which club level is the best?

[MarinaD]

I am having a hard time figuring out which club level is the best...?

 

[disneyag]

We have stayed Club Level at the Poly, the WL, and AKL. AKL had the best food in our opinion. The Poly has the best location, ambiance, views.

 

[TJA]

You'll hear so many different opinions on this one. In your shoes, I guess I'd first decide which location you want to be in (Epcot area or MK area) and then go from there. Also, what other things matter to your family -- the pool? proximity to your dining ADR's? transportation to the parks? If you want to be near MK, then I've heard and read that GF may have the most elite CL, especially if you stay in the main building. We've stayed CL at both CR and Poly -- loved CR for the spectacular view, loved Poly for the beverages and food. GF is next on our list to try.

If you want to be near Epcot and HS, we've only tried BC CL and love it for the cozy and pampered feeling. The CM's take the time to get to know us and tend to go out of their way to do little things for us. We didn't get that personal attention at either CR or Poly. Only glitch with BC is the lounge area is pretty small, though we don't mind that at all, and also there is no view from the lounge if that's important to you. BWI is said to also have a great CL. Again, it's on our list to try.

I hear great things about the CL at both WL and AKL, but those resorts don't meet our transportation desires as we prefer to walk to parks or monorail.

 

[lililoo12]

loved BWI deluxe room CL. Great view and huge room

 

[elaw]

I am having a hard time figuring out which club level is the best...?

I think that's a very subjective question but ...

Based on my own experiences/taste, I personally rank them as follows:

1)GF (RPC)
2)WL
3)YC
4)BC
5)AKL
6)BWI

I actually like all of them so for me the differences between the rankings is minimal. The offerings vary between resorts and are usually "themed" to the resorts theming (e.g. AKL often has African based evening offings) so I think it just depends what you like.

 

[Pakey]

My experience

GF RPC
BWI
AKL
GF SL
YC
BC

Disclaimer: GF RPC has the best food offerings. Also the set up with the tables spread all over gives you more of a feeling of privacy.

BWI Innkeeper's Club has the nicest and most helpful CMs.

So although I like the CL offerings better at RPC, I would rank BWI as my favorite because the overall experience was nicer. I also like the location of BWI at Epcot and I like the resort room better there also.

 

[loveshak22]

Are there any other perks to a CL room other than the free foods and drinks?

 

[aristocatz]

We have only stayed at Poly CL and WL CL and we found the Poly to be amazing. Staff were so friendly and went above and beyond, food and drink offerings were yummy, and you just cannot beat the view of the beach and the castle and watching Wishes from the lounge, with the music piped in

 

[Scott MC]

We've stayed GF, AKL, BC, BWI

Our favorite overall is BWI. The staff at BC is terrific, but the lounge is tiny and overcrowded. BWI has a great staff and a great lounge, so that would be our choice and our suggestion.

 

[jandkmom]

We loved the Poly CL! The food, drinks, staff, ambiance...everything. And we were on the same floor as the club so it felt like our own living room area. Our favorite was grabbing a dessert and watching the fireworks. It was easy, climate controlled and not crowded. I wish it wasn't being renovated when we will be there!

 

[mickeynut1]

We've stayed CL at the WL and GF and would rank them in order of GF RPC, WL CL, GF SL. RPC and WL CL are about equal for me as I love everything about both. With that said, BWI CL is on our list to try as I have read great things about the lounge size/atmosphere, food offerings, and staff.

 

[nascargirl]

We have stayed CL at BWI, BC and CR. We always return to BWI-CL for the CM and location. There is always plenty to do at night. As others have said, you need to decide what you are looking for to help make your decision a little easier. If you prefer Epcot and DHS, you can either take the boat or walk. The Epcot resorts have plenty of places to choose from for your dining pleasure.

 

[Anonomom]

We've stayed CL at Poly and CR. Both were nice (and watching Hallowishes from the poly lounge was really cool), but overall I prefer CR. I really like the convenience of being in the main tower. Plus, I loved the coffee machine at CR. Sounds like a small thing, but it was so nice to have good latte every day.

 

[MarinaD]

Based on people's preferences.. it looks like YC is higher up than BC.. is there a reason why?

 

[elaw]

Based on people's preferences.. it looks like YC is higher up than BC.. is there a reason why?

Although very similar .. the CL Lounge in the YC has a slightly better layout ... BC seems a bit more congested in the food counter area. Since we are early risers, it (crowds) generally doesn't affect us. Of the 3 Epcot resorts, BWI's CL Lounge is the largest and most open layout but it's also the farthest walk from the elevators.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Are there any other perks to a CL room other than the free foods and drinks?

Yes. You get a couple of small perks like nightly turn down, and a collection of DVD's you can borrow. You also get a slightly higher level of service. It's hard to put into words exactly what that level of service is. The extra service is variable depending on the personality of the staff and what your needs are. At the most basic, they book ADR's for you if you ask. Perhaps little more. If you have a problem, they may not be able to do anything, or they may simply know who to call (a huge time saver), or they may save the day! It's quite variable, but usually they are helpful.

Once we lost a purse. The CL knew exactly who to call. Getting the purse back quickly saved our day. Who knows what would have happened otherwise. It could have been a disaster.

Typically if you use Magic Express, CL staff will greet you at the bus at most resorts. They escort you to the CL floor for check-in at the CL desk. You don't have to stand in any lines!

At most resorts, the club level area is room key access only. With kids and a big family, that's nice. Sometimes though it's a little akward if strangers on anohte floor are in the same elevator.

I've stayed CL in BC, BWK, AKL, CR (boththe 12 and 14th floors), Poly, GF (sugarloaf) GF has two club levels: the Royal Pacific CLub is in the main building, while sugarloaf, or outer club, is the SF building. CR a has two club levels: the 12th floor Atrium club, but the 14th floor Tower Club is being renovated Jan through summer 2013. The ones I haven't tried are YC, WL, and CSR business CL.

It's hard to rate them. Much depends on personal preference and the staff. Having stayed at one resort several times, even individual staff has good/bad days.

Still another aspect is the building itself. Your room might be a few feet from the desk, or a healthy walk from the lounge. Close to the pool, or far away. Obvioulsy, that's going to impact your experience. The Lounge at Poly has a magnificent view of the caslte, but it is large. The food is above average, but I found the staff to be very impersonal. Part of that is simply the lounge building set up, but maybe it was just luck of the draw.

One of my personal favorites is the Beach Club. The lounge itself doesn't have a great view, but it's intimate (some say, "too small"). The food is quite good, and both stays we had super nice staff.


Hmmm...all are good. They all have pros and cons. GF had great food, but no view, and it's the most pricey. CR has a great view, but the resort theming is dull, medium food. My AKL stay was a while ago, so it's probably not fair to say too much, except the lounge view is fun.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Plus, I loved the coffee machine at CR. Sounds like a small thing, but it was so nice to have good latte every day.

Ah, yes the latte machine!

That's one of my favorite perks of the CL!

All the CL have latte machines. There are two kinds.(maybe more) The kind they have at CR and GF actually tends to break quite frequently. The kind they have at BC, BWK is more reliable and easier to use. One push of a button and you have a latte!

It's so nice being able to get decent coffee so easily! A great way to start any WDW day!

 

[elaw]

... GF (sugarloaf) GF has two club levels: the Royal Pacific CLub is in the main building, while sugarloaf, or outer club, is the SF building...

RPC actually stands for Royal Palm Club

There are two levels of concierge at the Grand Floridian. Royal Palm Club is in the main building on floors 3 through 5 above the Grand Lobby and Sugarloaf Concierge is in the Sugarloaf Lodge building, on the 1st floor.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

RPC actually stands for Royal Palm Club

There are two levels of concierge at the Grand Floridian. Royal Palm Club is in the main building on floors 3 through 5 above the Grand Lobby and Sugarloaf Concierge is in the Sugarloaf Lodge building, on the 1st floor.

Thanks for clarifying...I can never remember the wacky names of the club levels.

I'll also go one better...

The Sugarloaf Club rooms are the entire Sugarloaf building, not just the first floor. The lounge and help desk are on the flirst floor, but entire building is club access only.

If you look to book a room on the Disney website, and even when you talk to booking CM's, they use the terms "Outer Building Club Level" and "Main Building Club Level".

The 14th floor of CR is being remodeled right now, but it doesn't show up on the Disney website. Pretty much the only way to see if it's available is to book it over the phone. The Disney website does use the term "Atrium Club Level".

Also, the big very expensive suites don't come up (for booking) on the website either. I'm talking about the big multi-bedroom individually named suites that are often the top floor of the deluxe resorts. (as opposed to the DVC suites) If you are asking which are the very best rooms, those are better then the regualr concierge level rooms. If you want to stay in one of those however, you have to be prepared to shell out over $1000 per night. I think they are all club level though!

 

[loveshak22]

Yes. You get a couple of small perks like nightly turn down, and a collection of DVD's you can borrow. You also get a slightly higher level of service. It's hard to put into words exactly what that level of service is. The extra service is variable depending on the personality of the staff and what your needs are. At the most basic, they book ADR's for you if you ask. Perhaps little more. If you have a problem, they may not be able to do anything, or they may simply know who to call (a huge time saver), or they may save the day! It's quite variable, but usually they are helpful.

Once we lost a purse. The CL knew exactly who to call. Getting the purse back quickly saved our day. Who knows what would have happened otherwise. It could have been a disaster.

Typically if you use Magic Express, CL staff will greet you at the bus at most resorts. They escort you to the CL floor for check-in at the CL desk. You don't have to stand in any lines!

At most resorts, the club level area is room key access only. With kids and a big family, that's nice. Sometimes though it's a little akward if strangers on anohte floor are in the same elevator.

I've stayed CL in BC, BWK, AKL, CR (boththe 12 and 14th floors), Poly, GF (sugarloaf) GF has two club levels: the Royal Pacific CLub is in the main building, while sugarloaf, or outer club, is the SF building. CR a has two club levels: the 12th floor Atrium club, but the 14th floor Tower Club is being renovated Jan through summer 2013. The ones I haven't tried are YC, WL, and CSR business CL.

It's hard to rate them. Much depends on personal preference and the staff. Having stayed at one resort several times, even individual staff has good/bad days.

Still another aspect is the building itself. Your room might be a few feet from the desk, or a healthy walk from the lounge. Close to the pool, or far away. Obvioulsy, that's going to impact your experience. The Lounge at Poly has a magnificent view of the caslte, but it is large. The food is above average, but I found the staff to be very impersonal. Part of that is simply the lounge building set up, but maybe it was just luck of the draw.

One of my personal favorites is the Beach Club. The lounge itself doesn't have a great view, but it's intimate (some say, "too small"). The food is quite good, and both stays we had super nice staff.


Hmmm...all are good. They all have pros and cons. GF had great food, but no view, and it's the most pricey. CR has a great view, but the resort theming is dull, medium food. My AKL stay was a while ago, so it's probably not fair to say too much, except the lounge view is fun.

Thanks for all the info! I went ahead and upgraded to the CL room at AKL for our stay at the end of January. We had booked the Arusha view and had a PIN that also applied to the CL rooms. I got advice on here that since I was already paying for Arusha I might as well upgrade since it's only like $30 extra bucks a night at that point. Even though the cost difference wasn't huge I didn't feel like it would be worth it because we also have the dxddp and didn't think we'd need any more food!

However, there are a couple of mornings were we were going to use snack credits for breakfast and now we can stop by the lounge. And we can grab waters for the park. Plus I saw they had alcoholic beverages at night so after dinner we can stop by for a night cap. The extras you mention above will just be the icing on the cake then. Again, thanks