yacht and boat club disney

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yacht Club Restaurants

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rooms 

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

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

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

Prices at Yacht Club

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

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

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

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

Things to Do at Disney’s Yacht Club 

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

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

See Epcot Fireworks

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

Take a Ride on the Skyliner

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

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

Eat Ice Cream

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

Dine with Characters

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

Float along the Lazy River

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

Play Games in the Arcade

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

Ride the Friendship Boats

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

Build Sandcastles

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

Make S’mores

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

Rent a Boat

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

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

Stroll along the Disney Boardwalk

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

Play Volleyball

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

Enjoy an Evening Movie

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

Play Mini Golf

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

Swim Some Laps

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

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

Join a Kid Friendly Party at the Pool

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

Play Tennis

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

Zoom Down Waterslides

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

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

Book a Fireworks Cruise

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

Transportation

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

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

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

Is Disney’s Yacht Club Worth It?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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• EPCOT / News / Resorts / Walt Disney World

Your Guide To Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

by Melissa Roden · February 11, 2022

If you’ve been following along with us here at  MickeyBlog , you’ll know that we’ve been exploring many of our favorite Walt Disney World Resorts.  Next up is a bit of a hidden secret among my regular clients- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort!  You can’t beat this property for close proximity to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios along with a whole host of awesome amenities!

This Deluxe EPCOT Resort property captures the formal grace of a grand New England-style Yacht Club with elegant decor and lots of nautical touches. You’ll enjoy relaxing in the plush lobby or popping next to the Yacht Club’s pastel-toned sister, Disney’s Beach Club Resort. 

Located in the EPCOT Resort area, you are just a quick walk to the International Gateway entrance of EPCOT.  Or if you prefer, you can take a friendship boat to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios which is also close by.  The Yacht Club property sits next to Disney’s Beach Club Inn meaning you can enjoy all of the amenities that sister resort has to offer. You are also just across the lake from Disney’s Boardwalk with restaurants, nightlife, shops and more!

Yacht Club Transportaion

Getting around during your stay at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is easy.  Who have a whole host of different options from reaching your destination on foot to hopping on a Friendship Boat. Check out our transportation list below: 

• EPCOT: Short Walk or Friendship Boat
• Hollywood Studios: Boat
• Magic Kingdom: Bus
• Animal Kingdom: Bus
• Disney Springs: Bus

• 2 Queen Beds and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair or 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed or 1 King Bed or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair and 1 Day Bed
• Views of Rooftop or Parking Area
• Sleeps 5 Adults
• 1 King Bed or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Day Bed and 1 Twin Size Sleeper Chair or 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 2 Queen Beds
• Views of Garden
• Sleeps up to 5 Adults
• 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed or 1 King Bed or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Day Bed and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair or 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 2 Queen Beds
• Views of Crescent Lake or Quiet Pool
• Sleeps up to 5 Adults 

Rooms and Suites With Club Level Service

Club Level Amenities Include: 

• Complimentary health club access
• Secured key access to the club-level lounge, serving refreshments 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily
• Club Level Concierge – Regatta Club
• Complimentary newspapers in Club Level lounge
• 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds
• Sleeps up to 4 Adults
• 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 2 Queen Beds or 1 King Bed
• Sleeps Up to 4 Adults 
• 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed or 2 Queen Beds or 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 1 King Bed
• Views of One of the Stormalong Bay Lagoons
• 2 King Beds and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa
• Views of Stormalong Bay or Crescent Lake
• Sleeps up to 6 Adults 
• 1 King Bed and 2 Queen Beds
• Water Views
• Sleeps up to 6 Adults
• 1 King Bed, 2 Queen Beds and 1 Sleeper Sofa
• Sleeps up to 8 Adults 

Food & Beverage

The following dining locations are located at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort 

• Yachtsman Steakhouse- A MickeyBlog favorite, the airy dining room of this Table Service eatery features knotty-pine beams and nautical touches. Menu highlights include grain-fed beef that is aged in house and prepared on an oak-fired grill, 12 oz Prime New York Strip Steak with peppercorn brand sauce, truffle macaroni and cheese and for dessert the Yachtman’s Chocolate Cake. 
• Ale & Compass Restaurant – Drop anchor for Eastern Seaboard eats that the whole crew will love at this Table Service eatery. This seaworthy spot is a comfortable place to relax and refuel before and after a day of adventure. For breakfast we recommend the dark chocolate waffle or  salted caramel-apple French toast.  Lunch options include Lobster and Corn Chowder, Ale and Compass Salad, and the Bacon and Vermont Cheddar Burger. Finally, for dinner, indulge in sumptuous seafood, like sustainable catch of the day or New England seafood pot pie.
• Ale & Compass Lounge – Stop by this nautical nook for lively libations and savory snacks. Choose from a variety of beers, wines and high-end liquors—as well as cocktails like the Spicy Pomegranate Margarita and the Captain’s Mai Tai.
• The Market at Ale & Compass- Pop by this quick service spot for a variety of provisions. Once inside, you’ll find breakfast favorites like Mickey waffles with bacon, tasty sandwiches and hot paninis at lunchtime and delightful coffee beverages to brighten your day—along with magical Disney merchandise.
• Cape May Cafe – Start your day off right with an all-you-care-to-enjoy, breakfast buffet featuring Assorted House-Made Pastries, Omelets, Beef Hash, and of course, Mickey and Minnie Waffles. For dinner buffet offerings include Peel-n-Eat Shrimp, Cape May Clams, Oven Roasted Lemon Chicken and Slow-roasted Strip Loin. Available for an additional fee are Snow Crab Legs (per pound) and Whole Lobster.
• Beaches & Cream – Slide into a beach ball-bedecked booth at this Table Service spot and peruse a menu of fountain favorites, sweet surprises and hot-off-the-grill items. Find yourself in “burger heaven” or try the equally sublime grilled cheese and tomato soup. Chili-cheese tots and onion rings are among the other comfort classics offered. But the main event here is, of course, dessert with showstoppers, like the Snickers Sundae and the No Way José—a delectable creation with ice cream, peanut butter and hot fudge. For the ultimate experience, get a load of the Kitchen Sink: 8 scoops of ice cream smothered in every topping we have.
• Beach Club Marketplace – Quick Service- Start your day with a breakfast sandwich or Mickey waffles. Then fuel up on lunch and dinner with a selection of macaroni and cheese dishes, hot or cold sandwiches, or refreshing salads.
• Martha’s Vineyard – Canoodle over a Cape Cod or any signature cocktail from the full bar menu at this mellow New England beach house-inspired lounge. Imported wines and draft beers, including Sam Adams Seasonal, enhance the mood. Appetizers are also available.
• Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar – Enjoy the view of Stormalong Bay as you’re blown away by a sea of signature cocktails, draft beers and frozen drinks like the rum-infused Piña CoLAVA.
• Crew’s Cup Lounge – Race into port for a refreshing beverage at this cozy outpost nestled next to the Yachtsman Steakhouse. Unwind with a pint, a glass of wine or a cool cocktail or from a selection of tasty menu items (hours vary).

Swimming Pools

Stormalong Bay- Disney’s Yacht Club and Disney’s Beach Club share the be all and end all of Disney pools called Stormalong Bay.  This pool area feels more like a water park with a 750,000 gallon pool offering 3 acres of aquatic fun. You can immerse yourself in this expansive sand-bottomed pool or relax in the lazy circular river.  There’s even a life-size shipwreck replica and one of the highest hotel waterslides in Walt Disney World.   You can also unwind atop the elevated training deck or in one of the three whirlpool spas. 

Shipwreck Pool – Created especially for tiny tots, this is the perfect place for wading and waterplay.  It even features a miniature waterslide. 

3 Leisure Pools – Looking for something more on the tranquil side? There are three additional leisure pools on property. The locations are as follows: 

• Tidal Pool at Disney’s Beach Club Resort Pool – located in the garden area at the far end of the resort facing Crescent Lake. 
• Admiral Pool at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Pool- found on its own tranquil garden area
• Dunes Cove Pool at Disney’s Beach Club Villas Pool – Privately located in the villa area but Yacht Club guests are welcome to enjoy it! 

Cabana Rentals – Guests can pre-book a cabana at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Cabanas come with the following amenities. 

• Dedicated Cast Member providing service to the cabanas
• Cocktail service
• Ceiling fan
• Padded furniture, including chairs and couch
• Television with cable access
• Charging outlet/USB
• Mini refrigerator stocked with complimentary sodas and water
• Fruit basket (may not be available without advance reservation)
• Plush towels
• Cabinet safe

Cabana rentals are an additional fee and reservations can be made at 407.WDW.PLAY. 

Additional Recreation

• Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf – Guests staying at the Yacht Club are just a short walk away from this miniature golf course featuring two 18-hole course. You can putt your way through 5 whimsical scenes featuring characters from  Fantasia including tutu-clad hippos, marching broomsticks and pirouetting ostriches. 
• Campfires – Gather ‘round as the sun goes down for a little old-fashioned family fun as you roast marshmallows next to a crackling fire.
• Movies Under the Stars – Watch favorite Disney films at complimentary screenings in the Solarium or on a lawn outdoors near the volleyball courts. The line-up changes regularly so as the front desk for the schedule! 
• Motorized Boat Rentals – Chart a course for fun with a choice of powerboats available for rent at Walt Disney World Resort marinas.
• Fishing – Enjoy a guided bass-fishing excursion—perfect for both amateur wranglers and seasoned fishermen!
• Tennis Courts – Show off your skills on a lit tennis court, located near the Admiral Pool!
• Volleyball – Enjoy a friendly volleyball match on a sandy court located near the Tidal Pool. Complimentary equipment is available. 
• Jogging Trails- Take your pick of several jogging paths, including a loop around Crescent Lake.
• Lafferty Place Arcade – Score big with a variety of video games at this arcade near Stormalong Bay.
• Ship-Shape Salon and Fitness – Get toned at this full-service facility featuring equipment, massages and more.

• The Market at Ale & Compass – Navigate to this all-in-one emporium to stock up on everyday essentials, souvenirs, chilled beverages and snacks. You can also shop the theme parks with ease and have your goods delivered here, where they’ll be available for pickup later.
• Beach Club Marketplace – Find Disney souvenirs, apparel, grab ‘n’ go food items, cold beverages and sundries at this convenient all-purpose shop.

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by planDisney (@plandisneypanel)

As one of Disney’s Deluxe Resort properties, pricing at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort for Spring 2022 starts at around $500 and go up to the $1000+ range for suites and club level  However, this property is also regularly included in Disney discount offers so you may be able to get some additional savings! 

You can download the entire Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Pocket Guide here – Yacht Club Pocket Guide

Readers are encouraged to keep following along with  MickeyBlog for further Walt Disney World news and updates!  To book your Yacht Club stay simply fill out my form below.

With new policies and procedures in place during the year ahead, there’s never been a better time to work with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner who can help you navigate through Disney World’s new way of doing things!  I’ll be on hand to assist with everything from finding that perfect package and getting the best deals to organizing park passes, Disney Genie+ and dining reservations.  Best of all- my services are ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Just fill out my form  HERE  to get your FREE, no-obligation quote. Alternatively, feel free to reach out at  [email protected]  or follow along on  Facebook

Tags: dining Disney's Yacht Club Resort Epcot Pocket Guide recreation room rates Room Types Swimming Pools transportation

Melissa Roden

As an agent with MickeyTravels and a Blogger with MickeyBlog I enjoy sharing, tips, tricks and advice to help readers and clients get the most out of your time with Disney. When I'm not helping clients plan their perfect holidays or nab those hard-to-get discounts you can find me enjoying a Dole Whip at Disney World with my daughter! Reach out for a FREE, no obligation quote at 1.800.801.4025 or find me on Facebook !

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Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Last updated: August 21, 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.

$609 - $4,093

Lodging Area

Boat, Bus, Skyliner, Walk

Guest Overall Rating

Based on 279 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

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Your Guide to Disney’s Beach & Yacht Club Resorts

in Hotel , Walt Disney World

Welcome, Disney vacation planners! If you’re looking for a complete guide to a deluxe resort with Walt Disney World’s BEST pool, amazing proximity to EPCOT, and all the pixie dust you can expect from the top category in Disney resorts, you’ve come to the right place! BONUS, we’re discussing TWO adjacent resorts in this complete guide.

So, stay with us as we cover all the details you need to know as you plan your stay at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Resorts.

Related: Disney’s BoardWalk Inn: A Complete Guide

In this Complete Guide we will cover:

An Overview of Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Resorts

Disney’s beach and yacht club resorts pros and cons, accommodations at disney’s beach and yacht club resorts, dining at disney’s beach and yacht club resorts, amenities and activities at disney’s beach and yacht club resort.

• Transportation at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Resorts

Disney Extras

If a beach vacation is what you usually dream of, but you want to get some Disney magic for your next vacation, Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Resorts will give you the best of both worlds!

During your stay at either of these Deluxe Disney Resort Hotels, you’ll feel like you’ve escaped to a New England seaside wooden cottage, with sandy areas, a BoardWalk nearby, and fireworks views. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Resorts are located in the EPCOT resort area. This means you can easily walk over to EPCOT and to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In no time flat, you can be enjoying a croissant at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in the France Pavilion at EPCOT’s World Showcase or rushing over to join a boarding group for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Related: Here’s Everything You Need to Know Before You Experience Rise of the Resistance

Across the water, you can enjoy views of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. A short walk will have you enjoying Midway games, dinner at any one of the many dining options at the BoardWalk , or even just for a quick ice cream treat.

Both Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club resorts offer comfort and all the Disney Deluxe Resort touches you can expect to make your magical vacation extra special. Disney’s Beach Club is also part of the Disney Vacation Club family, offering villas that can fit larger families or groups!

It’s hard to choose a favorite. But follow along as we keep on swimming and learning more about why these resort hotels might be the perfect choice for your upcoming Disney World visit.

• Walking distance to EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s BoardWalk
• Walt Disney World Resort’s BEST pool on property- Stormalong Bay
• Great dining options
• Deluxe Amenities
• Recently renovated rooms
• Childcare on location – Captain Hook’s Pirate Crew
• Beautiful Grounds
• Convention hotel
• Can feel stuffier than other resorts on property
• Can be difficult to locate rooms upon arrival

Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club are home to over 1400 Guest Rooms, more than 275 Villas, and over 20 Suites and you!

Rooms at Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Standard Rooms at Disney’s Beach Club Resort sleep up to 5-adults. They offer a combination of either two Queen Beds and a Day Bed, one Queen Bed and one Day Bed, two Queen Beds or one King Bed and one Day Bed.

Guests can pick from Standard views which offer views of Disney’s Beach Club Resort Rooftop or Parking areas,  Garden/Woods views which offer views of Disney’s Beach Club Resort, or Water views, which offer views of Stormalong Bay, Crescent Lake or the resort’s quiet Pool.

Need a little more room? Choose the Deluxe Room. These rooms sleep up to 6-adults and are larger than the standard rooms. They offer two Queen beds and a Queen sleeper sofa with views of Stormalong Bay, Crescent Lake, the quiet pool or the resort’s parking area.

Looking for an even more deluxe experience? The Club Level rooms will offer a variety of additional services to make your stay a very luxurious one!

Rooms & Suites with Club-Level Service offer the following Amenities:

• Access to Concierge service at the Stone Harbor Club
• Complimentary fax assistance
• Complimentary health club access
• Complimentary newspapers in Club Level lounge
• Evening turndown
• Personalized Front Desk and Guest Services
• Secured key access to the club-level lounge, serving refreshments 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily

It’s important to note that the Club Level rooms only sleep up to 4-adults. These rooms are available in standard, water, and garden view options.

Also available, a one-Bedroom Club Level Access Suite that also sleeps up to 4-adults. This suite offers additional privacy with the separation for the bedroom and comes with one King Bed and one Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa.

Have additional guests? The Two Bedroom Club Level Access Suite will sleep up to 7-adults. Offering views of Disney’s Beach Club Resort Gardens, Woods or Crescent Lake, this two-bedroom suite has 2 Queen Beds, one King Bed and one Day Bed.

Disney’s Beach Club Villas

Disney’s Beach Club Villas are part of Disney’s Vacation Club or DVC. Offering ample room and all the comforts to make you feel right at home, if you want a little more legroom and additional amenities, these larger accommodations might be the perfect fit for your family or group.

Offering Deluxe Studios, One-Bedroom Villas, and Two-Bedroom Villas.

The Deluxe Studios sleep up to four guests, plus one child under age 3 in a crib. They offer a kitchenette, one queen-size bed, a double-size sleeper sofa, and a private porch or balcony, perfect for that quiet morning coffee!

The largest accommodations available at this resort are the two-Bedroom Villas which can sleep up to eight guests, plus one child under age 3 in a crib. Like the one-bedroom villa, you’ll have a fully equipped kitchen for memory-making meals together, a master bedroom, a second bedroom, two full bathrooms, in-room washer and dryer, and a private porch or balcony.

Rooms at Disney’s Yacht Club

Disney’s Yacht Club rooms recently went through a lovely refurbishment updating all the furnishing and style giving this resort a nice updated look.

Similar to Disney’s Beach Club Resort’s rooms, Disney’s Yacht Club offers Standard, Garden/Woods, or Water views.

Each room sleeps up to 5-guests plus an additional child under 3 in a crib.

Each Standard Room has a combination of the following:

• 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed
• 1 Queen Bed, a Twin-Size Sleeper Chair, and Day Bed
• King Bed and a Day Bed

Room Amenities

• Coffee Maker
• In-room safe
• Internet – Free WiFi Service
• Iron & ironing board
• Mini refrigerator
• Telephone with voice mail

Disney’s Yacht Club also has Club level rooms available. These rooms also only sleep up to 4-adults and offer these additional services:

Some of the best, hidden gems when it comes to restaurants are found at these resorts. The best part of them being a hidden gem is that reservations are not difficult to come by. But most importantly, the food is real Disney magic!

With options from Quick Service to Signature Dining, these resorts will have something for whatever you are in the mood for! And you don’t have to go too far to enjoy a really wonderful dining experience.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort Dining

Table service.

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

Lunch and dinner featuring snacks and a classic American soda fountain. Care to try and finish the Kitchen Sink? We dare you to try!

Disney Character Dining

Join your best girl Minnie at Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast at Cape May Café. An all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast buffet with beachy vibes and Disney Character fun.

Related: Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Cape May Café also offers a delicious and filling seafood dinner buffet!

Quick Service

Beach Club Marketplace

Offering Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Late-Night snacks! Enjoy a hot, made-to-order meal and stock up on snacks before heading out for a day of fun in the parks.

Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill

Lounging by the fabulous Stormalong Bay Pool area is hard, appetite-building work. But, no worries. You don’t have to lounge hungry! Enjoy lunchtime favorites like burgers, nachos, chicken nuggets for the kids and more!

You can’t be in the warm Florida sun without some refreshments, and tasty cocktails, right?  Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill will quench your thirst for some frosty beverages and beautiful bay views at this not-so-blustery walk-up bar.

Disney’s Yacht Club Dining

Signature dining.

Yachtsman Steakhouse

This dinnertime restaurant specializes in oak-grilled steaks, poultry, seafood, vegetarian entrées and more. Fans rave that this is the absolute best steakhouse on property! So, make those reservations soon and don’t miss it!

Table-Service Dining

Ale & Compass Restaurant

This Breakfast buffet is one of the best bangs for your buck on property! So good! Also offering lunch and dinner comfort food and seafood classics.

Quick-Service Dining

  The Market at Ale & Compass

Hot and cold offerings with grab and go convenience, perfect for those quick mornings you’re running out to play at the magic!

Room Service

Room service at Disney’s Beach & Yacht Club offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night offerings available to order until 2 am.

Breakfast is served from 6 am-12 pm. The menu offers breakfast favorites like continental breakfast, omelets, and of course, Mickey waffles! Muffins, bagels, kids meals, and beverages make up a very complete menu. Adult beverages like Mimosas are also available.

Lunch is served from noon to-5pm. Offering appetizers, special seafood options like lobster and corn chowder to keep with the theme, and entrees like burgers, sandwiches, steaks and more.

Pizzas with choice of toppings are also available for lunch, dinner, and late-night orders.

A $3.00 delivery charge, 18% gratuity, and any applicable sales tax and will be added to all orders.

Stormalong Bay

Probably the number one reason guests choose one of these resorts is the incomparable Stormalong Bay aquatic playground. This three-acre water park is chock full of  SPLASHtastic fun for the whole family!

Don’t miss the 230-foot-long waterslide, one of the highest hotel slides at Disney World.

Want a more relaxing experience? Stormalong bay has it! Float down the lazy river on an inner tube, unwind in one of 3 whirlpool spas or simply relax on the elevated tanning deck.

For your tiny Mouseketeers, there is a large sandy beach area with shallow water where they can build sandcastles to their heart’s content! Parents can also take their tiny tots over to Shipwreck Pool for more swimming fun. There’s even a miniature waterslide.

The resort also offers three additional leisure pools and adult whirlpool/hot tubs for more relaxing swim time.

Disney Movies Under the Stars

Watch your favorite Disney movies under the stars with your whole crew! Oh, the memories you’ll make! Check with the front desk for times and movie lists. This activity is weather permitting.

Want to stay in shape even after enjoying all those Mickey-shaped snacks? This resort offers a Health Club, Tennis courts, and a gorgeous jogging trail to burn off all those pixie-dusted calories!

Marina Watercraft Rental

Enjoy the water up-close and personal with one of the marina watercraft rentals. This will turn your resort day into another super fun day!

Surry Bike Rental

Explore the resort grounds on wheels when you ride around with your crew on a Surry Bike! They are so much fun!

Disney’s Beach & Yacht Club Transportation

Guests staying at the Walt Disney World Resort have access to complimentary transportation throughout the resort. During your stay, you will have access to several transportation options that are conveniently located to the resort hotel and will transport you to all the theme parks, Disney Springs and more!

Boats, Buses, and Disney’s Skyliner

Disney Buses and Disney’s Magical Express

You can hop on a Disney Bus to take you to your destination. From Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you never have to worry about how to get to the magic. Disney’s complimentary buses will take the guesswork out of resort transportation.

The bus stop is conveniently located by the front entrance of the resort hotel.

Check your My Disney Experience mobile app for bus schedules.

Disney’s Magical Express is the complimentary service that takes guests from the Orlando International Airport to their resort hotel on Disney property. Once you’ve made your resort reservation, visit this link to request the service. 

Disney Water Transportation

Hop on a fun Disney boat to get to Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the BoardWalk Inn.

The Disney Skyliner

Disney’s newest mode of transportation is conveniently located right outside Epcot’s International Gateway. The Skyliner station is within walking distance from the resort and will have you taking flight in no time to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort , Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

Related: Grand Floridian walkway to Magic Kingdom construction underway at Disney World

This transportation option is as convenient as it is fun! We recommend taking flight even if just to enjoy the ride and the views. Explore other resort and dining options on property via the Skyliner. It will add more magic and adventure to your visit!

Disney’s Minnie Van

Disney’s version of a ride-sharing service is adorable and convenient. Use the Lyft app to request a Minnie Van and see cost estimates for your desired ride.

Pro-tip! Minnie Van will get you closest to Magic Kingdom!

Guests at Disney Resorts, you can enjoy some extra pixie dust to make your stay even more magical!

Extra Magic Hours

Resort Hotel Guests exclusive playtime at the theme parks! Check the times on your My Disney Experience app so you can plan these times during your stay.

Early Access to FastPass+

Resort guests can make their FastPass+ reservations up to 60-days before they arrive.

PRO-TIP! Your FP+ booking window will open 60-days before you arrive plus the days you are staying (up to 10). So, lock in those popular attractions for your last days first to ensure you score those coveted FastPass+ for attractions like Slinky Dog Dash and Avatar Flight of Passage!

Complimentary MagicBands

Customize your MagicBand color before you arrive through your My Disney Experience. NEW options are now available to upgrade your complimentary MagicBand for a small fee . Availability is limited, so check back often.

Related: Resort Exclusive MagicBands Revealed for Grand Floridian and Riviera Guests

Childcare Program on location at the resort

Captain Hooks Pirate Crew

Enjoy some adult time while the kids have a blast being recruited by Captain Hook himself! Kids ages 4-12 can enjoy an evening of adventure, treasure hunting, and fun – dinner included- while the parents go enjoy a grown-up night out! The current price for this activity is $55 per child.

Disney’s Enchanting Extras

Celebrate a birthday with an in-room celebration, order a customizable cake, book a VIP tour to peek inside the magic, limited-time events, nature tours, and more! Visit the Enchanting Extras site to learn more about the magic you can add to your stay!

Related: 45 Secrets for Fabulous Family Vacations

We hope you found this information helpful as you plan your next visit to the Walt Disney World Resort!

If you need assistance planning that enchanted and unforgettable getaway, be sure to reach out to our friends at Academy Travel for a no-cost, no-obligation quote on your magical vacation.

See ya real soon!

Comments Off on Your Guide to Disney’s Beach & Yacht Club Resorts

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Disney’s Yacht Club: the Complete Guide

Disclosure: This Disney Yacht Club overview page contains affiliate links. Read  full Disclosure Policy .

The older sister to the Beach Club Resort , the Disney Yacht Club rests on the Crescent Lake, completing the trio of resort areas on the boardwalk area.

While the Yacht Club shares some features and amenities with the Beach Club , it is a mistake to think that they are one and the same.

Created to be slightly more upscale, the Disney Yacht Club has its own unique flavor that sets it apart from its sister.

Table of Contents

• Resort Snapshot
• History of the Yacht Club
• Resort Amenities
• Sports and Recreation
• Transportation

Resort Location

Contact information, disney’s country club – the disney yacht club.

While the architecture is generally the same, the subtle gray color sets the Yacht Club apart from the Beach Club . This shade also sets the upscale tone. The nautical theme is still present, however the focus is more on boatmen and sailing rather than the beach itself. Jewel tones match the variety of woods in the lobby and hallways, giving the Yacht Club the feel of a fancy ship rather than a beach resort. Throughout the resort, the décor emphasizes sailing and sea voyages, a more serious side to the ocean.

The Disney Yacht Club shares some facilities with the Beach Club , like access to the pools and fitness center. However, it has plenty of its own charms that are not to be ignored. You will also love taking advantage of the proximity to the boat rentals, which fits with the overall resort theme. Don’t forget to get out on the Disney BoardWalk and enjoy the sights!

The resort is comparable in size to the Beach Club (without the Villas), and is attached to one of the convention centers Disney has on site. This makes the Yacht Club an ideal local for a convention, large business meeting, or a wedding. Packages are available to create the perfect experience for a large gathering, and Disney is prepared whether it’s for work or pleasure.

A Voyage Through Time – The History of the Disney Yacht Club

The Disney Yacht Club was the first of the resorts to grace Crescent Lake, opening November 5, 1990, shortly before the Beach Club later that month. Robert Stern, who had a passion for replicating the vintage American vacation experience, designed both the Yacht and Beach Clubs. Eventually, Stern would go on to add the BoardWalk Inn to this resort region, rounding it out in both theme and area. Altogether, these resorts comprise the main Epcot resort area, as well as creating their own small world of a historic New England summer.

The Yacht and Beach Clubs are opposite sides of the marine coin – one focusing on the navigation of the sea while the other fun times at the beach. Both are full of the Disney magic we know and love!  

Anchor’s Away! Disney Yacht Club Resort Amenities

Rooms & suites, accommodations & benefits.

At the Disney Yacht Club, you’ll find plenty to choose from when it comes to the room selection . Decide between a water, garden, or standard view depending on your preference. Additionally, for a bit more, you can book some of these offerings with Club Level perks. The Yacht Club also has two-bedroom suites if you need something with just a bit more space.

Standard rooms and suites all have the same basic amenities:

• Internet – Free WiFi Service
• Telephone with voicemail
• Coffee Maker
• Iron & Ironing Board
• In-Room Safe
• Mini-refrigerator

Such conveniences are typical of a Disney resort stay, making it easy to settle in and feel at home.

At the Club Level, you can take advantage of these extra benefits:

• Evening turndown
• Secured key access to the club-level lounge, serving refreshments 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily
• Access to Concierge service at the Regatta Club
• Complimentary health club access
• Personalized Front Desk and Guest Services

These can be particularly nice, especially if you are planning to hang out at the resort throughout your trip. That extra breakfast option doesn’t hurt either!

Room Layouts

In the standard rooms, regardless of view, you could find a number of configurations. Options include two queen beds, two queen beds and a day bed, one queen bed and a twin-size sleeper chair plus a day bed, one king bed, or one king bed and a day bed. What is great about having so many options is you can take into account the type and size of your party. From there, choose the room that best fits your needs.

Standard rooms are “all in one,” meaning the bedroom and living areas are in the same space. With that in mind, take the time to determine what fits your needs. Just traveling as a couple? Spring for the king bed rather than dealing with the extra space of the extra queen. Only have one child? The single bed and day bed would be better for you. Two kids? How much is it worth to you to give them their own places to sleep?

Two bedroom suites have a king bed in one room and two queen beds in the other. Additionally, there is a queen-sized sleeper sofa if you need just a little more space. This is a great way to get your whole party into one room while still providing privacy to everyone. Multiple bedrooms and a living area also means multiple TVs, which can be a godsend when traveling with kids (or the in-laws). We suggest piling all the kids in your group into the room with the queens, leaving the adults to the privacy of their own areas.

Stormalong Bay

Stormalong Bay is like a miniature water park, complete with a 230-foot water slide, lazy river, and whirlpool section. Oh, did I mention that the slide is shaped like a shipwreck? It’s so cool, and a great spot to snap a photo!

In addition to the amazing pool spaces, there’s actual sand at the bottom of the pool to make it feel like you’re really on the shore! A shallow section of the pool also holds a bit of extra sand for kids to play and build. This is great for your kiddos who don’t really want to get all the way in the pool, but want to join in the fun. Feel free to bring your own buckets and sand toys! Stormalong Bay is heated year-round, so no need to worry that it will feel like the ocean. Even the hot tubs are like their own personal oases, hidden throughout the pool complex like natural hot springs.

If you want to secure yourself a spot at this popular pool, you can rent a poolside cabana . Splurge a little on the extra privacy and comfort! These cabanas have their own padded furniture, television, resort phone, plush towels, and a mini-fridge stocked with complimentary soda and water. You also have access to a small safe for personal belongings you may not want to leave sitting out. While the cabana doesn’t come with food, you can order food to the cabana for an extra charge.

Know Before You Go

Stormalong Bay, sadly, is one of the worst kept secrets on Disney property. It is one of the most popular pools at Disney World , and can get crowded quickly. Part of the reason for this is that Stormalong Bay is shared between the Yacht and Beach Clubs. While Stormalong Bay certainly is big enough to accommodate both resorts, guests tend to hang around the pool for a while. Some guests even spend the whole day (or multiple days) at this inland beach. Moral of the story – if you want to go to Stormalong Bay, make sure you get there early. Or rent a cabana.

Also, make sure you have your MagicBand or phone readily available when headed to the Bay. You will need it to both get into the pool are and prove that you are a Yacht Club guest. This pool is so beloved that guests from other resorts try to sneak in. Especially during peak seasons, Cast Members may ask to scan your MagicBand to be sure you are actually staying at the Beach Club. Please don’t be offended if this happens to you – the Cast Members are just doing their jobs, and it is really to your benefit. It keeps other guests from taking your space!

Leisure Pools

If you’re looking for somewhere a bit quieter to relax, you might want to try one of the three leisure pools. The Yacht and Beach Clubs each have their own, and the Beach Club Villas have one as well. While each pool is designed to serve the guests in those areas, all the pools at both the Yacht and Beach Clubs (including the Villas) are open to all Yacht and Beach Club guests.

Ship Shape – Massage, Spa, Salon, and Fitness

If you’re looking for a place to spoil yourself, or just get a good work out, you want Ship Shape . A massage, salon, and fitness center, it covers all your physical needs. Located at the Yacht Club, but available to all guests, Ship Shape is a great way to keep up with your workout routine while you’re on vacation. You can use the fitness center at any time of day or night, just use your MagicBand to swipe yourself in.

You should also make time for the incredible spa services, including massages and facials. Get a little “me” time with a Swedish massage for yourself, or indulge in a romantic massage for two. Add a reflexology foot massage, aromatherapy, or extra time to any massage appointment for a bit extra.

Right next store to the spa, you can find the salon. Haircuts and other treatments are available for men, women, and children. They even have a special session designed just for the kids to make them look like a Disney character ! The salon also offers a wide variety of nail services, whether you need a touch up or want to get your nails done for a special night out.

If you are planning to use either the spa or salon, you’ll need to book in advance. Call (407) 939-7727 for spa appointments and (407) 939-4526 for the salon. Only guests 18 and older can book the appointments, although younger guests can absolutely use the facilities (while accompanied by an adult). Please note, if your plans change, you need to call to cancel within six hours of your appointment window to avoid paying for the full price of your service.

Those that choose to travel with their own transportation, do have to pay the overnight parking fee for each night of your stay. At the Yacht Club, the fee is $25 a night or $33 for valet. The parking charge goes on the bill at the end of your vacation, so you don’t have to worry about paying it every day.

A major benefit to paying this fee is that you don’t have to also pay to park at the theme parks , which can save you both time and money. There’s something nice about having your own car versus waiting on Disney transportation, so don’t fret about bringing your own car. Growing up, that’s what we always did, and the benefits definitely outweigh the spending.

Sports and Recreation at the Disney Yacht Club

The Disney Yacht Club shares many of its facilities with the Beach Club, and that includes its recreation offerings. While that does mean double the guests trying to do the same activities, there’s enough offered that you won’t feel overcrowded!

I also suggest trying some of the fun surrounding the Yacht Club – there’s lots to see and do over on the BoardWalk side, as well as over by the Swan & Dolphin resorts. All of these areas are a quick walk or boat ride away, so you don’t have to worry about transportation.

Pirate Adventure Cruise

For the kids in your group, consider booking a Pirate Cruise! With the massive rise in popularity of the Disney pirate characters, these lake cruises are perfect for little adventurers.

Kiddos ages 4-12 can join a pirate crew and set sail across Crescent Lake and Epcot park’s World Showcase Lagoon. Departing from the Bayside Marina, right next to the Yacht Club, your little sailors will hear the tale “The Legend of the Albatross” while they follow clues to find a hidden treasure. At the end of the trip, the triumphant buccaneers will split the pirate bounty and enjoy a feast (snack) together!

If you’ve booked yourself something at the spa or the salon, this is a great way for your kids to be entertained and try something new, enabling you to relax and enjoy your treatment. If you have littler ones, we suggest that you make sure they are accompanied by an older child from your party.

Evening Activities

Why let the fun end when the sun goes down? Like many other resorts, the Disney Yacht Club has fun family-focused activities in the evening to help you wind down your day. Enjoy roasting marshmallows over a campfire before watching a movie under the stars!

Located on a lawn outdoors near the Beach Club volleyball courts, you’ll find Cast Members waiting for you with the materials for your delicious snack before showing a family-friendly Disney film . Sometimes the film is shown in the Solarium depending on the weather.

Traditional Sports

Want to get out and enjoy the sunshine? The Yacht Club makes available plenty of more traditional sports opportunities for all the active members of your group.

Fun for the whole family, rent a surrey bike , clattering along and ringing your bell all along the boardwalk. Enjoy a round of tennis or the jogging trails for some light exercise. Runners will also love just taking a few laps around the boardwalk, as it connects the main Epcot resort areas. This is a great way to get moving in the morning, without having to travel particularly far. If you’re up early enough, you’ll get some fantastic pictures of the BoardWalk , Yacht Club, and Beach Club!

Right by the Tidal Pool, there are a few beach volleyball courts if you’re looking for a friendly game. These are first come, first serve (no pun intended).  

You can even go on a guided bass-fishing excursion if you’re dying to get out on the water. Head out onto Crescent Lake, and see what’s biting!

Boat Rentals

Even if you’re not a big fisherman, you can rent motorized boats of various sizes to go out and enjoy Crescent Lake. Speed around the lake in the Sea Raycers, explore the sights in the slightly larger Boston Whaler, or take the whole family on a slow and smooth pontoon ride.

The Sea Racyers are particularly great, as they are light and fast. Built for two passengers, you’ll have a blast racing your family members…just be careful of other boats! Before I could even drive I car, I was able to captain a Sea Racyer, and I loved every minute!

Transportation Options

For airline guests, the best option is Disney’s Magical Express (at least until they finish building the train !). On my most recent trip, I remembered all over again why I love this free service. It’s so nice just to get off the plane, grab your bags, and head straight down to the motor coach. Disney did just recently release that Magical Express will end in 2022, so if you’re travelling any time soon, use it before it’s gone!

Like all Disney resorts , the Yacht Club also uses the Disney bus transportation, taking guests from the resort to the parks and Disney Springs. The busses won’t directly take you to other resorts, but if you head to Disney Springs you can catch a bus to a different resort. You’ll find the Yacht Club bus stop right outside the main lobby and car loop to the left. This is the only bus stop for the Yacht Club, so if your room is a bit further away you might want to account for the walking time when you’re headed to the bus. While the Yacht and Beach Club each have their own bus stop at the resort, they will take the same bus from the parks, so make sure you’re getting off at the right place.

Of course, the Yacht Club is so close to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios that it might just be faster to walk. In fact, if you’re trying to do anything other than walk to Epcot, you’re going to end up costing yourself time! In terms of the Studios, it can be a bit of a hike, so there are a few other options you might want to take.

Since the Yacht Club is on the water, you have access to Disney’s water transportation . These boats are a fun and relaxing option, particularly if you have the time just to enjoy the ride.

There are several stops along the boardwalk ring, making it easy to cross the lake if you don’t want to walk. This boat will take you on to Epcot as well, but again walking is the most direct route. You can also take a water taxi over to the Swan and Dolphin then to Hollywood Studios. This transportation option does move at a more leisurely pace, so if you’re in a hurry you might want to choose something else. Otherwise, skip the bus and board a boat!

Yacht Club guests have easy access to the newest travel method, the Disney Skyliners . A Disney Skyliner station is right at the International Gateway to Epcot, which is the back entrance of the park. Scooch on over from the resort and you’ll be off through the air! This is a great way to get to Hollywood Studios or to the other resorts on the line – Riviera Resort and Caribbean Beach.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is part of the Epcot Resort area. When getting off of Florida’s I-4, you’ll want to exit on to Epcot Center Drive before turning on to East Buena Vista Drive. The resort will be on the right, past the BoardWalk resort. Make sure you don’t turn into the Beach Club by mistake!

While you can trust your GPS to take you there, it might be worth looking at the map ahead of time. Occasionally, the GPS will take you to the incorrect entrance.

Resort Address:

1700 Epcot Resorts Boulevard Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-8407

Get ready to feel like the captain of your own nautical adventure at the Disney Yacht Club!

For questions regarding booking or and existing reservation, call (407) 939-5277 to speak to a cast member. If for some reason you need to contact the resort directly, call (407) 934-7000.

Grace Hoyos, Staff Writer

Grace is a life-long lover of all things Disney, particularly the parks at Walt Disney World. She is also an avid Disney Cruise Line enthusiast who regularly dreams of the white sands of Castaway Cay. Grace loves the fact that her Disney trips give her time to spend with her family, enjoy incredible food, and try new experiences.

Transportation Options and Tips for Disney’s Yacht Club (The Expert’s Guide)

Staying at Disney’s Yacht Club means you’ll have access to several modes of transportation from the resort. But what is the most efficient way to get from the resort to where you’re going? We’ve got the answers. Below, we’ll discuss every transportation tip you need to know for planning a vacation at Disney’s Yacht Club. We have stayed at this resort countless times and know all the ins and outs!

We recommend reviewing this entire guide in preparation for your trip. Then save it if you need a quick reference while on-site.

Can you imagine sitting at a bus stop at Walt Disney World and waiting for a bus that’s not coming? I would be willing to bet that scenario happens daily at Disney’s Yacht Club. Over the years, we’ve often witnessed guests waiting at the bus stop for a bus to Epcot or Hollywood Studios. Sometimes, they’ve been waiting a while. Other times, they get to the bus stop, start looking at the wait signs, and immediately realize they’ve made an error.

Time is precious at Walt Disney World, and while we can’t control how long we have to wait for anything, we can learn how to use transportation to our advantage. So let’s learn how to navigate our ship, in this case–the little Friendship boats that dock immediately behind the resort!

Disney’s Yacht Club Transportation Options

The following forms of transportation are available at Disney’s Yacht Club:

• Friendship Boats
• Disney’s Bus Service
• Skyliner (within walking distance)

*You can also walk to two theme parks from the resort, which we’ll discuss in more detail below.

Disney’s Yacht Club to Magic Kingdom

For Magic Kingdom, you’ll want to take the bus. Yacht Club’s bus stop is conveniently outside the resort’s front doors.

Disney’s Yacht Club shares its bus service with Disney’s Beach Club, its sister resort. So when you board the bus at the Yacht Club, you’ll stop at the Beach Club. After that, you’ll continue to the park.

Disney’s Yacht Club is the first stop when returning to the resort from Magic Kingdom. So you’ll be at an advantage on the return trip.

Disney’s Yacht Club to Epcot

You can get to Epcot from Disney’s Yacht Club in two ways. Since Disney’s Yacht Club is part of the Epcot Resorts Area , you are within short walking distance of Epcot.

#1 Walking to Epcot from the Yacht Club

How short is the walk to Epcot? Most will be able to walk out the back door of the Yacht Club and arrive at Epcot’s International Gateway in less than 10 minutes.

When you exit the resort’s lobby (on the resort side), you’ll take a left at the lighthouse and continue straight until you reach Epcot. As you can see from the picture below, it’s a gorgeous walk along stunning Crescent Lake.

#2 Taking a Friendship Boat to Epcot from the Yacht Club

Alternatively, you can continue straight to the lighthouse when you exit the Yacht Club. You can board one of Disney’s Friendship Boats and take it to Epcot from there. However, the boats take longer than walking.

The boat departs Yacht Club and continues across the lake to Disney’s Boardwalk. There, it will stop and unload before continuing to Epcot. This route takes approximately 15 minutes. You’ll board on the left-hand side of the dock if you decide to take the boat to Epcot.

Disney’s Yacht Club to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Similar to traveling to Epcot, you’ll have two options for traveling to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from the Yacht Club.

#1 Walking to Hollywood Studios from the Yacht Club

First, you can walk to Hollywood Studios. However, I would caution that you know the length of the walk. We’ve mapped it, and it’s approximately 1.25 miles between Disney’s Yacht Club and Hollywood Studios.

This is one of our favorite “long” walks at the Walt Disney World Resort, but it’s not for everybody. Some days, it’s not even for us, especially when the sun is beating down so much that you might have two seconds to enjoy an ice cream cone before the entire thing turns into a–happy snowman.

That said, the serene walk is one of the best ways to escape crowds on the way back to the resort. Take it slow and allow yourself to decompress.

#2 Taking a Friendship Boat to Hollywood Studios from Yacht Club

When taking the boat to Hollywood Studios, you’ll want to board on the right-hand side of the dock. On this route, you’ll stop at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Hotel to load and unload. Then, you’ll continue to Hollywood Studios.

Disney’s Friendship Boats are a pleasant way to travel. There is one row of exterior seats on the back of each boat, but most of the seating is inside. So, if you get in line early, you might be able to snag a seat outside.

On the return trip from Hollywood Studios, you’ll stop at the Swan and Dolphin before arriving at the Yacht Club. If you want to learn more, we have a complete guide that discusses  Disney’s Friendship Boat routes .

Disney’s Yacht Club to Animal Kingdom

You’ll take a bus from the Yacht Club to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It takes approximately 15 minutes to travel from the resort to Animal Kingdom. However, loading and unloading can take extra time when you stop at the Beach Club. Again, you’ll be the first stop on the return trip.

Disney’s Yacht Club to Disney Springs

You’ll also need to take a bus from Disney’s Yacht Club to Disney Springs. On our last visit, this was the longest route because the bus stopped at the Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk.

While this isn’t always the case, I wanted to mention it because the resorts may share buses during slower parts of the day. Regardless, you’ll be the first stop on the return trip from Disney Springs.

Accessibility at Disney’s Yacht Club

Most transportation options at Disney’s Yacht Club accommodate guests with accessibility needs. Disney provides an overview of each form of transportation on their website.

All bus stops have a separate spot for guests in wheelchairs and ECVs to wait. Additionally, the Friendship Boats accommodate most wheelchairs and ECVs. Disney has an excellent resource on their site if you want to learn more: Transportation and Mobility Disabilities at Disney World

Disney’s Yacht Club to Typhoon Lagoon

You’ll have to take a bus from the Yacht Club to Disney Springs to reach Typhoon Lagoon. At Disney Springs, you’ll board a transfer bus to Typhoon Lagoon.

You will return this same way. However, when you return to Disney Springs at the end of the day, you’ll have to locate the bus stop for Yacht Club.

Previously, Disney offered direct bus service to and from the resorts to the water parks. If this changes, signage at the bus stop will indicate which bus to take.

You may notice in the photo below under Typhoon Lagoon it says, “Take the Disney Springs bus and transfer.” You’ll want to confirm this when you arrive at the Yacht Club’s bus stop.

Disney’s Yacht Club to Blizzard Beach

You’ll also take a transfer bus to Blizzard Beach. However, you’ll take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for this water park. When you exit the Disney’s Animal Kingdom bus, you’ll board a transfer bus to Blizzard Beach.

On return, you’ll take a bus from Blizzard Beach to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You’ll have to locate Disney’s Yacht Club’s bus stop from there.

Side note: When we stay at Disney’s Yacht Club, we typically like to spend an entire resort day at Stormalong Bay . So we rarely visit the water parks.

However, driving to the water parks is much easier (or taking a car service) than using the buses. While the transfer buses aren’t the end of the world, they are a pain. That’s especially true when everyone is tired at the end of the day, and you’ve got wet swimsuits in tow, among other things.

Disney’s Yacht Club to Disney’s Boardwalk (and Epcot Resorts)

Those staying at Disney’s Beach Club will likely visit Disney’s Boardwalk Inn at least once during their vacation. Disney’s Boardwalk has several excellent restaurants. We have a list with an overview of the restaurants at Disney’s Boardwalk if you want to learn more.

You’ll have two options for getting to the Boardwalk. First, you can walk. It takes about 10 minutes at a leisurely pace.

Or you can take the Friendship Boat (on the Epcot side) and exit at the Boardwalk. This will only take a few minutes, depending on how long you wait for the boat.

You can also walk or boat to the Swan and Dolphin Hotel. If you’re visiting the Swan Reserve, you can still walk. But if you boat, you’ll exit at the Swan and Dolphin and then walk to the Swan Reserve.

Since Disney’s Beach Club Resort is connected to the Yacht Club via an indoor/outdoor walkway, you can easily walk back and forth between them. If it’s raining on the walk back from Epcot, you’ll want to enter the Beach Club’s lobby and take the covered walkway back to the Yacht Club.

Disney’s Yacht Club to the Monorail Resorts

Additionally, most guests will want to visit the  monorail resorts  for dining or touring. You can take a bus from Disney’s Yacht Club to Magic Kingdom to do this.

From there, you will have to walk through security at Magic Kingdom. Then you can walk, boat, or monorail to the following resorts:

• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (walk, boat, monorail)
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (boat, monorail, technically can  walk via the Grand Floridian walkway to Magic Kingdom)
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort (walk or monorail)

Disney’s Yacht Club to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness

If you want to visit Fort Wilderness or Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, you can take a bus to Magic Kingdom. You’ll then take a boat from Magic Kingdom to either resort.

Of course, these are not the only ways to travel back and forth to the above-mentioned resorts. You could always take a boat or walk to Hollywood Studios and then board a bus to any of those resorts as long as it’s within the park’s operating hours.

Disney’s Yacht Club to the Skyliner Resorts

Additionally, at some point, you might want to ride the Disney Skyliner or visit the Skyliner Resorts. Skyliner stations are available near the entrance of Hollywood Studios and at the Epcot’s International Gateway .

Epcot will be the nearest location to Disney’s Yacht Club. From there, the Skyliner travels in this order:

• Epcot International Gateway
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach

At Disney’s Caribbean Beach, you must exit the Skyliner and reboard another line to one of the following:

• Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Or you could always return to Disney’s Riviera and Epcot.

Yacht Club to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

For visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, we usually take a bus from the Yacht Club to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Then, we’ll take a bus from the Animal Kingdom to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Note that the bus makes two stops at the Lodge. The first is Kidani Village, and the second is Jambo House. You’ll want to know which location is your intended destination.

You can also boat or walk to Hollywood Studios and take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Disney’s Yacht Club to the Disney Springs Resorts

If you would like to visit one of the resorts near Disney Springs, you can take a bus from the Yacht Club to Disney Springs. You’ll have these options:

• Walk or take a water taxi from the Disney Springs Marketplace to Disney’s Saratoga Springs
• Take a water taxi from the Disney Springs Marketplace to Old Key West Resort, Port Orleans-French Quarter, or Port Orleans-Riverside.

If you do not want to walk across Disney Springs and boat to these resorts, an alternative would be to take a boat to Hollywood Studios (during hours of operation) and then take a bus to that resort. 

Related:  Disney Springs Transportation Guide

Airport to Disney’s Yacht Club

Lastly, when traveling from the Orlando International Airport (MCO), you’ll need to arrange transportation to the resort. Disney no longer offers transportation between the airport and the Walt Disney World Resort. 

Tip: If you need to travel outside of complimentary transportation hours, you can order a car service (e.g., Lyft, Uber, Taxi, or Minnie Van). We try to avoid the extra expense as much as possible. But if we had late dining reservations or something comparable, we would take a car service back to our hotel.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this article gives you a good idea of how to get to and from your desired destinations. Walt Disney World is a tremendous place and can be overwhelming when you’re unfamiliar.

As for Disney’s Yacht Club, you might enjoy a few other articles;

• Disney’s Yacht Club Review
• Restaurants at Disney’s Yacht Club
• Room Tour: Standard Guest Room at Yacht Club
• Laundry at Disney’s Yacht Club

Or you can preview our entire list of Disney World Transportation Guides .

Our documented transportation times share how long it takes to get to and from every resort hotel at Walt Disney World to every major destination.

In the Comments

Did you find this transportation guide for Disney’s Yacht Club helpful? Do you have any questions about the transportation options at this resort?

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!

Wonderful , concise advice! My family of 6 will be staying at the Disney Yacht Club for 5 days beginning Nov 7…our 1st visit to Disneyworld! Coming from Massachusetts we will be arriving at Orlando @ 10am and would like to take transport all together to resort. How can we reserve transportation from airport to Yacht Club?

Thank you! Many people use Mears Connect, a bus service from the airport to Disney: https://www.mearsconnect.com/

You could also use a private car service to get to and from the airport.

Thank you for all detailed information. But I realized that we won’t have many options coming from After Hour at Hollywood Studios. We’ll probably drive a car, if we don’t want to walk at 1am.

You are welcome! We walked back to the Yacht Club when we did After Hours. I didn’t know it at the time, but was told later that bus service is provided to Beach, Yacht, and Boardwalk at the end of After Hours. I assume it starts after the boats finish.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Where Should I Stay? Disney Yacht Club Vs Beach Club Comparisons Guide

So you’re planning your 2024 Walt Disney World vacation and stuck between the Disney Beach Club vs Yacht Club. Both the Disney Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort are deluxe hotels found on the Walt Disney World Boardwalk. These two resorts share the shame building space and are commonly confused as the same Disney Resort, especially with their similar themes. That’s why we have taken the time to break out everything you need to know about both Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club.

We hope you find this post helpful, and if you are planning a trip to Disney World be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next vacation. This includes helping you find the best time to buy Disney World tickets  as well as book amazing  Walt Disney World vacation packages!

So if you’re ready to decide if you would prefer to stay at the Disney Yacht Club or Beach Club read on!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Walt Disney World be sure to check out our Disney Crowd Calendar! 

Disney Crowd Calendar

Disney’s Yacht Club Vs Beach Club

When deciding between the Disney Yacht Club and Beach Club for your vacation, it’s essential to understand their unique features and the subtle differences that might influence your choice. Both resorts offer luxurious accommodations with a nautical theme, sharing many amenities, including the acclaimed Stormalong Bay pool. However, their distinct styles, room options, and proximity to Disney parks set them apart.

Thematic Differences

• Disney Yacht Club: Features a more formal, sophisticated theme inspired by the seaside cottages of the Northeast, with a color palette of modern greys and whites. It’s designed to offer an elegant experience reminiscent of a yacht club.
• Disney Beach Club: Boasts a relaxed, cheerful vibe with a design influenced by New England-style family resorts of the 1920s. Bright colors and a playful atmosphere make it feel more casual and family-friendly.

Location and Proximity to EPCOT

• Beach Club Advantage: Closer to EPCOT, making it a shorter walk (about five to ten minutes) from the majority of its rooms to the park entrance.
• Yacht Club Proximity: Slightly further from EPCOT than the Beach Club but offers closer access to shared amenities like Stormalong Bay. It’s also marginally nearer to Disney’s BoardWalk area, enhancing its appeal for guests prioritizing this entertainment district.

Room Types and Accommodations

• Both resorts offer rooms that are similar in size and start at a standard rate of approximately $522 per night . The main distinction comes in the form of Beach Club Villas, which are designed to accommodate larger groups and families, offering amenities like in-unit washers/dryers and fully equipped kitchens.

Dining Options

• Each resort houses unique dining experiences, with about five restaurants each, ranging from casual bites at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at the Beach Club to fine dining at Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club.

Shared Access: Guests of both resorts enjoy easy access to additional dining options on the Disney World BoardWalk , alongside quick walks to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

Why should I choose the Beach Club or Yacht Club?

• For a Vibrant, Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Choose the Beach Club for its lively colors, casual ambiance, and villas suited for larger groups.
• For Sophistication and Elegance: Opt for the Yacht Club if you prefer a more refined environment that echoes the luxury of a yacht club experience.

In conclusion, while both the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts offer exceptional service, amenities, and convenience for visiting Disney World, your choice might ultimately come down to personal preference regarding the theme, atmosphere, and specific accommodation needs. Whether you’re drawn to the elegance of the Yacht Club or the playful charm of the Beach Club, both promise a memorable stay.

Related Post: Complete Guide to the Walt Disney World Boardwalk 

Difference in Rooms at Yacht and Beach Club Resort 2024

If comparing the room size is part of your deciding factor for the Beach Club vs Yacht Club, we will have to call this a tie.  The rooms at the Yacht and Beach Club are pretty much identical when it comes down to size.

We will say the one advantage that the Beach Club has that the Yacht doesn’t is the addition of the Walt Disney World villas . If you are looking to enjoy a room that’s accommodating for larger groups you’ll want to take a look at having your very own villa. Having a villa can provide many benefits, if it fits in your budget. For instance, most villas have in-unit washer/dryers along with a fully equipped kitchen and living room. Villas are not for everyone, so if you don’t require one and don’t otherwise care for the color and pop of Beach Club, perhaps the Yacht Club will be a better choice. 

What is the difference between Disney Beach Club and Beach Club Villas?

As a general rule of thumb the Beach Club Villa rooms are located in a completely separate building when compared to the regular Beach Club or Yacht Club. This is actually the set up for a majority of the villas located at Walt Disney World as they are all part of the Disney Vacation Club.

Related Page: Guide to the Virtual Queue at Disney World

Location When Comparing Beach Club Vs Yacht Club 

One of the aspects that everyone should look at before picking out a hotel at Walt Disney World is the location. Location is key. Thankfully, when deciding between the Beach Club vs Yacht Club the location should not be  a factor. Both resorts are relatively close to Epcot, however, there are some advantages to each resort over the other.

For instance, the Beach Club Resort is a few minutes closer to Epcot. With this in mind, you are also that much closer to the Disney Skyliner Station which can then take you over to Hollywood Studios.

While the Yacht Club Resort is not that much farther away, if you have young ones or even elderly people with you who may need to do less walking, the Beach Club Resort may be the best option. Depending on where you stay at the Yacht Club Resort, you might be closer towards Disney’s Boardwalk than the Beach Club may be. This may not be true for all rooms, but certain rooms are indeed closer. If having quick access to the Boardwalk is a requirement for you, then maybe the Yacht Club is the best option. 

Related post:  The Complete Guide to the Disney Skyliner Route

Dining at Beach and Yacht Club Resort 2024

Is having access to the best Disney World restaurants your deciding factor between the Disney beach club vs Yacht club? You’ll be happy to find that both resorts provide an array of dining options. As we discussed though given that the resorts are essentially connected, you’ll have a ton of options close by.

When you look at the resorts separately each resort would have about five restaurants each. One thing that might be useful in deciding where you want to stay is where the restaurants are actually located. If there is a particular restaurant your family wants to eat at, maybe consider the resort that is closer towards that particular restaurant. Below is the complete list of restaurants at each resort. 

What are the Disney Beach Club restaurants?

• Cape May Cafe
• Martha’s Vineyard
• Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
• Hurricane Hanna’s

What are the Disney Yacht Club Restaurants ?

• Yachtsman Steakhouse
• Crew’s Cup Lounge
• Ale & Compass
• Market at Ale & Compass

Related post:  Complete Guide to the Disney World Boardwalk in 2022

Disney’s Yacht Club vs Beach Club – In Conclusion

In conclusion, there are not a lot of differences between each resort. The pool for instance, is shared between both resorts. While very subtle, they do have certain advantages/disadvantages over one or the other. When deciding on whether or not to stay at the Beach Club vs Yacht Club , hopefully these factors can benefit you in deciding which resort to stay at!

We think that either Disney’s Yacht Club or Beach Club would be a wonderful choice for families looking for incredible dining and entertainment, or even couples looking for a romantic night out on the BoardWalk. We love how close both the Beach Club and the Yacht Club to EPCOT, and only a boat ride away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios .

Related post: Disney Memory Maker Guide : Disney World Pictures and Disney PhotoPass

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

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• Destinations

From January 2025 through June 2025, Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool will be closed for routine maintenance. Guests may see or hear construction work during daytime hours. During this time, Guests are welcome to swim at the Tidal, Admiral and Dunes Cove leisure pools.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Unwind in a New England-style yacht club with a beautiful, nautical-themed lobby and elegant accommodations. Enjoy swimming in 3 acres of water wonderland at Stormalong Bay as well as boating on Crescent Lake. Treat yourself to fine dining and delight in family dining with some Disney Characters. Sharing amenities with Disney’s Beach Club Resort, this Resort hotel is an idyllic vacation getaway unto itself—and also provides easy access to nearby EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Members who purchased directly through Disney can use Vacation Points to stay at this Resort hotel.

What Makes This Resort Hotel Unique

Take advantage of staying in a Disney Resort hotel close to 2 wondrous parks. Stroll to EPCOT and enjoy the exciting attractions and entertainment as well as the international pavilion with its art, music and food from around the world. Jump on a boat and cruise to nearby Disney’s Hollywood Studios with its amazing attractions, entertainment and tours that feature movie magic and the glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Enjoy all the parks at Walt Disney World Resort —they’re only a bus ride away.

Key Resort Details

How to Book

View information about booking to help you secure the reservation you want.

View information about booking to help you secure the reservation you want. Since all reservations are subject to availability, the more you know about how to book your stay, the better!

• A nonrefundable $95 transaction fee applies per confirmed Disney Collection reservation. If payment is not received at the time of confirmation, Disney Vacation Club reserves the right to cancel the reservation.
• Some reservation Points Charts may not be available at the start of the booking windows.

The Rule of Four Applies

Disney Collection reservations (excluding reservations at Tokyo Disney Resort) must be made prior to the last 4 months of your Use Year for stays during that Use Year.

Realize your dream vacation by banking, borrowing or purchasing Vacation Points.

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You can bank Vacation Points from your current Use Year to use during your next Use Year, or you can borrow Vacation Points from your next Use Year to book a reservation in your current Use Year. Restrictions apply; please contact Member Services for details.

Purchase One-Time-Use Vacation Points

Occasionally, you may find yourself in need of just a few extra Vacation Points in order to book that perfect dream vacation. If that happens, you may be able to purchase Vacation Points for one-time use toward your desired stay. View details and pricing for One-Time-Use Vacation Points.

Purchase More Vacation Points—to Enjoy for Years to Come

When you Add On more Vacation Points, you can enjoy more vacation options and flexibility for years to come.

Make dining reservations and take advantage of Disney Dining Plans at Walt Disney World Resort.

Protect your Disney Vacation Club travels and buy travel insurance today.

Hotel Details

(407) 934-7000 †

Destination Type

Resort area, transportation to parks, driving directions.

• From I-95 take I-4 West to Exit 67 (Epcot/Downtown Disney)
• Take second exit off-ramp (Epcot Resorts/Beach Club).
• Follow signs on Buena Vista Drive to Disney's Beach Club Resort.
• Turn right to go to Disney's Beach Club Resort entrance.
• Follow signs to Disney's Beach Club Resort resort check-in.
• Travel West on 536.
• From Orlando International Airport, take South Exit to SR 417 South.
• On SR 417 South take Exit 2 to Epcot.
• After 2 traffic lights take second exit off-ramp (Epcot Resorts/Beach Club).
• One Reservation Point is equivalent to one allotted Vacation Point. Reservation Points have no other relationship with, or comparison to, Vacation Points and are established for convenience of reference only. General terms and conditions of this program are in the "Membership Extras Acknowledgment and Disclosure Statement." Please review them carefully before booking any of these options. Program terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.
• Effective March 21, 2011, Members who do not purchase their ownership interests directly from Disney will not be able to use those Vacation Points for the Disney Collection or options offered through hotel exchange.
• All reservations and exchanges are subject to availability.

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For important cancellation guidelines, please see the "Cancellation and Modification Guidelines" page located under the "Plan Vacation" tab.

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Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Costco Member Reviews

Delight in the formal grace of a grand New England-style yacht club at this lakeside hotel.

The Costco Star Rating assigned to each hotel is only intended as a guideline. The rating is based on information that has been compiled by Costco Travel buyers and might differ from other references.

Property offers the ultimate in elegance and sophistication, with highly personalized service and hospitality.

Property offers upscale design and decor, superior dining venues, manicured grounds, and a high level of service and hospitality.

Property offers above-average accommodations, service, comfort, facilities and grounds.

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Hotel Details

Hotel description.

Relax in the inviting elegance of a plush lobby replete with nautical touches, explore the whimsical Stormalong Bay and rent a variety of watercraft from Bayside Marina. Sharing many amenities with its pastel-toned sister – Disney's Beach Club Resort – Disney's Yacht Club Resort is walking distance to EPCOT® and a convenient boat ride to Disney's Hollywood Studios® park. Savor a breakfast, lunch and dinner at this lakeside Resort hotel that recalls the timeless charm of a New England yacht club.

Resort guests will receive transportation to all four Walt Disney World® Theme Parks (Theme Park admission required). Resort guests are also able to utilize Disney Water Transportation to other Walt Disney World® Resorts, EPCOT® and to Disney's Hollywood Studios® park.

Key Features

• Distance from Airport: 21 Miles
• Number of Rooms: 1,400
• Number of Floors:
• Elevator(s)
• Check-In Time: 3:00 p.m.
• Check-Out Time: 11:00 a.m.
• Wheelchair-Accessible Room(s) Available
• Minimum Age to Stay Without an Adult: 18
• Nonsmoking Property
• Additional Fees Not Included in Room Price: Valet parking is available at approximately $33 plus tax (per vehicle, per night). The fee is payable directly to the hotel. All fees are outside the control of Costco Travel and are subject to change by the hotel without notice.  
• Air-Conditioning in Public Areas
• Activities/Tour Desk
• Business Center
• Concierge Desk
• Health/Fitness Facility
• Hot Tub/Jacuzzi
• Internet Access (wireless)
• Internet Center
• Mini Market
• Restaurant(s)
• Room Service
• Swimming Pool(s) - Outdoor
• Water Slide

Features for a Fee

• Babysitting
• Conference Room(s)
• Dry Cleaning
• Gift Shop/Boutique
• Laundry Facilities (self-service)
• Parking (self)
• Parking (valet)
• Room Service (24 hours)
• Wedding Services
• Golf (nearby)
• Restaurants (nearby)
• Shopping (nearby)

Ale & Compass Lounge:  Navigate your way to a cozy lounge with a great wine list, light snacks and overstuffed chairs.

• Air-Conditioned
• Meals Served: Snacks
• Menu Type: A la carte
• Reservations: Not Required
• Dress Code: Casual Attire | Footwear Required | Shirt Required

Ale & Compass Restaurant:  Set your sights on Yankee comfort food and seafood classics at this cozy gastropub-inspired eatery.

• Meals Served: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
• Children's Menu Available
• Reservations: Recommended

Beach Club Marketplace:  Enjoy a hot, made-to-order meal and stock up on snacks before heading out for a day of fun in the parks.

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop:  Satisfy your sweet tooth with old fashioned ice-cream favorites and delectable new creations at this 50's themed eatery.

• Meals Served: Lunch | Dinner

Cape May Café:  Delight kids and adults alike with a Disney Character breakfast and a seafood dinner buffet!

• Cuisine Type: American
• Dress Code: Casual Attire | Footwear Required | No Swimsuits | No Beachwear | Shirt Required

Crew’s Cup Lounge:  Ready all, row! Race to a place with New England favorites like tender lobster rolls and creamy chowder.

• Meals Served: Lunch | Dinner | Snacks

Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill:  Brace for frosty beverages and beautiful bay views at this not-so-blustery walk-up bar.

• Meals Served: Lunch | Snacks
• Dress Code: Casual Attire

Martha’s Vineyard:  Gather for a glass – or bottle – of wine at this casual lounge reminiscent of a New England beach house.

The Market at Ale & Compass:  Find hot and cold offerings with grab-and-go convenience for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Yachtsman Steakhouse:  Relish premium dry-aged beef, fresh seafood and signature drinks at this New England-style steakhouse.

• Meals Served: Dinner
• Cuisine Type: American | Steak
• Dress Code: Casual Attire | Footwear Required | No Swimsuits | No Beachwear | No Flip-Flops | No Sandals | No Shorts | Shirt Required

Although bedding requests can be made, these cannot be guaranteed until the time of check-in by the front desk.

Available in All Rooms:

• Air-Conditioning
• Coffee/Tea Maker
• In-Room Safe
• Iron/Ironing Board
• Mini-Fridge
• Nonsmoking Rooms Available
• Rollaway Bed (fee may apply)
• Satellite/Cable TV
• Housekeeping - Daily

Available in Some Rooms:

Children under age 18 stay free in room using existing bedding.

Resort-View Room

Rooms feature views of the Convention Center or parking areas, and include a private patio or balcony.

• Balcony/Lanai
• Approximate Square Feet: 400
• Bedding: King or Two Queens (with or without single day bed); or One Queen, Single Day Bed and Twin-Size Sleeper Chair

Garden-View Room

Rooms feature views of gardens or landscaping, and include a private patio or balcony.

Water-View Room

Rooms feature views of Crescent Lake or the Quiet Pool, and include a private balcony or patio.

Resort-View Room - Club Level

Enjoy a Club Level Lounge and take advantage of services like assistance with dining reservations, transportation information and more. The Club Level Lounge also offers continental breakfast, evening wine and beer selections, and desserts/cordials.

• Bedding: King or Two Queens

Garden-View Room - Club Level

• Bedding: King and Single Day Bed, or Two Queens

Water-View Room - Club Level

Costco Travel makes every effort to verify the accuracy of all information provided. Additional fees for amenities or services may be charged by the hotel, resort or cruise line. Amenities or services may be discontinued or revised by the provider without notice. Hotels, resorts, ships or accommodations designated as wheelchair-accessible do not necessarily meet ADA requirements. Costco Travel is not responsible for inaccuracies or provider modifications.

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Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village

Escape on your own African safari adventure at this magnificent Resort hotel. Inspired by the traditional African kraal, the horseshoe-curved design offers exquisite views of lush savannas — where over 30 species of African wildlife freely roam. Delight in dazzling pool areas, exciting animal programs and all the comforts of home in spacious studios and multi-bedroom villas.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Be surrounded in the artistry, enchantment and magic of Walt Disney and Disney and Pixar movies. Stay at a Disney Resort hotel that invites you to explore the storybook landscapes seen in such classics as Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. From delightfully themed family suites to wondrously detailed courtyards, Disney's Art of Animation draws you and your family in to become a part of some of your animated favorites.

Disney's Beach Club Resort

Located along Crescent Lake, Disney's Beach Club Resort's understated elegance mixed with the summer ambiance of the New England seaside combine to create a relaxing and casual atmosphere.

Disney's Beach Club Villas

Leisure, elegance and romance abound at this charming New England-style beach hotel — in easy walking distance to EPCOT® and a boat ride to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Enjoy the pools, spas and lagoons of Stormalong Bay, and the many amenities shared with Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.

Disney's BoardWalk Inn

Experience the charm and whimsy of turn-of-the-century Atlantic City at this waterfront resort hotel. Make a splash at Luna Park Pool and delight in a massage at the state-of-the-art fitness center. Discover carnival games, unique dining and exciting nightlife on the Coney Island-style boardwalk. Situated on shimmering Crescent Lake, the resort is located within walking distance of EPCOT® and Disney's Hollywood Studios®.

Disney's BoardWalk Villas

Timeless elegance meets old-fashioned charm at this waterfront Resort hotel. Delight in saltwater taffy-colored cottages, private courtyards and picturesque gardens — plus the ragtime sounds and carnival pastimes of the exciting Coney Island-style boardwalk. Reminiscent of turn-of-the-century Atlantic City, Disney's BoardWalk Villas is located within walking distance to both EPCOT® and Disney's Hollywood Studios® park.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

A tropical paradise built around 45‐acre Barefoot Bay, this resort hotel brings the Islands to you with swaying palm trees, white‐sand beaches and colonial architecture. Explore the lushly landscaped grounds, or simply find a hammock and soak up the sun.

Disney's Contemporary Resort

Retreat to this ultra-modern Disney Resort hotel and discover award-winning dining, spectacular views and dazzling pools. Whether you’re staying in the iconic A-frame Contemporary tower or the nearby Garden Wing, you can walk to Magic Kingdom® main gate or catch the Resort Monorail as it breezes through the tower.

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Celebrate the unique blend of Spanish, Mexican and Southwest American cultures at the newly re-imagined Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. This beautiful lakeside oasis offers classic influences, Disney touches and modern comforts to energize and inspire as you delight in an array of new features, eateries and enhancements.

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Victorian elegance meets modern sophistication at this lavish Disney Resort hotel. Unwind outdoors, indulge in a luxurious massage and watch evening fireworks light up the sky over Cinderella Castle. Just one stop to Magic Kingdom® Park on the complimentary Resort Monorail, this timeless Victorian-style marvel evokes Palm Beach’s golden era.

Disney's Old Key West Resort

Experience the romance of the Florida Keys at this tranquil community of Conch Flats – a sprawling island hamlet with shimmering waterways, swaying palm trees and manicured golf-course fairways. Delight in sun-soaked pools, casual dining and such amenities as fully equipped kitchens or kitchenettes. A peaceful tropical paradise, Disney's Old Key West Resort is also just a boat ride away from the excitement of Disney Springs®.

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

Celebrate the spirit of the South Pacific at this oasis of tropical palms, lush vegetation and so much more. From moonlit nights immersed in the outdoor island ambience to the exotic tastes of world-class restaurants, discover the signature tropical atmosphere that’s made Disney's Polynesian Village Resort a favorite Disney destination since 1971.

Disney's Pop Century Resort

Experience the unforgettable fads of the 1950s through the 1990s all over again. From yo-yos and Play-Doh® to Rubik's Cube® and rollerblades, this Resort hotel salutes the timeless fashions, catch phrases, toys and dances that captivated the world through the decades.

Disney's Port Orleans - Riverside

From the stately white-column mansions of Magnolia Bend to Alligator Bayou’s quaint backwoods cottages, delight in a picturesque setting that evokes the romance of rural Louisiana. Take a short walk along the Sassagoula River to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, known for Southern specialties like gumbo, jambalaya and beignets.

Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter

Revel in the romance and pageantry of New Orleans’s historic French Quarter at this Moderate Resort hotel. Discover cobblestone streets, gas lamps, wrought-iron balconies and fragrant magnolia blossoms, along with colorful Mardi Gras characters and the sounds of jazz. Stroll along the lushly landscaped Sassagoula River to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, where the bayou beckons, as do Cajun and Creole specialties.

Disney's Riviera Resort

Enchantment awaits you at a resort hotel that's inspired by Europe and imagined by Disney. Here, you can delight in exhilarating activities, delectable dining and stylish accommodations – from cozy Tower Studios to spacious One- and Two-Bedroom Villas.

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Experience the Disney difference by placing yourself in the midst of the magic, where moments and memories have no limits. From theme park to hotel, you never have to leave the magic.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Escape to the rustic majesty of America’s Great Northwest. Inspired by turn-of-the-century National Park lodges, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge celebrates American craftsmanship and honors the beauty of the untamed wilderness. Soak in the splendor of the great outdoors, from nature trails through pine forests to rocking chairs that overlook a murmuring creek. Inside, discover towering totem poles, headdresses and more, and enjoy the rustic elegance of the stone hearth and roaring fireplace.

Gaylord Palms Resort

This hotel offers exceptional service, and superior amenities, and is just a 10-minute drive to the main gates of Walt Disney World®.

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Disney Springs® Area

Enjoy an ideal location in the center of the action. This deluxe resort is in walking distance of Disney Springs® Resort Area, and within a 5-mile radius of all Disney Theme Parks. It also offers convenient access to Orlando’s world-renown outlet malls, SeaWorld® Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort.

Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista

Enjoy an ideal location in the center of the action. This resort is in walking distance of the Disney Springs® Resort Area, and within five miles of all Disney Theme Parks. It also offers convenient access to Orlando's world renown outlet malls, SeaWorld® Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort.

Holiday Inn & Suites Across from Universal Orlando

Located across the street from Universal Orlando, this hotel offers standard guest rooms in addition to one- and two-bedroom suites with convenient amenities for a comfortable stay.

Holiday Inn & Suites International Drive South

Located just off of I-4 in Lake Buena Vista, the Holiday Inn & Suites International Drive South provides easy access to downtown, unique dining experiences and entertainment venues. Minutes from the magic of Orlando's world-famous attractions.

Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs® Area

Located within a half mile of Disney Springs, endless options for dining, shopping, and entertainment are only minutes away!

Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista

Located in the center of Lake Buena Vista, this resort provides convenience and comfort for a memorable stay. Enjoy easy access to Orlando's most popular theme parks as well as close proximity to dining options and shopping.

Hyatt House Across from Universal Orlando Resort

Orlando abounds with theme parks, restaurants, and entertainment. Set out on your next adventure from the doorstep of Hyatt House Across from Universal Orlando Resort, which is located one mile from Universal Orlando Resort and Universal CityWalk.

Hyatt Place Across from Universal Orlando Resort

This hotel is centrally located to all major attractions, and is across the street from Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and City Walk.

Hyatt Place Orlando I-Drive/Convention Center

Hyatt Place Orlando I-Drive / Convention Center puts you near Orlando's top entertainment and business destinations. During your visit, enjoy easy access to the Orange County Convention Center – located only a mile away, Universal Studios™ Florida and Walt Disney World® Resort.

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa brings modern luxury to Central Florida. Thoughtfully designed to bring people together, the hotel offers warm, inviting spaces and amenities, including a Spa by JW®, resort pool with splash pad, specialty hotel restaurants, and a rooftop terrace. When you're ready to explore, take the resort shuttle to the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks and Disney Springs®, just minutes away.

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

Discover the unexpected at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. Located on a lush 500-acre property, this hotel is an ideal base for those wishing to explore a sunny family vacation. Centrally located between all the attractions in Orlando and 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport. Enjoy easy access to The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes where you'll find additional MICHELIN awarded restaurants, an award-winning Ritz-Carlton Spa, tranquil resort pool and calming Solaire Pool.

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Enjoy the beauty, charm and romance of an escape inspired by the famed seaside village of Portofino, Italy.

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

Imagine a picturesque hotel built in the heart of the tropics, where every comfort is included. Loews Sapphire Falls Resort features a beautifully landscaped, resort-style pool with a water slide surrounded by cascading waterfalls, this hotel truly captivates at every turn.

Margaritaville Cottages Orlando

Kick back and relax at the all new Margaritaville Cottages with the space and comforts of home. Cottages are inspired by paradise and range from two- to four-bedrooms in two- and three-story cottages. All cottages feature full kitchens, en suite bathrooms, dining and seating areas, and a sofa bed, washer/dryer, Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker, daily housekeeping, and more.

Margaritaville Resort Orlando

Kick back and relax at the all new Margaritaville Resort Orlando, a unique vacation destination in the heart of Central Florida. Guestrooms are inspired by paradise and feature signature décor elements with beautiful sand pool views. Relax beach side at the soft sand entry pools, Tiki Bars and Cabanas.

Melia Orlando Celebration

Located in the inviting town of Celebration, this all-suite property is located five minutes away from Walt Disney World® Resort and nearby other famous theme parks.

Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

Whether you are looking for a family-friendly getaway or the ultimate golf vacation, Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate is the perfect destination for your Florida escape.

Orlando World Center Marriott

Family adventure awaits! Located a mile and a half from Disney Parks and the excitement. Discover daily activities, impressive pools, waterslides and plenty of outdoor recreation during your stay. When you're done exploring, retreat to spacious guest rooms and watch the nightly laser show from your private balcony.

Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld

Boasting a prime location across from SeaWorld® Orlando, and adjacent to Discovery Cove and Aquatica, this hotel combines the enchantment of Orlando with its own imaginative style.

Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas

Located approximately 3 miles from Walt Disney World® Resort and close to other nearby theme parks, this family-friendly property features spacious one- and two-bedroom villas.

Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort Villas

Just minutes from Orlando's theme park action, this resort is an attraction in and of itself.

Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

The hotel is located in a private natural setting on 482 acres and is surrounded on three sides by Walt Disney World® Resort, offering the ideal location to make the most of your Orlando experience.

Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Experience the excitement of Universal Orlando Resort at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Enjoy vibrant, retro-style with rooms and suites brilliantly designed for fun and affordability.

Universal's Endless Summer Resort - Dockside Inn and Suites

Escape to the perfect sunset. Dockside Inn and Suites features two-bedroom suites that accommodate up to six featuring delightful details inspired by tranquil strolls on the beach and sun-drenched escapes.

Universal’s Aventura Hotel

Universal's Aventura Hotel is the modern and stylish place to stay. The hotel is within walking distance to Universal Volcano Bay and offers great views of all three Universal Orlando theme parks and is underscored by a design that is vibrant, free-flowing and calming. It's your chill zone, your party place, your hangout, your refuge. And it's just plain cool.

Waldorf Astoria Orlando

A world unto its own, this luxurious hotel is nestled on more than 482 pristine acres in Bonnet Creek, a crown jewel unlike any other.

Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

Situated in Lake Buena Vista, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve provides guests with a refined yet tranquil oasis near the attractions and theme parks of Walt Disney World®.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

At Walt Disney World® Resort, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is located in the EPCOT® Resort area, within walking distance to both EPCOT® and Disney’s Hollywood Studios®.

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Disney's Yacht Club Resort

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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 0800 028 0778 (UK) or 1800 812 678 (Ireland). 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.

FREE Disney Dining & Drinks in 2025!

Hotel Address

(407) 934-7000

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A Progressive Date at Disney’s BoardWalk

Disney’s BoardWalk is arguably one of the best date night spots on Disney property. The picturesque boardwalk that transports you to a seaside town in New England becomes even more romantic as the sun goes down. There are plenty of ways to fill your night here and it can be hard to pick just a couple. Here's our itinerary for exploring the best of Disney's BoardWalk on a progressive date night.

Updated August 2024 by Meghan Roth

Date Night at Disney's Boardwalk

Start with drinks.

Choose one of these locations to enjoy a drink at the beginning of your night.

Belle Vue Lounge If you walk through the hotel lobby to get to the BoardWalk, head down the hallway to your right for a laid-back lounge with a relaxed atmosphere. Modeled after a 1930s drawing room, this cozy little spot is perfect for soaking up the seaside breeze with a glass of wine in hand.

If you feel like stirring up some competition, settle into a comfy couch in the drawing room and challenge your partner to a board game. Or, order a drink and sit outside on the porch to people watch. Hours: 4pm–12am

AbracadaBar Located on the right-hand side of the BoardWalk, this is a favorite place for many. BoardWalk tales say that this bar is where the magicians and illusionists would gather after their performances to compare tricks and create new cocktails. The enchantment is apparent inside this space. Cozy up to the bar and order one of their magic-themed drinks, like a Magic Hattan, a Hoodunit’s Punch or the ever-mysterious Pepper’s Ghost. Hours: 4pm–12am

RELATED: Best Places to Grab a Beer at Walt Disney World

Main Course

Flying Fish Recently redesigned with an open kitchen, this seasonal seafood restaurant embodies luxury dining. For every dish, the presentation is key. There is a chef’s counter which lets you peek into the kitchen as your food is prepared.

If you choose to have your main course here, we highly recommend making reservations and checking out the dress code beforehand. Hours: 5pm-9:30pm

Trattoria al Forno If you prefer the cozy romance of a traditional Italian trattoria, this laid-back restaurant is the place to be. Think exposed brick, a warm show kitchen, and a wine list composed exclusively of Italian wines.

According to Disney legend, the trattoria was once a boarding house and tavern, owned by an Italian family on the boardwalk. Their authentic regional dishes and hand-picked Italian wines were so popular, the space was converted, room by room, into a full-blown restaurant.

Each room has a slightly different feel, so feel free to request a table to suit your mood. Try the Sala de Pranzo for a lively atmosphere, or the Taverna for a more intimate dinner date. Hours: 5pm–10pm

Yachtsmen Steakhouse Located at Disney's Yacht Club, Yachtsmen Steakhouse is a signature Disney restaurant beloved by many. It is a ten-minute walk around Cresent Lake from Disney's BoardWalk and a great alternative on our itinerary if you're looking to really explore the area.

As you might have guessed, hand-cut steaks are the star of the show here, and there is a fantastic selection of seafood and other options too. The atmosphere is very date night worthy, so get a little dressed up and enjoy the experience. Hours: 5pm–9:30pm

BoardWalk Deli Short on time? Build your own delicious picnic at the BoardWalk Deli, the newest addition to Disney’s BoardWalk. This nostalgic quick-service spot serves up “delectably delightful” pastries, hot or cold sandwiches, salads, and sides to go. You can even grab drinks, if you like! We’re especially keen on the playful cocktails, like the Social Hour Sunkissed Fizz. This summery blend of vodka, yuzu, peach, key lime, and jasmine is perfect for balmy evenings on the BoardWalk.

Pack a blanket for maximum picnic enjoyment, and spread out on the sandy shore of the Beach Club next door. To get there, exit the BoardWalk Deli, turn right, and continue around Lake Crescent until you hit the beach. Hours: 7am–10pm

Coming Soon: Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs

Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs currently serves Hand-dipped Corn Dogs and other unique Corn Dog creations over in Disneyland at the Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs kiosk in Downtown Disney.

This new location will serve some favorites from Disneyland Resort as well as brand-new items exclusive to Disney's BoardWalk.

• Mexican Street Corn Dog
• Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade (Non-alcoholic beverages)
• Fresh Spun Cotton Candy

After Dinner Fun

After indulging in all the food and drinks, take a break and let your food digest by visiting one of these game stops.

BoardWalk games Throughout Disney's BoardWalk, you'll find various midway games and live entertainers, such as free throw shooting, ring toss, jugglers, magicians, and more. Take some time to explore!

Surrey Bikes Rent a 2-person surrey bike for half an hour to travel around the BoardWalk and burn some calories. Surrey bike rental costs around $25 per half hour. The bike rental station is located right in the middle of the BoardWalk.

Important note – ESPN Club is permanently closed. A new restaurant focused on sweets is in development.

BoardWalk Ice Cream What was once home to Ample Hills Creamery, is now simply named BoardWalk Ice Cream. This classic ice cream parlor offers awesome sundaes and shakes, as well as simple scoops of ice cream.

The vintage style beverages like the classic Egg Cream and Cherry Limeade are an affordable date idea. Currently, the only plant-based options are soy-based chocolate and vanilla. Hours: 3pm–11pm

BoardWalk Treats Just like there are games scattered around the BoardWalk, there is also food! And we all know fried, greasy fair food is the best. So, grab a funnel cake and enjoy!

Coming Soon: The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers Expected to open in 2024, this whimsical full-service restaurant will feature sweet and savory eats, dreamy desserts, and a lavish afternoon tea service. Stop in for a sweet bite and a glass of French bubbles in the pastel-hued tea room. The Cake Bake Shop features dozens of desserts made with the finest ingredients. All cakes are made in-house daily, and you can also order pies made from scratch, cheesecakes, cookie bars, french pastries, and ice cream. Pair your treats with champagne, elegant specialty cocktails, or imaginative espresso drinks.

The shop even has its own exclusive blend of French rosé bubbles, created in partnership with Jean-Charles Boisset! Try Gwendolyn’s Famous Earl’s Court Chocolate Cake, an award-winning signature recipe beloved by the likes of Dick Van Dyke, Ina Garten, and Elton John.

Continue the Night

Jellyrolls Probably the most famous spot on Disney’s BoardWalk is Jellyrolls, a dueling piano bar. While the cover to get in might seem a little expensive, it is definitely worth the cost. It’s a little bit tamer than your usual non-Disney piano bar, but the piano players are incredibly talented.

The bar can become standing room only as everyone wanders over after visiting EPCOT, or after watching the fireworks . And the later it gets, the better the music and environment become. Request one of these songs for a truly unique performance: “Disney Medley,” “TV Show Medley,” “Boy Band Medley,” and “Rainbow Connection.” Hours: 7pm-2am

Atlantic Dance Hall Dance the night away at this 1940s-style dance hall. There’s no cover charge, so you can dance all night long, or just pop in for an hour before moving on. The club plays music from the 80s, 90s, and today, and is open on the weekends for maximum enjoyment. Ages 21+ only. Hours: Thursday–Sunday 8pm–1am

BoardWalk Courtyard Before you leave for the night, take a nice romantic walk around the grounds of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. If you venture back into the hotel, make a left and walk straight out of the far doors. This will lead you to a private courtyard where many of the inn's suites are located. It is a very secluded, romantic spot where you can enjoy some alone time away from the crowds. Please be mindful of the guests and do not visit this spot too late.

Parking When parking at Disney’s BoardWalk, you must present an ID. Keep in mind it may be difficult to find parking if there is an event going on at Epcot. Sometimes having a dining reservation helps. You can always use a rideshare app or Disney transportation from Disney Springs.

Fireworks Disney’s BoardWalk is one of the locations we recommend for fireworks viewing . Be sure to include this in your schedule if you are interested.

Sit at the Bar/Make Reservations We highly recommend you sit at the bar at each location, especially if you're just ordering a few things to share. Reservations are highly recommended for any table service restaurant.

Hidden Mickeys While you are at Disney, you might as well be looking for hidden Mickeys. You can search for their locations in advance, or conduct your own scavenger hunt to see how many you can find during your visit.

Hours Please note: Hours for restaurant locations can change based on the season. Please check the website before making your final plans.

Disney's Mobile Ordering You can Mobile Order food at select restaurants and quick service locations through the MyDisneyExperience app. This includes select table service restaurants like Ale and Compass at Disney's Yacht Club. This is a great option if you want to enjoy a meal away from the busy dining room. There is plenty of seating throughout the entire BoardWalk area.

Disney Boat and Skyliner Transportation The BoardWalk area is beloved because of its prime location between EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios. These theme parks are within walking distance, and there is also boat transportation and Disney Skyliner transportation. The Skyliner station is near the back entrance to EPCOT by Disney's Beach Club. Check out our Skyliner Crawl itineraries .

Additional Options While some of these options are not immediately part of Disney’s BoardWalk, they are convenient and can always be included or substituted for any of the locations listed above.

• Ale and Compass
• Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
• Crew’s Cup Lounge
• Kimonos Lounge for karaoke, sushi and sake
• Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf (across the street from the Swan & Dolphin)

Feature image credit: Jellyrolls

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A Waterspout Was Seen When a Luxury Yacht Sank. What Is It?

Witnesses reported seeing the tornado-like phenomenon hit the Bayesian, a sailing yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday.

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By Eve Sampson

What caused the sinking on Monday of a sailing yacht carrying the British billionaire Mike Lynch and 21 other people off the coast of Sicily is still unknown. But some attention has focused on observations by witnesses, who described seeing a small tornado-like column known as a waterspout forming over the water during an abrupt and violent storm as the vessel sank.

Fifteen passengers on the 180-foot yacht, the Bayesian, escaped on a raft before being rescued by a neighboring cruise ship. The body of the ship’s cook was recovered on Monday and six people remain unaccounted for , including Mr. Lynch and his daughter Hannah, according to officials with Sicily’s civil protection agency.

Prosecutors in the nearby city of Termini Imerese have opened an inquiry into the cause of the sinking.

Here is what to know about waterspouts, a surprisingly common weather phenomenon that may have helped sink the luxury yacht.

What are waterspouts?

Waterspouts are columns of spinning air and moisture — similar to tornadoes over water, according to the National Weather Service .

While some form in fair weather, and are aptly called fair weather waterspouts, another more dangerous variety called tornadic waterspouts develops downward from a thunderstorm. These tornadic waterspouts can either form as regular tornadoes over land and move out to sea, or form in a storm already over a large body of water, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association .

Fair weather waterspouts are weak, often dissipate quickly and do not cause major damage, according to the agencies, but tornadic waterspouts are more often associated with high winds, dangerous and frequent lightning, and hail. The Italian authorities recorded strong winds and intense lightning activity at the time the yacht went down.

How common are waterspouts?

Experts say waterspouts may be more common than tornadoes, but because oceans are so vast, they are more difficult to track — and as difficult to predict.

“The Mediterranean is possibly one of the places where waterspouts are most likely around the world due to the warm ocean surface and a climate that is very susceptible to thunderstorms throughout the summer and autumn,” according to a statement by Peter Inness, a meteorologist at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Inness pointed to a 2022 study by scientists from University of Barcelona , which found that waterspouts occurred more frequently over warmer sea surfaces. The North Atlantic ocean has been unusually hot for over a year, repeatedly reaching record highs for the time of year , according to data from the oceanic association.

The International Centre for Waterspout Research on Monday said on X , the platform formerly known as Twitter, that it had confirmed 18 waterspouts near Italy in recent days, and several fishermen in the area of the accident told Italian media that they had witnessed a waterspout near the yacht.

What may have happened?

Karsten Börner, the captain of the nearby boat that rescued the 15 passengers, said in an interview that he saw the Bayesian about 490 feet away before the wind and lightning picked up.

While it was difficult to see what happened amid the storm, “my theory was that she was capsized first and then went down over the stern,” he said.

Towering over 237 feet tall, the Bayesian mast was one of the tallest aluminum masts in the world and it also had a special keel that could be raised or lowered, according to its manufacturer, Perini Navi. A keel is the downward-extending centerline underneath a boat that can help stabilize the vessel.

“In this case, having a tall aluminum mast would not make it the safest port to be in case of a storm,” said Andrea Ratti, associate professor of nautical design and architecture technology the Politecnico di Milano.

He added that “a lot of questions will remain until we have other elements at our disposal.”

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting.

Eve Sampson is a reporter covering international news and a member of the 2024-25 Times Fellowship class, a program for journalists early in their careers. More about Eve Sampson

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What is known about the sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily and those aboard

Italy Boaters Missing Emergency services at the scene of the search for a missing boat, in Porticello, southern Italy, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. Rescue teams and divers returned to the site of a storm-sunken superyacht Tuesday to search for six people, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch, who are believed to be still trapped in the hull 50 meters (164-feet) underwater. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli) (Salvatore Cavalli/AP)

PORTICELLO, Sicily — (AP) — Specialist cave divers working in 12-minute underwater shifts were searching Tuesday for six missing passengers and crew, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, believed to be in the submerged wreck of a luxury yacht that was slammed by a powerful storm and swiftly sank off Sicily.

The sleek yacht, named the Bayesian, was carrying a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers when it suddenly sank near the Mediterranean island that is part of Italy at about 4 a.m. on Monday. One body has been recovered and 15 people survived.

Fire rescue officials have said the six believed to remain in the sailboat's hull will be considered missing until they are located in the wreckage.

Here's what we know so far about the sinking and those who were on board.

Italian civil protection officials believe a sudden and fierce storm that battered the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday whipped up a waterspout in the exact spot where the 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged Bayesian was moored.

Karsten Borner, the captain of another yacht moored nearby, said he saw the Bayesian during the storm but when the wild weather passed it was gone and he saw only a red flare lighting the night sky, the Italian news agency ANSA and the Giornale di Sicilia newspaper reported.

Borner and one of his crew boarded their tender and found a lifeboat carrying 15 people, some of them injured. They took them aboard their yacht and alerted the coast guard.

Rescue authorities said the wreck was resting at a depth of 50 meters (163 feet) about a half mile offshore of the picturesque fishing village of Porticello.

Among the missing is 59-year-old tech tycoon Mike Lynch , sometimes described as the British Bill Gates. Lynch was acquitted in June of all charges in a U.S. fraud trial linked to the $11 billion sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011.

Lynch still faced a potentially huge bill stemming from a civil case in London that HP mostly won during 2022. Damages haven’t been determined in that case, but HP is seeking $4 billion. Lynch made more than $800 million from the Autonomy sale.

A Cambridge-educated mathematician, Lynch made his name running Autonomy, which made a search engine that could pore through emails and other internal business documents to help companies find vital information more quickly.

Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah was reportedly among the missing. His wife, Angela Bacares, and 14 other people survived.

Among others still missing Tuesday, according to the civil protection agency, were one of Lynch’s U.S. lawyers, Christopher Morvillo of Clifford Chance, and Morvillo’s wife, Neda. Morvillo was regarded as an elite defense lawyer and was also a federal prosecutor in New York after 9/11.

Also missing was Jonathan Bloomer, the non-executive chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife, Judy. He is the former head of the Autonomy audit committee and testified for the defense at Lynch’s trial.

Bloomer was also chair of the Hiscox Group, an insurer that does business on the Lloyd’s of London market.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event,” Hiscox CEO Aki Hussain said in a statement.

Among the survivors was Charlotte Golunski, who said she momentarily lost hold of her 1-year-old daughter Sofia in the water, but then managed to grab her and hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety, ANSA reported. The father, identified by ANSA as James Emslie, also survived.

The Dutch foreign ministry said a Dutch man survived. The ministry, citing privacy, did not release his identity.

One body was recovered on Monday, identified as the on-board chef.

The Bayesian was a luxury yacht built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Nav. It was known for its single 75-meter (246-feet) aluminum mast — one of the world’s tallest. Online charter sites listed it for rent for up to 195,000 euros (about $215,000) a week.

Its registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd., based on the Isle of Man, according to online maritime database Equasis. Lynch’s wife is listed as Revtom’s sole owner, according to corporate registration documents from the Isle of Man.

The yacht's name is an apparent reference to “Bayesian inference,” one of the two main approaches to statistical machine learning and the one that was used by Autonomy.

Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water and can happen when a storm moves across warm water.

According to the U.S. National Ocean Service, there are two types of waterspouts — fair-weather and tornadic.

Tornadic waterspouts “have the same characteristics as a land tornado. They are associated with severe thunderstorms, and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning,” the service says on its website.

While scientists haven't attributed the specific event to climate change, average monthly surface temperatures have been at record highs for months . Hotter air can hold more moisture, making heavier storms more likely.

Sicily has been baking under intense heat this summer , and the United Nations' panel of climate change experts notes the Mediterranean Sea is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with warming rates roughly 20% higher than the global average.

Experts say it is extraordinarily rare for a luxury sailboat of this size to capsize due to weather events.

“This just doesn’t happen. You know, boats sink because things like keels fall off, or they run aground and breach the hull ... whereas just from a weather angle, a boat that big being pushed over on its side is absolutely extraordinary,” said Skip Novak, a lifelong sailor who has taken part in multiple round the world yacht races and written books about sailing.

Novak said he believed that strong gusts likely pushed the yacht over 90 degrees to its side, and the vessel did not recover because of the weight of the huge mast and because it was anchored. He suggested that internal doors were likely not closed, and water quickly poured in to sink the vessel.

“When you’re at anchor, even if it’s blowing with a storm in the Mediterranean, you rarely shut the whole boat down because nobody expects something like this to happen," Novak told The Associated Press. “So if the boat wasn’t completely watertight at the deck, you’d have flooding going in. It would take a couple minutes and that would be it."

As the search for the missing continues, authorities already have begun trying to piece together exactly what happened.

Prosecutors from the Sicilian town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation, as is normal in such events even when no suspects are identified. To date, they have not commented publicly.

The British Marine Accident Investigation Branch said four of its inspectors were being deployed to Palermo.

Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands. Associated Press writer Sylvia Hui in London contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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3750 Yacht Club Dr #TH1 + BOAT SLIP,  Aventura, FL 33180

Denise Rubin

Coldwell Banker Realty

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August 21, 2024, 11:19 AM

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WOW! A BOATER'S DREAM! NEW EXTRAORDINARY MODERN WATERFRONT TOWNHOME IN VIDA AT THE POINT. ENTER AND IMMEDIATELY SEE PANORAMIC WATER VIEWS & WATERWAYS MARINA & YOUR DOCK/YACHT. NO EXPENSE SPARED & FINEST FEATURES INCLUDE: 4 Bd/4.5Ba W/PRIVATE ELEVATOR, WHITE PORCELAIN FLOORS THROUGHOUT, FLOOR TO CEILING IMPACT WINDOWS ALL ELECTRIC SHADES, STEVEN G CUSTOM FINISHES, STUNNING DECOR BY ARTEFACTO AVAILABLE, KITCHEN & BATHROOM CABINETS BY MIA CUCINA, TOP OF THE LINE WOLF & SUBZERO APPLIANCES IN OPEN WHITE KITCHEN, LARGE TERRACES OVERLOOKING THE WATER, PRIVATE GARAGE & CARPORT. MUST SEE! Enjoy The Resort Lifestyle That Only The Point Can Offer, Including Renovated 25,000sf Resident's Club, Juice N Java Cafe, Gym, Spa, 4 Tennis Courts, 3 Pools, BBQ Area, & Kids Playground.

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