OK, finally here is a copy of my review...........
We just returned from a 4 night stay at the WL Club Level. Our stay started off by being greeted at the front entrance by one of the Club Level staff. As soon as we stepped out of the car, he greeted us by name and told us our room wasn't ready yet (it was 10am), but we could go on up and get checked in and they would take care of our luggage. We were ready to go do some things, so we actually just got back in the car and went on our way. The staff member checked us in himself, so they could put a rush on our room being ready.
We returned around 2pm and the room still wasn't ready though, and it didn't end up being ready until 3pm! Turns out we had room 7100, which is THE last room to get cleaned on the normal rotation! It wasn't too big of a deal though, as we got to enjoy the very large lounge area they offer and had some snacks and drinks.
Our room (7100) was the very first room right off the lobby. So nice at the end of the day or just for going into the Old Faithful Club to grab drinks of something to eat. We had a view of the parking lot when looking to our right and the lake when looking to the left. Straight ahead was the Villa building and that wooded area. It is a bunkbed room, which fit our family's needs perfectly. We have two girls, ages 4 and 8. They loved the bunk beds, but they aren't very big. I can't imagine a child much bigger than my 8 year old sleeping on them.
The Old Faithful Club was fabulous and fit our needs perfectly as well. I came into this trip with a lunch reservation each day...with hopes that the Club Level offering would take care of the rest of our meals. I wasn't expecting what we ended up with, but I figured with a full big lunch, just snacking at night would be enough. The first half of our stay was at the Yacht Club and it didn't not work out much as far as dinner went, but The Old Faithful Club more than did!!! More on my comparison with Yacht Club's Club Level at the end.
Breakfast: Each morning from 7-10:30am, there were bowls of cut fruit...watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple and grapes. Also apples, bananas and oranges were in baskets, and these were pretty much out all day long. They offered four different dry cereals...cheerios, frosted flakes, raisin bran and fruit loops. A couple different kinds of muffins...usually chocolate chocolate chip and blueberry. Croissants, some kind of danish and a few different kinds of bagels...sesame, plain and wheat perhaps (can't tell from the pictures). There were plenty of spreads, in little pre-packaged containers...butter, jellies, peanut butter, cream cheese, etc. There was a toaster as well. There were Yoplait yogurts in the fridge. Drinks there was coffees, teas, milk, chocolate milk (the good kind!!!) and apple, cranberry and orange juice. They had a selection of different flavorings too for the coffees and teas. HUGE selection for breakfast!!!
Snacks: These were out from 11:30am to 4pm. Pretty simple, but great for a late afternoon snack. They had out gummie bears, mixed nuts, goldfish and pretzels...in these glass bowl like containers, with covers. Also the fruit in the baskets (not the cut fruit) and two baskets of cookies..one sugar with sprinkles and the other chocolate chip. The snack cookies were different than the later night dessert cookies, smaller and not as good...but they were good. Drinks during this time were sodas, juice boxes, whole milk and chocolate milk, water, tea, lemonade and cranberry juice. Can't remember if coffee was out at this time. There are two machines to make specialty coffees though, but we didn't use them, so I can't comment on them.
"Dinner": While this time (5-7pm) isn't called dinner, it was dinner! On the one side there was always a big platter of Uncrustables (cut in half), a basket of assorted crackers, a big platter of cheese cubes and grapes, a plate of bleu cheese, a big platter of raw veggies (grape tomatoes, carrot sticks, celery sticks, broccoli florets) and dip, a basket with sliced bread that was usually sourdough, a bowl of pesto, hummus, or baba ganoush, and the baskets of bananas, oranges and apples.
On the other side was a soup and the main dish. On night one we had Manhatten Clam Chowder and pulled pork (with large buns to make sandwiches). YUM!!! Night two was chicken veggie soup...without chicken, just a broth base and pork loin w/cabbage. Night three was corn chowder and grilled chicken w/mashed potatoes. Night four was wedding soup and pork tenderloin with mac and cheese (from Jiko). YUMMM!!!
All of these were VERY good and made for full meals!
There was also beer and wine out at this time, but I know nothing about alcohol, as I don't drink, so I really can't do much other than show you the pictures. Sorry!
Desserts: From 8-10pm they had the desserts and cordials out. Each night they had out the big baskets of cookies...chocolate chip and sugar (no sprinkles on these). These cookies were much bigger than the snack ones they set out. Also, a plate of frosted brownies and the Magic Bars! I LOVED those Magic Bars and if we ever stay there again, I am taking a container or somethign with me to take some of these home! They were a toffee like bar with chocolate chips, peanut butter? chips, coconut and nuts on top! I am sure there is more to them, but YUMMMMM!!!!!!!
Then on the other side was the nightly cobbler, which again... OMG good! Nights 1, 2 and 4 was the berry cobbler. This was a cake like base, with blue, rasp and black berries all over...loaded with them. It had a light icing drizzle. Served warm! Wonderful! Night 3 was apple cobbler, but it was more like apple crisp! Wonderful too, served warm of course.
Seating Area: The seating area here was very large. It pretty much covers the entire 7th floor area around the lobby. The opposite side of this area was never used that we saw, so if you wanted to have some privacy without having to go back to your room, you can just go over to the other side. There were TVs...big flatscreen ones on the floor level, on each side. On the far side were big comfy couches you could sit at as well, with plenty of tables. The childrens sitting area was on the main side (where the "Club" area was). Both the Club side and the far sided area overlooked the lobby. The section in between had a view of the pool and lake area.
Staff: LOVED the staff, they were so helpful and always doing their job! I especially liked Lisa, who was from Scotland. We seemed to see her the most during our stay...she worked every night we were there. I really thought I wouldn't care about that part of Conceirge at all, I would have no use for them, but I was wrong. We ended up changing out dining and it was nice to just have them do it over having to call ourselves. Not that I mind calling, but so easy to just say can you get me this for tomorrow. They printed out these neat little reservation forms too. On our last day they also checked me in online for our flight. Again, no going to the lobby and standing in line to have someone do it.
Additional notes: There is a fridge here, that has the sodas, apple juice boxes, milks, beers, etc in it. Yacht Club did not have this, everything was warm....so this is a nice extra. The water was in large glass bottles, so you had to pour that into cups and add ice. It was kept cold though.
We absolutely LOVED being on this level! I get a deep discount with my job though (50% off), so we only spent $200 a night! Not sure I would spend double that though. I would spend more however. Just the shear convenience of having the food and drinks available most of the day was so nice. Usually I run to Walmart to get snacks and drinks and bottled waters, but no need to here. At night, I would go fill four of the cups (there are lids) with water so we had that after the Club was closed.
Another thing we liked was that there were trash cans, with the areas to put the dirty plates and such, in each hallway. So you didn't have to go all the way back to the Club to put things back if you went to your room to eat.
Yacht vs WL: We LOVE the Beach Club! I figured I would LOVE the Yacht Club. Not so much. The service we recieved here was horrible for one. On our first night, DD4 threw up, on the chair in the room, as well as the carpet from that far side of the room all the way to the bathroom. We called Housekeeping and over an hour later we called them back because they still had not arrived. The room smelled pretty nasty. The CM showed up with a washcloth and a spray bottle! When we had stayed at Grand Floridian last year, the same thing had happened and they showed up with a team and not only had the bed changed out completely, but also shampooed the carpet!!! They were in and out! Very efficient! We expected the same I guess. The worst part was, they didn't even clean the chair, she pushed it into the hallway...where it sat until we left three days later!!!! It had dried up by now and was just nasty looking.
We told the ladies at the desks about this a few times, nothing was ever done.
Also, the dishes we had in the room were not cleaned up well, nor were any that were put out in the hallway. Stuff would sit there for 24 hours or more!! At WL, they were on top of this constantly! If we put something out on the trash can, it would always be gone the next time we went by...even if a few minutes later. If we had stuff in the room, the turn down people cleaned it up! Didn't happen at YC!
The food at YC was fine, but lighter for sure. Their breakfast had Krispy Kreme donuts (which we don't eat), only plain bagels, one kind of muffin, banana bread, the fruits and juices...but only orange and apple, no cranberry. No yogurts either. The snacks were the same, except their bowls were just bowls, no lids. They served bags of white cheddar popcorn instead of gummie bears though...which I preferred really. Same nuts, goldfish and pretzels. Always had the basket of fresh fruit out. They had good cookies too, but three kinds...they also had oatmeal raisin.
YC's bottled water was Evian..YUCK! WL had some Italian kind, that was flavorless...YUMM!!! Don't like my water flavored, it should taste like nothing IMO!
YC's "dinner" consisted of small plates of things. They had the cheese and crackers and grapes and the hummus or pesto. They had cut pita triangles instead of the good bread though. Their veggies tray was just carrots and tomatoes, no celery or broccoli. They did have a plate of mozzarella and tomotoes with balsamic...YUM!! Also a plate of olives and marinated artichokes. Two nights they had asparagus on the mozz/tom plate, which DH loved!
Then they also had as soup and a main dish. Night one was these little chicken rolls...not a meal item. Night two was sausage with peppers and onions..which was YUM, but we don't eat that kind of stuff normally! Night three was grilled salmon, which was incredible! This was a good night for us. The other two we had to get food elsewhere though.
Their desserts were rice krispy treats, the same cookies as WL and a tray of tiny fancy desserts. They did have an oreo bon bon like thing on there that was really good.
Both places were kept up incredibly! The staff were constantly checking and replenishing! If you needed something, you just had to ask. DH will only drink skim milk, which is only out for breakfast, but he was able to get some anytime. Though it was served in big containers, they always got him the little cartons.
YC's area was ridiculously small! It got crowded at times...BUT here is where I saw the biggest difference. At YC, people acted like they had sense, kids were under control, just a whole different set of people. At WL, kids were like animals! Running around in the food area, butting in line, grabbing food with their hands! No manners at all. Now, this of course was just our experience and not an issue really at all and it wouldn't keep me from staying here again, as I think kids are kids, but that was the only negative thing I could say at WL! Honestly, it was probably the same family or two over and over and they would have acted that way at YC as well...so probably just a timing thing. Perhaps being over the loud and wild lobby made people feel they could act a bit more relaxed here...shrug!
OK, I have to post this now to read over it. I will probably edit it a hundred times and if I can ever get my pictures off my digital camera, I will add those!
) Anniversary. I think he will be thrilled. I really appreciate the effort to show us all the details!
