Hotel Review: A Stay at Disney's Beach Club Resort

Picking a hotel at Disney World can be difficult. With over 25 resort hotels, in addition to a number of large chain hotels nearby, off property - how do you know which Disney World hotel is right for you? Disney's Beach Club Resort is the perfect combination of high-end and an excellent location - let's discuss everything you need to know about a stay at "The Beach Club!"

Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase a linked item, I will make a commission, at no extra charge to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Post updated, April, 2020.

Considering a stay at Disney's Beach Club Resort?

From its amazing pools and high-end rooms, to its "adult friendly" approach, and its unique proximity to Epcot, Disney's Beach Club Resort is a perfect fit, no matter what sort of vacation you're looking for.

Lobby at Disney's Beach Club Resort

If you're considering booking a room on Disney property during your stay at Disney World (known as "on-property," in Disney speak), I'd highly recommend Disney's Beach Club Resort, for a number of reasons - I hope you'll agree!

Disney's Beach Club Resort's Location

The Beach Club's location absolutely cannot be topped. Location is, by far, the #1 reason to pick the Beach Club as your home-away-from-home on your next trip to Disney.

Located next to a lovely, large lagoon, from the Beach Club, you can easily walk to the (connected) Yacht Club - its sister hotel, including its restaurants and lounge (Disney speak for bar), an array of dining, drinking, and dancing venues on Disney's Boardwalk and, best of all, Epcot.

Back of Disney's Beach Club Resort

Can you walk from The Beach Club to Epcot?
Yes! There's a well-lit path connecting The Beach Club go the back entrance of Epcot. The walk takes about 5 minutes.

View of the Boardwalk from the Beach Club

Exploring Disney's Boardwalk

A hop, skip, and a jump from the Beach Club is Disney's Boardwalk, which is chalk-full of non-resort/park restaurants and bars for your delectation. Unlike restaurants in the park, you can stop by the Boardwalk whenever it strikes your fancy! And, many of the Boardwalk's restaurants take the Disney Dining Plan, though you should always confirm in advance, just to be sure. 

​For one Boardwalk restaurant recommendation: we had a fun meal at Trattoria al Forno, offering classic Italian fare with a lively, open kitchen full of energy. It costs just one table-service dining credit, so it's a nice way to spend an evening fairly close to home.

​And, to top it all off with one of my favorite bits, after (or before!) dinner, you can buy to-go alcoholic drinks and take a stroll around the Boardwalk!

Disney's Boardwalk

Accessing Epcot from Disney's Beach Club Resort

For the days when you do have tickets to Epcot (or, if you do have the park hopper ticket), it is not possible to have a hotel closer to Epcot than the Beach Club Resort.

Walk down the well-lit, wide boulevard-style walkway to enter Epcot through its back entrance - you'll come out at the bridge that leads to the Country Showcase (between England and France).

​The walk could not possibly take more than 5 minutes, and as it's packed with fellow tourists and well-lit, it makes for a comfortable walk home after a long day at the park!

But remember: unless you have a park hopper pass or tickets for that day, you cannot go to Epcot for meals. 

Walkway from the Beach Club to Epcot (it's a 5-minute walk, at most)

Dining at Epcot

If you are hopping over just for a meal at Epcot, remember that you'll still have to go through the Epcot entrance and security, so be sure to allow plenty of time.

But, the walk is short and quick! You'll enter through the "back entrance" to the park which is significantly less crowded, but remember - that's likely changing, with the new Skyliner gondola. It drops off at this back entrance and will likely cause crowd levels back there to skyrocket.

Disney's Beach Club Resort Amenities

The Beach Club Marketplace

Though it was fairly stressful, and thus not pictured, the Beach Club does have a useful amenity - The Beach Club Marketplace. A convenience store/quick mart restaurant, you can get everything from Mickey-shaped waffles to all the souvenirs you can imagine. You can even refill your resort mugs and buy sunscreen to prevent those surprise sunburns! Though crowded and a bit overwhelming, I can't underestimate how nice it was to be able to grab a quick and easy breakfast before hitting the parks!

​Crowds fluctuate throughout the year - during our recent time in February, neither pool was very crowded, but hit this place at Spring Break and you'll definitely want to reserve a deck chair!

Pool at Disney's Beach Club Resort

The Beach and Yacht Club are home to one of the most renowned pools in Disney World: Stormalong Bay, complete with a lazy river, in addition to the Beach Club's own pool.

Remember - only Beach and Yacht Club guests can use what is widely regarded as the most desirable pool in Disney World, so this is a definitely perk of being a guest at either of these resorts!

Disney's Beach Club Resort Pools

Getting to and from Disney's Beach Club Resort

Finally, the Beach Club is easily accessible, with a parking lot and well-managed pick-up/drop-off area right out front - we took a few Ubers and they had no problem finding us. The Disney buses also pick up and drop off just to the left of the snap below - a very quick walk from the hotel's main entrance, accessible down a nice, flowered walkway.

Disney's Beach Club Resort Entrance

Guest rooms at Disney's Beach Club Resort

Rooms at Disney's Beach Club Resort are, frankly, fairly standard, nice hotel fare. They are not "over-the-top" Disney themed, and they also aren't particularly unique.

​But comfortable beds, plenty of space, a small balcony, and nice-smelling bath amenities are about all I can ask for! The rooms have been recently spruced up, though they clearly get very heavy wear.

View from the balcony of Disney's Beach Club Resort

Our room featured two comfortable Queen-sized beds, and a sofa bed. Though, in fairness, I'm not sure how the sofa bed could have actually pulled out and not hit the beds, but I didn't try it.

The Beach Club's bathrooms are nice and updated, with a door to the separate toilet and shower area (the sinks are open to the rest of the room).

The room does have a coffee/tea machine and a fridge. There's no minibar, but the fridge is good for holding any doggie bags or wine for in-room consumption, which they do sell in the Beach Club Marketplace! Always nice when they don't force you to get room service!

Is Disney's Beach Club Resort crowded?

​The Beach Club (and Yacht Club) is/are HUGE and simply teeming with people at all hours.

The Beach Club Resort's lobby is well-maintained, but the seats are full and the elevator seems to be constantly in operation.  ​

That said, as far as Disney World goes, I found the Beach Club fairly relaxing. 

The Marketplace in the Beach Club is pretty crowded during peak times, but it's not unbearable. The Boardwalk on the other side of the lagoon was not as crowded as I expected - there are a fair number of people strolling, but it's not shoulder-to-shoulder or even comparable to the crow levels of any of the parks - at all. 

I would say, at least from my observation, if crowds are a concern, that the Yacht Club is less crowded than the Beach Club, likely owing to/resulting from it its slightly higher price point.

Thanks for stopping by!

We *loved* our stay at Disney's Beach Club Resort and we will 100% make it our home base during our next Disney World vacation! That proximity to Epcot just cannot be beaten.
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