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The Family Vacation Guide

Disney’s Beach Club vs Yacht Club: Which Should You Choose?

posted by James Brockbank on September 3, 2022 // last updated on September 19, 2022

One of the best parts of planning a family vacation to Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida , is choosing where to stay.

Disney owns and operates more than 20 resorts and other accommodations on their central Florida property, in addition to the dozens of others nearby.

If Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort are among your options, you might be wondering which is better. After all, they’re located directly next door to each other, and the theming is similar. 

Despite having much in common, these two hotels have some key differences that make them distinct. Below, we’ll talk about the perks of staying in one of Disney’s hotels and what the Yacht and Beach Clubs have in common. Then, we’ll dive into what makes them distinct. That way, you can make the best choice for your family vacation.

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Transportation, on-site guest relations, deluxe resorts, the skyliner, the boardwalk, room accommodations, entertainment and recreation, disney vacation club villas, recreation and entertainment, convention center, which should you choose: disney’s beach club or yacht club, perks of staying in a walt disney world hotel.

Experienced Disney vacationers will tell you that staying “on-property” has many advantages that can help you get the most out of your time in the most magical place on earth.

Each day, the four theme parks in Walt Disney World– Magic Kingdom , EPCOT , Hollywood Studios , and Animal Kingdom –open 30 minutes early for resort guests. That means you can get to the park in the morning and head to a couple of your favorite attractions without worrying about crowds.

At times in the past, Disney had offered “Extra Magic Hours” when parks opened even earlier or stayed open late in the evening for resort guests. While Disney isn’t offering them now, it certainly could return in the future.

Genie+ is the paid reservation system that allows guests to reserve times to visit top attractions. Time slots become available to park guests when the park opens for the day. 

However, guests with resort reservations linked to their accounts can make their first selections at 7 AM. That’s a distinct advantage over everyone else. What’s more, reservations for some of the most popular rides sometimes go quick.

Disney provides regular, reliable transportation from all of its hotels to its four theme parks, two water parks, and Disney Springs shopping and entertainment district. Buses run to each destination from every hotel about every 30 minutes.

In addition, there are boats and water taxis, the Skyliner gondola system, the monorail, and walking trails from several resorts. Below, we’ll talk about what’s available at the Yacht and Beach Clubs.

An often-overlooked advantage of staying at a Disney hotel is on-site guest relations. You can visit this desk to take care of a range of questions and issues before visiting the parks. You can purchase or verify tickets, make and confirm park and dining reservations, and schedule tours and special events.

Of course, guest relations is available at the entrance to all theme parks and water parks. However, there can be long lines, especially at the beginning of the day. What’s more, visiting the desk in the park takes away from your time enjoying attractions.  

What Do the Yacht and Beach Clubs Have in Common?

If you’ve done your research, you may already know that the Yacht and Beach Clubs are next to each other. They’re also often discussed together since they share so many amenities and features. 

Before we discuss what makes them unique so you can choose between them, it’s helpful to look at what they share. That way, you can get a total picture of what it would be like to spend your family vacation there.

Both the Beach Club and Yacht Club are Disney Deluxe Resorts . This is the top tier of hotels on Disney property, ahead of value resorts like Art of Animation and All-Star Sports and moderate resorts such as Coronado Springs and Port Orleans Riverside.

As you might expect, deluxe resorts have the best of everything. The rooms tend to be larger, the hotel lobbies and fixtures more opulent, and the theming is more detailed. There are better pools (with slides), more amenities (such as spas and shops), and more dining options.

Deluxe resorts have several unique features and perks. Sometimes, Disney parks stay open late for guests of deluxe resorts. They tend to have great locations with better access to the parks and transportation options. Of course, it all comes at a price. Deluxe resorts start at around $450 and increase sharply from there. 

The location is one of the best things about staying at the Yacht or Beach Club. They are two of the three resorts located directly near EPCOT. 

If you enjoy the thrilling attractions in Future World or a leisurely stroll through the World Showcase, you might like the Yacht and Beach Clubs even more than the Magic Kingdom monorail hotels–The Grand Floridian, Polynesian Village, and the Contemporary.

Let’s zoom in on the three things that make this location spectacular.

The Yacht and Beach Clubs are about a ten or 15-minute walk from EPCOT . One of four theme parks in Walt Disney World, EPCOT has so much to offer. It’s split into two major worlds, and they almost feel like two separate worlds.

Future World has some of the most thrilling attractions in any of the parks, including Soarin’ , Test Track , and the brand new Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster, Cosmic Rewind . 

Then, there’s the World Showcase, with pavilions from 11 countries around the world. Sample food, drink, merchandise, and culture without leaving central Florida.

The new Skyliner transportation system is just before you reach the World Gateway entrance to EPCOT. The Skyliner is a gondola system that connects several popular spots around the “world,” including Hollywood Studios, Riviera Resort, and several other hotels.

The Skyliner has revolutionized how people get around Walt Disney World. Many guests hated waiting for and riding buses to and from the parks, but the Skyliner has turned that experience into a ride in itself.

Guests at the Yacht and Beach Club can easily walk to the Skyliner. The Beach Club is a bit closer, but it only takes about ten minutes from the Yacht Club lobby.

The Boardwalk Hotel is on the same walking trail as the Yacht and Beach Club. In addition to the hotel is the Boardwalk entertainment area. While it’s much smaller than Disney Springs, you can find shops, restaurants, and entertainment. 

One of the Boardwalk’s favorites is Jelly Rolls, a dueling piano bar. The Atlantic Dance Hall opens nightly for drinks and dancing.

Most room accommodations at the Yacht and Beach Club are the same. Standard rooms include one king or two queen beds, and some have a pull-down bed under the television. 

Daily housekeeping is included, and guests can choose from water, pool, and garden views. In addition, both hotels have suites and a club or concierge level.

The best part of staying at the Yacht or Beach Club is arguably the main pool. The most popular on Disney property, Stormalong Bay encompasses three acres of space. There’s a lazy river, three whirlpool spas, and a life-size replica of a shipwreck with a 230-foot waterslide. It’s partially sand-bottom, and there’s a sandy beach to play on.

If you prefer a quieter poolside experience, there are three more leisure pools for use by guests at the Beach and Yacht Clubs: the Admiral Pool, Dunes Cove, and the Tidal Pool. All three have whirlpool spas and other amenities.

The Yacht and Beach Club share transportation, and the great news is how easy it is to get around Walt Disney World from both of these hotels.

The bus stop is located outside the main lobby of the Yacht Club. Buses run about every 30 minutes to the parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. The bus is the best way to get to Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the Magic Kingdom.

There is also a boat launch behind the lobby of the Yacht Club on Crescent Lake. The boats take guests to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios and are a leisurely way to get to both parks.

As mentioned above, the Skyliner is about a ten-minute walk from the Yacht and Beach Clubs. The Skyliner takes guests to Hollywood Studios and is the fastest way to get there. 

We mentioned walking into EPCOT from these resorts, but you can also walk to Hollywood Studios. The path winds for about one mile around the water.

Finally, while the Yacht and Beach Clubs aren’t located on the monorail, you can access the monorail through EPCOT. You will need a theme park reservation at EPCOT or a park hopper ticket (useable after 2 PM) to access the monorail. However, it can take you to the Magic Kingdom.

The two resorts also share much of the same entertainment and recreation options. Moreover, guests at either hotel are almost always welcome to use amenities at the other one.

The resorts jointly host nightly campfires (weather permitting) and movies under the stars (indoors in inclement weather). There are tennis courts, volleyball courts, jogging trails, arcades, boat rentals, and fishing. There’s also a full fitness center and salon at Ship Shape Massage Salon Fitness. 

What Makes Disney’s Beach Club Different?

Now that you know all the things that Disney’s Yacht and Beach Clubs share, we can look at meaningful ways that they differ. 

One of them is written right into their names. Even though the themes at the resorts are similar, they are distinct from each other. The Beach Club is reminiscent of classic Atlantic and New Jersey seaside resorts around the turn of the 20th century. 

It’s bright and cheerful, with light pastel colors throughout. You’ll notice elements of gingerbread-style and Victorian architecture, almost like an upscale beach cottage. The atmosphere is designed to be more relaxed and calming.

There are several other important ways that the two hotels differ. Here’s what’s unique to the Beach Club.

One thing that makes the Beach Club distinct is the presence of Disney Vacation Club villas. Disney Vacation Club is a vacation ownership company that sells timeshares in select Disney resorts worldwide. It also offers exceptional experiences, excursions, and reciprocity with RCI for members in good standing to use their annual allotment of points.

There are only 282 villas at the Beach Club, making it among the smallest in the collection. There are studios with kitchenettes and one, two, and three-bedroom villas with full kitchens.

You don’t need to be a DVC member to book the villas. In fact, many non-members love the villas for family reunions and space to spread out. They typically cost more than standard rooms per night.

You don’t have to be a guest at the Beach Club to dine in any of its restaurants. Anyone can make a reservation or drop in for table availability, but guests of this resort will be closer and find it easier to eat at these.

Cape May Cafe is a popular buffet spot for breakfast and dinner. Beaches and Cream Soda Shop has diner offerings for lunch and dinner and is known for its incredible ice cream. Martha’s Vineyard serves lunch but is best known for its bar service and wine selection. Finally, the Beach Club Marketplace offers counter-service and grab-and-go dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Some guests prefer the Beach Club’s location because it is closer to EPCOT and the Skyliner. It takes about five or ten more minutes to get there from the Yacht Club, depending on where your room is situated. However, most of the rooms at the Yacht Club are closer to Stormalong Bay than at the Beach Club.

Even though guests of either resort can use all the amenities, it’s worth mentioning the ones that are located at the Beach Club:

• Dunes Cove Pool
• Volleyball courts

What Makes the Yacht Club Different?

Several elements distinguish the Yacht Club from the Beach Club, and the first is the theme. While the Beach Club is designed to look and feel like a relaxed yet refined seaside resort, the Yacht Club is more stately.

The Yacht Club is reminiscent of a grand, exclusive New England yachting or boating resort, visited by titans of industry, politicians, and some of the oldest families in America. It is elegant, plush, and nautical. In contrast to the whimsical pastels at the Beach Club, you’ll see dark blues and wood tones against white finishes. 

Perhaps because of the prestige, the Yacht Club’s prices tend to be slightly higher than the Beach Club’s, though not substantially. The rooms at both resorts follow their themes but are around the same size.

While the Beach Club has Disney Vacation Club villas, the Yacht Club has a convention center, which frequently contributes to the more formal atmosphere at the Yacht Club. In fact, the resort itself was designed to host conventions, and its setup is conducive to that.

The convention center has more than 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. The hotel has almost 2,000 guest rooms, most of which are standard. Nearly 140 are located on the club level, perfect for executives. Couples also often hold weddings at the Yacht Club, and the nearby wedding gazebo is a convenient ceremony space. 

There are several dining options at the Yacht Club, and true to its theme, most of them are more formal than the ones you’ll find at the Beach Club. The main restaurant is the Yachtsman’s Steakhouse , a traditional New England steakhouse. It is one of the more formal restaurants in Walt Disney World and is only open for dinner. 

In addition, the less-formal Ale and Compass restaurant is a gastropub serving Yankee comfort food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Marketplace at Ale and Compass offers counter-service and grab-and-go dining options.

Finally, two bars offer drinks and light snacks: the Ale and Compass Lounge and the Crew’s Cup Lounge. 

These are the recreation and amenities offered at the Yacht Club:

• Admiral Pool
• Tennis courts
• Ship Shape Massage Salon Fitness

If you plan to spend the bulk of your Florida vacation in Walt Disney World, we strongly recommend staying at a Disney hotel for all the reasons discussed above. But which is better–the Beach Club or Yacht Club?

As you can see, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Yacht Club Resort have a lot in common and share many of the same amenities and perks. However, they have distinct themes that create different atmospheres. The Beach Club is more relaxed and refined, while the Yacht Club is more stately and elegant.

Regardless of where you and your family decide to stay, the most important thing is that you enjoy your time together at Walt Disney World. And don’t forget to check out Stormalong Bay–it’s the best part of either hotel!

More about our TFVG Author

James Brockbank

A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.

Featured in Travel articles such as Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy and SFGate, you know you're reading some of the best vacation tips online.

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Resort Showdown! Beach Club vs. Yacht Club: Which is Better For Your Family?

Let’s get ready to…  calmly analyze two Walt Disney World resorts !  (What? Did you think we were going to rumble? This is Disney, y’all!) The two resorts that are entering our Disney World ring  are two Epcot Resort Area favorites that have more than a little in common: the Beach Club Resort and the Yacht Club Resort .

Comparing Walt Disney World Resort hotels is trickier than it might seem. While Resorts are comprised of many part — theme, amenities, restaurants, and location — they’re really more than the sum of their parts .

In this case the comparison is even more difficult because the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are often thought of as one in the same . They share adjacent space in the Epcot Resort Area, and they share some important amenities. And how many times have you heard them called “the Yacht and Beach Club” as if they are one in the same?

So we’re laying out our beach towels on our imaginary yacht to compare and contrast these Deluxe Resorts in an AllEars Resort Showdown !

When you take a look at a map of the Epcot Area Resorts, Beach Club is slightly (minutely) closer to Epcot, but it’s truly just a matter of steps difference. Since their location is essentially identical, it won’t be a deciding factor when looking at these two resorts, unless we need a tiebreaker.

Note that being Epcot Area Resorts mean you can enter that Park via International Gateway and access the Skyliner station that’s there. You are also just steps away from the Friendship Boats that carry guests between Beach Club, Yacht Club, BoardWalk, Swan and Dolphin, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot. It’s truly a fabulous location if you plan on spending time at those parks. (Bonus: there’s even a walking path from this area over to Hollywood Studios, giving them walkability to  two  theme parks!)

Both the Beach Club and the Yacht Club Resorts have a nautical theme. Beach Club is beachier while the Yacht Club is based on a New England- style yacht club. The Beach Club has an actual beach while the Yacht Club has a dock with power boats for rent. You can rent the boats at the Bayside Marina and take them through designated waterways.

Most guests feel the difference in theme is one of mood. Between the two, Yacht Club is a more formal resort than the Beach Club. So if you are a looking for a slightly more relaxed environment, the Beach Club is probably the best option for you. And that makes perfect sense with the themes, as a beach is generally a more relaxed environment than a yacht club.

Though we’re saying Beach Club is more relaxed, it’s still a classy resort with thoughtful design and interesting architectural details. So you’re not losing any of that sense of a Deluxe Resort despite it feeling less stuffy.

Since the two resorts are intricately connected, they share just about all of their amenities. And even those that are enclosed in one of the two resorts remain accessible because you can easily resort hop and take advantage of what you want from either of them. One of the main amenities that they share — and one of the most compelling offerings at these resorts — is the three-acre pool called Stormalong Bay.

It feels wrong even to call this water playground a pool; it’s so much more. Stormalong Bay has a sand-bottomed pool that has artificial currents, a 230-foot long waterslide, a lazy river, three whirlpool spas, a miniature waterslide, and an elevated tanning deck. The large, irresistible waterslide is one of the tallest hotel waterslides at Walt Disney World, and it is arguably the best.

In addition to this massive aquatic experience, there are three separate leisure pools shared between the two resorts. These are quiet all-ages pools, one located closer to Beach Club, another located closer to Yacht Club, and the last near the Beach Club Vacation Villas. Guests staying at either resort can visit any of these three pools as long as they respect the quiet rules.

Both Beach Club and Yacht Club have other similar recreation areas as well. They both have arcades, cabanas for rent, campfires in the evening, fishing in the lake, boat rentals, running trails, tennis, and volleyball. If you’re between the ages of 4 and 12, you can even join Captain Hook’s Pirate Crew . The Pirate Crew activity includes dinner and the full pirate experience, where you learn sea shanties, try out talking like a pirate, and get a pirate nickname. It’s a shame we’re about 20 years too old for this. Dear Disney, please create one of these for adults (and include delicious rum cocktails, too).

So amenities — really shared between the two resorts — are a wash. In a good way, if you’re a guest staying at either resort!

Once again, because the resorts are so close in proximity, dining is a bit of an even playing field. Even when you go to look at a list of dining options at one of the resorts, Disney lists restaurants from both Beach Club and Yacht Club.

Table Service options exist in both resorts. Yacht Club has Ale & Compass Restaurant and Yachtsman Steakhouse, while Beach Club has Cape May Cafe and the favorite Beaches & Cream Soda Shop (which, in truth, is located near Stormalong Bay and is basically central to both resorts). The restaurants at the Yacht Club are more mature options, perhaps, and better suited to adults and older children. Ale & Compass has some great New England seafood dishes, like the Maine Lobster Roll. If you prefer a juicy steak, the signature restaurant Yachtsman Steakhouse is the best option.

The two Table Service options at the Beach Club will cater more toward families with children or the young at heart. Cape May Cafe offers a character meal at breakfast and a seafood buffet at dinner.

The real shining gem is Beaches & Cream Soda Shop where you can get massive ice cream sundaes served in kitchen sinks, because they put everything in them but the kitchen sink. With the classic diner vibe and burgers, sandwiches, and tater tots there are plenty of great savory options to eat before you gorge yourself on gallons of delicious ice cream. Or do what we do, order the kitchen sink and some cheese tots on the side to cut the sweet flavor.

In addition to the great Table Service options, there are classic Quick Service restaurants at both and a few different lounges, too. On the Beach Club side, there is Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar & Grill which serves up frozen rum cocktails, beer, and great poolside snacks like pork nachos and coconut shrimp. Once again this shows the slightly more laid back vibe from the Beach Club. At Yacht Club, Crew Cup Lounge will be your go-to lounge.

If you have younger kids or want a shorted walk to giant ice cream, Beach Club might be better for you. But if you think you’ll be wanting great seafood or a steak dinner every night, then maybe Yacht Club is better suited to your lifestyle.

The layouts and designs of the rooms at these resorts are very similar. Both employ a blue, gray, and brown color scheme. The level of rooms are also equivalent. Both resorts offer a level of comfort and sophistication found at the Deluxe Resort tier.

They both have standard rooms that are $440 a night, but once you get to the higher levels, the Yacht Club’s rooms are a few dollars more expensive. When you get to the Club Level the pricing starts to deviate the most. For example when you look at the Two-Bedroom Suite at Club Level, the Beach Club costs $1,695 a night while at the Yacht Club it costs $1,828 a night. That is over a $100 difference a night. (The interior design style deviates a bit more at this level, too.)

Beach Club also has a few suite options above and beyond what the Yacht Club has. They have the Nantucket VP Suite that sleeps two adults and the  Newport Presidential Suite that sleeps up to seven adults. The Beach Club also has the Beach Club Villas, which are Deluxe Villas that include a spacious living space, a full kitchen, fully separate bedrooms, and a washer and dryer. If you want the feel of being in a home and not just a hotel room, then the Villas might be best for your family.

Final Results

Look, we’ve given ourselves an impossible task. The resorts are about even, and the deciding factor depends almost entirely on your tastes and lifestyle. Beach Club may be a better option for families with small children because the dining options are a little more kid friendly. If you are a couple or have older children, the Yacht Club may be slightly better for you with the more mature restaurants and styling.

However, the Beach Club has our vote for the best of the two for a few minor reasons. First, it has Beaches and Cream which is a must-do (plus, who votes against ice cream?!). Second, it has that great poolside bar in Hurricane Hanna’s (which is accessible to guests of either resort using the pool but minutely closer to Beach Club). Finally, it is just those few feet closer to the International Gateway entrance into Epcot. In this case, it’s the small details that give Beach Club the edge.

What do you think: Beach Club or Yacht Club? Let us know in the comments.

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6 Replies to “Resort Showdown! Beach Club vs. Yacht Club: Which is Better For Your Family?”

We have stayed at both the Yacht Club and Beach Club because my husband often has conferences there. The biggest difference between the rooms that nobody seems to be talking about is the bathrooms. As a mom who has traveled with 4 young children, the Yacht Club bathroom is much better because the double sinks have their own space, and the toilet and shower are in a separate room off of the sink area. It’s way easier for multiple people to get ready. At the Beach Club, the two sinks are in the same space as the toilet and shower, and it’s awkward to open and shut the door to get in to use the sinks if someone is on the toilet. It’s much more cramped. The quick service options also worked for our kids at the Yacht Club and Ale & Compass satisfied everyone as well for both lunch and dinner. Beaches and Cream is a hard to get ADR, but it’s right in the middle between the two resorts so I wouldn’t base my choice on that. I also liked where Yacht Club has access into the pool area compared to the Beach Club. Lastly, the walk to the boat launch for Hollywood Studios is closer, so that makes up for the slightly longer walk to Epcot.

We stayed at Beach Club last December and were very happy with the hotel. However, my 14 y.o. daughter & I had breakfast at Ale & Compass one morning. She looked around the lobby and asked me; “Why aren’t we staying here?!”. The hotel was beautiful and quite which gives it a big edge over Beach Club. The lobby at Beach Club was always crowded and noisy but Yacht was relaxing. I’m planning our next trip for Yacht Club for sutey

We’ve stayed multiple times at both. We like Yacht Club because the Quick Service restaurant has seating that Beach Club lacks. Yet, we like Beach Club better because it is a little closer to Epcot and easier for the grandkids to get to the water park.

It’s basically the same resort.

Stayed many times at both hotels. Beach Club used to have it over Yacht because of the market place and the food available there. Now that Yacht has upped the game, their food selections are equal to or better than the Beach Club. Yacht also has more unique merchandise, though a smaller selection.

Either is a great choice. My personal favorite luxury resorts. (French Quarter is my favorite moderate resort.)

Staff has always been extraordinary.

I’ve been to both resorts and love them both. To me, the Yacht Club wins because you will always get a balcony in a Yacht Club room and not in a Beach Club room. Only some of the Beach Club rooms have one. Also to say Hurricane Hanna’s or Beaches and Cream belong to the Beach Club is misleading. They are both next to the pool and not closer to either resort. The lobby in the Yacht Club is much quieter and that is very much appreciated after a long day at the parks. I always try for a Yacht Club room first. If that isn’t available then the Beach Club works too.

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Where Should I Stay? Disney Yacht Club Vs Beach Club Comparisons Guide

So you’re planning your 2024 Walt Disney World vacation and stuck between the Disney Beach Club vs Yacht Club. Both the Disney Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort are deluxe hotels found on the Walt Disney World Boardwalk. These two resorts share the shame building space and are commonly confused as the same Disney Resort, especially with their similar themes. That’s why we have taken the time to break out everything you need to know about both Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club.

We hope you find this post helpful, and if you are planning a trip to Disney World be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next vacation. This includes helping you find the best time to buy Disney World tickets  as well as book amazing  Walt Disney World vacation packages!

So if you’re ready to decide if you would prefer to stay at the Disney Yacht Club or Beach Club read on!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Walt Disney World be sure to check out our Disney Crowd Calendar! 

Disney Crowd Calendar

Disney’s Yacht Club Vs Beach Club

When deciding between the Disney Yacht Club and Beach Club for your vacation, it’s essential to understand their unique features and the subtle differences that might influence your choice. Both resorts offer luxurious accommodations with a nautical theme, sharing many amenities, including the acclaimed Stormalong Bay pool. However, their distinct styles, room options, and proximity to Disney parks set them apart.

Thematic Differences

• Disney Yacht Club: Features a more formal, sophisticated theme inspired by the seaside cottages of the Northeast, with a color palette of modern greys and whites. It’s designed to offer an elegant experience reminiscent of a yacht club.
• Disney Beach Club: Boasts a relaxed, cheerful vibe with a design influenced by New England-style family resorts of the 1920s. Bright colors and a playful atmosphere make it feel more casual and family-friendly.

Location and Proximity to EPCOT

• Beach Club Advantage: Closer to EPCOT, making it a shorter walk (about five to ten minutes) from the majority of its rooms to the park entrance.
• Yacht Club Proximity: Slightly further from EPCOT than the Beach Club but offers closer access to shared amenities like Stormalong Bay. It’s also marginally nearer to Disney’s BoardWalk area, enhancing its appeal for guests prioritizing this entertainment district.

Room Types and Accommodations

• Both resorts offer rooms that are similar in size and start at a standard rate of approximately $522 per night . The main distinction comes in the form of Beach Club Villas, which are designed to accommodate larger groups and families, offering amenities like in-unit washers/dryers and fully equipped kitchens.

Dining Options

• Each resort houses unique dining experiences, with about five restaurants each, ranging from casual bites at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at the Beach Club to fine dining at Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club.

Shared Access: Guests of both resorts enjoy easy access to additional dining options on the Disney World BoardWalk , alongside quick walks to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

Why should I choose the Beach Club or Yacht Club?

• For a Vibrant, Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Choose the Beach Club for its lively colors, casual ambiance, and villas suited for larger groups.
• For Sophistication and Elegance: Opt for the Yacht Club if you prefer a more refined environment that echoes the luxury of a yacht club experience.

In conclusion, while both the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts offer exceptional service, amenities, and convenience for visiting Disney World, your choice might ultimately come down to personal preference regarding the theme, atmosphere, and specific accommodation needs. Whether you’re drawn to the elegance of the Yacht Club or the playful charm of the Beach Club, both promise a memorable stay.

Related Post: Complete Guide to the Walt Disney World Boardwalk 

Difference in Rooms at Yacht and Beach Club Resort 2024

If comparing the room size is part of your deciding factor for the Beach Club vs Yacht Club, we will have to call this a tie.  The rooms at the Yacht and Beach Club are pretty much identical when it comes down to size.

We will say the one advantage that the Beach Club has that the Yacht doesn’t is the addition of the Walt Disney World villas . If you are looking to enjoy a room that’s accommodating for larger groups you’ll want to take a look at having your very own villa. Having a villa can provide many benefits, if it fits in your budget. For instance, most villas have in-unit washer/dryers along with a fully equipped kitchen and living room. Villas are not for everyone, so if you don’t require one and don’t otherwise care for the color and pop of Beach Club, perhaps the Yacht Club will be a better choice. 

What is the difference between Disney Beach Club and Beach Club Villas?

As a general rule of thumb the Beach Club Villa rooms are located in a completely separate building when compared to the regular Beach Club or Yacht Club. This is actually the set up for a majority of the villas located at Walt Disney World as they are all part of the Disney Vacation Club.

Related Page: Guide to the Virtual Queue at Disney World

Location When Comparing Beach Club Vs Yacht Club 

One of the aspects that everyone should look at before picking out a hotel at Walt Disney World is the location. Location is key. Thankfully, when deciding between the Beach Club vs Yacht Club the location should not be  a factor. Both resorts are relatively close to Epcot, however, there are some advantages to each resort over the other.

For instance, the Beach Club Resort is a few minutes closer to Epcot. With this in mind, you are also that much closer to the Disney Skyliner Station which can then take you over to Hollywood Studios.

While the Yacht Club Resort is not that much farther away, if you have young ones or even elderly people with you who may need to do less walking, the Beach Club Resort may be the best option. Depending on where you stay at the Yacht Club Resort, you might be closer towards Disney’s Boardwalk than the Beach Club may be. This may not be true for all rooms, but certain rooms are indeed closer. If having quick access to the Boardwalk is a requirement for you, then maybe the Yacht Club is the best option. 

Related post:  The Complete Guide to the Disney Skyliner Route

Dining at Beach and Yacht Club Resort 2024

Is having access to the best Disney World restaurants your deciding factor between the Disney beach club vs Yacht club? You’ll be happy to find that both resorts provide an array of dining options. As we discussed though given that the resorts are essentially connected, you’ll have a ton of options close by.

When you look at the resorts separately each resort would have about five restaurants each. One thing that might be useful in deciding where you want to stay is where the restaurants are actually located. If there is a particular restaurant your family wants to eat at, maybe consider the resort that is closer towards that particular restaurant. Below is the complete list of restaurants at each resort. 

What are the Disney Beach Club restaurants?

• Cape May Cafe
• Martha’s Vineyard
• Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
• Hurricane Hanna’s

What are the Disney Yacht Club Restaurants ?

• Yachtsman Steakhouse
• Crew’s Cup Lounge
• Ale & Compass
• Market at Ale & Compass

Related post:  Complete Guide to the Disney World Boardwalk in 2022

Disney’s Yacht Club vs Beach Club – In Conclusion

In conclusion, there are not a lot of differences between each resort. The pool for instance, is shared between both resorts. While very subtle, they do have certain advantages/disadvantages over one or the other. When deciding on whether or not to stay at the Beach Club vs Yacht Club , hopefully these factors can benefit you in deciding which resort to stay at!

We think that either Disney’s Yacht Club or Beach Club would be a wonderful choice for families looking for incredible dining and entertainment, or even couples looking for a romantic night out on the BoardWalk. We love how close both the Beach Club and the Yacht Club to EPCOT, and only a boat ride away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios .

Related post: Disney Memory Maker Guide : Disney World Pictures and Disney PhotoPass

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our   Disney  World Crowd Calendar  is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down   the best time to visit Disney World   based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a  Disney World Travel Agent   for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a  Free Quote  for all  Disney World Vacation Packages .  The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your  Walt Disney World Tickets ,   and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as  Boo Bash Halloween Party Tickets and  Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets .   If you’re brand new to Disney vacation planning we recommend our  Walt Disney World Planning Page!   Learn more about Disney hotels by reading our  Walt Disney World Hotels Review page .

Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at Theme Park Today , as well!

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Michael Belmont

Michael Belmont is the owner at Theparkprodigy.com, an authorized Disney and Universal travel agent. He specializes in Disney and Universal theme park tickets and vacation packages, as well as daily park plans to help optimize vacation time. Michael and The Park Prodigy have been featured on ABC’s Florida affiliate, WTFV, as well as over 10 Disney focused blogs. As owner, Michael manages The Park Prodigy blog and social media, a Disney themed podcast, and a Disney and Universal focused YouTube channel. Prior to starting The Park Prodigy, Michael was a long time Disney and Universal enthusiast, frequent visitor of the parks, and even served as a Walt Disney World Cast Member in Orlando, Florida!

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Yacht Club v. Beach Club

Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts are two Crescent Lake hotels at Walt Disney World, both within walking distance of Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and across the water from Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. In this post, we’re going to continue our ongoing Walt Disney World hotel comparison series with an entry featuring these two so you can decide which is a better option for your vacation.

Yacht and Beach Club are sister resorts that are physically connected to one another, but this does not mean they should be viewed as a pair. Debunking this “myth” of sorts is basically our main motivation for writing this comparison. In fairness, their interchangeably does apply in some regards, such as transportation, location, dining, and amenities; in terms of theme, they are stark contrasts.

We think this is very important. When you stay in a Walt Disney World resort hotel, you’re paying a significant premium over a real world venue, and that’s largely for two things: location and theming. Given that, we think choosing a theme and resort atmosphere that appeals to you is incredibly important…

Setting aside the general ‘nautical-ness’ of each resort, the theme and ambiance of Yacht Club and Beach Club and significant departures from one another. If anything, Beach Club is more comparable to BoardWalk Inn from an atmospheric perspective, whereas Yacht Club is (arguably) more like a nautical Grand Floridian.

Suffice to say, the resort theme (and by extension, the room theme) should be a significant deciding factor in this showdown. As such, the first two variables in this Walt Disney World hotel comparisons. Unlike our other entries into this series, we do not use all six elements of two different resorts to determine which is “the best.” In fact, this comparison seeks less to crown a definitive champion and more to compare and contrast…

Theme/Atmosphere: Beach Club – While technically sister resorts, I think the theme and tone of each resort is dramatically different. Beach Club has a theme resulting from former Disney CEO Michael Eisner’s obsession with his childhood vacations in the seaside communities of the Northeast. Its theme is meant to evoke the seaside resort cottages scattered around New England in the early 20th Century.

Beach Club is very laid back; both in the substance of the theme, and the styles used. There are a lot of light colors and pastels, and this makes for a relaxing environment. The only thing slightly at-odds with this is that the lobby is sometimes noisy and chaotic, moreso than the Yacht Club lobby. All things considered, though, I’d say Beach Club shares more with BoardWalk Inn in terms of theme and atmosphere than it does with Yacht Club.

By contrast, Yacht Club feels like an actual high-society yachting club set in turn of the century New England. If I were to describe it in a single word, I’d call it “stately.” The color scheme is much more muted and darker, and there’s also an abundance of deep woods, nautically-themed antiques, and rich furniture throughout the resort. The environment could pass for a place where the Kennedys and other elites might have met for liquid lunches and made power plays.

This environment can be off-putting for some families. While I think it stops well short of being stuffy or unfriendly to families, it’s definitely more sophisticated and less laid back. You’re also more likely to see business people and conventioneers around Yacht Club, since it’s adjacent to the (huge) Convention Center.

Our take is that both of these resorts offer exceptional attention to detail and do an incredible job of conveying their respective themes, and setting a tone for the resort via those themes. Which is “better” will largely be a matter of personal preference–whether you prefer refined or laid back. Our personal take is that Beach Club is a hair better from an objective perspective, and the exterior common areas (shared between the resorts) are also more in keeping with the vibe at Beach Club. Your mileage may vary.

Rooms: Yacht Club – Both resorts recently completed room refurbishments, replacing some fairly dated rooms for more modern ones. In our estimation, the end result at Yacht Club is dramatically superior. Not only is the room more well-appointed, but it does a much better job of offering a thematic extension of the resort’s common areas. As a result, the new rooms are much darker than the old ones.

Beach Club’s new rooms are nice, but bland. They remind us of mid-grade chain hotel rooms you could find pretty much anywhere, except with a light beach motif. They are not necessarily bad, but feel uninspired to us. (The Beach Club Villa rooms are better, but still not great.) Not quite what we expect given the price points of Beach Club.

With that said, both sets of rooms are very much an extension of the style of their resorts. If you find the lobby of Yacht Club ‘stuffy and drab’ you’ll feel the same way about the guest rooms. If you enjoy the ‘light and airy’ nature of Beach Club, you’ll find that extended into the guest rooms.

One caveat I figure I should mention up front, because I know it’s going to come up in the comments is that Yacht Club has a small number of dog-friendly rooms. Thus far, very few guests have brought their pets to Yacht Club, but this seems like a very big deal to some guests.

Transportation/Location: Push – This is a really poor basis for choosing between the two, but Beach Club is slightly closer to Epcot. On the other hand, that means Yacht Club is slightly closer to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (Most people will probably take a boat there, though.) We’re talking a 1-5 minute difference, at most.

In terms of boat transportation, the two are equal as they share a boat dock. They’re also equal(ly bad) for bus transportation, with shared buses.

Amenities: Push – For this, we’re talking dining and pools, since those are usually separate categories. Since all pools and restaurants are shared between these two sister properties, there is no meaningful distinction between any of these.

With that said, it’s always worth noting that Stormalong Bay is awesome, and is a good basis for choosing either (or both!) of these resorts.

Cost: Push – Standard room rates are identical, with higher tiers seeing some differences.

Historical discounts show better offers for Yacht Club in the recent past, but that was also during the resort’s refurbishment, so we view that unlikely to continue going forward (especially with Yacht Club seeks to cater to more business travelers).

Verdict: It Depends – This is a first for us. Even in other hotel comparisons that were really close calls, we went ahead and crowned a winner. In some cases, that required really splitting hairs, or even a bit of subjectivity.

The problem here is two-fold. First, these resorts share so many amenities that it’s downright impossible to crown one victorious without splicing them down the middle and only counting those locations physically within each resort. That’s a nonsensical approach given the shared grounds, and the fact that some rooms in Yacht Club may be farther from that resort’s amenities than some Beach Club rooms (and vice-a-versa).

Second, this verdict ultimately comes down to your personal take on the atmosphere. While I would give Beach Club a slight hair in this regard objectively, the subjective side matters far, far more. A lot of families are going to dislike Yacht Club and love Beach Club, and perhaps some older couples will prefer the refined elegance of Yacht Club. (This is not to say the inverse won’t be true, too–as mentioned, it’s a lot of personal preference.)

Really, the single element of the two resorts where we think there’s a decisive advantage is in terms of room quality, where Yacht Club prevails. However, even there, we’ve encountered a lot of people who prefer the new rooms at Beach Club because of their vibe and atmosphere. So once again, even that will largely be decided by subjectivity.

Just in case you’re really indecisive, here’s our normal poll so you can see how other Walt Disney World fans feel about these two resorts:

Considering theme, atmosphere, rooms (and probably nothing else since the rest is shared), which of these two Walt Disney World hotels do you prefer: – Disney Tourist Blog (@DisTouristBlog) December 11, 2017

We’re predicting a decisive victory for Beach Club. It seems to be Disney fans’ cup of tea much more so than Yacht Club, and the new dog-friendly policy of Yacht Club will certainly cost it a few votes, too.

Ultimately, for us, Beach Club is the winner. We really enjoy both–but prefer the Yacht Club rooms–but the vibe at Beach Club is more to our tastes when on vacation. Read our full Disney’s Yacht Club Review and Disney’s Beach Club Review to see more photos of each, which can help determine which will appeal more to you.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

Your Thoughts

Which resort do you prefer, Yacht Club or Beach Club? Any other considerations we didn’t take into account? Do you agree or disagree with our verdict? Any questions we can help you answer about these hotels? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

What about the pervasive seafood smell in The Beach Club lobby? I’ve read that the smell can be very strong, and I am not a seafood (or seafood smell) lover.

Yacht club is a very nice place awesome rooms . Would recommend it

We had reservations at the Yacht Club. We arrived very early and was not allowed check in until almost 2 p.m. :-(. When we entered the room it was a train wreck! The door to the nightstand fell off, the room faced a bunch of dead trees and brush and it had wall safe with a key (ancient). We went to the front desk and asked for a better room. The manager was extremely nice and found us a water view room at the BC. It was great! The pool and restaurants are difficult to get around in/to. We always stay at the Grand and love it!

They accommodate early check ins when possible but the stated check in time is 3pm. Getting to check in an hour early is hardly something to be upset about.

Do you have any opinion or comparisons on the concierge lounges at these two resorts? I’m hoping to spend two nights at either in the near future. I’m finding it harder to find info or comparisons to the comfort, ambience, and offerings in the club lounges of these two resorts in particular.

First off, they are both excellent, so we really splitting hairs. That said, a few things to consider. Both were renovated in the last few years, but YC is newer having been completed within the last year. As mentioned in the general review, YC tends to attract a somewhat older crowd, so slighty fewer kids there. YC is also influenced a lot by conventions. If there is one at YC, the concierge level sees more activity – especially in the evening. The staff at both Clubs is excellent however YC’s is very experienced having been there a long time. Both clubs, and for that matter all of Disney’s concierge levels, have worked hard to improve the food offerings in the last year or so. I personally think the BC chef is excellent and very creative. In the end for us at least, it comes down to availability and what we have planned for that particular trip. For what it’s worth, we will be at BC Club level next week 🙂

First off, they are both excellent, so we really splitting hairs. That said, a few things to consider. Both were renovated in the last few years, but YC is newer having been completed within the last year. As mentioned in the general review, YC tends to attract a somewhat older crowd, so slightly fewer kids there. YC is also influenced a lot by conventions. If there is one at YC, the concierge level sees more activity – especially in the evening. The staff at both Clubs is excellent however YC’s is very experienced having been there a long time. Both clubs, and for that matter all of Disney’s concierge levels, have worked hard to improve the food offerings in the last year or so. I personally think the BC chef is excellent and very creative. In the end for us at least, it comes down to availability and what we have planned for that particular trip. For what it’s worth, we will be at BC Club level next week 🙂

First, I think that one point you mentioned in passing that I feel influences these resorts quite a bit is YC and the convention center and BC and DVC. My feeling ( I have stayed at both and will be at BC next week) is that this affects both the clientele and the atmosphere to a significant degree at each resort. I agree with your conclusion that with many essentially shared areas, it is a matter of taste. Second, while in this case I think you would have another tie, I feel that evaluating the Club levels at the Deluxe resorts is an significant delineator. They are an important, and with the continued blurring of lines between hotel categories, perhaps one of the few distinguishing characteristics of the deluxes. I know your argument about expenses, but your reviews would be a lot more complete if you included the Club levels. I know it’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

I will probably never stay at YC because of DVC, so I’ll give BC my vote, lol.

As a couple with no kids, we always choose Yacht because it feels so much quieter and relaxed, with a serene atmosphere similar to that of the Grand without the (often excruciatingly) high price point. This offers a great reprieve from the parks while still being themed exquisitely, and there’s something to be said for a Disney resort that is geared toward adults while still maintaining a perfectly Disney vibe. The Beach is great, but I’ve never found it to be all that “beachy” – I suppose maybe it’s because when in Florida, I don’t want to feel like I’m on a New England beach; I much prefer a tropical vibe a la Old Key West. I also don’t find that the Beach’s theming “transports” the guest to another time or place quite resorts such as the Boardwalk, AKL, WL, OKW or even the Yacht, and this is key for us when choosing a Disney resort. One more point – the bus system at the Yacht for us has always been consistently better than the Beach at all times of year because the Yacht is picked up first. I can’t count how many times we have had a full bus by the time we get to the Beach and there is no room left for Beach guests. Both resorts have their place but I’d take the Yacht any day!

Good point about the busses! I’ve had that happen on other busses and am glad to know YC gets 1st pick up, which can make for a better experience. I am going next month on our first solo trip without the little ones and we’re staying at the YC for the same reasons you describe. Fingers crossed and thanks for the review. It helped ease any small concerns I had!

We just stayed almost 2 weeks at BC. One note about the bus transportation. They pick-up at the YC first. Then BC. With that said. There were many times that the Bus would show up at BC basically already full from the YC. This made it difficult to make it to reservations/fast passes on time, even when you showed up at the bus stop on time or ahead of time. If fact we didn’t want to “lose” our Be Our Guest reservation one night and had to use the Minnie Van service. (Which I might add was excellent!) We actually joked that we should catch the bus at YC.

I am older now, and opt for the serenity of the Yacht Club. (Although, even when younger, I was drawn to the Yacht Club’s subdued atmosphere more than The Beach Club). My son and daughter-in-law, however, who have six year old triplets and an eight year old, stay in a two bedroom Villa at The Beach Club, mostly because they need the room. I guess sometimes it’s more a case of need than want. Plus, they feel the location is perfect because they can hit three theme parks without taking buses.

Tom – You wrote “Yacht Club has a small number of dog-friendly rooms”. I thought I had read somewhere, perhaps on your site, when the new policy came out recently, that dog-friendly resorts could potentially have any resort room used as a dog-friendly room. However, you seem to be indicating that only specific rooms, or perhaps specific parts of a resort, have been set aside. Do you know which is actually true? This can be an issue for those who can stay in a resort that is dog-friendly but cannot necessarily stay in a room that a dog has lived in.

Separately, while we have been to the Beach and Yacht Clubs numerous times due to the wonderful Cape May buffet, we have never actually stayed there nor seen the guest rooms. We decided a long time ago that if we were to stay there, we would only stay at the Beach Club, due to a strong preference for the light pastel colours over the dark colours at the Yacht Club in the public areas.

I can’t believe you did not point out the highly localized potentially dangerous weather on Stormalong Bay outside these resorts. This is, of course, where Hurricane Hanna hit many years ago and caused that big shipwreck on the Beach Club’s beach that Disney still has not cleared away (unlike the non-imagineered Hurricane Irma which you actually encountered earlier this year). Always a handy excuse if you are late to an ADR at the two resorts.

I’m pretty sure that only a few hotels have dedicated dog friendly rooms now. So it’s not an “any room could potentially have had a dog” situation.

Yes, it is an any room could have a dog situation. Our friends stayed at POR and arequested a dog free room/bldg. They were told that would happen. When they got to POr they were put in bldg 24, which is the designated dog bldg. They were moved to the 30’s. Then they spotted a dog dong it’s business right outside their non dog bldg room. When they went to guest services and asked why? they were told “well, those guests booked online and wanted that bldg, so…… It states that any room or bldg could have dogs in them in the test resorts. And apparently the designated dog rooms/bldgs is not really true when it comes down to it.

We have booked Yacht Club for our June 2018 visit (crazy time of year, but only time we could coordinate with my cousin’s family when all our kids are out of school, etc), and I’m really looking forward to it. Based on the photos of the rooms, we like the look of Yacht Club better, and we can easily hang in the lobby & public areas of either resort if we feel like it. So we chose the nicer rooms. Decision made, as we view all else as being equal. Can’t wait to get a chance to play at Stormalong Bay! Given the weather in June, we figured a hotel with a good pool was vital! Thanks for all your great posts on this blog! Cheers.

The opening of the (really, really good) C&A Lounge must surely give a further nod to YC’s lobby. It has an incredible sense of atmosphere, and puts the “Club” in club, if you will.

Now, a more interesting comparison (although totally useless) would be to throw NPB into the mix. It really feels like a “boutique” version of YC.

I’ve stayed at BC and BCV only. I have visited YC’s lobby many times plus I have had drinks at Crew Cup Lounge. I love both resorts theming and atmosphere, my pick is BC/BCV because I prefer the dining (Cape May is one of my favorite buffets whereas Yachtsmen Steakhouse is too pricey) , closer proximity to Epcot and Boardwalk, and I love the Solarium, Drawing Room, and Breezeway areas of BCV.

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Contemporary vs. Yacht Club Disney World Resort Guide 2023

By Lisa Gilmore Leave a Comment

So, you’re planning a trip to Disney World, and you’ve narrowed it down between two of the most ICONIC Disney resorts in existence (you lucky, lucky person!).

Disney’s Yacht Club

But how do you choose between Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Yacht Club Resorts ? Well, let’s dive into the deets to see which one is right for you!

Choosing between the Contemporary and the Yacht Club is like choosing a favorite child, a favorite Disney cupcake , or between a Dole Whip or a Mickey Pretzel — there’s enough love to go around! But just like cupcakes and classic Disney snacks (and maybe your kids, too… only you know your family dynamic…😂), there’s a certain flavor that might just hit the spot for what you’re looking for.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

There’s no doubt that Disney vacations are expensive , and no one wants buyer’s remorse when it comes to what can usually be the most EXPENSIVE part of your Disney trip . We’re approaching this chaos-agent of a decision with as much logic as possible, so we’re breaking it down into five categories:

Common Ground

Theme/rooms, transportation.

We’re putting each resort through these paces to see where they stand and which one may be speaking to you for your Disney trip.

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Before we start down the rabbit hole into the Wonderland of their differences, let’s review the similarities of these resorts. These resorts are both Disney Deluxe Resorts , so they will be at a similar price point, with similar room sizes, and the same perks .  They both have close proximity to the Disney Parks, and even within walking distance! And both offer Disney Vacation Club Villas as additional accommodations.

Yacht Club pier walkway

For the Contemporary , that means that for the cheapest room at the  cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $550 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $5,594 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the  most expensive time to visit.

For the Yacht Club , that means that for the cheapest room at the  cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $537 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $3,877 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the  most expensive time to visit.

Extra Theme Park Hours Benefits for Disney World Resort Hotel Guests

Just like our ol’  Friend, Chandler Bing, would say, “Could these resorts BE any more different?” Both the Contemporary and the Yacht Club are Deluxe resorts and offer the poshest of Disney’s accommodations and perks, but that doesn’t mean they look the same!

The Contemporary

As the name suggests, the Contemporary has a very modern theme. It feels a little less immersive and more upscale and sleek . The lobby recently got an upgrade with colorful artwork and more modern furniture, which sets the tone for the resort. Ok, so maybe it is immersive if you’re looking to be immersed into an art museum.

Clean and sleek

All of the rooms have recently been renovated and updated with an Incredibles -inspired theme. So even though this beauty is 50 years old, she’s gotten some TLC and looks better than ever!

Contemporary Resort

And the Top of the World Lounge in the neighboring (newer!) Bay Lake Tower, has also recently reopened with a new Villains-themed look and refreshed menu.

Since the rooms face in on the hotel, it can be a bit noisy because all of the action is in one spot. From the rooms, you can look down and see Chef Mickey’s (which opens pretty early and gets noisy, so it can be hard to sleep in), and the Monorail runs through the resort.

Main area of the resort

There’s also a massive mural on the wall created by Mary Blair, a famous Disney artist. This is a super fun touch for Disney history fans. Remember that art museum vibe we mentioned earlier… um, yeah.

The Mary Blair mural at the Contemporary Resort

Ahoy maties, straighten that ascot and slip on those boat shoes, you’re about to set sail into the Disney resort themed after the grand and sleek yachting clubs of New England. And no, Disney does not require that you own a yacht to stay here (phew, that’s one expense you won’t have to factor into your Disney trip!).

This resort makes “subtle” look good. It’s sleek, elegant, and streamlined — like, well, a yacht. If you’re visiting Disney World for a business conference, this hotel might just be the right speed for you as it encompasses a rather executive vibe to it. There are some very nice, and perfectly adequate furnishings, but the rooms themselves just don’t scream lavish.

Our favorite touch in these otherwise “character-less” rooms are the curtains that feature fictional constellations inspired by some of our favorite Disney pals.

The Yacht Club renovated and updated the rooms in 2017, for the more sophisticated appearance with dark woods, crisp whites and deep navy blues.  They definitely don’t have the personality that you can find at the Contemporary and Polynesian . So, if you’re looking for a room with some “character,” the Yacht Club may not be your jam.

This could boil down to your preference. Are you looking for a sleek, modern vibe in the public spaces? Or do you want a sophisticated resort that feels like you should be sipping a cognac and lighting up a cigar? Both resorts deliver beautifully on their themes, but when it comes down to rooms, the Contemporary has the edge with having the most recently updated rooms with a bit more pizzazz.

Why You Should Add Disney’s Yacht Club to Your Resort Hopping List Right NOW

Pools, splash pads, hot tubs, and lounge chairs, vacation just doesn’t feel completed without spending some time by the pool. Which of these resorts is the aquatic champion of water lounging? Only one way to find out…

There are two pools at the Contemporary: the aptly named Feature  Pool and the quieter Bay Lake Pool. There is a waterslide, lounge chairs, and private cabanas to rent, but otherwise, it’s your standard resort pool. So the creativity for the names pretty much sums up any creativity with the pool area.

Contemporary Feature Pool

If you’re looking for a spot to cool down, these pools deliver, and there’s a splash area for the smaller kiddos.

Splash pad at the Contemporary Resort

For those post-swim munchies, the Cove Bar and the Sand Bar will provide you with access to some basic quick service vittles and cocktails to enjoy poolside.

The Yacht Club may be understated when it comes to its lobby and resort rooms, but it is not to be outdone in the pool category. Disney’s Yacht Club shares a pool complex with its neighboring resort, the Beach Club, Stormalong Bay.

Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club

Stormalong Bay is a destination on all its own. This pool complex is almost like its own mini-water park, with sand at the bottom and even a lazy river! So, your kiddos can take advantage of the ‘shipwrecked’ themed water slide, while you leisurely float around the lazy river, so just relax on of the many lounge chairs.

Stormalong Bay Shipwreck

Stormalong Bay is also nestled in close to Beaches and Cream , an iconic ice cream shop, providing over-the-top milkshakes, sundaes, and comfort junk food essentials like burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches.

There’s no real loser in this category if you’ve found relaxation and joy, but our heart leans towards the Yacht Club, because that pool is just epic!

Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club

Toes in the sand, relaxing down a lazy river with a shipwreck-themed water slide. We’ll take the Yacht Club’s pool oasis over the Contemporary’s cement pond, any day.

10 Hidden Secrets About Disney World Pools

Because we are Disney FOOD Blog, we take food seriously. Very. Seriously. And we love it all. We love the cheap, comfort of plastic cheese , and we love the high-brow sophistication of a wine flight or a multi-course pre-fixe meal . We don’t discriminate; we are a lover of all foods. Since food is SO important, let’s see who these resorts stack up against each other in the restaurant category.

The Contemporary  has ten (10!) dining options, including lounges and pool bars (because those count!)!

The Sand Bar  is a modern poolside counter located in the Contemporary Resort’s marina and pool area. While the food menu is limited (you can  grab a burger or hot dog here, or a snack like an ice cream treat ), there is a  full bar menu along with classic beachy cocktails like Mai Tais and Banana Cabanas up for grabs. A few stools are available right at the bar, or you can grab a seat at an umbrella-covered outdoor table. The Sand Bar is a great place to let the breeze blow on your face as you watch the watercraft move around Bay Lake or just enjoy your time by the pool. Or if you’re visiting the Bay Lake Pool, then the Cove Bar  serves a selection of quick service meals (think wraps and salads), snacks, and cocktails.

The Contemporary Resort is one of the few resorts to host their own Joffrey’s Coffee bar. Contemporary Grounds is your go-to location. You’ll find coffee, pastries, and specialty coffee drinks. This spot also offers options for   Disney-inspired Latte Art ! Those early morning dashes to the parks won’t feel so taxing when you have tasty coffee so conveniently located.

Contemporary Grounds

Contempo Cafe is the main fast food spot here, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are some lighter options, including salads and grilled chicken, as well as your typical fast food fare like chicken fingers and burgers. This is also home to one of our favorite treats — the Peanut Butter Pie . It’s a must-try if you love peanut butter as much as we do!

Peanut Butter Pie at Contempo Cafe

If you need something to wash down your meal or seasonal cupcake from the Contempo Cafe, just a few steps away is the Outer Rim lounge. The Outer Rim is a great place to go for a pre-dinner drink or a relaxing evening right in the middle of all the action of the Contemporary Resort’s 4th Floor Grand Canyon Concourse. Indulge in one of the Outer Rim’s draft beers, wines, bourbons, martinis, or specialty cocktails.

Outer Rim Lounge

Still considered part of the Contemporary offerings, The  Top of the World Lounge , exclusive to  Disney Vacation Club members, is perched on the top floor of the Contemporary Resort’s Bay Lake Tower .  Top of the World is open daily from 6PM to midnight, with seating available on a first come, first served basis. Disney Vacation Club Members with access to Membership Extras and who are staying in Disney World Resort hotels can enjoy this exclusive spot, and guests staying on Members’ reservations are also eligible! Grab a drink, an appetizer, and the best view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks here!

The Contemporary is home to one of the most iconic character meals on property. Chef Mickey’s  is one of the most difficult reservations to get on property, and the reason is that at this  all-you-care-to-enjoy  restaurant, you can meet every single one of  The Fab Five  character set: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.

Chef Mickey’s

Steakhouse 71  is a NEW restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The “71” is a nod to the opening year of Walt Disney World, and the restaurant itself  opened on October 1, 2021 , which is the  50th Anniversary of the Resort! Steakhouse 71 offers casual dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (with  varying menus for each meal  and  a steakhouse focus in the evenings ) just steps away from the Magic Kingdom. And if you opt for dessert (which is  always  a good idea),  you may want to try the Steakhouse 71 Chocolate Cake, made with “15 layers of whiskey-infused chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, and raspberries – one layer for every floor at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.” The accompanying  Steakhouse 71 Lounge  also provides a spot to enjoy a few bites and unique cocktails.

6-oz Filet Mignon

The   California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is truly a masterpiece of fine dining, and has been  recognized by the Michelin Guide . California Grill is currently presenting  a new, special dining experience for a limited time in honor of the  50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort !  The  3-course prix fixe menu  was created to “evoke the  spirit of 1971″  — the opening year of Walt Disney World (and also the opening year of the Top of the World!). Disney has shared that the meal celebrates the past while offering a nod to the incredible future ahead, featuring dishes such as Braised Short Rib Wontons, Florida Coast Black Grouper, and a 50th Anniversary Celebration Dessert Grand Marnier Soufflé.

Hello Beautiful

With two iconic Disney meal experiences and the rapidly growing popularity of a reasonably priced steakhouse, the Contemporary sure packs a 1-2 punch when it comes to food.

Read all about the Contemporary Resort Restaurants here!

Hurricane Hanna’s is a pool bar, tucked under the Stormalong Bay waterslide, that provides fixes for your hunger without having to wander too far from the pool.

The Yacht Club is home to two lounges, one quick-service market, a table service option, and a Disney Signature dining restaurant. Not to mention its close proximity to Beach Club and all of those dining options.

The Market at Ale & Compass

An ideal spot to relax with a nightcap while winding down for the evening, or to grab a bite or two from their substantial appetizer menu, head over to Ale & Compass Lounge . The Ale & Compass Lounge is one part of the  Ale & Compass dining concept  at the Yacht Club, which also includes  The Market at Ale & Compass  and the  Ale & Compass Restaurant .

Ale & Compass Lounge

Located right next to  Yachtsman Steakhouse  at  Disney’s Yacht Club Resort , the  Crew’s Cup Lounge is a great place to get a bite and a drink in a relaxing, cozy atmosphere — and it’s a DFB favorite! In addition to  specialty cocktails and a full bar ,  a robust food menu  is served during evening hours as well, including a few full meals. During dinner hours at the Yachtsman, you’ll have a direct view through a glass window of steak being butchered for the steakhouse – so cool!

Crew’s Cup Lounge

Ale & Compass Restaurant  is the  table service  component of the Ale & Market dining concept in Disney’s Yacht Club, which also includes  The Market at Ale & Compass  along with the refreshed  Ale & Compass Lounge . The atmosphere offers a  gastropub ambiance while comfort food (New England-inspired) is featured  on the menu. A la carte options for  breakfast  include classic American breakfast fare, with a few twists like the Dark Chocolate Waffle and Salted Caramel-Apple French Toast, and a pastry buffet option may be paired with your choice of entree. Casual  lunch  options include Fish & Chips, burgers, and more.  Dinner  offerings feature specialties like the New England Seafood Pot Pie and Pappardelle pasta dishes, among others.

Ale and Compass Restaurant

The Market at Ale & Compass  is a  Counter Service  location at  Disney’s Yacht Club Resort . Simple convenience is the name of the game, with a focus on grab-and-go items. However, hot sandwiches, specialty desserts — and even a coffee bar — round out the options nicely. Open for  breakfast, lunch, and dinner , The Market at Ale & Compass is the quick service component of the Ale & Compass dining concept at the Yacht Club, which also includes the  Ale & Compass Restaurant  and the  Ale & Compass Lounge .

Visit the Marketplace

Yachtsman Steakhouse comes highly recommended by any discerning carnivore. The  steaks here are some of the best on property , and the service is often excellent. This craftsman-inspired dining room at  Disney’s Yacht Club Resort  caters to all tastebuds with a variety of dishes, incredible sides, and amazing, cut-in-house steaks.

8-oz Filet Mignon

Is The CHEESIEST Soup in Disney World Hiding at This Forgotten Restaurant?

It’s so hard to designate a clear winner for food — because we love it all! Both resorts offer a fantastic fine-dining experience at either Yachtsman at the Yacht Club or California Grill at the Contemporary. And for more casual dining, Ale & Compass at Yacht Club and Steakhouse 71 at Contemporary are pretty balanced (though dare we say, Steakhouse 71 is a quickly becoming a favorite of ours!).

Kids’ Sushi

But the Contemporary also has Chef Mickey’s and several lounges, so the edge in the food category goes to the Contemporary. But it does bare mentioning that what you can’t find directly at the Yacht Club, you might be able to find within walking distance at the Beach Club, Swan & Dolphin, BoardWalk Inn or even EPCOT’s World Showcase.

New DFB Video: Join Us For the Monorail Crawl!

Do these resorts offer anything different when it comes to transportation? Let’s see!!

The Contemporary is on the Monorail loop . It’s the fourth stop after the Transportation & Ticketing Center (TTC) on the way to the Magic Kingdom. If Magic Kingdom is your destination, guests can also walk a quick 7-10 minute jaunt right up to the front gate.

The Monorail INSIDE the Contemporary Resort ©mockonerunning

If Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs is your destination, then you can board one of Disney’s busses to transport you over to these parks.

Contemporary Resort’s Bus Stop

But if EPCOT is your park for the day, here is where the difference sets in. Because the Contemporary is just one monorail stop away from the Transportation & Ticketing Center, if you don’t mind transferring monorails at the TTC, you can board a Monorail to whiz you off to EPCOT.

The Yacht Club is considered an “EPCOT-area” resort. It sits on Crescent Lake, next to Beach Club Resort, and across the lake from Disney’s BoardWalk Inn.  This resort is situated in between TWO Disney parks, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Yep, that’s right, you can walk or enjoy a relaxing boat ride on a Friendship Cruise boat to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

If Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs is your destination, then you can board one of Disney’s busses to transport you over to these parks.

Disney buses can get you just about anywhere!

And as if walkways, boats, and busses weren’t enough options for you, Yacht Club guests are also within walking distance of the EPCOT Skyliner station. This means you have easy access to the other Skyliner resorts if you want to go exploring other resorts or just have a relaxing cruise through the sky.

Walt Disney World Skyliner

These deluxe resorts are pretty much a tie when it comes to transportation. They both have pretty quick access to TWO Disney parks, and have the options of busses, boats, and even direct walkways to help you get around.

The Contemporary is right on the Monorail loop, and the Yacht Club gives you access to the Skyliner, so they both have some unique offerings as well. It might just boil down to which parks do you plan to spend more time in, Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom?

Why You Should Skip the Monorail on Your Next Magic Kingdom Trip

The winner.

So, who is the ultimate winner in the Contemporary vs. Yacht Club battle? We hate to say it, but it depends ! The Contemporary may seem like a clear choice because of its theming and popularity with Disney fans. If the Yacht Club seemed like the clear choice to you, it is a great hotel, it has an awesome pool and is just a quick walk from EPCOT’s World Showcase. It’s up to you and your group to decide what makes the most sense for you using all that we talked about above.

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Polynesian Village vs. Contemporary Resort Guide for Disney World in 2023

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Disney Beach Club vs Yacht Club (Which to Choose)

The Beach Club Resort and its sister, Disney’s Yacht Club, are two of my family’s favorite hotels at Disney World. You really can’t beat the ideal location, family friendly restaurants, and deluxe amenities at these Walt Disney World resort hotels. But, you may be wondering which of the two deluxe resorts you should book for your upcoming vacation.

While it’s true the Beach Club and Yacht Club share almost everything, the two resorts are also very different from each other. For example, one of the resorts offers a quieter vibe and rooms with full balconies while the other hotel features closer access to Epcot and restaurants. If you are looking for a comparison of Disney’s Beach Club vs Yacht Club resort, this post provides a comprehensive guide to help you choose the best hotel for your trip!

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy at the bottom of this page for more details.)

Beach Club vs Yacht Club Rooms

Depending on availability for your vacation dates, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Yacht Club Resort offer several options for hotel rooms. If you’re comparing the rooms at Disney Beach Club vs Yacht Club, we would crown Yacht Club the winner here .

The rooms at Disney’s Yacht Club have updated hardwood flooring rather than carpet. Also, the balconies at the Yacht Club are full balconies as opposed to the Beach Club where you will find standing only Juliet Balconies.

Standard View Rooms

Standard View rooms at the Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts offer views of the rooftop or parking area. These rooms can sleep up to 5 adults since some of the standard view rooms have 2 queen beds and 1 daybed.

Garden View Rooms

Garden View rooms offer views of the garden, woods, or lawn area at Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club. These rooms can also sleep up to 5 adults as some provide 2 queen beds and 1 daybed.

Water View Rooms

Water View rooms at the Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts offer views of one of the pools or of Crescent Lake. These rooms also sleep up to 5 adults if you have a room with 2 queen beds and 1 daybed.

Deluxe Room

Deluxe Rooms at Disney’s Beach Club offer more square footage than the regular hotel rooms. They can sleep up to 6 adults since they offer 2 queen beds and a queen sleeper sofa.

Club Level Rooms

The Club Level rooms at Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts offer standard, garden, or water views similar to the regular hotel rooms. However, you also receive special perks if you book a room in the Club Level. These are some of the benefits you will receive:

• concierge services
• Club Lounge with snacks and beverages
• complimentary health club access
• turndown service

Disney’s Beach Club Resort offers several options for suites.

• The 1 Bedroom Suite can sleep up to 4 adults with a king sized bed in the bedroom and a queen sleeper sofa in the separate sitting area. The 1 bedroom suite offers either garden or water views.
• The 2 Bedroom Suite can sleep up to 7 adults. It offers two separate bedrooms: one with a king bed and one with 2 queen beds. The 2 Bedroom Suite also has a daybed. Your views from this suite will be either of the garden or the water.
• The Nantucket VP Suite sleeps up to 2 adults with a king sized bed. It offers views of the water.
• The Newport Presidential sleeps up to 7 adults with 2 double beds, 1 king bed, and 1 daybed. It provides views of the water and Epcot.

Disney’s Yacht Club also offers a suite for guests. This 2-bedroom suite includes club level access and features two king beds and a queen pullout.

Room Requests

The rooms at Beach Club Resort come with a mini refrigerator. You can request a microwave when you check in as well. Other items you may request include bed rails, highchair, crib, and connecting rooms.

As mentioned above, it is important to note that not all of the rooms at Beach Club have FULL balconies. Many of them only offer the small Juliet type balcony. If a full-sized balcony is important to you, I HIGHLY recommend requesting this during online check in.

Beach Club vs Yacht Club Location

The Beach Club Resort at Walt Disney World sits near Epcot Theme Park and Disney’s Boardwalk entertainment district. Since this resort is located on Crescent Lake, you get amazing water views and sandy beaches where your kids can play. Beach Club’s sister resort, Disney’s Yacht Club, is located right next door.

These two resorts are connected, so you can easily walk between the two and enjoy the amenities each hotel has to offer. One of the most popular amenities at these sister resorts is their elaborate pool: Stormalong Bay. Even though the check-in time typically is not until 3:00, guests of the resorts can use the pool before their room is officially ready.

One of our top reasons for choosing to stay at Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club is their prime location. Below, I will detail how to get from the hotels to each of the Walt Disney World theme parks. Since both of these resorts sit on the same property, there really isn’t much of a difference on their location .

When comparing the Disney Beach Club vs Yacht Club, the Beach Club is slightly closer to Epcot while the Yacht Club is a bit closer to Hollywood Studios. The differences in distance are so small that I wouldn’t recommend basing your decision on that factor though . On a side note, if you are looking for tips on choosing the right Disney World hotel, join our Facebook group for personalized help on finding the best resort for your family!

If you are wondering how far Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club are from Epcot, you will be pleased to know it’s a short five-minute walk. You just stroll along the walkway near Crescent Lake and follow the signs for Epcot. You will arrive at the International Gateway entrance to Epcot, which is at the back of the park near the World Showcase.

to Hollywood Studios

If you are wanting to travel to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from the Beach Club Resort or the Yacht Club, you have several options to get there. You can walk along the scenic paths to the theme park, which takes about 20 minutes.

You can also take the water shuttle from the Beach Club to Hollywood Studios. Since the boat makes some stops along the way, this also takes about 20 minutes. You can also utilize the Skyliner from the International Gateway. This gondola ride will take you straight to Hollywood Studios.

to Magic Kingdom

If you want to access Magic Kingdom from the Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts, you will need to board the Disney bus outside the lobby of one of the hotels. Depending on when you are visiting WDW, this shuttle bus may combine pickups by stopping at both the Beach Club and Disney’s Yacht Club. Magic Kingdom is about a 20-minute drive from Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

to Animal Kingdom

If you are looking to travel to Animal Kingdom Theme Park, you would need to board the Disney bus in front of the hotel. Each bus promptly displays where they are headed, so it’s super easy to catch the correct one. This ride is usually around 20 minutes long.

to Disney’s Boardwalk

Disney’s Boardwalk is super easy to access from the Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts. The Boardwalk is located right across the lake from the hotels and is a short 5-minute walk. This area of Disney World is one of our favorites, and its close proximity to the hotels is a huge perk to staying in the Beach Club/Yacht Club area.

to Disney Springs

You would also need to drive or take the Disney shuttle bus to Disney Springs. This ride typically takes 20 minutes.

Activities Comparison

Disney’s Beach Club Resort and the Yacht Club offer many fun activities for families visiting with kids. Again, since these two hotels are sister resorts, guests staying at either hotel may experience activities at both hotels . In other words, the Beach Club and Yacht Club share the guest activities listed below.

The Beach Club and Yacht Club share an arcade that is located right by Stormalong Bay Pool. The arcade is full of fun video games and sports tables. This is a great rainy day activity!

Outdoor Movies

Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club resort show nightly movies outside on the lawn or sand. You can check out the entertainment schedule for the dates of your visit to determine which movies are playing. This activity schedule is usually released at the beginning of each month.

Kids love spending their evenings roasting marshmallows and making s’mores by the campfire. Sometimes Mickey’s friends even join in the fun!

Guests of Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and Disney’s Beach Club Villas have access to three leisure pool areas (one at each resort). In addition, these three Disney resorts share a main pool, Stormalong Bay, which I will discuss in more detail below.

Stormalong Bay is a massive pool and water play area shared by Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts. If you have set aside time to enjoy this elaborate swimming area, note that pool towels are complimentary and available in the pool gates.

Stormalong Bay

Stormalong Bay offers lots of different spaces for swimming and playing in the water. Near the site of the large shipwreck model, you will find a kiddie pool perfect for little ones. This pool is in a contained area and is separate from the larger pool area.

This kiddie pool tends to be a bit quieter than the main pool. Stormalong Bay also has a sand bottom pool that is great for babies and toddlers . The super shallow water allows them to safely splash and play in the sand. You will find deeper areas of water to swim as well. Disney’s Beach Club Resort offers complimentary safety vests that little ones can use while playing and swimming.

In addition to the many swimming areas at Stormalong Bay, guests can enjoy the lazy river. You will find complimentary inner tubes available near the lazy river to make floating even more fun!

Water Slides

You will find two water slides at Stormalong Bay Pool. The larger of the two slides is a whopping 230 feet long. It begins atop the huge shipwreck model (pictured above) at the edge of the lake. This large water slide does not have a height requirement; however, there is a limit of one person at a time on the slide. This means that parents are not permitted to slide with their toddler or small child.

If you have an adventurous toddler who enjoys thrill rides, you can usually wait in the water at the bottom of the slide. This way you are available to grab your little one after he/she lands in the water. Children are permitted to wear complimentary safety vests on the slide as well.

*Note that you have to leave the main pool gates and climb many steep stairs to get to the top of this slide. Therefore, you will not want your toddler entering the slide area alone.

The smaller of the two slides is near the entrance to the larger slide. When you arrive in the shipwreck area, you will see a small, kiddie pool with a miniature water slide perfect for toddlers. Smaller kids should have no problem climbing to the top of this slide and sliding down to the pool below. You can clearly see them the whole time.

The shallow sand bottom section is perfect for toddlers and little kids to splash and dig. The lazy river is super fun and relaxing. The main water slide is a big hit for kids and adults. The kiddie water slide and pool area are great for toddlers and those who want a calmer sliding experience.

Price Comparison

Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts are typically priced similarly. My family and I often find that one may be a bit cheaper than the other for a specific set of dates, but a different set of dates may produce different results. If you are interested in experiencing all the great amenities of Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts for a fraction of the price, I recommend looking into renting Disney Vacation Club points for a stay at the Beach Club Villas.

These villas are located on the same property as the Beach Club/Yacht Club Resorts, and they have access to the same great restaurants and activities! You can check out the “cost calculator” at David’s Vacation Club Rentals to see how much you save on your vacation dates. I have personally used David’s rental services multiple times and have always had great experiences!

Things to Do Near the Resorts

Since Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts are located in such a great spot near the Boardwalk and other resorts, you will find lots of kid friendly things to do within walking distance of the hotel.

Epcot Fireworks

One of our favorite activities just outside Disney’s Beach Club/Yacht Club is to view the nightly fireworks show at Epcot. You can grab some ice cream from Beaches and Cream and choose a spot near the walkway to Epcot. This is a great way to enjoy the fireworks show without having to maneuver between the crowds of people inside the park. It’s also a nice activity to enjoy at Disney World without purchasing a park ticket!

The Skyliner is one of the newer additions to Walt Disney World. This gondola ride connects several of the resort hotels to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you are looking for a unique activity, take a ride on the Skyliner with your kids.

Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf is an 18-hole course themed off the movie Fantasia . Since this kid friendly activity is located near The Swan hotel, guests of Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club can easily walk to the mini golf course.

Restaurants

In addition to the easy access to the restaurants on Disney’s Boardwalk, guests at the Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts have lots of dining options right at the hotel.

Beaches and Cream Soda Shop

Beaches and Cream is my personal all time favorite restaurant at Disney World. This diner offers all kinds of delicious options, including a tomato bisque that is out of this world!

Open daily for lunch and dinner, Beaches and Cream Soda Shop is located right beside Stormalong Bay Pool. They are famous for the ice cream concoction knows as The Kitchen Sink. Note that you are able to order some ice cream and to-go items from the window without actually going inside the diner.

Beach Club Marketplace

If you are looking for a quick stop on your way to the theme parks, Beach Club Marketplace is a great option. This dining venue serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its diverse menu offers something for everyone. Beach Club Marketplace is our go-to for a fast breakfast or a quick snack before heading out for the day.

Martha’s Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard is a lounge that serves all kinds of adult beverages. You can also order appetizers like clam chowder, chicken wings, and calamari from this venue.

Hurricane Hanna’s

Hurricane Hanna’s is located right outside by Stormalong Bay Pool. You can order your food and beverages from the counter and dine outside at the available tables.

Ale and Compass

Ale and Compass is a sit down restaurant located at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. This dining venue serves family favorites for breakfast and options like seafood, chicken, and steak for dinner.

The Market at Ale and Compass

The Market at Ale and Compass is the quick service dining venue located at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Similar to The Beach Club Marketplace, this restaurant is a great stop for a quick meal.

Cape May Cafe

Cape May Cafe is located near the lobby of Disney’s Beach Club Resort. This restaurant is buffet style and serves your favorite seafood options. Cape May Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, the restaurant takes on a different theme for breakfast when it becomes the site for Minnie’s Beach Bash.

Yachtsman Steakhouse

Yachtsman Steakhouse is a signature dining restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. You will find steak and seafood among other options on the menu. Since this is a signature dining experience, guests must adhere to a dress code .

Crew’s Cup Lounge

Crew’s Cup Lounge is located near Yactsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Here, you will find all kinds of adult beverages along with a few options for appetizers or snacks.

In Room Dining

Disney’s Beach Club Resort is one of the Walt Disney World hotels that offers room service. You will find an In Room Dining Menu in your hotel room with instructions on how to place an order.

The menu includes options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night dining. You can even pre-order your breakfast the night before, so your family can eat in the room as you get ready for the parks.

Character Dining

As mentioned above, Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort becomes a character dining experience each morning for breakfast. Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast is a super fun way to start your day! The breakfast is buffet style and has a wide range of items to choose. You will even find a stand serving made to order omelets!

Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy each walk around the dining areas to greet you at your table. The characters are decked out in their finest beach wear to continue the theme of the dining experience.

Beach Club and Yacht Club vs Other Disney Resorts

Since Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts are my family’s favorite hotels at Disney World, I will try to explain WHY we love them so much! Below, I will compare the Beach Club/Yacht Club to other resorts at Disney World, so you can get an idea of why we choose to stay at these resorts. If you would like to see more comparisons between other hotels, feel free to comment below with the resorts you are considering. I know how stressful and overwhelming planning a Disney World vacation can be!

vs Beach Club Villas

Like the Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Villas have access to all the restaurants, activities, and amenities at the Beach Club resort. My recommendation is to choose the cheapest option of the three resorts . As mentioned above, renting DVC points for Beach Club Villas is often the best way to save money.

vs Boardwalk Inn

If you stay at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, you get the perks of the awesome location near Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Boardwalk. You can also easily walk over to the Beach Club to enjoy the dining venues located there. The one big drawback to Boardwalk Inn is that you don’t get Stormalong Bay . Disney’s Boardwalk Inn has a really fun pool, but it just doesn’t compare to the elaborate swimming pool at the Beach Club.

vs Monorail Resorts

You may be wondering how the Beach Club compares to the monorail resorts: Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Polynesian . These three resorts offer really easy access to Magic Kingdom, which is a huge perk if you have little kids.

They all offer great theming and activities as well. However, Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts get our pick because they’re usually priced significantly lower than the monorail resorts .

vs Caribbean Beach Resort

It is difficult to compare Disney’s Beach Club Resort with Caribbean Beach because they really aren’t similar at all. Even though the names may cause you to think differently, the two resorts do not have much in common. Caribbean Beach is a moderate hotel that is lovely, but it does not offer the amenities that the deluxe resorts do.

If you are not planning to spend a lot of time at your hotel, you can certainly look into Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. However, you will not have access to the prime location, restaurants, pool, and other activities that the Beach Club offers .

Final Review of Disney Beach Club vs Yacht Club

Since these two resorts share EVERYTHING, it’s really a matter of personal taste when deciding between these two hotels. The Disney Beach Club has a more relaxed vibe, while Yacht Club seems more sophisticated . We find that Stormalong Bay Pool is reason enough to stay at these amazing hotels. Who can pass up the opportunity to experience the best pool at Disney World?!

In addition, the location, restaurants, and activities offered at these deluxe resort hotels help to make your vacation one you will never forget! If I were planning a trip to Disney World, I would choose whichever is cheaper between the two ! Don’t forget to join our Facebook group for personalized help on finding the best resort for your family! So, how do you think they compare? Which resort would you choose? Disney Beach Club vs Yacht Club? Comment below to share!

Shari is an experienced planner and organizer for Disney vacations, cruising, and U.S. travel. Her family vacation information, reviews, and tips provide insight for moms and dads everywhere. You can read more about her story, including her journey through breast cancer, in the about me page.

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• Jan 29, 2021

Resort Show Down: Contemporary Resort vs Yacht Club

Walt Disney World Resort offers so many choices for guests in their on-site accommodations, it can be difficult to decide which is right for you. Let's take a look at two Deluxe Resorts that I have stayed in recently.

Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Yacht Club Resort are both Deluxe level resorts with spacious rooms, 2 queen beds (plus a possible daybed), multiple dining options onsite, elaborate swimming pools with slides and multiple transportation options for visiting the theme parks.

Both resorts also have large convention spaces attached to them which can mean that a lot of business people are guests. This can make it feel a little less like a family vacation space and more like a work meeting space.

Location and Transportation

Disney's Contemporary Resort is located in the Magic Kingdom® resort area with a walking path to Magic Kingdom® and the monorail to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Disney's Polynesian Resort, the Ticket & Transportation Center and, the Epcot® monorail line (currently down for refurbishment). All other destinations may be reached by Disney Bus Transporation.

Yacht Club Resort is located in an area known as the Epcot® Resort Area. From Yacht Club and it's sister resort, Beach Club, guests can walk to both Epcot® and Hollywood Studios. There are also Friendship Boats to those parks. In addition, guests can use the Epcot® Skyliner station to access the other resorts on the Skyliner line. Animal Kingdom® and Magic Kingdom® are accessed by Disney Bus Transportation.

Both resorts have spacious accommodations featuring two queen beds, and some rooms with an additional daybed.

Contemporary's rooms are a whopping 394 square feet and were last refurbished in 2013. These rooms still have carpeting, a style that has been eliminated in favor of hard surface flooring more recently. I found the rooms to be quite comfortable, with the exception of the bathroom set up. The sinks are notorious for being quite awkward to use. There is little counter space for guests to use. I also don't like the shower and sinks being in the same space. It makes it difficult for two people to get ready at the same time unless you are very comfortable with each other.

Last updated in 2017, Yacht Club rooms are 381 square feet and have that new, hard surface flooring. Personally, I prefer this bathroom set up. You have a large double vanity with storage underneath and a separate room for the shower and toilet. My family of four can comfortably share this bathroom without tripping over each other.

I stayed in the Garden Wing at The Contemporary Resort. I am not sure if all guests understand that these are separate buildings from the Tower and you must walk outside (though it is covered) to get to the Tower building for all dining, shops and to access transportation. I prefer the Yacht Club set up where it's all inside one building.

Both rooms were comfortable, though the Yacht Club room wins out for me. I prefer the cleaner feel of the flooring over carpeting, the bathroom set up and being in one large building.

The Contemporary Resort has a nice, Mickey shaped pool with a slide and a small splash area for younger guests. There is a pool bar and an adjacent 'quiet pool.' I find this pool to be the least impressive of all the Deluxe Resorts.

Yacht Club, on the other hand, has what is widely regarded as the BEST pool complex at Walt Disney World Resort. A 3 acre complex, Stormalong Bay has two water slides, including the incredible Flying Jib slide, a sandy bottom area, a lazy river and a beach for kids to play on. There's also a kids pool called Shipwreck Pool. Perfect for families! Hurricane Hanna's Waterside Bar & Grill serves up poolside food and drinks.

In addition, Yacht Club has a quiet pool with a hot tub for guests who want a more sedate atmosphere.

Both Contemporary and Yacht Club offer multiple dining options, from quick and casual to signature dining experiences.

* NOTE: Some dining experiences are not currently available as Disney continues a phased reopening.

Contemporary dining choices include Contempo Cafe, The Wave, and, the fabulous California Grill.

Yacht Club has The Market at Ale & Compass, a grab n go/quick service option, Ale & compass Lounge and Restaurant, plus Crew's Cup Lounge, and The Yachtsman. And, since Yacht Club and Beach Club blend almost seamlessly, guests can also easily access Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Cape May Café, and the incredibly disappointing Martha's Vineyard (seriously, don't bother).

So, while Yacht Club has more choices, and some are quite good, I have to say that California Grill's quality evens things up a bit for me.

Overall, I enjoy both of these resorts and selecting the right one for you depends on your particular family. If pool time is really important to you, then I would choose Yacht Club. If you plan to spend more time at Epcot® and Hollywood Studios®, again, I would choose Yacht Club.

On the other hand, if your children are young and you don't want to chase them all over Stormalong Bay, and you plan a lot of Magic Kingdom® time, then I would recommend The Contemporary Resort.

Honestly, you can't really go wrong with a deluxe resort at Walt Disney World. They are all special in their own way.

Mary Graham is a Certified Travel Associate. She has expertise in theme parks, cruises, river cruises, land vacations, all-inclusive resorts and more! Reach her via email [email protected] or call 919-817-4081.

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Disney’s Boardwalk Inn vs Yacht Club – The Best Resort?

So you’ve narrowed your Disney World Resort list down between two options: the Boardwalk Inn and the Yacht Club.  But which one is the best option for you and your family?

Well, in this article, I’m going to let you know what each resort has to offer its guests, and outline some notable pros and cons of each hotel, as well.  Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll walk away with a good idea of which resort won the battle of Disney’s Boardwalk Inn vs Yacht Club!

Boardwalk Inn vs Yacht Club

Let’s begin this by discussing resort type.

Resort Type

Both the Boardwalk Inn and Yacht Club are considered to be “ Deluxe Resorts ” by Disney’s standards. In short, this means they are considered to be in the best resort category when looking at resorts on Disney property. 

As a deluxe guest, you will have access to early park hours, as well as extended park hours. This is one reason why some people will only stay at a deluxe resort. Besides that, the deluxe class of resorts are beautiful and offer great amenities and theming.

If you’ve narrowed your choices down to either Boardwalk or Yacht Club, chances are that you’ve decided you want to be close to Epcot. 

Situated on Crescent Lake, both of these resorts are within walking distance to Epcot. You’ll also have easy access to the Skyliner that will get you to Hollywood Studios. 

This is a great mode of travel, and you will have quick access to both parks. You can even take a longer stroll by walking directly to Hollywood Studios (though I do not recommend this).

However, for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, you will have to rely on the bus to get you there from these resorts.

The location overall is fantastic for both options, with no real clear winner here.

Yacht Club Dining Options

As both of these resorts are walking distance to one another, I’m only going to focus on dining options that are contained within each resort. Bear in mind, though, that if you want to skip over to one of the other resorts restaurants, you can very easily do that.

We will start with the Yacht Club. Since the Yacht Club is connected to the Beach Club , I will also include some of those options here.

For casual dining with an American seafood bias, Ale & Compass is a great choice for breakfast or dinner. The prices are on the lower side of most upscale dining options, so this is a good restaurant that offers a lot of value for money.

Next door at then Beach Club, we have the beloved Beaches & Cream. This is a staple for many families that visit Disney World . This is your classic American diner food option, like cheeseburgers and French fries. They also offer many milkshake and sundae options, hence the “Cream” part of the name. 

Crews Cup Lounge is a great place to cool off with a cocktail after a long day in the parks. This laid back bar lounge also serves up quick bites to eat with their tasty drinks.

The Yachtsman Steakhouse is one of the best Steakhouses on Walt Disney property. Le Cellier barely beats it out by my vote, but this steakhouse is fantastic signature dining. And it’s located right at the heart of the Yacht Club Resort. This is a must try if you are staying at the resort.

Boardwalk Inn Dining Options

Moving on over to Boardwalk Inn, we’re going to start with one of my favorite Italian restaurants — Trattoria al Forno. Here you can enjoy a character breakfast for the kids , and at dinner you will have a host of Italian options to choose from that are sure to please.

For a great quick service lunch option, look at the Pizza Window. The name implies exactly what you are going to get—hot pizza delivered to you at a window. Don’t let that fool you though, this pizza joint serves up a great slice of pie when you are pressed for time.

For a nice cocktail to wind down after a long day, look at making a trip over to AbracadaBar. This quick service bar harkens back to the magicians and illusionists from ages before. They have some really great drinks, and you can also grab a quick bite to eat if you are in a pinch. 

For your signature dining at the Boardwalk, Big River Grille & Brewing Works offer a great entree paired with a huge beer selection. And yes, it’s actually a brewery! So you can get beer that you will not see anywhere else, and also eat a great steak in the process!

A quick tip for one of my favorite sugary treats: you can visit the Funnel Cake Cart and grab a hot, ready to eat Funnel cake. Make sure and add this to your list if you are staying at the Boardwalk!

I’m going to come right out and say it—Yacht Club (and Beach Club) have the best pool, in my humble opinion, on Disney Property. 

Stormalong Bay is a 3 acre beachside pool area that sits in the middle of Yacht & Beach Club. 

With 3 leisure pools and a sandy bottom beach pool, you will be hard pressed to find an area at Stormalong Bay where you can’t enjoy a relaxing moment to yourself. 

Surrounding the pools is also a lazy river that will let you float around the whole 3 acre area while you sip your favorite cocktail that you can pick up at the beachside cabana.

To cap it all off, there is a 230’ waterslide that races you down from Crescent Lake to Stormalong Bay. 

Though this contest is easily won by Yacht Club, we have to mention the pool over at the Boardwalk Inn.

The Luna Park Pool is a carnival themed water escape, with a 200 foot waterslide. Here, there are all sorts of statues that harken back to the 1920 amusement parks. 

They also have a nearby lounge for refreshments. 

I can’t mention the pool here and not bring up the crazy clown that looks like something directly out of a horror film. Thankfully Disney took notice, and removed the clown , so you don’t have to worry about him haunting your dreams, should you choose the Boardwalk Inn.

It’s hard to narrow down the price difference here, as the price points are ever changing throughout the year. 

What I can say, however, is although they both go up and down depending on the season, the prices are usually relatively neck and neck. 

So I don’t think it’s terribly important to put a lot of attention on this. If you are looking at these two resorts, the money you will save will be negligible, so the better option is to pick the best one for you and your family based on the other elements. 

Yacht Club has relatively newly designed and revamped rooms. Though some people complain that it reminds them of a cramped cabin on a boat (which is part of the theme, hence “Yacht Club”) they are still spacious enough that you won’t feel too tightly packed in. 

I think that feeling is generated mostly due to the low ceilings, but the room really shines everywhere else. Sporting a sleek and modern look, I suppose one could argue the rooms look too dark or modern . I find them personally to be in line with my tastes, and I enjoy the more updated designs.

Over at the Boardwalk Inn, they have some of the oldest rooms situated around Crescent Lake. With a serious lack of outlets, these rooms are not as functional as the ones you’ll find at Yacht Club.

The design is a bit old and outdated, though some people find them beautifully executed. You’ll have to be the judge here and check out the pictures for yourself. 

Final Thoughts

This is an easy choice for me. If you haven’t figured it out by now, if I had to choose between these two deluxe resorts, I’d be putting my money toward the Yacht Club .

With the bonus addition of being a double resort connected to Beach Club, you also get access to the best pool on Disney Property along with some of the best signature dining options around. 

And while I prefer Yacht Club in this Boardwalk Inn vs Yacht Club battle royale, this does’t mean that the Boardwalk Inn is the wrong choice for you and your family. 

If you enjoyed this article, please “like” our brand new Countdown to Magic Facebook page !

You Might Also Like These Articles:

• Disney’s Contemporary Resort vs Coronado Springs
• Disney’s Polynesian vs Yacht Club
• Disney’s Riviera Resort vs Grand Floridian
• Disney’s Riviera Resort vs Beach Club
• Disney’s Art of Animation vs Polynesian

Michael has been visiting Disney World since he was a kid. He's also been to Disneyland and sailed on the Disney Dream. Michael is the owner and editor of Countdown to Magic.

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Boat catches fire at Rochester Yacht Club

Posted: August 22, 2024 | Last updated: August 22, 2024

The Irondequoit Fire Department is investigating a boat fire at the Rochester Yacht Club. READ MORE: <a href="https://www.rochesterfirst.com/fire-department/light-smoke-and-firefighters-seen-at-rochester-yacht-club/">https://www.rochesterfirst.com/fire-department/light-smoke-and-firefighters-seen-at-rochester-yacht-club/</a>

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golf & yacht club

Welcome to the World of Golf!

All is for sake of golf

Pestovo Golf club is built in accordance with international standards and it doesn’t have any analogs in Moscow and Moscow Region. The championship course is prepared for games at the highest level — it can host prestigious major tournaments. Professional coaches of the Golf academy can teach a beginner or give valuable advice to already experienced golfers and children Academy will develop the potential of the youngest golfers.

Membership in the private closed club «Pestovo» is a lifetime privilege opening multifaceted opportunities of sports and cultural life of modern golf community.

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Away from the bustle

Pestovo golf club is situated in a picturesque place on the shore of Pestovo reservoir. Here is no city noise but only fresh air, landscapes and cozy country houses. Its nature and developed infrastructure turn Pestovo into a quiet corner for family vacation.

Moscow region

City district Mitishi Village Rumiancevo, Nikolskaya st., private demesne 1, building 1

With care of your recreation

There are all the necessary things in our country complex for comfortable rest of your entire family. This is not only a championship golf course but it’s also a club house, restaurant, fitness club and yacht club. Qualified staff puts the life in the country club on a new level.

The restaurant «Pestovo»

Yacht club «Pestovo»

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Champions of shelter island’s gardiner’s bay country club.

By Leigh Notley

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Gardiner’s Bay Country Club (GBCC) held its Club Championships a couple of weekends ago, and it was lucky 13 for Samantha Sessa, who won her 13th title, defeating Molly Ryan. 

Samantha is now just two shy of her father Jay’s 15 victories at GBCC!

On the men’s side it was another epic battle between familiar foes. This time Will Celiberti defeated his friend and defending Champion Matthew Feinstein.  Will won his second GBCC title.

Here are the results of our many finals:

2024 GBCC Club Championships

• Men’s Club Championship Final — Will Celiberti defeated Matthew Feinstein

• Ladies’ Club Championship Final — Samantha Sessa defeated Molly Ryan

• Men’s ‘A’ Flight — Tim Ryan defeated Bradley Batten

• Ladies’ ‘A’ Flight — Stacey Swiantek defeated Karen D’Auria

• Men’s ‘B’ Flight — Doug Hahn defeated Larry Kast 

• Ladies’ ‘B’ Flight — Ann Richer defeated Liz Katz

• Men’s ‘C’ Flight Final — Steve Kessler defeated Jim Kronenberg

• Men’s ‘D’ Flight Final — Bob Jeffe defeated David Kriss

• Senior Boys’ Final — Harrison Holmes defeated Kyle Hahn

• Girls’ Final — Charlotte Slayton defeated Era Inglis-Nela

• Junior Boys’ Final — Luke Nolan defeated Read Wilutis

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The best golf clubs in moscow: luxury, exclusivity, and entertainment.

By Walter Raymond

February 24, 2015

• The Best Golf Clubs in…

In Russia, the western concept of building architecturally beautiful golf courses filled with modern and luxurious amenities has found fertile ground. What was considered a frivolous pastime during the time of the Soviets has become the latest trend for the stylish set. These days, there are countless options around Moscow to practice golf, polo, ski, yachting, and other sports alongside 5-star hotels, luxurious country houses, and magnificent villas.

The game of golf is a sport that requires passion and expertise. It is also part of a culture that considers this pastime a synonym of social prestige and exclusivity. In recent years, the new Russian elite has turned to golf as a vehicle of integration in the era of globalization. Golf courses are also meeting and socializing spaces where Muscovite tycoons can relax and also seal business deals.

Golf Courses in Russia

The Moscow Country Club, Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club, Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club, and Zavidovo Golf Club, PGA National Russia are some of the most exclusive and elegant golf courses in Russia. Some of them have made it to the list of Top 15 golf clubs in the world, a source of great prestige for the country.

Moscow Country Club Moscow Country Club

The first 18-hole golf course built in Russia, Moscow Country Club, hosts the exclusive PGA European Tour. Located just eight miles from the city center, this luxurious facility was created by architect Robert Trent Jones Jr . The design takes advantage of a typical Russian birch and spruce forest to provide a natural environment of extraordinary beauty.

Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club

The Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club is 18 miles from the heart of Moscow, close to historical monuments from the 17th and 18th centuries. Designed by famed architects Paul and Dave Thomas , this 18-hole course is part of a complex that includes a yacht club, an equestrian center, and a health and wellness facility. Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club is Russia’s version of a classic country club with multiple attractions.

Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club

This park is among the best in Eastern Europe and was awarded the 2014 World Golf Award as the best golf course in Russia. Located 25 miles from Moscow, it is part of a vast complex featuring an 18-hole golf course, designed by Jack Nicklaus , a polo club and a mountain ski club with four tracks. The design combines classic Scottish, Alpine, and English features in a dreamy landscape.

Zavidovo Golf Club, PGA National Russia Zavidovo Golf Club, PGA National Russia

Less than 60 miles from Moscow, this golf course with a definite Scottish design is the only one in Russia recognized as a PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) from Britain and Ireland. Located in an ecologically pristine area on the banks of the Volga River, the Zavidovo Golf Club embodies the spirit and appearance of the legendary Scottish golf courses. Its many springs and streams, hills, forests, swamps and lakes justify its reputation as a very demanding circuit. Last year, it entered the exclusive club of the 15 best golf courses in the world.   ■

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Circus performer seriously injured after falling from tightrope in front of crowd

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A circus performer was seriously injured after falling off a tightrope 16 ft in the air in front of horrified onlookers.

Footage show the High Wire performer, who is from a Colombian troupe, sitting on the back of a chair, which was balancing on a pole held by two men as they walked across a tightrope at Gravity Circus in East Sussex.

As she began to lower herself into the sear while balancing her feet on the chair arm rests, the pole began to wobble.

Her foot then appeared to slip as she dropped onto the seat, and she fell off the apparatus along with the chair.

About halfway down the chair hits a wire, smacking into her and sending her into a freefalling backflip.

She hits the ground knees first, sending her into a spin until she landed fetal position on the metal ground.

Witness Hayley Walsh told the BBC : ‘It looked like her gave way. She lost her balance and went flying down wrapped around the wire.

‘She smashed down onto the metal floor.’

The woman sustained but non-life threatening injuries, South East Coast Ambulance Service said.

They revealed she suffered from ‘facial and other injuries consistent with a fall’.

Gravity Circus told a fan in social media the performer was ‘doing well and is in safe hands’.

They said: ‘Our primary concern is the wellbeing of the performer, their family, the high wire troupe, and our entire circus family.

‘We are closely monitoring the situation and conducting a thorough investigation.’ 

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Hyatt acquires standard hotels and nears launch of hyatt studios.

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The Standard London

Hyatt has been on a strategy reset for the past several years as it looks to compete with larger hospitality brands like Marriott, Hilton and IHG. Its focus has been on filling in gaps in its portfolio, which is notably smaller than its competitors. This has included key acquisitions in the all-inclusive space for vacation destinations (Apple Leisure) as well as high-end, lifestyle properties like Dream Hotel Group.

Since 2017, Hyatt has grown its lifestyle portfolio by five times what it was previously. And the momentum has not stopped.

Yesterday, the company announced the acquisition of Standard International, parent company of The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels brands, with a closing date on the deal expected by the end of the year.

Hotel du Palais in Biarritz, a famous luxury palace, France, and part of The Unbound Collection by ... [+] Hyatt.

It is a “doubling down” of sorts for Hyatt on its lifestyle, luxury and resort focus, which already makes up 45% of its portfolio (larger than its competitors). The purchase of Mr & Mrs Smith expedited this by giving World of Hyatt presence in new markets like Croatia, Fiji and the British Virgin Islands.

Hyatt plans to add a new lifestyle group in New York, under the aegis of Standard International's Executive Chairman Amar Lalvani, to give more focus and attention on this segment from a marketing, design and nightlife focus.

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The Standard High Line New York City

Once the deal is finalized, the 21 franchised and managed hotels will join the World of Hyatt program. Among them are The Standard, London, The Standard, High Line in New York and Hotel San Cristóbal, Baja California, Mexico. Its destination list also includes hot spots like Ibiza, Bangkok and the Maldives. There are more than 30 projects in the works to join the brand, starting as soon as next year.

This news is just one piece of the strategy that is driving the brand forward. A key focus for Hyatt is maintaining a high-end position in each brand segment it operates, whether that is luxury, lifestyle or midcale. These are some of the ways that Hyatt is evolving its portfolio.

Extended stay on a budget

A model guest room at Hyatt Studios

Coming soon is the opening of Hyatt Studios, a product that Hyatt has high hopes for and expects could eventually become its largest brand. This extended-stay model on a budget will operate within the higher tier of this segment while remaining “low-cost” for developers to operate.

Rather than compete only on cost, it prefers to spend where it can to maintain its larger brand image. Hyatt Studios will be no different. While it will be the most affordable brand (something that varies by market conditions) within the portfolio, Hyatt Studios will rely on experience from its older sibling Hyatt House to guide its execution.

Its competitive set will include Home2 by Hilton and TownePlace Suites by Marriott.

The lobby of Hyatt Studios will have a grab-and-go market with self checkout as well as a ... [+] complimentary grab-and-go continental breakfast.

But, launching a new brand is not easy. A key component is encouraging existing owners and developers as well as new ones to join the bandwagon. Its model rooms in Bensenville, Illinois, have already entertained developers and investors from around the world.

Hyatt Studios is targeting tertiary markets like Billings, Montana and Mobile, Alabama as well as pockets of the country where it does not already have much presence. The first opening will be in Mobile during the first quarter of 2025. It will serve as a test model for how future properties can find success.

The focus customer includes government workers, insurance adjusters and health care workers, among others, who are looking for an extended stay product that balances quality with price. It can fill in the gaps with airport locations and those that target leisure travelers. Traveling youth sports teams is a perfect example of where the brand fits, something that was a gap in the overall brand lineup, says Mark Vondrasek , chief commercial officer for Hyatt.

Decisions not made lightly

This will be Hyatt's first upper-midscale brand in the Americas.

Designers for this new brand, which Hyatt believes will eventually outgrow Hyatt Place, take an exacting focus on the smallest of details from the placement of garbage cans within the room to the height of coffee tables.

Using focus groups of repeat Hyatt customers as well as independent travelers (and existing owner insight), decisions can evolve over time. Its model rooms for the yet-to-open Hyatt Studios brand have gone through multiple iterations as they are tested and reviewed.

One finding was that the placement of shelves in the room needed to be lowered so that guests can use the very top shelf for additional storage (a key feature for extended stay guests). This came through feedback from guests who wanted a place to store empty suitcases, which now fit above the traditional closet, as well as from housekeepers, who said it was difficult to reach the high level without a ladder.

Designers seek this type of internal insight from those that work in management, housekeeping and operations to be sure that they get it right when launching a new brand.

A standard Hyatt Place guest room, which is currently the largest World of Hyatt brand.

Potential customers are also a key part of the decision-making process. Brand leaders relied on similar guests for its other extended-stay brand Hyatt House to help consult in the room development here. While Hyatt Studios will sit one step below in terms of price and offering, it still needs to meet the same needs and standards.

Hyatt’s team learned that certain corporate travel accounts would not even consider a hotel if it does not have certain amenities (like stove-top ovens or microwaves). Properties without certain amenities are filtered out of their travel portals from the beginning. This is all key insight that a brand must get right from the beginning to avoid retrofitting properties later at great expense.

Hyatt’s asset-light approach

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - November 1, 2010: Grand Hyatt Hotel in the Bur Dubai district.

Hyatt has been moving quickly to an asset-light portfolio where hotels are managed, licensed or franchised by others under its own umbrella. Since 2009, the company has tripled its number of hotel rooms and grown its position in the luxury and lifestyle market.

At Hyatt’s investment day in 2023, Joan Bottarini, Hyatt’s chief financial officer, said, “With substantial free cash flow generated from asset-light earnings, together with cash generated from continued asset dispositions, we believe we will continue to have significant flexibility to invest in growth and return capital to shareholders, while maintaining our investment grade profile.”

Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas

Put another way: Hyatt can fast forward into high growth mode with a free-cash flow model when it lets other people manage hotel assets.

“Hyatt has been selling down the real estate that we had from 2017 onwards,” said Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt’s president and chief executive officer, at a hospitality conference in Berlin earlier this year. “Our number one target for redeployment is buying new brands.”

Hospitality Investor’s Isobel Lee reports that Hyatt is still the largest owner of its hotels around the world, but that this helps the company gain more understanding of what its partners are looking for when investing with the brand.

World of Hyatt evolves, but award chart here to stay

The lobby of Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest, which is part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.

Hyatt Studios will be the first brand in World of Hyatt to limit earnings by half. While all other World of Hyatt brands earn five points per dollar spent, guests at Hyatt Studios would only earn 2.5 points per dollar spent. World of Hyatt elite status members would continue to earn their standard bonus multipliers, and those using a Hyatt co-branded credit card would earn bonus points for using the card for their stay as expected.

Limiting the number of points earned at certain brands is nothing new. Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy both have a similar approach to their budget-focused brands.

The Treehotel in the Swedish Lapland region, which is part of Mr & Mrs Smith.

Another change for World of Hyatt, which wins accolades from its members for being one of the last-standing programs to continue to offer an award chart that helps members understand how many points they need for a redemption, is that Mr & Mrs Smith properties do not fit into its award chart.

The reasoning, according to Vondrasek, is that an award chart relies on hotels having a standard room type that a property can put into the redemption pool. Mr & Mrs Smith hotels do not have “standard rooms” in the same way that a city hotel might. Instead, its hotels have so many room types that its treehouses, castles and island retreats accommodations do not easily fit into an award chart.

Vondrasek points out that loyalty programs were built for more traditional hotels where the room types were fewer.

While there was online criticism that these redemptions adhered to a dynamic pricing model, Vondrasek says it has more to do with the challenge of how to value rooms at a points tier when they are all so different. He assures that the award chart model is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Under Canvas offers glamping experiences for World of Hyatt members.

World of Hyatt is growing at an unprecedented pace, adding members with great fervor. In the last year alone, the brand has seen a 20% boost in the number of members compared to the year before, now approaching 50 million total members. Vondrasek says recent additions to the portfolio like Under Canvas (a glamping experience in U.S. national parks that is now part of World of Hyatt) and Mr & Mrs Smith have really driven that growth.

According to Vondrasek, he expects World of Hyatt to add even more outdoor experience partners in the coming years because it is something that really resonates with members. Under Canvas and Hyatt have already surpassed their expectations on bookings after their first month. When staying with Under Canvas, World of Hyatt elite members receive standard benefits like bonus points and breakfast for Globalist members.

With World of Hyatt’s smaller scale, it seeks to offer greater benefits to loyal members as it grows its footprint. This includes things like its fiercely popular Guest of Honor benefit, where elite status members can share their perks with someone else who may have never stayed at Hyatt, and the gifting of club lounge access or free-night awards (a new feature that Hyatt says was an immediate hit).

Balance and well-being, both physical and emotional, are key focal points for Hyatt, post-Covid.

Members will even be able to earn points for working out using Peloton bikes being added to more than 800 Hyatt properties. Another collaboration between Hyatt Regency and Future, a personal training app, continues the well-being momentum. Its personalized, online workouts are customized to participating Hyatt Regency property fitness centers. Post-Covid, the brand is looking to be more thoughtful about how it incorporates well-being into its properties to drive loyalty.

Hyatt’s acquisition of Miraval helped it to expand its wellness focus. The company now has its “well-being collective,” which is a group of 50 hotels and resorts around the world where meeting planners and guests can expect the best health and wellness programming while earning and redeeming points. Even the free World of Hyatt app has free content from Headspace and white noise to encourage restful sleep.

“We are so genuinely happy with the program,” says Vondrasek. “It feels to me like loyalty programs in general are going into more of a tightening…we’ve always felt like World of Hyatt could be a point of distinction in the loyalty space, which is why giving members more choice on how they earn and use points and status benefits is so important.”

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The Morning

Why kamala harris’s centrism is working.

The vice president’s convention speech embodied her efforts to win over swing voters.

By David Leonhardt

Kamala Harris capped her first month as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate with a roughly 35-minute convention speech last night that embodied her aggressive efforts to win over swing voters.

It was a patriotic speech that was hawkish on foreign policy and border security. She described the United States as the greatest country in the world — a view many Americans hold but most Democratic voters do not — and she ended by saying that being an American was “the greatest privilege on earth.” She promised to confront China, Russia, Iran and Iran-backed terrorists and to make sure that the U.S. military remained the “most lethal fighting force in the world.”

She also offered a series of populist promises to help the middle class by reducing the cost of housing and health care — policies that many independents and some Republicans favor. And she spent little if any time on subjects that inspire passion among Democrats but are either secondary or off-putting to many swing voters, such as student debt forgiveness and President Biden’s climate agenda.

You can read more about Harris’s speech in this news story , as well as in this article on how she contrasted herself with Donald Trump .

In today’s newsletter, I want to explain why Harris’s move to the political center seems to be working, at least so far.

Who vs. what

Harris has surged in the polls , erasing Biden’s deficit and taking a small lead over Trump, for two main reasons. First, she has won over some swing voters, including independents, working-class Midwesterners and even a fraction of 2020 Trump voters. Second, she has done so at no apparent cost: In addition to attracting swing voters, she has built a bigger lead than Biden had among the Democratic base, such as young voters, college graduates and city residents.

How could this be? It comes down to the difference between the who and the what of her candidacy.

Loyal Democrats are energized about the who . They spent months agonizing over Biden’s flailing candidacy. Once he quit and Harris wrapped up party support in just a few hours, everything felt different.

Democrats remembered what it was like to have a candidate who could deliver a speech without making people fret that something was about to go wrong. Harris is full of energy and joy. She can cogently explain the administration’s policies, and she seems to be having fun in the process. Amid this electricity, many Democrats have been willing to tolerate her triangulation in the service of winning.

Harris isn’t just another Democratic politician, either. She would be the country’s first female president, of course, and is a woman of color. Today’s Democratic Party puts great emphasis on identity, especially race and gender. The party defines itself in large part as the defender of groups that suffer discrimination and injustice. Just watch Tuesday night’s ceremonial roll call to nominate Harris, when delegates celebrated her historic status — and their own identities.

This focus on personal identity can give pathbreaking candidates more flexibility to stray from Democratic orthodoxy without angering the base. Barack Obama benefited from a similar dynamic in 2008. He was more moderate than some other Democratic candidates that year, yet he still excited many progressives. (Obama’s speech this week was also fairly moderate. Nonetheless, it received rapturous applause.)

For all these reasons, Harris has formed an emotional bond with liberals and others who make up the Democratic base. That bond has freed her to pursue swing voters with the what of her candidacy. She offers an economic agenda that many working-class voters support. She claims that she, not Trump, is the true candidate of border security. She encourages “U.S.A.!” chants. Last night, she referred to American history as “the most extraordinary story ever told.”

A tight race

Even so, the presidential race remains close. Harris leads in enough states to win, but only just. And if recent polls have undercounted Trump voters as much as they did in 2016 and 2020 , he would probably win an election held today.

With the convention now over, Democrats won’t be able to control the narrative the way that they have this week. Republicans have already started running ads to remind voters of Harris’s liberal past. One ad opens by calling Harris a “San Francisco radical” and showing her wearing a Covid mask while she announces her pronouns. It then includes clips in which she calls for a ban on plastic straws, supports looser immigration policies and says more police officers don’t lead to more safety. Expect to see a lot of these ads before November.

It is possible that Harris has been enjoying a temporary polling bump — from the good vibes of replacing Biden — that will soon fade. (In that case, I’ll be curious to see if Harris goes even further to moderate her image; she said nothing last night, for example, about whether she supported an “all of the above” energy policy to reduce prices.)

Nobody knows what will happen between now and Election Day. What’s clear is that Harris has run an effective first month of her campaign, managing both to consolidate Democratic support and to moderately — in both senses of the word — expand her appeal.

More from the convention

Harris’s speech included a statement of support for Israel, a denunciation of Hamas and a demand for security and dignity for the people of Gaza. It was effort to bridge the Democratic Party’s divides on the war.

Harris spoke about growing up in a working-class neighborhood with an immigrant single mother . “She taught us to never complain about injustice, but do something about it,” Harris said. “She also taught us, ‘And never do anything half-assed.’”

Harris accused Trump and the Republicans of planning to jail opponents, cut taxes for the rich and ban abortion nationwide. “Simply put, they are out of their minds,” she said.

“My entire career, I’ve only had one client: the people,” Harris said of her background as a prosecutor and lawmaker. Trump, she argued, was running “to serve the only client he has ever had: himself.” Read a transcript of her speech .

Other speakers last night echoed Harris’s patriotic theme . Adam Kinzinger, a Republican former congressman, said, “I want to let my fellow Republicans in on the secret: The Democrats are as patriotic as us.”

Members of the Central Park Five — who as boys were wrongfully convicted of attacking a woman in 1980s New York — criticized Trump . Years ago, he called for the return of the death penalty over the case.

Celebrity appearances included the Chicks, who performed the national anthem, Kerry Washington , the singer Pink and the N.B.A. star Stephen Curry, who endorsed Harris in a video.

Harris’s grandnieces led delegates in a call-and-response about how to pronounce her name. “First you say ‘comma,’ like a comma in a sentence,” one said. “Then you say ‘la,’ like ‘la-la-la-la-la,’” the other said.

More on the campaign

Trump, calling in to Fox News after Harris’s speech, sought to distance himself from Project 2025, his conservative allies’ governing blueprint, and accused Harris of failing to fix the problems she was “complaining about.”

Trump said on social media that Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who is Jewish, had done “nothing” for Israel and called himself “the best friend that Israel, and the Jewish people, ever had.” Shapiro accused Trump of peddling antisemitic tropes .

Arizona can require people registering to vote to show proof of citizenship , the Supreme Court said.

Trump’s New Jersey golf club will host a fund-raiser to support Capitol rioters , billed as the J6 Awards Gala, next month.

Arkansas’s Supreme Court rejected an effort to put an abortion-rights amendment on the November ballot, saying the paperwork was faulty.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed to withdraw from the presidential election in Arizona. He’s scheduled to speak about his campaign’s future today.

THE LATEST NEWS

War in ukraine.

Ukraine’s two-week-old offensive in western Russia has slowed , while Russian forces have gained momentum in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

In Russia, negative feelings about Vladimir Putin have increased since Ukraine’s incursion, an analysis of online posts found.

In Germany, strict budget rules and rising parties on the far left and far right are pushing the government to reduce its support for Ukraine .

Israel-Hamas War

“They could have brought him back”: The families of Israeli hostages whose bodies were recovered from Gaza this week expressed anger at Israel’s leaders for not agreeing to a cease-fire .

A group representing hostage families said that autopsies found bullets in the recovered bodies . The military said it was too soon to tell if gunshot wounds were the cause of death.

More International News

The second-largest diamond ever found was uncovered in Botswana. It’s the size of an adult’s palm, and weighs more than a pound.

Italian divers recovered the body of the British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch , confirming that he was killed when his yacht sank in a storm.

A volcano erupted in southwestern Iceland , the country’s sixth eruption since December.

Other Big Stories

The F.D.A. approved updated Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. Only one in five American adults took booster shots last fall.

A network of more than a dozen current and former inmates used drones to smuggle drugs into Georgia prisons , prosecutors said.

Times Opinion columnists picked their best and worst moments of the last night of the Democratic convention.

This month, the F.D.A. denied approval of psychedelic drugs for mental health treatment. They won’t be approved until proponents stop conducting unethical clinical trials , Caty Enders writes.

Here are columns by Paul Krugman on Trump and crime and Michelle Goldberg on why Harris needs Lina Khan .

MORNING READS

Love and loss: Sphen, a gentoo penguin who found international fame because of his relationship with another male penguin named Magic, died at 11 .

Altered states: A survey revealed similarities between psychedelic trips and near-death experiences .

Pickle: A TikTok influencer’s recipes have caused a cucumber shortage in Iceland .

Lives Lived: Charlene Marshall was at the center of a legal battle over the estate of the New York socialite Brooke Astor, her mother-in-law. Marshall’s husband, Anthony, was ultimately convicted of fraud, but she in some ways seemed like the one on trial. Marshall died at 79 .

M.L.B.: The Seattle Mariners, who held a 10-game lead in the A.L. West two months ago, fired their manager Scott Servais. Our beat writer says the organization is at a crisis point .

College football: The sport’s fall schedule kicks off this weekend. See our 12-team playoff projection .

ARTS AND IDEAS

The CrossFit Games are usually a triumphant moment, an extreme four-day test of fitness in which participants leap over hay bales, swing sledgehammers and toss medicine balls. This year, though, the competition turned tragic when a 28-year-old athlete from Serbia died during an open-water swim. His death has resurfaced simmering concerns that the games push competitors too far .

More on culture

A biography of the poet and thinker Audre Lorde offers a new way to think about her activism and legacy.

Jon Stewart went live on the last night of the Democratic convention.

THE MORNING RECOMMENDS …

Harness the delight of a chicken gyro in salad form .

Download these free video games .

Clean small messes with a hand-held vacuum .

Take our news quiz .

Here is today’s Spelling Bee . Yesterday’s pangrams were chunked and unchecked .

And here are today’s Mini Crossword , Wordle , Sudoku , Connections and Strands .

Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. —David

Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox . Reach our team at [email protected] .

David Leonhardt runs The Morning , The Times’s flagship daily newsletter. Since joining The Times in 1999, he has been an economics columnist, opinion columnist, head of the Washington bureau and founding editor of the Upshot section. He is the author of “Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream." More about David Leonhardt