Concierge/Club Level Information - Part III (October 2010)

[bowbat]

Hi Everyone! Been to WDW many many times, have stayed in practically every deluxe hotel, but NEVER once stayed Club, so this is a first. We've stayed club at Universal HR & RP, but never on Disney property. Taking my Mom (84yrs), Daughter & GS (6) in May, staying at Beach Club (never stayed there before, stayed at Boardwalk) and staying Club- Tell me all about it, for those who have stayed at both Universal Club & Disney, tell me if there is a diff? I kind of expect Disney to be way more than Universal (Although they are good)

Also I see something about emailing IPO(? no idea what that is) as soon as you have a confirmed reservation for Club, what is the deal with that? why? Also I saw something about a diff. check in for club? Not at all familar with the beach club, and I hate that, feel like I spend 1/2 vacation trying to figure out where I am and how to get where I want to go.... LOL

TELL ME ALL ABOUT Beach Club "Club" Thanks!!

We haven't stayed at any of the Universal resorts CL, but we have stayed at several Hyatt resorts CL. I can compare them for you, and you can see how they both relate to your Universal experiences.

PRE-ARRIVAL
This is where the IPO (itinerary planning office) comes in at Disney. Generally when you are 180 days out (or within a few days of booking if you're already within your 180-day window), you will receive an email from your resort's IPO office. The email will include a form for you to fill out where you let them know all the details of your stay -- what time you'll be arriving and via what mode of transport, what (if anything) you're celebrating, the people in your party, etc. This is also where you would let them know of any ADRs you'd like them to make for you, or of any you've already made yourself. As others have said, you can also email the IPO yourself instead of waiting to hear from them. The Hyatt didn't have anything like this.

ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN
At Disney, we have been greeted upon arrival and personally escorted to the separate CL check-in. At the Hyatt, there was no separate check-in or other advantage to being CL during the arrival/check-in process.

CL OFFERINGS
Both Disney resorts and the Hyatt have similar offerings: continental breakfast, light mid-day snacks, evening appetizers, and desserts with cordials. In general, we found the Hyatt's breakfast & appetizer offerings to be a bit heartier -- there was always a hot item at breakfast and the appetizers had greater variety. Mid-day snacks and desserts were similar -- chips, fruit, sodas, and for dessert an array of little two-bite options. However, Disney has free beer & wine; the Hyatt offered alcoholic beverages at a cost, albeit one that is about 60% less than getting a beer or glass of wine in the Hyatt's bars or restaurants.

SERVICE
Varied. We were super-impressed by the service we received at BWI and at one of the Hyatts. We were less impressed by the service we received at another Hyatt and the Poly.

Overall, we enjoy the Disney CL experience and find it quite comparable and in some cases superior to our offsite CL experiences.

HTH. Sorry I couldn't do a direct comparison of Universal to BC, but hopefully you'll get the general idea.

 

[Kdub]

Also you don't get to avoid the lines like at the Contempo Cafe just because you are staying Club Level and that goes for any Quick Service location no matter what Deluxe Resort you are staying Club Level at.

CRRF4L,

I believe the pp was meaning that you are able to avoid the lines @ the QS by not needing to go there as much due to the CL offerings.

NOIP,

Regarding being emailed by the IPO, I've stayed CL @ WL, BWI, GF SL, & Poly and have never been emailed by any of them. I know this horse has been beaten repeatedly here & previous CL threads, but lots of this thread's visitors are not reading older posts, so don't want anyone to think it always happens either way.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Whenever I have stayed Club Level at the Contemporary I always checked-in on the Atrium Club 12th floor, so I am not sure why you said they don't that over there. Just like the other Deluxe Resorts there is a Cast Member who meets you when you arrive and takes you up to your floor to check-in.

Also you don't get to avoid the lines like at the Contempo Cafe just because you are staying Club Level and that goes for any Quick Service location no matter what Deluxe Resort you are staying Club Level at.

Interesting. I've stayed at CR several times, and never had anyone greet us in the lobby, even when using ME, even when my exteneded family had three rooms and different arrival times. None of us were greeted or directed to do otherwise. Huh. When I asked, they told us to check in at the front desk- every time. Maybe we experienced a fluke. I thought it was odd.

Yes, pp was correct. I meant that you can skip the food court - or mostly so. If you want to go there, you would wait like everyone else. Ono-CL, we eat breakfast in the FC most mornings. On CL, we get breakfast and snacks in the lounge. It's much faster.

 

[Family24]

Hi all - I posted a few days ago but did not get an answer. I will try again. We will be doing a split stay Poly/Beach Club both CL. We have stayed Poly before so know the food offerings but have never stayed Beach Club. I have seen what they have for breakfast but what about for at night time? Really just curious.


Also, our family has been to Disney with the kids 3 or 4 times and want to try different restaurants this time at least a few. Our kids are 10 and 14 and will be going next January. This is what we have done so far on our visits as far as I can remember:

1)California Grill-great food
2)Jiko - So far our best meal we all liked.
3)Narcosees - ok
4)Kona - good food
5)Artist Point - Lousy service and just ok food but this was about 8 years ago.
6)Ohana Character Breakfast - Sorry but it was awful. Will not go back.
7)Crystal Palace - Good good - great characters
8)Chef Mickey's - An every time visit for our kids but they are getting older so I think will pass this time. We will have to embarass them with maybe Crystal Palace or one character meal they have not been too.
9)Boma - Long wait with reservation but great meal and would go back.
10)Le Cellier - Very good.
11)Whispering Canyon - Fun and good food.
12)Sci - Fi - Again, fun and good atmosphere - meal was fine.
13Coral Reef - Went for lunch one of our best meals and the waiter was great.
14)Hoop - Dee - Doo - This is a must for our family every visit.

I know I have missed some but this give you an idea. We would like to try some new sit down dinners. Any suggestions? Any good new restaurants?? We usually do one expensive or maybe two such as Jiko. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Family24]

Sorry - I guess I should have posted the food part on the restaurant site.

 

[nemofans]

How about trying Citricos or Brown Derby? We enjoyed Biergarten too.

 

[meowser]

DH and I will be checking into the YC Club Level on Tuesday evening and I'm getting very excited! My big questions is about logistics. I've read that there's a special check in for folks staying on the CL. How does this work? We'll be arriving by Magical Express.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Interesting. I've stayed at CR several times, and never had anyone greet us in the lobby, even when using ME, even when my exteneded family had three rooms and different arrival times. None of us were greeted or directed to do otherwise. Huh. When I asked, they told us to check in at the front desk- every time. Maybe we experienced a fluke. I thought it was odd.

The only time that should hapen is when you arrive after 10:00 PM because that's when the Club Level Cast Members are done for the evening, so you can't check-in up in the lounge and the Cast Member greeters are also done for the day around the same time. So that won't matter if you arrive via Magical Express, drove yourself and etc.

Now if you arrived well before 10:00 PM I would assume that it was just a fluke what happened to you, because as I said before the multiple times I stayed Club Level at the Contemporary someone was there to meet us and took us up to our floor so we could check-in and avoid doing that inside the lobby.

 

[anne thomas]

The only time that should hapen is when you arrive after 10:00 PM because that's when the Club Level Cast Members are done for the evening, so you can't check-in up in the lounge and the Cast Member greeters are also done for the day around the same time. So that won't matter if you arrive via Magical Express, drove yourself and etc.

Now if you arrived well before 10:00 PM I would assume that it was just a fluke what happened to you, because as I said before the multiple times I stayed Club Level at the Contemporary someone was there to meet us and took us up to our floor so we could check-in and avoid doing that inside the lobby.

We stayed Atrium Club Level 2nd week of December and were greeted by 2 CM's who then escorted us to the 12th floor it was about 4pm.The 2 CM's stayed with my DH and DS giving them drinks and tons of info about Club Level while I checked in, they made us feel very special.

 

[nemofans]

We stayed CL at CR & checked in at the front desk as well. We arrived approx 4-4:30 pm. No one from CL greeted us in the lobby or on the 12th floor. We were checked in at the front desk, which took 15-20 min, then went to our room. We also came by ME.

 

[livinlife25]

I thought if you came in your car then they would know who you were and greet you, but if you came in by ME you needed to ask let that bellhop or whoever know who you were and that you were staying CL and they escort you up. That is what we did.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

For those wondering about being meet if you arrive via Magical Express, the IPO form you get e-mailed has a section asking which method of transportation you are using and one of the options is for selecting Magical Express. So once you put all the information down that's how they know when to meet you.

 

[anne thomas]

We drove so....at the Guard House you are supposed to tell them that you are staying at CL and they radio ahead and CM's are there to greet you. On ME you might need to ask IPO what to do, you paid for these perks so I would find a way to make sure I got them.

 

[meowser]

For those wondering about being meet if you arrive via Magical Express, the IPO form you get e-mailed has a section asking which method of transportation you are using and one of the options is for selecting Magical Express. So once you put all the information down that's how they know when to meet you.

Well that's confusing. I didn't get any form to fill out. I was contacted and the email included an attachment of my dinner reservations (that I made myself). But no questions.

I just replied to the email and asked my question. This is one perk that will make DH happy! He hates traveling and any little thing to make it easier will be appreciated!

 

[KerryCM]

When you get on the bus, your ticket is scanned and cms at the resort know what time you boarded the bus. I have always been greeted, by name, as I got off the bus. In November we took my children and grandchildren, 3 familes arriving at different times and we were all greeted as we got off the bus.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Well that's confusing. I didn't get any form to fill out. I was contacted and the email included an attachment of my dinner reservations (that I made myself). But no questions.

I just replied to the email and asked my question. This is one perk that will make DH happy! He hates traveling and any little thing to make it easier will be appreciated!

So are you saying you never got an e-mail with the subject line Start Planning your Walt Disney World Resort Visit‏ and that thanks you for choosing whatever resort you reserved? We just one of those e-mails this past Monday from the BWI IPO and when I scroll down there is a box which says Click here to begin your itinerary planning. Once I click that it opens a new window which is the IPO form to fill out that asks what method of transportation you are using, along with other questions regarding ADR's and etc.

 

[anne thomas]

Well that's confusing. I didn't get any form to fill out. I was contacted and the email included an attachment of my dinner reservations (that I made myself). But no questions.

I just replied to the email and asked my question. This is one perk that will make DH happy! He hates traveling and any little thing to make it easier will be appreciated!

I would still have it noted on my reservations, I would call them and tell them checking in on CL is very important to me and please note it on my reservation. I would call back closer to trip and make sure its on there and when I got on ME I would mention to bus driver, I know you are thinking over kill but if it means alot to you like it did me I made extra sure it happened.

 

[meowser]

So are you saying you never got an e-mail with the subject line Start Planning your Walt Disney World Resort Visit‏ and that thanks you for choosing whatever resort you reserved? We just one of those e-mails this past Monday from the BWI IPO and when I scroll down there is a box which says Click here to begin your itinerary planning. Once I click that it opens a new window which is the IPO form to fill out that asks what method of transportation you are using, along with other questions regarding ADR's and etc.

Nope. Didn't get anything like that. I got one email with my name, resort, dates, and number (I'm assuming confirmation number of some type) in the subject. That email introduced me to the planning team and included the reservations I'd already made.

BTW, I sent an email asking about this and within 5 minutes had a response! They said we'll be met outside the lobby and taken upstairs! I'm so looking forward to this!

I'm assuming that it works like Kerry CM mentioned - that makes a lot of sense.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Nope. Didn't get anything like that. I got one email with my name, resort, dates, and number (I'm assuming confirmation number of some type) in the subject. That email introduced me to the planning team and included the reservations I'd already made.

BTW, I sent an email asking about this and within 5 minutes had a response! They said we'll be met outside the lobby and taken upstairs! I'm so looking forward to this!

I'm assuming that it works like Kerry CM mentioned - that makes a lot of sense.

I am sure someone will be there to meet you and you won't be the first guest who stayed Club Level that arrived via Magical Express. Plus the fact they even mentioned that in their e-mail response should make you feel better.

 

[erinscreen]

DH and I will be checking into the YC Club Level on Tuesday evening and I'm getting very excited! My big questions is about logistics. I've read that there's a special check in for folks staying on the CL. How does this work? We'll be arriving by Magical Express.

Enjoy your trip! I will be at BWI CL on Tuesday