If you asked me what was the best thing about staying at Disney’s Yacht Club, I’d have to give you two answers: the hotel’s location and Stormalong Bay. As far as location, the resort is within walking distance (or a boat ride) of Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That means you can quickly get to and from both theme parks, regardless of the crowds. The proximity allows the opportunity to visit the parks to do select things and still have time to enjoy the resort.

For us, those select things include experiencing Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, eating at the Hollywood Brown Derby, or making a few laps around the World Showcase. We always recommend having a park-hopper upgrade when you stay this close to a theme park. It will give you a good amount of freedom to come and go as you please.

As an example, you might spend a day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and get back to the resort at 6:00 p.m. By this time, you could feel exhausted. But after a two-hour break and dinner, you might be surprised that you feel up to walking to Epcot and seeing the evening fireworks. Imagine entering Epcot at 8:30 p.m., seeing the fireworks at 9:00 p.m., and then getting back to your room within 10 minutes after the evening spectacular. When you walk past the line for the Skyliner on your way back to the room, you’ll know without a doubt that you made the right resort choice.

Sitting on Crescent Lake, Disney’s Yacht Club is the sister resort to Disney’s Beach Club. Both resorts share amenities, including Stormalong Bay, a three-acre area with multiple pools, lagoons, a lazy river, a waterslide, hot tubs, and waterfalls. Most of the pool area features a sand bottom, which is oh-so-nice on the feet!

While we are fans of Disney’s water parks, we don’t usually visit them when we stay at either of these hotels. Of course, Stormalong Bay doesn’t have significant thrills like the water parks, but it’s nice to “stay home” for the day and enjoy the resort’s pool.

On the flip side, some might find the large pool area overwhelming when traveling with little ones. Thankfully, guests have the option to use the three additional quiet pools between the Beach and Yacht Club. That said, one entire end of Stormalong Bay is a wading pool with a large pile of sand in the center. Children adore digging in the sand all day. A separate kiddie pool with a mini-slide is also available in the shipwreck.

You’ll receive many benefits as a guest of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. There are two, however, that you’ll want to be aware of and incorporate into your itinerary ahead of time regarding park hours.

Early Theme Park Entry: This perk allows resort guests to enter any Walt Disney World theme park 30 minutes before officially opening to the general public. This early entry provides several advantages:

1. Lower Crowds: Being among the first to enter the park allows you to experience popular attractions with shorter wait times. This will help you to check off must-see rides and experiences ahead of the crowd.
2. Photography Opportunities: If you love capturing the magic of Disney, the early hours provide a fantastic opportunity for photos in front of iconic landmarks with fewer people in the background.
3. Cooler Temperatures: Morning hours are often cooler, making outdoor activities more comfortable. But if you visit during cooler weather, don’t forget a jacket.

Extended Evening Hours: On specific evenings, Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resort guests, including those staying at Disney’s Yacht Club, can enjoy extra time in select theme parks. During extended evening hours, these parks stay open later than their regular closing time, usually for two more hours. Extended evening hours are typically offered twice a week.

This benefit offers several advantages as well:

1. More Ride Time: You can enjoy additional nighttime rides and attractions when lines are often shorter.
2. Magical Nighttime Atmosphere: The theme parks take on a unique and enchanting ambiance at night, with beautifully lit landscapes. So you’ll have time to savor the nighttime magic longer with fewer crowds. 
3. Less Rush: Explore the park at a relaxed pace.

You’ll have plenty of options between the resort and neighboring Disney’s Beach Club. Here is a summary of the dining options on the Yacht Club side of the resort.

Regarding transportation, guests can walk to Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Epcot is within a short distance of Epcot (about 10 minutes), while Hollywood Studios is a bit further (about 15 minutes). If you prefer, you can take a Friendship Boat to either theme park or the surrounding resorts. However, the walk to Epcot’s International Gateway will be shorter than the boat ride. Browse more details below.

Disney’s Yacht Club is home to the Regatta Club, a concierge lounge dedicated to club-level guests on the resort’s fifth floor. This upgraded room category allows guests to access the lounge and complimentary food and beverage selections throughout the day between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

We have the following reviews of select club levels:

• Stone Harbor Club Review at Beach Club
• Chronos Club Review at Gran Destino Tower
• Kamehameha Club Review at the Polynesian

You might also enjoy our guide: Staying Club Level at Disney World. It provides a list of club levels and what to expect during your stay.