Beach Club vs. Yacht Club

[Ashitaka]

My girlfriend and I are planning on booking a trip the first week of March 2010. We've stayed at the AKL the last couple ot times and loved it. This time, we are planning on using the buy 4, get 3 discount to stay at one of the Epcot area resorts. We like the idea of being able to walk into World Showcase of a whim for food, drinks, and maybe some entertainment, as we will be spending some of the days just relaxing at our resort.

The photos I've shown her of the Boardwalk Inn didn't do much for her, so we are considering the BC/YC.

Is there really any difference between these two, the Beach Club and the Yacht Club? Which of the two should I pick for us (two adults in our early 40s)?

We are leaning towards the Beach Club, just because it is those few steps closer to World Showcase. Though some people's online reviews claim that Disney markets BC more for families with young children (yeah, like that isn't the case with any Disney property) than Yacht Club.

I also see I could book a Studio at Beach Club Villas for about the same price (we'd be getting a Standard View most likely to save a few bucks).

Which do you think I should book, BC, YC, or BCV?

Of course, for the same amount of cash, I could book us back at AKL in a concierge level room with a savanna view. That might be even more relaxing, but we've done that before.

Thanks!

 

[DisneyJoe]

Biggest difference between BC and YC is balcony size - Yacht Club has full size balconies, Beach Club has small balconies.

I prefer YC.

 

[wdwmagic]

Is there really any difference between these two, the Beach Club and the Yacht Club? Which of the two should I pick for us (two adults in our early 40s)?

We are leaning towards the Beach Club, just because it is those few steps closer to World Showcase. Though some people's online reviews claim that Disney markets BC more for families with young children (yeah, like that isn't the case with any Disney property) than Yacht Club.

I definitely agree that the BC is more family orientated. The YC is a bit quieter. That would be my pick for your situation.

 

[disneygirl76]

My girlfriend and I are planning on booking a trip the first week of March 2010. We've stayed at the AKL the last couple ot times and loved it. This time, we are planning on using the buy 4, get 3 discount to stay at one of the Epcot area resorts. We like the idea of being able to walk into World Showcase of a whim for food, drinks, and maybe some entertainment, as we will be spending some of the days just relaxing at our resort.

The photos I've shown her of the Boardwalk Inn didn't do much for her, so we are considering the BC/YC.

Is there really any difference between these two, the Beach Club and the Yacht Club? Which of the two should I pick for us (two adults in our early 40s)?

We are leaning towards the Beach Club, just because it is those few steps closer to World Showcase. Though some people's online reviews claim that Disney markets BC more for families with young children (yeah, like that isn't the case with any Disney property) than Yacht Club.

I also see I could book a Studio at Beach Club Villas for about the same price (we'd be getting a Standard View most likely to save a few bucks).

Which do you think I should book, BC, YC, or BCV?

Of course, for the same amount of cash, I could book us back at AKL in a concierge level room with a savanna view. That might be even more relaxing, but we've done that before.

Thanks!

We like YC better then BC - we like the decor better. BC is closer to the International Gateway but not by very much. The pool is great at BC/YC!! Awesome!!! It's nice to be close to DHS and Epcot rather then having to take a bus everywhere like at AKL. And the Boardwalk is right across the bridge - which is nice for more things to do. We are going in March 2010 - and staying at the YC for the 2nd time. We really like it there! :wave:

 

[surfsupdon]

Stay away from the Beach Club---you're adults!! The Resort was never quiet. The lobby had screaming children and I didn't like some of the Disney characters intertwined into the decorations in what used to be a grand, elegant Resort.


Yacht Club is much more adult. There is more 'order', and it is much more quiet. Yacht Club also has full balconies. Beach Club has very tiny balconies.


And Yacht Club JUST finished interior refurbishments. Beach Club had theirs done at least a year ago now. So Yacht Club will be fresher!

 

[Computer Magic]

Everyone is giving me something to think about. I loved BC but everyone points YC is better for adults. I wasn't a fan of Boardwalk. The three resorts are the same price and BC/YC was better for us. I was extreamly disappointed for Boardwalk, maybe because you had to leave the resort to do everything.

 

[Ashitaka]

Great! I'm glad I asked. I hadn't realized about the full balconys at YC. I thought it would be the luck of the draw as to whether you get a full or tiny balcony, just like it is at BC. We'll go with YC then.

Thanks!

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

Out of all the Ec resorts I love boardwalk. Maybe beacuse I own there but having the entertainment there is wonderful. I don't like Bcv because if you don't have a view of dunes cove then there's really nothing to see but at boardwalk the views are nice. But out of your 2 choices I would chose Yacht club since your adults because of a more mature feel. I love the beach club but for you Yc is the best choice.

 

[surfsupdon]

During the day several times, the Beach Club lobby turns into a type of daycare. Oversized wooden blocks, toys, and other games are dumped on the floor and kids are screaming and hitting and rolling and playing and acting like children--which is fine.

But if you don't like that, stay at Yacht Club. It is the better choice for adults.

And if you are getting a standard view, request a standard view room on the lakeside of the Resort. All overlook pretty manicured gardens.

 

[reptar77]

We stay at the yatch club mostly. We are 's and don't care for the crazy kid experience at the beach club.

 

[brent2124]

we stay at the yatch club mostly. We are 's and don't care for the crazy kid experience at the beach club.

's?

 

[Victoria]

I am going to be the odd (wo)man out here. I loved BCV as a solo 25-year old traveler . I didn't notice an over-abundance of kids. Maybe I am just immune to screaming children since I am a teacher. :shrug: I loved my studio at BCV and its close proximity to the International Gateway. I also prefer the decor at BC too. Yacht Club was just too formal for me I guess.

No matter which one you go with, you will get to experience the amazingness that is Stormalong Bay. I highly recommend going in the late evening though. During the daytime it is extremely crowded and definitely overflowing with children. Also, the sand bottom of the pool feels like a great foot massage at the end of a long day traipsing around the parks. :lol:

 

[reptar77]

Dual income no kids

 

[NewfieFan]

I am going to be the odd (wo)man out here. I loved BCV as a solo 25-year old traveler . I didn't notice an over-abundance of kids. Maybe I am just immune to screaming children since I am a teacher. :shrug: I loved my studio at BCV and its close proximity to the International Gateway. I also prefer the decor at BC too. Yacht Club was just too formal for me I guess.

No matter which one you go with, you will get to experience the amazingness that is Stormalong Bay. I highly recommend going in the late evening though. During the daytime it is extremely crowded and definitely overflowing with children. Also, the sand bottom of the pool feels like a great foot massage at the end of a long day traipsing around the parks. :lol:

I didn't find Stormalong Bay that bad in the morning... maybe it's because it was the end of August!?! :shrug: But yes, it is awesome! And the sand does fill nice on the tired feet! Ahhhhhh!

I love YC but I've only stayed at YC! I have children and didn't find the YC "stuffy". Maybe the BC is more family friendly, I don't know!?!

 

[marcriss]

We have 2 kids but we all like the YC better. It's really about the decor, and the YC is much quieter (but still kid friendly). The BC is very "Florida", tiles, peach & sea foam green color scheme with shells, etc. YC is boating with rich wood, dark colors and that makes it feel warmer to us. YC is much more subdued and has quiet elegance (not over the top like the GF). BC is much more lively. They are great companion hotels. We love to have breakfast at the beach club marketplace and the solarium is a nice place for a cup of coffee and a book (it can get busy here too).

The Crew's Cup lounge at the YC is a nice place for a drink too. Enjoy!

 

[sueuk]

Biggest difference between BC and YC is balcony size - Yacht Club has full size balconies, Beach Club has small balconies.

I prefer YC.

Beach club has 2 sizes of balconies, depending on where the room is, also many of the ground floor rooms have a lovely patio area with table and chairs - we've had these twice and they are great. We stay at the Beach Club without children and have never felt that there are more kids here than any other hotel!

 

[durangojim]

Biggest difference between BC and YC is balcony size - Yacht Club has full size balconies, Beach Club has small balconies.

I prefer YC.

Not true, some rooms have small balconies, some have same size balconies and YC, and some have balconies so large, that I would call them patios. My wife and I just returned from a long weekend away from the kids and we choose to stay at BC over YC for a couple reasons:

We prefer the atmosphere at BC, it's brighter and IMO more relaxed. I often hear people complaining that GF is "stuffy" but that's how we feel whenever we go into the YC.

Second, although YC is not far, it is farther away from Epcot, and with the food and wine festival going on, we wanted to be as close as possible. We had a standard view room with a full balcony on the Epcot side of the resort and our view was very nice with a lot of foliage and no views of anykind or roads or parking lots. What was really great was that there is a small gate right off the path to Epcot that leads you right into the entrance for that wing of the resort. It literally took us 90 seconds to walk from our room to international gateway.

I also like the fact that the quiet pool at BC is on the same path that goes by the beach and ultimately Stormalong Bay. This made it very easy to switch between pools to get drinks or sweets as needed without going back into the hotel in our wet bathing suits. At YC you have to go back inside to get to Stormalong bay or the beach.

I'd go for BC over YC any day, but either way you'll have a great time.

 

[durangojim]

Stay away from the Beach Club---you're adults!! The Resort was never quiet. The lobby had screaming children and I didn't like some of the Disney characters intertwined into the decorations in what used to be a grand, elegant Resort.


Yacht Club is much more adult. There is more 'order', and it is much more quiet. Yacht Club also has full balconies. Beach Club has very tiny balconies.


And Yacht Club JUST finished interior refurbishments. Beach Club had theirs done at least a year ago now. So Yacht Club will be fresher!

Might be strange to say, but at BC we've never spent more than 10 minutes in the lobby, all the times we've been there, so I don't really care about kids. Does the YC lobby have something special going on in it? WL, AKL, and GF lobbies we've hung out at but the BC and YC lobbies seem kind of small.

 

[lives4disney]

We like they YC better....that being said the new BC rooms are really pretty...I like that decor better now than the YC's.

Our favorite resort is the Grand Floridian, and over on the EPCOT side we like the YC -or the Swan for a great rate.

The YC rooms do all have the larger balconies...we have had BC rooms with the "standing" balconies and once we were even assigned a BC room with double beds...I called the front desk and switched out of those rooms..but after a few experiences that were less that fantastic at the BC we switched to YC and have always been satisfied with service and the rooms so that's where we opt to stay.

The difference in distance from either YC or BC to International Gateway is not that much depending on where your room is located. Some of the hallways are maze like. :ROFLOL:

We've always found the YC much more quiet and it feels more upscale than the BC IMO. But the fun stuff is located on the BC side....not far, but just an FYI.

For 2 adults, I think the YC is a great choice. The lobby is small...there is not much going on in it at all. Just people passing thru.

I've found a lot of Y and BC info here....
http://www.magicchatlive.com/showthread.php?tid=408

Enjoy!
Lives4Disney

 

[surfsupdon]

Might be strange to say, but at BC we've never spent more than 10 minutes in the lobby, all the times we've been there, so I don't really care about kids. Does the YC lobby have something special going on in it? WL, AKL, and GF lobbies we've hung out at but the BC and YC lobbies seem kind of small.

No, you do not hang out in the lobby. But you do pass through the lobbies to get to the Stormalong Bay, any restaurant, bus and boats. And walking through the Beach Club lobby was always so loud and shrill....whereas passing through Yacht Club is calm and peaceful after a day in a theme park.