Disney’s Beach Club Resort Review | Disney World Resorts for Families
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is one of our family’s favorite Walt Disney World resorts to stay at! We love the resort grounds, the room decor, and convenient location. This resort always tends to be one of our top picks for summer stays as well!
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The location of Disney’s Beach Club Resort can’t be beat. We enjoy staying in the EPCOT area with easy access walking or by boat to the International Gateway entrance. Stormalong Bay is also one of the best pools on Disney World property, making Beach Club Resort an excellent choice for the warmer months of the year!
The resort also has a wide range of amenities and is within close walking distance to all of the restaurants at the Boardwalk, making it a fun stay for both families and couples alike.
Beach Club Resort Highlights
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort offers a prime location for those wanting to stay close to the parks while also enjoying a beach vacation.
- The resort offers a variety of accommodations to fit your needs, from standard rooms to spacious suites.
- The resort also offers a variety of amenities and activities, including multiple pools, a fitness center, and a variety of dining options.
Overview of Disney’s Beach Club Resort
If you are looking for a deluxe resort with a prime location in the EPCOT Resort area of Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a great option. This resort has a charming atmosphere that is great for kids, and is within walking distance to EPCOT and the Boardwalk.
Location and Accessibility
When it comes to location, Beach Club Resort is one of the best choices for those who want to stay close to the action. The resort is ideally situated in the EPCOT resort area, making it easy to access many of the theme parks, as well as other nearby attractions.
Proximity to Parks
One of the biggest advantages of staying at Beach Club Resort is its proximity to the parks. In particular, the resort is just a short walk or boat ride away from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This makes it an excellent choice for those who plan to spend a lot of time in these parks.
Resort Theme and Atmosphere
We loved this resort for our recent summer family vacation and plan to stay here again for an upcoming summer stay. The pool is hands down one of the most amazing resort pools at Walt Disney World, and we really loved the laid back vibe while staying at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.
Types of Accommodations
Disney’s Beach Club Resort offers a variety of accommodations to suit your needs. Whether you are traveling with your family or on a romantic getaway, you will find the perfect room for your stay.
The resort decor is upscale and has a traditional coastal vibe. Inspiration from the Beach comes inside in the artwork and tranquil tones used throughout the resort.
Rooms and Villas
The rooms at the Beach Club Resort are spacious and comfortable, with a variety of views to choose from. Standard View rooms overlook the resort’s garden areas, while Garden View rooms offer a view of the lush landscaping. Water View rooms provide a stunning view of the resort’s pool or Crescent Lake.
Guest Rooms
All rooms come with either two queen beds or one king bed, and feature a double vanity and shower in the bathroom. Other amenities include a refrigerator, closet, iron, and ironing board. Up to five adults can sleep in the standard guest rooms.
These rooms offer a view of the resort’s gardens or parking lot and come with either two queen beds or one king bed. You’ll also find amenities such as a flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, and coffee maker.
Water View Rooms
If you’re looking for a more picturesque view, the Water View Rooms are the way to go. These rooms offer a view of Crescent Lake or one of the resort’s pool area, and come with either two queen beds or one king bed. You’ll also find the same amenities as the Standard View Rooms.
Suites and Villas at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
If you are looking for more space and luxury, the Beach Club Villas offer one, two, and three-bedroom villas with a full kitchen, living area, and washer and dryer. These villas are part of the Disney Vacation Club, but non-members can also rent them.
The resort also offers one and two-bedroom suites, which feature a separate living area and bedroom. The suites come with either a king bed or two queen beds, and provide a great option for families or those looking for more space.
Amenities and In-Room Features
No matter which type of room or villa you choose, you’ll find a variety of amenities and in-room features to make your stay more comfortable. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffee makers, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
The bathrooms in standard rooms feature a shower/tub combination, as well as a hair dryer and complimentary toiletries.
Club Level Rooms
For an extra level of luxury, consider booking a Club Level room. These rooms at Disney’s Beach Club come with access to the Club Level lounge, which offers complimentary food and drinks throughout the day. The lounge also provides a private check-in and concierge service.
The accommodations at the Beach Club Resort are top-notch and provide a comfortable and luxurious stay.
Dining Options at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
There are several dining options available at the Beach Club Resort. The Beach Club Marketplace offers quick bites and grab-and-go options, while Cape May Cafe serves up a delicious seafood buffet.
For a sweet treat, head to Beaches & Cream Soda Shop or Martha’s Vineyard. And if you’re in the mood for a steak, the Yachtsman Steakhouse is the place to be.
Table Service Restaurants
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is an adorable eatery fashioned after a soda shop diner. They have some great meals on the menu, but what they are most well known for are their amazing ice cream creations!
The Mickey Pants Sundae is a sundae that comes with all the toppings and is big enough to share. If you have a large party and are really hungry – try the Kitchen Sink Sundae! They will celebrate you if you’re able to finish it!
If you cannot get a reservation for this sometimes hard to find advance dining reservation, plan to stop by the quick service counter located just outside the pool! Here you can grab some of Beaches & Cream’s most well known ice cream treats – like the specialty milk shakes!
Also at Beach Club Resort is Cape May Cafe. This restaurant features characters during the breakfast hour and seafood fare during the later meals. The characters at breakfast are wearing their best beach outfits and this is a fun meal for kids!
Check out our full review on the Cape May Cafe character dining experience for families.
Restaurants for the Adults
Martha’s Vineyard is a bar lounge that also has a full menu with New England inspired appetizers. Head here to wind down your evening with a plate of barbecue ribs, snow crab legs, and loaded potato barrels, and try one of their signature drinks as a night cap.
At at nearby Yacht Club, the Yachtsman Steakhouse is a great location to grab a hearty sit down meal. Featuring premium steaks, seafood, and New England style meals, since the Yacht Club and Beach Club are adjoining, this would make a great date night location as well.
Lounges and Bars
When it’s time to relax and unwind, head to one of the resort’s lounges or bars. Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill is a great spot to enjoy a drink by the pool, while the Crew’s Cup Lounge is perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail. If you’re in need of a caffeine fix, the resort’s coffee shop has you covered with a range of hot and cold drinks.
Amenities and Recreation at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
The Beach Club Resort offers a variety of amenities and recreation options that are great for families. Our favorite is definitely the pool area, and the pool side activities!
Stormalong Bay Pool
The highlight of the Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts is the Stormalong Bay pool, with three-acres of water fun! Both resorts share this fantastic pool area, but it is so large that it never has felt crowded during any of our stays.
My older daughter loves spending hours on the sand bar, just building up sand castles and making mini sand cities! While my younger and more adventurous daughter heads straight to the water slide every time we are there.
Stormalong Bay is a great spot for family fun, and features a lazy river, a sand-bottomed pool, and a shipwreck-themed waterslide. With plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas, you can relax and enjoy the sun while your family splashes around. We especially love being able to use the pool in the hot summer months.
There are also three leisure pools at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, if you’re looking for a quieter time at the pool.
Fitness and Sports
Fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the resort’s fitness center, which features state-of-the-art equipment. There are also a tennis court and eight sand volleyball courts for those who want to stay active during their stay.
Shopping at Beach Club
Disney’s Beach Club Resort offers a variety of shopping options for guests. You can find a selection of Disney merchandise, including apparel, accessories, toys, and souvenirs at the Beach Club Marketplace.
Additionally, the nearby Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s BoardWalk feature additional restaurant and shopping options, including a great bakery and outdoor pizza window at the BoardWalk.
Boardwalk Entertainment District
One of the highlights of staying at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is the Boardwalk Entertainment District just a short walk away. This area features a variety of entertainment and dining options. Consider one of the unique activities on the Boardwalk like renting one of the two or four seat bicycles to see the sights.
Transportation and Proximity to Parks
When it comes to transportation and travel, Beach Club Resort offers a variety of options to make your stay as convenient as possible. It has felt like one of the most convenient locations we’ve stay at during all of our stays at Walt Disney World.
On-Site Transportation
The resort provides complimentary transportation to and from all Walt Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs. You can choose between buses and or a quick boat ride.
Friendship Boats transportation runs between the Crescent Lake resorts and either EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios continuously throughout the day.
At Disney’s Beach Club you’re also located close to the Disney Skyliner, a gondola system that connects the EPCOT’s International Gateway entrance and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
This option would take a bit longer, to walk over to the Skyliner and then use that for transportation to Disney’s Hollywood Studios as opposed to the direct option offered by the Friendship Boat service. However, if you have little ones that would love to experience Disney’s Skyliner, it makes it a fun mode of transportation to try if you have a few extra minutes. It is a great way to enjoy stunning views of Walt Disney World from above.
If you prefer to walk, the resort is conveniently located within walking distance of both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
You can also take a leisurely stroll along the BoardWalk, which is lined with restaurants, shops, and entertainment.
Getting to Theme Parks
If you’re planning to visit Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom or Disney Springs, you’ll need to take a bus from the resort. Buses run regularly throughout the day, so you won’t have to wait long for transportation.
Buses also operate seasonally to get to the Disney water parks.
If you’re heading to EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll more than likely want to grab the Friendship Boat transportation to head over to the theme park.
Although some resort rooms at Beach Club Resort on the far east side of the resort are so close to the EPCOT entrance, it is quicker to just take a quick stroll from those rooms to the EPCOT entrance rather than waiting on the boat.
Pricing and Value
Rates for Disney’s Beach Club Resort varies depending on time of year and availability. Typically when I price out our vacations, it tends to be one of the “middle of the pack” deluxe resorts in terms of pricing.
The monorail resorts tend to be priced a bit higher, while other resorts, like another one of our favorites Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, tend to be priced a bit lower. For our family, the value of Disney’s Beach Club Resort comes into play when we are going to be planning a trip that we intend to spend a lot of time at the pool, spend a good amount of time at the resort, and also want a resort that is convenient to the parks.
(It should be noted that as a self-proclaimed Star Wars fan family, close access to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is hugely convenient for us! On our last stay at Disney’s Beach Club, we spent a good deal of time at Hollywood Studios and did all of the extras like making custom droids, building our own light sabers and having the full Star Wars experience!)
Beach Club vs. Yacht Club
If you’re trying to decide between the Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts, there are a few key differences to consider. Both resorts are located in the EPCOT Resort Area and offer easy access to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. However, the Beach Club has a more laid-back, beachy vibe, while the Yacht Club has a nautical theme.
In our opinion, Beach Club Resort feels more family friendly, while Yacht Club is the better fit for couples or families with older children.
In terms of amenities, both resorts offer access to Stormalong Bay, a massive pool complex that’s one of the best on Disney property. However, the Beach Club has a slight edge in terms of dining options, with the popular Beaches & Cream Soda Shop and the upscale Cape May Cafe. The Yacht Club, on the other hand, has the highly-regarded Yachtsman Steakhouse.
Overall, the choice between the Beach Club and Yacht Club comes down to personal preference. If you prefer a beachy vibe and slightly more dining options, go with the Beach Club. If you prefer a nautical theme and a great steakhouse, go with the Yacht Club.
Beach Club vs. Other Deluxe Resorts
Compared to other deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World, the Beach Club stands out for its New England-style theming. The resort is decorated with charming touches like lighthouses, sailboats, and paintings of coastal scenes. Disney fans will appreciate the attention to detail and the immersive theming.
In terms of amenities, the Beach Club holds its own against other deluxe resorts. Stormalong Bay is one of the best pool complexes on Disney property, and the resort also offers several dining options, including the popular Beaches & Cream Soda Shop.
There are lots of great charming touches throughout the property, and during the holidays their festive decorations are fantastic.
However, the quick service dining at this resort was confusing, with little to no seating space to eat a quick breakfast in the morning. That was really the only downside to our stay.
There is a small section of covered seating just outside the quick service marketplace, and the corner there is a sun room that many families took their quick service food to eat. This room mainly had overstuffed chairs and coffee tables, so it makes it a bit awkward if you have younger children and are just wanting to grab a quick bite to eat.
Tips for Staying at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
To make the most of your stay at Beach Club Resort, consider booking a room with a view of the lake with a balcony. We enjoyed heading out to our balcony every morning with our coffee to enjoy the view.
Plan a stay here in months when you’re going to get a lot of use out of the pool. For our family, the amazing water recreation is the huge perk of staying at this resort and that is why we typically pick Beach Club Resort for a summer stay.
If you’re looking for a place to relax and unwind during your vacation, the resort’s poolside bar is a great option. You can enjoy a refreshing drink while lounging by the pool. The bar offers a variety of cocktails, beer, and wine, as well as light snacks.
The Beach Club Resort is a great choice for families looking for a comfortable, convenient place to stay in the heart of Walt Disney World. With its fun beach vibe and excellent location, it’s no wonder that is resort is a favorite for guests with children.
Would I Stay at Disney’s Beach Club Resort Again?
Our family has loved our stays at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and this is one resort we are most definitely planning on returning to visit.
The location, pool area, and comfortable rooms make it a great selection for our family of four. We typically plan our stays here in the summer months, to be able to make the most out of Stormalong Bay.
We ranked this resort as our number one deluxe resort pick for families at Walt Disney World because of the excellent location and unique qualities, like restaurant experiences and huge pool area.
The location of the resort is also a major selling point, with easy access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios via a short walk or boat ride. Disney’s Beach Club Resort works for both families planning to spend a good amount of time in the theme parks, or those that want to spend more time at the resort.
One minor downside to the resort is the lack of quick service dining location right inside the resort, however when we stay here we tend to eat breakfast in the parks more often or book a table service reservation for breakfast.
If you’re looking for a Deluxe Resort at Walt Disney World with a charming atmosphere and convenient location that is great for families, Disney’s Beach Club Resort is definitely worth considering. This is one resort I would return to again and again!
Watch our resort review on YouTube!
Want to compare other resorts to Disney’s Beach Club Resort? Check our rankings of Value, Moderate, and Deluxe Resorts for families!
- Why Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort
- Best Disney World Value Resorts with Rankings for Families
- Best Disney World Moderate Resorts with Rankings for Families
- Best Disney World Deluxe Resorts with Rankings for Families
Disclaimer:
** All opinions are unbiased and independent. This post contains affiliate links. Moms with Mouse Ears is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
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