New England Elegance in the Heart of Walt Disney World
Set along the shores of Crescent Lake, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort combines the relaxed atmosphere of a New England seaside resort with one of the best locations at Walt Disney World.
With its nautical details, sophisticated décor and beautiful waterfront setting, Yacht Club offers a quieter, more refined atmosphere than many Disney resorts, while keeping guests within walking distance of EPCOT and a boat ride or walk from Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
And then there’s Stormalong Bay. Shared with neighboring Disney’s Beach Club Resort, this sprawling 3-acre pool complex is more like a miniature water park than a traditional hotel pool and is one of the biggest reasons families choose to stay here.
✨ At a Glance
📍 Resort Area: EPCOT Resort Area
🏨 Resort Category: Deluxe Resort
⚓ Theme: New England Yacht Club & seaside elegance
🌐 Closest Park: EPCOT
🚶 Transportation: Walking paths, FriendShip boats, buses & access to Disney Skyliner
🛏️ Rooms: Standard rooms, suites & Club Level accommodations
👨👩👧👦 Sleeps: Up to 5 adults in many standard rooms
🏊 Pools: Stormalong Bay plus quieter leisure pools
🍽️ Dining: Quick service, table service, Signature Dining & lounges
⭐ Best For: EPCOT fans, families, couples, adults and guests who love an exceptional pool
Disney currently lists Yacht Club as a Deluxe Resort in the EPCOT Resort Area.
The Yacht Club Resort Experience
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort feels like an elegant New England waterfront hotel with plenty of Disney magic woven into the experience.
The resort’s nautical theme is reflected throughout its architecture and décor, with rich woods, brass accents, nautical artwork and classic seaside details.
Outside, you’ll find beautifully landscaped grounds leading toward Crescent Lake and the Yacht Club’s marina.
One of the best features of staying here is that Yacht Club, Beach Club and Disney’s BoardWalk are all connected around Crescent Lake. Guests can easily walk to restaurants, entertainment and neighboring resorts without boarding Disney transportation.
Despite being in the middle of so much activity, Yacht Club itself tends to have a more relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere.
🛏️ Rooms at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Guest rooms at Yacht Club feature a clean, nautical-inspired design and are among the more spacious accommodations at Walt Disney World.
Many standard rooms accommodate up to 5 adults, making Yacht Club a particularly good Deluxe Resort option for families of five.
Resort View
Resort View rooms may overlook the garden, rooftop or parking areas.
Depending on the room, bedding configurations can include one king bed, a king bed with a day bed, two queen beds, or two queen beds with a day bed.
Water View
Water View rooms overlook Crescent Lake or the quiet pool.
For guests who plan to spend time relaxing at the resort, I think the Water View can be a particularly nice upgrade at Yacht Club because Crescent Lake is such an important part of the resort experience.
Club Level
Guests looking for an upgraded experience can choose Club Level accommodations with access to the Regatta Club.
Club Level guests have secured access to the lounge, which serves refreshments throughout the day, along with Club Level Concierge services.
Yacht Club also offers larger Club Level suites for families and groups needing additional space.
🚶 Transportation
Transportation is one of Yacht Club’s greatest advantages.
Its EPCOT Resort Area location allows guests to reach two Walt Disney World theme parks without relying solely on buses.
EPCOT
🚶 Walk – EPCOT’s International Gateway entrance is within walking distance of Yacht Club.
This entrance brings you into the World Showcase area of EPCOT between the United Kingdom and France pavilions.
For families who spend a lot of time at EPCOT, this convenience is hard to beat.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Guests have two primary options:
🚤 FriendShip Boat – Complimentary boat transportation connects the EPCOT Resort Area with Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
🚶 Walk – Guests can also walk to Hollywood Studios using the waterside walking path.
Disney Skyliner
Yacht Club does not have its own Skyliner station, but guests can walk to the International Gateway Skyliner station outside EPCOT. Disney specifically notes that the station is just a quick stroll from Yacht Club.
From there, guests can use the Skyliner system to reach other Skyliner-connected resorts and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For Hollywood Studios specifically, however, walking or taking the FriendShip boat is generally the more direct choice.
Magic Kingdom & Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Complimentary Disney bus transportation is available.
Disney Springs
Bus transportation is available to Disney Springs.
🍽️ Dining at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Yacht Club has excellent dining of its own, but guests also have easy access to the restaurants at Beach Club and around the entire Crescent Lake area.
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Yachtsman Steakhouse is Yacht Club’s Signature Dining restaurant, specializing in premium steaks and fresh seafood in an upscale New England-inspired setting.
It’s a wonderful option for a special dinner without having to leave your resort.
Ale & Compass Restaurant
Ale & Compass serves New England-inspired comfort food and seafood in a casual nautical setting.
It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is a convenient table-service option for Yacht Club guests.
The Market at Ale & Compass
For something quicker, The Market at Ale & Compass offers grab-and-go items along with hot and cold selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Ale & Compass Lounge
This cozy lounge is a nice place to unwind with drinks and light bites after a day in the parks.
Crew’s Cup Lounge
Located near Yachtsman Steakhouse, Crew’s Cup Lounge offers beer, wine and cocktails in a relaxed nautical atmosphere.
Even More Dining Next Door
One of the advantages of Yacht Club is that you’re connected to Disney’s Beach Club Resort, giving you easy access to additional favorites including Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Cape May Cafe and Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill.
And with Disney’s BoardWalk just across Crescent Lake and EPCOT within walking distance, your dining options extend far beyond the resort itself.
🏊 Stormalong Bay
For many families, Stormalong Bay is reason enough to choose Yacht Club or Beach Club.
Shared exclusively by guests of Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, this approximately 3-acre water recreation area is one of the most elaborate pools at Walt Disney World.
Stormalong Bay includes:
🌊 A sand-bottom pool area
🛟 A lazy river
🏴☠️ A life-size shipwreck
🛝 One of the tallest resort waterslides at Walt Disney World
♨️ Three whirlpool spas
👧 Kiddie pool areas, including one with a miniature waterslide
☀️ Plenty of areas for relaxing
Disney describes the pool complex as encompassing pools, lagoons and other water recreation spread across three acres.
If your family loves pools, I would strongly consider scheduling some dedicated resort time rather than trying to squeeze Stormalong Bay in between park days.
⚓ A Resort on Crescent Lake
One of Yacht Club’s greatest features isn’t inside the hotel at all—it’s the location.
Step outside and you’re immediately part of the Crescent Lake Resort Area.
Guests can stroll along the waterfront to:
Disney’s Beach Club Resort – right next door
Disney’s BoardWalk – restaurants, entertainment and nightlife across the lake
EPCOT – accessible through International Gateway
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin – additional restaurants and resort amenities nearby
There’s a wonderful energy around Crescent Lake in the evenings, especially when guests are returning from EPCOT and the BoardWalk comes alive.
For adults and families with older children in particular, this is one of my favorite areas of Walt Disney World to stay.
🏖️ Yacht Club or Beach Club?
Because the two resorts share Stormalong Bay and many amenities, guests frequently ask which one they should choose.
The biggest difference is atmosphere.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort has a lighter, more casual seaside feel inspired by New England beach cottages.
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort has a more sophisticated nautical atmosphere inspired by a traditional New England yacht club.
Yacht Club can feel slightly quieter and more refined, while Beach Club feels brighter and a little more casual.
There’s another practical distinction worth mentioning: Yacht Club is also dog-friendly, with designated dog-friendly accommodations available.
Both are excellent choices, so the decision often comes down to which atmosphere your family prefers.
🎣 Recreation Beyond the Pool
Although Stormalong Bay gets most of the attention, there’s much more to do around Yacht Club.
The resort offers or provides access to activities including motorized boat rentals from Bayside Marina, fishing excursions, campfire activities, Movies Under the Stars and a jogging path around Crescent Lake.
Guests can also use the Ship Shape Health Club, and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf is nearby.
This makes Yacht Club an especially good choice for families planning a longer vacation with downtime between park days.
Who Will Love Disney’s Yacht Club Resort?
🌐 EPCOT Fans
Being able to walk to EPCOT’s International Gateway is one of the resort’s biggest advantages.
🏊 Families Who Love the Pool
Stormalong Bay is arguably the star attraction of the Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.
👨👩👧👦 Families of Five
Many standard rooms accommodate up to five adults.
🥂 Couples & Adults
The sophisticated atmosphere, excellent dining and easy access to EPCOT and the BoardWalk make Yacht Club especially appealing for adults-only vacations.
🎢 Families with Older Children & Teens
Walking access to EPCOT, proximity to Hollywood Studios and Stormalong Bay make this an excellent option as children get older.
🍽️ Food Lovers
Between Yacht Club, Beach Club, BoardWalk and EPCOT, guests have an impressive number of restaurants within walking distance.
🐕 Guests Traveling with Dogs
Yacht Club is one of Disney’s designated dog-friendly Resort hotels.
