Deluxe - Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Address: 1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd.
Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000
Phone: (407) 934-7000
Fax: (407) 934-3450

The Yacht Club (YC) is a five-story, 630 room resort, slightly larger than its sister resort, the Beach Club (BC), located along the shore of Crescent Lake, opposite the Boardwalk Resort. Themed after seaside New England hotels of the late 1800s, the Yacht Club has a stately, nautical look and feel; hardwood floors and brass accents enhance this feeling. Guests staying at both the Yacht Club and Beach Club have the exclusive use of Stormalong Bay, a 750,000 gallon pool/mini-water park complete with water slide, sandy bottom, whirlpools, and water currents.

Resort Layout:
The Yacht Club is one of the most conveniently located resorts on Disney's property. The Yacht Club is within walking distance of Epcot, Disney's Boardwalk, the Swan, and the Dolphin hotels. It is also just a short boat ride away from the Disney-MGM Studios.

If you like fine dining, you will be in the center of it all. Both the Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts have many fine locations, as does Disney's Boardwalk just across Crescent Lake, and the international flavor of World Showcase in Epcot. If you like to swim, one of the best hotel pools, Stormalong Bay, is right under your nose.

Services & Amenities:
 Room Service
 Concierge desk
 Health Club
 Babysitting and child services
 Pak-n-play crib available
 Room and facilities for guest with disabilities
 Self parking
 Valet parking available for a nominal fee
 Laundry facilities/services
 Meeting and Banquet facilities
 Business Center
 Barber and beauty shop

Guest Rooms:
The average room at the Yacht Club is 380 sq. ft. Most rooms feature two queen-size beds, a table and chairs, color TV w/remote, a ceiling fan, double sinks in the dressing area, refrigerator, and a mini-bar. Some rooms have a daybed that will accommodate the maximum 5 guests allowed per room at the Yacht Club. Also, some rooms have a "Murphy" type king-size bed that folds up against the wall. Of the 539 regular guest rooms at the Yacht Club, 483 rooms have queen-sized beds, 56 rooms have king-sized beds, 242 rooms are designated nonsmoking rooms, and there are 10 disabled access rooms.

One nice feature is having the bathtub/toilet separated from the rest of the rooms. The double sinks are located outside the true "bathroom." All rooms have a sizable balcony, great for reading the complimentary paper delivered to your door every morning; balconies have a table and two chairs. Rooms also have a small safe, located in the closet, in which you can store your valuables such as jewelry, airline tickets, passports, travelers' checks, etc. For bigger items, storage facilities may be available at the front desk.

The Yacht Club does have a concierge and concierge-level/service rooms. All concierge rooms are located on the hotel's 5th floor, which requires a special key card to gain entry from the elevator. There are 71 concierge suites and 20 "true" suites in a variety of sizes.

There are three views available: The Standard view, the Garden view, and the Water view. Normal rooms can be booked for Standard or Water view. Concierge level rooms can be booked for Garden or Water view.

Standard view rooms overlook the nicely landscaped parking or wooded areas around the hotel. Garden view rooms typically overlook the slightly nicer areas around the quiet pool, or even the wedding gazebo. Water view rooms have a direct view of Crescent Lake and the Boardwalk. Some of the Water view rooms are located just above Stormalong Bay and may be a bit noisy during the day. Note also that not all water view rooms offer a direct view of the lake and the Boardwalk. Many are at right angles to the lake, making it often difficult or impossible to see the Boardwalk. If you should book a Water view room, don’t be disappointed if you don’t have a direct view of the lake.

Check-Inn & Check-Out:
Check-in is at 3pm. ; Your room may be available prior to that time, but it is not guaranteed. ; If your room is not available, you can leave your luggage with the Bell Services where it will be delivered to your room with it is ready.

Check-out is at 11am. ; If you pay by credit card, you do not have to go to desk to check out. ; An itemized bill will be hung on your door by 8:30am on the day of your departure. ; The electronic room key which was given, will be automatically deactivated at 11am. ; You can use Bell services to take luggage to your car. ; If you are taking a bus or taxi to the airport, Bell services will keep your luggage until your transportation arrives.

Dining:
If you're looking for good food while staying at the Yacht Club you needn't go far. The Yacht Club has two very good restaurants of its own, and a brief walk along Stormalong Bay will take you to the restaurants of the Beach Club.

Yacht Club Gallery-- Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a casual nautical atmosphere. The Galley almost always has tables available, but an Advance Reservation, is recommended if possible.

Yachtsman Steakhouse-- Serving dinner only. This is the Yacht Club's premier restaurant (pictured below), serving tasty cuts of superbly aged beef, poultry and seafood selections are also available here. An Advance Reservation is highly recommended for dinner. They are usually able to accommodate early (5:30-7:00) and late (9:00-9:45) walk up arrivals. A party of two is more likely to be seated more quickly than a party of six or more. Although this rule normally applies even to the busiest of seasons, there are no guarantees. Always make a Advance Reservations if possible to avoid disappointment.

Looking for a place to relax, wind down, and have a nice drink? The YC offers two lounges at your disposal. The Ale and Compass Lounge, located just off the lobby features specialty coffee and drinks. In the morning, coffee is served here from 8 to 10 a.m. The Crew's Cup, located near the Yachtsman Steakhouse, serves a multitude of beer, along with your favorite drinks and wines. Appetizers and finger foods are also available here, making the Crew's Cup a nice place for a light evening meal.

Don't forget right next door in the Beach Club is the Cape May Buffet, where you'll find Goofy and friends for a breakfast buffet or a clambake dinner served family-style (buffet). Also, shared between the YC and BC are two other dining locales, Beaches and Cream Soda Shop (open 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. for Breakfast, 11 a.m. -11 p.m. for Lunch and Dinner) and Hurricane Hanna's Grill. Beaches & Cream serves wonderful shakes and malts along with burgers and ice cream selections. Hanna's specializes in great, quick eats such as hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages, and more.

Beach Club Market Place - Opened April 2005 and offers quick service foods and gelato!
Often times a quick and hearty breakfast is in order before you hit the parks. The Ale and Compass Lounge is great for a really fast cup of coffee (complimentary).

For a more atmospheric start to your day, try the Boardwalk Bakery just across Crescent Lake on the BoardWalk. The Boardwalk Bakery serves fresh-baked pastries, Danish, and muffins (try the Cinnamon Yummie!). Outdoor tables are available, and afford a lovely view of the lake and resorts. Spoodles at the Boardwalk also serves breakfast and dinner.

Recreation:
Pools
The Yacht Club has one of the best, if not the best swimming holes (at a hotel) in all of Walt Disney World. Stormalong Bay is a three-acre water playground shared between the Yacht Club and the Beach Club. It's a great place to have fun or just relax.

Stormalong Bay has many different sections that encompass its 750,000 gallons of water. There are shallow wading areas for the younger ones, complete with sand bottoms. There are also larger and deeper areas, some with sand, some without.

A "shipwreck" on the shore of Crescent Lake provides the entrance to an exciting water slide for the adventurous folks. There is a circular area in Stormalong Bay with water jets that create a current. All you have to do is float? the water will move you along! All around Stormalong Bay are lounge chairs where you can relax and catch some rays. Among other things, you'll find a waterfall and a couple of hot tubs hidden amongst the scenery. Note, however, that lifejackets cannot be worn when using the water slide. The water slide includes an enclosed tube and a child with a lifejacket can get stuck. If your child requires the use of a lifejacket, you can request to use the pool and slide at the Boardwalk Inn.

There is a quiet pool at the Yacht Club, found on the far end of the hotel away from the noise and excitement. The pool is located on the front/side of the hotel farthest from the Beach Club and closest to the Swan/Dolphin. There is also a hot tub in the same area as the quiet pool. These facilities are open 24 hours, as long as you are quiet! You can also use the quiet pool/hot tub on the Beach Club side of things. This pool is located on the back side of the Beach Club, closest to Epcot. You may see this area if you walk the path to Epcot.

Health Club
Ship Shape Health Club is located between the Beach and Yacht Club resorts next to Lafferty Place Arcade and open from 6 am to 9 pm. Membership is free to Yacht Club resort guests for the length of their stay. Disney Vacation Club members may use the facilities free if they are staying at a Disney resort. Guests from other Disney resorts can use the facilities for $12/day, based on availability. Equipment includes Nautilus, Hammer Strength and aerobic machines as well as a spa, steam room, sauna and massage therapy. Massages are available from 8 am to 8 pm by appointment only.

Jogging
Jogging route maps are available from Lobby Concierge (Guest Services) or from the Ship Shape Health Club.

Volleyball
A sand court is located on the Beach Club side of the complex. Equipment use is complimentary for BC/YC guests and may be obtained at the Stormalong Bay Towel Window.

Arcade
Lafferty Place Arcade is located next to the Beaches and Cream Soda Shop.

Watercrafts
Bayside Marina is located in a small building to the right of the pier (facing the lake) and services guests from both the Yacht Club and Beach Club daily from 11am to 5pm.

Miniature Golf
Fantasia Gardens - is located across from the Swan/Dolphin hotels. Here you can enjoy mini-golf at its best.

Shopping
The Yacht Club's all-purpose store is Fittings and Fairings Clothes and Notions. It is open from 8 am to 11 pm. This store offers a small but comprehensive collection of clothing, character merchandise, and sundries. A quick trip down to this first-floor store will satisfy your needs. Beware though, you may pay for forgetfulness! You won't find cheap clothing here. The Beach Club has a shop with similar items called Atlantic Wear and Wardrobe Emporium. If Fittings and Fairings is out of stock, try there. Also if you are looking for cigarettes, each of the Beach Club and Yacht Club shops has some behind one of the counters, so just ask a Cast Member.

Transportation:
Epcot - Epcot can be easily reached by foot, a short 10-minute walk along the water way leading to Epcot's International Gateway. If walking isn't for you, there is a boat to ferry guests from all the Epcot resorts (Swan, Dolphin, Boardwalk, Yacht Club, and Beach Club) to the International Gateway, but the walk is faster and a bit more scenic. To board the boat, simply exit the lobby on the rear side of the hotel and walk straight down to the dock. Be sure you're in the Epcot line (left side facing the water), not the Disney-MGM Studios (right side facing the water) line.

Epcot resort guests CAN use the International Gateway entrance to Epcot even though World Showcase may not yet be open for the day. Cast members will help usher you toward Future World in Epcot. The International Gateway also offers full-service ticketing and purchasing of annual passes. The guest services window usually opens 30 minutes prior to park opening.

Disney-MGM Studios - The best way to reach the Studios is by boat. You can meet the boat at the dock just as you would the boat for Epcot, by exiting the rear or the hotel and walking straight down to the dock. Again, make sure you catch the right boat. The CMs will surely let you know which boat you're getting on. The boat usually stops by the Swan and Dolphin and Boardwalk via the Studios. The trip takes about 20 minutes.
The walking path from the Boardwalk resort to the Studios is now open. If you're up to a 20-minute walk, enjoy the stroll.

Magic Kingdom - The Magic Kingdom can easily be reached by taking a bus from the front of the hotel. The bus will stop at the Beach Club, the Boardwalk, and then you're just moments away from the Magic! Another longer, but more scenic, journey is to take the monorail from Epcot's front entrance, transfer at the TTC, and then continue to the MK. Traveling this way does take some time and some walking, but you get to see a little bit more, and it lends to resort hopping if the mood strikes. Depending on traffic, buses can take 15-25 minutes to reach the Magic Kingdom.

Disney's Animal Kingdom - Disney's Animal Kingdom can be reached by taking a bus from the front of the hotel. The bus will stop at the Beach Club, the Boardwalk, and then you're just moments away from Disney's newest theme park! Depending on traffic, buses can take 10-20 minutes to reach the Animal Kingdom.

Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney - Buses take you directly from the hotel to these locations after picking up passengers from the Beach Club and Boardwalk Inn. Travel times vary to each of these locations, but many of these attractions are relatively close to the Yacht Club, so you never have to wait too long. A trip to Typhoon Lagoon takes approximately 20 minutes. A trip to Downtown Disney takes approximately 30 minutes.

Disney's Boardwalk - The Boardwalk faces the Yacht and Beach Clubs on the opposite side of Crescent Lake. There are two foot bridges, one in the direction of the Swan/Dolphin hotels, and one in the direction of Epcot, allowing you to walk to this entertainment complex and hotel.

For all other locations, including Fort Wilderness, and resort hotels, buses to the TTC will allow you to connect with other transportation to your final destination. You can also take the monorail from the Future World side of Epcot to reach the TTC. Travel times vary widely here. You can time it just right and have a short, efficient trip, or have a trip lasting almost an hour. Hope for the best!

It usually takes only 5 minutes to get a taxi. Go to the valet station at the front of the Yacht Club and they will call a taxi for you. Trips to destinations on property range in cost from $8 to $15. For example, the typical taxi fare from the Yacht Club to the Grand Floridian costs about $14 (not including tip).

Rates:
Just like the other WDW hotels, there are Value Season, Regular Season, Peak Season and Holiday Season rates. Rates begin at $279 a night. These are regular rate prices and do not include the 6.5% Florida Sales Tax nor the 11.5% county resort tax. Rates are based on double occupancy. No charge for children under 17 years old when in the same room as the adults. For each adult over 2 there is a $25 per night charge per person. Maximum of 5 persons per room.

Extra Information:
Are you a couple on a romantic getaway? Ask for a room overlooking the wedding gazebo (a garden view room). If you're lucky, from your balcony you'll be able to hear and see a magical Disney wedding take place. Quite a romantic/reminiscent experience.

Looking for a night out at a fine restaurant located at another resort? The valet outside the entrance to the Yacht Club can have a taxi for you in about 5 minutes. One way fare to the Contemporary or Grand Floridian will cost you about $14, but get you there much quicker than the bus.