On our most recent visit to Walt Disney World, Mike and I split our stay between two Disney World Resorts. For the first half of our vacation, we stayed at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, one of Walt Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts. With its laid-back atmosphere, prime location, and excellent pool (with a lazy river!), staying at the Yacht Club Resort had been on my bucket list for a long time. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort offers a unique blend of relaxation and Disney magic. Here’s a look at our stay at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort!

Stepping into the lobby at Disney’s Yacht Club felt like walking into a relaxed, seaside resort. The airy blue and white color scheme, dark wood accents, and nautical decor, instantly transported me to a grand New England yacht club.

Disney is famous for subtly incorporating amazing scents into their environments. For example, did you know that the smell of sweet baked goods often permeates the air on Main Street U.S.A. in The Magic Kingdom? You may not realize it, but scent plays a huge role in creating the welcoming and nostalgic feeling you get as you walk into the theme park. In the same way, each Disney resort also has its own signature scent. At the Yacht Club Resort, the scent is light, clean, and calming, like what you might find at a high-end spa. I immediately felt relaxed taking a deep breath as I walked into the lobby.

We arrived several hours before check-in time and had planned to leave our bags at Bell Services while we explored the resort until our room was ready. However, when we went to the front desk, we were told that our room was ready early!

The guest rooms at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort are very spacious. There are several room options, but we chose a Resort View room with a King bed. The bed was super comfy and the room did not feel cramped at all. There was plenty of space to store our luggage, along with drawers and a small closet to unpack a few things if we wanted. There was also a Keurig coffee maker and a small cooler/refrigerator.

In the bathroom, there was a double vanity area with plenty of counter space and a large, lighted mirror. I loved the added touch of having a magnifying makeup mirror on the wall, too! The toilet and shower were separated from the vanity area with a pocket door, but everything felt very spacious. The best part was the rainfall shower head. It made the shower feel a little more luxurious!

At first glance, the curtains in the room looked to be a simple navy blue with a faint starry design. Upon closer inspection, I found that the design was a fun blend of nautical elements and subtle Disney touches. I love the Pluto constellation!

Every guest room at the Yacht Club Resort has a balcony or patio. When booking your room, you can choose from Resort View or Water View. Since we booked a room with a Resort View, our balcony overlooked the roof and, if we turned our heads far enough to the right, the very top of Stormalong Bay. Some Resort View Rooms have slightly better scenery and overlook gardens, but be mindful of this if the view is important to you. I knew we wouldn’t be spending much time on our balcony, so we didn’t bother with upgrading to a Water View room.

Once we had settled into our room, we decided that we would like to try lunch at the Ale & Compass restaurant on-site. We didn’t have a reservation, so I opened the My Disney Experience app on my phone and joined the walk-up list from our room. In less than 5 minutes, I received a notification that our table was ready! We headed back to the lobby and across to the restaurant entrance. Inside, we were greeted with more understated yet elegant decor.

For our appetizer, Mike and I ordered the Parker House Rolls. These were soft and buttery and came with three different spreads: Bacon Jam, Pub Cheese, and my favorite, Citrus Butter. I also ordered a Seaworthy Breeze, which was a combination of grapefruit and cranberry juices with vodka. It was quite tart, but a fun way to kick off our vacation!

Mike and I both opted for seafood dishes for our meals. I chose the Fish and Chips, which was excellent! The fish was light and flaky, and the coating was perfectly crispy and flavorful. Mike ordered the Blackened Fish Tacos, and they were equally delicious. I loved the addition of fresh avocado with the tender fish!

The Ale & Compass restaurant serves a breakfast buffet, as well as table service lunch and dinner. There are several other dining options at the Yacht Club Resort, including Yachtsman Steakhouse, Crew’s Cup Lounge, Ale & Compass Lounge, and The Market at Ale & Compass.

After lunch, we took a walk out the back doors of the resort to explore Cresent Lake. Along with the Yacht Club, Crescent Lake is also home to the Beach Club Resort, the BoardWalk Inn, and the Swan and Dolphin Resorts.

The Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts share a pool, Stormalong Bay, which is arguably the best pool on Disney property. This mini water park, with its sand-bottom pool, lazy river, and Shipwreck water slide, is a great place to unwind. Mike and I are suckers for a lazy river, so we spent the afternoon floating around and soaking up the sun. It was an ideal mix of relaxation and fun!

On the opposite side of Crescent Lake from the Yacht Club is Disney’s BoardWalk. This area is not only the home of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, but it also houses many quaint shops and places to grab a yummy meal or snack. From the architecture to the walkway made of wooden planks, this area really is reminiscent of a charming New England boardwalk from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Mike and I walked around and grabbed some baked goods at the Screen Door General Store, and some pipping hot pizza at the Pizza Window. At night, live entertainers come out to perform and provide a lively environment after the sun goes down.

One of the biggest perks of staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is its proximity to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the entrance of Hollywood Studios, and less than 10 minutes to walk to the International Gateway entrance of EPCOT. I love using this “back entrance” to EPCOT because it is right next to my favorite EPCOT pavilion…France! I think it is the perfect spot to grab a yummy pastry or crêpe for breakfast!

The Skyliner also has a station at International Gateway, so you can soar over Disney World to get to Hollywood Studios, or other Disney Resorts like the Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, or Pop Century.

Another transportation option is the Friendship boats, which stop at the Yacht Club Resort, the Beach Club Villas, International Gateway, the BoardWalk Villas, The Swan and Dolphin Resorts, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I’ll admit, Mike and I took advantage of the boat to get back to the Yacht Cub Resort after a long day of walking around EPCOT!

If the Yacht Club is within your budget, I definitely recommend a stay here. Even if it’s just for a couple of nights on a split stay like Mike and I did, it is such a fun, yet relaxing resort to explore. The location is perfect and the pool is fantastic for kids of all ages! If you would like a FREE vacation quote for a stay at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, please reach out to me! I can help you and your family have a magical Disney vacation!