Dining at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, twin resorts in the Epcot Resort area located just off Buena Visit Drive, is a treat. This post will rank the four full service/buffet restaurants at the resorts: Ale & Compass, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Cape May Cafe, and Beaches & Cream. Off we go into the wild yonder of restaurant rankings.
4. Cape May Cafe (Beach Club)
The only buffet style restaurant at the Y&BC, Cape May Cafe serves breakfast and dinner only. Breakfast is a character meal with appearances by Minnie Mouse and other characters dressed in beach gear.
Dinner is just a straight-up buffet, reminiscent of a casino buffet in Atlantic City quite frankly. The food is adequate. The kicker: crab legs are not included and cost at time of writing $29 for one pound. Add that to the $50 price tag, and this meal will quickly add up.
The decor is northeast beachy, with pictures of people vacationing from the turn of the century. Not my favorite at Y&BC.
3. Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht Club)
High-end steakhouse. Certain tables have a view of the Stormalong Bay pool area.
This is priced like a high-end steakhouse too. The food is adequate, but nothing to write home about given the price. The Mickey Puzzle is a fun kid’s option however.
2. Beaches & Cream (Beach Club)
The classic soda fountain full of burgers, fries, onion rings, and ice cream, ice cream, ice cream. Most notably home of the “kitchen sink” sundae, which is loaded with eight scoops and a whole can of whipped cream (the place turns off the lights and makes an announcement whenever some hungry group orders the thing).
Ice cream is fine. Sandwiches are ok. I actually prefer the french dip or the reuben to the burger. Another nice perk is the flavorings you can add to the sodas. Pricey but hey it’s Disney.
The decor is light and airy. There’s a jukebox and plenty of pictures of Mickey & friends eating ice cream.
1. Ale & Compass (Yacht Club)
You may not agree, but I like Ale & Compass and am naming it the top restaurant in all of Yacht and Beach Club world.
There’s nothing flashy, and in fact the decor in the dining room is rather dark, but it’s a pleasant place to enjoy a meal. The menu recently got a refresh and there are several quality dishes such as the pappardelle pasta with chicken, the Vermont cheddar burger, and the seafood pot pie. As for appetizers, the Parker House rolls rule, especially with the three spreads (citrus butter, bacon jam, and pub cheese— cheese is the best!)
A&C also does breakfast where it offers salted caramel french toast and dark chocolate waffles among more standard options. The place nearly always delivers at a good price point too for Disney. (It’s not uncommon for 2 adults, 2 kids, to get out of there under $100). Price good, food good, atmosphere good! Plenty of fun times walking around the boardwalk and the resorts too after a lovely meal. #1 at the Y&BC.