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Accommodations >
Epcot Area Resorts
> Disney's Yacht Club
Disney's
Yacht Club
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The theme here is one of a sophisticated,
exclusive yacht club where a navy blue blazer should be in
order for a stay. Four and five-story oyster gray
clapboard buildings with balconies shaded by red and
white-striped awnings front Crescent Lake and a sliver of
groomed beach that stretches over to the adjoining Beach
Club. The resort’s prime location, within walking distance
to Epcot’s International Gateway entrance as well as the
Boardwalk and just a short boat ride away to Disney-MGM
Studios, is near perfect. The polished, sleek lobby of
ship-shiny hardwoods, potted palms, roped nautical
railings, leather sofas, and overstuffed, striped easy
chairs creates an environment reminiscent of a classy
Eastern seaboard hotel of the 1880s. The antique globe
centering the room along with detailed ship models and
oceans of gleaming brass complete the picture.
The resort shares Stormalong Bay, a fantasyland pool complex, and all recreational
areas and facilities with its sister property, the Beach
Club. Check-in 3 p.m.; check-out 11
a.m. For reservations call 407-W-DISNEY. |
Stormalong
Bay |
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Accommodations
Guestrooms
Enter
your casually elegant room through a yacht-style door.
Inside, the room has two queen-size beds covered with
ship-themed spreads and topped with a gleaming white
headboard in a ship’s wheel motif, brass sconce lamps, gold
and blue striped drapes with admiral star sheers, and lots
of maritime accents. Rooms are fairly spacious at 380 square
feet, with cheery all-white furnishings including a writing
table, a bureau on top of which sits the TV, and an
additional bureau near the bathroom. French doors lead to a
private balcony or patio with a variety of views. Guestrooms
now come with comfortable mattresses, triple sheeting, and
downy pillows–my only complaint are the paper thin towels
sorely in need of replacement. Some rooms have a daybed, and
all an easy chair and ottoman. The marble bath vanity holds
double sinks, hair dryer, makeup mirror, and TV speaker
below porthole-style mirrors. There is a separate tub and
toilet area. Amenities include an iron and ironing board,
coffeemaker, refrigerator, keyed safe, and daily newspaper. |
Standard guestroom bath
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Standard guestroom |
Room tip: Standard rooms
come with either a view of the gardens or the less
desirable front of the resort with perhaps a slice of
the parking lot. Try for the standard rooms on the back
side near the quiet pool that look out to a grassy area
with a fountain and duck pond. Water views face Crescent
Lake, Stormalong Bay, or sometimes both; ask for one
facing Epcot for a view of Illuminations. If a lot of
walking is not your idea of a vacation, request a room
close to the lobby; the resort is quite spread out and
long treks to your room are not uncommon.
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| Concierge
rooms -
Concierge
rooms and suites located on the fifth floor are privy to the
Regatta Club, one of only two Disney concierge lounges with
a balcony, but alas with a view of the front of the resort
instead of Crescent Lake. Rooms here can be booked in either
a standard or lagoon view—most standard rooms overlook the
gardens, but a few have a view of the parking lot. Sunrise
Starters in the mornings include coffee with a self-service
cappuccino machine, tea, juice, Krispy Kreme donuts, banana
bread, cinnamon rolls, bagels, pastries, fruit, and cereal.
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Regatta Club |
Midday
Seaside Snacks consists of pretzels, goldfish crackers, nuts,
fruit, cookies, and beverages. Early evening Twilight Treasures
brings wine (not too thrilling are the Fetzer and Ecco Domani
choices), beer, and hors d’oeuvres such as hummus, olives,
vegetable crudites, cheese and crackers, fresh mozzarella with
balsamic, and asparagus vinaigrette along with a hot item like
pasta primavera, fish ‘n’ chips, and a nightly soup (kids feast
on PB&J sandwiches). After dinner Regatta Delights is a
selection of cordials and desserts the likes of cookies, cream
puffs, and Rice Krispies treats. Extra amenities include robes,
turndown service, private check-in and checkout, DVD/VHS
players, and the services of a pleasant concierge staff.
Suites -
A
variety of plush suites are available, the smallest being the
654-square-foot Junior Suite with two queen beds, an armoire,
and small table and chairs in the extra-large balconied bedroom
and a daybed, coffee table, and chair in a small sitting area
separated by French doors.
Turret Two-Bedroom Suites offer 1,160
square feet, including two queens and a bath in each bedroom;
off the master is a 6-side turreted living area with sofa,
chairs, entertainment armoire, 4-person dining room, and
stand-up balcony.
Exactly the same are the Commodore and the
Vice Presidential Suite at 1,375 square feet. Enter through a
large marble foyer to two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, three
balconies (one a stand-up) with both pool and water views, and a
parlor with sofa, chairs, entertainment center with TV, DVD
player, stereo, and wet bar with small refrigerator. The
incredible marble master bath has a whirlpool tub, separate
shower, and TV.
Almost identical at 1,636 square feet are the
two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath Presidential and Admiral
suites. Both are richly decorated and come with a marble foyer,
two living areas (one turreted), fireplace, a separate 8-person
dining room, small kitchen, and three balconies. The master
bedroom offers a whirlpool tub in the luxurious marble bath.
The
largest suite at 2,374 square feet and the best on property is
the 1st floor, two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath Captain's Deck
Suite. A marble octagonal foyer leads to a nautically decorated
parlor the size of three regular guestrooms with an open sitting
area, full living room, large business desk, dining room with
seating for 10, full kitchen (minus a stove), and a large garden
patio (with a not-so-great view of the valet parking lot through
the shrubbery). Each of the bedrooms has its own private patio,
and the plush master offers a canopy bed, walk-in closet, large
marble bath with vanity area, TV, huge shower, and separate
whirlpool tub. The second bedroom is similar to a regular resort
room. All suites regardless of floor location receive concierge
service and amenities.
You'll find complete information on
dining, recreation, services, and transportation at Disney's
Yacht Club in The Luxury Guide to Walt
Disney World Resort.
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