Credit: David Aughinbaugh II, FlickrIf you’re staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort anytime soon, you might want to take a second look at your dining plans, because one of the resort’s most popular hangout spots is about to disappear for months.
Disney World has been in nonstop refurbishment mode lately, and at this point, guests almost expect to run into construction walls somewhere during their trip. But what’s happening at Yacht Club feels especially frustrating because it isn’t just one closure. It’s two major dining locations being taken offline almost back-to-back.
And if you booked this deluxe resort expecting that full “Yacht Club experience,” you may be arriving during a stretch where you’re missing out on some of the hotel’s biggest draws.
Crew’s Cup Lounge Is Closing Next Week
Crew’s Cup Lounge, located inside Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, is officially scheduled to close beginning February 23.
That’s coming up fast, and it’s not going to be a quick closure either.
Disney expects the lounge to stay closed for a lengthy refurbishment until around May, meaning it will be unavailable for a big chunk of spring travel season, including peak times like spring break and early summer.
For guests who love staying in the EPCOT resort area, this is a noticeable loss. Crew’s Cup isn’t just a random bar tucked away in the resort. It’s one of those cozy, low-key places where people go to unwind after a long day in the parks.
And now, for months, that option will be gone.
Yacht Club Guests Are Losing Two Restaurants in a Row
The frustrating part is that Crew’s Cup Lounge isn’t the only thing Yacht Club guests are about to lose.
Once the lounge reopens around May, Yachtsman Steakhouse is expected to close for its own refurbishment, with a reopening estimated around August.
So instead of this being a simple “one location closed at a time” situation, Yacht Club is basically going to be rotating through closures that wipe out two of its biggest dining experiences in the span of just a few months.
For a deluxe resort, that’s a major shift.
Yacht Club is one of Disney’s higher-priced hotels, and people don’t book it just for a bed and a bus ride. They book it because it’s supposed to feel like a complete resort stay, with high-end dining, atmosphere, and convenience all rolled into one.
This closure schedule throws a wrench into that.
Why Crew’s Cup Lounge Matters So Much
On the surface, some guests might see “lounge closure” and assume it’s not a huge deal.
But Crew’s Cup is one of those places that plays a bigger role than people realize.
It’s where guests go when they want something easy without leaving the resort. It’s where people end up when they didn’t get a dinner reservation somewhere else. It’s also where couples go for a quiet nightcap, where friends grab a snack after EPCOT, and where tired park guests go when they just want to sit down and breathe for a minute.
The vibe is relaxed, and the location makes it convenient. You don’t have to fight crowds at Disney Springs. You don’t have to rush into EPCOT. You can just walk downstairs and enjoy the night.
That’s the kind of thing that adds real value to a Yacht Club stay.
And for the next few months, that value is going to be missing.
This Hits at the Worst Possible Time
The timing here is what really makes this feel like bad news for guests.
Late February through May is one of the busiest periods at Walt Disney World. Spring break season is packed. EPCOT stays crowded because of festival traffic. And the Yacht Club area, in general, becomes one of the most popular places to stay because of its unbeatable location.
Guests staying at Yacht Club during this time usually expect to have the best of both worlds:
A peaceful resort atmosphere, plus quick access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
But without Crew’s Cup Lounge, you lose one of the resort’s easiest nighttime options. Instead of having a quiet spot right in your hotel, you may end up fighting for walk-up dining elsewhere or trying to find last-minute reservations after already spending a full day in the parks.
And anyone who has tried to “figure out dinner” at Disney World at 9 p.m. knows how quickly that can turn into a stressful mess.
Then Yachtsman Steakhouse Goes Down Too
Just when it feels like things might return to normal, the next closure hits.
Once Crew’s Cup Lounge reopens, Yachtsman Steakhouse is expected to close for refurbishment.
And Yachtsman is not a small part of Yacht Club’s identity. It’s one of the resort’s signature dining locations and a major reason many guests choose this hotel in the first place.
Plenty of people plan an entire trip around having at least one “nice dinner,” and Yachtsman is often that pick.
So for guests arriving later in the summer, the issue flips. They might have Crew’s Cup back, but they’ll miss out on the steakhouse.
Either way, the resort is losing a major piece of what makes it feel like a deluxe experience.
Guests Staying at Yacht Club Are the Ones Who Feel It Most
This is where the closure becomes more than just an inconvenience.
If you’re not staying at Yacht Club, you can shrug and move on. There are a million places to eat at Disney World.
But if you’re paying Yacht Club prices, you’re paying for the convenience of having quality dining right there in your resort. You’re paying for the ability to walk back from EPCOT, grab a bite, and enjoy your evening without needing to travel across property.
When those dining options disappear, it changes the entire feel of your stay.
It becomes less of a luxury resort experience and more of a “nice hotel in a great location” experience—which is still good, but not necessarily what people expected when they booked.
It May Also Affect the Resort’s Overall Atmosphere
There’s also the unavoidable reality that refurbishments often come with side effects.
Even if Disney keeps most guest areas open and accessible, construction tends to bring noise, blocked walkways, and that “something is being worked on” vibe during the day.
Yacht Club is usually known for being calm. It’s one of the more relaxing resorts on property, especially compared to hotels that feel loud and busy around the clock.
But when you have a major lounge refurbishment and then a major steakhouse refurbishment right after, it’s hard to imagine the resort keeping that same peaceful feel the entire time.
If you’re someone who booked Yacht Club specifically because you wanted a quiet deluxe resort escape, this might not be the version of Yacht Club you were hoping for.
What Should Yacht Club Guests Do Instead?
The good news is that the Yacht Club area still has a lot going for it.
Guests can still walk to EPCOT, hop over to the BoardWalk, or visit nearby resort lounges and restaurants in the Crescent Lake area. Beach Club is right next door, and there are plenty of other dining options within walking distance.
But none of that completely replaces having two signature dining experiences right inside your own resort.
For some guests, the closures won’t matter much. For others—especially those planning anniversary dinners, relaxing resort nights, or dining-focused trips—it could feel like a real letdown.
The Bottom Line
If you have a Yacht Club stay coming up, this is something you’ll want to plan around now instead of finding out once you arrive.
Crew’s Cup Lounge is closing February 23 and will remain closed until around May. Once it reopens, Yachtsman Steakhouse is expected to close and remain down until roughly August.
That means Yacht Club guests are essentially losing both dining locations back-to-back, which is a tough blow for a resort that’s supposed to offer a full deluxe experience.
The hotel is still beautiful, the location is still one of the best on Disney property, and the overall stay can still be amazing.
But for the next several months, guests staying at Yacht Club are absolutely going to feel like they’re missing out on a big part of what makes this resort special.