{Disney} Contemporary vs. Yacht Club

Because our most recent Disney vacation included a split stay, I've been asked which resort we liked better.  I know some guests are very much into the theming and that sways their opinion but for me, theming didn't really come into play.  You can't go wrong with either resort but as a whole, my family preferred the Contemporary.  Before going into a more detail discussion, here are some reasons why we enjoyed both resorts:

Pros to staying at the Contemporary:

1. Located within walking distance of Magic Kingdom
2. Felt more like a normal-sized hotel, travel time from room to elevator, pool, restaurants was short
3. Both table and quick service restaurants, including character meals
4. Extremely helpful and pleasant cast members
5. Decent pool area with water slide

Pros to staying at the Yacht Club:

1. Direct access to two parks - Epcot and Hollywood Studios  
2. Large pool area with a variety of depths and a water slide
3. Both table and quick service meals, including character meals
4. Beaches & Cream - ICE CREAM every night
5. Viewing of fireworks at Epcot or Hollywood Studios from resort areas

Contemporary

Contemporary

Magic Kingdom is our favorite park which definitely played a role in us choosing the Contemporary over the Yacht Club.  We used the pool at the Contemporary every day of our stay and it was never crowded.  The girls were happy with its size and with the water slide.  Yes, the water slide at the Yacht/Beach Club is longer and slightly more thrilling but there was also a line to use it.  The line for the water slide at the Contemporary was minimal or nonexistent.  In my opinion, guests stay at the Yacht or Beach Club intending to use the pool complex, which makes it more crowded.

The rooms at both resorts were comparable.  Not with theming but in size and whatnot.  I didn't feel that one was superior over the other but I did prefer the rooms at the Contemporary.  Perhaps that was due in part to the balcony and the view and the lack of noise from elsewhere in the resort.  I should note that when we were sleeping at the Contemporary, we were not bothered by noise from outside the room but I have heard other guests complain of noise from the monorail and the restaurants.  It all depends on where your room is located.  I could hear the ding ding from the monorail downstairs after I woke up but it didn't interrupt my sleep and you all know I'm a light sleeper.


Contemporary


Contemporary


Contemporary balcony

The Yacht Club is different story.  The first night there we had connecting rooms behind the elevator bank.  This seemed like a great location at first because it didn't take ten minutes to walk to our rooms.  For some reason, there was only one elevator out of the four running and it happened to be the one directly across from our room.  I listened to that elevator moving all night long.  We could also hear every single person as they left the elevator bank.  I shoved a pile of pool towels in the crack under the door but it was still a noisy night.  The next day, Rich requested different rooms and we were moved, but our rooms were not connected and they were at the other end of the resort so we had that dreaded ten minute walk.  That's my one big complaint of the Yacht and Beach Clubs - the resorts are ginormous.  It can take fifteen minutes to walk from your room to the pool.  Also, this is definitely a personal opinion but we felt like the cast members at the Contemporary went above and beyond while those at the Yacht Club were simply going through the motions.    

 
Yacht Club


Yacht Club


Yacht Club


Yacht Club

So while our experience at the Contemporary may have influenced our preference for this resort over the Yacht Club, both resorts have very different vibes.  The Contemporary has more of a city feel and that may or may not appeal to you.  The Beach and Yacht Clubs, which are more photogenic, are excellent resorts but their size and the time it takes to travel from your room to the common areas can be ridiculous.  I know this is true of other Disney resorts but from of our stays at Disney, we've felt it the most at the Beach and Yacht Clubs.


See?  More photogenic.


But HUGE!

Where would we stay next?  I'd like to try out Wilderness Lodge.