Yacht Club Resort at Walt Disney World

Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Construction back in 1990

One of the favorite pools in all of Disney

Disney's Yacht Club Resort is a New England nautical-themed resort, part of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida which opened on November 5, 1990. One of several Epcot Area Resorts, it is located next to its sister resort, Disney's Beach Club Resort, and across the lagoon from Disney's Boardwalk Resort. Although it is considered a separate resort from the Beach Club, they are actually in the same building, and even though the guests do not have any immediate indoor pathways between the resorts, staff can easily walk between them.

The resorts share many amenities and resources, including staff and management. And the two resorts are collectively referred to as “Yacht and Beach.” Boat transportation runs to Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios as well as the Boardwalk and the Swan & Dolphin. It is about five minutes walking distance from Epcot, and roughly 15 minutes walking to The Studios. Guests can use the back entrance to Epcot through the World Showcase between the France and the UK Pavilion.

The Yacht Club is home to a 73,000 square foot Convention Center shared with the Beach Club. The Yachtsman Steakhouse, the resort's only fine dining location, serves beef from Canada, Australia and the US. The steakhouse has the famous Minnie Moo as their mascot, and a photo of her is shown in the front of the restaurant (next to the butcher’s window ironically). The Yacht Club Galley is the Yacht Club's family oriented dining location, serving New England entrees. The resort's distinctive grey color and red and white striped awnings distinguish itself from the light blue motif of Beach Club. The Yacht Club is slightly more formal in decor, designed to make guests feel as if they are actually on a ship rather than inside a land based structure, and to cater more toward business clientele rather than families. Color tones of deep blues, browns, and bronzes were used to convey a nautical feel.

Hidden Mickeys can be found in the carpeting in hallways leading to guest rooms. The Yacht Club also shares one of the nation's largest sand bottom pools with the Beach Club, called Stormalong Bay. The pool is advertised as a "mini-waterpark", featuring a sand bottom swimming area, lazy river, and large slide from a wrecked ship just outside of the play area on the beach.

Dining

The Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts feature FOUR full-service restaurants, a poolside counter-service restaurant, and several bars and lounges throughout the resorts. Here are the four full-service restaurants:

Yachtsman Steakhouse A signature dining restaurant famous for its fine selection of steakhouse dishes and a formal but enjoyable nautical theme in a ship-shaped restaurant layout. The restaurant features an open kitchen with a display of tasty high-quality aged beef cooked on an oak-fired grill. The restaurant serves dinner only and reservations are strongly recommended. This restaurant is located at the Yacht Club Resort.

Cape May Cafe A casual and character dining restaurant famous for its Character Breakfast buffet and New England seafood dishes. The restaurant features a festive "clambake celebration" theming, a relaxing waterfront view, and hosts a popular Character Breakfast with Goofy and other famous Disney characters. Reservations are strongly recommended for the Character Breakfast. This restaurant is located at the Beach Club Resort.

Yacht Club Galley A casual dining restaurant with a tasty American breakfast buffet and A la Carte menu selection for lunch and dinner. The restaurant features similar nautical theming to that of the Yachtsman Steakhouse but in a much more casual atmosphere. This restaurant is located at the Yacht Club Resort.

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop A casual dining "diner-style" restaurant famous for its ice cream specialties. The restaurant features jukebox with catchy tunes and it's famous "Kitchen Sink Sundae" which contains scoops of every flavor of ice cream in a large kitchen sink. This restaurant is located at the Beach Club Resort

Pools & Recreation

The Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts features one of the most impressive pool complexes at Walt Disney World as well as many additional recreation options:

Stormalong Bay is the resort's main pool complex that resembles a beach-side water park with its sand-bottom pools, a circular lazy river, waterfall, and the "Shipwreck"; a large replica of a ship wreck with one of the highest hotel water slides at Walt Disney World. The Stormalong Bay pool complex also offers a poolside counter-service restaurant and bar, a shallow kiddy area, and an elevated tanning deck. Stormalong Bay is centrally located between both resorts facing Crescent Lake.

Quiet Pools The resorts offer 3 quiet pools for guests who prefer a smaller and less active pool experience. The Yacht Club Quiet Pool is located on the far end of the resort in a quiet garden area and The Beach Club Quiet Pool and Jacuzzi is located on the opposite far end of the resort facing Crescent Lake in a similar garden area. A third pool is privately located in the Beach Club Villas building facing a smaller lake which can also be used by all resort guests but is exclusively located for guests staying in the Beach Club Villas.

Ship Shape Health Club A fully-equipped health and fitness center free of charge for resort guests. The health club is centrally located between both resorts and offers quality fittness equipment, steam room, sauna, and spa. The center also offers massage therapy by appointment only.

Lafferty Place Arcade An exciting indoor arcade located near the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop.

Bayside Marina The resort's lakeside marina offers a variety of watercraft available for rental including private cruises and fishing excursions.

Sandy Beach The resorts offer a beautiful lake-side white sand beach on Crescent Lake. A perfect place to enjoy the sunset and take in the view of the illuminated Boardwalk just across the lake.

Tennis & Volleyball The resorts also offer tennis courts on the Yacht Club Resort side and a sandy lakeside volleyball court available for resort guests on the Beach Club Resort side including complimentary equipment offered at the Stormalong Bay Towel Window.

Convention Center

The Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Convention Center features over 73,000 square feet of flexible state-of-the-art meeting space including two large ballrooms and 21 breakout rooms. In additions to business meetings and conventions, the elegant ballrooms also host many social functions including Disney Wedding receptions. Similar to other resort facilities, the Convention Center is also shared by both resorts and is centrally located between both resorts.

Epcot's International Gateway

A special feature for guests staying at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts is an exclusive entrance to Epcot's World Showcase known as the International Gateway. The special entrance is within walking distance or via a short "Friendship" water taxi ride and offers a full service park entry gate, park exit, ticket windows, locker rentals, wheelchair/stroller rentals, and a gift shop. The International Gateway and canal is located between the United Kingdom and France pavilions.

Information from Wikipedia. Best place to find stuff on the web!