Where to Eat at Disney’s Beach Club

Dining has become an integral part of the Disney theme park experience, especially at Walt Disney World. Roughly 15 years ago, Disney executives committed to upgrading various restaurant options by hiring world-class chefs.

Disney Vacation Club fans have taken advantage of these improvements, with a few of us becoming accidental foodies along the way. Those in the know realize that Disney’s Beach Club Villas provides some of the best dining choices at Walt Disney World. So, where should you eat?

Quick Service and Lounges

Beach Club operates two restaurants on its campus, although we’ll discuss a third close to here. You’ll most likely grab-and-go at Beach Club Marketplace, a combination shop and Quick Service dining option.

The food here varies from Mac and Cheese to sandwiches, which is to say it’s just okay as a lunch and dinner option. However, don’t sleep on the Bounty Platter as a breakfast option!

The other place you may eat cheap is Hurricane Hannah’s, the popular pool bar at Stormalong Bay. Disney serves hot food entrees here, but it’s primarily cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets. 

You’ll probably stop here when you want a drink instead. The Category 5 and Storm Chaser are renowned in DVC circles.

You can also take a short walk to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, where The Market at Ale & Compass serves entrees and appetizers. You’ll find slightly more unique offerings here like a panini and Cuban sandwich. 

In short, you’re only going to grab-and-go at Beach Club in emergency situations. The Quick Service options here are…just okay. On the other hand… 

Comfort Food and The Character Meal

The Table Service restaurants in this region are exceptional. I swear by Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, a 1950s-style throwback restaurant that would feel right at home in a Happy Days rerun. 

Photo Courtesy of DisneyTouristBlog.com

The burgers and milkshakes here are exquisite, but it’s a DVC rite of passage to order the Kitchen Sink. It’s the most decadent dessert at Walt Disney World…or the entire East Coast. 

Fans of character meals – and I’m one – swear by Cape May Café, a seafood restaurant by night. In the morning, it’s a conventional character breakfast, Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast. Fans of exceptional character outfits will beam with joy when they see Minnie and her friends in their stylish beachwear!

Again, you can expand your options by traveling to Yacht Club, which is something many Beach Club guests do at least once per trip. That’s because this hotel offers two exquisite dining options.

The more storied of them is Yachtsman Steakhouse, arguably the fanciest steakhouse at Walt Disney World. This place is pricey, but it ranks in the top 200 restaurants in Orlando according to TripAdvisor. 

Ale & Compass lacks the track record of Yachtsman Steakhouse, but that makes it a bit of a sleeper pick for DVC members. You’re going somewhere that few people know. Even better, it scores similarly to Yachtsman Steakhouse for a fraction of the price…and it is MUCH easier to score a reservation here!

If you’re having trouble with grabbing those dining reservations or need a last minute reservation, we suggest you check out Unlocked Magic‘s unlimited dining reservation finder. Unlocked Magic will search for openings and send you a text so that you can immediately book your dining resrvation.

Other Dining Options in the Area

Here’s the glorious complexity of deciding where to eat when you stay at Beach Club. You just don’t have any bad options and may suffer analysis paralysis because of it. 

In addition to Beach Club and Yacht Club, you’re also a Friendship Boat ride away from The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. That opens up other exemplary options like Shula’s Steakhouse and Todd English’s Bluezoo. 

Bluezoo often earns commendations as one of the best fine-dining options in Orlando. And some DVC members swear that Shula’s is superior to Yachtsman Steakhouse. 

Of course, you don’t need to ride a boat to discover other superlative dining options. 

You can walk across the street to Disney’s BoardWalk. It’ll take maybe five minutes. Once you’re there, you can eat at Flying Fish, which currently ranks #91 out of 2,169 Orlando restaurants ranked on TripAdvisor. 

The Cake Bake Shop Bakery by Gwendoline Rogers will also debut here in a matter of months. At that point, it’ll replace the delightful BoardWalk Deli as the newest restaurant here. Your mileage may vary, but I’d rather eat at BoardWalk Deli than Beach Club Marketplace, convenience notwithstanding.

If you don’t love these options, you can expand your search a bit more. The Disney Skyliner is only a short walk from Beach Club. It’ll take you to Disney’s Riviera Resort, where you can eat at Primo Piatto and Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera. 

Finally, you can do the obvious thing. You can pass through the International Gateway, enter EPCOT, and pick your favorite restaurant at the World Showcase. It’s the foodie mecca of Walt Disney World, and it’s that much better when EPCOT is hosting a festival. You’ll eat well and for little money on these dates!

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