Disney's Beach Club Resort

Five-story, blue and white, Cape Cod-style buildings fronting a white-sand beach bordered with soft sea grass bring to mind late-nineteenth-century Martha’s Vineyard. Relax in the inviting white rockers on the front porch; or while away the time in the lobby where airy, high ceilings, bare floors, curtained alcove sitting areas, gold and cream striped seating, high back canopy-style chairs, and potted banana plants create a cabana ambience. A sunny solarium overlooks the resort’s lovely gardens.

The casually elegant grounds surrounding the resort are planted with a variety of crape myrtles, gardenias, and roses, but the resort’s highlight is the fantastic Stormalong Bay, a winding wonderland of a mini–water park shared with Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Since this is the closest resort to Epcot®, it offers super-easy access to the International Gateway entrance, a convenience that can’t be beat. One caveat, however, at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is that the majority of room balconies are one-by-three feet, standing-room-only.

Check-in 3 p.m.; Check-out 11 a.m.

 

Accommodations

Guestrooms

New room renovations are a great improvement. 380-square-foot guestrooms are bedecked with a sea-blue and chocolate color scheme with striped curtains, white duvets, and shutter-style wood headboards. There's a large cottage-white bureau and above it on the wall is the flat-panel TV. An additional bureau is found in the foyer, and in the corner sits a desk with a lifeguard Mickey lamp. Some rooms also come with a daybed. The lively decor continues in the bath where the lighthouse and sailing ship motif wallpaper and shower curtain adorn a separate tub and commode area of pale gold ceramic tile. Outside is a gray and white marble vanity with two sinks, makeup mirror, and hairdryer. Amenities include a small keyed safe, iron and ironing board, coffee maker, refrigerator, and daily newspaper.

Tip: Request a view of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth when booking your room and remember that the standard-view rooms could have a view of the parking lot. Water-view rooms aren’t always of Crescent Lake; many times they face Stormalong Bay, a somewhat noisy location.

Bright and airy, the water-view Deluxe Rooms, at 533 square feet, are long and narrow with many windows. Enter from a small marble foyer to find the standard-size bath near the entrance then a long, narrow oversized room with two queen beds and a daybed set back in a small alcove. The small balcony is a stand-up. They come with concierge access.

Concierge Rooms

Fifth-floor concierge-level rooms include the amenities of the Stone Harbor Club, a small but cozy lounge (one that tends to be a bit crowded and frenzied when the occupancy level is high) with complimentary food and beverages throughout the day. Expect a continental breakfast of croissants, cinnamon buns, pastries, bagels, donuts, banana bread, fruit, juice, cereal, and hot oatmeal along with afternoon snacks of beverages, goldfish crackers, nuts, and pretzels.

Early evening brings wine (a very basic selection such as Fetzer and Ecco Domani) with a nice spread of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres the likes of cheese and crackers, hummus, olives, crudites with dip, PB&J sandwiches, fresh mozzarella and cherry tomato salad, asparagus salad, pasta primavera, and roasted salmon as well as a daily soup like clam chowder and roasted tomato cream. After dinner you’ll find desserts such as mini-size cream puffs, tarts, cannolis, petit fours, chocolate chip and sugar cookies, and Rice Krispies squares along with liqueurs. There’s also a self-service espresso and cappuccino machine. Additional amenities include the services of a friendly concierge staff, private check-in and checkout, DVD/VCR players, nightly turndown service, and robes.

Suites

Suites are set for renovation to be completed by the end of 2008. For now, the 2,200-square-foot Presidential Newport Suite, decorated in sea green and soft blues, has a large marble foyer leading to a living room with a somewhat small seating area, seahorse motif fireplace, and Little Mermaid themed rugs (a little too cutesy for my taste). You’ll also find a wet bar, dining room with seating for eight, butler’s pantry-style kitchen, and half bath. In the empty-looking colossal master bedroom is rose trellis motif carpeting, four-poster bed with a moss green floral bedspread, desk, rattan easy chair and ottoman, armoire, and loads of windows. The marble master bath holds a whirlpool tub, separate toilet area with bidet, separate walk-in shower, mini TV, double sinks, and large walk-in closet. The second bedroom is actually the size of a one-bedroom suite with king bed, walk-in closet, balcony, and separate sitting area. Three extended balconies almost encircle the entire suite, affording views of the pool and lagoon.

The fifth-floor Vice Presidential Nantucket Suite at 996 square feet is a one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath suite with a parlor holding a sofa, coffee table, easy chairs, wet bar with microwave and small refrigerator, four-person dining table, desk, armoire, and balcony overlooking a quiet garden courtyard. The bedroom has a small standing-room-only balcony facing Stormalong Bay and a marble bathroom with whirlpool tub, separate shower, double sinks, and mini TV. A standard guest room can be added to make this a two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath suite.

Enter Two-Bedroom Suites through a small marble foyer to a living area with a table and chairs, bureau, sofa, coffee table, wall-mounted flat-screen TV, and wet bar with coffeemaker and under-counter refrigerator. From the living area you’ll enter a long, narrow bathroom with a double-sinked vanity and closet outside of the separate shower/tub and toilet area. Enter the smallish bedroom through one of two French doors. A standard guestroom is off the living area.

One-bedroom Suites offer a small parlor with a daybed and coffee table, and TV. Through French doors is the bedroom with a king bed, TV, desk, and another daybed. The balcony runs the length of the suite. A standard size bath and closet is located off the parlor.

All suites regardless of floor location are part of the concierge level. You'll find complete information on dining, recreation, services, and transportation at Disney's Beach Club Resort in The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World® Resort.