Disneys Beach Club Resort - Hotels On Epcot Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Disney's Beach Club Resort is one of my favorite hotel and resort properties in Walt Disney World. It shares facilities with, and is located right next to, Disney's Yacht Club Resort. Stormalong Bay, the name of the small water park located here, is one of the best resort pools around. You'll have plenty of easily accessible dining, shopping, and entertainment options and will be within walking distance to Epcot.

Rooms
Apart from the beach theming, the rooms here are pretty much like any other Disney hotel room in Walt Disney World, or at least those in other deluxe category hotels. Most rooms will sleep up to five people (some less, some more) via two queen beds and a day bed (sofa).

The rooms will have mini refrigerators, flat screen TVs, a safe, dual sinks, hair dryer, and then a separate room with the toilet and tub / shower in it. Some of the balconies will be very tiny and not much use at all.

We've stayed in a few different rooms over the last several years and we see the same problems over and over again. While the rooms are nice, they're old and very worn. We've had issues that range from clogged sinks, mold in the bathroom, drawer pulls falling off, closet doors off the track, and heavily worn and damaged furniture.

The rooms here are in need of major updating and renovation. You wouldn't tolerate this level of wear and tear at a budget hotel, it should be unacceptable on one in the deluxe category. This is the biggest problem with this property.

Club Level
Club level, or concierge level, is a wonderful but very expensive thing. The idea is that you'll pay more for each night of your stay and have access to a lounge that offers free drinks and food.

Before you get too excited, note that you'll never be able to eat or drink enough to make up for the money you spent. Instead, it's more about convenience. They'll offer a breakfast service, then a dinner time appetizer service, and an evening dessert service. More often than not, you'll miss most services because you'll be in the parks.

The breakfast service is the best and a great way to eat fast and get moving. The dinner service isn't a lot of food, but considering how much you're eating everywhere else it can often become a meal. Some of the food is pretty good, other choices aren't good at all.

You will enjoy all of the drinks (soda, water, beer, etc) that you want. Want a (plastic) bottle of water to bring with you? Just ask, they'll accommodate you. The lounge staff is very good here and always happy to help you out.

Pool
The real reason you're staying here is for the pool area, which is really a small water park and called Stormalong Bay. The pools feature sandy bottoms, which is both neat and a tiny bit gross at the same time. Anyone who's ever cleaned out the gravel in a fish tank will understand why.

There is a large, and very fun, water slide as well a small water slide for small children. There are hot tubs here, though they often don't feel all that warm to me, as well as sandy areas to play in.

It's a very large pool area that gets pretty crowded at times. This area is shared with Disney's Yacht Club Resort. You'll also find a quiet pool area if you just want to cool off without hundreds of screaming kids.

Recreation
In addition to the pool options, you'll find a marina where you can rent boats to enjoy on the lake. Grab some of the small boats and cruise the lake, it's tons of fun.

Kids will enjoy spending time at the Sandcastle Club, the onsite kids club, roasting marshmallows in the evening, or watching a movie outside at night.

Active types will enjoy using the tennis courts, volleyball court, or renting bikes and cruising around the property. If you get one of the surrey bikes (they hold up to 4 people) just make sure your legs are working well and everyone peddles because there are some tough hills to get up as you cruise around the lake!

At night, head outside and you'll get a pretty good view of the fireworks from IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth over at Epcot.

Dining & Shopping
Onsite dining options include fine dining at Yachtsman Steakhouse and casual dining at Cape May Cafe and Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. Quick serve options include Hurricane Hanna's Waterside Bar and Grill and Beach Club Marketplace. Lounges include Ale and Compass Lounge, Martha's Vineyard, Crew's Cup Lounge.

24 hour room service is also offered here. Of course, you'll also have very easy access to the dining options at nearby hotels and the Boardwalk and even Epcot right next door.

There are some onsite shopping options as well in the form of a gift shop that carries some general needs items or you can walk or boat to the Boardwalk for even more shopping options.

Transportation & Location
If Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is the best resort in terms of location and transportation options then Disney's Beach Club Resort is a close second. The most notable benefit here is that you can walk to International Gateway, the back entrance to Epcot, which is located right next door to the Beach Club.

For fans of Hollywood Studios, you could walk there from the Beach Club but it's around a 1.25 mile walk, so you'd be much better off taking the boat which is pretty quick.

You'll also be just across the lake from the Boardwalk area and all of the dining, shopping, an entertainment they have over there. Getting there is easy and requires a short boat ride or fairly short walk.

For everything else you'll be taking a bus as usual.

Conclusion
Disney's Beach Club Resort is an excellent resort overall and in a great location with easy access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios as well as the Boardwalk. The pool here is second to none and really a mini water park that kids (and adults) will love.

Dining, shopping, and entertainment options are very good since you're so close to Epcot, the Boardwalk, and all of the neighboring hotels that you can easily walk to.

The hotel itself is very well done though the rooms feel very old and worn and are in need of major updates. The only other major complaint is the cost of staying here which is often ridiculously expensive, but that's how supply and demand works. If price is an issue then consider hotel hopping and staying at a more budget friendly option at the beginning of your trip and staying here on the end half of your trip.

The bottom line is that this is one of our favorite Disney properties in Walt Disney World.

• Building: Hotel	• Building: Low Rise	• Property: Arcade	• Property: Business Center	• Property: Club Level
• Property: Dining On Site	• Property: Fitness Room	• Property: Laundry On Site	• Property: Stores On Site	• Room: 24-Hour Room Service
• Room: Coffee Maker	• Room: Hair Dryer	• Room: Mini Fridge	• Room: Safe	• Recreation: Beach
• Recreation: Bike Rentals	• Recreation: Hot Tub	• Recreation: Kids Club	• Recreation: Marina / Boats	• Recreation: Pool
• Recreation: Water Park	• Recreation: Water Slides	• Internet: Free In Lobby	• Internet: Free In Room	• Parking: Free Self Park
• Parking: Paid Valet	• Disney: Boat Transportation	• Disney: Bus Transportation	• Disney: Deluxe Hotel