Disney’s Beach Club Resort: Is it Really Worth the Cost?

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Disney’s Beach Club Resort is one of Walt Disney World’s deluxe Epcot-area hotels, located along Crescent Lake with shared access to the famous Stormalong Bay, and the huge perk of being able to walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

For many Disney fans, it’s the ultimate “we finally splurged on a deluxe” resort.

It was one of the very few Disney resorts I hadn’t stayed at, and on paper it looked absolutely perfect for me: easy access to Epcot, a short stroll to Hollywood Studios, and that BoardWalk area charm everyone talks about.

So I finally did it.

I booked Beach Club as my “in between” stay on a very Disney trip. I sailed on a Disney Fantasy Transatlantic cruise and then Disney Wish. This was not a back to back, as I had a day in between each sailing, So I decided to book the Beach Club.

I booked months before and got an annual passholder discount, so the cost was a “reasonable” $530 per night plus tax.

And I’ll be honest with you:

• The location really is as good as everyone says.
• Almost everything else fell short of the picture I’d built up over the years.

This isn’t going to be a fluffy “every deluxe is magical” review.

In this post I’m going to walk you through:

• What Beach Club actually does brilliantly (and it does have some big strengths)
• Where it quietly underdelivers for the price
• How it compares to other deluxes I’ve stayed at (including some I’d book again first)
• And most importantly: who should genuinely consider Beach Club… and who is probably better off staying somewhere else

If you’re thinking about spending money on a Beach Club stay this will help you decide whether it’s going to feel like a dream… or a slightly disappointing “that was nice, but not for that price” experience.

Location

The absolute standout of Disney’s Beach Club Resort is its location.

If you’re the kind of person who loves being “in the middle of it all,” this is the closest you can get to a Disney World theme park.

You walk out of the resort, follow the path along Crescent Lake, and before you know it, you’re walking into Epcot between the UK and France pavilions.

For me, coming straight off a Disney cruise, that proximity made a huge difference.

I didn’t arrive at Beach Club until almost noon after disembarking, checking in, and dropping bags. It usually would have been earlier, as the resort buses leave Port Canaveral at 9 am. This means that most days you are at your resort by around 10.15 am.

However, it took us over 2 hours to disembark the ship, due to the government shut down there was a shortage of staff. We then didn’t leave until 10.30 as we were waiting for others to be able to disembark.

At many resorts, arriving that late after a cruise day would feel like you’ve “lost” the day.

Here, I checked in, got myself somewhat organized, and still had plenty of park time left. Fortunately our room was ready – I really appreciated this early check in so that I could just put my bags in the room and get out to the parks.

Within a very short time of setting foot in the lobby, I was walking into Epcot and casually starting my afternoon in World Showcase.

That walkability completely changes the rhythm of your day.

There’s no waiting around for a bus, no factoring in 30–40 minutes just to get from your room to the park gate.

Even with a late start, I could wander into Epcot, grab lunch, enjoy a few attractions, and soak up some festival time without ever feeling rushed.

If you like the idea of a relaxed half day in the park after travel or a cruise, Beach Club’s location makes that not only possible, but easy.

Knowing I could be “home” in under 10 minutes made it very tempting to pop back to the room for a break or a quick change, and then head straight back into Epcot for the evening.

Even though there were things about Beach Club that disappointed me, I can’t fault the location at all—being that close to a park entrance really does feel like a luxury in itself.

You have the same great access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can either take the boat, or walk to the park. It is a pleasant walk, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes, but just be aware that there is very little shade, so you aren’t going to want to do this in the summer heat.

Transportation to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom is by Disney buses.

If you are bringing your own car, then parking is free. Valet is $42 a night – not sure why you would want to do this, but I guess some people do!

The Room at Disney’s Beach Club

On a very positive note, I got an upgrade. I did not book a water view, but I got one.

And the view was very very nice. Being able to just open the door on the juliet balcony was a fabulous feature.

The room had a very comfy King bed. However, having just spend two weeks on a Disney cruise, the bedding and pillows weren’t quite as nice as that.

I know I am getting very picky here and the Disney cruise line has some of the best bedding I have ever experience in any hotel or cruise line.

The comfort of the bed was very good though – just not exceptional.

It had all the things that you would expect.

Decent amount of closet storage, lots of drawer space, an iron, a safe in the closet and a refrigerator.

There is a bathroom with the toilet, bath and shower over the bath. Then outside this is the sink and vanity area. This is always a great design.

The bathroom where the bath and shower was is small.

And rather dated.

It really wasn’t what I had expected for a deluxe Disney hotel and it had the dreaded shower curtain. The shower pressure was decent though, and of course it had the usual Disney toiletries of shampoo conditioner and body wash.

I have to say that I was disappointed in the interior design of the room at the Beach Club.

Stormalong Bay: What You Actually Get

Stormalong Bay is the reason a lot of people book Beach Club or Yacht Club in the first place. Disney markets it as more of a mini water park than a regular hotel pool, and in this case that’s actually pretty accurate.

It’s a 3 acre pool complex shared between Beach Club and Yacht Club, spread out along Crescent Lake rather than one big rectangle of water.

Because of that layout, it feels like a series of different pool experiences stitched together—lazy river, sand bottom “lagoon,” slides, quiet corners, and hot tubs—all behind one gated entrance.

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Sand Bottom Pool & “Beach” Area

One of the most unique parts of Stormalong Bay is the sand bottom section. The floor is covered in soft sand, so instead of that cold, hard pool bottom, you get something that feels more like wading into a shallow bay.

There’s also a very shallow “beach” area where kids can dig and splash right at the edge of the water. For younger children this is usually an instant favorite—there’s enough water to feel like they’re in the pool, but it’s shallow and sandy enough that it feels safe and playful.

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Lazy River & Main Pool Zones

Off to one side, you’ll find a lazy river style loop. It’s not as huge as the lazy rivers in the water parks, but it’s a proper float around on an inner tube experience, not just a circular pool.

The depth here can be on the deeper side in spots, so it’s better suited to confident swimmers and adults or older kids who are comfortable with life vests or tubes.

Another thing to like about this is that the pool floats are free for the lazy river. This is in contrast to one of my other favorite hotels Cabana Bay Beach Resort. I know this is a Universal resort, and is not anywhere near the price point of Disney’s Beach Club, but it is annoying that they charge for their floats for the lazy river.

If you are looking for true peace and quiet, both Beach Club and Yacht Club also have separate quiet pools away from Stormalong Bay that are usually calmer and much less of a production.

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Waterslides for Big Kids and Little Ones

The headline feature for a lot of guests is the large waterslide that starts from a shipwreck?themed structure on the beach side of the walkway and ends back in Stormalong Bay.

To use it, you actually:

• Leave the main gate area
• Cross the public walkway
• Climb the stairs on the “shipwreck” side
• Slide back down into the main pool

It’s a proper slide, fun for adults as well as kids—not just a tiny kiddie chute.

For younger children who aren’t quite ready for that, there’s a smaller slide and shallower play area so they can still feel included without going up to the big shipwreck.

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When Stormalong Bay Is Worth It (And When It Isn’t)

For many guests, Stormalong Bay is the single biggest reason to pick Beach Club or Yacht Club over other resorts. It really does offer more than a standard pool, and it’s easy to spend half a day or even a full “no parks” day just rotating between the sandy sections, the lazy river, the slide, and the hot tubs.

If your family:

• Loves pool time
• Wants at least one slower resort day
• And you’ll actually build that into your schedule

…Stormalong Bay can absolutely feel like a built in bonus water park.

On the other hand, if you’re the type who is in the parks from rope drop to close and only dips into the pool for 30–60 minutes here and there, you may not feel like you’re getting the full value out of what makes this pool so special. In that case, it becomes a nice extra—not necessarily a reason on its own to pay Beach Club’s higher nightly rate.

Food at the Beach Club

There are various quick service and full service food options available at Disney’s Beach Club.

You are also within very easy walking distance to all the restaurants at Epcot, Disney’s Boardwalk, Yacht Club Resort and The Swan and Dolphin Resort Hotels.

Quick Service

• Beach Club Marketplace
• Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Grill

The Beach Club Market Place has a selection of Disney souvenirs as well as offering some food options. The opening hours are usually 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.

If you are looking for a quick breakfast before you head to the parks there is a decent selection including a breakfast sandwich for $9.29, oatmeal for $5.29 and Mickey Waffles for $11.29.

There are also some lunch and dinner options with the popular Roasted Chicken Dinner for $14.79, Sandwiches from $11.99 and Plant Based Chili for $4.69.

You can see the full menu here.

Hurricane Hanna’s & Poolside Food

Right by the pool complex is Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar & Grill, which handles most of the poolside food and drinks. Expect:

• Standard bar drinks and frozen cocktails
• Casual pool food like burgers, sandwiches, salads, and kids’ meals

It’s perfect if you want to spend a solid afternoon at the pool.

It’s less perfect if you’re hoping for anything more interesting than basic “theme park pool bar” food, and it often closes

Table Service Restaurants

• Beaches and Cream Soda Shop
• Cape May Cafe

Beaches and Cream Soda Shop

Beaches & Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is one of those spots that feels like pure Disney nostalgia—a classic seaside diner with burgers, sandwiches, and over?the?top desserts.

The place is small and almost always booked, but the atmosphere is fun, loud, and very retro. The menu leans comfort?food heavy, and while it’s not the cheapest quick?service?style meal on property, it’s still one of the more approachable table?service dinners at a resort.

The Entrées are straightforward but solid. The fan favorite Beaches & Cream Burger runs $18, while the Cheddar-Bacon Ranch Chicken Sandwich comes in at $19. If you want something lighter, the Plant based Burger is priced at $17.

On the side menu, the Chili Cheese Tots ($9) and the Onion Rings ($9) are easy crowd pleasers.

Of course, most people come here for the ice cream. The No Way José Sundae—a huge peanut butter and hot fudge masterpiece—is $11, and the famous Kitchen Sink (available in classic or chocolate lover’s versions) is still the star of the show at $38, serving four people easily. It’s messy, ridiculous, and exactly what a Disney vacation dessert should be.

If you’re staying around the BoardWalk or EPCOT resort area, Beaches & Cream is worth a stop—as long as you’re ready to indulge. But make sure you book early as it is difficult to snag a reservation here – although it is always worth checking on the Disney App just in case.

Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club

Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort has been a regular stop for me for nearly 30 years. It used to be one of my absolute favorites, but I’ve noticed the quality slipping over the years while the prices continue to climb.

Breakfast is still popular as it is a character meal.

Minnie and friends appear in their beach outfits, and the buffet includes the usual Disney staples—Mickey waffles, pastries, eggs, bacon, carved meats, and fruit. The experience is fun, but the food feels more basic than it used to.

Breakfast currently runs around $49 per adult and $33 per child, which is steep but it is pretty standard pricing for a character meal.

Dinner used to be one of the hidden gems on property, especially for seafood lovers.

Today, the offerings feel more limited, and while the crab legs are still available, they now come with an upcharge of $29 per pound. These used to be included.

The regular dinner buffet is roughly $49 per adult and $33 per child. The seafood and sides are fine, but not at the level I remember from years ago.

Cape May Café still has a nice atmosphere and a convenient location steps away from EPCOT’s International Gateway. But after three decades of visits, I can honestly say it doesn’t have the value or standout quality it once did.

If you’re staying nearby, it’s a decent option for convenience—but it’s no longer the must do hidden gem it used to be.

Would I Stay Here Again?

The Beach Club was one of the few hotels I have not stayed at in Disney World. I waited a long time and maybe it was never going to live up to my expectations.

While the location is genuinely fantastic, much of the rest of the experience didn’t live up to the years of hype I’d built up.

Being able to walk into EPCOT in minutes is a luxury I absolutely appreciated, and Stormalong Bay is undeniably one of the best pool complexes on property.

I got a “decent” price in the $500 range, but usually prices are more in the region of $700+ and I reallly do think that there are better places to spend your money at Disney World resorts.

I expected more from the rooms, furnishings, and overall design.

The interior felt dated, the décor lacked the personality and polish I associate with Disney deluxes, and the bathroom in particular was a letdown: small, and really nothing special.

None of it felt horrible, but it certainly didn’t feel “deluxe,” and for what the Beach Club costs, that matters.

When I compare this to other deluxes I’ve stayed at recently, the gap becomes even more noticeable.
The Contemporary, with its modern refurb and the ability to walk straight to Magic Kingdom, offers rooms that feel brighter, sleeker, and more thoughtfully updated.
The Polynesian easily surpasses Beach Club in room quality and theming—its spaces are larger, more stylish, and far more immersive.

In both cases, the rooms and bathrooms at the Contemporary and Polynesian simply feel more premium and better maintained, while Beach Club feels overdue for a refresh.

If EPCOT access is your number one priority, the Beach Club may still make sense.

However, on the same trip I also stayed at the Walt Disney World Dolphin resort and felt that was a much better experience and so much less pricey. Look out for my review which will compare the experiences in more detail soon.

But if you’re looking for the full “deluxe” experience—modern rooms, better furnishings, beautiful bathrooms, and a resort that feels worth the price tag—you’ll likely be happier at the Polynesian or Contemporary.

For me, Beach Club was good, but not exceptional, and certainly not the dream stay I’d envisioned after 30 years of anticipation.