Disney World’s Regatta Club Is Not Worth the Money

After the bar was set insurmountably high by Royal Palm Club, which is Our New Favorite Way to Stay at Walt Disney World, it isn’t a huge surprise that Regatta Club Level could not live up to that next-level experience. This covers the good and bad of our experience, why it wasn’t worth it for us, but could be for you, and more.

Whereas Royal Palm is a bucket list caliber Club Level that’s worth the splurge even at the stupidly expensive price, the concierge level at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is more…ordinary. We won’t go as far as to say Regatta Club is the worst Club Level at Walt Disney World, but it’s in the bottom three.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. For starters, Regatta Club is the concierge tier at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, a luxury hotel within walking distance of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the Crescent Lake region of Walt Disney World. We’ll review whether this Club Level is worth the money and how it compares to other options, what’s included, as well as photos of the food served for breakfast, lunch, dinner & dessert.

Note that this review focuses only on the Yacht Club’s Regatta Club Level experience, and not the hotel as a whole. One thing we want to emphasize up front in what otherwise might be a review that skews negative is that we are big fans of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and think it’s unfairly maligned among Walt Disney World fans as being stuffy.

In our view, Yacht Club is sophisticated, refined, and arguably among the most underrated resorts at Walt Disney World. In particular, we  love the new guest rooms at Yacht Club. Lots of little improvements, more pops of color, and a great balance of modern luxury and Disney details. These are among our favorite rooms in all of Walt Disney World. Check out our Review: Refined Redone Rooms at WDW’s Most Sophisticated Resort for tons of photos and comprehensive thoughts.

We’ll also mostly gloss over the various perks and benefits of staying Club Level, instead focusing on what’s unique to Regatta Club. If you’re looking for general info, our Guide to Club Level & Concierge Lounges at Disney World offers overarching thoughts on what you can expect in terms of service, the various resort tiers, and an index of other specific Club Level lounge reviews from around Walt Disney World.

Upon arrival at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, you might be greeted by a Cast Member who escorts you up to the Regatta Club Level for check-in. We’ve found this happens about half the time when checking into Club Level at Walt Disney World.

Regatta Club Level takes up the entirety of the 5th floor, and as a result, is restricted access. You use your room key or MagicBand to access the fifth floor on the elevator up, and then it’s unnecessary for the lounge itself.

This also means that if you complete online check-in you can theoretically bypass the Yacht Club front desk and proceed directly to the elevator. Once you arrive on the fifth floor, you’ll immediately see concierge stands for the Regatta Club. While you could just blow past the two or three Cast Members stationed here and proceed to your room, we’d recommend stopping.

These desks are staffed by concierge Cast Members from 7 am until 10 pm; in addition to helping while you’re at the hotel, they can be contacted while you’re in the parks should you need any assistance.

At this desk or in your room, depending upon how/where/when you check-in, you’ll receive a welcome letter and various info about the Regatta Club, plus some candy. Nice touches.

It’s good to stop by this desk to get a bit of facetime with the concierge Cast Members. If you need assistance planning, they’re also there for that. If you’re reading this blog, hopefully you’re planning in advance, but you’d be surprised how many first-timers and infrequent visitors don’t plan for Walt Disney World until arriving at Walt Disney World. A foreign concept to us, I know.

If your room isn’t ready, they can also give you manual access to the Regatta Club. We’re also usually doing it as a split stay; in this case, we arrived here around 1 pm after checking out of the Grand Floridian.

We are frugal fans who enjoy Club Level as the occasional splurge (one of our favorites at Walt Disney World!), and every hour of access is worth $X from our perspective. Because time is money, we always arrive early when doing Club Level.

Coming from the west coast, we used to regularly book red-eye flights and start our trips with a Club Level stay. Another alternative is doing a split stay and checking out of our previous hotel to arrive in time for breakfast. In either case, arriving to a Club Level at 1 pm is actually late by our standards. Accordingly, it’s rare for our room to be ready upon arrival.

Throughout the day, the Regatta Club lounge serves the following:

• Early Riser Coffee: 6:30-7 a.m.
• Continental breakfast: 7-10:30 a.m.
• Light snacks and refreshments: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Hors D’oeuvres and beverages: 5-7 p.m.
• Desserts & cordials: 8-10 p.m.

Here are food photos and glimpses at the spreads for each of these meal services:

Coffee and other drinks are self-service at Regatta Club.

Beer, wine, and champagne are available throughout the day at Regatta Club. During our stay, alcohol was open access at some times (evenings) and upon request the remainder of the day.

Alcohol is potentially the deciding factor for Club Level for adults doing Walt Disney World. I know that if we had our honeymoon to do over today as really-for-real adults instead of fresh-out-of-college-and-broke twentysomethings, we’d absolutely be doing Club Level. And probably here or over at Beach Club, since those would put us closest to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT!

Consistent with other Club Level lounges around Walt Disney World, we found the 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. spread to be best of the “meal” services at the Regatta Club.

Walt Disney World refrains from calling this dinner, because they don’t want to encourage guests to make a full meal of it, but no encouragement is necessary for me. Or, presumably, anyone inclined to squeeze the most bang for their buck out of Club Level.

Also as is typical, the middle of the day is least busy and also the worst of the spreads. Not just at the Regatta Club Lounge, but at every single Club Level at Walt Disney World. And most real world hotels, for that matter.

Even breakfast and dinner were just fine at Regatta Club. In a different era, there were chefs preparing small plates of meats or other ambitious dishes in the Club Levels at the Crescent Lake (and other) resorts. Not so anymore.

There were no nice little touches, inventive dishes, or anything of the sort. I had hoped that we’d be treated to a sampling of chef’s choices from Yachtsman Steakhouse or Ale & Compass. Instead, the best dish on the spread was standard-issue salmon.

There were a couple of decent items mixed in there, but most of it was a far cry from the delicious cuisine we’ve enjoyed at Old Faithful Club Level in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or Kilimanjaro Club at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Our favorite meal at Regatta Club ended up being breakfast. The smoked salmon was delicious, there were eggs and fruit, and enough hot dishes to make a good meal of it.

This isn’t so much a ringing endorsement of breakfast as it is an indictment of the evening spreads. Perhaps we just got unlucky, but both Sarah and I were underwhelmed by the cuisine quality. And this isn’t just a matter of an unfavorable comparison to Royal Palm Club being fresh in our minds.

We did Innkeeper’s Club at BoardWalk not long ago, and even that was slightly better than this. Same goes for Chronos Club, which isn’t what it once was, but still is superior to Regatta Club (and is cheaper!).

Honestly, we would’ve rather done the continental breakfast buffet down at Ale & Compass over Regatta Club. That undoubtedly would’ve been cheaper, better, and a more pleasant experience.

The Regatta Club lounge is basically one large room that’s somewhat subdivided to break up the space (you can see pretty much the entirety of the space in the photo above). There are seats for two dozen-plus people inside, with a few more tables outside on the balcony.

Along with the rooms, this space was refreshed during the recent room refurbishment of the Yacht Club to mirror that aesthetic. Changes that we noticed were new carpeting and upholstery, along with new bench-style seating in the far alcove (below).

There are also three televisions inside the Regatta Club (none outdoors, sadly) in case you aren’t meeting your quota in the room, or everyone in your party wants to watch different programming.

There’s nothing unique about the view offered by the Regatta Club Lounge.

The lounge itself is thematically fine. It’s reasonably well-appointed and consistent with the rest of the resort, and thematic flourishes distinguish it from lounges at Beach Club or BoardWalk. Like those, Regatta Club is also nothing noteworthy or memorable.

This is significant for me. I love overlooking the lobby at Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge, or having theme park views as is the case at some of the Magic Kingdom resorts. I wouldn’t call this a dealbreaker, but a good view is nice if you’re going to spend a decent amount of time in the lounge.

More of a potential dealbreaker is that Regatta Club Lounge is both cramped and crowded.

I don’t know what the room count is that’s serviced by this lounge, but I assume it’s a considerable number given that Regatta Club occupies an entire floor, and Yacht Club is infamous for its endless hallways. (We would know–our room was second from the end this stay!)

There were multiple breakfasts during our stay when the Regatta Club Lounge was at or near capacity, with nowhere left for our party of 3 to sit. And this was during a time of year when the weather was mild, making the outdoor seating the most desirable at the lounge. In July or August when it’s hot and humid, I can imagine those dozen or so outdoor seats sitting empty.

Dinner was less of a challenge for finding seats, but it was still busy. We always did the first ‘seating,’ and by the end of our visit, the lounge was close to capacity.

This being a single space also made the lounge feel more cramped, chaotic, and loud. Those three televisions probably didn’t help, either.

All of this was only really an issue at breakfast and dinner. If you’re primarily using the lounge during the middle of the day for the afternoon (light) snacks, you might encounter no one else in here. We typically did the tail end of the evening desserts, and that was likewise uncrowded.

Of course, I can only share our experience when it comes to crowdedness. If you stay at Yacht Club when occupancy is lower, you could have a totally different impression. Maybe this lounge isn’t actually undersized most of the time, and our stay was a fluke.

I just know it was a night-and-day difference for us in going from the multi-level Royal Palm Club to Regatta Club. The vibe and atmosphere of Royal Palm Club were so far superior to Regatta Club that there’s almost no comparison.

With that said, I will add that we’ve had more issues with ‘crowded clubs’ in the real world over the last couple of years. One of our favorite hotels in Tokyo recently instituted reservations and time limits for breakfast and dinner at their club level lounge, and it was still busy even with that measure. It’s no surprise to see Walt Disney World facing similar issues, and I’ll take the Regatta Club experience over that.

For their part, Cast Members did an admirable job clearing plates and keeping tables clean for the next guests. And as is typical of Club Levels, some of Walt Disney World’s best Cast Members can be found at Regatta Club.

Cast Members are attentive and making the rounds during all meal services, but if you want the best opportunities for interactions with them, your best bet is going between around 10 am and 4 pm.

This is our daughter’s favorite part of the Club Level experience, beating out even the TVs with Bluey. She’s not alone among diehard Walt Disney World fans, many of whom stay Club Level in large part for the superlative service.

One of the challenges with breakfast at Regatta Club is pairing it with Early Entry at EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The morning hours are especially advantageous at those two parks, and walking distance proximity is one of the big selling points for Yacht Club or other Crescent Lake resorts.

The best solution is starting your day by rope dropping the lounge bright and early at 7 am, doing a quick breakfast, and then heading to the park. Assuming an 8:30 am Early Entry start at DHS or EPCOT, this is more than enough time.

In my view, this is actually a point in favor of Regatta Club, as no other breakfast option has the potential to be this efficient. On the other hand, you aren’t exactly savoring the lounge if you go this route, despite paying a lot of money for the access.

Our solution is the double rope drop, double breakfast power move. Which is to say that you rope drop the lounge, followed by the park, and then leave EPCOT or DHS in time so you can make last call at breakfast before the lounge ends service for the morning.

This might seem like a lot, but it’s an approach I love. That gives you a solid 90 minutes for Early Entry and rope drop to knock out a few attractions, before doing an early not-quite-midday break. Crowds start peaking at both parks around 10 am, so this makes strategic sense.

It also takes advantage of the lowest crowds in the lounge itself, and positions you for a third rope drop: Stormalong Bay. If you are as serious about savvy strategy as me (and few are), this approach works to your advantage. And there’s nothing quite like a bountiful breakfast and pool time after a fruitful rope drop run at EPCOT or DHS!

In terms of cost, you’re looking at rack rates ranging from around $900 to $1,500 night for standard Club Level rooms, depending upon your view. This is roughly on par with the other Crescent Lake hotels.

Suites or multi-bedroom units cost even more. Even with a good Annual Pass or Florida Resident discount, you’re likely looking at $600 per night to stay Regatta Club Level. Our stay was over $800 per night after discount, and that was over a holiday weekend when demand and rates were higher.

By contrast, standard rooms at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort start at around $640. This amounts to a minimum spread of around $250 per night before discounts. Club Level rooms are the same as standard rooms, just on the fifth floor.

Most of the time, we give a cop out “it depends” answer when it comes to questions of value for money. While we did not have a negative experience at Regatta Club, we also admittedly felt a bit of buyer’s remorse.

Frankly, there was a not insignificant part of us that felt we should’ve just done one more night at Royal Palm Club at the Grand Floridian instead. We could’ve then done a regular stay at Yacht Club paired with Ale & Compass breakfast, as opposed to multiple nights of Regatta Club.

I do think there’s a compelling case to be made for staying Club Level in the Crescent Lake Resort Area, and I’d opt for Regatta Club or Stone Harbor Club Level at Beach Club over Innkeeper’s Club at BoardWalk. That’s because Stormalong Bay is a great complement to Club Level.

If forced to choose between this or Stone Harbor Club, we’d pick Regatta Club in large part because we prefer the rooms at Yacht Club. As for the lounge itself, Regatta Club is last place of the three, and probably in all of Walt Disney World.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to “which Club Level at Walt Disney World is best?”

What I’ve learned over the years is that each of these has its diehard fans. Guests who have been staying at a certain Club Level–and only that Club Level–for years, maybe even decades. They’re on a first-name basis with Cast Members and have compelling reasons for favoring each.

In fact, at two different times in the lounge, we chatted with other longtime fans who have tried other options but always return to Regatta Club. For them, this is “home” and nothing else compares. This is a common conversation you could have at any of the lounges on any given day. In my mind, it says that so much of this is subjective, and also that the connections with Cast Members are the biggest difference-maker for these lounges.

What I can say is that the Regatta Club is among my least favorite lounges at Walt Disney World.

There’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all advice when it comes to Club Level or even regular resorts, though. As should be obvious from the discussion of Early Entry, rope drop, and Stormalong Bay, so much of this is circumstantial. Even though Royal Palm Club is better by most measures, Regatta Club might be better for you.

It’s a good idea to consult a travel agent before booking. They can offer personalized advice and make an expert recommendation based on your unique needs and preferences. We highly recommend requesting a quote from Be Our Guest Vacations, a no-fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

Be Our Guest’s agents will assist you with planning and resort recommendations (as necessary), book your vacation with the best-available special offer, and monitor your package for future discounts that can be applied retroactively.

Ultimately, we enjoyed our stay at Regatta Club when mentally compartmentalizing the cost and our superior experience at Royal Palm Club. The problem is that “it was nice” isn’t the bar when grading a Club Level, an add-on that costs almost $300 per night extra over a standard room. Viewed through the lens of the added cost or versus the “competition,” I don’t think Regatta Club was worth it.

Beyond the cramped lounge and mediocre meals, Regatta Club also doesn’t have that X factor that really elevates some of the other Club Levels at Walt Disney World. There’s nothing special about the lounge itself, there’s no spectacular view or other feature, and the food is only okay. This is unfortunate, because we otherwise feel that Yacht Club is a luxury-caliber hotel that could rival Grand Floridian, but there’s really no contest when it comes to their respective Club Levels.

Of course, others are likely to disagree; the good thing about Walt Disney World is that there’s something for everyone. Regatta Club simply isn’t the right fit for us. Perhaps we’ll feel differently in a few years if our daughter becomes obsessed with Stormalong Bay.

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

What do you think of Regatta Club Level at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort? Are you a fan of this, or do you prefer other concierge lounges at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our review? 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!