club level and adult beverages

[LoveDaisy]

We have stayed there quite a few times. Once for ten days. Have not been told this particular rule but I’ve seen a couple of staff members that were all over guests about rules. A lot of enforcement but no one was really doing anything that was disruptive. We enjoy it there but I will say in the past I have felt they were more strict or rule oriented then anywhere else we have stayed cl at Disney. I figured it was personality of the particular hosts we had.

CanI ask what rules they were enforcing? If that has happened while I’ve stayed CL they were discreet because I have not seen that. I’m not even sure what the rules are.

 

[Disneyfan628]

CanI ask what rules they were enforcing? If that has happened while I’ve stayed CL they were discreet because I have not seen that. I’m not even sure what the rules are.

The only place I’ve ever seen it was animal kingdom. Kind of following people around, asking them to put the tongs back on the plate. Telling them they had taken enough while they were filling plates. Telling kids to quiet down that were kind of laughing/playing by the tv area. Being very strict about end times to service. I don’t remember everything as this was 2019 and earlier. Things could be different now but that was my experience. Or observed experience, they never said anything to us.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

CanI ask what rules they were enforcing? If that has happened while I’ve stayed CL they were discreet because I have not seen that. I’m not even sure what the rules are.

Generally speaking the only real 'rules' in CL are typically things like asking for ID for alcohol if applicable, asking for "appropriate attire such as footwear and cover-ups for swimwear" (it's amazing how many people will walk in the lounges with no shoes), adults need to accompany kids under 10... things like that. Some CMs may step in if graby hand kids are causing trouble at food stations, not using utensils, etc. It depends on the lounge but some will ask you keep strollers outside the lounge rather than take up space.

It's more like small things to keep a basic level or order and/or hygiene rather than 'rules' - like many Disney things it's typically a pretty free/open/relaxed environment.

Sounds like you've stayed CL so I'm probably answering a question you didn't really ask (sorry), more just elaborating for others.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

The only place I’ve ever seen it was animal kingdom. Kind of following people around, asking them to put the tongs back on the plate. Telling them they had taken enough while they were filling plates. Telling kids to quiet down that were kind of laughing/playing by the tv area. Being very strict about end times to service. I don’t remember everything as this was 2019 and earlier. Things could be different now but that was my experience. Or observed experience, they never said anything to us.

Wow, I've never, ever, in a (rather embarrassingly to some) high number of CL stays seen anyone step in to intervene regarding amount of food taken. And we've stayed AKL several times, pre and post Covid. There is NO limit on food written that I've ever seen so that would NOT fly. I would 100% ignore that, and likely take additional out of spite. But that's how I roll.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Generally speaking the only real 'rules' in CL are typically things like asking for ID for alcohol if applicable, asking for "appropriate attire such as footwear and cover-ups for swimwear" (it's amazing how many people will walk in the lounges with no shoes), adults need to accompany kids under 10... things like that. Some CMs may step in if graby hand kids are causing trouble at food stations, not using utensils, etc. It depends on the lounge but some will ask you keep strollers outside the lounge rather than take up space.

It's more like small things to keep a basic level or order and/or hygiene rather than 'rules' - like many Disney things it's typically a pretty free/open/relaxed environment.

Sounds like you've stayed CL so I'm probably answering a question you didn't really ask (sorry), more just elaborating for others.

Sometimes I wish I'd seen more of that.
I've not seen the no shoes and those in swimwear have had on coverups but I have seen a trend where folks come in straight out of bed. The lounge is not your personal kitchen, it's a public space and in my view, should be treated as you'd treat a public restaurant but maybe that's just me who see's it that way. At least comb hair and put on clothes
I am not surprised that a CM won't say anything in that case but people should figure it out on their own.

 

[Disneyfan628]

Wow, I've never, ever, in a (rather embarrassingly to some) high number of CL stays seen anyone step in to intervene regarding amount of food taken. And we've stayed AKL several times, pre and post Covid. There is NO limit on food written that I've ever seen so that would NOT fly. I would 100% ignore that, and likely take additional out of spite. But that's how I roll.

I would have ignored them if they said stuff to us but they didn’t. We saw it on more then one trip there. Don’t get me wrong, it didn’t spoil the trip or anything. We just noticed it and walked away with the feeling they were very on top of guests in the club.

 

[LoveDaisy]

Generally speaking the only real 'rules' in CL are typically things like asking for ID for alcohol if applicable, asking for "appropriate attire such as footwear and cover-ups for swimwear" (it's amazing how many people will walk in the lounges with no shoes), adults need to accompany kids under 10... things like that. Some CMs may step in if graby hand kids are causing trouble at food stations, not using utensils, etc. It depends on the lounge but some will ask you keep strollers outside the lounge rather than take up space.

It's more like small things to keep a basic level or order and/or hygiene rather than 'rules' - like many Disney things it's typically a pretty free/open/relaxed environment.

Sounds like you've stayed CL so I'm probably answering a question you didn't really ask (sorry), more just elaborating for others.

Thank you. Now that I read this I do remember a CM reminding someone they needed shoes. Which blew my mind I could not imagine thinking it was appropriate to be barefoot there.

I tend to stay at Boardwalk which in my experience tends to attract less kids than some of the other clubs so that may explain why I have not seen some of what you mentioned but it makes sense.

 

[Disneyfan628]

CanI ask what rules they were enforcing? If that has happened while I’ve stayed CL they were discreet because I have not seen that. I’m not even sure what the rules are.

It wasn’t rules per se. I probably shouldn’t have said rules. Just very on top of what people were doing. Overly so in our opinion. This was 2019 and before though. Just our experiences and we have never seen it anywhere else

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thank you. Now that I read this I do remember a CM reminding someone they needed shoes. Which blew my mind I could not imagine thinking it was appropriate to be barefoot there.

I tend to stay at Boardwalk which in my experience tends to attract less kids than some of the other clubs so that may explain why I have not seen some of what you mentioned but it makes sense.

Yeah, you BWI peeps are more civilized. I stay at Poly CL a fair amount and the combination of more kids/families and longhouse location steps away from the pools and beach, you can sometimes get more no shoe traffic there than other places. And those in their PJs and no shoes wondering in for breakfast, but that's a different topic.

 

[NicoleLarson]

Thank you. Now that I read this I do remember a CM reminding someone they needed shoes. Which blew my mind I could not imagine thinking it was appropriate to be barefoot there.

I tend to stay at Boardwalk which in my experience tends to attract less kids than some of the other clubs so that may explain why I have not seen some of what you mentioned but it makes sense.

We've stayed at AKL CL so many times, I have no idea how many at this point. NEVER been limited. This past October, I asked for just sparkling wine at breakfast (it was my birthday). When i drank that, we were heading out to the park and the CM brought out a to go coffee cup FULL of sparkling and said the bus drivers don't question it if its in a coffee cup. So quite the opposite of what you had happen.

My guess and its just a guess is that it's a new CM and they were told you can't give someone more than 2 drinks at a time, not total! So like if we're at the pool my DH can go up and get 2 beers, not ask for 6 at a time but he could make 3 trips and get 2 beers each time. I would FOR SURE ask to speak with the CL manager

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I was also going to add for those with less experience with Disney CL... for better or worse there are A LOT of new CMs around the CLs these days, just like all over WDW and frankly almost anywhere in the service industry. While some long-time CL CMs are still around, the closure really jumbled things up with retirements, reassignments, etc. New managers (which is pretty common even in normal times), new CMs, more CMs that pick up a shift at another resort and may not normally work there, etc. Not making any excuses for heavy handed fake-rule enforcement at all... just noting I can see some level of an irregular report or two just given so many new CMs - some rushed to first ever front-of-house service positions with very limited experience (and while that shouldn't be the guest's problem, at rare times/situations it can sometimes be the reality). On the positive side, we've met many new CL CMs recently hired and just embarking on their Disney journey or moved from other positions around the parks... full of enthusiasm, excitement, and a great guest-service approach.

 

[lovin'fl]

They had mimosas?! I know what I'm asking for next time....

And sangria too.

 

[NicoleLarson]

Thank you. Now that I read this I do remember a CM reminding someone they needed shoes. Which blew my mind I could not imagine thinking it was appropriate to be barefoot there.

I tend to stay at Boardwalk which in my experience tends to attract less kids than some of the other clubs so that may explain why I have not seen some of what you mentioned but it makes sense.

Yeah, you BWI peeps are more civilized. I stay at Poly CL a fair amount and the combination of more kids/families and longhouse location steps away from the pools and beach, you can sometimes get more no shoe traffic there than other places. And those in their PJs and no shoes wondering in for breakfast, but that's a different topic.

Actually BWI is actually where I did see this happen. My DS was 4 at the time and didn't want to wear shoes to breakfast but we made him. Well in walks a lady in her bathrobe and no shoes, waiting for an omelet. Of course my DS starts yelling very loudly and pointing, that lady doesn't have on shoes why do I and she's in her PJs!

 

[lovin'fl]

So I am thinking I rubbed these gals wrong or something. Maybe it ticked them off that I didn't sit and wait to be served or chat them up about their life before asking for something.

I was excited for the day....my DDs (twins aged 23.5) and one DD's GF (aged almost 25) had flown in the night before. Their flight was delayed 2 hours and we didn't get to bes until 1am. Then rushed early in the morning to get to AKV to enjoy that club level in full. The DD and her GF were going on cruise the next day (after our club stay...we just booked 1 night with DVC in 1BR). Dh and I just moved nearby and we use our DVC to do 1 night stays when we want to eat and drink and not drive home. Our girls have never done club level. Our friends are I'm town too and booked a cash room to party with us.

We were dressed in clothes and shoes (not pool attire). We were not loud and wild but just wanting to all catch up and drink mimosas and have a nice pre cruise time with my girls. We had no Littles running around. We didn't open backpacks to load up with sodas or food from buffet. We just wanted a light breakfast with a few mimosas before going off for the afternoon. The 3 girls were going off to DS to shop and the 4 old folks (49-52 age range) went to try to gondola resort hop (didn't work due to weather shutting down gondola but we did get bus to Riviera for bar food and a drink at Bar Riva).

So me walking up and saying 'can we get 5 mimosas please' was, I guess, a trigger or something. I said can we and please. I don't demand like my 75 year old mother does (she would just say 'I want 5 mimosas'. No please and no thanks once they bring whatever she demanded. I said please and thanks every time.

DH wondered if it had to do with them thinking the girls were underage but all they had to do was ask them for ID. In the whole back and forth with the CMs...it was 3 different CMs...I even said, at one point, that they have IDs they can show. Odd thing was at first I was told we get only 2 per person period...then was told 2 at a time...then was told 2 per hour. I suppose it was because I went up to ask for them so does that 'can only get 2 drinks' rule, when you go to a counter to buy them, apply there? If they came to our table (like in the evening with beer and wine they did serve more than 2 of us drinks at a time, actually even got 3 wines just for me at once at dessert time) they would surely serve all 5 or 7 of us a drink. When all 7 of us were there they only brought out 2 at a time (after I talked to desk CM). While there, from like 9:30 to 10:50 ish, our table got a total of 14. DH and I got 3...friends only got 1 each...the 3 girls got 2 each. Very perplexing.

I spoke to desk lady after the 2 CMs gave me such trouble. I was ticked at that point and probably a bit gruff. She said we can get 2 at a time. I said but we are getting just 1 at a time and was told we can't have anymore since we had 2 already. She said she would go talk to them as maybe they misunderstood the rule. And when she came back she changed her tune to say we get just 2 per hour. They brought those last 7 just 2 at a time and very slowly. And said they were waiting for clean glasses. Like I said, in the end, we ended up with just 14 total for our party of 7.

So I guess it was me going up and asking for 5, then 3 and then 7. Guess I can only ask for 2 like at pay counter throughout Disney property...yet if they came to our table we could all ask for 1 and they'd bring 7. The lounge is small....they could see my table. They could see the drinks were for our group and I wasn't slinging back all 5, then 3 and then 7 by myself. But that is the issue I guess. Someone was firmly following that dumb 'can only get 2 drinks at a time' deal. Guess they worked at a beer cart somewhere prior. Maybe they need to go back to the beer cart.

Its a done deal. All over and No biggie really. It did ruin the first part of our fun pre cruise party with the girls. Put me in a sour mood all day. And now will feel awkward to go back. We have Oct for 1 night and Dec for 2 nights together. Will be us and SiL and BiL in OCt for patty of 4. Guess I need to sit and be served or just ask for 2 at a time. We will see in Oct. But gonna cancel the Dec 2 nights and not book anymore.

DH and I did the add on Reunion Station one at Copper Creek when they had that. We also have points at CCV (bought for that club level add on). And we booked a night stay before a cruise we went on. And did the club add. They were fantastic and served us anything and everything we wanted. They would ask what we needed left and right. Even offered to make our plates for us. They also had TVs and we watched NFL games in there. Was THE best. This last AKV stay...I had to walk up and ask for mimosas because nobody was coming and asking if we needed anything (or clearing our plates). In fact, when I got the desk CM I even showed her how many mimosas we each had so far as all our glasses (and plates) were still there (and we'd been there about 50 minutes at that point).

I don't want to come across as a Karen but we pay for this service. Cash bookings pay a lot (my friends paid an insane amount for 1 night). And we used 44 points (which are expensive). We paid for this service. Or else I could have just booked a room for less and then bought things as we wanted...piece meal. Carnival cruise style...pay cheap and add on extras to get what you want. But I paid extra up front for this service. Not worth it. But that is the way of Disney now.

 

[Eastern]

Actually BWI is actually where I did see this happen. My DS was 4 at the time and didn't want to wear shoes to breakfast but we made him. Well in walks a lady in her bathrobe and no shoes, waiting for an omelet. Of course my DS starts yelling very loudly and pointing, that lady doesn't have on shoes why do I and she's in her PJs!

Same! There was a father/son duo who came in each morning in their socks and put their feet up on the table while they looked at their laptops. It was so crazy I said something to the CM and they just shrugged. This was pre-Covid.

 

[2vets]

we pay for this service. Cash bookings pay a lot (my friends paid an insane amount for 1 night). And we used 44 points (which are expensive). We paid for this service. Or else I could have just booked a room for less and then bought things as we wanted...piece meal.

This. I’ve never had anyone get stingy with the drinks at CL, although I’ve only done AKL once. You are a guest paying for these extra benefits, and (as established in the CL thread), it’s not easy to make up the cost difference with mimosas/wine or breakfast or afternoon apps. Worse to me is the fact that you had to quibble over how many mimosas a group of grown adults is “allowed” to have at what was likely a pretty uncrowded time of day (unless someone was grossly intoxicated, and even then, that seems like a management thing rather than a regular CM thing). I sat with my mom in RPC back in January drinking sauv blanc as if my life depended on it, actually had to tell them I needed to stop after the third filled-to-the-brim glass within 75 minutes! I’m sorry this happened. I echo what others have said, I hope you notify a hotel manager.

 

[2vets]

Same! There was a father/son duo who came in each morning in their socks and put their feet up on the table while they looked at their laptops. It was so crazy I said something to the CM and they just shrugged. This was pre-Covid.

Ew!!!

 

[Eastern]

So I am thinking I rubbed these gals wrong or something. Maybe it ticked them off that I didn't sit and wait to be served or chat them up about their life before asking for something.

I was excited for the day....my DDs (twins aged 23.5) and one DD's GF (aged almost 25) had flown in the night before. Their flight was delayed 2 hours and we didn't get to bes until 1am. Then rushed early in the morning to get to AKV to enjoy that club level in full. The DD and her GF were going on cruise the next day (after our club stay...we just booked 1 night with DVC in 1BR). Dh and I just moved nearby and we use our DVC to do 1 night stays when we want to eat and drink and not drive home. Our girls have never done club level. Our friends are I'm town too and booked a cash room to party with us.

We were dressed in clothes and shoes (not pool attire). We were not loud and wild but just wanting to all catch up and drink mimosas and have a nice pre cruise time with my girls. We had no Littles running around. We didn't open backpacks to load up with sodas or food from buffet. We just wanted a light breakfast with a few mimosas before going off for the afternoon. The 3 girls were going off to DS to shop and the 4 old folks (49-52 age range) went to try to gondola resort hop (didn't work due to weather shutting down gondola but we did get bus to Riviera for bar food and a drink at Bar Riva).

So me walking up and saying 'can we get 5 mimosas please' was, I guess, a trigger or something. I said can we and please. I don't demand like my 75 year old mother does (she would just say 'I want 5 mimosas'. No please and no thanks once they bring whatever she demanded. I said please and thanks every time.

I can see that asking for 5 at a time might have triggered someone. No reason for it, but it happened.

Most of the CL CMs we have encountered have been really nice and accommodating. However, there was one particular CM at YC who just seemed antagonistic. My husband asked for a cordial one night at 15 minutes before closing time and he told him, 'no'. I went up and said, "it is not even closing time". He very reluctantly went to the back to get him his cordial but it was not a pleasant exchange. I did not complain but we really tried to avoid him.

I'm sure we will hear more if limiting drinks to 2 per hour becomes a trend.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

My advice is in the future let each person ask for their own drink. At least it may go over better if they get request one at a time. They sure have a hard time turning that down with a straight face

I do not believe this is in any way a policy but 1 person asking for 7 at once could be problematic. Especially if you are talking an off service time. That likely exceeds a single bottle. I don’t know about AKL but BWI doesn’t keep quantity of alcohol in the lounge kitchen until evening service begins. That’s when they bring the carts loaded with everything up. Until then they’ve got bare bone minimums in there.
May have been someone didn’t want to go get more so they tried to put a limit on you

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I can see that asking for 5 at a time might have triggered someone. No reason for it, but it happened.

Most of the CL CMs we have encountered have been really nice and accommodating. However, there was one particular CM at YC who just seemed antagonistic. My husband asked for a cordial one night at 15 minutes before closing time and he told him, 'no'. I went up and said, "it is not even closing time". He very reluctantly went to the back to get him his cordial but it was not a pleasant exchange. I did not complain but we really tried to avoid him.

I'm sure we will hear more if limiting drinks to 2 per hour becomes a trend.

Some are lazy and don’t want to go get stuff. You can tell by their body language. Those never last long in CL