What are the differences between the Yacht Club and Beach Club?

[mobiana]

Hi there,

We just returned from WDW, staying at WL .. and loved it. Would stay here again, but DH and DD (10) would like to stay closer to Epcot next go around, hopefully August 2010. Only if we get some sort of discount like the 4/3 for this year would we be able to stay at BC or YC ... but I'd love to know differences of these two from those who know .. the Dis peeps.

What are the differences, for those who have stayed?

Many thanks, as always.
maureen

 

[Cindermommy]

They are connected to each other, but have separate check-ins, and slightly different themes. They share a pool, Stormalong Bay, which is wonderful. The BC is actually a closer walk to Epcot than the Yacht Club. We stayed at the Yacht Club in 2007 and loved it

 

[mickeynut1]

They are both beautiful resorts with the BC having a beach theme and the YC being more of a sailing/nautical theme . We've stayed at the BC and loved it . And as the pp mentioned, they have separate check ins but they do share SAB.....which is a great pool complex .

 

[ThumperandLitenin]

Honestly? The paint job!

Two great resorts within walking distance to both EPCOT and DHS that share the best pool on property, and have an excellence selection of food options, as well as a wonderful view of the Boardwalk.

As an option to 4/3, why not try renting points from a DVC owner at BC?

 

[iteachlit]

If you look at an aerial view (or should it be Ariel on these boards?) of the resort complex, you'll see that YC and BC are exactly the same construction design. They are mirror images of one another. As others have said, the difference is simply the exterior and interior theme.

 

[Hopefully]

As PP have already said, the major difference is in the themeing and color schemes. The rooms are the same size at each.
The Yacht Club is a nautical theme. It has lots of dark woods and brass boat fixtures etc. It definitely has a more formal feel, and lots of people feel it is quieter as well. It is closer to the Swan/Dolphin and the marina with the rental boats and the dock to Epcot and DHS is nearby.
The Beach Club is a light airy beach theme. I think it is brighter. Some of the rooms at the BC have a small "standing only" balcony, which is a drawback to many. It is very close to Epcot, less than a 10 minute walk. Many feel that the BC lobby can be very busy and it has even been called "chaotic" by some.
We love the BC and are DVC owners at the BCV. It is our favorite area in all of WDW.
The 2 resorts share SAB, the health club, the arcade, the beauty shop etc.
Both are wonderful
Have a Great Trip.

 

[madalex]

I have stayed at YC many times and BC once. As others have said, they are very similar resorts, with only minor differences, which include the following (some of which have already been mentioned):
BC is a couple hundred yards closer to Epcot than YC, while YC is closer to the boat dock for the boat to DHS and also closer to the marina if you want to rent a sea raycer.
Almost all YC rooms have full balconies, while far fewer BC rooms have such balconies.
Buses to MK and AK pick up at YC first and, during busy times, this can mean that a bus will fill up at YC, such that no one can get on at BC.
The YC quiet pool is off the side of and sort of behind the hotel so it is, in fact, very quiet. The BC quiet pool, meanwhile, is just off the walkway that goes around the lagoon and gets more traffic (from both swimmers and people just walking by).
The YC lobby is quieter than the BC lobby.

 

[YCNUT]

Just got back from bc last friday and i have also stayed athe the yc twice. I will not stay at the bc any more. we had a room by the elevator that was VERY noisey. When I asked to change rooms i was told i waoul have to wait until check out 11 am and then wait until 3 to check back in. They did not seem to be to eager to help. the yc lobby is much quieter than the bc. Bc club lobby is very busy and noisey

 

[mobiana]

Thanks everyone for your responses .. seems like we couldn't go wrong staying at either BC or YC. My initial feeling was to try for BC, but the crowded bus issue is something to think about, since we have two DDs (will be 11 and 4 next year) and standing on crowded buses w/kids is not much fun. (We did have this issue a bit this year at WL ... and while it's not something to base your vacation decisions on, it was tough holding a 38lb sleeping or cranky kid on a bus for 40+min.)

Let me ask this question: would you consider BC or YC more child friendly than the other .. or is this really not an issue? I value the opinions on this board -- they served us well this past trip.
thanks again,
maureen

 

[madalex]

Let me ask this question: would you consider BC or YC more child friendly than the other .. or is this really not an issue?

Many people will say that the BC seems more kid friendly, but having stayed at YC many times with kids, I would put this more in the category of "really not an issue."

 

[TJA]

We have stayed at both YC and BC. As you can see by my sig, we keep returning to the BC! BC simply fits our family better -- we have 2 young kids and we love that there is a character meal in the lobby.....to us, it feels magical to have lots of families and kids excited to dine with the characters. Even though it's busier than the YC, the BC also has an elegant feeling because it's so charming, bright, and pretty. The YC is very subtle and elegant -- there are never really any moments of hustle, bustle, or busy feelings.

As far as the buses go, what we do is this. Obviously we walk to both Epcot and HS, sometimes utilize the boat to HS too. When we want to go to MK, we normally start out in Epcot and then ease our way up to the front of the park and catch the monorail to MK. Note: we do not do this when we are in a rush to get to MK. Also Note: we are rarely in a rush to get to MK, so we use the monorail route quite often. So, in esense, we really only use the bus system when we go to AK and that is just one day out of our trip.

 

[Poly-Anna]

Actually to limit the whole bus situation, we are splitting our stay between YC and CR. I absolutely will not park at MK and buses are a pain. So walking to MK is how we are solving our dilemma. Taking a boat from YC to HS and Epcot are fine with us (we are actually skipping AK this trip - I find that park is much hotter during the cooler season, and I could not imagine how it would be in the heat of August). Plus we love SAB pool!

Have a great trip.

 

[mobiana]

We have stayed at both YC and BC. As you can see by my sig, we keep returning to the BC! BC simply fits our family better -- we have 2 young kids and we love that there is a character meal in the lobby.....to us, it feels magical to have lots of families and kids excited to dine with the characters. Even though it's busier than the YC, the BC also has an elegant feeling because it's so charming, bright, and pretty. The YC is very subtle and elegant -- there are never really any moments of hustle, bustle, or busy feelings.

As far as the buses go, what we do is this. Obviously we walk to both Epcot and HS, sometimes utilize the boat to HS too. When we want to go to MK, we normally start out in Epcot and then ease our way up to the front of the park and catch the monorail to MK. Note: we do not do this when we are in a rush to get to MK. Also Note: we are rarely in a rush to get to MK, so we use the monorail route quite often. So, in essence, we really only use the bus system when we go to AK and that is just one day out of our trip.

Very clever! I like the way you think. This could be a plan. I'm already feeling better about this. BC here we come! (or YC, either way, it's a win-win.) Now I just have to figure out how to afford this .. but where there's a will, there's a way. Thanks so much for your suggestions.

 

[mobiana]

Actually to limit the whole bus situation, we are splitting our stay between YC and CR. I absolutely will not park at MK and buses are a pain. So walking to MK is how we are solving our dilemma. Taking a boat from YC to HS and Epcot are fine with us (we are actually skipping AK this trip - I find that park is much hotter during the cooler season, and I could not imagine how it would be in the heat of August). Plus we love SAB pool!

Have a great trip.

Ya know, I've thought of this, but just had mixed thoughts on doing a split-stay. Have you done this before? I hate the idea of moving in the middle of vacation ... but maybe it's not that big of a deal. (We did do AK on July 27, and it's was hotter than hell, so we didn't last long .. but did do the major stuff.) I think my kids would be beyond excited once they saw SAB -- so I'd love to make it work for that reason alone!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Thanks everyone for your responses .. seems like we couldn't go wrong staying at either BC or YC. My initial feeling was to try for BC, but the crowded bus issue is something to think about, since we have two DDs (will be 11 and 4 next year) and standing on crowded buses w/kids is not much fun. (We did have this issue a bit this year at WL ... and while it's not something to base your vacation decisions on, it was tough holding a 38lb sleeping or cranky kid on a bus for 40+min.)

Let me ask this question: would you consider BC or YC more child friendly than the other .. or is this really not an issue? I value the opinions on this board -- they served us well this past trip.
thanks again,
maureen

We've stayed at (and loved) both! BC is a little more child friendly but YC is fine for kids too. On our visit in July we stayed at BC but lots of mornings took a short walk to the YC bus stop. If you really want to stay at BC that's always an options. It's less than a 5 minute walk!

 

[ThumperandLitenin]

Very clever! I like the way you think. This could be a plan. I'm already feeling better about this. BC here we come! (or YC, either way, it's a win-win.) Now I just have to figure out how to afford this .. but where there's a will, there's a way. Thanks so much for your suggestions.

Just an FYI - There's a similar trick when at WL when wanting to go to EPCOT - we ride the boat to CR and catch the monorail to TTC and then jump on the EPCOT monorail.

I know that sounds a bit convoluted, but at least it's a different ride that actually can save time sometimes on the ride back to WL.

 

[NJ2Boardwalk]

Just got back from BC ourselves. There is another difference that you may or may not care about.
As others have said - you can walk to Epcot - the difference is minimal between the two.
YC has all full balconies - BC has a few.
BUT - BC has the Marketplace which is the counter service area. They serve hot food, sorbet, snacks, etc. - plus you can get coffee/soda all day with your mug.
At the YC - they set up a breakfast area in the Compass Lounge to get coffee/pastries in the am - but after that you have to go to either Beaches and Cream or the Pool area to refill mug. The YC only has 1 store and it sells minimal groceries/sundries. As a YC guest you can go to the BC Marketplace - it's just a further walk.
Good Luck! Either way you can't go wrong.

 

[sotoalf]

The Yacht Club's colors and interior decorating impose a more formal air than the bright pastels of the Beach Club's. That's the difference colors and furniture make.

 

[ncdisneygal]

Cape May has the Character Breakfast and Lilo & Stich have been known to make appearances in the lobby during the afternoon at the BC. Have stayed at both, and prefer the BC because of the less formal feel. The BC is my DD (8) favorite resort because of the pool!

 

[tinkbyday]

My DD (10) picked the YC for her 10th bday trip this year and absolutely loved it. The difference in time of walking from YC toi Epcot vs BC to Epcot is extremely small - like maybe an additional couple of minutes. It is also a non-issue to walk over to BC to go to the Marketplace, Cape May or B&C - again - a very short couple minute walk.

We loved the quieter, upscale feel to the resort and that we had a full balcony. I thought it was kid friendly - there were many families with children staying when we went in January - although it will not be noisy like the BC lobby because of the Cape May Cafe character breakfast.

The restaurants within the YC are excellent as well - Yachtsman Steakhouse and Captain's Grill are some of our best meals in WDW!