*DIS Contributors review meals, resort stays, and entertainment that they have paid for during their own vacations. They only utilize discounts and offers if they are available to the general public, such as annual passholder discounts, Tables in Wonderland, or DVC membership discounts. They receive no additional compensation for dining experiences or events, so that they may give their honest opinions about price and value.
After eating at Cape May Cafe for many years, I had dreamed of staying at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. The stars finally aligned with a bounceback offer last December, so we booked a 3 night stay at the Beach Club for July 2019. I was very excited to take advantage of the legendary pool and the close proximity to Epcot. Unfortunately, this stay did not quite live up to my expectations.
While the exterior, lobby, and pool areas of the Beach Club are simply stunning, it seems the rooms are in need of a renovation. I found our room disappointing for a deluxe resort, partly because of how dated it was and partly because the cleanliness was not up to par. The carpet was stained in several spots and the bathroom wasn’t very clean. Our door had a large gap on the side and bottom, meaning we heard every sound in the hallway. Some things, like the bathroom flooring, toilet, and sink countertop have been updated somewhat recently, but other things, like the tub and bathroom door haven’t been touched.
We ate Sunday dinner at Cape May Cafe. While dining here is pricey at a whopping $52 per adult during peak season, if you are a seafood lover, it’s a must-do at least once. The seafood availability changes daily, so be sure to check the daily seafood offerings before making a reservation. The shrimp and clam strips were available while we were there, and I thoroughly enjoyed both! Crab legs are always on the buffet.
Getting to Epcot was a great experience! We weren’t reliant on Disney transportation; it was just a quick walk. Having shorter security lines and entrance lines to get into the park was fantastic! Bus transportation was frustrating, particularly when going to and from Disney Springs. I was shocked that 5 deluxe resorts share a bus to and from Disney Springs. Typically, deluxe resorts only share with 1 other deluxe resort (Ex: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Contemporary Resort). Be prepared to stop at 4 other resorts on your way to or back from the Springs.
The pool that Yacht and Beach Club share was phenomenal! I understand why they check your magic band at the gate to make sure you are staying at one of those 2 resorts. Stormalong Bay was complete with a pirate ship themed water slide, a kiddie pool, a lazy river, a large sand-bottom pool, a pool volleyball net, and many over-the-pool bridges to help navigate to all of the pool areas easily. We went to the pool first thing in the morning and were rewarded with very few crowds. There were lifeguards everywhere helping to ensure that everyone stayed safe.
While the amenities of Disney’s Beach Club Resort were wonderful, I don’t feel the room that we stayed in was worth the price. Even with the bounceback offer, it was over $300 a night. We ended up cutting our 3 night stay down to 2 nights. While our specific room experience could have been a fluke, I don’t think I will stay at the Beach Club again until the rooms have been updated.
