Disney's YACHT & BEACH CLUB RESORTS Information & Questions

[merdie]

I’m here now and what you don’t hear...anywhere...is laughter. It’s just not fun right now. I’m not going to argue with anyone, it’s just how things are. The newcomers who like the emptiness say it’s good for them, but those who live love WDW are having a rough time.

I’m sorry you’re feeling that way.

I went in February with my girlfriends and we had a wonderful time, with lots of laughs. Obviously, things are very different but it was so good for my soul to take a trip with my friends. I’m sorry you’re experience hasn’t been the same.

 

[PCFriar80]

from yacht club

From the lobby, out the back door and go right! Head towards the Swan/Dolphin and then down the canal path. Now, if you have a room that's far away from the lobby then head out the nearest exit to Crescent lake and still go right! It's a great walk in the AM and have fun!

 

[disneyworldsk]

You'll be fine. What you're getting here lately are reports and feedback from one of the busiest times of the year for Disney; Easter plus spring breaks. Disney is always crowded and more so this time of year. Throw in social distancing and capacity limitations then things appear worse than they really are.

I'd like to put the "75 minute" bus to MK in context. The poster that was responded to wanted to be there for rope drop with an 8:00 AM opening. Disney parks have typically begun the opening process about 30 minutes before the published opening time. You have temperature check, security and then MB scan before you actually get in the park. Disney likes to keep the crowds in motion during this time versus staging everyone. So, back to the 75 minutes. At the bus stop at 6:45AM and I guarantee [99%] you that a bus will be there within 15 minutes. 15 minute ride to MK and it's now 7:15 AM. Another 5 minutes to first staging area [temp check] and they're on their way! If you're not planning to get to MK or AK for rope drop then typical bus wait time can be up to 20 minutes with bus drive time to each park around 15 minutes.

There will always be issues reported on this thread and other threads but quite frankly I feel that they're the exception and not the rule. In my opinion things will get better. I firmly believe that when BC opens at the end of May that adjustments will be made for SAB to allow for increased occupancy.

Thank you. I think hopping on this board made me reignite my pre trip anxieties i always get!

 

[disneyworldsk]

From the lobby, out the back door and go right! Head towards the Swan/Dolphin and then down the canal path. Now, if you have a room that's far away from the lobby then head out the nearest exit to Crescent lake and still go right! It's a great walk in the AM and have fun!

are there signs and do the majority of the resort guests from yc walk to get to dhs in the a.m.?

 

[focusondisney]

are there signs and do the majority of the resort guests from yc walk to get to dhs in the a.m.?

Lots of people are walking now. There is one sign at the beginning of the walk at the Boardwalk. But really, there is only 1 walkway along the water. Come out of the Yacht Club, follow the walk to the right. You’ll go up over a bridge then bear left, towards the Boardwalk. But once off the bridge, the walk will be to the front & right, along the water. That’s where the sign is, but it’s not a big sign. So you’ll be walking along the left side of the water, there is no walk on the right side. You’ll walk past the side of the Boardwalk, not in front of it. And just keep going til you get the Studios. There are no turn offs or alternate routes. The only exits are to the Boardwalk, nothing that will confuse you.

 

[PCFriar80]

Lots of people are walking now. There is one sign at the beginning of the walk at the Boardwalk. But really, there is only 1 walkway along the water. Come out of the Yacht Club, follow the walk to the right. You’ll go up over a bridge then bear left, towards the Boardwalk. But once off the bridge, the walk will be to the front & right, along the water. That’s where the sign is, but it’s not a big sign. So you’ll be walking along the left side of the water, there is no walk on the right side. You’ll walk past the side of the Boardwalk, not in front of it. And just keep going til you get the Studios. There are no turn offs or alternate routes. The only exits are to the Boardwalk, nothing that will confuse you.

Nicely done! From a visual perspective, this is what one of the signs will look like, so don't rely on it too much!

 

[focusondisney]

Nicely done!

Thanks! We’ve been staying at the YC 2 or 3 times a year for over 20 years. I know that area as well as I know my own neighborhood.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Re: the pools... just talking out loud here. I think I’d like to see Disney get a little more creative in ways to handle more people. From what I’ve seen on my trips (although I haven’t been in the last month to see things lately), capacity is managed based on every incoming group getting a chair/table. It’s not like the pools themselves are necessarily jam packed. Sometimes when we hit the pool, we don’t need chairs, we just need a spot to put our stuff while we hit the water for awhile and then we head back to the room - we never really need a chair.

Maybe try out something like setting up “cubbies” for people to put their things and let more people in. I think the pools themselves can hold more people and still be in the acceptable range as far as distancing (obviously a subjective opinion).

Again, just sort of talking out loud on things they could do short of adding back the chairs that were removed to accommodate distancing.

 

[disneyfan150]

My experience with several stays at various resorts since reopening. No times in the app or monitors for the first few months. Around December it seemed like things were slowly coming back online, would sometimes work, sometimes not. My last trip in March I would describe as “normal” app and monitor operations. But as PPs have noted, YMMV!

This is a bit of good news! Thanks for posting. We were there just after they opened in August. I have much more patience when I have a time line.

 

[mouschievous]

BCV question on getting to DHS - It looks like it's about a mile to walk, right? If we want to save the walking, is the boat the best option? If so, how much time should we plan - 30 minutes before we want to be to DHS?

 

[disneyfan150]

are there signs and do the majority of the resort guests from yc walk to get to dhs in the a.m.?

I probably would not admit to what I am about to say in very many places. But I am probably safe here. I don't watch many shows or movies. I watch YouTube videos about WDW and I have been many times. It gives me something fun to do while I count down the days to my trip. There are videos of people using the walkway to HS. Watching them made me much more comfortable the first time. I also like to use Google Earth. The bird's eye view is helpful.

 

[mouschievous]

I probably would not admit to what I am about to say in very many places. But I am probably safe here. I don't watch many shows or movies. I watch YouTube videos about WDW and I have been many times. It gives me something fun to do while I count down the days to my trip. There are videos of people using the walkway to HS. Watching them made me much more comfortable the first time. I also like to use Google Earth. The bird's eye view is helpful.

I watched an 8 minute video of someone walking to Epcot yesterday. When we were planning for DL, I watched more videos than I care to admit of people walking from their "walking distance" hotel to make sure they really were walking distance. Some people's definitions of walking distance are quite different than mine!

 

[disneyfan150]

I watched an 8 minute video of someone walking to Epcot yesterday. When we were planning for DL, I watched more videos than I care to admit of people walking from their "walking distance" hotel to make sure they really were walking distance. Some people's definitions of walking distance are quite different than mine!

I watched some DL videos myself when I was planning on a possible trip. I have never made it to DL. It looks fun. One day. . .

 

[Gitelfor]

BCV question on getting to DHS - It looks like it's about a mile to walk, right? If we want to save the walking, is the boat the best option? If so, how much time should we plan - 30 minutes before we want to be to DHS?

Taking the boat from the YC/BC, there will be one stop at the Swan/Dolphin, before heading on over to DHS. The ride takes about 15-20 minutes from the YC/BC dock. The boat stops at the Boardwalk before the YC/BC, so you can look over there to see if one is coming over (the boat will always be docked on the side closest to its final destination, so it is easy to know if it is going to EP or DHS). The boats are spaced about 20 minutes apart.

The walk to DHS takes about 20-25 minutes, depending on your walking speed and stride. It is a one mile walk.

If you are good on time, the boat ride is very peaceful and relaxing.

 

[KayKayJS]

Anyone have any suggestions on when to leave if driving to AK? I’m assuming around 715 if parks are opening 30 min early?

 

[HiStitch626]

Anyone have any suggestions on when to leave if driving to AK? I’m assuming around 715 if parks are opening 30 min early?

The parking lots have been opening about 1 hour before the park opens, then you need to go through temperature check and security. If the park is opening at 8 AM I would advise arriving to the parking lot about 7. That should allow you to do everything you need to do and enter the park as soon as it opens, which will be before 8

 

[disneyworldsk]

cs breakfast at yc for a quick coffee/fruit/muffin type thing, it opens at 7? So if i want to be at mk for example early a.m. and make a bus that's not too crowded I would need to eat at mk ?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

cs breakfast at yc for a quick coffee/fruit/muffin type thing, it opens at 7? So if i want to be at mk for example early a.m. and make a bus that's not too crowded I would need to eat at mk ?

Yes, The Market at Ale & Compass currently opens at 7am per posted hours (eta, see next poster’s comment about 6:30am for grab/go items). My recommendation for an early morning/trying to be first at the bus stop for a MK 8am opening breakfast would be to order some things from a grocery delivery service to keep in the room, or buy some stuff at The Market at Ale & Compass or Beach Club Marketplace the day(s) before and bring ziplock bags for storage.

We’ve been ordering yogurt, bananas, apples, etc for breakfast and also bottled water to make coffee in the room (I prefer using bottled water vs tap water). For the kids we’ve been ordering bagels, individual cereals, etc. Not a ton of stuff, just enough for a quick breakfast in a pinch.

We personally prefer to not take time to hunt down breakfast at MK (not many options, takes away valuable rope drop time, etc), so having just a few supplies on hand in the room for an early morning has been helpful, for us.

 

[Wood Nymph]

cs breakfast at yc for a quick coffee/fruit/muffin type thing, it opens at 7? So if i want to be at mk for example early a.m. and make a bus that's not too crowded I would need to eat at mk ?

The YC marketplace opened at 6:30am for grab and go food, coffee and beverages. They don't start serving hot food until 7am - at least that has been our experience when we were there. The Beach Club marketplace also opens for grab and go and beverages at 6:30am with hot food starting at 7am.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Only one with those problems right now.... if restrictions stay the same I can’t see how it won’t be a problem at poly when they fully open. That’s another pool that definitely has high attendance to the point some would consider it over crowded at the times you’re talking about. I think if more than 1/3? Of the resort was open it would be an issue there right now too.

FWIW since I have this handy, Poly is roughly 56% hotel and 44% DVC.

But yeah, I agree with you, that feature pool will be a pinch point too upon reopening if current distancing standards are still in place.