Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a deluxe, New England seaside-themed hotel on Crescent Lake in Walt Disney World’s Epcot Resort Area. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and modeled on 19th-century Newport, Rhode Island cottages, it opened on November 19, 1990 alongside its shingle-and-nautical sister property, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, with which it shares transportation, dining, and pool access.
The draw here is location and water: it’s an easy walk to Epcot’s International Gateway entrance and a scenic Friendship boat ride from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and it’s home to Stormalong Bay, a three-acre sand-bottom pool complex with a lazy river and a shipwreck slide that regularly ranks among the best hotel pools at Walt Disney World.
Stats at a Glance
- Resort: Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Location: Epcot Resort Area, Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World, Florida
- Opened: November 19, 1990
- Rooms: About 583 rooms (plus Beach Club Villas, a Disney Vacation Club property)
- Price tier: Deluxe
- Park transport: Walking path/boat to Epcot; Friendship boat to Disney’s Hollywood Studios; bus to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom
- Perks: Early Theme Park Entry (30 min) at all 4 parks; eligible for Extended Evening Hours as a Deluxe Resort
- Theme: New England seaside cottages, nautical/Newport style
Rooms, Theming and Dining
Rooms lean coastal and preppy, with striped and beachy fabrics, whitewashed woodwork, and views over the pool, gardens, or Crescent Lake. The signature amenity is Stormalong Bay, shared with the adjoining Yacht Club, where guests of both resorts can swim among sand-bottom pools, ride a circular lazy river, and slide down a mock shipwreck.
Dining includes Cape May Cafe, a buffet known for its character breakfast and New England-style seafood boil dinner, plus Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, a retro diner famous for oversized sundaes. Quick counter-service and waterside bar options round out the resort without requiring a trip elsewhere for meals.
Getting to the Parks and Perks
Beach Club’s biggest practical advantage is proximity to Epcot: it’s roughly a five-minute walk to the International Gateway entrance, making it easy to pop back for a nap or duck out during Epcot festivals. A Friendship boat also connects to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Boardwalk area, while buses handle Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom runs.
As a Walt Disney World resort hotel, guests get Early Theme Park Entry (30 minutes before official opening) at any of the four parks every day, and as a Deluxe Resort, Beach Club is also eligible for Extended Evening Hours on select nights at Magic Kingdom and Epcot — both of which meaningfully cut down wait times if you plan around them.
Who Should Stay Here
This resort suits families and Epcot-focused travelers who want walkable access to the World Showcase and festivals, plus a genuine resort pool day without leaving the property. It’s also a strong pick for couples splitting time between Epcot and Hollywood Studios via the boat dock.
Watch out for: it’s a deluxe-tier price point, standard rooms can run smaller than newer WDW resorts, and Stormalong Bay gets crowded on hot afternoons since it’s shared with Yacht Club guests — arrive early if the pool is a priority.
Explore more: See more Where to Stay guides, Epcot guide, Disney’s Hollywood Studios guide.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort FAQs
How do you get from Disney’s Beach Club Resort to the theme parks?
Epcot’s International Gateway entrance is about a 5-minute walk or short boat ride away. Friendship boats also reach Disney’s Hollywood Studios, while Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are reached by resort bus. Staying here also unlocks Early Theme Park Entry (30 minutes early) at all four parks daily.
Is Disney’s Beach Club Resort worth the price?
It’s priced as a Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort, generally running several hundred dollars per night depending on season and room type. The value case is strongest for guests prioritizing Epcot walkability and Stormalong Bay’s pool complex, which are hard to replicate at moderate or value resorts.
What is Stormalong Bay?
It’s a three-acre, sand-bottom pool complex shared between Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts, featuring a lazy river, waterfall, and a shipwreck-themed water slide, widely considered one of the best hotel pools at Walt Disney World.
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Photo: Tammy Green from Chicago, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.