Epcot is known as the place “where the impossible becomes possible” – which also applies to staying at the very best hotels near Epcot, where Disney adventures are always possible even if you’ve left the park.
Of course, that raises the question: What makes a hotel the best?
The answer is simple: The best hotel is the one that best meets your family’s needs.
It’s like the Olympics.
All of the contenders are objectively awesome, so the judges have specific, high-level criteria to differentiate and crown a winner for that moment in time.
Picking a hotel for your vacation to Walt Disney World is the same.
All Walt Disney World resorts are objectively amazing, but the resort area just beyond Epcot’s international gateway is populated by some of the shiniest gems of hotels on property.
So we’ve already narrowed down the competition hugely by adding in the first factor: location.
These are the best hotels near Epcot:
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Now, you get to narrow it down even further and hold up your imaginary judging scorecard as we help you compare the following:
- Style
- Cost
- Amenities
- Dining
- Transportation
Before we go on… if the thought of sifting through all these options gives you heartburn, you should know that there’s a way to take that stress off your plate.
If you feel overwhelmed by options, or you already know which hotel you’d like to book, Ear To There Travel offers completely fee-free full-service Disney vacation planning.
What that means is for absolutely no extra cost to you (because we get paid by Disney), one of our expert Vacationeers (travel agents) can take care of all the booking and planning for you.
It’s a complete win-win-win.
Same options, much easier experience, no extra cost (plus, we can keep an eye out for any special discounts that would apply to your reservations and apply them for you even after you’ve booked).
If you want to connect with one of our Vacationeers, fill out our free, no-obligation quote form and we can help make your dream vacation less complicated, less stressful, and much less effort.
Read on to learn more about the most commonly compared details and insider information from our years of Disney travel planning, to decide which hotel near Epcot is the best FOR YOU.
The Style Of Hotels Near Epcot
When choosing which majestic and once-in-a-lifetime memories you want to have, select which style sounds the most fun for your family out of the best hotels near Epcot:
- For the opulence of Europe, mingled with the splendor of the Mediterranean, think grand archways, lush gardens, bridging modern and classical influences. Think Riviera.
- If sophisticated elegance, serene charm, and nautical nostalgia constitute your happiest place, choose the refined luxury that graces any stay in the New England-inspired Yacht Club Resort.
- Refreshingly casual, easily elegant, the New England charm of the Beach Club is a nice complement to its more formal sister resort, the Yacht Club.
- Anyone craving turn-of-the-century Atlantic City, complete with carnival whimsey and Coney Island ragtime fun, will be delighted with the BoardWalk Inn & Villas.
- Pirate-themed rooms. Calypso wafting through the corridors. Imaginative colors in a playful paradise. It’s gotta be the vibrant Caribbean Beach Resort.
Amenities At Hotels Near Epcot
All of the Disney resorts offer unparalleled, thoughtful, thorough service.
For example, instead of breaking your back carrying around all of the merchandise your kids absolutely must have, you can have your super sweet swag transported back to your hotel for you – as long as you’re staying on any Disney property.
You can even purchase hoodies, treats, or any merchandise you like a few days before your vacation begins and have it waiting in your room when you arrive!
And that’s just the beginning.
Pools, complimentary transportation, free Wi-fi, fitness centers, places to send mail, and oh so much more is waiting for you at these Disney resort hotels.
In the above and beyond category, the BoardWalk Inn and BoardWalk Villas separate themselves from the pack with additional amenities such as:
- Laundry
- Business center
- Meeting rooms
- Mini golf
- Campfires
- Movies under the stars
- Surreys
- Tennis
- Jogging paths
- Playgrounds
- Arcade
- Yoga on the lawn
Yacht Club is the other stand-out with many of the same amenities listed above, plus:
- Access to Stormalong Bay, the best pool at Walt Disney World (pictured above).
- For adults: The Ship Shape Spa, Salon & Fitness Center – whether you want your hair and nails done for a night out, or a couples massage to wind down on a night in, this full-service salon and spa will have you feeling like a million bucks in no time.
- For kids: Two-hour pirate adventure cruises for buccaneers aged 4 to 12 (setting sail from the Yacht Club, the Beach Club, or the Caribbean Beach Resorts).
- Cabanas
- Volleyball
- Motorboat rentals
- And more!
It’s also worth noting that many of the amenities provided by the Yacht Club are also available to anyone staying at the Beach Club or in the Beach Club Villas since they are sister resorts and share many facilities.
For the absolute cream of the crop, the Villas (at the BoardWalk, the Beach Club, or the Riviera) are where you’ll find the extras that pack the most punch, as Villas provide:
- A private kitchen
- A washer and dryer
- Separate bedrooms
- Private courtyards
- Access to a decked-out, well-stocked community hall for games and crafting
The epic amenities and unparalleled offerings at Walt Disney World are tough for other vacation destinations to match – even other Disney parks! Just look at the differences between Disneyland vs. Disney World; the Walt Disney World resorts are truly unique and magical in their energetic style and enormous scope of possibility.
Dining At The Hotels Near Epcot
Everyone has different favorites, of course, but many of the most popular options can be found among the Yacht Club’s 10 different dining locations, including a steakhouse, a grill, a lounge, a cafe, and a soda shop.
And that’s not all…
Ale and Compass At Yacht Club
You want the very best dining near Epcot, eh?
Well, look no further than Ale & Compass, an extraordinary gastropub found at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. More than just a restaurant, it even boasts a market and lounge area.
If you’re looking for the best burger in the entire Walt Disney World property, definitely put Ale & Compass on your list.
Don’t believe me? Ask the dishes!
No seriously, here are all the delicious dishes on the awesome Ale & Compass menu, including the fantastic and unexpectedly delightful burger (an absolute favorite of Ear To There Travel founder and CEO, Phil Gramlich).
And the spoiling doesn’t stop there because you can enjoy character dining at the Cape May Cafe, as well as the ever-popular must-have-desserts destination: Beaches & Cream Soda Shop.
If you’ve ever heard the phrase “everything but the kitchen sink” (an idiom meaning just about everything under the sun or everything you can think of…) well, Disney goes above and beyond once again in true “only-Disney” fashion, and even gives you The Kitchen Sink. This enormous, brag-worthy ice cream sundae only offered at Beaches & Cream is definitely worth the hype.
More Dining Options Near Epcot
The BoardWalk Inn & Villas have 12 different places to eat, including fanciful carts waiting for you on the actual boardwalk.
There are 4 eateries at the Riviera Resort, with a convenient quick-service restaurant, delightful rooftop dining at Topolino Terrace, and a Parisian cafe.
A bar, a market, and a bistro are a few of the 5 great options at the Caribbean Beach Resort.
Then don’t forget…
There are nearly 60 different places to delight your taste buds within Epcot itself.
In some ways, whichever hotel you opt for, you’ve already made the best choice just by being near Epcot and the freshest food in all of Walt Disney World.
With more than 2.5 million square feet of active greenhouses, Epcot is known for innovative farming techniques and the ambitious production of most of Walt Disney World’s best food. They’ve partnered with NASA and the state of Florida, grown produce without dirt, and reduced water waste.
If you’re a foodie, consider planning a visit during Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival. You won’t want to miss it.
Price Of The Hotels Near Epcot
Are you leaning towards luxuriating like a prince, or traveling more frugally and under the radar?
Of the best hotels near Epcot, none of them falls into what is called the “value” category. “Value” means the priority is only what Ear To There Travel calls the 3 S’s (sleep, shower, swim). If that’s what this trip is about and booking a lower-priced option is important, that’s no problem! Contact Ear To There Vacationeers here and we’ll get you squared away with some great options that are still on Disney property but not quite as close to Epcot.
If you want a bit of spoiling without spending your entire trip savings on a hotel, then the Caribbean Beach Resort is for you. It’s a moderate pricing option that gives you the bells and whistles but still keeps things reigned in.
Beyond that, pricing is going to vary a lot by time of year and how long you’re staying, more than which deluxe Disney resort you select.
To give you a ballpark idea, expect roughly $500-900 per night.
If you want to choose based primarily on price, make sure you have vacation dates picked out first, because that’s going to determine the pricing order between the best hotels near Epcot. The very rough pricing order, lowest to highest, is Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, Riviera, then Yacht Club – but they change order a lot throughout the year.
Any of the Villas (available at BoardWalk, Beach Club, and Riviera) are going to be the largest, and consequently more expensive than that.
As the height of Disney luxury, Villas also book up quickly, so act fast to secure one for your family’s next adventure.
If you’re yearning for the royal treatment and interested in splurging on your vacation digs, don’t wait to make reservations. Request your free, no-obligation Disney vacation quote ASAP to ensure your hopes become reality.
Transportation To Hotels Near Epcot
Did you know that there are rides and attractions to be enjoyed outside the amusement parks of Walt Disney World?
That’s right!
There is fun to be found at Disney Springs, and going to and from your hotel can even be a bonus treat with all the Walt Disney World resort transportation options.
You could even rank hotels according to how you prefer to travel.
If you want all of the transportation options including a limo, taxi, boat, bus, or the Disney Skyliner, choose:
- Riviera
If you prefer a limo, taxi, boat, or bus, (but no Skyliner) choose:
- Beach Club
- Beach Club Villas
- BoardWalk Inn
- BoardWalk Villas
- Yacht Club
If you want the opportunity to enjoy a limo, taxi, bus, or Skyliner, (but no boat) choose:
- Caribbean Beach
How To Book The Best Hotels Near Epcot
If you’re taking a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida, you are already treating yourself to the best vacation imaginable.
Make it even better by taking the stress of vacation planning off your plate.
Ear To There Travel offers 100% complimentary services to plan with you, reserve for you, and continue to answer any questions you might have. We are EarMarked by Disney – which means we’re official, authorized experts – so when you work with us, you’re signing up to worry less and play more.
Click the button below to let us know which of the best hotels near Epcot you want and we can help ensure your days include magic and relaxation beyond riding Frozen Ever After and visiting the ImageWorks lab.
To look through any special current or upcoming deals that might include these great hotels near Epcot, check out this current, special Disney discounts page that tracks all available Disney deals going on right now.