CL - I don't get it

[mefordis]

I am reading a lot of negative reports from people staying CL across WDW property. They are reporting small portions, not a lot of variety, long lines.

I don't understand why someone would pay $150 more a night for something they can provide for themselves for so much cheaper. For example, they can stock their fridge with drinks for the week, order from garden grocer their own bagels, muffins, etc. Heck, for $150 a night you can eat an extra TS if you want.

I don't get it. Please help me understand.

 

[bluejasmine]

It's not always like that!

4 out of 5 of our CL experiences have been magical!
Plus:
1) at Poly the Hawaii has some of the best views
2) extra space of the lounge
3) packages delivered to your room which is great if your like us & shop a lot at WDW
4) the cocktails
5) we left camera at a restaurant and they sent courier to get it even after park closed
6) the treatment normally we receive from CL CMs is magical
7) the rooms have DVD players & you can get free DVDs in the lounge perfect for a early night to relax
8) can get coffee, lattes, espresso w/o leaving building 24/7 I can go in my pjs!

There is more it I figured I needed to stop.. Lol

Sept 2013 Poly, 2012 Disney Fantasy, BC CL, GF CL, POR, 2011 Poly CL, CR, Poly CL, AKL, 2010 Poly CL, ASMu 2009, SSR 2008, Pop 2006, POR , Asmo 2005, Asmo 2003, offsite 2000, 1999,1989, Poly 1980, offsite 1979

 

[mefordis]

It's not always like that!

4 out of 5 of our CL experiences have been magical!
Plus:
1) at Poly the Hawaii has some of the best views
2) extra space of the lounge
3) packages delivered to your room which is great if your like us & shop a lot at WDW
4) the cocktails
5) we left camera at a restaurant and they sent courier to get it even after park closed
6) the treatment normally we receive from CL CMs is magical
7) the rooms have DVD players & you can get free DVDs in the lounge perfect for a early night to relax
8) can get coffee, lattes, espresso w/o leaving building 24/7 I can go in my pjs!

There is more it I figured I needed to stop.. Lol

Sept 2013 Poly, 2012 Disney Fantasy, BC CL, GF CL, POR, 2011 Poly CL, CR, Poly CL, AKL, 2010 Poly CL, ASMu 2009, SSR 2008, Pop 2006, POR , Asmo 2005, Asmo 2003, offsite 2000, 1999,1989, Poly 1980, offsite 1979

Well, I guess there are some benefits but it seems like $150 is a lot to pay for them. You can visit the lounge in your pjs? That is a bonus.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

It's not always like that!

4 out of 5 of our CL experiences have been magical!
Plus:
1) at Poly the Hawaii has some of the best views
2) extra space of the lounge
3) packages delivered to your room which is great if your like us & shop a lot at WDW
4) the cocktails
5) we left camera at a restaurant and they sent courier to get it even after park closed
6) the treatment normally we receive from CL CMs is magical
7) the rooms have DVD players & you can get free DVDs in the lounge perfect for a early night to relax
8) can get coffee, lattes, espresso w/o leaving building 24/7 I can go in my pjs!

There is more it I figured I needed to stop.. Lol

Sept 2013 Poly, 2012 Disney Fantasy, BC CL, GF CL, POR, 2011 Poly CL, CR, Poly CL, AKL, 2010 Poly CL, ASMu 2009, SSR 2008, Pop 2006, POR , Asmo 2005, Asmo 2003, offsite 2000, 1999,1989, Poly 1980, offsite 1979

Please don't go to the lounge in your PJs Thank you

 

[jcjen519]

we have stayed at several of the club levels in disney and have only ever been disappointed in bc cl. we enjoy the food offerings and having the help with planning. the big thing for us though is that it gives us a break from the crowds and people right there to help with anything. its an intangible that some may not appreciate and that is okay. we just feel more relaxed.

i would agree that a lot of what is provided one could potentially provide themselves with and there are other uses for the money as you pointed out.

 

[jcjen519]

It's not always like that!

4 out of 5 of our CL experiences have been magical!
Plus:
1) at Poly the Hawaii has some of the best views
2) extra space of the lounge
3) packages delivered to your room which is great if your like us & shop a lot at WDW
4) the cocktails
5) we left camera at a restaurant and they sent courier to get it even after park closed
6) the treatment normally we receive from CL CMs is magical
7) the rooms have DVD players & you can get free DVDs in the lounge perfect for a early night to relax
8) can get coffee, lattes, espresso w/o leaving building 24/7 I can go in my pjs!

There is more it I figured I needed to stop.. Lol

Sept 2013 Poly, 2012 Disney Fantasy, BC CL, GF CL, POR, 2011 Poly CL, CR, Poly CL, AKL, 2010 Poly CL, ASMu 2009, SSR 2008, Pop 2006, POR , Asmo 2005, Asmo 2003, offsite 2000, 1999,1989, Poly 1980, offsite 1979

all kinds of small stuff like this...its these things that make it easier and relaxing for us.

 

[MagicallyDelicious]

I was determined to stay CL on my upcoming trip. Even with a discount, I was having a difficult time justifying the cost.

We drive, so it's not like we can't stock our own fridge with drinks (and get the wine that I like, instead of inexpensive house wine), and bring snacks for the room.

I am always starving about an hour after eating a breakfast that lacks protein, and that seemed to be the one meal offered, where I knew I was going to be at the resort. Bagels, muffins and cereal don't cut it for me. I need eggs, bacon, sausage, etc., to tide me over until lunch, especially when I'm on the run. I find that I eat more, when I eat poor, and eating a bad breakfast sets me up for junk food failure later on.

Anyway, I talked myself out of it. We booked a courtyard view room at WL instead (I also knew I was going to miss the open balcony).

I'm curious to read the other responses though. Something tells me that CL is like the DDP. You're not really getting your money's worth in a lot of cases, but the convenience makes it "worth it" to a lot of people.

 

[sandyplayer]

For me it's about being pampered on vacation. As a stay at home mom and one who cooks for extended family a lot, I am happy to put aside any and all "meal making" on vacation. I know I can get this stuff in the room, but with five in a room, we already need more space, and the added space to store food and paper goods, and eat, and then having to clean up? Not for me.
We ate breakfast every day at poly. No lines ever. Would have cost us about $40 per day with the things we ate at breakfast. We grabbed extra snacks and fruit to bring to the parks. We grabbed snacks in the afternoon and had wine and beer at night. But because we have young kids, we are not at the parks from 9am to 10pm. We took a break each day, and loved the snacks and drinks. We aware back 5 out of 8 nights as the kids needed an early bedtime and we enjoyed the nighttime stuff as well.
Did we "get our money's worth?" That's not what it's all about. If I itemized our food, probably not. But the ability to grab stuff without looking at prices, or sending someone to the store in the lounge, was nice. My kids could try cereal, and if they didn't like it, try another and I would be annoyed.
I did have garden grocer send me a few cases of water, trail mix, etc., but that was for in park snacks.
Club level is not for people who want to save money on food. It's for the feeling of having things taken care of for you.
Maybe if we could go to disney every year as some people do, I wouldn't do it. But my husband owns his own business. We can only go every four years or so. So we like to do it in luxury.

 

[Dis703]

Well for starters it was only $80 a night more for CL when we did it so not nearly as much as you mentioned. And for a party of 6 once you eat breakfast and have a few drinks at night it's pretty much already worthwhile. We used it a lot more than that though and got bottled water daily on the way out to parks as well as drinks and snacks on our way in and out throughout the day. We did appetizers several times even making a meal out of it once and grabbed desserts at the end of the night too.

We lucked out and had a room right next to the lounge so we used it a lot. It was nice to be able to wind down there with a hot chocolate at the end of the night after the kids went to bed. Or even pop over during naptime.

Sure we could stock our room and fridge to a certain extent but its a tiny fridge and doesn't fit all that much especially for a party of 6. And then that's just more to clean up and more garbage in the room too. The convenience factor is a big part of it too.

You also get the concierge service which I used more than I expected to. Turn down service as well but really I didn't get the point of that myself.

 

[bluejasmine]

Seriously THaT is what you comment on my pjs!! Lmao!! Too funny!

I've never had an issue with my pjs before so not even worried about it..

They are T-shirts & sleep pants, flip flops at 630 am there are barely any ppl in there & the ones that are there are in their pjs too! Im in and out of there to get our first cup of coffee to wake up with & back down for breakfast dressed & ready to go about an hour later..

Not like I'm in there in a wet bathing suit & bare feet or negligee!

Sept 2013 Poly, 2012 Disney Fantasy, BC CL, GF CL, POR, 2011 Poly CL, CR, Poly CL, AKL, 2010 Poly CL, ASMu 2009, SSR 2008, Pop 2006, POR , Asmo 2005, Asmo 2003, offsite 2000, 1999,1989, Poly 1980, offsite 1979

 

[Pakey]

Disneyworld is the wrong place to justify the cost of anything, in my opinion. You either enjoy club level or you don't and it's not so much about justifying the value of it.

I stay club level at Disney often, not always. I always stay club level when I travel elsewhere, if it's offered. Disney's club level isn't so great in comparison. Still, it's convenient and I enjoy convenience while on vacation.

And I say no to the pjs in the lounge!!! The lounge is not my bedroom.

 

[bluejasmine]

BC was where we had issues as well!

Sept 2013 Poly, 2012 Disney Fantasy, BC CL, GF CL, POR, 2011 Poly CL, CR, Poly CL, AKL, 2010 Poly CL, ASMu 2009, SSR 2008, Pop 2006, POR , Asmo 2005, Asmo 2003, offsite 2000, 1999,1989, Poly 1980, offsite 1979

 

[mefordis]

Well for starters it was only $80 a night more for CL when we did it so not nearly as much as you mentioned. And for a party of 6 once you eat breakfast and have a few drinks at night it's pretty much already worthwhile. We used it a lot more than that though and got bottled water daily on the way out to parks as well as drinks and snacks on our way in and out throughout the day. We did appetizers several times even making a meal out of it once and grabbed desserts at the end of the night too.

We lucked out and had a room right next to the lounge so we used it a lot. It was nice to be able to wind down there with a hot chocolate at the end of the night after the kids went to bed. Or even pop over during naptime.

Sure we could stock our room and fridge to a certain extent but its a tiny fridge and doesn't fit all that much especially for a party of 6. And then that's just more to clean up and more garbage in the room too. The convenience factor is a big part of it too.

You also get the concierge service which I used more than I expected to. Turn down service as well but really I didn't get the point of that myself.

For a family of 6, did you stay in a villa or get two rooms?

 

[Mousemommy1]

We have only had two CL stays, one at WL and one at YC.

Our WL CL stay was absolutely fantastic! Everything was truly top notch from the cast members, the food, the lounge, and our room/Mousekeeping. That was back in July 2012 and it was our 1st Deluxe stay (let alone CL), so there was a lot of anticipation in that stay and they really delivered.
Stuff we loved:
1) IPO, who we didn't actually have make us any reservations but we loved being able to call them and have a human being pick up, not an automated system.
2) CL CM's, we had a 10 night stay and they really got to know us. They could see that DH had a preference in his beers, but that we often got back too late at night for him to have it, so they would stock our fridge while we were out. Same with our oldest DD, she was in love with the chocolate chip cookies, and on our last day, Randy, the awesome mgr up there personally went and wrapped up some cookies for her, for the road.
3) food selections, at WL, we had chili, meatballs, chicken wings, chicken on a stick something or other, scallops wrapped in bacon...a really awesome variety.
4) our room, we had an awesome view of Cinderella castle and our Mousekeeper was amazing and left a billion towel animals everyday.

The whole experience at WL was awesome, but the more I think about it, I am wondering if it's just because it was such a different experience from our prior stays which had been at values and CBR. We also had a 40% off discount as well, so that we were only paying $249/night, which is a steal.

Now, we were at YC this past April and while we loved the resort itself, the CL was definitely in the "lacking" category. The food was just a fried something or other every single night...Mousekeeping was weird with the turndown service as they would come and do it around 3 pm, which is when we were usually taking a nap. (WL did it at night, when we were out at the parks...which makes sense) Again, we had a 40%

While we would absolutely stay at YC again, we would not do CL there again.

Now, all this being said, we are booked at the Contemporary for next August, again with 40% off and while I was thinking about upgrading to CL, I don't think I am going to do it. I am grateful for the magical experience we had at WL, but I do realize that we don't really get our money's worth in CL.

Even the wines that they put out are pretty cheap, standard wines, and I am kind of a wine snob so I won't drink it. (and this was at WL and YC)

I think it's fun to experience and I'm glad we did, but I'm not really sure when we will book CL again, as we have realized that we are kind of throwing a lot of money out the window. It's not to say that we don't like it, but I honestly don't think it's "worth it" for us in the future.

For the amount of money you pay, you should get exceptional, not mediocre.

 

[MagicallyDelicious]

Disneyworld is the wrong place to justify the cost of anything, in my opinion.

Very true, but I'm comparing apples to apples. Will I use the lounge enough to offset costs in the park? I doubt it in our case.

Money isn't so much the object for me - it's wanting to make sure I'm going to actually get some use out of it. That's what kept me from booking it. That, however, does not mean I won't change my mind later on down the road, because I have really, really been going back and forth with this one.

For me, I'm concerned about paying for something I'm not going to get use out of. I'd rather spend the $700, or whatever it was, on airfare, or put it towards another trip.

That's just me though. As soon as I get an inkling that it'll be worth it for us, I'll probably switch. That's why I'm glad to see this thread here. I guess I need to be convinced.

 

[MagicallyDelicious]

Even the wines that they put out are pretty cheap, standard wines, and I am kind of a wine snob so I won't drink it. (and this was at WL and YC)

At the risk of sounding like a lush, this is another area that I think wouldn't pay off for me. My husband is a pretty basic beer drinker - Coors, or Bud are fine with him. But I like a nice bottle of wine. I cannot tolerate sweet, cheap, white wine.

 

[Mousemommy1]

At the risk of sounding like a lush, this is another area that I think wouldn't pay off for me. My husband is a pretty basic beer drinker - Coors, or Bud are fine with him. But I like a nice bottle of wine. I cannot tolerate sweet, cheap, white wine.

Oh, there is cheap red wine as well.

 

[bdklein]

Is it worth it strictly from a financial perspective? Around $100 per day? For us, yes. Add in the convenience and it can't be beat.

But here's why it was worth it to us (2 adults and 2 kids-12 and 9). We did CL at GF SL.

1. Breakfast every day for 4 people. Food choices were fine and adequate for us. Figure that's $20 or so, and way more if we did a TS.
2. Real coffee with real cream for my wife in the morning to have in the room-not from that fake stuff in the room. Just had to make a quick stop to get it and bring it back. She's not happy without that early morning real coffee. So that's worth a bit.
3. Allowed some flexibility in the mornings in terms of getting breakfast-if adult(s) or kids awake they can go down and eat-while others can stay in room, sleep, hang, get dressed, etc. Don't have to go together as a pack.
4. Allowed kids to sample new foods and drinks without worrying about them ordering something at a restaurant and not liking it. Big cost saver there too, as one of my kids is fussy eater. They can see it first, too.
5. We spent a lot of time at the Courtyard pool. So kids could run back and get snacks and drinks. And adults were able to get adult beverages all afternoon-unpublicized perk. Figure $30 on average per day.
6. Got drinks and food before dinner-either on way backto room to shower or before our trip to dinner-or both. So was able to save on drinks and appetizers at the TS we did every night. We did no buffets. Another $30 or so per day.
7. Having the services of the IPO to do some planning and hustling for you is nice too.

So IMO, definitely worth it.

 

[ClareH37]

Disney charge a premium for everything but for me, I have one Disney vacation every year and I'm willing to pay it and I'm not always successful in getting a discount.

I like the planning services of the IPO, the lounge where I can grab a soda or a herbal tea, and snacks inbetween meals - I tend to have the dxdp as I enjoy eating at the signature restaurants. I also enjoy being on a separate keyed access floor/area.

I've stayed (and continue to stay) club level at non Disney high end resorts for the very same reasons and often they are lower in cost/superior in service, but Disney is Disney and when I'm there I'm in my 'happy place'

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

It's all about convenience for us. I don't think we could ever justify the cost, but we like having the convenience of breakfast, drinks, snacks, package delivery, etc. It's worth it to us.