This is a continuation of a new series taking a comprehensive look at all of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. There will be several posts on each resort looking at pools, dining, shopping, and other amenities.

General Shopping Information

Each of the Beach and the Yacht Club Resorts has one main shop that carries everything from clothing to snacks to toys. They are both located on the first floor, near the center of the respective resort. Much like the resorts themselves, the Beach Club Marketplace is light, airy, and beachy while Fittings and Fairings Clothes and Notions at the Yacht Club is nautically themed with dark woods.

Types of Merchandise (resort specific, essentials, liquor/cigs)

At the Beach Club Marketplace many different items can be found. The normal Disney fare abounds; tee shirts, sweat shirts, pins, etc., there is also a small toy section that includes pool toys. A handful of merchandise that specifically says “Beach Club” can be found at the Marketplace as well as Disney Vacation Club items owing to the Beach Club Villas being part of the complex.

Since the Marketplace is also a quick service dining location, a small number of grocery items such as cereal, water, and microwavable meals can be purchased. This is also a good place to find essentials such as band aids, toothpaste, baby food and a multitude of other items. If liquor, beer, cigarettes, and cigars are also considered essentials, those can be purchased at the Beach Club Marketplace as well.

Although Fittings and Fairings Clothing and Notions at the Yacht Club has a much longer and fancier name, it carries much the same merchandise as the Marketplace. The toys, toiletries, liquor, and tobacco products are essentially the same. There are Yacht Club branded items including very fancy nautical caps for sale. There is also equally fancy Ralph Lauren Polo and Nautica clothing available at Fittings and Fairings.

Beach Club Marketplace

Beach Club Marketplace

Beach Club specific merchandise

Disney Vacation Club merchandise

Fittings and Fairings at the Yacht Club

Fittings and Fairings

Yacht Club specific merchandise

Specialty Shops

While there are no true specialty shops at the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, there is a high-style, unisex salon; Periwig’s Beauty and Barber Shop. Hair care items are for purchase although it is undergoing refurbishment at the time of writing.

Resort Information: Yacht and Beach Club – Shopping is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

This is a continuation of a new series taking a comprehensive look at all of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. There will be several posts on each resort looking at pools, dining, shopping, and other amenities.

General Information

As expected from Walt Disney World deluxe resorts, the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts have numerous dining options. With several table service restaurants as well as a few places to have a quick bite and even a drink, there is plenty of choice available at these resorts.

Quick Service

The only quick service establishment is the Beach Club Marketplace. Located on the first floor near the lobby, the Marketplace also serves as the primary shop for the Beach Club Resort. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served from the small counter in corner of the space (Beach Club Marketplace menus) and the food is classic, but good quality. Limited seating is available in the hallway adjacent to the Marketplace with quite a bit more in the covered walkway leading from the Marketplace’s hallway to the Beach Club Villas.

Beach Club Marketplace

Beach Club Marketplace service counter

Beach Club Marketplace seating area

Table Service

The primary table service restaurant at the Beach Club Resort is Cape May Cafe, which is open for breakfast and dinner. The restaurant can be found just off of the lobby. Breakfast is a buffet of classic fare that is also a character meal with Goofy, Donald Duck, and Minnie Mouse normally in attendance. Dinner is also a buffet, although the evening meal is mostly seafood. (Cape May Cafe menus) Like much of the Beach Club, Cape May Cafe is decorated in a light, airy, beachy motif with light wood and glass-enclosed sandcastles.

Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club

Cape May Cafe

Cape May Cafe

The Yacht Club has two table service restaurants; Captain’s Grille and Yachtsman Steakhouse. Captain’s Grille is the Yacht Club equivalent of Cape May Cafe. It is also located just off of the lobby and it is decorated very similarly, albeit with darker wood and glass enclosed boats to focus on the nautical themes. The food at Captain’s Grille is similar to Cape May for breakfast and reasonably standard New England fare for lunch and dinner. (Captain’s Grille menus)

Yachtsman Steakhouse is a high-end steakhouse with a price to match the quality. It is located in the corridor between the Beach and Yacht Club Resorts on the Yacht Club side and is only open for dinner. Yachtsman Steakhouse was undergoing a refurbishment at the time of research, but has since been reopened. (Yachtsman Steakhouse menu)

Captain's Grille at Yacht Club

Captain's Grille

Yachtsman Steakhouse at Yacht Club

Bars/Lounges

If a bar or lounge is what you are looking for, there are a few options at the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. At the Beach Club, in the corridor leading towards Yacht Club, you will find Martha’s Vineyard. This lounge is bright and full of pastel colors with a few televisions on the wall. It is fairly non-descript, but serves a range of alcoholic beverages as well as appetizers and light fare.

At the Yacht Club there are two options for lounges. One is located in the resort lobby; Ale and Compass, and is a small open seating area with an equally small counter. Ale and Compass serves a limited menu of snacks and alcoholic beverages. This is also a good spot to get specialty coffee drinks in the morning.

The larger lounge at the Yacht Club is the Crew’s Cup, which is adjacent to Yachtsman Steakhouse. Decorated in all dark wood with a crew boat suspended from the ceiling, Crew’s Cup is a pretty and interesting place to find light food, snacks, and alcholic drinks.

Martha's Vineyard at Beach Club

Ale & Compass at Yacht Club

Crew's Cup at Yacht Club

Crew's Cup

Specialty

Beaches and Cream is special, which is why it has been placed in its own category. It is located on an exterior cooridor almost directly between the Beach and Yacht Club Resorts, directly adjacent to the center pool entrance. Beaches and Cream serves ice cream treats as well as heartier fare. There is an indoor seating area where you can get desserts and casual food such as burgers and fries. If ice cream is all that interests you, there is also a to go counter. (Beaches and Cream To Go Menu) (Beaches and Cream full menus)

Beaches and Cream is decorated to look like a soda shop from a bygone era and is generally very popular. Unlike most Walt Disney World restaurants, Beaches and Cream does not accept Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs), rather it is first come, first served. Avoiding peak dining times is recommended.

Beaches and Cream

Beaches and Cream

Resort Information: Yacht and Beach Club – Dining is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

This is a continuation of a new series taking a comprehensive look at all of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. There will be several posts on each resort looking at pools, dining, shopping, and other amenities.

General Information

Every Walt Disney World resort has at least one pool and all are very nice. It is likely that none can match the main pool at the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts in size, scope, and design. Named Stormalong Bay, the massive, free-form, sand-bottomed pool is something special.

While the theme of the pool is simply “beachy,” the execution is quite complex. There are two centerpieces that are helpful in orienting oneself; a decorative, yet moving, windmill and the gigantic shipwreck that serves as the start of the pool’s water slide. The shipwreck itself is actually on the beach side of the promenade, while the rest of the pool meanders and flows around the windmill and various walkways and footbridges.

Stormalong bay appears to be one giant pool, but it is actually a cleverly designed trio. There is a regular pool, with depths of 4-6 feet, a shallow kiddie area, and a slow-flowing lazy river. Each of these areas is separate, requiring swimmers to exit one to enter another. In between these pools are lovely vegetation, rock formations, and waterfalls. The whirlpools can be found atop the largest rock structure.

In addition to Stormalong Bay, there are two “quiet” pools; one for Yacht Club and one for the Beach Club. These pools are on the extreme ends of the resorts, the east side for the Beach Club and the west side for the Yacht Club, and they are simple, non-themed pools designed for those who wish to avoid the crowds at Stormalong Bay. Each “quiet” pool also has a whirlpool nearby.

Stormalong Bay

Windmill at Stormalong Bay

Windmill at Stormalong Bay

Part of the lazy river

Shipwreck with the tubed water slide coming from its mast

Beach Club quiet pool

Yacht Club quiet pool

Whirlpool at Yacht Club quiet pool

Water Slides, Kiddie Areas, and Accessibility

There is one main water slide at Stormalong Bay. As mentioned, it begins on top of the mast of the shipwreck. From there the slide begins as an enclosed tube as it takes riders across the promenade. It then meanders through rocks and trees as the tube’s top is removed. Overall, this is a long slide although it is quite tame, making the scare level very low.

In addition to the main slide, there is a kid-friendly small slide at the bottom of the shipwreck. This is far from the only child area available at Stormalong bay however. The western end of the Bay contains one of the more unique kiddie pools available. The two foot depth pool is sand-bottomed, as is almost all of Stormalong Bay, but the sand is also mounded into a sandbar that cuts right into the middle of the shallow water. This creates the perfect place for children or adults to build sand castles. Next to the sandy shallow pool is an even shallower pool meant for the very small.

While Stormalong Bay is handicapped accessible via wide steps and hand holds, it is not a zero-depth pool. Therefore, those with limited movement may require assistance to get into the water.

Stormalong Bay with kiddie area in the background

Shallow kiddie area

The little kiddie pool near Stormalong Bay

Small pool and kiddie water slide in the shipwreck

Bars and Restaurants

Directly adjacent to Stormalong Bay is a handy food and beverage option. Hurricane Hanna’s Grill serves quick food and all manners of beverage, including beer. Around the corner, nearer the pool, is a full bar that serves additional alcoholic beverages. At the time of writing, Hurricane Hanna’s is undergoing refurbishment and is scheduled to reopen on December 18, 2012.

Some of the options available at Hurricane Hanna’s Grill are cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and wraps. The full menu can be found as part of TouringPlans.com’s dining menus. There are also other dining options very near the pool such as Beaches and Cream. Those additional options will be covered in the Restaurant Information section, to be posted soon.

Good Spots

For those who are not interested in swimming, there are many great spots around and near Stormalong Bay for lounging. Surrounded by lounge chairs, the child areas are easily seen from several spots. There are also banks of chairs and quite a few tables very near the water that are great for relaxing or eating a quick meal.

If sunbathing is the primary goal, there is a large raised platform with many lounge chairs on top. Part of this platform is covered, but much of it is in the open sun and perfect for getting slightly toasted. Of course, being the Beach Club, there is quite a bit of wonderful beach space across the promenade from the pool that will allow you to return home a few shades tanner than when you arrived in Orlando.

The raised sunbathing platform

Atop the sunbathing platform

The Beach Club's beach looking over Crescent Lake and towards the Boardwalk

Activities and Other Items

As with all Disney resort pool areas, there are mid-day activities consisting of music and games led by Cast Members. This is usually set up near the kiddie pool area and takes place every afternoon. If pool toys such as noodles or inflatables are desired they can be purchased in the Marketplace in the Beach Club or in Fittings and Fairings at the Yacht Club.

Resort Information: Yacht and Beach Club – Pool Information is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

We are beginning a new series taking a comprehensive look at all of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. There will be several posts on each resort looking at pools, dining, shopping, and other amenities.

Resort Location

The Beach and Yacht Club Resorts are located along the banks of Crescent Lake, which itself is adjacent to the International Gateway of Epcot. Beach Club is the closest resort to Epcot with Yacht Club attached to the Beach Club at its western end.

Transportation Options

There are many transportation options available at the Beach and Yacht Club Resorts. One of the more beneficial traits is that there are several locations within walking distance. Epcot’s International Gateway, which is in World Showcase in between the UK and France pavilions, is a short walk away. If visiting other resorts is of interest, the Boardwalk Inn, Swan, and Dolphin are each very nearby, also along Crescent Lake. The other resorts can be reached by walking along the boardwalk in front of the Beach and Yacht Club that forms a loop with the Boardwalk Inn. Although a longer walk, about three quarters of a mile, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is also accessible via an even and well lit walking path.

A Friendship boat on its way to Epcot.

View of the Friendship boat dock from the Yacht Club lobby.

The base of the lighthouse, which serves as the boat stop.

A Friendship boat in dock.

A second option for traversing the distance to Epcot and Hollywood Studios is the Friendship Boats. These boats sail from Hollywood Studios to the Swan and Dolphin, Beach and Yacht, Boardwalk, and Epcot, then return along the reverse path. While the boats are not always faster than walking they do save tired feet. The boats can be boarded at the lighthouse that sits at the end of a pier opposite the entrance to the Yacht Club. If you are traveling from the Beach Club to Epcot, walking west to the pier, down the pier, boarding the boat, stopping at the Boardwalk, and sailing back east to the International Gateway will often take longer than simply walking to Epcot.

The Yacht Club bus stop.

The Yacht Club bus stop from the lobby. The stop is under the tree on the left.

The foot bridge to the Beach Club bus stop.

The Beach Club bus stop. The parking lot opens to the right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should you wish to visit The Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, or Downtown Disney buses are available in front of each resort. The Yacht Club buses are found on the opposite side of the entrance portico from the Lobby. The buses servicing the Beach Club are nearer the parking lot, which are across the entrance portico and over a footbridge. Many buses will stop at both resorts and occasionally another resort such as the Boardwalk on their way to the park.

The final transportation option is to drive your own car. The parking areas for the Beach and Yacht Clubs are almost identical large lots. It is not possible to park near to your room at either resort so you must walk across the small river that runs between the resorts and the parking areas to access your car. Valet parking is also available at both resorts if that is preferable.

Activities

For those looking for extra activities, the Beach and Yacht Club Resorts have a multitude of options. Along the boardwalk that runs in front of the resorts, bicycles and boats are both available for rent. Bicycles made exploring the nearby resorts easy for only about $9 per hour and the boats allow for a relaxing journey around Crescent Lake. Small boats can be rented for as little as $24 per half hour or, if you have a party of up to 10, pontoon boats can be found for $42 per half hour.

Bicycle rentals near Yacht Club.

Bayside Marina

Mini Speedboats for rent.

The Bayside Marina is also where special excursions can be found. An Albatross Treasure Cruise, much like a pirate-themed adventure, will escort children ages 4-10 around Crescent Lake looking for “treasure” for about $28 plus tax. Catch and release fishing trips can also be arranged at the marina as well as cruises that include food and beverage packages. Fishing excursions cost $270 for a two hour tour and $455 for four hours while the specialty cruises have varying prices depending on what type of package is arranged.

Beach Volleyball Court at the Beach Club

Table Games near the Beach

Tennis Court

Temporary Health Club site at the Beach Club

Also near the boardwalk in front of the Beach Club is a beach volleyball court and, near the water slide, table tennis, billiards, and foosball tables are found. A tennis court is available at the far end of the Yacht Club for those who are fans of the hardcourt. There is also an arcade and health club on property, although the health club proper is under renovation at this writing and is temporarily in the Beach Club Solarium. For the kids and kids-at-heart there is an arcade on site very near the usual spot of the health club.

Campfire Sing-a-long

Movie on the beach

Arcade

Wedding gazebo

On the beach to the east of the waterslide, which is easily found as it is shaped like a sunken ship, is where two very nice nighttime activities are located. At 7pm nightly guests can participate in a Campfire Sing-a-long followed at 8:30pm by a movie on the beach. Both events are complimentary and do not require a reservation.

For those who find the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts romantic enough to commit forever, there is a wedding gazebo situated toward the west end of the Yacht Club. Surrounded by flowers with a view opening toward the lighthouse and lake, there are far less pretty places in which to ‘tie the knot.’

Resort Information: Yacht and Beach Club – Miscellaneous Information is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

So far I’ve explored the wonderful resorts of Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans, and Pop Century. You may notice that none of those are in the deluxe category. The reason is that some of the deluxe resorts just don’t lend themselves to exploring. Sure, they are beautiful, luxurious, and wonderful to spend time at, but they don’t always have the meandering pathways or hidden spots that the more spread out resorts have.

I debated with myself for a while on how to overcome this problem (and yes, I often argue with myself…and win). I had a breakthrough when I thought about walking through a favorite resort of mine; Beach Club. You see, when I spend time at that particular resort, I don’t just walk around the Beach Club but instead I wander through all of the bordering Epcot area resorts.

So that’s how I’m treating this, as a walk through the Epcot resorts; Beach Club, Yacht Club, Dolphin, Swan, and the Boardwalk Inn. Please remember that combining them is an artistic choice and not laziness (an important, if indiscernible, designation).

Beach and Yacht Clubs

Stormalong Bay

I am further combining these two because they share so much in common (still not laziness). Both are designed with a seaside feel, although the Yacht Club has a more stately and formal feel to it. These are both beautiful resorts with many decorative nautical items, but with very little in the way of “hidden” areas.

I am in no way saying that there aren’t lovely spots to sit, stand, or walk (I’ll take sit if you please), but most of these areas are along the well-trafficked pathway that abuts Crescent Lake. Yes it is beautiful, photogenic, and peaceful, but it is also very often full of people, which makes it feel less “private” and more “ugh…people are loud.”

C'mon, who doesn't love this view?

If you are an early riser like I am you can still stake out your spot, and there are a few very lovely spots. The pool is a free-flowing, meandering behemoth with rockwork, waterfalls, and plenty of trees. There is also a fantastic pier that juts out into the lake complete with a wonderful lighthouse. The primo spot however, is a seat on the beach (a beach? At the Beach Club? Ludicrous!).

From your vantage point on the sand you look out across the lake with vistas of the lighthouse and the exceptionally cool wreckage of a pirate ship (says the 13 year old boy that I mentally am). I suggest, rather than exploring per se, parking your rump on the beach and enjoying the relative peace of the spot.

Dolphin and Swan

As you meander further away from Epcot (This is a special case. Normally I don’t recommend walking away from World Showcase) the next resorts you come to are the Dolphin and Swan. I have combined these two again due to the shared amenities (okay, maybe now I’m getting lazy). Comparing what I described above, I’m not sure you can find resorts that are more different than the Swan/Dolphin and Beach/Yacht. The Swan and Dolphin are…uh…well, just different.

Rather than quaint and relaxing, the Swan and Dolphin are modern and angular. They are still beautiful, at least in spots, but I would consider neither of them relaxing. Luckily, the exterior areas are just as well done as you would expect at Disney deluxe resorts.

This picture breaks my personal record of "most non-living swans in one shot."

Walking the circuitous route between the two hotel buildings brings you upon the pool, beach, and several small, tree-lined spots that definitely qualify as relaxing (and many qualify as smoking areas…thanks for that Disney). Enjoying the views looking out onto the water of the beach and palm trees is always time well spent, even if there are strangely shaped modernist hotels in the way.

Boardwalk Inn
The final resort that you come upon on the path is the Boardwalk Inn. Aesthetically speaking, the hotel itself is not my favorite. It is a very pleasant resort in a great location and has that mix of seaside charm and high-class elegance that we all associate with the New Jersey shore (cough…moving on). Mostly what I don’t like is that super creepy clown face slide that makes it look like a spaced-out clown is spitting children into the pool.

Wow, what a nice pool and...AHH, what in Walt's name is that thing!

The main exterior area of the Boardwalk Inn is the boardwalk itself which is a great place for a stroll at any time. When it’s empty it is serene and peaceful and has a lot of benches for looking out over Crescent Lake.

When it’s busy there is so much hustle there (and even a bit of bustle) that it’s one of the best spots to people watch. With face painters, entertainers, and surrey bikes galore I could spend all day just wandering the boardwalk and making fun of people (Oops I mean…uh…yeah, making fun of. I can’t sugarcoat it).

That completes my wandering around the Epcot resorts, now I’m going to jump aboard the Friendship Boat and head to World Showcase for a beverage. How do you like the Epcot resorts and do you ever take time to wander around during your stay? I’d love to hear about all the nooks and crannies that I missed.

Thanks for reading!

Resort Exploring: Vol 4 – Epcot Area Resorts is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.