Disney’s Beach Club Resort — Staying at Walt Disney World with Kids

Price: $$$ For: Families Cleanliness: 4.5/5 Comfort: 5/5 Recommended: Yes

Features: Perks of official park resort, beach theme, comfortable rooms, close to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, sand-lined pools and great waterslide, plenty of dining which accommodate for food allergies Links: Official site

Walt Disney World in Florida has a multitude of official Disney Resorts to choose from. The last two times, my family and I stayed at the Disney Beach Club Resort and we love it. From location to amenities to dining, this resort has it all. It’s the perfect spot to recoup from long days at the park or to take advantage of the room and pool. Yes, the hands-down best pool in the area happens to be here!

You’ll often see the term “Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club.” These are actually two Deluxe-level sister resorts that share the same property. Each has a different layout and feel but they share many amenities. Both resorts are a short walk to both the boat dock (goes to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, the Boardwalk, and the Swan & Dolphin resort) and the World Showcase in Epcot.

Disney’s Yacht Club has a nautical theme, high-end restaurants, and has gorgeous views of the lake and boat dock. Disney’s Beach Club has a beach theme (obviously), a souvenir shop, and counter food service. This resort will appeal more to families with warm, bright colors and a kids’ activity center.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort Review — Rooms

The rooms are spacious and clean. I love that the double sinks are separate from the toilet and shower room. That way other guests can still get ready even if the half bathroom is occupied. With large windows, a good amount of natural light comes in. Rooms include a coffee maker and mini refrigerator.

I would definitely request a room with a balcony. These offer some nice breathing space if you have several people staying with you. As an official Walt Disney World resort, each guest receives a Magic Band. These bands function as your room key and give you the option to add your purchases at the resort to your final bill.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort Review — Dining

Food options are fantastic at Disney’s Beach Club. While we didn’t eat at the Cape May Cafe, the Beach Club Marketplace downstairs was more than enough. In fact, I wish I realized just what a gem it was earlier in our trip! While you can pick up cold beverages and food items, there is also a counter service with made-to-order hot food. It’s actually delicious! Even better is the fact that staff is extremely accommodating for those with food allergies! The limited menu includes breakfast and entreés (served until midnight) and always features yummy items. We would often pick up breakfast, snacks, or a late meal and then eat it in the room. There are tables in the garden but we preferred kicking off our shoes and chilling in the room to unwind.

Then there’s Beaches & Cream. The Walt Disney World website describes this as an “old-fashioned soda fountain.” It offers a good selection of both savory food and frozen desserts. Tables tend to fill up so it would be a good idea to make a reservation. But, you can also opt to pick up some sweet treats from the to-go menu. The staff was great about Frans’ celiac / gluten-free needs as well. To prevent cross-contamination, his ice cream was scooped from new containers in the back. They have some crazy awesome dessert items!

I declare the rainy day officially salvaged! Also had #gf options & knowledgable staff #DisneySMMC #food #travel

A photo posted by Blogger ? TerriAnn van Gosliga (@cookiesandclogs) on May 4, 2016 at 7:29pm PDT

Disney’s Beach Club Resort Review — Stormalong Bay

Stormalong Bay is the shared pool for guests at both the Yacht Club and the Beach Club. There are several pools including a lazy river with single and double inner tubes. Lifeguards are stationed in many key spots so attention to water safety is high. The pools all have sand on the bottom, which is nice but strange at the same time. If you need some refreshments, Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill is right there. It has a great selection of eats and drinks (with or without alcohol). Again, awesome spot for those with food allergies.

Ah, the waterslides really make this a must-visit resort! A shipwreck facade houses a mini waterslide for littles as well as stairs to the main waterslide. Guests must scuttle across the public walkway to access the slides. The main one lets out in Stormalong Bay, though, so wet swimmers cross the pathway throughout the day. Adults and children love taking advantage of this fun feature. We sure did.

Visiting Walt Disney World with Kids

Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a fabulous choice for families looking to stay at Walt Disney World. It’s in a nice, central location for all things Disney and has many amenities. The pool offers a great time for a day off from theme park hopping. Food choices are top notch with great care taken for those with food allergies. The staff is friendly, rooms are clean, and the grounds are beautifully manicured. If you’re staying at Walt Disney World for any length of time, definitely check out Disney’s Beach Club Resort. If you will be visiting sans kids, try Disney’s Yacht Club for a more laid back stay.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend the 2016 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. As part of this, we received hefty discounts on our lodging. All opinions are my own.