The Balcony Situation at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club (What You Need to Know)
If you’re planning a stay at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club, you’ll have a few options when it comes time for online check-in. Of course, you can always wait until you arrive at the resort to check-in and make any special requests. Options, however, might be limited depending on your arrival time. We tend to roll the dice and check out our room assignment before our luggage is delivered.
That said, there are always exceptions. For example, when we stay at Disney’s Beach Club, I always do online check-in and request a room with a full balcony. To date, our room requests have always been granted. But it’s important to note that a full balcony at the Beach Club is not guaranteed. It’s more of a 50/50 chance.
Regarding checking in online, you won’t have many options. On the Beach Club side of the resort, the options are (a.) a room with a full balcony, and (b.) a room near the elevator. Now, all of the rooms at both Beach and Yacht Club have balconies. (Note, first floor rooms have a patio.) At Disney’s Beach Club, however, you might find yourself scratching your head and wondering why the small step-out is even considered an amenity. So below, we’ll preview what to expect and why you might want to make a special request.
We’ll start at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, which is the most problematic when it comes to balconies. Depending on your room assignment, you’ll receive a room with a full-size balcony, a Juliette balcony, or a first-floor patio. Here is an example of what each option looks like. This wing of the Beach Club has three floors. (Most of the resort consists of five floors.) If you look closely, you’ll notice the first floor rooms have a patio with two chairs. Then, the second-floor rooms have a Juliette balcony. Lastly, the third-floor rooms have a full-size balcony.
Here is another example, with Juliette balconies on the third floor. As you can see, if you’re in a room with a Juliette balcony, there isn’t any room to sit.
Most of our stays at Disney’s Beach Club have been on the fifth-floor club level. We always book a room with a standard view. Below we have a photo of the balcony from our last club-level stay.
On our last resort stay, we ended up on a lower floor with a rooftop view. While it wasn’t a great view, the larger balcony was nice.
If you’re staying at Disney’s Beach Club Villas, the mint green Disney Vacation Club side of the resort, you won’t have to worry about balconies. All of the units have a patio or full-size balcony.
You also won’t have any issues at Disney’s Yacht Club. All of the rooms at the resort have a full-size balcony. However, you will want to be aware that a few units have a shared balcony. We have stayed at the Yacht Club about 6-7 times and have never received a room with a shared balcony, but it is a possibility.
Here are a few photos from our last two stays. These rooms both had resort views.
On another note, Disney’s Yacht Club is one of the few places I would consider a water-view upgrade. I don’t have a current picture, but we’ve been upgraded to this room type twice before, and it was the best view we’ve ever had at Walt Disney World. Our room faced Epcot at an angle, and we could look out to the Lighthouse, Crescent Lake, and the BoardWalk in the distance. It was also quiet and peaceful.
Do you need a Balcony?
When we stay at a resort like Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club, it is our preference to have a balcony. I use the balcony to spray everyone down with sunscreen, to check the weather, and to enjoy a little privacy. For example, if you need to make a phone call, you can step out on the balcony while the rest of the family is napping or watching television.
It’s also peaceful to sit outside and enjoy the weather if it’s not miserably hot. If you’re visiting during winter, it’s so refreshing to enjoy a cup of coffee on your balcony when it’s a calm 70 degrees out. Knowing the entire time, if you were back home, you’d only be looking out the window at snow.
But if you don’t plan to spend a good deal of time in your room, a balcony might not be a deal-breaker. We’ve stayed at Disney’s Beach Club more than any other resort, and there have been a few times when we hardly used the balcony.
Bottom Line: If you receive a room with a Juliette balcony, don’t let it ruin your trip. Remember, it’s about a 50% chance it could happen when you book a stay at the Beach Club.
What About the Elevator Request?
If you’ve been following along, you may remember we recently shared a shortcut to avoid long halls at Disney’s Yacht Club. Then, we also shared a secret entrance to Disney’s Beach Club that helps you make the most of the long hallways at the resort.
Needless to say, you could end up at the end of a very long hall. When you’re at the end of a long hallway, you’re about as far from the elevator as you can get. Therefore, if you would prefer to save a few steps, you might make this request.
However, if you have light sleepers, I wouldn’t recommend making this request. First of all, if you’re by the elevator, you’ll hear the faint song of the ding every time it stops. This is especially inconvenient if you go to bed early or prefer to sleep late. You’ll also hear guests parading by your room. This consists of more than just the pitter-patter of little feet. It often sounds more like a bull in a china shop, followed by parents loudly hissing for them to BE QUIET!
Think about it, the closer you are to the elevator, the more guests will walk by your room, especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night. It’s just something to think about, and I’m sure you can only imagine how I know this.
Final Thoughts
I hope this piece provided you with a clear idea of what to expect when it comes to balconies at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club. If you would like to learn more about the resort, you might enjoy the following:
- Disney’s Beach Club Room Photos (New Rooms with Layout)
- Where to Find Coffee at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club
- Disney’s Beach Club Review
- The Four Pools at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club
Or you might also enjoy our resort guides to Disney’s Beach Club and Disney’s Yacht Club.
Whether you’re new to the world of Disney or a seasoned pro in search of a new adventure, their goal is to help you plan a tailor-made experience like no other. Check with our travel partner, Firefly Travels, to begin planning.
In the Comments
Have you ever stayed in a room with a Juliette balcony? If so, what were your thoughts on the room? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media.
