Planning a Resort Day at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is a favorite among Guests due to its proximity to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, elaborate theming and attention to detail, and its prime location along Crescent Lake in the EPCOT Resort Area. Planning a resort day away from the parks can be easy with so much to see and do. Keep reading for our recommendations: 

1. Explore the resort

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort does not get enough hype compared to other deluxe resorts in terms of its design and attention to detail. If you have a more leisurely day planned outside of the theme parks, spend some time exploring the resort and taking in all of the small details that make it truly special. The nautical design of the lobby, to the resort’s outdoor areas, and even the artwork that adorns inner hallways in the resort all add to the theme and are nice to take in during a day off from the parks.

2. Have breakfast at Ale & Compass

Ale & Compass offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a casual, family-friendly setting. It is loosely themed to a New England eatery with a focus on regional favorites like lobster dishes and Parker House Rolls, but it has quickly become popular with Guests for breakfast. With something for everyone (including some great vegan options), it’s a relaxing spot to grab breakfast before setting out to enjoy a day at the resort.

3. Go for a walk around Crescent Lake

The Yacht Club Resort has one of the best locations of any resort at Walt Disney World, where it is not only in walking distance to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios but also to its sister resort, the Beach Club, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts. Each resort has its own distinct theme to take in, more than 30 restaurants in total around the lake, and expansive and photographic views across the water.

 

4. Spend some time at Stormalong Bay

One major perk of staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is its main pool area, Stormalong Bay. Complete with waterslides themed to a shipwreck and a large and winding lazy river, it is easily the best Disney resort pool. No resort day at the Yacht Club is complete without some time kicking back at Stormalong Bay- It’s perfect for every member of the family with a great pool bar for adults and plenty of activities for kids. Remember that pools at Disney resorts are exclusive amenities for Guests staying at the resort only. 

5. Go for a boat ride

You do not need to enter one of the theme parks to take a Friendship boat to them. If you have some time to spend and are looking for a relaxing activity on a resort day at the Yacht Club, hop aboard a boat to either EPCOT’s International Gateway or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Hollywood Studios would be the longer ride, but both offer a quick way to get some added relaxation and time on the water into your next resort day on Crescent Lake. 

6. Grab an ice cream

Disney’s Yacht Club is centrally located between a number of ice cream shops! The closest is Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Beaches and Cream is a classic Walt Disney World ice cream parlor offering delicious sundaes and the famous kitchen sink, made with every topping in the house (including a whole can of whipped cream!) Nearby, there is also the Boardwalk Ice Cream Shop, a nice option for a grab and go ice scream scooped to enjoy outdoors. The Fountain at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin is another option for ice cream and sundaes (and it is often easier to get a table here than at Beaches and Cream if you find yourself stuck and craving ice cream). 

7. Enjoy Movies Under the Stars

One of the best ways to cap off a night at a Disney resort is with Movies Under the Stars. Check with your resort for a schedule when you check in, and spend an evening watching a new or classic Disney movie with the family. Pick up dinner on the way, or simply kick back and enjoy a family movie night outside at the Yacht Club Resort. (You do not need to be staying at the resort you’re watching the movie at, but the best way to get a schedule is by checking at the resort in person.)

8. Book a dinner reservation at a favorite restaurant

With so many restaurants around Crescent Lake, you may want to make a reservation for dinner on the night of your resort day. Head to Ale & Compass if you didn’t visit for breakfast, or consider getting Italian food at Trattoria al Forno at the Boardwalk or Il Mulino at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. You can also find plenty of grab and go options at the Boardwalk, lounges between the Yacht and Beach Clubs, and even a sushi bar at the Swan and Dolphin.