4 Reasons to stay at an Epcot Area Resort

One of the hardest parts of planning a Disney World vacation is picking the perfect resort for your family. With so many resorts on Disney property you really can’t go wrong with any, however the resorts located near Epcot tend to be the fan favorite and here is why…  

The Epcot Resort area is one of the most charming places you will ever visit. This space between Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot is a venue within itself. It's home to multiple resorts, beautiful lakes, and Disney's Boardwalk.  If you want premium access to delicious restaurants, evening entertainment, and easy access to the parks then the Epcot area is where you want to be. 

With five unique resorts to choose from, Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort, The Boardwalk Inn, Disney's Riviera Resort, and Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, each offering something for everyone.  Marriott's Swan & Dolphin are also considered "Epcot Area Resorts" but since they aren't technically Disney resorts, we have excluded them from this list. 

Location, Location, Location! 

​The Yacht & Beach Club and The Boardwalk Inn are all considered Epcot Resorts. Location is the first reason we consider these resorts our top picks. All three resorts are within walking distance to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Are your feet tired after a full day at the parks, don’t worry, you can also take the water taxi to and from both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. 

Is the ​Disney Skyliner your favorite mode of transportation? Take a quick walk to the skyliner entrance near Epcot and you are on your way to more resorts and Hollywood Studios. With so many transportation options at these resorts, getting to the theme parks is a breeze!  

Entertainment & Activities! 
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Disney's Yacht, Beach, and Boardwalk resorts are located right on the Boardwalk. Experience a quarter mile promenade of timeless charm on the Disney Boardwalk, steps from your hotel. There is dining, shopping, and nightlife. Jelly Rolls, Disney’s Piano Bar is a fun place to extend the fun after a day at the parks. There is also family entertainment with evening street performers with a Coney Island feel.​

Want to spend the day on the water? Located on the Boardwalk is the Bayside Marina where you can rent boats, charter a fishing trip, or enjoy a motorized boat ride for two.  

Eats & Treats!

​From seafood to Italian to a steakhouse to an ice cream parlor, there is a dining experience to fit anyone’s craving. Within the three resorts you can find six table service restaurants to choose from. Some of the best dining can be found right here at the Epcot Resorts. Want a quick bite, enjoy pizza at the boardwalk or a delicious baked good from the Boardwalk Bakery as you take your stroll over to the parks.   

Price! 
​Epcot Resorts are all in the Deluxe Category which means they have amazing pools, large guest rooms, and beautiful grounds, plus extended hours at the theme parks. You may be thinking the price is the highest on Disney property with all these perks, they aren’t! Epcot resorts tend to always be less expensive than the monorail resorts located by Magic Kingdom. Just another reason why we love our Epcot Resorts!   

Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts are two separate resorts that sit next to each other on a beautiful stretch of Crescent Lake.  The best rated and largest pool on Disney property, Stormalong Bay, connects the two resorts making it convenient to walk between them both.  With many shared amenities it's a huge benefit to have access to both properties. The pool is the major draw for these resorts. It actually feels more like a waterpark than your average resort pool. 

Disney's Beach Club Resort

Casual elegance meets the beach here at Disney’s Beach Club. The Beach Club is the closest resort to Epcot. It's less than a five-minute walk out of the resort's backdoor to the International Gateway Entrance to Epcot. 
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Standard Rooms at Disney's Beach Club sleep up to 5 and a baby while the villas offer more space and can accommodate a family of 8. ​ Club level is available in standard rooms and suites. ​

Disney's Yacht Club Resort

 This lakeside hotel is set in a grand New England-style yacht club. The plush lobby with nautical touches feels more adult than the casualness of the Beach Club making it more adult friendly. The Yacht Club is a popular convention resort so at times, it can feel more business like than Disney.

​Standard rooms here sleep up to five plus a baby. There are suites that sleep up to 6. Club level is available in standard rooms and suites. ​

The Boardwalk Inn

The Boardwalk Inn is made to look like Atlantic City in the 1940s. Located directly on the Boardwalk overlooking Crescent Lake. In addition to all the perks listed above, The Boardwalk is home to a large pool, waterslide, and also has villas to accommodate larger families or families looking for large suites with full kitchens and washer-dryer units .  Disney’s Boardwalk Inn falls under the category of a deluxe resort. The Inn itself has 378 guest rooms and suites. In addition, Disney’s Boardwalk Villas, a Disney Vacation Club Resort, contributes another 280 rooms to the hotel. The villa portion of the resort has rooms that will offer a few extras that you won’t find in a standard room.

During the day, you’ll see guests coming and going along the Boardwalk as they travel to and from the hotel. Then, as the day turns to dusk, the Boardwalk lights up with strands of tiny twinkling lights. Visitors dressed to the nines being to appear. They are usually headed to a signature dining reservation. Excitement fills the air with the possibility of what an evening at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn might behold.
 
Maybe you’ll take a romantic stroll around Crescent Lake and stop in at Belle Vue Lounge for a cocktail. Or you might spend your evening at Epcot and pick up a late-night sweet treat at the Boardwalk Bakery on your way back.​

Disney's Riviera Resort

​Disney’s newest resort, The Riviera, is our bonus Epcot Resort. While not within walking distance to the parks, this resort is located on the Skyliner and a quick five-minute trip to Epcot and 8-minute ride to Hollywood Studios. The Riviera Resort reminds me of a European Escape with multiple dining options-including the roof top character breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace.  

No matter how you classify it, the resort exudes a certain level of luxury and sophistication. Additionally, the Riviera commands one of the highest price points on Disney World property. Room options range from  tower studios, 1, 2, and 3-bedroom grand villas. 

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

​Disney’s Caribbean Beach is a beautiful resort themed to the Caribbean Islands. Guests who have stayed here before love to gush about the tropical vibe of this Walt Disney World Resort. In addition, the resort is home to one of the main Skyliner stations offering access to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. As a result, Caribbean Beach is the only moderate resort at Disney to provide multiple forms of transportation to the theme parks.
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The main difference between this resort from the others we have discussed is that it’s spread out into sections over a vast area. This might mean a lot of extra walking time at this Disney World Epcot Resort.

Rooms here offer two queen beds with some rooms having a pull-down trundle bed with room for a family of five. 

​This pool area here is tremendous and offers several lagoon-like areas. Additionally, there are plenty of loungers and tables with chairs positioned around the pool deck. Unlike the others, this Epcot resort has a large food court with a tremendous variety of options.

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Whether you stay at one of these Epcot Resorts or only tour as a day guest, make sure to remember these tips and dining options. If your day at the neighboring Disney park becomes too congested and you are ready to throw your hands up, exit at the International Gateway for a break.
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With over 20 resorts on property at Disney World, it’s now easy to see why the Epcot area resorts come in as our favorite!   
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Mickey's Dream Vacations is a full-service travel agency, specializing in Family & Romance Travel. We take the stress out of travel planning. ​