Disney's Beach Club Resort Review

Welcome to Part One of my magical recap of an unforgettable time at Walt Disney World, FL in 2023. My best friend Lauren and I chose Disney's Beach Club Resort for our stay, marking her first visit and my first return since 2002. This article focuses on our resort experience, offering a glimpse into the luxury and leisure that awaited us at this colonial resort and why we chose to book!

🌟 First Impression: Beach Club Resort

Driving in from Saint Augustine, Florida we were immediately captivated by the Beach Club Resort's charm, reminiscent of a New England dream. This deluxe resort, inspired by 1800s beach cottages, has amenities such as the Storm-Along Bay Water Park, the convenient Beach Club Marketplace, and the nostalgic Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, making it the perfect base for our Disney adventures.

💵 Cost Considerations: Weighing the Pros and Cons

This resort is a deluxe option, so it comes with a higher price tag. Check prices as they fluctuate greatly depending on the time of year, ranging from 390 USD to 990 USD 😳 a night.

When browsing the various resorts, the Beach Club's design caught my eye. While I'm all for a fun and goofy Disney experience, I wanted to stay somewhere elegant as an adult. The light blue building, adorned with beautiful Victorian trim, the gardens with pops of bright pink flowers, and a view of the boardwalk offered something truly magical to wake up to.

We chose a standard room with a garden view, and although the rooms' interior decor slightly paled in comparison to the exterior's enchantment, the Disney-themed touches and the overall nostalgic beach vibe more than compensated for it, in my opinion. The Mickey ears towel display and Disney-themed toiletries were exciting for us to see!

For larger families or those seeking extra comfort, expansive Suites have separate living areas. You can choose Garden, Woods or Water View Rooms.

For the price tag, I've seen several complaints about being disappointed by the interior decor. However, I feel it still captures a nostalgic beach vibe, and I doubt you'll spend too much time in the room with all there is to do! The other resort we considered but was out of our budget was the Polynesian Village Resort. This may be a better option for you if the room theme matters a lot for your experience, it features a tropical aesthetic rather than a beach cottage.

🛥 Unique Amenities and Shared Experiences with Yacht Club

Adjacent to the Beach Club is the Yacht Club, where we explored additional dining and shopping options as the resorts share amenities. If you are staying at Disney's Beach Club Resort or the Yacht Club Resort, the top dining options to check out are the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, famous for its "Kitchen Sink" sundae, and the Yachtsman Steakhouse, known for premium steaks and seafood in a New England yacht club atmosphere.

There are also different souvenirs at the Beach Club Marketplace and The Market at Ale & Compass at the Yacht Club, offering everyday essentials, souvenirs, drinks, and snacks.

The Beach and Yacht Club resorts both offer activities like movies under the stars, tennis, volleyball, campfires, and different watercraft rentals for enjoyment on Crescent Lake. You can also enjoy state-of-the-art fitness centers and book spa services for relaxation.

🍹 Storm-Along Bay Pool, Hurricane Hannah's Waterside Bar & Grill

A bit about my personal experience, upon check-in, Lauren and I grabbed a quick bite at the Ale & Compass Lounge (great appetizers, fries and burgers) and dedicated our first day to enjoying Storm-Along Bay.

This expansive pool, spanning 3 acres, features a sandy bottom, a lazy river, a striking white windmill, and a waterslide attached to a life-size shipwreck on the beach.

After relaxing poolside, we ventured to Hurricane Hannah's Waterside Bar & Grill for drinks. The bar is a little shack, similar to Rico's Surf Shop in Hannah Montana with a laid-back vibe.

🌴 The Beach & Boardwalk Nearby

Our evening continued with a leisurely walk along the beach, where we enjoyed the sunset from swings and strolled down the lively Disney BoardWalk.

If Epcot is on your park bucket list, it is only a 5-10 minute walk from the resort. You can also take a quick boat ride to the park.

For Hollywood Studios (the second closest park) you can walk along a scenic path that takes about 15 to 20 minutes or catch the Skyliner to other parks like Disney's Riviera Resort.

🍦 A Final Dessert at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

Our last day at the Beach Club Resort was bittersweet, with a final, decadent sundae at the famous Beaches & Cream Soda Shop.

The ice cream shop is often booked up if you don't reserve a table in advance, but luckily there is a window shop where you can get many of the items without a long wait time.

🌊 Walt Disney World Resort Comparison for a Nautical Experience

If you enjoy a nautical theme, you may be choosing between the Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Polynesian Village Resort.

Disney's Beach Club Resort is fully accessible to guests with disabilities, offering features like accessible rooms with widened doors and roll-in showers, wheelchair-accessible pathways, and service animal accommodations.