I have read those negative reviews as well. We have been Club Level guests in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and also as I type this. We have never had a bad experience with the Hawaii longhouse, the staff, the offerings in the lounge, mousekeeping or anything else. Although to be fair, our room in 2010 was in need of a little work, but nothing that would be detrimental to a trip. The trip report in my signature has the details. They have cut back on the offerings in the lounge as well over the years, but I believe that this is "World-wide" and not limited to the Polynesian. There is still plenty of good food and beverage to be had.
I'm eating a yummy chocolate chip cookie as I type this
. We watched Wishes! from the balcony again tonight, with beer from the lounge. It is just something completely special that we have been blessed to be able to experience so many times, and I highly recommend it.
You will love CL. Be prepared to get spoiled and become addicted. It's actually kind of scary, the hold this place has on us.
Perfect example: We're leaving on Saturday morning at 7 am. In the interest of saving money we thought we'd do a split stay, and not spend CL money for Friday night, so we booked a room-only at the POP Century, figuring that we'd just head over there at the end of the night, sleep and head to the airport. Today I decided, while sitting on the balcony and staring at the castle, that the plan as it existed would not stand. I went down to the CL lobby explained my situation to the wonderful CM, and was very lucky to be able to add another night in this room at the discounted price that I originally paid. After 4 nights here, the POP just wasn't going to do, even if only for a couple of hours. A-d-d-i-c-t-e-d.