Disney’s Beach Club Resort

I really like the location of the Beach Club and the pool area. It is a short 5 minute walk to get to EPCOT and 15 minutes or so to Hollywood Studios. There are boats available as well if you don’t want to walk. Across the lake is the Boardwalk and nearby the Swan and Dolphin providing lots of convenient dining options. The pool area is huge with an awesome slide across the walkway from the beach and includes a lazy river. The water temperature in February was cooler than I would have liked.
Check-​in was easy and painless. The folks at the desk were very friendly and able to check us in early. Our room had a full balcony with a partially obstructed view of the awesome pool area. The room itself was a good size with plentiful lighting and tons of storage. The bathroom was well appointed with marble topped dual sinks and beautiful tile in the shower.
The shortcomings this visit were overall room cleanliness and noise. Our bathroom floor had some questionable stains that we noticed the next morning. Also our room was quite noisy in the evening due to the thin doors they used in the room. The noise was coming in from the hallway and adjacent room through these doors.
Hopefully out shortcomings were a one off. We have some other Disney properties to experience but would consider returning in the future.

We came here for a weekend and I was thoroughly surprised with how large this place was. With that said, I know many of the hotels here are large, but this one felt like a maze getting to our room! Overall, the service was nice, rooms and common grounds were kept clean, and everything seemed well-​organized.
The hotel does have a large gift shop with a variety of things that you may need. It also has several pools and restaurant where you can have breakfast with the characters should you wish to do so. For the prices we paid, we did get some extract amenities like being able to use the lounge on the 5^th floor for Breakfast or even for a snack and drink starting at 5pm.
I would recommend for anyone with a family or even an older crowd as it caters well to both. Being right on the boardwalk and about a 10 min walk from Epcot or other restaurants and bars was also a nice perk.
Enjoy!

Cape May is delicious and the best Disney food we have had. Was there for a breakfast buffet and got to meet characters: Minnie, Donald Duck, Pluto ad Daisy Duck. Characters were great and food was good. Food staff, and with a Disney meal plan you are in good shape. Without the plan, better wash dishes cause it’s gonna hurt the pocket book.
My favorite place so far.

My review might be a little higher if I was traveling with children and not a family of adults. There seem to be a lot of things that children would like, such as the pools and the movies on the beach at night.
First off, make sure you wear your fitbit or other step counter because chances our your room will be a mile away from the lobby and you will be #1 on your friends list step count competition. On the first labyrinth trek to the room we thought we might never find our way as the signage is a little vague and we took the long way the first time (after the 3^rd or 4^th trip the room we finally got it down). So if you have a room in the way way back, here is a tip — at the end of the first hallway, go right — not left. It will shave off quite a bit of walking. Also, when you’ve gone through the freezing cold hallway (you’ll know it when you get there), you know you’re close!
Being close to Epcot is cool, however, if you think you’re going to bed early (before 11pm) and you’re anything close to a light sleeper, then you’re wrong. You will hear loud music until pretty late, even with windows closed. The walls are also pretty thin, so you can easily hear the conversations of your neighbors. I heard a lovely chat of our neighbors discussing which iphone games to download and play on their phones. They weren’t even shouting. That’s how clearly you can hear your neighbors.
The lobby was decorated for the holidays on our visit (week of Thanksgiving) and it smelled nice. Something about the smell must have made people just want to sit around in the lobby as I’ve never seen so many people just sitting around doing nothing.
The concierge was pleasant and mildly helpful. My fiancé came down with a cold right when we arrived and it got to the point that we needed to find a pharmacy to get some cold medicine. The front desk has a map of the surrounding areas that list things like 24 hour pharmacies, etc. Unfortunately, upon further investigation, none of the pharmacies listed are 24 hours, and one of them isn’t even there anymore period. So, if you have to leave the property, I suggest you look up the store first.
They have a shuttle station out by the parking lot with shuttles that go to all of the parks and run about every 20 minutes.
Overall, I enjoyed our stay. I’m not sure what makes this a resort versus just a really big hotel property, but it was okay.

My husband and I stayed here 12÷5−12÷2015. This was our 2^nd time. The first was in 2008 for our honeymoon. That stay would’ve been 3 stars; this stay was definitely a 5 star stay. The recent room renovations were obvious. The bed was the best! Better than home! The bathroom was immaculate and the toiletries were super (grapefruit!). As always, the location is perfect; although if you’re early to bed, expect to be awakened at 930p every night for Illuminations.
This year’s trip was our first in December and part of our plan was to visit all of the higher end resorts to see the decorations. My only complaint about the Beach Club is that its decorations fell far short of the others. Don’t get me wrong, the gingerbread carousel was amazing, but the trees were nothing special and there was no outside tree… Overall this was a fabulous stay!

I always love this place… especially around the holidays! They have an incredible holiday display with a beautiful carousel made entirely out of gingerbread and candy as well. The smells and sights surround you as you can sit leisurely in the lobby and listen to relaxing music. They have a great pool with a lazy river and pirated ship slide. This resort is located within walking distance to Epcot and you can also take a boat to the park. Don’t forget the movies on the beach either!

Overpriced. Doesn’t feel like a «resort».
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What makes a resort a resort? Included amenities? Exclusive restaurants and pools? Special treatment? That’s what I used to think. But apparently a «resort» is just another name for a big hotel.
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It’s big all right. It’s a nice enough place, I just think that for the money you aren’t getting a whole lot, other than being within walking distance to Epcot.
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The hotel room is standard. I don’t see anything here that I haven’t seen in a million other hotels I’ve stayed at.
The pools are nice. But they’re not exclusive. Anyone can use them. I mean it — you can park here and walk right into the pools. They SAY the pools are only for hotel guests, but no one is checking and they aren’t locked up.
Same goes for the gym; it’s wide open. I liked using the gym — I was the only one in there. It could use more free weights (they only go up to 50 pounds) but otherwise the other equipment was nice.
There are a few restaurants and a bar scattered here and there. None of them spectacular. but nice enough if you’re stuck here.
Outside is a beach — but you can’t swim in the water — so what’s the point?!
Across the fake-​pond is the boardwalk area. Some shops and stuff there. More of the same.
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I wasn’t that all impressed by my stay here.

A zero-​entry sand-​bottomed pool is the best thing for small kids. The sand doesn’t stick to you, though it does get trapped in pockets/​shorts because it is large-​grained to prevent getting stuck in the pool filter.
The little water slide was nice for kids who usually don’t get such a thing. The large slide was more ho-​hum, it wasn’t very fast or topsy-​turvy.
The grounds were just as impeccable as any Disney resort at this price-​point. Beds were comfortable.

I’ve been to Disney five times over the last seven years. This was the most disappointing trip. Where do I start? Let’s start at check in. I took advantage of the online check in before I arrived. I went to the online check in front desk and got a delightful Asian woman. Only one problem: she barely spoke English. I was convinced during this trip that Disney is hiring such persons to enable easy conversation with people visiting from China. We got to our room (which felt like it was at the end of the hotel) to find that it was warm. I went all the way back to the front desk and they advised me that the air conditioning was out in the entire building! How do you not advise people at the time of check in that the air conditioning is out in Central Florida with the real feel temperature over 100 outside? Also, the view outside our room was of a dead tree and a service area! I failed to mention that they were renovating the 1^st floor throughout the entire hotel, and the smell of paint fumes was wafting through the vents and halls all the way up to the 3^rd floor. I informed the manager by the name of Alma that I didn’t pay $ 5,200 for the week and travel from New York to huff on paint fumes. They agreed to change my room to a lagoon view, but had to rebook with a different reservation number. I asked if that would affect my park tickets and Fast Passes. They assured me it didn’t. Of course, the next day we go to the Kingdom and the Magic Bands don’t work. To add insult to injury, every Fast Pass I scheduled got cancelled in the system. I had to wait in the blazing sun for an hour at the Will Call window to straighten out the park tickets.
What’s Disney’s answer to everything these days: give them Fast Passes! If you have a disgruntled customer, give them fast passes. If your customer had a bad meal, give them Fast Passes. If your customer stubs a toe, give them a Fast Pass. Somehow, Disney believes that the Fast Pass is a cure all. They need to get back to the basics and be stricter with their hiring standards. I came across many employees this trip who didn’t have that «magical» quality to them that Disney always prided themselves to employ. It’s sad, because I will not go back to Disney for a long time due to this experience.

I loved staying at this hotel. Why? One word, The pool!
The pool has a sand bottom pool. Feeling that sand and swimming is the coolest thing ever!
I also have to give a nod to the Beaches and Cream Soda Shop. My family over the years loved getting ice cream, ice cream sodas as well as ordering a pretty rocking burger from Beaches and Cream Soda Shop.
The Disney’s Beach Club Resort lobby is nice, I prefer The Boardwalk hotel over this hotel. The rooms seem smaller, the lobby seems smaller but the pool gets a five star rating from me. (The Boardwalk has that freaky clown. I hate clowns…) If Boardwalk DVC owners need to rent a boat? Get ready to walk to the Disney’s Beach Club Resort side of the dock, the boat rentals are at this hotel.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a beautiful hotel overlooking the lake. It’s walking distance to EPCOT as well as a boat ride away from Hollywood Studios. The Boardwalk resort is on the other side where all the festivities are being held, not too much on the Disney’s Beach Club Resort side.

Stayed here in January, 2011, during a week-​long visit to Walt Disney World. We planned the visit to include lots of table dining, and many of the varieties of that are in Epcot’s World Showcase, so this resort was the best option: It was 500 steps to the International Gateway to Epcot from our room.
One advantage we had is that we booked for a time that isn’t super-​busy, and a deal came along giving us either a free dining plan, or 30% off a deluxe resort (which we chose). You can’t predict exactly when these sorts of deals will happen, but there is a seasonal aspect to them. Check out the various web sites and books to find out how to get the best chance at the best deal.
We were lucky, and got a first-​floor room (1598) near one end of a hallway. Because of the corner nature of that space, it didn’t have the usual room layout, but was still very nice. The only problem we had at the time was that housekeeping, twice, left our door open after cleaning the room. We reported it to the concierge, and were pretty sure that it was because of the odd location for the room’s door. We’d seen housekeeping park a cart and work through four rooms at once in a normal hallway, but our room wasn’t in a section that fit the pattern. This is the only reason why I didn’t rate this five stars, because the rest of the experience was ideal.
In spite of being near an exit, the room was quiet, which was great for a mid-​day nap so you could recharge before visiting the parks at night. There was a tiny patio space if we wanted to sit outside and look at the greenery, but we only tried it once.
The central Yacht & Beach pool area was undergoing refurbishment at the time. This meant that some of the pool was closed, or couldn’t be accessed from the main pool section. We did find a quiet hot tub as a result, but you should also know that the health club/​exercise facilities have an indoor hot tub, too.
Please note: The Yacht & Beach pool is so fantastic that cast members check to be sure you are staying there in order to use it. It is much more like a water park than a simple pool, but it means you have to expect the question when you try to enter the pool area.
We loved the transportation nexus we had: We could walk to Epcot. We could grab a boat to go to Hollywood Studios. Or we could walk to the bus stop to get to anywhere. When it comes to transportation, the Passporter’s Guide to Walt Disney World lists transportation times to different locations using different travel modes, but you will want to add time if you intend to make a dining reservation. We had a case where we just missed a bus, and the one ended up on had to make two stops for wheelchairs, so we ended up over a half-​hour late. We did call the restaurant as soon as we realized we wouldn’t make it, though; the cast members appreciate this advanced warning, as it lets them shuffle the schedule with other people waiting to dine.
The only transportation downside we experienced concerned early-​morning tours. The parks were closed, and the buses didn’t run that early in the day, so we had to get a taxi. The concierge can set that up for you, but do not assume that because you are in walking distance of Epcot that you will be able to walk to Guest Services at the main entrance. You can’t, if Epcot isn’t open.
Our magical moment came when one of us fell ill, and just wanted to rest in bed for an afternoon. Not sleepy, but not up to walking around in the sun. We found that the in-​room TV didn’t cover any Disney movies, not even an on-​demand feature. We spoke to the concierge about borrowing a DVD player from the convention area, and they made sure one got placed in our room right away. We were willing to purchase some DVDs (original copies scratched from over-​use) and went to the store to do so, but the cast member asked if we just wanted to watch them there. Since that was our intent, he pointed us to their library of loaner DVDs, and we picked out the movies we wanted to watch. It was totally unexpected, and was very accommodating to our needs at the time, without any extra cost or fuss.
If I had the resources, I would definitely stay here again. A couple years later, we looked at staying here for the Epcot International Food & Wine festival, but it was booked when we could go.

Just got back from a stay at Disney’s beach Club Resort with my husband. Our trip started at the main entrance. There was a strange interaction with the valet service, I wasn’t quite sure what vibe I was getting. He seemed friendly enough, though he came across as a little peeved that we were not taking the valet service. At $ 20 bucks a day, we’ll walk. The guest parking is fairly close to the entrance of the hotel, so it wasn’t a huge inconvenience.
Once out of our car we were «welcom[ed] home» immediately. The checkin process was a breeze, no pun intended. There were no lines, so we were greeted by a friendly receptions right away. She explained that we had a room on the 2^nd floor the a «big» balcony. We requested a 3^rd floor (newly renovated) room per another Trip Advisor tip. The receptionist explained that the 3^rd floor wasn’t finished being renovated, and that the renovated floors were the 4^th and 5^th floors, so we requested one of those. Our request was granted, though we had to trade in our «big» balcony for a standing balcony, something we never regretted. We were issued our magic bands and we were on our way.
We made our way down a series of beautifully redecorated, wonderfully smelling (besides a little chemicals from remodeling), hallways to our room. We especially love the smell of the hotel. I read some complaints on tripAdvisor and we were not unhappy at all with the smell, it was the perfect smell for a Beach themed hotel.
Once inside our room, we were amazed ay how modernly beach themed our room was. I’m not a beach theme kind of girl and it was just incredible. I loved the crushed shell accents on the bed frames, just beautiful. The tile in the shower was gorgeous and whoever had the brilliant idea of using wood tiles for the bathroom floors deserves an award. Everything was just jaw droppingly, perfectly, well done, right down to the picture of Mickey and Minnie at the beach, flying a kite.
We opened our «balcony» to find that we had a view of the gardens and the boardwalk. It was a little strange, being on our balcony, and looking down to see other people on their balconies though. This was a strange design.
Upon arrival we looked for the room service menu, only to find it was missing. We called the front desk and they said they would send one up right away. The room was very clean, though I got a vibe that it was cleaned in a major rush. Items were arranged crooked, there wasn’t a menu, even the Mickey towels, on our bed, were off center. This wasn’t a big deal, it just was something we’d noticed. One thing I will say is that the receptionists were very friendly and handled our calls in a timely fashion. We were even granted a late (1:00pm) check out, which helped make our trip even better. We love sleeping in during our hotel stays.
They have a great store in the resort that sells gifts and grocery items, such as bread, milk, fruits, and lunch meats, which I felt was classy and nice touch for Disney to allow. I’m guessing it’s for the Disney Villa guests. They also served warm sandwiches, salads, and desserts. We ate dinner at Beaches and Cream Soda Shop, and it was excellent and affordable (for Disney property). We never tried the pool, next time!
On a side note, I later found out that our Magic Bands could be made smaller. Long story short, it would be nice if the receptionist could go over this with you at the front desk. It only takes a few seconds and it’s very beneficial for guests. Another issue we ran into, later on, was that we were told we’d reached our limit on spending using our magic bands. This couldn’t possibly be true because it was the first time we’d used the bands. it was a bit embarrassing and inconvenient. Luckily we brought a card with us. We never checked the bands after that and we never called to ask about the misunderstanding. The bands worked for getting into the rooms with no problem.
This was my first time at the resort, though I’ve stayed at the Boardwalk a few times. We were very excited to try this resort and, thanks to some tips from fellow TripAdvisors, we were not disappointed. Aside from some minor setbacks, we had a wonderful time and we cant wait to recommend this hotel to our friends and family, as well as return ourselves.

This place simply kicked ass. My wife and I were here last week with DVC owner friends of ours. We were in the studio villa on the DVC side of the resort. Top to bottom this place is one of the best vacation stays you will have at Disney.
The service was top notch: We found ourselves at the pool often and the servers there are so friendly and attentive. The pool is a sand bottom pool with a life guard about every 10 yards. There is a lazy river for those lazy days. The coconut mojito was muy bien also.
I went to the gym between there and the yacht club resort and it was extremely clean, with just enough equipment to keep the avid gym user interested.
The rooms were clean and very functional, the bed was comfy, the staff was eager to make conversation about anything any time you walked by someone, and the lemon water they put out by the elevators every morning cured my most ridiculous hang overs.
For those with kids (or immature adults like us) the arcade is very nice. They have skeeball, guitar hero, and many other games that us old people could not really figure out. We put $ 20 on the card and barely made a dent.
The marketplace gift shop /​restaurant was awesome. They are not going to knock your socks off, but the coffee was good, they have a decent variety of hot breakfast items, and they are large enough to have anything that you might have forgotten.
WE WILL BE BACK.

This place… Is the most happy and swag resort in all of Walt Disney World. There are some very good pros to The Beach Club, including the best resort pool in Disney, some pretty good dining, and a nice convenient walk to Boardwalk and Epcot. Easy boat ride to Hollywood Studios. A little hard to locate things but at least not as much as some of the other disney resorts, like Coronado. Less luxurious than Yacht club but still neat and clean. To those who say that the service is bad Im, uh, just guessing you didn’t try hard enough to get help. And to those who hate this resort, stay there again and Im sure you’ll like it. Beach Club was great– a homie feel your family will love Guaranteed.
Beach Club, Im sorry. Many people have said you are bad. Just be like the Viner Brandon Bowen and block out the haters
Rate out of 10– 9.2
Best resort in Disney World?- So far
Better than Kanye West– Of course

Not impressed and honestly, quite disappointed. We ended up here after a terrible experience at the Yacht Club next door. Management moved us to a «garden view» room AKA some unkempt trees and a sad patch of dying grass. The balcony was 1 ft by about 4 ft which was pretty pathetic, then again, the horrible view doesn’t make you want to sit out there. Our room was a bit run down and smelled of old, wet carpet — with a bit of sunscreen/​beach. Perhaps their goal is to make you feel like you’re in a low budget beach motel in a rundown Spring Break town.
The property is beautiful though — very Cape Cod feel/​décor, opulent lobby, Cape May downstairs (great spot for character dining), Crew’s Cup lounge (very yummy food and excellent selection of beer), a beautiful pool with sand and a nice slide, and an arcade which is nice for rainy Florida days. Most importantly, Epcot (the back entrance by France) is a 2 minute walk away and Hollywood Studios is about a mile away. The Boardwalk is right across the lake which is also very convenient. This hotel offers bus transport to MK and HS since you can take the ferry boat to either Epcot (walking is much faster) or HS.
I don’t know if we’ll ever stay here. They price per night was pretty steep for the quality of the room.

One of the top resorts at Walt Disney World for convenience, dining and swimming. Very difficult to reserve, and BC Villas need an upgrade coming in 2015.
I worked at Epcot back in college and we have been BCV owners since the opening in 2002. WDW has changed over the years, but quite a bit is still the same. Barrie B. has written a great summary below for the BCR features, so I won’t get into those details.
Many of the negatives from Unilocal reviews have focused on dining and housekeeping at the resort that are not entirely true or need further explanation. Before visiting WDW, I would recommend a little planning to get a good idea of what is offered. «Unofficial» sites




and
(iPhone web app) are all good, free resources. A must-​have resource is the Disney World phone app offered by Disney, but the «unofficial» sites go into quite a bit of detail on every subject.
As part of that planning you will decide whether or not you want to stay on Disney property. Note that staying on property has many advantages, but you may be able to find more affordable (and less convenient) accommodations off-​property. If money is an issue but you want to stay on property, look at Disney’s All-​Star resorts.
If you stay on property, decide what conveniences you are looking for. Do you want to be closer to Downtown Disney, African animals or The Magic Kingdom? WDW has options for that. BCR is located in what is called the Epcot Resort Area and is one of the most popular resorts because of the many activities/​dining/​parks in walking distance of the resort.
Note that there are differences between staying in the Disney timeshare (Disney Vacation Club Villas) vs. staying in the regular hotel part of a Disney resort. There are differences in the rooms (some have kitchens or mini-​kitchens), but also differences in service if you are paying for a villa using DVC points vs. cash. I will try to touch on some of those differences below. You can also find a good FAQ on the BCR and BCV at
.
Rating: 5 stars, minus 1 for needed BCV refurb.
*-*-* Negative themes from BCR Unilocal Reviews and responses *-*-*
DINING
* BCR lacks a restaurant and quick service options are bad.
–} Pull-​up a map of the property. BCR and the Yacht club share the same complex. If you explore restaurants in Disney’s WDW phone app, you will see that there are 10 restaurant options in the BCR/​Yacht Club alone. If you add excellent dining options at Epcot World Showcase, Swan/​Dolphin, and the Boardwalk, the options are quite good and all are walking distance from the BCR.
* Beaches and Cream requires a reservation.
–} The soda shop is small, but there is a to-​go counter where you can place an order to-​go and possibly snag a bar stool.
* Reservations are tough to get
–} This was more true in the past. Disney charges a fee if you miss your reservation now. What this means is that you will see more openings than before when people cancel their reservations. You can book restaurants 6 months in advance, and should do this on day 1 for the most popular restaurants. Use the Disney phone app or call 407-​WDW-​DINE.
HOUSEKEEPING & MAINTENANCE
* Bad housekeeping, wear & tear/​stains, BC is a dump.
–} BC Villas are definitely showing their age, and we noticed this during our BCV stay on ¹²⁄₂₀₁₄. Our villa was very clean, but we noticed a few minor things (carpet coming up, poorly-​repaired wood scratches on TV console, small hole in wall where door stop should be) that screamed maintenance was needed. I have not heard any recent complaints about the regular resort rooms, and I believe BCR underwent a refurb a couple of years ago. BCV is scheduled for a refurb in 2015, so look for things to improve soon in the villas.
* Cleaning schedule is not daily and housekeeping comes early
–} If you are not using Disney Vacation Club points for your stay and paying «cash» you will have daily housekeeping. DVC members know that they will receive housekeeping services less frequently than paid guests. We did notice on our checkout date that housekeeping showed at 8:45 to clean the room, but the maid was accommodating when I told her we would be out within the hour. Be aware that although check-​out is 11am, these resorts constantly have people checking in and out every day, and Disney frequently lets guests check-​in early.
* Service is slow
–} During our stay on 12/​2014, we called to request a better mattress for the fold-​out couch in our 1BR villa. It only took about 20 minutes for maintenance to show, which was an acceptable wait. This was during the busiest time of the year, so waits of 45 minutes-​plus are probably not normal.
* No turn-​down service
–} Turn-​down service can be requested at check-​in, but not if you are staying in the villas using points. Personally, my family never uses this service and the couch bed is very easy to open and close.

This is now my fourth time staying at the beach club. I hate to say it but it has progressively started to go downhill.
Check in took forever, the process needs improvements and when all was said and done my magic band and credit card/​dining plan were never properly linked resulting in me taking more of my time to remedy.
The building still has that pleasant cape cod beach theme entrance that’s like a breath of fresh air. Then you go upstairs to your room…
The first thing I notice is stains on the walls and carpets. The rooms haven’t had a significant change in the last 20 years with the exception of a flat screen tv.
Obviously the convenience to Epcot and Hollywood is a 5-​star amenity but it does not make up for many other flaws.
How awesome is it that you get your own refillable mug for the entire week! Well it is great until you learn that the hot chocolate machine is down for 3 days.
Last but not least the Disney magical express is not very express at all.
Although I was semi-​disappointed with the accommodations the Disney parks are still the best full of fun and magic for any age.
Next year it is off to the Grand Floridian and possibly a rental car for my trip to and from the airport.

Spent 25 hours on Amtrak from Penn Station, Newark to Kissimmee, Florida to celebrate our granddaughter’s fourth birthday with Mickey in Disney World. Our room at the Beach Club was scheduled to be ready by 4:00 PM but we arrived just after 12 noon. Where else but Disney would you hear the words, «Welcome home», then be brought to your room as if they had been waiting for you all along. No other hotel has ever shown us our room four hours before check in time. Will it always be that way? I doubt it but, to paraphrase if I may, «a great miracle happened there».
It’s been years since my family has been to Disney World. Kids grow up and you miss their incredible smiles and heartfelt giggling at meeting Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy. On our first trip here with our granddaughter we have discovered that the magic is still here. Our arrival one day ahead of the rest of our family finds one phenomenal trait still a major part of the Walt Disney corporate structure; their personnel still make you feel like you have arrived at a special somewhere like no other place on earth.
The people are phenomenal, the room spacious and very clean and fresh. The view from the balcony is beautiful. In years past we stayed at resorts in Kissimmee. This is our first stay, while at Disney World, at a resort owned by Disney. Expensive? YES. Instead of a commute, however, and parking and shuttles from the parking lot, we walked from our hotel a short distance and were in Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon.
We were on the food plan and breakfast was more than adequate despite a lack of variety from day to day. Our other meals were out in the field, however: Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom etc. so I won’t be reviewing the on-​site restaurant.
The room: well appointed, modern. The bed: I don’t know what mattress but, man, was it comfortable. Plush pillows, great comforter, desk, clock radio alarm combo with USB built in charger, mini-​fridge, quiet running climate control and wide screen television. Balcony for eating breakfast or relaxing on after using their heated pool. And what seals it? Disney staff, they make the difference.
I anticipate many trips to Disney World with our granddaughter in years to come. Disney vs. Kissimmee? We’ve been blessed. Disney wins.

Top 10 things I love about Disney’s Beach Club Villas…
Casual New England Beach Club Theme
The Beach Club theming was influenced by the charming seaside cottages found in New England at the start of the 20^th century. It has a casual elegance that feels posh without being stuffy.
Stormalong Bay
Without a doubt, Stormalong Bay is the best resort pool on Disney property. It’s huge, nearly 3 acres in size. It has a shallow, sand-​bottom area for young children and lounging dads, a lazy river, a whirlpool current, and a giant slide disguised as a shipwreck. The deepest point is about 8 feet deep, deeper than any other Walt Disney World pool. Only guests at the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are allowed to use this pool.
Friendship Boat Transportation
Friendship boats transport guests between Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach Club, and the Swan and Dolphin Resorts. I would much rather take a leisurely boat ride than hop on a bus any day. The boats arrive about every 20 minutes.
Cape May Café Character Meals
Cape May Café is an all you can eat buffet located in the Beach Club Resort. Donning their beach attire, Goofy, Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck greet guests at their breakfast beach party. The menu includes a variety of breakfast favorites including Mickey Waffles, breakfast pizza, biscuits and gravy, a fresh fruit and yogurt bar, fresh-​baked pastries, as well as other yummy breakfast items.
Beaches & Cream
What could be better than having Beaches and Cream Soda Shop within walking distance of your room? Just think, every day you can sample a different delicious ice cream treat — it’s vacation after all! For those of you who haven’t tried this old fashioned soda-​fountain, trust me, it’ll be hard to pass by it without stopping in when you are staying at the Beach Club Villas. In addition to ice cream, they have one of the best burgers you’ll find in all of Walt Disney World.
Mini Spa
A real hidden gem at the Beach Club is Ship Shape Massage Salon Fitness. It’s easy to miss this little mini next door to Beaches and Cream. Isn’t that handy? After filling up on ice cream, you can go right next door and work it off at the fitness center! Personally, I prefer to start at the spa with a massage and then go eat my ice cream. The salon offers haircuts and styling, manicures and pedicures.
Movies on the Beach
Of all the movie spots at Walt Disney World, this beach is the best by far. What fun it is to play in the sand while watching a movie. And just look at the view! What a relaxing way to end the day.
Walk to Epcot
Walking to Epcot from the Beach Club takes only 5 – 10 minutes. It’s closer from the resort to the gate than any other resort is to any park. If Epcot is your favorite park, especially if you love World Showcase, you can’t beat the location of Beach Club for convenience. Here’s a tip: Notice how the sign above directs guests to go up that little hill to get to Beach Club. You do have to go that way if you are going to the Boardwalk, but Beach Club guests can take the low road and go under the bridge for an easier and quicker walk.
Close to Boardwalk
Speaking of Boardwalk… when you stay at the Beach Club Villas, you can also enjoy the Boardwalk. There’s nightly entertainment, games, snacks, surreys to rent, and all kinds of fun just a short stroll around the lake. Or, just enjoy the view from the Beach Club side of the lake.
Lots of Restaurants in the Area
Within easy walking distance or a short boat ride of the Beach Club Villas are dozens of great eateries at the different Epcot resorts around Crescent Lake. There are several fine dining establishments like Flying Fish Café, Il Mulino, and Yachtsman Steak House. ESPN, Big River Grille and Crew’s Cup offer more casual dining. Fresh Mediterranean Market has a wonderful breakfast buffet. And for the ultimate snack foods, grab a slice of pizza or a funnel cake on the Boardwalk. For foodies, this resort is the best!
Honorable Mention: Really Big Arcade!
This didn’t make it to my top ten list of reasons to choose Beach Club Villas over another resort, but I thought it was worthy of an honorable mention. The arcade at this resort is huge! There’s even more to it than what shows up in the photo. If your kids like games, just imagine how much fun they could have in here.

Best resort for Epcot and Hollywood Studios with the best pool in Disney.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a beach-​themed deluxe resort designed by Robert A.M. Stern and themed after seaside cottages found in Newport, Rhode Island at the start of the 20^th century. It opened on November 19, 1990 and is located in the Epcot Resort Area, next to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and across Crescent Lake from Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. One can walk to Epcot in about five minutes and Disney Hollywood Studios in about fifteen minutes.
The resort is owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. There are 583 rooms with a fifth floor Concierge Level that offers private floor access, a concierge lounge, turn-​down service, and other amenities. The Concierge Level is called the Stone Harbor Club and all rooms were renovated in 2009.
We just got back from a five day stay in a Stone Harbor Club room with two queen beds and a large balcony overlooking the pool. Access to the Stone Harbor Club features Continental breakfast, snacks and evening beer, wine and cheese reception each day. The check in process is just great. We flew into Orlando then took the complimentary Magical Express bus. When we got off the bus we were greeted by a woman who was waiting for us and welcomed us by name. She had someone take our bags and she escorted us up to the fifth floor where we were quickly checked in by a concierge and showed around the club were snacks, food and drinks are served almost constantly. Everything is complimentary. This is the schedule:
Lounge location & opening hours —
5^th Floor, Main Building — 7:00 am — 10:00 pm
Coffee
6:30am — 7am
Breakfast
7am — 10:30am
Toast, cereal, oatmeal, muffins, pastries, juice, coffee and tea.
Snacks
11:30 — 4pm
Fresh fruit, pretzels, chips, cheese & crackers, cookies, desserts.
Evening
5pm — 7pm
Hot item samples, children’s corner, crudités, cheese tray, beverages, wine & beer
Late Evening
8pm — 10pm
Desserts & cordials.
All Day
7am — 10pm
Whole fresh fruit & beverages
Stormalong Bay is the main pool located in the middle between Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts. It is the best pool in all of Disney with a sandy bottom, lazy river and the Shipwreck with a great water slide. There is also a quiet pool to get away from the kids.
Beach Club also has a great restaurant. The Cape May Café is a seafood buffet featuring a «clambake» and hosts a character breakfast with Goofy and other Disney characters.
For dessert the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is a casual «diner-​style» restaurant serving ice cream and «All-​American» food. The restaurant features jukeboxes and its claim to fame is its «Kitchen Sink Sundae», which contains «eight scoops of ice cream, all the toppings in the house, and a whole can of whipped cream» in a large kitchen sink.
A fully equipped health and fitness center called the Ship Shape Health Club is for resort guests and offers fitness equipment, a steam room, a sauna, and a spa. Massage therapy is offered by appointment only.
They are testing the new Magic Bands right now and anyone staying at Beach Club gets one. It’s a great system! You wear it like a watch and your room key, tickets and fast passes are attached and you manage it from any computer. When we wanted to buy something i.e. snacks, food, gifts or anything on Disney property, you just hold your Magic Band up to the reader and you’re done. It’s that easy. You create a PIN for purchases. It worked great for us.
If I have to give a complaint it’s that the walls are too thin. I heard the neighbors alarm going off in the morning.
Bottom line — If you plan on spending most of your time at Epcot and Hollywood Studios and you have time to spend at the pool then this is the place to stay.

C’est un hôtel Disney superbe au centre du parc d’attraction de Disneyland. Par contre les chambres né sont pas données, à partir de 400 euros, un chiffre élevé par rapport au tarifs pratiqué par les autres hôtels dans la région. Il se situe à cinq minutes à pieds de l’arrière d’Epcot center, et l’accès est facile pour aller manger dans les pavillons nationaux. Des grandes chambres très agréables et le service à la hauteur. Il n’y a pas de cuisine, mais un petit réfrigérateur et une machine à café. Un étang a été transformé en lagon, avec un magnifique plage de sable, un bateau pirate pour les enfants. Le restaurant avec un buffet de qualité supérieure. C’est grand hôtel et faut passablement marcher jusqu’à à la chambre. Il y le bus gratuit pour Magic Kingdom et pour centre-​ville de Disneyland, et un bateau pour MGM.