Help us decide--Yacht Club vs. Gran Destino Tower

[MG23]

Hi,

We've narrowed the first half of our split stay down to the Yacht Club or Gran Destino Tower (we'll then be headed to Poly for 7 nights). 2 adults and 2 children (5 yrs and 4 yrs) traveling at the end of August. We've stayed at Beach Club previously and love Stormalong bay! This stay would be for three nights, we would primarily be hanging by the pool visiting Disney Springs and one night of MNSSHP. Gran Destino Tower is appealing because it's new and beautiful but we're worried about quick service food options as we won't be doing any table service dining other than at Disney Springs. Is the $400 additional dollars for Yacht club justified?

Please share your thoughts to help us decide!

 

[kiford]

We were thinking of stay at the Gran Destino and doing club access because it's the same price as a room at WL or AKL. We like the decor and wanted to spend some time in the restaurant and lounges. So we stopped there two trips ago to scope out the place. Love the building but when we walked to the pool, we were less than thrilled. It's a bit of a hike from the tower and not as big as what I was expecting, nor as nice as I'd read about IMO. Perhaps it's because we have stayed at YC/BC several times and love SAB. I've also read that the transportation is not as convenient as I'd like it although I do take that with a grain of salt as I read the same thing about AKL and I don't find it particularly bad; it was actually worse at BWI for us. So we've put off staying at GD. And now that we're on the verge of buying DVC, we may put it off permanently or just do it on a very short trip to try it out. But as we spend a lot of time in the pool now when we go to WDW, it's a pretty important criteria and we've gotten quite spoiled and picky about our pools so it's a definite hurdle for us with GD.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If visiting a park isn't on the schedule for that part of your stay, I would vote for CSR. Also, I would consider doing MNSSHP during the Poly portion of your stay to keep late night travel time to a minimum.

 

[Haley R]

If you’ll mostly be staying by the pool I would vote for yacht club. The pool is hard to beat. You also are walking distance to two parks and close to the skyliner

 

[Disneylover99]

If you’ll mostly be staying by the pool and going to Disney springs I would vote for yacht club. The pool is hard to beat and you have the boat option for Disney springs. You also are walking distance to two parks and close to the skyliner

Are you thinking about Riverside?
The boat from the Yacht Club is not going to Disney Springs.

 

[fly girl]

@Disneylover99 is correct. Friendship Boats only go from Epcot, Epcot Resorts (BC/YC, BWI, S&D), and Hollywood Studios.

You need the bus to go to Disney Springs.

 

[Haley R]

Are you thinking about Riverside?
The boat from the Yacht Club is not going to Disney Springs.

Lol oops sorry. It's been a long day

 

[MG23]

Are you thinking about Riverside?
The boat from the Yacht Club is not going to Disney Springs.

We did consider Riverside for a brief moment but we always came back to Beach Club with Stormalong bay and beaches and cream. The ability to take a stroll over to the boardwalk in the evenings is also really nice.

 

[MG23]

We were thinking of stay at the Gran Destino and doing club access because it's the same price as a room at WL or AKL. We like the decor and wanted to spend some time in the restaurant and lounges. So we stopped there two trips ago to scope out the place. Love the building but when we walked to the pool, we were less than thrilled. It's a bit of a hike from the tower and not as big as what I was expecting, nor as nice as I'd read about IMO. Perhaps it's because we have stayed at YC/BC several times and love SAB. I've also read that the transportation is not as convenient as I'd like it although I do take that with a grain of salt as I read the same thing about AKL and I don't find it particularly bad; it was actually worse at BWI for us. So we've put off staying at GD. And now that we're on the verge of buying DVC, we may put it off permanently or just do it on a very short trip to try it out. But as we spend a lot of time in the pool now when we go to WDW, it's a pretty important criteria and we've gotten quite spoiled and picky about our pools so it's a definite hurdle for us with GD.

Thank you so much for sharing your perspective on the pool situation at Gran Destino, we have seen a lot of reviews mentioning how long the walk to the pool was from the tower.

 

[auntfrannie]

If the difference is only $400 then definitely Yacht Club! I really liked Gran Destino and didn't have any issues with the quick service options but I would just about always pick a Boardwalk resort over a moderate. Either way you'll have a great time!

 

[Hi Pluto]

$400 for 3 nights is significant. We stayed at CSR over Christmas and my DH said that he liked the resort as much as Beach Club (which has always been our absolute favorite). It has a very nice vibe. Then again, when we walked through Yacht Club on that same trip both DH and DS said that they wanted this one next! Lol.
Basically, if you want to be in the action, close to two parks, and really care about the pool, do yacht club. If you want to try something new and figure this is your chance, go CSR.

 

[piasalady]

We just got back from staying at CSR. We stayed in the Ranchos section that is right by one of the pool entrances. We walked from the to the Tower every day and I did not find it to be a long walk at all. Maybe 5 minutes. I guess it depends on what you consider a long walk but to me it is not. Also, we love the pool at CSR, including the giant hot tub which I believe is the largest on property. El Mercado has a great selection of food and we enjoyed everything we tried. Give GDT and the Coronado a try. I think you will like it. It has always been our favorite resort.

 

[MG23]

Thanks, everyone! We booked Yacht Club this morning ☺

 

[Devil13]

If the difference is only $400 then definitely Yacht Club! I really liked Gran Destino and didn't have any issues with the quick service options but I would just about always pick a Boardwalk resort over a moderate. Either way you'll have a great time!

Ha! I'm the exact opposite now. Loved the Boardwalk resorts...until the tower opened. Club Level Tower wins every time. Just need to deal with the busses.

 

[mickeymom22]

Yay! I was going to vote for Yacht Club!

 

[glocon]

We’ve only done BC and GDT and would stay at either again in a heartbeat. But for a resort only stay, I would pick YC for the pool and access to good ice cream! To be fair, we didn’t try the pool at CSR, and the room was amazing and new and clean and beautiful at GDT, but SAB is so much fun. Just very very large.

 

[MG23]

We’ve only done BC and GDT and would stay at either again in a heartbeat. But for a resort only stay, I would pick YC for the pool and access to good ice cream! To be fair, we didn’t try the pool at CSR, and the room was amazing and new and clean and beautiful at GDT, but SAB is so much fun. Just very very large.

Yeeessss to the ice cream! I love me some ice cream as do the kids! Having access to Beaches and Cream and Ample Hills for just a few nights will be amazing!!!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Hi,

We've narrowed the first half of our split stay down to the Yacht Club or Gran Destino Tower (we'll then be headed to Poly for 7 nights). 2 adults and 2 children (5 yrs and 4 yrs) traveling at the end of August. We've stayed at Beach Club previously and love Stormalong bay! This stay would be for three nights, we would primarily be hanging by the pool visiting Disney Springs and one night of MNSSHP. Gran Destino Tower is appealing because it's new and beautiful but we're worried about quick service food options as we won't be doing any table service dining other than at Disney Springs. Is the $400 additional dollars for Yacht club justified?

Please share your thoughts to help us decide!

Thanks, everyone! We booked Yacht Club this morning ☺

I think you made the right call based on your original post.