Beach or Yacht Club...BIG Family Trip 2022

[The Mayor]

We are planning that supposed “once in a lifetime“ trip for our whole family in November 2022. There are 10 of us.
Me and Wife
Son, Wife and two daughters that will be 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 years old
Daughter, Husband and two sons that will be 3 1/2 and 2 years old
(Yes my son has two daughters and my daughter has two sons!!)

Normally my wife and I stay at BWV, renting friends points. However, we figured the pool at the BC/YC would be a nice for us with the grandchildren. I’ve read up on both resorts and don’t see much of a difference. So my questions are:

Why would you chose one resort over the other?
For those that have used it, is concierge level worth it? (Assuming it’s back)

Thanks

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I’m partial to YC since (almost) every room has a balcony, and to us that’s important. BC is more of a mixed bag on balconies.

With little ones I also like that the sandy kids area at SAB is closer to the YC side than BC side (although this isn’t that big of a deal). That area is where you are likely to spend most/all of your pool time, so having your rooms a tad bit closer can sometimes be nice.

The rooms are pretty different - YC rooms are a little newer, have hard surface floors, and have a more modern feel. BC rooms have carpet and are a bit more traditional in terms of room style/decor.

I am a big fan of CL, especially for multi-room groups. The lounge gives you a central gathering spot but yet you can all retreat to your own rooms when needed. It also guarantees all of your rooms will be on the same floor. “Worth it” is debatable of course, but we enjoy it, especially for breakfasts and a beer/glass of wine here and there. CL adds a nice “convenience” factor, especially for the parents (in my opinion). I was the organizer of a 12 person trip two summers ago and I really appreciated having the CL CMs right there to help with little odds and ends. With so many people the chances of small things popping up increase.... a MB doesn’t work, you need to cancel an ADR, a billing issue. Having the CL CMs there vs having to go trek to/wait at the front desk can sometimes come in handy. CL at YC and BC is very similar (they serve the same food).

Those are my quick thoughts. Good luck with the planning!

PS: Our “once in a lifetime” trip turned out to in fact be just that - because we all agreed we would never do that again! But I wouldn’t trade it for anything though.

 

[holden]

I don't think it matters too much which you stay at. We haven't stayed at YC, only BC.

I do love that we always seem to get assigned a room in the last building (the one closest to EP). There is a "secret" door (not really too secret) on the side of the building that you enter/exit from. It's as close to the IG entrance to EP as you can get.

I always think of YC for adults. BC has a "younger" feel to it. Your kids are young, so not sure that matters, but if they were 8-18, I'd say BC for sure.

I'm sure you'd enjoy either!

We have stayed CL at GF, Poly, and WL but never at BC. It's a nice splurge if you think you'll spend a fair amount of time at the resort. With little kids, you might do that. We own DVC so don't stay CL anymore.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Have stayed in both resorts. Beach Club was always our home, but our TA only had a discount for YC one Easter, so we went with that. Now, our memories from that Easter are a bit more positive given the fact that it was the PERFECT trip. Weather was perfect, we took more time to relax, and every restaurant we ate at was gold, so we look back with fond memories. But I won't let that dictate the review.

Okay Beach Club: We just booked for Christmas, 2021. Fingers crossed. We've always gravitated toward Beach Club because of its theming and proximity to EPCOT. We chose it over YC this time around because YC only had garden view, which would be ~$100 more per night, so we didn't think it was worth it.

The good:
- BC theming is brighter and better for families with kids.
- Feels more condensed. I feel like I immediately got the lay of the land and learned the shortcuts.
- There's so many great nooks and crannies to relax or eat. We love sitting outside the QS location looking out at the DVC Villas or hanging in the solarium when we need to get out of our room, but not looking to go to the park yet
- Closer walk to EPCOT and closer walk to BW area
- Feel like more rooms are closer to elevator than at YC

The bad:
- The Quick Service spot is not as good as the one at YC and tends to get a bit more crowded
- There's a 50/50 chance you get a full balcony. We don't spend a ton of time on the balcony, although one year we lucked out and got upgraded and had a view of DHS fireworks. Now that we're a family of 3 instead of 4, we're looking to save some money, so we may put more emphasis on a full balcony, where we can enjoy our grocery store breakfast (instead of always doing QS).
- Because it has a character breakfast, it tends to get really really busy in the lobby. I'm used to being there during Christmas, so factor in people coming to see the gingerbread display, but I've been there during Halloween when it's still packed.
- Not sure with the pandemic, but some buses are shared with YC and the bus sometimes stops at YC first. There may already be people sitting on the bus when it gets to your stop.

Yacht Club: We stayed there right after they updated the room. I personally like the "wood" floors with the raised beds. We had a room right over the quiet pool and spent a bit more time on the balcony since this was a more relaxed trip.

The good:
- Most, if not all room have a full balcony. To me, if you're paying for a Deluxe Resort, you should get all the Deluxe amenities.
- If you want quieter, this resort is quieter. It feels a bit more sophisticated, like that aunt or uncle's house where your mom says "don't touch anything!"
- I love the QS here. It's missing the Disney charm, but I love the offerings. They had a cool cheese plate, lots of salads. After stuffing my face with Mickey waffles, sometimes I need something green and healthier. Also has better coffee than BC, like a cold brew and all.
- Closer to the boat launch, closer walk to DHS, closer to S&D, which has more food offerings.

The bad:
- It feels very spaced out. There were times I joked that it felt like the Shining hotel, since you'd step out of the elevator, turn, and stare down a LOOOOONG hallway. I got lost a lot.
- Most of the restaurants here stick to the YC theme, but miss the Disney theme. Yachtsman has an old steakhouse feel. Ale and Compass is more refined; whereas even during dinner
- Some say it feels stuffier. I can see what they mean but I'm not sure it matters much.

Overall, you seriously can't go wrong with either. It's just deciding what theme works better and how the location, which is maybe 1/10th of a mile apart, can affect your stay. Gonna be hopping on the boat a lot to go to DHS? Booking YC may be better. Looking to walk into Epcot and grab a quick snack whenever? BC will be your spot. Both have access to Stormalong, which is GREAT; the fitness center is my favorite on property; and as you know from staying at BW, that area is great for running, people watching, or just going for a walk to escape your family for a while.

 

[kylenne]

I loved my BC stay, but I feel like YC rooms are just more functional since they've been more recently refurbed, nice storage space under the beds, the little adjustable lights for reading, etc. Balconies are also a big deal to me and I definitely missed that during my BC stay. All of this plus the slightly more adult feel is why me and my gf are staying at YC this May instead.

I will say though that regardless of which one you stay at, this is like the one Deluxe where you don't want to stay Standard View. There's some notoriously ugly rooftop views at these resorts in Standard. I lucked out at BC because I was solo and they put me in a corner King room that was right up against YC, one window had the fugly roof view but my other one actually overlooked Stormalong Bay and the Boardwalk! But it's something to keep in mind if you're the sort that likes to have natural light in the room.

We are staying Water View this time and requesting to be closer to the elevator to eliminate that hallways on hallways trekking I had to do at BC. Aside from the QS issue that's the only problem I have with these resorts. But I have heard that BC's quick service was significantly improved over the past couple of months though.

 

[Cheburashka]

We are planning that supposed “once in a lifetime“ trip for our whole family in November 2022. There are 10 of us.
Me and Wife
Son, Wife and two daughters that will be 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 years old
Daughter, Husband and two sons that will be 3 1/2 and 2 years old
(Yes my son has two daughters and my daughter has two sons!!)

Normally my wife and I stay at BWV, renting friends points. However, we figured the pool at the BC/YC would be a nice for us with the grandchildren. I’ve read up on both resorts and don’t see much of a difference. So my questions are:

Why would you chose one resort over the other?
For those that have used it, is concierge level worth it? (Assuming it’s back)

Thanks

We really enjoyed staying club level at Beach Club. The lounge was convenient and the exclusive floor was pretty and peaceful. "Worth it" is subjective, though, and based on your own values and finances.

Between Yacht Club Resort & Beach Club Resort (not referring to the DVC Villas), I would opt for Beach Club, because the rooms are carpeted and thus a little quieter than the ones at Yacht Club. Yacht Club is also one of the pet-friendly resorts, so dog barking might occasionally happen. Beach Club is also slightly closer to Stormalong Bay pool and to Epcot.

However, if you were choosing between a regular resort and a DVC studio, I would always recommend the regular resort, to get two real queen beds and not one queen and one pull-out queen bed.

 

[Eastern]

PS: Our “once in a lifetime” trip turned out to in fact be just that - because we all agreed we would never do that again!

Why is that? Never had an extended family trip but I've thought about it.

 

[Eastern]

I agree with above posts. YC is quieter. BC has a younger feel with more kids. BC a little closer to Epcot, but YC closer to DHS. The friendship boat dock is closer to YC. If you want balconies: YC.

I also agree to pay the higher fee for at least GV to avoid getting a rooftop/parking lot view. Water view is the nicest view but also the most expensive. I would also do CL if available, especially with a group.

I have stayed at BC many times in the past but now I prefer YC with the wood floors and quieter feel.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Why is that? Never had an extended family trip but I've thought about it.

Lol.

12 people ages 2-75 (8 adults, 4 kids). 3 ECVs (all first time drivers), 2 strollers, 1 who should have been in an ECV but too stubborn, July heat.

I’m being mostly tongue in cheek, but ultimately we realized that Disney was kind of ‘our thing’ and we prefer trips with just us. Also since I was ‘in charge’ the ‘pressure’ of making sure everything went right/everyone was happy was not all that fun.

Glad we could have everyone together though, since with where we are in life those opportunities are fleeting.

 

[Eastern]

Lol.

12 people ages 2-75 (8 adults, 4 kids). 3 ECVs (all first time drivers), 2 strollers, 1 who should have been in an ECV but too stubborn, July heat.

I’m being mostly tongue in cheek, but ultimately we realized that Disney was kind of ‘our thing’ and we prefer trips with just us. Also since I was ‘in charge’ the ‘pressure’ of making sure everything went right/everyone was happy was not all that fun.

Glad we could have everyone together though, since with where we are in life those opportunities are fleeting.

Yeah, it's a nice idea, but I don't think an extended family trip would work for us at Disney. Maybe better on a cruise where we can just meet up for dinner each day.

 

[disneyfan150]

Lol.

12 people ages 2-75 (8 adults, 4 kids). 3 ECVs (all first time drivers), 2 strollers, 1 who should have been in an ECV but too stubborn

This cracked me up!


@OP
I agree with GADisneyDad14 about group trips and CL. It does provide a great common area. When we went on a group trip, we were in condos so we had several living rooms where we could meet. If you were in the "hosting" condo, it sometimes felt a little awkward telling others it was time for them to leave due to bed time/park time or whatever. We had another family trip at a beach hotel and used the lobby for visiting. It worked well at this particular hotel. You could join the group and leave as necessary. Club level seems perfectly suited to meeting up. Everyone on the same floor is an added bonus.

 

[The Mayor]

Thank you all so much for your in depth replies!! some really good info here. Not sure if you made the decision easier or harder though but it sounds like I can’t go wrong with either.

 

[The Mayor]

Do the CL rooms at the BC all have balconies?

 

[mickeymom22]

We have never stayed at YC, but we have stayed at BC twice...just for what you said...the pool area is great for small children. Hurricane Hanna's is a good lunch spot. They used to put the kid's meal in a sand bucket with a shovel that is perfect for the kids to use at Stormalong Bay without you having to pack it!

I think either resort would be great. We have always enjoyed our time spent at BC.

Disney extended family trips are great, but make sure everyone understands the one rule: Everyone doesn't have to want to do the same thing all the time...and that's okay. Just maybe plan one or two special activities (day at the park, time at the pool, or a meal), and then just let each family make their own plans. Often times everyone will end up doing the same thing, but there just won't be that pressure to always being doing the same thing and being one big happy family 24/7!

Happy Planning!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Do the CL rooms at the BC all have balconies?

Most club level rooms have a full balcony, but there are approximately 25% of CL rooms with either a standing balcony or no balcony at all.

 

[jeffmw]

For all the deep analysis presented here I want to be clear that you really don't need to stress too much about which one you choose.

For all intents and purposes, it's the same resort. They're connected and share transportation, a pool, as well as other amenities. What's in one can be reached by the other in a few-minutes walk.

What you have here are Disney veterans who have stayed in both and have had the opportunity to see the little nuances between the two, but if you haven't stayed at either, they're really basically the same place.

 

[NickC]

When we stayed in the Epcot area, we usually priced them both and stayed at the one that was less expensive. Both are great resorts in a great location. The bus service might be a little better at YC, but we always made it to the parks when we stayed at BC. We did BC 3 times and YC once, soley based on price and were happy each time.

 

[Ricguz]

We have stayed a dozen times at both YC and BC, mostly CL WV. Like Jeffmw said you can’t go wrong. YC is more quite, BC lobby is busier. Most chances of full balcony at YC, no carpet flooring which looks cleaner. I prefer YC CL over BC seems a little bigger. BC just did their marketplace over and I have not seen it. YC was done over recently and is very nice. More food smells at BC in lobby due to Cape May. Can’t smell anything from your room. The walking to pools or parks doesn’t matter to me. It’s the same area. I like all the restaurants at the BC/YC. I think the ale and compass lounge and restaurant are underrated. Cast members have always been equally nice and through. Never had any problems at either resort. I would if affordable doing CL WV. The last room I had at YC 5th floor water view we were able to see fireworks from Epcot and HS, plus views of the pool and lake. Absolutely gorgeous at night. Boardwalk area is a blast. Love walking around at night and to both Epcot and HS. Plus you don’t need to take bus service. Even to MK we walked through Epcot take the monorail. I like the walk and better than being crowded and frustrated waiting for or being on buses. If there is anything else I can answer, please let me know. Our last trip was Nov/Dec 2019. Because of the pandemic, we won’t be going back until it’s over a d everything has opened up.

 

[Lperd]

BC is the first resort we stayed at and still one of my favourites. With young kids, I'd chose BC over YC. The decor is a bit older, but very charming. It has a more casual feel than YC and there are more young kids there so it feels more lively. I also like staying closer to the Epcot back entrance and walking there, though we've stayed in BC and easily walked to HS with kids in the stroller so either YC or BC is accessible to both parks.
I also think the dining options are more kid-friendly at BC.