disney yacht club seafood buffet

Cape May Cafe Dinner Review (Is this Seafood Buffet at Disney World Worth Your Time?)

A few months ago, my friend Denise invited me to join her and her husband for dinner at Cape May Cafe. The plan was to meet at Disney’s Beach Club in mid-January for dinner at the restaurant’s seafood buffet.

At the time, I was working on updating our coverage of the resort. So, I knew this would be an excellent opportunity to enjoy a meal with friends and provide a formal review of dinner at Cape May Cafe. You may remember we previously reviewed breakfast at Cape May Cafe . Breakfast at Cape May Cafe is an entirely different subject from dinner. You will want to know that the breakfast buffet is character dining. However, dinner is strictly a seafood buffet with no characters.

Cape May Cafe sits off the lobby of Disney’s Beach Club near the walkway that extends to Disney’s Yacht Club. When you arrive, you can check in via the My Disney Experience app or at a podium near the restaurant’s entrance.

A sign outside the restaurant describes the two meal periods at Cape May Cafe. Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast is held daily from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Then, the restaurant reopens from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. for the Seafood and More Dinner Buffet. Per the signage, the seafood and more buffet is a mouth-watering array of clams, mussels, shrimp, pasta, salads, and more. At the time of this visit, the buffet is one standard price for adults ages ten and over of $47.00. For guests ages nine and under, the price is $27.00. You can check the current price of Cape May Cafe here on Disney.com .

Cape May has a fun, beachy vibe like the rest of the resort. It’s a New England-inspired venue with pretty pastels, umbrellas, and beach chairs.

As many know, Disney’s Beach Club is my favorite resort. But you might be surprised that this was my first time dining at Cape May Cafe’s seafood buffet. I attribute that to two reasons. First, my son has severe seafood allergies. So, it was never a place we considered when he was growing up.

Secondly, the restaurant has always been known to have a strong seafood order. In the past, when you took the walkway around the restaurant’s parameters, you could smell it. I don’t know if my sense of smell has changed or the situation has improved. But I don’t notice it anymore. This was originally brought to my attention a while back after a comment someone had left. They said that they felt like the odor had completely vanished sometimes after the crab legs were removed from the buffet. So that very well may be the case.

Anyway, we were almost immediately seated. It was a chilly evening, and I was interested in how busy it would get. The parks were busier than I had ever seen at this time of the year. But I didn’t necessarily expect Cape May Cafe to be busy. Since I’m at the Beach Club reasonably often, I’ve noticed the restaurant is nearly always packed for breakfast. It’s a madhouse. People love the classic characters in beach attire.

Dinner, however, is a different story. Years ago, I remember always overhearing a noisy clatter from the restaurant when we walked by in the evening. But now it’s noticeably quiet, making you wonder if something’s wrong. Could all this be attributed to the missing snow crab legs? Or the fact that you have to pay an additional $29.00 per pound to enjoy them? Maybe it’s just that people are more cautious about eating at buffets these days.

We were about to find out. That said, I didn’t go into this dining experience with anything but excitement. I love seafood and was happy to break bread with a few friends. Plus, I almost always look forward to trying something new.

After getting seated, Denise and Jim were off to pick out a few starters. I walked through the entire buffet and took photos of almost everything. We’ll start with the soup and salad section. On the front corner, you’ll find a selection of clam chowder and the soup of the day. There were a few toppings for the soup, including spicy crackers. I would not recommend the spicy crackers unless you love the heat. They were too hot for me! But Denise and I both enjoyed the clam chowder.

Next, we have the Caesar salad.

Then, we have the seafood salad. This is a mayonnaise-based salad. I tried it but didn’t care for it. However, I don’t like mayonnaise.

Jim and I were both impressed with the selection and quality of olives.

Next to the olives were the peel-n-eat shrimp. Yes, peeling shrimp is annoying. Nonetheless, they were sizable, quality shrimp, and I could have made a meal from them.

A few fruit selections were also available.

Below is the seasonal salad, and a plain garden salad sits next to it. I think we all tried the Caesar salad and enjoyed it. But I can’t comment on this one.

The ambrosia salad was another nice touch.

After the salad and starters, we turn the corner to a selection of hearty entrees with sides. For reference, the main buffet is a perfect square. The first side has soups, salad, and starters. Then, it transitions to the New England Traditional Steam Boil, other entrees, and side items. After that, the following side is a combined carving station and an area with items geared toward children. Then, the last side has a few plant-based items, the sustainable catch of the day, and New England’s Captain Fried Seafood selection.

This side starts with Parker Rolls and then transitions to mashed potatoes and roast chicken.

After the chicken, we run into the ribs. We thought the ribs were tender and juicy.

Next, we ran into the items that make up the New England Steam Boil, like corn on the cob and baby red potatoes.

Seafood selections in this area included mussels, clams, and shrimp. If you enjoy a seafood boil, you will surely like this. The mussels and shrimp were cooked in a traditional seafood boil mix. The only drawback is that you must retrieve the seafood from the shells, which gets messy. But that’s usually the case with any restaurant that serves this kind of offering.

On the opposite end, a platter contained cornbread. I tried the cornbread and felt it was a little stale.

As we round the corner to the next side of the buffet, we run into a carving board with slow-roasted sirloin. They had two selections, medium or medium well. Of everything we had, the beef surprised me the most. It was cooked to a perfect medium, well-seasoned, and tasted like I had ordered a steak from a restaurant’s menu.

After the carving station, the next area is geared toward children or those who might not be into seafood.

Who doesn’t enjoy a slice of cheese pizza now and then?

Bowtie pasta, marinara, and meatballs were also available.

Then we see roasted chicken with barbecue sauce and broccoli.

Wrapping up this section, we find a vat of macaroni and cheese.

Walking down the last section of the dinner buffet, we see a platter with a plant-based dish alongside roasted vegetables. Plant-based items were limited.

Then we had the pasta of the day, which everyone enjoyed. I’m pretty sure it was corkscrew noodles with balsamic sauce.

This area also had a seafood paella, which I thought was tasty.

Lastly, we have the New England Captain’s Fried Seafood selection. This was another section I felt was impressive, but it wasn’t because of the fish bites. (They were fine.)

But more because they had fried calamari and spicy marinara.

The catch of the day was roasted salmon, and that’s fried shrimp next to it. None of us tried the salmon, but the fried shrimp had a nice batter.

Cape May Cafe’s dessert buffet sits separately toward the front of the restaurant. It looks impressive.

The front corner had a few basic items that were more kid-friendly, like chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, and cupcakes.

The celebration cupcakes linger long after the celebration. But they are cute.

Next, we have an item labeled as cookie dough.

Here, we have flourless chocolate Mickey domes.

These cranberry cheesecake bits were a no-sugar added option.

This item was labeled as a lemon blueberry doughnut.

Bon Bons are the signature Cape May Cafe dessert since 2000.

The chocolate banana tarts were cute.

I didn’t get a chance to try the profiteroles.

But I did try the seasonal fruit bake, which reminded me of an old-fashioned dump cake my aunt used to make. Of all the desserts I tried, this was the only decent one.

Unfortunately, the other desserts I tasted (dome cake, bonbons, tart) were mediocre. While they were visually appealing, nothing tasted fresh or homemade. Even the bonbons were a miss. Much was left to be desired when it came to the final course of the meal. I would rather see soft-serve ice cream with toppings and a few homemade desserts like brownies or cake. These days, it seems like emphasis is placed on appearances over quality and taste.

Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Cape May Cafe. The items I liked the most were the cold shrimp, the slow-roasted strip loin, the seafood boil, and the fried seafood selections. As someone who enjoys seafood, these items were enough to cover the cost of the meal. We also had an excellent server who constantly removed our plates and refreshed our drinks.

When planning a meal here, you’ll want to consider what items your group will enjoy. If you aren’t interested in seafood, this probably isn’t where you want to drop $50.00 for a meal. It’s also important to remember that some items, like peel-and-eat shrimp, are messy and require you to eat with your hands. Thankfully, Cape May Cafe is a casual restaurant with no fancy dress code.

For more information about Disney’s Beach Club Resort , you might enjoy the following:

• Disney’s Beach Club Review
• Newly Updated Resort Rooms at Disney’s Beach Club
• The Pools at Disney’s Beach Club
• Everything You Need To Know About Stormalong Bay
• Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Restaurants Guide

What Do You Think?

Have you ever had dinner at Cape May Cafe? What do you think of this review? Are you open to planning a meal here? In the comments section below, let us know your thoughts (good or bad). We enjoy hearing about your experiences and learning from your perspectives. Other readers also find the comments section invaluable or, at the very least, entertaining.

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Review: Cape May Cafe – Better Minus Buffet?

Cape May Cafe is a table service restaurant in Yacht & Beach Club Resort at Walt Disney World. This reviews the new family-style dinner, which replaces the New England Clambake Buffet. It features food photos, thoughts on how this all-you-can-eat meal compares to its predecessor, a look at atmosphere, whether it’s worth the money, and more.

In normal times, Cape May Cafe participates in the Disney Dining Plan as a 1-credit table service restaurant for dinner, which has historically made it among the Best Uses of Table Service Credits . Of course, that’s temporarily suspended right now, but presumably that info will be relevant again in the not-too-distant future. Cape May Cafe also accepts the Tables in Wonderland card for a 20% discount and Disney Vacation Club or Annual Passholder cards for 10% off.

Prior to this meal at Cape May Cafe, it had been over a decade since we did dinner at the buffet–way back to our Before Blog days. Despite being asked about the New England Clambake Dinner Buffet countless times by readers, it was always “on our list” of places to revisit and review. However, when push came to shove and we had the Disney Dining Plan, we always found excuses to dine elsewhere. There was a reason for that…

It’s not exactly a good or interesting story; we simply had a poor experience our one and only time doing the dinner buffet at Cape May Cafe. The rational side of our minds knows that any restaurant can have an off night, and we should’ve long ago set that aside to dine there again. (As an even more extreme example, we haven’t been back to Hollywood Brown Derby in a while because one of us had a memorably bad meal on the very same night that the other had an exceptional one. Sometimes you just get lucky or unlucky.)

This perhaps lingered in our minds longer than it should’ve, “thanks” to Cape May Cafe’s pungency. We often walk past the restaurant en route to dinner at Beaches & Cream or Crew’s Cup, and have our recollections refreshed in the process. The point is that while other Walt Disney World fans were disappointed by the announcement that Cape May Cafe would reopen as a family-style restaurant, we were slightly relieved. It presented the perfect opportunity to turn the page, so let’s do exactly that…

In terms of decor and atmosphere, Cape May Cafe is a delightful mix of pastel colors, airy design, seaside murals, and beach items. It’s certainly not the pinnacle of themed design at Walt Disney World, but there’s something about it that just feels charming and calming, which is really saying something since this is normally a buffet.

Cape May Cafe is quintessential 1990s Walt Disney World, and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s not overly dated, and has the perfect amount of detail, quality, and comfort. There are no attempts to be hip or on-trend, and the end result is a restaurant with a distinct personality. We love it, and will be among the first to grab the pitchforks if Disney ever removes those iconic umbrellas!

The family-style dinner at Cape May Cafe starts with Breads and Spreads: Parker House Rolls and Cornbread with Roasted Garlic-Herb Butter, Salted Butter, and Cheese Spread.

The quality on the breads themselves was middling; nothing noteworthy about them for better or worse. Both the roasted garlic-herb butter and salted butter were fantastic.

Next up is the Seasonal Harvest Salad: Arugula, Kale, and Romaine with Orange Segments, Cherry Tomatoes, Red Onions, and Sun-dried Cherries, with a Citrus-Vanilla Vinaigrette.

I didn’t try the salad. It’s an all you can eat meal and this isn’t my first rodeo; I’ve got no time for this nonsense. Sarah liked the salad. It was reasonably ambitious and the citrus elements were refreshing, supposedly.

The next item to come out was the Turf Platter: Slow-roasted Strip Loin with Chimichurri and House-made Steak Sauce, Oven-roasted Lemon-Pepper Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, and Farmer’s Market Vegetables.

Everything here was pretty good. The chicken was mostly juicy and flavorful, same for the steak, and the mashed potatoes (as always) were addictively delicious. There’s something about Walt Disney World mashed potatoes that I just love. ( I’m guessing it’s the butter.) Not everything in the platter was of equal preparation, but it was more consistent than what you’d find on a buffet.

In between the platters, the Lobster Macaroni & Cheese arrived.

Predictably, this was fairly light on lobster, but still a fantastic mac & cheese with rich flavor and the perfect texture. Those rare bites that did have lobster chunks were absolutely sublime.

Next up is the Seafood Boil: PEI Mussels, Peel-n-Eat Shrimp , Cape May Clams, Sustainable Catch of the Day, Red Bliss Potatoes, and Corn on the Cobb.

This was mostly fantastic. The mussels, shrimp, and clams all tasted far better than we anticipated. That trio was tender, hearty, high-quality, and had an exceptional flavor thanks to the buttery broth. There was also a freshness to this Seafood Boil, and I simply cannot imagine a buffet rivaling the quality here.

By contrast, the sustainable catch of the day (mahi mahi) very much seemed like a stereotypical “buffet fish” that had slow cooked under a heat lamp for hours, maybe days. If I weren’t told what it was, I wouldn’t have known. It was flavorless, overcooked, and so tough it barely tasted like fish. The potatoes and corn were fine accompaniments, but again, not the type of filler I’m after in an all you can eat meal.

My favorite items, and what I ordered more of, were the mussels, clams, mac & cheese, and strip loin.

One thing that makes me uncomfortable about family style meals is all of the waste. We try to never throw away food ( even from the Italy booth! ), so this is a tough one for us. You’re left with the dilemma of filling up on things that you didn’t want to begin with (salad) and/or that taste terrible (mahi mahi), or having the stomach space for dishes you actually want and like at an expensive meal.

With that said, you can always place very specific requests at Cape May Cafe or any other family style restaurant at Walt Disney World. You could even do this with your initial order by letting the server know you don’t want salad, mahi mahi, or whatever.

When it came time to order “refills,” we did exactly that. I wanted more of the slow-roasted strip loin prepared medium rare. (A couple of pieces in our first platter were medium well and were decidedly less tasty.)

As the ultimate hack , I also requested a side of extra chimichurri.

Although I love chimichurri, perhaps this was a bit excessive. The meat stood well on its own; slathering it in so much oil when I was already pretty full wasn’t the most brilliant idea. So scratch that “ultimate hack.”

For dessert at Cape May Cafe, the table receives a platter.

Ours included a raspberry cream puff, sugar-free cheesecake, lemon curd, and Cafe May Cafe’s iconic Oreo Bon Bons.

If your party is already feeling full before dessert, our strong suggestion would be requesting a platter of the Oreo Bon Bons instead of the normal mix. (Of the other items, only the curd is worthwhile–the cheesecake is an abomination.)

Trust us, you cannot go wrong with the Oreo Bon Bons.

You might recall us raving about these Oreo Bon Bons back at Christmas when they made a triumphant return to Beach Club Marketplace. At that time, we excitedly called them a must-have bygone era Walt Disney World dessert that had disappeared several years ago.

These are a brilliant medley of texture and flavor, and are worth the price of Cape May Cafe by themselves . If Cape May Cafe offered an All Bon Bon Buffet , I’d do it. No joke. I’d probably have to beach myself on a lobby couch afterwards from eating too many of them, but let’s be real–that’s happening regardless!

While we’re mostly heaping praise on Cape May Cafe’s family-style dinner, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that there’s an added charge for steamed crab legs and whole Maine lobster. (Given the all you can eat circumstances, we ordered neither.)

The latter I can understand; the charge seems fair and it’s an item you wouldn’t find on a typical buffet. The surcharge for crab legs is a disappointment, as this is something previously included in the Cape May Cafe dinner buffet. It’s conceivable that seafood supply chain issues are the cause of this, but it feels like a cash grab. Honestly, I would’ve preferred if crab legs weren’t offered at all for the time being. Charging extra for them just rubs me the wrong way.

Ultimately, I don’t know if it’s fair to say the family-style dinner at Cape May Cafe is better than the New England Clambake Buffet. For us, it probably was. However, we can also recognize that there’s a degree of absurdity in comparing meals over a decade apart. That’s especially true when many Walt Disney World fans adored the dinner buffet, some doing it every single trip for years. As we stress to others, any restaurant can have an off night and shouldn’t be reviewed on that basis.

Accordingly, it’s impossible for us to answer the titular question. Instead, we’ll judge the Cape May Cafe family-style dinner on its own merits and against comparable meals at Walt Disney World right now. On those bases, it’s a very good–but not quite great–dining option with several dishes that get high marks and a few that fall short. For now, it’s among the best all-you-can-eat restaurants at Walt Disney World and gets our recommendation–until Tusker House and Sebastian’s Bistro return!

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Have you done the new family-style dinner at Cape May Cafe? Are you happy about this change, or hopeful that the New England Clambake will return once circumstances allow for it? Any favorite dishes at Cape May Cafe? Do you agree or disagree with our review? If you haven’t dined here, does this sound appealing to you or not? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Went expecting the traditional Cape Amy buffet that we dine every time we’re at Disney because there was a huge variety of food for everyone in the family with different likes . I wasn’t aware of the new family dining style . Very disappointed as they choose your food bring a tiny plate of seafood with a tiny corn while everyone who wants turf sits and waits , salad basically lettuce w/dressing on it no cucumbers tomatoes croutons etc . Felt like a tiny bowl of lettuce . Disappointed as $42@ we could’ve had a better meal not worth the price at all!! Will not go back unless they start the buffet again. I also let the manager know that this overpriced meal was terrible. He claims he will pass this info on and apologized

This is the buffet we always look forward too. We tried the new family style and were completely disappointed. Totally rushed. They brought (by multiple waitresses) small plates of it all at one time and we had NO room on the table to even pass things around. Got 1/4 of an ear of corn for four people and 2 small red potatoes. Ask for more and it was a small plate of another 1/4 ear of corn and single serving of whatever and no where to put it on the table. Ordered the expensive crab legs bc that’s our tradition there and literally had to sit the shell pail (also was given as a scrap pail for family style) on the floor. Will never go back until it’s the same buffet as before. Wasteful-bc they just throw what they want at you, not filling bc you hate to bother to ask for more of what you NEED and want (no where to sit it anyway) and just not a good value like before.

Does anyone know if the characters will return?

Ate there a month ago and the food was awful, and the service was rushed. The fish is better from the frozen food section of your local grocery store. No flavor in the seafood boil at all. Finally the beef was over cooked. Will not be returning and this is after I and my family have been going to Cape May cafe 4 times a year since 2014.

As a frequent patron of CAPE MAY I can say that I am not happy with the change to family style and will not be returning until the all you can eat crab leg buffet returns. I have been to numerous non-Disney buffets over the past several months. Buffets are possible. It’s not that Disney can’t do them, they choose not to do them.

Since when is going to a restaurant, which used to offer a buffet of choices, and now being told what you will get to pick, a good thing. So many choices have been excluded. Let’s face it, being asked to pay for crab legs, when it was previously included, is an insult. I can only hope enough previous patrons say no to family style throughout Disney. However, Cape May especially. It’s not even remotely the same experience. Don’t buy the reasoning for the change has anything to do with pandemic any more, as several other buffet establishments managed to adapt with no problems. Not to mention all the waste of food with family style. Hate to suggest a mass boycott, as I love Disney. However, what else will make them change it back.

Based on some of the comments here and on TripAdvisor (not very kind to say the least), we are doing dinner at Cowfish in City Walk and giving up our Cape May Cafe dinner reservation. Will return when the buffet resumes.

Haven’t been there in the last year, but have had a couple of great meals at Cowfish in the past. Enjoy!

S Martin: You are so right about the smell in the lobby (and in the corridor going around the restaurant. It was terrible.

The move to family style and no more crab legs included really guts what was one of WDW’s best buffets for value and also taste. This was a mandatory once if not twice ADR for me on the DP. As well as the crab legs feast, they always had incredible cold salads including unique and tasty Israeli couscous salads and a selection of imported cheese and olives. I always found unique extras on the buffet that I couldn’t find anywhere else on property. Most just beelined straight for the meats and didn’t take the time to check out the dozen or so different cold salads. There was a reason this was such a busy venue and tough-ish ADR to snag. Once you got past the smell in the lobby, it was a very good meal. Unless guests demand change and the included crab legs return, I’ll savour my memories and travel to Disney Springs for dinner instead.

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Cape May Cafe Menu

*Cape May Café Breakfast Character Dining Experience has returned on October 4, 2022*

The all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet breakfast is a great way to fuel up for a day of fun and adventure at Walt Disney World Resort. Indulge in popular items like Assorted House-Made Pastries, including “Lobster Tail”—layered, crispy pastry filled with pastry cream—Omelets, Slow-Roasted Beef Hash, and of course, Mickey and Minnie Waffles.

Or enjoy the feeling of escaping to an oceanside town in New England while you savor a delectable dinner. On the menu are House-Made Parker Rolls and Corn Bread, Seasonal Harvest Salad, the Seafood Boil, the Turf Platter and Assorted House-Made Desserts. The Seafood Boil boasts a variety of fresh seafood, including shrimp and clams, and available for an additional fee are Alaskan Snow Crab Legs (per pound).

Cape May Cafe is located in Disney’s Beach Club  Resort.  Find more Walt Disney World dining locations on our  Walt Disney World menus  page.

Restaurant Info: American & Seafood, Breakfast Family Style, $$$ – $35 to $59.99 per adult / Dinner Family Style, $$$ – $35 to $59.99 per adult

Find out how you can save money on dining at Walt Disney World by using one of Disney’s Dining Plans .

Breakfast Buffet Menu   Dinner Buffet Menu

Cape May Cafe Family-Style Breakfast Menu

Menu Date: 2023

Booking Info

Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (hours vary seasonally)

Adult Price: $45.00 Child Price (ages 3 – 9): $29.00

Breakfast Buffet Offerings

Salted Caramel “Beach Buns” served with Vanilla Cream

Selection of Fruits Oatmeal and Grits

Waffles and French Toast

Cheddar Biscuits and Gravy

Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Sausage

Omelet and Carving Stations

Classic Favorites for Children featuring Mickey-shaped and Minnie-shaped Waffles, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, and Potato Barrels 

Cape May Cafe Family-Style Dinner Menu

All American Buffet and New England Style Clambake: Nightly 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. There are NO characters at this location during Dinner.

Adult Price: $46

Child Price (ages 3 – 9): $27

Caesar Salad

New England-style Clam Chowder

Plant-based Seasonal Soup

Seasonal-inspired Salad

New England Captain’s Fried Seafood Selection

New England Traditional Steam Boil with Clams, Mussels, Shrimp, Corn, and Red Potatoes

Roasted Chicken

Snow Crab Legs ($29.00 per pound)

Sustainable Catch of the Day

Plant-based Seasonal-inspired Dishes

Seasonal Vegetables

Chef’s Dessert Selection with Cape May Signature Bonbons, 50th Anniversary Boston Cream, and more

Classic Favorites for Children featuring Pizza, Macaroni & Cheese, Chicken, and Pasta

Non-Alcoholic Mocktails

Specialty Character Drink  – $6.50 Minute Maid® Zero Sugar Lemonade with flavors of Cotton Candy served in a souvenir Character Cup

Pomegranate Lemonade – $5.49 Minute Maid® Premium Lemonade with Pomegranate and Lime Juices

Watermelon Lemonade – $5.49 Minute Maid® Premium Lemonade and Watermelon

Agave Garden  – $11.00 Lyre’s Agave Reserva Spritzer, Cold-pressed Lime Juice, Passionfruit Papaya Green Tea, and Cucumber

Pink London Spritzer – $11.00 Lyre’s Pink London Spirit, Grapefruit Soda, Pomegranate Green Tea, Lime, and Mint

Beer, Hard Cider, Hard Seltzer

Assorted Bottle, Draft, and Can  – $8.50 – $12.75

Blood Orange Margarita – $15.50 Sauza Conmemorativo Añejo Tequila, Cointreau, Lime Juice, and Blood Orange Sour

Spicy Poblano Margarita – $16.50 Patrón Silver Tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde Liqueur, Lime Juice, and Pure Cane Sugar

Paloma  – $14.50 Don Julio Blanco Tequila with juices of Ruby Red Grapefruit and Lime topped with Soda Water

Rum Swizzle – $14.50 Mount Gay Eclipse Rum with Tropical Juices and flavors of Guava and Mango

Raspberry Mojito – $14.50 Bacardi Raspberry Rum, Mount Gay Eclipse Rum, Lime Juice, Mint, and Raspberry Purée topped with Soda Water

Bacardi Mojito – $14.50 Bacardi Superior Rum, Lime Juice, Pure Cane Sugar, and Mint topped with Soda Water

Antioxidant Lemonade – $14.50 Van Gogh Açaí-Blueberry Vodka, Minute Maid® Premium Lemonade, and Pomegranate Juice topped with Sprite®

Walk the Plank – $16.50 Old Forester Bourbon, Orange Juice, Orgeat (Almond), and Lemon Juice garnished with Luxardo Gourmet Maraschino Cherries

Smoked Turkey – $16.50 Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, Red Stag Black Cherry Bourbon, Grenadine, and Minute Maid® Premium Lemonade with a hint of Hickory Smoke, garnished with Luxardo Gourmet Maraschino Cherries

Negroni – $16.50 Bombay Sapphire Gin, Campari, and Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth

Whiskey Breeze – $16.50 Old Forester Bourbon, Cointreau, and Lime Juice with flavors of Guava and Mango

Moscow Mule $15.50 Russian Standard Vodka, Lime Juice, and Pure Cane Sugar topped with Fever Tree Ginger Beer

Kentucky Mule – $16.50 Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Lime Juice, and Pure Cane Sugar topped with Fever Tree Ginger Beer

Bahama Mama – $14.50 Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Plantation Original Dark Rum, Bols Crème de Banana, and Tropical Juices

Piña CoLava – $15.50 Bacardi Raspberry Rum blended with flavors of Coconut, Pineapple, and Raspberry Purée

Ultimate Long Island Iced Tea – $16.50 Bacardi Superior Rum, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Hendrick’s Gin, Corazón Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, and Sweet-and-Sour with a splash of Coca-Cola®

Captain’s Mai Tai – $14.50 Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, Bols Amaretto, and Tropical Juices topped with a float of Plantation Original Dark Rum

Magical Star Cocktail – $17.50 X-Fusion Organic Mango and Passion Fruit Liqueur, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Pineapple Juice, and a souvenir multicolored Glow Cube

Chocolate Martini – $15.50 Mozart Chocolate Liqueur, Stoli Vanil Vodka, Bols White Crème de Cacao, and Frangelico

Red Sangria – $12.00 Opici Family Red Sangria is made in La Mancha, Spain from Tempranillo grapes and has flavors of raspberry, apple, and blackberry with succulent aromas of natural Valencia oranges and cinnamon

White Sangria – $12.00 Opici Family White Sangria is made in La Mancha, Spain from Airén grapes and has flavors of banana, pineapple, and grapefruit with a hint of ginger

Visit our Character Meet and Greet Opportunities page for other opportunities to meet your favorite characters.

** Cape May Cafe Buffet Menu and Prices are Subject to Change Without Notice **

Privacy Overview

Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Dining Options

Make Dining Reservations

Plan ahead for delicious dining experiences during your stay. Read More

Plan ahead for delicious dining experiences during your stay.

When to Book Guests may make advance dining reservations at select restaurants.

• Guests with a Valid Disney Resort Hotel Reservation: Make reservations for your entire length of stay (for up to a 10-night stay) up to 60 days in advance of your arrival! This can help you enjoy streamlined vacation planning , since you can make all your reservations on the same day—rather than checking availability day after day.
• All Other Guests: Make reservations up to 60 days in advance.

Explore dining experiences available for booking during your vacation.

Dining in the Theme Parks To dine at an in-park, table-service restaurant, you need a confirmed dining reservation for the total number of Guests—regardless of age—along with a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on that same date for each Guest ages 3 and up.

Dining reservations do not guarantee access to a park, and Park Hopper availability may change daily. We recommend that Guests book in-park dining at the park where they have a park reservation.

View a full list of the dining options at Walt Disney World Resort.

Review important updates to dining experiences at Walt Disney World Resort.

Ale & Compass Restaurant

Set your sights on Yankee comfort food and seafood classics at this cozy gastropub-inspired eatery.

Ale & Compass Lounge

Bar Service Navigate your way to a cozy lounge with a great wine list, light snacks and overstuffed chairs.

The Market at Ale & Compass

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Find hot and cold offerings with grab-and-go convenience for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Cape May Cafe

Breakfast, Dinner Start your day with a hearty buffet breakfast or visit later for signature seafood and turf dishes.

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

Lunch, Dinner Satisfy your sweet tooth with old-fashioned ice-cream favorites or savor delicious hot-off-the-grill items at this 50s-themed eatery.

Beach Club Marketplace

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Enjoy a hot, made-to-order meal, grab a quick bite or stock up on snacks before heading out for a day of fun in the parks.

Martha’s Vineyard

Lunch, Bar Service, Late Night Gather for a glass—or bottle—of wine at this casual lounge reminiscent of a New England beach house.

Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill

Bar Service Brace for frosty beverages and beautiful bay views at this not-so-blustery walk-up bar.

Yachtsman Steakhouse

Dinner Relish premium dry-aged beef, fresh seafood and signature drinks at this New England-style steakhouse.

Crew’s Cup Lounge

Bar Service Ready all, row! Race to a place where refreshment awaits—serving beer, wine and cocktails.

Nearby Restaurants

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is conveniently connected by water taxi, bus or walking paths to numerous Disney restaurants within the EPCOT Resort area.

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Hotel Address

(407) 934-7000

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Dining at disney’s yacht & beach club resorts.

Posted by: Caitlin Kane December 27, 2021

One of the most popular areas to explore at the Walt Disney World Resort is Crescent Lake, which is located just steps from EPCOT and a short walk from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Also found on the shores of Crescent Lake are the wonderful Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts which each feature their own unique themes that complement each other.

RELATED: Planning a Resort Day at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort During Phased Reopening

Credit: Disney

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort evokes the feeling of a classic New England yacht club with nautical details, upscale elegance, and a beautiful lighthouse at the end of the dock beckoning visitors in. Right next door is Disney’s Beach Club Resort which features a more laid-back New England beach resort feel with pastel colors, whitewashed wood accents, and charming details.

RELATED: Spend the Perfect Day at Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are attached and share many of the same amenities including the massive Stormalong Bay pool area as well as many popular dining options. Guests can enjoy everything from grab-and-go pool snacks to indulgent steak dinners without ever leaving these two Disney Resorts! Let’s check out all of the amazing dining options available to Guests who explore Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts!

Yachtsman Steakhouse

An extremely popular dining option at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is Yachtsman Steakhouse, a signature dining restaurant that is open daily for dinner only and invites Guests to enjoy New England steakhouse classics in an elegant and nautical setting. The interior has several dining rooms that feature dark blues and greens that are paired with light finishes, cozy seating, and vaulted ceilings creating an upscale, yet welcoming environment.

Guests can begin their dinners at Yachtsman Steakhouse with first course options including French Onion Soup, Beef Carpaccio, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Caesar Salad, and a Steakhouse Wedge Salad. Many Guests also love to try the Lobster Bisque which is perfectly creamy and served with lobster biscuits, crème Fraiche, and espelette oil.

The stars of the menu at Yachtsman Steakhouse are obviously the perfectly prepared steaks and Guests can choose from a variety of cuts such as Filet Mignon, Rib-Eye Steak, Roasted Prime Rib, New York Strip, and the Porterhouse for Two. Each steak also comes with a selection of accompaniments including mashed potatoes, house-made fries, or potato-leek gratin.

In addition to the steaks, Guests who dine at Yachtsman Steakhouse can also choose from a variety of fresh seafood options including Seafood Cioppino, Chef’s Catch of the Day, and the Chilled Admiral’s Tower for Two, which includes Maine lobster, scallop ceviche, tuna tartare, snow crab, jumbo shrimp, mussels, and charred octopus salad.

Non-seafood options are also featured on the menu and Guests can enjoy Dry-Aged Duroc Pork Chop, Sweet Potato and Seasonal Mushroom Dumplings, and Peruvian-Barbecued Chicken.

RELATED: Where to Find the Best Macaroni & Cheese in Walt Disney World

To Round out dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse, Guests can add traditional sides such as creamed spinach, truffle macaroni and cheese, haricot vert, roasted seasonal mushrooms, grilled colossal asparagus, and house-made truffle fries. Of course, dessert simply cannot be missed and some indulgent options include Crème Brulee, Strawberry Shortcake, Pineapple and Coconut Tart, and Yachtsman’s Chocolate Cake.

RELATED: 8 Things You’ll Love About Yachtsman Steakhouse at Walt Disney World

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a huge favorite of many Guests as it welcomes them into a retro diner from the Atlantic seashore complete with pastel colors, busy jukeboxes, and artwork depicting favorite Disney characters enjoying the seaside. The table service restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and serves up American classics as well as totally over-the-top desserts that are good to the last drop.

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop features a limited menu for lunch and dinner, but every option is completely delicious beginning with entrée choices including the Cheddar-Bacon-Ranch Chicken Sandwich, Angus Beef Burger, and Reuben Sandwich. Guests who follow a plant-based diet can enjoy the Plant-Based Burger which features plant-based mayonnaise and caramelized balsamic-onion jam on a multigrain bun.

Two of the most popular entrée items on the menu are classic American sandwiches starting with the Beaches & Cream Grilled Cheese which is perfectly toasted and filled with melted, stringy cheese and served with creamy tomato soup and the option to add bacon or ham for an additional fee. The French Dip Sandwich is served on a toasted French roll and features sliced roast beef, Swiss cheese, crispy fried onions, and au jus for dipping.

RELATED: 8 Things You’ll Love About Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Walt Disney World

While the main entrees at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop are delicious on their own, the sides are what make the meals, and Guests can enjoy delicious options including onion rings, potato tots, French fries, and a bowl of chili. Specialty tots are also available smothered in delicious toppings and Guests can choose from Chili and Cheese Tots, Cheese and Bacon Tots, and a plant-based Chili and Cheese Tots option.

Absolutely no visit to Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is complete without enjoying dessert and Guests can order up specialty milkshakes or malts topped with baked goods, whipped cream, sprinkles, cherries, and more or enjoy a classic Ice Cream Soda with either vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cherry, or pineapple ice cream. There are also several non-ice cream options available including the unique Cookie Fries with Dipping Sauce which features fresh-baked cookies cut like large fries and served with an assortment of dipping sauces.

RELATED: Plant-Based Cookie Fries Recipe from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

There are also plenty of specialty sundaes offered on the menu at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop with none as popular as the Kitchen Sink which features five different flavors of ice cream, every topping in the house, and is big enough to feed four Guests! Other wonderful sundae options include the Snickers Sundae, No Way Jose, Fudge Mudslide, Old Fashioned Sundae, and Classic Banana Split.

RELATED: OH. MY. GOODNESS! The Recipe for the Kitchen Sink from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Cape May Café

Also found at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is Cape May Café, a table service location that features a unique combination of meals throughout each day. The interior of Cape May Café is bright and airy to feel like a classic eatery on the Atlantic seashore and there are white wooden accents, intricate molding that looks like cresting waves, and murals depicting retro scenes from the seaside.

Breakfast at Cape May Café is a family-style meal where Guests can enjoy all-you-can-eat American classics including an array of hot and cold items that are all equally delicious. Some of the extensive foods offered at breakfast include fresh fruit, yogurt parfaits, ham and cheese omelets, Mickey Waffles, brioche French toast, scrambled eggs, crispy potato barrels, beef hash, bacon, breakfast sausage, and Beach Buns which is a salted caramel pull-apart bread topped with cinnamon streusel.

Cape May Café continues its family-style service for dinner but instead serves up traditional New England surf and turf classics on massive platters that Guests will be sure to enjoy. Dinner begins with a variety of breads and spreads and a Seasonal Harvest Salad with arugula, kale, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and sun-dried fruit before moving on the main course platters.

The Seafood Boil platter at Cape May Café is stacked high with fresh options including Prince Edward Island mussels, Cape May clams, peel-n-eat shrimp, the sustainable catch of the day, red bliss potatoes, and corn on the cob. Guests who are more interested in meat options will love The Turf Platter which offers up oven-roasted lemon-pepper chicken, slow-roasted strip loin with chimichurri and house-made steak sauce, mashed potatoes, and vegetables.

After completely stuffing themselves, Guests might feel as though they do not have room for dessert at Cape May Café, but dinner is perfectly ended with an assortment of house-made desserts from the restaurant’s own bakery. It’s the perfect sweet ending to every indulgent dinner at Cape May Café!

RELATED: Family Style Dining in Walt Disney World

Ale & Compass Restaurant

Over at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is Ale & Compass Restaurant, an eatery open daily for breakfast and dinner where Guests can enjoy a dark and moody interior that features plenty of nautical theming and the feel of a lighthouse. The menu at Ale & Compass Restaurant features a combination of classic American breakfasts and favorite New England and coastal seafood offerings for dinner.

Breakfast at Ale & Compass Restaurant features many options for Guests to choose from including breakfast-focused items such as Blueberry-Bacon Pancakes, Country Ham and Cheddar Omelet, Breakfast Protein Bowl, American Breakfast, Shrimp and White Cheddar Grits, Salted Caramel-Apple French Toast, and Crab Cake Benedict. Heartier options that lean more towards lunch options on the menu include Bacon and Vermont Cheddar Burger, Blackened Sustainable Fish Tacos, Smoked Salmon and Toasted Bagel Sandwich, and the Ale & Compass Salad.

Ale & Compass

Dinner at Ale & Compass Restaurant kicks off with a variety of starters including Parker House Rolls and Spreads, Lobster and Corn Chowder, Roasted ‘Buffalo-style’ Cauliflower, and Roasted Garlic Shrimp. There are also several flatbreads and salads that Guests can begin their meals with such as the Short Rib “French Dip” Flatbread, Chipotle-Barbecue Chicken Flatbread, Ale & Compass Salad, and Seasonal Market Vegetable Flatbread.

The main courses offered for dinner feature some incredible and fresh seafood options that Guests are sure to love such as Pappardelle Pasta with Shrimp, Sustainable Catch of the Day, and New England Seafood Pot Pie with shrimp, scallops, jumbo lump crab, sustainable catch of the day, and a variety of fresh seasonal vegetables. Guests who are looking to enjoy a non-seafood option can choose from the 10-oz New York Angus Strip, Cabernet-braised Short Ribs, Bacon and Vermont Cheddar Burger, ‘Brick’ Lemon-Herb Half Chicken, and Plant-based Protein Bowl.

With so many amazing options, it might be hard to save room for dessert after dinner at Ale & Compass Restaurant, but Guests should definitely try their hardest with indulgent options like Warm Apple Cobbler, Enchanted Forest Cake, and Mango Torte Spiced Lemon Pound Cake. The most indulgent option is by far the Twelve-Layer Chocolate Cake which is a flourless chocolate cake delicately layered with rich ganache and a milk-coffee Chantilly.

RELATED: 8 Things You’ll Love About Ale & Compass Restaurant at Walt Disney World’s Yacht Club Resort

Ale & Compass Lounge

Guests who are looking for a light snack each afternoon and evening in a more laid back setting can head to the Ale & Compass Lounge at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort where comfortable seating, dark colors, and cozy lighting create the perfect space to relax after a morning and afternoon in the Disney Parks. In addition to an extensive list of specialty cocktails, wine, and beer, Guests can order from a sampling of appetizers available after four each afternoon.

Nearly all of the options on the menu at Ale & Compass Lounge are also served at Ale & Compass Restaurant including Lobster and Corn Chowder, Roasted Garlic Shrimp, Bacon and Vermont Cheddar Burger, Roasted “Buffalo-style” Cauliflower, Chipotle-Barbecued Chicken, and Seasonal Market Vegetable Flatbread. This offers Guests the great opportunity to enjoy some dishes from the table service restaurant without the reservation or time commitment to a full seated dinner!

RELATED: The Best Disney Resort Lounges

The Market at Ale & Compass

The main quick-service restaurant available at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is The Market at Ale & Compass which is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and features a large shopping area where Guests can enjoy grab-and-go options as well as an ordering counter where freshly prepared meals are made to order. This is the perfect spot to grab a snack or bite on the go any day!

Some of the breakfast options that Guests can order at The Market at Ale & Compass include classic Mickey Waffles, Egg-White Breakfast Wrap, Ham and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich, Breakfast Bowl, and Turkey and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich as well as special seasonal offerings. The lunch and dinner menus then switch to an assortment of hot and cold sandwiches including choices such as Grilled Chicken Panini, Cuban Sandwich, Spicy Italian Sandwich, and Turkey and Brie Sandwich in addition to Salads like the Chicken Caesar Salad, Garden Salad, or Greek Salad.

RELATED: 8 Best Eats Around Crescent Lake in Walt Disney World

Beach Club Marketplace

Much like The Market at Ale & Compass, the Beach Club Marketplace is the quick-service location at Disney’s Beach Club Resort where Guests can peruse grab-and-go options or select made-to-order choices throughout each day. Guests can also check out some great Disney and generic merchandise just steps away while waiting for their meals, making it truly one-stop shopping.

Some breakfast options that Guests can order fresh each morning at the Beach Club Marketplace include Mickey Waffles, Breakfast Sandwich, and the Bounty Platter in addition to grab-and-go items like fresh fruit and yogurt. Lunch and dinner at the Beach Club Marketplace include sandwich options like the Pulled Pork Sandwich, Roast Beef Sandwich, and Italian Sandwich in addition to baked pasta options including Bacon-topped Baked Macaroni & Cheese, Pulled Pork-topped Baked Macaroni & Cheese, and Chili-topped Baked Macaroni & Cheese.

RELATED: Top Pros & Cons for Staying at Disney’s Beach Club Resort in Walt Disney World

Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill

The main pool area at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts is Stormalong Bay, a nearly three-acre play area with a waterslide, sand-bottomed play areas, a lazy river, and more. Guests who enjoy time at Stormalong Bay can also order from Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill, a quick-service location that serves up specialty cocktails and drinks as well as convenient options for lunch and dinner.

Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill features a limited menu of food options that are available until nine each evening, and Guests can choose from items including Chili-Cheese Fries, Battered Onion Rings, Hanna’s Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger, Breaded Chicken Tenders, Seafood Roll, and Caesar Salad with Chicken. All of these are wonderful options to enjoy while soaking in the relaxing ambiance of Stormalong Bay!

RELATED: 10 Best Alcoholic Beverages at Walt Disney World Resorts

Crew’s Cup Lounge

Guests looking to unwind after a long day in the Disney Parks can head to the Crew’s Cup Lounge at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort to enjoy a selection of indulgent bites also served at Yachtsman Steakhouse as well as wines, beers, and specialty cocktails. The interior of the lounge features comfortable seating, warm lighting, exposed wooden beams, and nautical décor including oars mounted on beams and posts.

After five each evening, Guests who stop at Crew’s Cup Lounge can enjoy many items from the menu at Yachtsman Steakhouse including the Jumbo Shrimp, Lobster Bisque, Chilled Admiral’s Tower for Two, 14-oz Roasted Prime Rib, Chef’s Catch of the Day, Peruvian-Barbecued Chicken, Truffle Macaroni & Cheese, Yachtsman’s Chocolate Cake, and more. The Crew’s Cup Lounge is the perfect way to enjoy signature menu items without having to have a reservation or the time commitment of a full table service meal.

Martha’s Vineyard

The final dining option at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts is Martha’s Vineyard, a lounge at Disney’s Beach Club Resort where Guests can enjoy bright beachy colors paired with dark wood accents and comfortable table seating that pairs perfectly with specialty cocktails and beverages. Each evening, Martha’s Vineyard also serves up a limited menu of appetizers which are the perfect small bites to enjoy with a drink to relax.

Guests who settle in at Martha’s Vineyard can enjoy appetizer selections including New England Clam Chowder, Buffalo-glazed Wings, Mussels, Loaded Potato Barrels, and Artisan Cheese Plate with a selection of cheeses and seasonal accompaniments that pair well with any beverage off the menu. Martha’s Vineyard is the perfect location to relax after a long day in the Disney Parks, and Guests will be sure to enjoy each bite from the menu!

RELATED: 6 Reasons You Will Love Staying at Disney’s Beach Club Resort

About Caitlin Kane

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What it's like staying at Disney's Beach Club Resort — and why it's now my favorite place to stay

• Every hotel at Disney World has something special to offer, but it's hard to beat Disney's Beach Club, which is within walking distance of two theme parks and has what is essentially a miniature water park.
• Stormalong Bay is shared with neighboring Yacht Club but easily comes in as the nicest pool at Disney World with waterslides, a sand bottom and a lazy river.
• On top of all of that, it also has some of the most entertaining places to eat, including an on-site character meal experience and an ice cream shop with sundaes as big as the kitchen sink.

Walt Disney World Resort has more than 20 on-site hotels, and each one has its own brand of Disney magic. I've loved my stays at value resorts like Disney's Art of Animation Resort with its movie-themed rooms and massive "Finding Nemo"-themed pool. I've also equally loved staying at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort for its proximity to the Magic Kingdom and abundance of Dole Whip.

However, after my most recent Disney World vacation, you'd have a hard time convincing me to go back to any of those hotels rather than my new favorite Disney hotel: Disney's Beach Club Resort.

What is Disney's Beach Club Resort?

Disney's Beach Club Resort is one of Disney World's top-tier Deluxe resorts. Disney Deluxe resorts are often in prime locations, have larger rooms and offer more activities and amenities than other Disney resorts. This resort is designed to resemble a classic coastal New England-style resort, with Colonial architecture, a muted color scheme and a nautical flair.

When you stay at Disney's Beach Club Resort, you also have access to the restaurants and amenities at Disney's Yacht Club Resort , which is just next door. The resort is also within walking distance of both Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios, as well as the dining and nightlife along Disney's BoardWalk.

How to book Disney's Beach Club Resort

As with other Disney World hotels , it's sometimes best to book direct through Disney. You can do this through Disney's website, over the phone or by using an authorized Disney vacation planner . Disney vacation planners can help you get the best price by searching for available discounts at the time of booking and up until your trip.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

In addition to booking through Disney or a vacation planner, you can also use miles from your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card .

As a Walt Disney World annual passholder, I took advantage of a special offer of 30% off the regular room rate for a resort view room at Disney's Beach Club Resort. I paid $391 per night (plus taxes and fees) instead of the regular rate of about $660 per night (plus taxes and fees).

This is near the high end for a standard room at Disney World, and the rate can climb even higher during holidays or busy times of the year. Disney's Beach Club Resort also offers club-level rooms with lounge access.

But notably, it is also bookable for studios, one- and two-bedroom suites via Disney Vacation Club . Even if you aren't a DVC member, you can rent DVC points at a rate that can be much lower than what you'd pay in cash by booking through Disney. Studios here start at 14 DVC points per night, which would be $294 to $322 using points rented from David's Vacation Club, depending on how far in advance you book.

Related: Rent DVC points via David's Vacation Club

Easy access to Disney's theme parks and more

Disney's Beach Club Resort is conveniently located between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. From the hotel lobby, you can walk to the Epcot International Gateway (near the back of the park) in about five minutes or head in the other direction and be at Hollywood Studios in 10 to 15 minutes.

With all the walking you do during a day at Disney, it's also worth noting Disney's Beach Club Resort offers complimentary boat transportation to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios, too, plus bus transportation to the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs and Disney's water parks. There's also a Disney Skyliner station near the Epcot International Gateway, which can get you to Disney's Hollywood Studios or to four of Disney's other resort hotels if you want to sample the dining and amenities across Walt Disney World.

Spacious, upscale rooms

I've stayed at every tier of Disney resorts, and you definitely get what you pay for when it comes to room size. Our room at Disney's Beach Club Resort was spacious enough for our family of five, with plenty of storage for our luggage and a sofa bed where we could relax during the day and one of our children could sleep at night.

Related: How Disney renovated more than 22,000 hotel rooms in 5 years

The Disney theming was limited to a few paintings on the wall that portrayed Disney characters enjoying the resort. Otherwise, the room had a "lived-in luxury" vibe with comfortable, understated furnishings. Outside, there was a wrought-iron patio set where we spent many mornings and evenings before or after a day of Disney fun.

The bathroom had a large double vanity with a door that separated the vanity area from the shower and tub combo and the toilet. In the entryway, there was a minifridge, a coffee and tea station and a closet with an iron and an ironing board. The flat-screen TV sat atop a large dresser with plenty of storage for our three-night stay.

A variety of dining options

Disney's Beach Club Resort has dining options that range from character meals to poolside dining to the best ice cream shop at Disney World (and probably beyond). Character dining takes place during the breakfast buffet at Cape May Cafe ($45 per adult and $29 per child, plus tax and gratuity). Cape May Cafe also serves a seafood-forward, New England-inspired dinner buffet without character appearances.

The Beach Club Marketplace is a quick-service dining location with staples like eggs, bacon and Mickey waffles for breakfast and soup, salad, sandwiches and pasta for lunch and dinner. The marketplace also sells snacks and alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. It's adjacent to the hotel gift shop, where you can stock up on souvenirs or forgotten necessities like swimsuits, sunscreen and toiletries.

Related: The best restaurants at Disney World in 2023

Outside by the Stormalong Bay pool, you can grab a drink at Hurricane Hanna's Waterside Bar and Grill or have your food and libations delivered to your pool chair. I had the grilled chicken sandwich with provolone and an avocado spread ($12.29) and a frozen pina colada ($15.50). It was just what I needed to energize myself for an afternoon of swimming.

The highlight of our many meals at Disney's Beach Club Resort was Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. This is the most popular ice cream spot at Disney World because of its unique ice cream creations and old-fashioned soda shop vibes.

At Beaches & Cream, I had the No Way José peanut butter and hot fudge sundae ($11.50), but for the ultimate Beaches & Cream experience, you must get the Kitchen Sink sundae ($36). It has eight scoops of ice cream, tons of toppings and a whole can of whipped cream. What's really fun about it, though, is the show the server puts on when you order it. I don't want to ruin the surprise, so just take my word for it and give it a try.

Take your pick of fitness and recreational activities

Guests of Disney's Beach Club Resort can use the 24-hour fitness center next door at Disney's Yacht Club Resort. It's only about a five-minute walk from the Beach Club lobby and has a variety of fitness equipment, including strength machines, cardio machines, free weights, medicine balls and kettlebells.

Related: 8 Walt Disney World experiences that don't require a park ticket

Disney's Beach Club Resort has a lot of other fun fitness opportunities, too. There's a sand volleyball court, tennis courts (tennis and pickleball equipment is available at the front desk) and a nearly 1-mile-long running trail. Disney also recently added on-demand fitness videos for kids that you can watch on the TV in your room.

The best pool at Disney World

Aside from a room that sleeps five, the 3-acre Stormalong Bay pool complex was the reason we stayed at Disney's Beach Club Resort.

Stormalong Bay is shared between the Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts and features a sandy beach area for kids, a lazy river, a hot tub, an activity pool with a volleyball net, swirling whirlpools, a 230-foot-long shipwreck-themed waterslide and two smaller waterslides for kids.

Related: Splash into fun: The 14 best hotel pools in Orlando

The hotel provides complimentary life jackets for kids to use at the pool and free tubes for the lazy river. The activities team also hosts daily poolside games and, in the evening, poolside movies under the stars. We spent an entire day swimming and playing in the water and went back for more after dinner. It's almost like having a small water park just for hotel guests.

During our visit, getting somewhere to sit in the shade wasn't a problem, thanks to the number of trees in the area to supplement the umbrellas. That said, getting there early is always a good strategy if you want first dibs on a good spot.

Family fun outside Disney's theme parks

Another bonus of staying at Disney's Beach Club Resort — or any Deluxe resort — is the wide variety of activities you can enjoy during your time away from Disney's theme parks.

Pick up a monthly activities guide when you check in to see exactly what's on offer during your stay. Guests can make crafts, attend a painting class, make s'mores at the nightly campfire, rent a boat or fishing equipment (or both) and more.

From the resort, you can easily walk to Disney's BoardWalk, where you'll find restaurants, a dueling piano bar, bicycle rentals, carnival games and other downtime activities.

Accessibility

All Disney hotels strive to be accessible to guests with disabilities.

Disney's Beach Club Resort offers both wheelchair- and hearing-accessible rooms. Additionally, public areas of the hotel also have accessible paths between the lobby area and restaurants, shops, meeting rooms, pools, fitness centers and laundry facilities, and pools have wheelchair lifts.

Checking out

After staying at Disney's Beach Club Resort, it moved to the top of my "favorite Disney hotels" list. I loved that my family had enough space to spread out in our room and that there was so much to keep us busy around the resort.

I have no problem staying in one of Disney's more budget-friendly hotels when we are going to go hard in the parks or water parks. However, if I want to splurge for a hotel that has just as much fun (and good food) to offer as Disney's theme parks, you'll find me booking another stay at Disney's Beach Club Resort.

Related reading:

• Are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?
• Can you really save hundreds of dollars at Disney World by renting DVC points? We tested it to find out
• How to use points to buy Disney tickets
• New swan on the block: A review of the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

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Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort Restaurants

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club are separate Resorts, but they share two very important things: Stormalong Bay (a 3-acre mini water park) and fantastic dining options including a character meal, signature dining, terrific lounges, and an old-fashioned soda shop. Note that since these Resorts are connected, guests at either can easily access any of the dining locations.

Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club

Simply click the links below to find  more information  — including lists of  all our reviews  — for each restaurant!

Disney’s Beach Club

Beach Club Marketplace is a Counter Service option tucked inside the Beach Club gift shop, where you can also pick up dry goods to supplement your room essentials (Cereal, PB&J, and the like).

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is famed for the Kitchen Sink sundae made of eight scoops of ice cream and every topping in the house, along with more fantastic ice cream creations. Other temptations include mouth-watering burgers and diner favorites.

Cape May Cafe  welcomes morning guests with a buffet breakfast. Minnie and her friends show off their beach attire while circulating the tables. For a non-character dinner, this seaside setting offers a New England style clam bake with an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Hurricane Hanna’s Grill is located poolside offering delicious quick-service items. At the full bar, try a tasty frozen libation. Kids’ meals are presented in sand pails as a take-home souvenir.

Martha’s Vineyard is a quiet lounge with a breezy feel, inspired by a New England beach house.

Disney’s Yacht Club

Ale & Compass Lounge serves original and classic cocktails, along with a substantial appetizer menu.

Ale & Compass Restaurant   serves New England-inspired comfort food as the casual Table Service component of the Ale & Compass dining concept.

Crew’s Cup Lounge offers peaceful respite in a cozy, relaxing lounge. Eats here are substantial, often including seafood platters, incredible Prime Rib Sliders, and more.

The Market at Ale & Compass provides counter service convenience to guests at the Yacht Club. It is part of the Ale & Compass dining concept at the Yacht Club.

Yachtsman Steakhouse has an exhibition kitchen that tantalizes taste buds while you wait for your order. Steaks and seafood are the specialties in this New England dining room complete with knotty-pine beams.

Find our COMPLETE GUIDE TO EATING at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts HERE. 

Guests from other Resorts or the parks can  access Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club by boat or walking path from EPCOT’s International Gateway , from the Disney Skyliner with an arrival at EPCOT’s International Gateway, or by bus from any of the other three theme parks and Disney Springs .

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Maykop – the view from above

No comments · Posted by Sergei Rzhevsky in Cities , Travel

Maykop (“the valley of apple trees” from the Adyghe language) is a city with a population of about 139 thousand people located in the south of European Russia, the capital of the Republic of Adygea .

The main urban development of Maykop was carried out in Soviet times and it was done quite systematically. The streets of the city for the most part are strictly perpendicular to each other, its entire center consists of identical city blocks. Photos by: Slava Stepanov .

The main mosque of Maykop. Built in 1999-2000, it is also the seat of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Adygea and Krasnodar Krai .

Monument “Unity and Harmony” – a memorial complex made in the form of an Adyghe hearth, which since ancient times has been considered the material and spiritual basis of the home and family. Local people call it just “hearth”. It is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Caucasian War (1817-1864) and is a symbol of unity of all residents of the republic.

Monument “Forever with Russia” made in the form of two warriors who personify Adygea and Russia. It was opened in honor of the 400th anniversary of the union of Adygea and Russia.

State Philharmonic of the Republic of Adygea.

Administration of the city of Maykop.

Lenin Square.

Administration of the Head of the Republic of Adygea and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Adygea.

Orthodox church in Maykop.

Yakub Koblev Sports Palace. Opened on October 1, 2015, it bears the name of the legendary coach and rector of the Institute of Physical Culture and Judo Yakub Koblev.

Welcome to Maykop!

Tags:  Adygeya Republic · Maykop city

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• The Republic of Adygea

Adygea is a Russian federal subject found in the south-western part of Russia in the northern part of Caucasus region. It is part of the Southern federal District. It stretches from the Kuban River in the south to the Caucasus foothills to cover an area of 2,900 square miles, and it is the 5th smallest republic in the Russian Federation. The official languages in the Republic are the Adyghe and the Russian languages. The largest city in the Republic is Maykop which is also Adygea’s capital, and it is home to about one-third of the total population in the Republic.

Maykop is the largest and the capital of Adygea Republic in the Federation of Russia . It is found on the bank of Baleya River which is a tributary of the Kuban River. The city shares its boundaries with the District of Maykopsky to the south and east, the district of Giagnsky to the north, and the District of Belorechensky in the Krai of Krasnodar to the west. The population of the city has been almost constant, and in 1989 it had a population of 148,608 people, in 2000 it had a population of 156,931 people, while in 2010 population of the city had dropped to 144,249 people.

History of Maykop

Maykop is named after the Maykop culture of the early Bronze Age, and this was after the discovery of a royal burial site in 1897. In 1857, the Russian military Fort was built in the area where the city is located. Oil deposits and natural gas were discovered near the City of Maykop in 1911, and in 1936 Maykop, together with the surrounding area, were merged to create the autonomous oblast of Adyghe and effectively becoming the administrative center for the autonomous region. In 1942, the city of Maykop was occupied by the unified army of Nazi Germany (Wehrmacht) without any resistance because of the operation of Germany ’s Brandenburger commandos. However, in January 1943 the city was liberated by the Red Army. The city has been the capital of Adygea republic in the Russian Federation since 1991.

Economic Activities

The foothills of Caucasus Mountains are covered with deciduous forests while other parts of the Republic is mainly plains which has rich soils and agriculture is the main activity and crops such as wheat, corn, hemp, sunflowers, tobacco, potatoes, vegetables, and melons a widely cultivated. There is a local specialty of a flower which is cultivated for its scent that belongs to the lavender and the Crimean Rose. Floodplains along the Kuban River are marshy, and there are approximately 8,000 hectares which have been claimed for market gardening. The main industry in the Republic is primarily processing of farm products, and there are oil and natural gas which is extracted near the Maykop. Similarly, timber is another major product particularly in the Southern part of the Republic.

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