Will we starve at YC with no car?

[ekmom]

We've always stayed moderate before and we've always rented a car. So if we didn't feel like eating the food at the resort we'd hop in the car and get something offsite. Now we're planning a trip for the first week of March and staying at YC. DH has suggested that we don't rent a car. Are there enough easily accessible food options? We're mostly CS kind of people and will have a few ADRs at the parks but other than that we prefer to eat whatever when the mood strikes. Thoughts?

 

[Moms]

Although we almost always drive to WDW so have a car at our disposal we usually park it at the Boardwalk (same general vicinity as YC) and leave it for the entire stay. We are two of the apparent "freaks" who have no issues relying on the busses and have honestly never felt we waited an inordinate amount of time for transportation to anywhere ... but love being able to walk to Epcot and HS! We have always found that there are plenty of options for food within easy walking distance of the complex or inside of the parks we are visiting on any particular day. If there are issues like an ADR at California Grill (we did this last trip) and a tight timeline ... grab a cab! It cost us about $12.00 and we were dropped at the door.

 

[ekmom]

Thanks for your reply! We don't mind the buses either and have mostly used the car for offsite dining. I'm just struggling with trying to decide how much we'll miss having that option.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

The Epcot resorts area is probably the only area I would go without a car. You will be in walking distance of BC, BWI, Swan & Dolphin not to mention the IG into WS.

If the issue was park transportation that's another story but as for food options I think you'll be fine.

 

[kamik86]

Do you have park hoppers? If so I definitely don't think you need a car. Whenever you want food you are just a short walk away from all the places to eat in the World Showcase.

 

[ekmom]

Do you have park hoppers? If so I definitely don't think you need a car. Whenever you want food you are just a short walk away from all the places to eat in the World Showcase.

We will have park hoppers but I think there will be one or more days when we don't go to any of the parks.

 

[TDC Nala]

There is a sticky thread at the top of this forum that lists all the Epcot resort area CS options. You will be within walking distance of all these options. If none of them appeal to you, you may not want to go without the car.

 

[tkd27]

We will have park hoppers but I think there will be one or more days when we don't go to any of the parks.

From what I recall, counter service isn't the most varied in that area (although there are some, for burgers/pizza type things), but you do have access to a lot of very casual table service places, like Beaches and Cream, Big River Grill and the ESPN Club. FWIW, my wife and I grabbed a last minute dinner at Big River Grill when we were there last October, and it was super relaxed - actually, one of the most enjoyable dinners we had on our trip. Obviously, the table service stuff is a little more expensive than quick service, but the atmosphere at these places was nice

Here are some handy links:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/yacht-club-resort/dining/

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/beach-club-resort/dining/

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/board-walk-inn/

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Although there's no traditional food court at the YC, there are lots of casual eating options. The issue is that they involve a short walk.

At the Beach Club, the Beach Club Marketplace has a small counter service counter where they make sandwiches and pizzas. And don't forget Beaches & Cream.

At the Dolphin, they have a 24 hour hybrid counter service/cafeteria, Picabu. And they have a casual diner type restaurant, The Fountain.

The Boardwalk Bakery has sandwiches an there's a Pizza window.

And as others have mentioned, you're a short walk into World Showcase and all the CS and TS options in there. And they are plenty of moderate and fine dining table service venues outside of the parks: Captain's Grill, Yachtsman's, Cape May, Kozzina, Big River Grill, ESPN Club, Fling Fish, Blue Zoo, Shula's, and a few more in the Swalphin.

 

[jlh512]

Don't forget the Ale & Compass lounge in the YC for pastries and coffee in the morning.

 

[North of Mouse]

We've always stayed moderate before and we've always rented a car. So if we didn't feel like eating the food at the resort we'd hop in the car and get something offsite. Now we're planning a trip for the first week of March and staying at YC. DH has suggested that we don't rent a car. Are there enough easily accessible food options? We're mostly CS kind of people and will have a few ADRs at the parks but other than that we prefer to eat whatever when the mood strikes. Thoughts?

We've never starved, or come close, right opposite really and in the too many years to count have never had a car! We go 1-3 times a years for 10 days each trip and never desire to leave the WDW property. Love the varied food places, CS & TS.

We've never had major issues with the busses, only minor delays at times, and go anywhere we want on them. I get all the chance we want to eat at off site places all year, so don't go that far, to leave Disney just to eat.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

We've stayed at BWI twice and BC once, all times without a car and we did fine as far as food is concerned. BW bakery was our go-to for breakfast items. For CS we usually hopped into Epcot and we also liked Hurricane Hanna's. There's also the option of hopping a cab. The times we stayed at BWI were kid-free long weekends and we just budged about $100 from the get-go for cabs. If we wanted to get somewhere quickly and there wasn't a bus waiting, or we just didn't feel like taking the bus, we had that option. Since our time was limited we felt it was worth it and to add that into our plans.

 

[DisneyDetective]

The Epcot resorts area is probably the only area I would go without a car. You will be in walking distance of BC, BWI, Swan & Dolphin not to mention the IG into WS.

If the issue was park transportation that's another story but as for food options I think you'll be fine.

You're probably in the best area for dining without a car as you have YC, Boardwalk, EPCOT, DHS and DTD.

 

[Hopefully]

I urge you to take TC Nala's advice and look at the sticky at the top of this thread that lists all of the CS options in the Epcot Resort area.
This will help you make your decision.
Personally, I think there are tons of options within walking distance to the YC.
But there is NOT the traditional food court you are used to at moderates. And if you like to eat off site, I think you may miss your car.
We go without a car and are very happy eating on site, But if eating off site is something you like, you may want that car.
Good Luck

 

[CampbellScot]

Never ever had a car at Disney. We fly in, do a grocery stop so we can have snacks and such at the resort and then off we go. When we stay at Boardwalk we love the bakery and the pizza window. Lots of little places to stop for snacks.

you will NOT starve! I promise!

also, garden grocer delivers as well so you can go online, pick out your favorite snacks and they are there waiting for you when you arrive. We have always had a good experience with them.

 

[Dizzytime]

We never have rented a car, and the convenience of food is one of the big reasons we like the Epcot resorts. Seems like any meal we could ever want is within a short walk. I'd be very happy eating every meal in World Showcase alone, but there is so much else that the Boardwalk area has to offer, not to mention Swan and Dolphin, too.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[Missoutandabout]

Stock up on the saltines, you're going to go hunnnnngry!

Nah, we've done perfectly fine there without a car. There are plenty of options in the area and even more so that you mentioned you'll have hoppers. Beaches & Cream, ESPN Club, The Marketplace which have all been mentioned are good options.

I'd also like to recommend two places, although neither are quick service:
Fresh over at the Dolphin - has the best breakfast buffet ever. It's really of a much higher quality than any of the Disney-owned breakfast buffets that we've tried (and we don't even care for buffets ).

The Crew's Cup Lounge (next to the Yachtsman Steakhouse in the Yacht Club) - this is a nice little place to get a drink and a bite to eat. Much nicer menu than the Martha's Vineyard Lounge over on the Beach Club side, too.

 

[Ro Z]

OMG you could live a long time eating in the YC/BW area. We never have a car. As others have mentioned many CS available Swan/Dolphin, Beachclub Marketplace, Boardwalk bakery, Boardwalk Pizza window, within walking distance to EPCOT with it's many options. Also ESPN, Big River, Crews Cup Lounge, Capt grille are all good food at a decent price. We love the Boardwalk area just for these reasons! You can also buy food to cook/microwave in your room. Hess is across the street from BWI. We bring things like bagels/cream cheese, english muffins, nacho chips, salsa, crackers and cheese. Mostly for those late nite munchie times! We fly Southwest so we have 2 checked bags each and we always have a food and drinks bag!