A M I N I S T A Y C A T I O N
Destination: Walt Disney World Resorts
We recently took a trip to the beautiful Beach Club Villas, located in the Epcot resort area of Disney World. Being an annual passholder and local to the area, we don’t often stay on Disney property because home is just a short drive away. Being said, sometimes there is nothing better than a weekend getaway to Disney World. We are able to enjoy the parks a little longer without the stress of driving home and it makes me feel like I’m actually on vacation! Some resorts that we have stayed at in the past are The Grand Floridian, Caribbean Beach, The Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Swan and Dolphin (on Disney property but not a Disney resort) and Pop Century.
I was interested in finding a resort on Disney grounds that checks off the wishlist of most guests who are planning a trip to the happiest place on earth! Some of these include kid friendly accommodations and a good location with easy access to the parks and other Disney attractions.
While doing our search for the perfect getaway spot, we were in between a couple Disney resorts. Some that were recommended to us were Saratoga Springs, Old Key West and The Yacht Club.
(A little side note - While searching for our hotel, we saw so many great specials + deals on rooms. One of my favorite perks of being an annual passholder is the summertime resort savings. We took full advantage of this perk when making our decision. We received $400 off the nightly rate!)
For this trip to Disney, it was just my mom and I. We wanted to have a mini girls getaway and weren’t planning on doing any park hopping. Our main focus was the pool and the access to non park attractions like The Boardwalk and Disney Springs.
Our final decision was Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Villas and here is why!
(P.S we both concluded that this resort could be a great destination for families with kids or even a couples retreat).
Checking In:
The first thing that caught my eye about The Beach Club Resort was its aesthetic and the prime location. Directly across from the boardwalk and equip with its very own beach and Epcot access, I was ready to book a stay right away!
What I love about entering the Beach Club Resort is how bright and open it is. At times, it was extremely crowded with guests checking in and arriving from a Disney cruise but to our surprise we never felt like it was overwhelming or loud. The layout of the resort is wonderful. Unlike some Disney resorts, the lobby is spacious. It feels very welcoming from the second you walk in. We were even greeted by the cutest cast member who gave us some fun Disney facts while we were waiting in line.
We checked in early and the bell hop took our luggage and stowed it for us while we were waiting for our room to come available.
The Beach:
This is one of my favorite features of the Beach Club Resort. Giving guests a true Florida experience, Disney has brought the beach to the middle of Orlando. Outlined by the boardwalk and lagoon, it is a calm and quiet area that is often times not as crowded as the pool. The beach has access to chairs and cabanas for resort guests.
The Pool:
I would say that The Beach Club Resort hands down has the best pool of all the Disney properties. This is a huge driving point of why we chose to stay here for our mini getaway. There are multiple pools, some with sand bars and even a lazy river!
Over on the villa side we had our own private pool that was less crowded and exclusive to the DVC members and villa guests. We loved having both options during our stay!
The Beach Club is definitly kid friendly when it comes
to water activities and amenities. The lazy river was a big hit amongst all the little ones and so was the pirate ship slide.
Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grille is a great poolside amenity that has a full bar and offers a large menu of food items. I ordered the kids chicken tenders and it came in the cutest sand pail. So clever!
Resort Restaurants:
The resort has a couple different dining options. The most accessible, located right off the lobby is The Cape May Cafe. A buffet style dining experience, the menu has a range of choices to choose from, including a salad bar, seafood, all american cuisine and dessert options.
Beaches and Cream:
One of the most popular places to find a sweet treat at Disney World is definitely Beaches and Cream, located in the pool area of The Beach Club Resort. Known for its kitchen sink dessert and massive sundaes, this soda shop does not disappoint! I went right for the Minnie Milkshake and it was just as good as it looks!
The Grounds:
It’s undeniable that the resort is absolutely gorgeous. We enjoyed walking around and looking at all of the beautiful details of the building and scenery.
The Villas:
The Villas have a separate location right off of the main resort. The villas are for Disney Vacation Club members or can come available in the off season for guests who are not in the DVC program. The villas have a private pool access alongside access to all of the amenities in the main resort area.
Our Villa:
Our villa was very spacious and had a small balcony overlooking the pool. Since the villas are mostly occupied by DVC members, they do have special features including a small kitchen, living room area and a larger bathroom.
Connection to the Yaht Club:
The Beach Club is conveniently connected to the Yaht Club, another beautiful Disney resort. We found this so accommodating, providing more dining options during our stay. The Yaht club has a more warm and cozy feel as you enter the lobby. We loved watching the boats pull up to the dock. It gave a great overall experience, making you feel emerced in the nautical theme.
Walking distance to the Boardwalk:
We were so excited to have the Boardwalk within walking distance of our resort. We strolled over to the fu outdoor dock to grab lunch and do some shopping. On the boardwalk you will find an assortment of restaurants and Disney themed shops where you can load up on all things Mickey and Minnie or even rent a biketo travel around the Epcot resort area.
Back entrance to Epcot:
This is a huge advantage especially when Epcot is having a large event such as the Flower and Garden Festival or The Food and Wine Festival. This back entrance is just a short 2 minute walk from the resort and puts you in the back end of Epcot’s World Showcase. The lines are often very short and this area of the park is much less crowded.
Overall, we absolutely loved our weekend getaway at the Beach Club Resort and Villas! I would highly recommend this location if planning a Disney World trip with family or kids. There is so much to do around the property and the location is prime!
To book your stay or for more information on The Beach Club Resort and Villas, visit:
For more information regarding the villas, visit:
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