You’ve read my top 5 favorite Disney World Resorts, now it’s time to look at the bottom of the list for my least favorite Disney World Resort. I was originally going to create a list of 5 resorts, for balance, but I can only think of one resort.
It’s a shame, too, because this resort has a lot going for it: incredible location, great pool area, great resort area in general, but that simply wasn’t enough to win me over.
Have you guessed already?
Was “great pool area” too obvious of a clue?
My least favorite Disney World Resort is, and it hurts to say this because I really wanted to like this resort:
Beach Club
I know! I know. It hurts me, too.
Look, I get the Beach Club hype, though! Beach Club is arguably the resort closest to any Disney World theme park. Stormalong Bay is, hands down, the best resort pool area on property. People from other resorts try their darndest to sneak into Stormalong Bay because it’s so good. The Crescent Lake area, in general, is a fantastic area. There’s the dining options at Yacht Club next door. Boardwalk is across the lake with it’s amazing dining and nightlife. Swan and Dolphin are nearby, which have their own fantastic restaurants, not to mention their own Food and Wine Festival.
So why am I not crazy for Beach Club? A few things, really.
I don’t feel transported.
Let’s compare to apples to apples. When you walk into Wilderness Lodge, you feel transported to a lodge. Mountain lodge, forest lodge, fishing lodge, whatever. Stepping into the lobby of Grand Floridian, you feel transported to a Victorian-style resort. Even next door at Yacht Club, the lobby feels stately and nautical with a little bit of a “don’t touch anything!” feel to it.
Beach Club, to me, feels like a resort. It’s meant to feel like a beachside resort, but to me it just feels like a resort. I don’t feel transported somewhere else like I do at other Disney World resorts. Maybe it’s too casual? It doesn’t have that ‘wow!’ factor like many other resorts do.
Not a fan of the food.
The dining options at Beach Club are not my favorite. Beaches and Cream Soda Shop, while a good restaurant, feels more like a lunch spot with hard-to-get reservations. It’s a bit noisy, and depending on how many tables order The Kitchen Sink, it can become a little loud several times during your meal.
Cape May Cafe, while having a great character breakfast, has become a bit of a let down for dinner. Crab legs, that used to be included on the seafood dinner buffet, are now an additional charge for just a couple. The smell of seafood also wafts through the lobby during dinner hours, which can turn some noses.
Beach Club Marketplace, their quick service option, is my least favorite counter service location in the resorts. While their grab-and-go options are standard for many resorts, with some pretty good choices, I thought their deli was terrible. The food I ordered was okay, but it was borderline cold by the time I got back to my room.
The macaroni and cheese was topped with goldfish crackers! I felt violated and offended. Who does that? Not even crumbled up like a crust, that could have been interesting, but a handful of goldfish crackers dumped on top!
Where’s the DVC?
Beach Club Villas feels like the red-headed stepchild of DVC. Where is it at Beach Club? Oh, it’s in the back. It’s not part of the resort like Copper Creek. It’s not an adjacent building like Polynesian, Boulder Ridge, or Animal Kingdom Lodge.
In fact, I had to go look for it to find out where it was! First you have to walk through the Solarium, which is off the lobby at Beach Club. Okay, first first you have to find the Solarium, then walk through it, go out the doors, down a walkway and then you get to Beach Club Villas. All that money for a contract at Beach Club and they stick you in a separate building in the back with views of trees or parking lots. Or of Beach Club to remind you that non-DVC guests can at least have a water view.
What if you’re not a pool person?
Of course I’m going to speak highly of Stormalong Bay because it has a lot to offer, people really like it, and kids will knock you over to get to that water slide entrance across the walkway.
But what if you’re not a pool person? Then it becomes a really nice area to look at while having no interest to go inside of. I’m not counting this as a negative on the resort, it’s more of a neutral thing. I can’t exactly hate on it, but if you have no interest in using it, then it becomes a moot point.
And then there’s this.
Ariel’s. Once a high-end seafood restaurant in the 90s, it has since closed and is now only used for wedding functions. It’s at the end of a hallway, so guests heading outside to Stormalong Bay from Martha’s Vineyard Lounge have this lovely view before turning left. The metal gate adds a special off-limits touch.
So. That’s just my opinion. You may love Beach Club, and that’s fine! Believe me, I want to love Beach Club. I tried to love Beach Club, but it’s just not the resort for me.
Beach Club has a lot going for it, though! Short walk to Epcot, boat ride to Hollywood Studios. Plenty of great dining options at nearby resorts, or you could even pop back into Epcot and dine at one of the nearby World Showcase pavilions. A pool area almost as good as the two waterparks. Not to mention, you can even watch the Epcot fireworks from outside of the park!
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to your angry emails!
Disney Rover 