Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Orlando

DISNEY'S YACHT CLUB

The Yacht Club at Walt Disney World has to be my favourite hotel in all of the world (Disney World that it!) and as many Ciao-ers will know I have stayed in and reviewed a LOT of Disney Hotels!

I love this hotel because the service is impeccable down to the staff who open and close the doors for you when you enter and exit the hotel. The staff are also dressed in a clean nautical theme and lobby is ...
...to eat (as none of Disney's nicer restaurants are!) but it is a truly special restaurant that can be heartily recommended. If you are planning to visit then make sure to book! The last I went 9 of us ate here on Christmas day and I got one of the last booking three weeks before we left the UK!

Yacht Club Galley:

The Yacht Club Galley is a more causal café style affair that offers fast service of American classics; worth ... more

DISNEY'S YACHT CLUB

The Yacht Club at Walt Disney World has to be my favourite hotel in all of the world (Disney World that it!) and as many Ciao-ers will know I have stayed in and reviewed a LOT of Disney Hotels!

I love this hotel because the service is impeccable down to the staff who open and close the doors for you when you enter and exit the hotel. The staff are also dressed in a clean nautical theme and lobby is expertly themed with low ceilings, benches and port holes! Check-in is always fast and efficient and the concierge is knowledgeable and able to secure most dining and other activities that guests require.

The communal areas are all beautiful with lots of great touches: kids love the large globe in the lobby and even the individual towels I the public rest rooms are a rare luxury in this day and age!

The shop is spacious and stocks the usual range of Disney merchandise as well as everyday essentials and more usual nautically themed gifts; great souvenirs!

The Yacht Club is another deluxe resort and like the Boardwalk Villas is to be found between the theme parks EPCOT and MGM Studios meaning that you have the choice (and luxury!) of walking into the EPCOT via the International Getaway and finding yourself at between the UK and France or catching a boat for a very short walk to MGM Studios. Access to other theme parks (Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom) as well as other attractions is via Disney bus!

The rooms:
The rooms are all decorated in a blue ish nautical theme to a high standard with white furniture. All of the rooms feature two double beds and some rooms also offer one kind bed as well as a sofa/day bed making the maximum capacity of all rooms 4 or 5 people.

Most rooms are the same size but the standard rooms offer a garden/car park view or the water/pool view rooms are available at a supplement. In addition there are a variety of suites available for larger numbers but the rooms are large and spacious and I've never bothered with a suite upgrade!

The Concierge level offers the same rooms as above but also offers:
Access to the club lounge including breakfast, snacks all day and wine and cheese reception
Additional staff assistance with reservations and throughout your stay
Robes in your room

There is 24 hour room service here and the menu is varied albeit not particularly cheap with a good range of children's options. As standard all rooms offer: minibar (cheaper and more varied selection of goods from the hotel shop), irons, ironing boards, hairdryer and an in-room safe. International TV with lots of Disney channels will of course keep your little Mickey's and Minnie's amused! The hotel also offers a coin operated laundry on site as well as a laundry/dry cleaning service for a fee.

Additional services available at no extra charge include coffee makers and refrigerators, as well as newspaper delivery. All rooms now feature high speed internet access with charges being added to your phone bill (not a very cheap way to keep in touch with Disney phone call prices…)

The rooms are immaculately maintained and the bathrooms are large and spacious with lots of fluffy towels and the obligatory Mickey Mouse soap! A nightly turn down service is offered and is remark unobtrusive fitting around your schedule!

Eating and dining:

Yachtsman Steakhouse:

The Yachtsman Steakhouse is the full service restaurant at this resort hotel and is my personal favourite restaurant in Disney World. The service is impeccable with all staff dressed as though they should be aboard a luxury liner. The atmosphere is elegant and sophisticated without being pretentious or stuffy (The butter has Mickey Mouse's face on it so that stops things becoming too staid!)

The food here is wonderful with a variety of steaks obviously being the order of the day! In addition, there is a varied fish menu as well as vegetarian options. The steak fries are out of this world as the desserts. Also check out the extensive wine list and the wine cellar as you enter. This is not a cheap place to eat (as none of Disney's nicer restaurants are!) but it is a truly special restaurant that can be heartily recommended. If you are planning to visit then make sure to book! The last I went 9 of us ate here on Christmas day and I got one of the last booking three weeks before we left the UK!

Yacht Club Galley:

The Yacht Club Galley is a more causal café style affair that offers fast service of American classics; worth checking out as the food is good and reasonably priced and nice for an early diner or peaceful lunch away from the theme parks!

Also check out the small intimate bar just off the lobby which serves w aide range of drinks and cocktails and luxuriate in the large comfy chairs and sofas.

Rest and relaxation:
The pool here is amazing as it is a normal pool but with a sand base! There's also a smaller kiddie pool as well as great slide. The real fun starts as the Yacht and Beach Club hotel pool merge into one making this a huge place to swim in!

If you want some real R&R then heck out the pure white sand beach filled with lots of sun loungers and water service drinks.

Other things to keep you fit:
Play a game of tennis on the court with free hire of balls and racquets.

A great activity playground for children (unsupervised by Disney staff so don't forget to keep an eye on your little ones!)

Play a variety of video and pinball games at this high-tech game room located in the Yacht & Beach Club Common area.

Work out on Nautilus and Hammer Strength exercise machines supervised by experienced trainers; relax in the spa, steam room or sauna; and treat yourself to a therapeutic massage.

What does it cost to stay here?

The Disney seasons for 2006 are as follows:

Value Season: 01 Jan - 15 Feb, 5 Jul - 4 Oct, 26 Nov - 19 Dec
Regular Season: 23 Apr - 4 Jul, 5 Oct - 25 Nov
Peak Season: 16 Feb - 22 Apr

Prices below are per adult per room (2 children up to 18 can stay in their parents room free of charge) from the current Disney prices.

Have a good shop around when booking your accommodation which will usually be room only but may include park passes. You can sometime save money by booking with travel agents or via the internet as well as by booking through US company. Also make sure that you weigh up the Disney park passes as there are LOTS on offer so make sure that you don't book too many or too few days as you may want to see other things in Florida or do everything that Disney has to offer! Happy holidays!!

2006 Room Rates (tax included)‡
Room Type Value Regular Peak Holiday

Standard
Standard View £94 £107 £129 £147
Water or Pool View £114 £130 £151 £168

 

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