themeing

This resort is reminiscent of a New England beachside town and much of the decor focuses very heavily on the nautical theme. As Yachts never did much for me I didn’t really think I would appreciate it – and while it’s definitely not my favorite theme for a Disney resort I still enjoyed it more than I expected. It definitely feels a bit more adult and upscale, but it’s also not snobby or somewhere that you might feel a little off bringing kids, like some people feel at the Grand Floridian. The colors are a lot of whites and navy blues which feels bright and welcoming. It would also be a good option for travelers or people with family members who don’t want an overtly Disney theme.

Food

The Yacht Club itself has several great food options. It also is literally next to and shares many amenities with the Beach Club so it’s easy to get to those restaurants as well… and the Boardwalk is a short walk away, so you have lots of food options. At the Yacht Club itself you’ll find:

• Ale and Compass Restaurant (and lounge)
• The Market at Ale and Compass
• Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill
• Yachtsman Steakhouse
• Crew’s Cup Lounge

The only place we haven’t tried is the Crew’s Cup Lounge. Yachtsman Steakhouse is their signature restaurant, and while it still hasn’t reopened yet we’ve been there a few times in the past. While it’s pricey it is definitely worth the splurge as the food is fantastic. We ordered to-go food from Ale and Compass and this was a great service. It was table service food but we got it packed up so we could eat it in our room. The food was so much better than I expected. The rolls and spreads and the seafood pot pie were really delicious. The Market is your typical quick service and was good for a quick breakfast or our late night arrival. And while we didn’t eat at Hurricane Hanna’s, it’s the pool bar and we got a number of drinks that were great and had wonderful service from the bartender there!

Next door at Beach Club you’ll find Beaches and Cream Soda Shop, Beach Club Marketplace, Martha’s Vineyard, and Cape May Cafe. The Boardwalk is maybe a 1/3 mile walk and there you’ll get AbracadaBAR, Boardwalk Bakery, Trattoria al Forno, Big River Grille and Brewing Works, ESPN Club, and Flying Fish.

The Room

I was really happy with our room at Disney’s Yacht Club. It was a standard room but being a deluxe resort it’s pretty large. It feels like a lot of space and there are so many great little touches. I loved the curtains – they had constellations on them in the shapes of Disney characters. The bathroom area has the sinks outside which is always nice. One of my favorite things was a little shelf on the wall next to the bed. This was on the side of the bed that didn’t have the nightstand – I just thought it was so smart because whoever gets that side always gets ripped off! It was nice to have a little place to put my glasses and phone at night.

Another reason why I favor deluxe resorts these days is because of the balcony. For me it doesn’t really matter what the view is. I just like the opportunity to sit outside in the morning while I drink my coffee, or when we take an afternoon break. I can bring my laptop out there and blog or edit photos and enjoy the warmth and sun.

Our room location was great. We were in room 3168, which is on the third floor. It was pretty much as close to the lobby and the elevators as you could be. This had pros and cons – you could easily get to the lobby and out the door to the buses or the parks without walking too much. On the other hand, there was a lot of excess noise due to being that close to the elevators. Our balcony had a view of the bus area. While that might not be the most beautiful view it was actually quite useful! We had our car with us and would debate driving to the parks or taking the bus, and we could look out the balcony and see what the line for buses looked like. 

The Pool

Yacht Club and Beach Club share a pool, and it’s the best one in Disney World. I mean, of course that is my opinion, but I think it’s a fairly common opinion. The pool is called Stormalong Bay, and you need to be staying there to be able to use it. They will scan your magicband or take your room number in order to get in the gate.

It’s a huge pool and even has its own lazy river. But the best part is definitely the water slide. It’s actually quite long and is more like one you’d find at a water park than a typical pool. I was a little skeptical but it was so much fun. The pool also has two hot tubs available (my favorite).

Size

Disney’s Yacht Club is fairly compact, which is nice. Even combined with Beach Club it’s not huge or sprawling like most of the moderate resorts or bigger deluxes like Old Key West or Saratoga Springs. You can walk everywhere including to Epcot. Anytime I don’t have to wait for a bus is a huge advantage for me.

Things to Do

It will be interesting to see what will return once things start getting back to normal, as a lot of the extras and activities aren’t currently available. There are a number of sports offered, including volleyball, fishing, tennis, and boat rentals. Plus if you enjoy running or jogging it’s really pleasant to run around Crescent Lake. They normally have an arcade, movies under the stars, and campfire activities. And of course you have the pool mentioned above, plus the option to rent a poolside cabana. Fantasia mini golf is also nearby.

Would I stay again?

Definitely. The resort was really nice and I would love to stay here again especially for a trip where I’m planning for more downtime. If I’m staying here I definitely want to build in more pool time. It’s ideal if one of the Epcot festivals interests you, as Epcot is a short walk away. And there are a ton of great restaurants so foodies will be pleased. Since it can be pricey it won’t always be my go-to but it’s one I’m going to try and get back to from time to time!

Thinking about a trip to Disney World? Check out my Ultimate List of Disney World planning resources to get you started. If you’d like the assistance of a travel agent at no extra cost to you, email me at [email protected] and we can start planning and booking your trip!

Other blog posts of interest:

Boardwalk Resort review
Regatta Run at the Yacht and Beach Club
Yachtsman Steakhouse review
Disney transportation options from the resorts
5 reasons NOT to stay at a Disney value resort

Have you stayed at Disney’s Yacht Club? What do you think of this one?