Staying deluxe without club level. Help me do it, or not??

[Mousemommy1]

Yay! So you have your answer! Now which resort??

I vote for the CR CL with an MK view!

My reasoning? There may be construction going on over at the Poly. The GF Sugar Loaf CL has too many mixed and bad reviews for my tastes. You have already done the YC and WL, the BC to me would be too similar to the YC and the AKL is too far away from the parks. That leaves the BW & CR. The restaurants & monorail sway me to the CR.

It's all about justification....

DH wants Sugarloaf. Mainly because in August, the pool is very important, and GF has two good size pools plus the splash area. Sugarloaf is right next to the pool.

Believe me, we are not picky people. A lot of the negative things we have read about Sugarloaf would not really bother us. Plus, we tour alot different where we sleep in and usually get to the lounge when everyone has already left and we have it to ourselves...

I don't care if the staff addresses us by name, thought its nice! (We had that at WL) I just want a decent food selection, a clean room and friendly helpful service.

CR is on my radar though... My only problem with TPV there is....now this will sound picky..... that darn bus station is under construction, and if it's not done, our view will be tainted.

If I'm paying for a view, I want a view!

 

[Willows909]

CL is a magical experience. Last time we visited WDW we stayed at the Poly CL with castle view. That was two summers ago. This summer we are staying at All Star Sports standard room, and their food court will be down during our whole stay. We're planning on having a fun time, and I'm sure we will. But.... Club Level is amazing!!!!

It's all in the attitude! I am sure I'll be back to POP after this splurge and will be happy there as well! Pop is a very enjoyable value. Being in Disney ANYWhere is magical! Just sayin' Although... a split between a value and a deluxe is not out of the question!!!

 

[tarak]

We've stayed CL at the Poly and AKL. Love, love, love AKL CL. The Poly didn't impress, but this was a few years ago - the lounge was in desperate need of a refurb. So it might be better now.

The only thing that's made up give up CL is the size of our party. We're a family of five plus an infant and two rooms or a suite are just not feasible. Last time around, we rented DVC points. I have to say, I was thrilled with it. The rooms at AKV I thought were just like those at AKL. I have to admit, though, I did miss the CL. Nothing like being able to grab a glass of wine to take back to the room and watch the zebras from the balcony. I plan to take my mom down for F&W and the only question for me is where I stay CL. I don't know if she'd be able to give up that savannah view!

 

[mommyrosa2]

Well, I am clearly having issues here. Contemplating what I will book for next year's trip once rates come out. We will book 10 nights in August 2014.

We go annually, or more, and have stayed at all levels. DH and I always stayed at values before kids and loved them! Then the kids came....we stayed at POP (Loved it!), then CBR (really disliked it) and then finally bit the bullet and booked a deluxe (WL). I think our mistake was going right to club level on our first deluxe stay. WL CL was absolutely wonderful.... Everything was great, the resort, CL CM's, the food selections in the lounge....just a perfect 10 night stay.

Then, this year we did YC CL. It was nice, but it was not WL CL and we felt like we would not spend the $$ on CL at YC again but would definitely stay at YC again someday.

So, for next year.....I was torn between my first choice Poly CL and GF Sugarloaf (RPC is out of the question, just too expensive). I do have concerns though that if DVC is in fact started at Poly, it will be a hot mess (literally) with construction and I don't want to deal with that on vacation....thus the thought of GF CL...but I have heard very mixed reviews on Sugarloaf and don't want to end up with another YC feeling.

What I would like to do is just book a deluxe and not do CL, but I'm afraid I (and my family) will miss it!!!

Have any of you gone from CL to a regular deluxe and been equally or even more happy??? Or did you miss CL?

And feel free to chime in on your favorite CL's and why, or even why you feel that CL is a waste of money....

In other words, all opinions welcome. HELP!

Mousemommy....I feel your pain! After staying CL on our last two trips, I know I am going to miss it on our upcoming trip this August BUT I'm happy to at least be returning to the BC. We do have FD so we'll use our snack credits for breakfast items and will most likely pick up some discounted gift cards to cover any snacks and any drinks we'll need/want for the week. I won't do a grocery run again and stock the room as we tried this on one of our earlier trips & found that the kids never wanted the stuff we bought at the store & ended up with so much left at the end of our stay. I will however be looking forward to my trip with DH in the Fall & staying CL then since we won't have any DP & will be enjoying F&W. Good luck deciding although I'm sure between now & your actual trip, you will have changed your mind quite a bit Oh and I know exactly what you mean about the Poly next year...we too want to try that resort next year but am a little nervous about the construction so not sure I'm willing to take the plunge.

 

[Ofinn]

If you really love club level and can afford it I'm not sure why you want to give it up. Have you ever considered a split between WL CL and RPC that would reign in the cost of your trip a little.

 

[Mousemommy1]

If you really love club level and can afford it I'm not sure why you want to give it up. Have you ever considered a split between WL CL and RPC that would reign in the cost of your trip a little.

I was just trying to think more logically about the $$ spent on CL, but my family truly does enjoy it, so there is no good reason to give it up.

But! I am now thinking CR Atrium club!!! The view from that lounge looks AMAZING!!!

 

[bluejasmine]

We got spoiled using CL the first time we booked it in 2010 now before that we were use to staying value resorts with a few moderates thrown in over the years... Then after our first deluxe stay & it was CL at that we were absolutely hooked!! We prefer it now! We did stay in a mod back in Dec (POR) but we also went over to the Poly & felt homesick too! Lol

This Sept we are staying CR & not CL both DH & I are really hoping to be able to come up with the extra cash to upgrade at check in tho.. If not we will be fine, hey we are still in WDW & still staying at CR, but CL will be missed!

ASMU/POR Dec 16-22, 2012 & CR Sept 8-15, 2013

 

[Mousemommy1]

We got spoiled using CL the first time we booked it in 2010 now before that we were use to staying value resorts with a few moderates thrown in over the years... Then after our first deluxe stay & it was CL at that we were absolutely hooked!! We prefer it now! We did stay in a mod back in Dec (POR) but we also went over to the Poly & felt homesick too! Lol

This Sept we are staying CR & not CL both DH & I are really hoping to be able to come up with the extra cash to upgrade at check in tho.. If not we will be fine, hey we are still in WDW & still staying at CR, but CL will be missed!

ASMU/POR Dec 16-22, 2012 & CR Sept 8-15, 2013

I hope you get upgraded!!! Then you could give me a review!!

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

We've never stayed CL so I guess I don't know what I' missing! We are driving down so I'm going to pack snacks for the room too. I can imagine if I tried CL I would have a hard time not booking it. Enjoy your planning!

 

[sjs314]

When we stayed WL CL, we had an awesome view of the castle and also Wishes. It was amazing....

I am considering CR TPV, instead of CL. I think that would be pretty awesome!

I was just trying to think more logically about the $$ spent on CL, but my family truly does enjoy it, so there is no good reason to give it up.

But! I am now thinking CR Atrium club!!! The view from that lounge looks AMAZING!!!

MM We were upgraded to CL at YC and while my DS's did check it out they were 15 and 25 at the time, DH and myself never even stepped foot into the lounge. We are Breakfast people and enjoy a TS most days while on vacation so cold cereal or oatmeal and Danish is not for us.

Now there are just 2 of us and neither of us can partake of the alcoholic beverages offered I see no value in CL for what CL costs we could add the DxDP and did do that our last 2 trips.

You have a family of 4 plus the military discount which makes CL a much better value, I would go for it if you think you will miss having it.

You mentioned GF Sugarloaf because it is close to the pool but I have read that is also a bad thing since the lounge is often frequented by guests in wet swimwear

If it were me I would book CR TPV or Atrium of course booking BLV CL would save a bit of money and you could still watch Wishes from the lounge

As someone said "the best of both worlds"

 

[Mousemommy1]

MM We were upgraded to CL at YC and while my DS's did check it out they were 15 and 25 at the time, DH and myself never even stepped foot into the lounge. We are Breakfast people and enjoy a TS most days while on vacation so cold cereal or oatmeal and Danish is not for us.

Now there are just 2 of us and neither of us can partake of the alcoholic beverages offered I see no value in CL for what CL costs we could add the DxDP and did do that our last 2 trips.

You have a family of 4 plus the military discount which makes CL a much better value, I would go for it if you think you will miss having it.

You mentioned GF Sugarloaf because it is close to the pool but I have read that is also a bad thing since the lounge is often frequented by guests in wet swimwear

If it were me I would book CR TPV or Atrium of course booking BLV CL would save a bit of money and you could still watch Wishes from the lounge

As someone said "the best of both worlds"

Sheila This is exactly what I'm thinking. CR Atrium CL w/BLV

We are not a big breakfast family, so the CL offerings are perfect for us.

 

[TJA]

We stayed at CR CL atrium last year and LOVED it. I booked a BLV and was really excited about it. Upon check-in, we were upgraded to TPV and I wasn't sure how I felt about that, but it was very, very nice watching the Castle change colors each night in bed! I had read about people doing that but never imagined just how awesome that would be.

Anyway, the CL experience at CR was great. The lounge view was amazing. I wouldn't hesitate to book a BLV room being that you'd get the MK view from the lounge. It was sort of a bummer having to take elevators and walk a bit to get to the pool, but we really did enjoy the pool area, and my kids loved the splash zone area. I can't imagine you'd be disappointed with CR CL. My DH is also hooked on CL -- it's really hard to beat having drinks and food at the snap of our fingers.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We stayed at CR CL atrium last year and LOVED it. I booked a BLV and was really excited about it. Upon check-in, we were upgraded to TPV and I wasn't sure how I felt about that, but it was very, very nice watching the Castle change colors each night in bed! I had read about people doing that but never imagined just how awesome that would be.

Anyway, the CL experience at CR was great. The lounge view was amazing. I wouldn't hesitate to book a BLV room being that you'd get the MK view from the lounge. It was sort of a bummer having to take elevators and walk a bit to get to the pool, but we really did enjoy the pool area, and my kids loved the splash zone area. I can't imagine you'd be disappointed with CR CL. My DH is also hooked on CL -- it's really hard to beat having drinks and food at the snap of our fingers.

Awesom!!! Thanks for the information!!!! Excited!!!!

 

[Desnik]

Mousemommy1
Remember, with the CR TPV you look out, not down. Does this make sense? If you look down you will see the parking lot & bus stop & think what the heck did I just pay for? But when you look "out" and you see that view it's so worth it!

Here's an example.
When we looked down:

When we looked out:

 

[Mousemommy1]

Desnik Yes! I've gotcha! It was the same thing with our WL CL room, overlooking the dreaded loading docks....but that was only when you looked down....when you looked out, you got...





I think I will be booking a BLV room on the Atrium level at CR though, I think it's gonna be

 

[Desnik]

It will be magical!! I'm excited for you!!

For our trip in Aug we will be at BLT with a BLV!!

And that was a really nice view you had from the WL!!

 

[goofynut41]

To me that's part of the vacation is eating at all the wonderful restaurants that Disney has... I have never stayed in club level so I wouldn't know how good it is...

 

[bowbat]

I think it really comes down to where and how your family spends your time at Disney. Right now, we spend more time at the resort than we do at the parks, so CL is a great value for us (and also the reason we stay deluxe vs. mod). If we were the sort to spend all or most of the day and evenings at the parks, we wouldn't do it. Or if we liked three meals "out" per day - for many people, going to lots of restaurants is a big part of their Disney vacation.

So, basically, if you guys will be at the resort a lot, yeah, you'd probably miss CL. Otherwise I think you can do without.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I think it really comes down to where and how your family spends your time at Disney. Right now, we spend more time at the resort than we do at the parks, so CL is a great value for us (and also the reason we stay deluxe vs. mod). If we were the sort to spend all or most of the day and evenings at the parks, we wouldn't do it. Or if we liked three meals "out" per day - for many people, going to lots of restaurants is a big part of their Disney vacation.

So, basically, if you guys will be at the resort a lot, yeah, you'd probably miss CL. Otherwise I think you can do without.

Yes, we have come to a point where we spend equal amounts of time at the resort as in the parks. And we love it!!! So much more laid back and relaxed. We have been and go often enough that we don't need to see everything in the parks. For us, its more just about being together, so we just slow it down and enjoy.....

Plus, we stopped doing the DDP and only book about 4 ADR's over the course of 11 days. We do like the Disney restaurants but eating giant meals out everyday starts to wear on us.

 

[davale4]

Mousemommy1- I know what you mean trying your first deluxe and going CL. We made that mistake years ago and we were spoiled. We find it hard not doing CL ever since.

We have never tried SL, however, RPC is just heaven . I find so convenient, specially for breakfast. We don't have to rush off to a reservation made or make lines at a QS and many other reasons to long too write.

We stayed once at BC CL because it was a short stay post-cruise. We will NOT be staying there EVER AGAIN. If you decide to do SL, I hope you get upgraded to RPC, but beware....you might not want to stay anywhere else. Regardless of what you decide, CL or not, I know you will have a wonderful time magical time