Which EPCOT Resort Is Best For You?

The common advice for choosing a DVC home resort is to buy where you want to stay.  If you love spending time in EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, the Beach Club, BoardWalk, or Riviera are great options for home resorts, but how do you choose from among the three of them?  It all depends on your priorities.

For the Best Location

The Beach Club and BoardWalk are closest to the theme parks. If EPCOT festivals are a priority for you, the Beach Club has the most ideal location since you can walk from its lobby to International Gateway (the back entrance to EPCOT) in under 10 minutes. If Hollywood Studios is your favorite park, the BoardWalk is slightly closer to the park’s entrance at about a 15 minute walk. If you don’t feel like walking from the Beach Club or BoardWalk, you can also ride the Friendship boats to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. While Riviera is also near EPCOT and Hollywood, you do need to take the Skyliner to get there.

For the Best Dining

Beach Club is mainly known for the sundaes at Beaches and Cream, and the BoardWalk has solid options for table service meals with Flying Fish and Trattoria Al Forno, but its quick service options can be lackluster.  

Sole meunière at Topolino’s Terrace

For good food all around, Riviera comes out on top. The signature dining restaurant Topolino’s Terrace offers Breakfast à La Art with Mickey and friends and serves French and Italian specialties for dinner. For quick service, there’s Primo Piatto. Along with the usual staples like Mickey waffles and burgers, you’ll find an assortment of entrees like blueberry-lemon pancakes, frittata pizza, Croque Monsieur, and tuna niçoise salad. 

For the Best Rooms

Riviera also wins this category for the upscale decor, the room capacities, and the size of the rooms. The decor at Riviera feels more luxe than the older EPCOT resorts, and the subtle Disney characters incorporated into the paintings inspired by master artists and hidden Mickey’s woven into the textiles lend a sophisticated touch of Disney magic. 

In terms of the room capacities and size, Riviera also comes out ahead for its slightly larger rooms and wide range of room types from the Tower Studios for 2 guests to the Three Bedroom Grand Villas for up to 12 guests.  Beach Club does not have any Tower Studios or Three Bedroom Grand Villas, and the BoardWalk does not have any Tower Studios or dedicated Two Bedroom Villas. Instead, they are all lock-offs consisting of a Deluxe Studio and adjoining One Bedroom Villa.

Riviera One Bedroom Villa

Lastly, Riviera’s One Bedroom Villas can sleep up to 5 guests.  Beach Club and BoardWalk can accommodate up to 5 guests in the One Bedroom Villas, but no additional bedding or linens are provided for the fifth guest.  

For the Most Economical Choice

If you’re comparing prices, the BoardWalk and Riviera are typically at a lower price per point than the Beach Club. As of May 2025, the BoardWalk goes for $116 per point, Riviera goes for $117 per point, and Beach Club goes for $133 per point.  

BoardWalk Villas

While this makes the Boardwalk and Riviera seem very comparable, it’s important to note that BoardWalk contracts end in 2042 whereas Riviera ones end in 2070.  However, Riviera resale points can only be used at Riviera. BoardWalk and Beach Club points can be used at the original 14 DVC resorts, including: Old Key West, Boardwalk, Boulder Ridge, Beach Club, Hilton Head, Vero Beach, Saratoga Springs, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Bay Lake Tower, Grand Californian, Grand Floridian, Aulani, Polynesian, and Copper Creek.

For the Best Recreational Activities

This list wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t mention one of the most popular features of the Beach Club: Stormalong Bay.  This feature pool is massive at 3 acres.  Its 230-foot, shipwreck-themed slide, the Flying Jib Slide, is one of the tallest waterslides among all the Disney World resorts.  There are also 3 whirlpool spas and a lazy river.  Should you enjoy a full pool day, you can even rent a cabana for a truly carefree resort day.

Stormalong Bay

Across the lake from the Beach Club, the BoardWalk also has its unique recreational activities from the surrey bikes and carnival games to the sideshows along the boardwalk at night. If you like a little entertainment after the theme parks close, the boardwalk is a great spot to visit.

Access all the available Disney Vacation Club resale listings, or learn more about buying and selling with DVC Resale Market.