Disney's Yacht Club Resort

The Resort Overview

Disney's Yacht Club Resort opened on November 5, 1990, and channels the crisp, nautical elegance of a turn-of-the-century New England yacht club, right down to its gray-shingled facade, brass fixtures, and rope-and-anchor detailing. It's the more refined, quieter sibling in the Yacht Club/Beach Club pair, built around a shared harbor-front setting on Crescent Lake.

The resort's biggest draw for many guests is simply its location: it sits close enough to EPCOT's International Gateway and Disney's Hollywood Studios that both parks are an easy walk or short boat ride away, a rarity among WDW deluxe resorts.

Dining & Amenities

Yachtsman Steakhouse, a Signature Dining restaurant serving steaks and chops in a ship-like dining room, has anchored the resort's dining scene since it opened in 1990. Ale & Compass Restaurant, a New England-flavored table-service spot, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with the adjoining Ale & Compass Lounge for coffee and cocktails.

Yacht Club guests share Stormalong Bay with neighboring Beach Club Resort, a roughly three-acre sand-bottomed pool complex with a lazy river, waterslide, and whirlpools that consistently ranks among the very best resort pools at Walt Disney World.

Booking Strategy

• Stormalong Bay is exclusive to Yacht Club and Beach Club guests (plus Swan and Dolphin guests, with restrictions), so factor that into a stay if the pool is a priority.
• Book early for a Crescent Lake or marina view, since standard rooms can face parking areas.
• Compared to Beach Club, Yacht Club tends to run quieter and slightly more formal, making it a good fit for couples wanting the same EPCOT/Hollywood Studios walkability without Beach Club's brighter, beachier energy.
• The walk to EPCOT's International Gateway is one of the fastest resort-to-park commutes at WDW, worth considering for guests prioritizing EPCOT festivals or evening entertainment.