Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Being a Florida resident, I never stay at Disney because my house is a 30-​min drive away, but after me and the beau got Epcot passes, we decided we wanted to pick one of the deluxe resorts and stay one night.
Let’s start with the good. Nice, big, deluxe Epcot resort. Ample parking and the lobby is decorated nicely. Our room was spacious and all rooms (I think) come with a balcony. We had a lagoon view which provided a really picturesque view of the Yacht Club beach, the Boardwalk lights across the lagoon, and a nice view of the Epcot fireworks. Score! The resort is so convenient and closely located to Epcot. There is a walking pathway (or a boat ride) that takes you directly into the World Showcase. Really nice for fighting the crowds at the entrance of the park. This was a HUGE perk and frankly, the main reason I booked this resort in particular. The pool (although we didn’t use it– weather was cold) claims to be one of the best on Disney property. It’s large and comes with a water slide and a lazy river. The Boardwalk and Beach Club are all in close proximity, providing lots of options for dining and entertainment. There is also a running (or walking) path around the property.
Moving onto the «meh». When you book your stay, you cannot select a room with particular accommodations (aka– a King size bed or two queens). The only selections you can request are upper floor/​lower floor/​by elevator/​etc. I selected «upper floor» when I booked the reservation, but called ahead so they could place a king size bed as a request on my reservation. I was told not to check in online, but check in with a person to ensure I got the king size bed. When we checked in, they told me they did not have a king size bed available and they gave me a room on the 1^st floor. Getting slightly annoyed, I asked if there was another room available that at least met one of my requests. They then provided me with an upper floor room with a king size bed. Not sure why I had to ask twice, but I was happy I got what I requested.
The resort is really large with one main elevator and winding hallways to get to your room. Not a bad thing, but we did get a bit lost finding our way to the lobby about half of the time.
The main meh is just the cost. I know it’s Disney, but for a one night stay (with a pass holder discount), I spent $ 400. The proximity to Epcot was really nice, but next time, I’ll likely find a boutique hotel or a 5-​star hotel with killer amenities for this price.
4-​stars for a Disney resort, because if you’re traveling to Disney, you’re probably going to stay on property and this is one of the nicer Epcot resorts. But I would give it a lower rating in comparison to other resort/​hotel experiences I have had. Since I’m not hooked on Disney in particular, it’s just not worth a second visit for me.

This is an older hotel. Their was one elevator for use and your room is quite a walk! Make sure you bring your sneakers!
Also, the rooms are dated. While staying, we witnessed someone’s room service that was outside of their room in the hallway for 48 hours without being picked up. Gross!!!
You will also need bus transportation to and from the parks. Skip this resort. It is FAR from a resort, more of a motel.

Excellent rooms, staff is very friendly, several pools and hot tubs, lots of restaurants to chose from. Gym had lots of items to use. Market place was pricey but everything is at Disney. Defiantly great for adults to stay.

If you are looking for a great deluxe hotel on Disney property, this one is amazing! The theme is upscale and the «Disney» aspect is downplayed compared to many of the on-​site properties. We enjoyed that because we didn’t feel overloaded at the end of the day.
They have a great pool area too. A favorite of our toddler was the pool that was ½ sand beach. Our little guy could play in the sand, and by the time we walked over to the steps all the sand was gone… a real bonus! We also were at the pool when the staff was running games for the guests. Lots of fun and they did a great job of getting the shy kids involved and having fun.
One of the biggest selling points of this hotel for us was the great location. It is situated on a lake with the Beach Club, Boardwalk, Swan, and Dolphin, which gives you access to a lot of great food, shops and entertainment. Not to mention just strolling around the lake is fun! Also, there is a great walking path that gives you access to the back door of Epcot, which we loved! You come in by the World Showcase, so we went there every night for dinner or desserts or just a drink! You also have easy access to Hollywood Studios by boat.
I also can’t say enough about the great staff. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Many cast members would go above and beyond to give great recommendations or anticipate your needs and just be helpful! Loved the main greeter in the lobby too. A very dapper looking older gentleman who was always interacting with guests and smiling. Definitely a new favorite place for us at Disney, and I can’t wait to go back!

Hotel is old and needs updating. Rooms smell musty and several of the lights in our rooms did not work/​broken.
The only plus is that this resort is walking to distance to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
If you have the option, stay at Boardwalk instead.

When my husband and I first planned our WDW trip, we booked a room at the Port Orleans: French Quarter resort. When my 5-​star-​hotels-​only-​preferably-​the-​Four-​Seasons-​wherever-​I-​go mom decided to join us, she was like NOPE on the moderate level resort, and insisted on us staying in a deluxe level resort.
With about a month until the trip (it was definitely last-​minute), most of the deluxe resorts were booked already, so we were left with the Animal Kingdom, Yacht Club, and Grand Floridian. My mom took one look at AK, didn’t like how it was «dim,» and immediately dismissed the GF because the rooms looked too plain. Yacht Club it was.
Of the three, YC was actually my preference because of its location — walking distance to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and walking distance to the Boardwalk. Even though there’s not much to do at the Boardwalk, it’s nice to at least not be confined to your hotel grounds when you don’t have a rental car.
We decided to take a cab to the hotel instead of waiting for the Magical Express. I don’t know how much time this shaved off, but after a long flight, we just wanted to get to the hotel. Since we checked in online, they have staff with iPads waiting at the front to give you your welcome packet. Super easy check-​in process.
Is this hotel old and in need of updating? Yes.
Is this hotel clean and nicely decorated? Yes.
Are the rooms small for what you pay for? Yes. But it’s Disney — expect to be gouged and charged an arm and a leg for everything.
We really liked our room — it had a balcony that didn’t really overlook anything, but it was nice to be able to open up the door to let the cool night air in after a long day at the parks. It’s charming and nautical-​themed, and since we went right before Christmas, there was a beautiful tree in the lobby, along with a mini holiday train set.
Our room was really quiet (we were concerned because people were saying walls were thin) — but then again, we live in San Francisco in a vibrant neighborhood with a fire station a block away. We had no issues with hallway noise, although our ceiling fan and refrigerator randomly made noise. Not a huge deal though.
Other perks of this hotel:
+ right next to sister resort Beach Club. Easy, short walk to the shared pool (um hello the water slide is AWESOME), restaurants, arcade, and gym/​spa.
+ bus transportation to parks is only shared with Beach Club, and YC is the first pickup/​dropoff stop.
+ water transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, although Epcot is literally a 5 minute walk away, and HS is only 20 minutes on a flat, easy path.
+ can sit along the beach area and enjoy the fireworks from Epcot.
+ less «Disney» themed, which means the clientele is slightly older = fewer children and families. SCORE.
Overall this is a really great location and hotel. Could the rooms /​bathrooms be larger? Of course. But if you’re looking for a nice place where you can just walk downstairs for anything you need, plus be in a great spot for quick transit to all the theme parks, YC is your best bet.

Great from the very beginning. I made a reservation and let them know that we were celebrating our engagement and they went above and beyond from the minute we walked in the door. Stellar service. I’ve stayed at all of the deluxe resorts at Disney and many of the other options, and this has been the best experience.

When I got the news that I would be able to stay at the Yacht Club I was beyond excited. I was like a kid in the candy store, better yet I felt like a kid at Goofy Candy Company. For the past few years I wanted to stay at the Yacht or Beach Club. Just the lore of looking out to the boardwalk and being able to walk to Epcot (my favorite park) just made my heart melt.
When I actually got to the yacht club, the disappointment set in pretty fast. With that being said I will start off with the positive things about Yacht Club. One huge positive is the room size. Compared to Wilderness Lodge which is the only deluxe I stay at, the room is so much bigger. I felt like I could do a cartwheel in there. Also every room has a full balcony unlike Beach club. Stormalong bay is also another huge plus. By far the best pool on property and it was never crowded. Really enhanced the boating and beach themes. I loved being able to watch Illuminations from my balcony. Even though sound is not piped in like at GF and Poly. Its nice, not having to move through crowds and pick out a viewing spot hours before the actual fireworks. Lastly I liked the 10 min walk to Epcot. The International Gateway entrance is never crowded and bag check is a breeze. Plus, it puts you right at the world showcase.
Now on to the negatives… The fridge was dirty!!! I didnt realize this until the second day when we went to use it for the first time. No biggie we just called down to the front desk. The concierge gave me major attitude and made me feel like it was my fault the fridge was dirty. She eventually told me that housekeeping would be in tomorrow to clean it up before 2pm. I came back the next afternoon and to my surprise, its still some brown sticky substance in the fridge. Of course I call the front desk and they sent maintenance straight to our room. Maintenance came with a replacement fridge (not sure what miscommunication happened there) I explained that we just needed it cleaned. He proceeded to clean the fridge, then informed us that our fridge was not even plugged in. Luckily we didnt use it, who knows how sick we would have gotten and ruined our vacation. Next the electrical wiring was a little off. Anytime you use an electrical outlet the lights would dim. The plug attached to the ipod dock/​clock, didn’t work well because it had to be reset every 5 minutes. Also the extended sofa chair was very stained and dirty. It was gross to look at.
I’m reluctant to recommend this resort to other people. I’m still on the fence about spending my money here again. I think with better concierge/​front desk workers, improvements on cleanliness and updates to the room; I may come back. Next trip for sure I will stick to Wilderness Lodge. I would like to note that Bell Services, were very polite and helpful. They gave you more disney magic/​friendliness than concierge :(

I cannot comment on the rooms of this resort. I was not a guest here. I did however spend an entire afternoon on property, sipping a drink overlooking the water, wandering the gorgeous lobby and outdoor pathways and of course I had a few treatments in the Ship Shape Spa. This resort is immaculate. As I wandered around I felt a touch of envy towards those enjoying the amazing pool, with crystal clear water running through a small lazy river, around rocky bends into grotto areas, and out into the large swimming area of the pool. There are spots for adults only to lounge or float, and a huge water play area for little ones. The slides are made to look like a shipwrecked pirates ship and there is a snack bar located just adjacent. The Ship-​Shape spa was immaculate, and the perfect relaxing retreat in the middle of our week long stay at WDW. By Wednesday my feet were screaming for a treatment so a pedicure it was. The dimly lit rest area where I awaited my turn was stocked with fresh fruit and citrus water, compliments of the staff. There was a locker room, and luxurious changing area/​bathroom for my use had I needed it. The staff was friendly, classy and welcoming. I felt at ease as soon as I arrived. This little treat for myself has definitely become a new tradition for upcoming visits to WDW. Best part is when I was done with my «me time» I took the very short 5 minute walk back to the International Gateway to meet my family for dinner in Epcot. It was a perfect afternoon, and one day I will stay here myself.

Absolutely stunning hotel with a charming New England theme! Perfectly located near Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and the Boardwalk. The pool is amazing, with part of it having a sandy bottom to go with the ocean theme. I stayed for four nights and loved it.
Also offered other great amenities including a modern fitness center and a couple great restaurants and bars.
The only downside was how epic of a walk I had to walk from the lobby to my room. It felt like a twenty mile hike. Otherwise, loved it! Would stay there again in the heart beat.

Not impressed. For the price you pay one would think the bathroom would be larger than the one you get at Motel 6. The smell… don’t know what the odor is but it isn’t pleasing. And depending on where your room is located come prepared to walk especially if in the very end of the property.

Check in was great. Our room was ready upon check in at 11 am. Room was nice and clean. Balcony was good sized. Small bathroom but nice that sinks are separate from toilet and shower. Overall great experience will try to stay again

I seriously love this hotel. You know those hotel that you actually miss? Yeah this is one of them. The rooms are adorable and so quaint. There was four of us overall in one room and it was perfect. There was a small beach and pool downstairs and a great ice cream shop as well! The location is great as well. You can walk or take a boat ride to Epcot and take a boat straight to Hollywood Studios. This by far my favorite Disney hotel!

We love Disney and have always stayed «on property» as they say. We were a little disappointed in The Yacht Club. Our room, particularly the bath seem dated, not so much décor but condition. There appeared to be mold in the tile.
Also, we typically enter the parks when they open and stay until about 3p. Got back to our room one day and housekeeping had not been in yet. No problem. The staff brought towels promptly. Unfortunately same scenario next day. So no housekeeping for 2 days. We were told that we’d had the «Do Not Disturb» sign out. Not true. For a hotel at this price point this was unacceptable.
Disney is great and the rest of the amenities at the hotel are good, location is great for Epcot and Hollywood Studios. We’ll stay at Disney again, but will avoid the Yacht Club.

Awesome place for families to stay while on Disney vacation! Great amenities like the many pools with food/​drink/​restrooms nearby, restaurants, spa, etc. plus the Boardwalk is a short walk or ferry ride away with tons more attractions and family-​oriented (not at all lame) fun things to do, see, eat and drink. I love that there’s a laundry room a few doors down from our suite. Also, they upgraded us from parking lot view to Laguna view because we’re active military! (Thanks, Disney!)
I wish the adult beverages were worth the price (the piña colada is delicious but so so weak) and the room service had a few more choices and the nail salon could do an acrylic fill, but overall it’s been a crazy awesome vacation!

So, I have been going to Disney for well over 25 years. I’ve stayed a bunch of Disney hotels, and I know what to expect from a Disney Deluxe Resort.
So, I’ve come to the conclusion that this place is old, rundown and is an absolute ripoff. After staying at the Yacht Club, I think they should re-​name it the ROT CLUB. It was absolutely awful.
There were spider webs on our mirror in the room, wall paper was falling off the wall in several spots throughout the room, wall paper was also falling off the wall in the bathroom, the bottom of the bathroom door was falling apart and almost rotting, there was dirt and dust all over the vanity in the bathroom, the furniture was old and discolored too. I posted pictures of some of this as well. I sincerely feel I would have had a cleaner room at a Days Inn. But, no I’m gonna pay 10 times that and get something much, much worse. An absolute joke.
Of course, when I noticed this I called the front desk right away. Well, they tried to move us into a less than adequate room to make up for it that was significantly smaller than what we had. Um, no. Then, they tried to move us again, and there was a toy in the room, of a Snoopy doll, I guess form the previous guest? So, how clean are these rooms??? At the end of the trip we talked to a «Manager» who was unable to make any decisions on the spot and had to check with some kind of higher power, maybe Mr. Walt Disney himself, to see what they can do to make up for the absolutely ridiculous accommodations we were PAYING lots of money to sleep in. They offered us a $ 150 credit. Effing bull sh! t. That’s not even half a night’s stay! How dare they.
Also, did I mention that the entire hotel lost power and the AC shut off and it was hot as balls in our room, and the entire outside of courtyard we had a view of, was pitch black. Completely frustrating. The front desk was very sorry for the inconvenience, but that was all.
We paid an arm and a leg to stay at a Deluxe Resort and we got BULL SH! T. After this experience, I will NEVER, ever stay at a Disney Resort ever again. I’ve completely lost my love for it. Form now on, we will stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin or Swan. They are not Disney run, so when you have a problem, they actually try to accommodate you. It’s much nicer. I personally feel you also get a lot more resort hotel for your money here as well.
Goodbye, Yacht, I mean, Rot Club. We’re outta here and never going back. Thanks for nothing.

We didn’t stay at this hotel but did have dinner in the restaurant and also had a kid in our group attend a pirate boat experience here which she said she had a lot of fun on.
This resort is very pleasant and relaxing, we were impressed with the pool area and overall décor as well as with the restaurant.
Easy parking, and seemed just as nice as the Grand Floridan, just not quite as ‘grand’ and more quaint.

I used to visit Orlando several times a year…
I hadn’t visited Disney World in 10 or 11 years. For my wife’s 40^th Birthday, I went back. We were there from January 12 – 18, 2015.
I had stayed at this resort once before, I must say the quality of service has dropped.
We spent more money to stay at this resort because I smoke cigarettes, and they have balconies… Upon check in, I was informed that if I smoke on my balcony I’d be charged $ 500.00… Really? So, instead I had to go to designated smoking areas… I’m from the West Coast, Pacific Time Zone… When it’s 2:00am their time, it’s 11:00pm my time… Each time I walked through the lobby, I got strange looks.
When we first arrived at our room, we found pleasant «Towel Buddies» which are animals made out of the towels… There was no consistency, some days we found them, other days we had to call to ask for towels.
We had purchased the soda and meal package, one night I went to the bar at the hotel and asked for the bartender to fill my cup with soda, she told me to walk to the resort next door… Really?
I also encountered some really good employees. The first night we stayed there, the bar tender was awesome. Concierge was amazing. Each of the transit drivers, were very attentive.
I would recommend staying at the Beach Club instead.

Kind and helpful staff. Awesome pools for kids and adults. We had a bad coffee maker and it was replaced in 10 minutes! The maid service was outstanding.
Our kids wanted to swim in the lazy river and the sandy shallow pools more than they wanted to go to the parks! Be sure to leave some time just to hang out here. The arcade was great too. We lost some play points and staff immediately responded and let my son have a free play to replace. We ate lunch at the hurricane hannas pool bar 3 days in a row due to the yummy lobster, shrimp and scallops roll. We will definitely stay here next time. The location is great for visiting all 4 parks.

Loved staying at this hotel — considering how much turnover they probably have, room was clean. Only found Chapstick marks on one glass. Room was missing a menu — ordered room service — super fast and efficient except for the piece of hair in the last bite of my burger. Overall decent experience the grounds are fabulous, views were nice. It’s a vacation resort in a city that gets more than 47 million visitors a year so with respect to that — am amazed at how Disney manages to have such smiling employees considering they are constantly surrounded by screaming children and cranky parents. Food wasn’t fabulous but then again — the food isn’t meant to be gourmet just fill you up. All in all fairly happy experience — there is magic all around — you just need to look for it :)