Ahoy, mateys! I’m Heather, and I’ll be bringing you the up and coming on all things Disney Cruise Line. Welcome back again this week. Let’s see what’s new in the DCL world!
Cabanas, ooh-na-na. I love the buffet in Cabanas, the buffet in Cabanas….
(Sorry in advance for the earworm.)
Last week Michael Bayley, the president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, hinted that buffets on the cruise line may be a thing of the past – at least as we once knew them. While he did not give specifics, he mentioned that the service system in the buffet restaurants would be revamped once cruising starts back up again.
Reasonably, the future of the Cabanas we’ve come to know and love on DCL sits delicately in the balance. We may not know what it’s going to look like upon our return, but we can muse on some possibilities!
My guess is that the self-serve, somewhat free-for-all way of the buffet breakfast and lunch will definitely be eliminated. In the past, when there have been instances where there was an illness onboard, such as norovirus outbreaks and (most recently) cruises leading up to DCL’s coronavirus closure, all self-serve food and beverage areas would become attended stations with crew members wearing gloves serving guests. Still all the same offerings, just put on your plate or in your glass by a crew member. This could certainly be a viable option for the future. And let’s be honest – though they have hand washing stations and/or sanitizing wipes that guests are *supposed* to use before self-service at Cabanas – does that really always happen? Less transmission of germs with shared utensils doesn’t really sound all that bad!
On select nights, Cabanas has traditionally been open for dinner as a casual table service option. Would we potentially see the same for breakfast and lunch? How would that change the overall dynamic and guest satisfaction for what tend to be quicker grab a bite and get on with the fun meals? Given the sheer number of guests that make there way here for breakfast or lunch, a table service option would need to be done with adequate speed to be able to accommodate everyone. Could that mean a reduced menu? Would things like the fan-favorite all you can eat shrimp and crab disappear for awhile?
What do you think the future of Cabanas looks like? Would you prefer to see it stay as a crew-served buffet, or move to a table service option? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Thanks for joining me again this week. “Sea” you next time!
The Disney Cruise Line Update is brought to you by Storybook Destinations. Storybook Destinations specializes in Disney travel, is consistently highly rated by our readers, and is owned by our own blogger extraordinaire, Tammy Whiting. Storybook also offers free subscriptions to TouringPlans to clients with qualified bookings.
Take a trip to the Atlantic seashore with a touch of Disney magic. Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts are wonderfully seaside-themed resorts that neighbor each other, and share some amenities. Disney’s Beach Club has a bright, cheerful atmosphere with relaxed, but polished decor reminiscent of upscale beach cottages that families flock to in the summer. With one of the best pools on Disney property and a long list of great features, Disney’s Beach Club is like finding buried treasure along the seashore.
Location
The Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are part of the EPCOT Resorts area. It is smack dab in between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can walk to either theme park, walk to neighboring resorts, and over 15 restaurants. Disney’s Fantasia Gardens mini golf is a reasonable walk from this resort too. This resort area is one of the most loved areas in which to stay at Walt Disney World. It can be hard to pick a favorite out of the hotels in this neighborhood.
Yacht and Beach Club
Rooms
Disney’s Beach Club has regular hotel rooms, suites, and Disney Vacation Club deluxe villas. The interior of the rooms and suites evoke the seaside and the beach itself. The furniture and walls are soft tan and sandy tones. The linens, curtains, and accent pillows are soft blue hues. Bright polished metal furnishings add a modern touch, and there is quite a bit of shelving and storage throughout the rooms.
The balconies are great for a morning cup of coffee or an afternoon session of reading – if your room indeed has a full balcony. Some rooms have a small, standing-room-only balconette. Most rooms have two queen beds, though one king bed is available in select rooms. Some rooms also have a daybed in them. The rooms are very elegant with wall art inspired by the sea. There’s just a pinch of Disney touches in the decor, which include a framed art piece featuring Mickey and Minnie, and hidden Mickeys in the shower curtain.
There are three view types: Standard, Garden, and Water / Pool views. Speaking of views, you can use the awesome TouringPlans Room Finder to help you narrow down the exact room location you would like. You can plug in your preferences and find rooms that match your needs. Then when you make your reservations and check in you can request your desired rooms. This tool is free to use.
Beach Club TouringPlans Room Finder
Tour a standard room, that is literally right next to EPCOT, in our video:
Club Level
The Stone Harbor Club Lounge at Beach Club is casual, yet elegant, with soft colors and beach decor throughout. A small balcony adds to the amenities of the lounge itself. Regular rooms, as well as suites, are available to stay in as part of the Club Level experience. Club Level rooms include: evening turndown, secured key access to the Club Level lounge (serving refreshments 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily), complimentary newspapers in Club Level lounge, and health club access.
Disney Vacation Club
This resort is a favorite among Disney Vacation Club members. The villas building has its own pool with a nice beach theme. Plus, there are two large sitting rooms that are a great place to relax, maybe even read a book, or to simply enjoy a change of scenery. The DVC wing is also very close to EPCOT itself. Each villa has its own spacious balcony – you won’t find any tiny balconettes here.
Enjoy Deluxe Studios all the way to Two Bedroom Villas. Deluxe Studios were recently refurbished and now offer a pull-down bed in addition to the queen bed and double-size sleeper sofa. The One Bedroom Villas are interesting here at Beach Club. Each has a king bed in the master bedroom, but some have a queen sleeper sofa, while others only have a double-size sleeper sofa. Then the Two Bedroom Villas have a king bed in the master bedroom then either two queen beds plus a double-size pull-down or a queen-size sleeper sofa. A little confusing, right?
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Dining
One of the biggest advantages of Disney’s Beach Club and the EPCOT Resorts area is the variety of dining options. Not only does Beach Club has its own variety of dining, but right next door Yacht Club does as well. Plus, you can easily get to the dining at Disney’s Boardwalk as well as the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels. At Beach Club itself you can enjoy breakfast or brunch with beloved Disney characters at Cape May Cafe. Cape May Cafe also offers a clambake-themed dinner without characters. For a casual lunch or dinner, reminiscent of the classic soda fountain and ice cream shops in a bygone era, visit Beaches and Cream Soda Shop.
Inside the merchandise shop, just off the lobby is Beach Club Marketplace, which is open in the early morning and well into the late evening. Made-to-order sandwiches and other eats are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a variety of grab-and-go items are available too. When you’re splashing the day away at Stormalong Bay, you can visit Hurricane Hanna’s Grill for great food and poolside drinks. Hurricane Hanna’s is popular with many Disney fans thanks to its beautiful views and great menu. Finally, Martha’s Vineyard is a lovely lounge that has gone through multiple changes through the years. It isn’t very remarkable, but if you’re looking for a relaxing lounge for a cocktail or glass of wine it is a nice choice. In-room dining is also available.
Securing dining reservations at popular full service restaurants like Cape May Cafe can be frustrating and time consuming. You can use the TouringPlans Reservation Finder to help you secure dining reservations and save time. Simply select your desired restaurant, then plug in your desired date and time or meal period, select to be notified either via email or text message, and voila! This incredible tool is available with or without a TouringPlans paid subscription, but you do need to create, or have, a TouringPlans login.
Pools
This seaside-themed resort is home to three pools – one at the DVC Villas side, one quiet pool, and one feature pool that is the envy of all other Disney resort pools. The themed feature pool is Stormalong Bay and it has three great features that make it the most sought-after pool experience at a Disney resort. First, there’s the sandy beach that leads into the water itself. Then, there’s the waterslide that starts off at the top of a shipwreck. But arguably best of all is the lazy river. This feature pool sits right in between Beach and Yacht Club, and is available to guests of both hotels, and absolutely no one else.
Yacht and Beach Club, Stormalong Bay
Recreation
Being a beach-themed resort, there are lots of ways to have fun here. Go for a blissful run, jog, or walk around the entire boardwalk and even up to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Head over to Disney’s Yacht Club marina to rent a variety of watercraft and enjoy Crescent Lake. There’s even volleyball and tennis courts, fishing excursions, nightly campfires, and movies under the stars. And don’t forget, Disney’s Fantasia Minigolf is within walking distance too. There’s so much to do!
Transportation
There are three modes of transportation at this resort. Being so close to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there is a delightful boat transportation that is shared with the neighboring resorts. It takes less time to walk to the theme parks, but if you’re looking to save your energy and rest your legs then the boat transportation is a very attractive feature. You can also walk to the EPCOT Disney Skyliner station just outside the park gate and head to Disney’s Caribbean Beach station then transfer to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Beach Club is mere steps from the Skyliner station. For the other theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs there is continuous bus transportation. One main bus station is located out front of the lobby.
Convention Center
Disney’s Beach Club Resort offers meeting and event space. You’ll often find conventions and weddings at this resort.
Other Information
Come tour both Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club, in our video:
We sure ran through a lot of information about Disney’s Beach Club Resort, so here’s a handy-dandy infographic that sums it all up:
Disney’s Beach Club Infographic
Are you a fan of Disney’s Beach Club? What’s your favorite feature for this resort? Let us know in the comments.
One of the most iconic Disney breakfast food on vacation is Mickey Waffles. Almost every resort has them available for breakfast, and they often come up as a popular Disney food any time you ask.
With parks and resorts still closed, making Mickey Waffles at home has become a new tradition for some. Recently, Disney has started making waffle makers beyond just Mickey. Here’s some of the waffle makers you can find at shopDisney.
Not a fan of waffles? There’s also a Toy Story pancake maker available for $39.95. It’s okay, I won’t make you turn in your official Disney clout card.
Are any of these items that you’d want to help make your breakfast cooking a little more fun? Let us know in the comments.
As much as Disney fans today love to complain about changes to the parks, my largest impression from seeing these long-forgotten shots is that WDW looks substantially the same as it did 30+ years ago.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICKEY
Mickey Mouse’s 60th birthday was celebrated with banners on various transportation methods.
I really miss the character bus that used to stop near the intersection of Epcot’s World Showcase and Future World. This was a terrific way to meet many characters all at once.
MAGIC KINGDOM
These first two photos are from the alleyway on Main Street, on the right as you face the castle, where the silhouette artist is now. I love these bright flowers.
The Haunted Mansion exterior and the burning cabin from the Liberty Belle Riverboat journey are indistinguishable from their appearance today.
These two photos show items that have been discontinued. The first is a submarine from the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction that was located where New Fantasyland is now. And the second is of one of the Mike Fink Keel Boats that used to run near Tom Sawyer Island.
EPCOT
The 1989 exteriors of the Epcot countries look nearly identical to their appearance today.
This was the nighttime show at Epcot – Illuminations – before it was Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.
The exterior of the Imagination pavilion looked the same as it does today.
This is the famed rainbow tunnel in the Imagination pavilion. Every time I see this it just makes me happy.
For an almost fix of rainbow tunnel vibes, I like to take a peek at the similar tunnel on the Disney Cruise Line Dream and Fantasy ships at the entrance to the Vibe teen club. Adults can visit during periodic open house hours. While I sometimes wish that either version were still available on land, I fear that guests jockeying for Instagram photos would cause a daily near riot.
Are you surprised by how much Epcot still looks like Epcot? Do you have fond memories of the rainbow tunnel? Let us know in the comments.
As with the Magic Kingdom, for safety purposes, we’ll assume that guests and cast members are all wearing appropriate face coverings, sanitizer and hand wash stations are readily available, and vehicles are cleaned on a regular, frequent schedule. Another huge area of consideration is the management of queues for rides, which are currently universally configured with guests close together. We’ll assume for now that there will be a virtual queue management system in place, perhaps something like the way Rise of the Resistance boarding was managed prior to closing.
[Please note: I have NO inside information about Disney’s reopening plans, timing, or procedures. These are my thoughts only.]
Avatar Flight of Passage
The Animal Kingdom’s newest ride is in some ways perfect for social distancing. The ride vehicles are discrete entities meant for one individual each, and while the vehicles are not quite six feet apart, there is significant space between guests.
The pre-show to the attraction is more problematic. Prior to the ride, there are narrative points where guests stand in a small room together. Distancing could be achieved here with approximately 50% occupancy.
The Boneyard
The Boneyard is an interactive playground meant for young children, with lots of digging and climbing equipment. Cleaning this structure thoroughly will be a time consuming event. My guess is that, due to the high-touch nature of the attraction, it will not be part of the initial park reopening.
Dinosaur
Social distancing could be achieved by placing individual parties in the first and third rows, leaving the middle row free.
Expedition Everest
Social distancing could be achieved by loading guests in alternate rows, or by keeping larger parties together in their own car.
Festival of the Lion King
A 50% or more reduction in guest admission per show would allow for parties to distance from each other. Perhaps alternate rows could be entirely taped off. Cast members could ask guests to leave a space between parties.
The portion of the show where guests are asked to imitate an elephant (which results in a fair amount of inadvertent spitting) would likely need to be modified.
Finding Nemo the Musical
A 50% or more reduction in guest admission per show would allow for parties to distance from each other. Perhaps alternate rows could be entirely taped off. Cast members could ask guests to leave a space between parties.
Fossil Fun Games
The high-touch nature of these interactive games means they would need serious cleaning between every round. My guess is that Fossil Fun will not be part of a phase one opening.
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trails
This is a walk-through attraction, limiting the number of guests allowed to enter at one time could be achieved by timed entry. However, there would also need to be cast members available to monitor loitering around favorite exhibits such as the gorillas.
Harambe Wildlife Express (train to Conservation Station)
The Wildlife Express train itself could achieve social distancing by limiting the number of guests allowed onboard during each run.
However, the experience at Conservation Station has trouble spots with guests crowding around windows to observe animal medical procedures or packed in tightly for the interactive art experience. The outdoor petting zoo is less troublesome, but perhaps not a big enough draw for many guests. My guess is that Conservation Station will not be part of a phase one opening.
It’s Tough to Be a Bug
A 50% or more reduction in guest admission per show would allow for parties to distance from each other. Perhaps alternate rows could be entirely taped off. Cast members could ask guests to leave a space between parties.
Kali River Rapids
Social distancing could be achieved by loading boats at 50% capacity, either alternating seats or alternating parties with empty seats between.
Kilimanjaro Safari
Social distancing could be achieved by loading one party per row of each jeep, and keep vacant rows between parties.
Maharajah Jungle Trek
This is a walk-through attraction; limiting the number of guests allowed to enter at one time could be achieved by timed entry. However, there would also need to be cast members available to monitor loitering around favorite exhibits such as the bats and tigers.
Na’vi River Journey
Social distancing could be achieved by loading one party per boat.
Primeval Whirl
Social distancing could be achieved by loading one party per vehicle.
Rivers of Light
A 50% or more reduction in guest admission per show would allow for parties to distance from each other. Perhaps alternate rows could be entirely taped off. Cast members could ask guests to leave a space between parties.
TriceratopSpin
Social distancing could be achieved by loading one party per dino.
Up! A Great Bird Adventure
A 50% or more reduction in guest admission per show would allow for parties to distance from each other. Perhaps alternate rows could be entirely taped off. Cast members could ask guests to leave a space between parties.
Would the characteristics of the Animal Kingdom attractions make it any more or less attractive to you as a first post-pandemic park to visit? And of course, even if methods like these do take place, we have countless other questions about character greetings, shopping, dining, and more. We’re looking forward to seeing what happens. Do you have any theories or predictions? Feel free to share them in the comments.
