Club Level - Anyone Else Noticing Changes

[JayCT]

We have been coming to Disney World for years now and have been staying Club Level for the amenities. Back when we started in 2002, we remember it being a real treat with lavish appetizers, drinks and desserts. The staff was so friendly and went out of their way for you. It made us feel special so we were willing to pay the extra it cost.

Then as the years passed things changed. Each year there were small changes and not for the better. The appetizers and desserts have gotten smaller and less interesting. There was less variety of evening drinks offered. There were fewer items at breakfast each year.

I think this year I noticed the biggest difference though with the attitude of the staff actually almost hostile. I was shocked that we were actually refused (with an attitude) to be given a large bottle of water for our room. "We don't do that" we were told (Ah, yes you did). You would have thought we were asking for a bottle of whiskey not water.

Other things changed as well. They stopped offering individual containers of yogurt in the morning, instead putting the yogurt in tiny little cups. There was less food put out each service and the staff seemed slow in responding to requests. Only a small plate of cookies are placed out now and in the evening they were completely gone very early. They now serve you the evening drinks and limit you to two. You have to ask for milk in the evening. It just seems that they are nickel and diming you to try and save a penny here and there. While I know staying Club Level was never really worth it, I am now thinking it really is now a complete rip off. Jay

 

[saskdw]

We always stay club level at the Universal resorts. It's a great deal when you stay over a week like we do, they have the "stay more save more" promo. The club level rooms are $100 a night more than the standard rooms. We have always been treated great and felt it was worth the money.

We have never gone for the club level at WDW because it is $150-$175 a night more than standard rooms and the WDW Deluxe resort price is way higher to begin with. As far as I can tell the amenities are about the same and really don't feel like there is that kind of value. Especially not if they are cutting back the service like you say. It sounds like they are trying to cut cost by discouraging people from taking advantage of what they paid for.

We do stay in the Business Class rooms at CSR, which is only $50 a night more. Some refer to it as club level lite and it also offers the most premium room location at CSR.

 

[sarmat1]

They now serve you the evening drinks and limit you to two.

Wow - they limit your drinks now? Is that two per night or two for the entire day?

 

[Eastern]

Wow - they limit your drinks now? Is that two per night or two for the entire day?

Yeah that sounds super cheap. It's cheap wine to begin with.

Looks like OP stayed at YC where people have posted that drinks are now being served from a cart.

Sounds cheap about the yogurt/cookies too. If they don't want to have a CL, then don't offer it. If people are paying $150-$175 per night for snacks, give them their snacks!

 

[saskdw]

Wow - they limit your drinks now? Is that two per night or two for the entire day?

I missed that part when I first read the OP.

That is ridiculous!!

I would imagine club level will probably be phased out all together in a couple years. No one in their right mind will pay Disney Deluxe prices plus the club level upgrade that is more than other places charge for the same thing for what amounts to the same Continental breakfast you get at the Holiday Inn for free!

 

[Eastern]

I missed that part when I first read the OP.

That is ridiculous!!

I would imagine club level will probably be phased out all together in a couple years. No one in their right mind will pay Disney Deluxe prices plus the club level upgrade that is more than other places charge for the same thing for what amounts to the same Continental breakfast you get at the Holiday Inn for free!

You could get an entire extra room at a value or possibly a moderate for what they are currently charging per day for Club Level.

 

[saskdw]

You could get an entire extra room at a value or possibly a moderate for what they are currently charging per day for Club Level.

And fill it with beer, snacks, and breakfast supply's from Garden grocer!

 

[jd99]

we stayed at YC in the Spring and they were serving drinks from the cart but weren't limiting it to two - at least not that I was aware of. Perhaps they are limiting to two at a time (which is pretty standard I would think).

 

[Disneychick75]

Yes, we have noticed the difference. We're DVC members but would sometimes stay CL for the extras. The CM's attitudes stink. I don't expect to have my fanny kissed but I do expect them to be polite and not rude. The service used to be extra special and now it feels like we're dealing with a snarky Wal Mart salesperson. Who wants to pay $$$$ for that?

 

[saskdw]

we stayed at YC in the Spring and they were serving drinks from the cart but weren't limiting it to two - at least not that I was aware of. Perhaps they are limiting to two at a time (which is pretty standard I would think).

I've never had any trouble getting an arm full of beer or bottled water at the Hard Rock or Royal Pacific.

 

[ToyStory3]

We loved staying club level in the past and planned to again this year. But we did drop the club level from our reservation of these types of reports. Can't justify it. There doesn't seem to be any return for that much money. It sounds less and less special with every report unfortunately.

 

[wdwfan]

We'll be at Yacht Club Club level in about 5 days. I really hope that they'll offer more than 2 drinks. Seriously?? But if its as bad as others have said, I'll be finished with club level. I'll be sure to post while I'm there.

 

[Sue M]

our last CL stay was 2 yrs ago at AKL, loved it. We have added 2 nights CL at GF this upcoming trip and hope I don't find it horrible. We are really looking forward to it.

 

[MouseOfGold]

We'll be at Yacht Club Club level in about 5 days. I really hope that they'll offer more than 2 drinks. Seriously?? But if its as bad as others have said, I'll be finished with club level. I'll be sure to post while I'm there.

Looking forward to your report! I added AKL CL on the end of our AoA stay as a birthday treat for my mom. And I've never stayed CL before so I was interested in seeing if it's something I'd book again for future trips.

Sounds like I need to lower my CL expectations already

 

[jd99]

I can see why Disney may be trying to do some policing of piggish behavior as we saw some real doozies during our GF Sugarloaf stay last year. One family filled up a stroller with beer. Literally must have taken 16 bottles to take out to the pool. Then there were the ladies crowded around the buffet who took a bottle of the wine off the display to refill their glasses while they ate directly from the serving dishes and treated it like their own private party. It was gross. and I saw both of these situations (the beer stroller and entitled ladies) on 3 of our five days there. So if Disney is saying take two drinks at a time, I'm kind of okay with that.

 

[Disneychick75]

I can see why Disney may be trying to do some policing of piggish behavior as we saw some real doozies during our GF Sugarloaf stay last year. One family filled up a stroller with beer. Literally must have taken 16 bottles to take out to the pool. Then there were the ladies crowded around the buffet who took a bottle of the wine off the display to refill their glasses while they ate directly from the serving dishes and treated it like their own private party. It was gross. and I saw both of these situations (the beer stroller and entitled ladies) on 3 of our five days there. So if Disney is saying take two drinks at a time, I'm kind of okay with that.

I'm sure there are people like the ones you described, however, the majority of guests don't act like that yet Disney is punishing everyone? I think it's more of the charge more/give less philosophy. It will continue until people tell Disney either through emails, pocketbooks, or a combination that enough is enough.

 

[saskdw]

I can see why Disney may be trying to do some policing of piggish behavior as we saw some real doozies during our GF Sugarloaf stay last year. One family filled up a stroller with beer. Literally must have taken 16 bottles to take out to the pool. Then there were the ladies crowded around the buffet who took a bottle of the wine off the display to refill their glasses while they ate directly from the serving dishes and treated it like their own private party. It was gross. and I saw both of these situations (the beer stroller and entitled ladies) on 3 of our five days there. So if Disney is saying take two drinks at a time, I'm kind of okay with that.

I would tend to agree with you if the price was less. However at $150-$175 per night I would expect to drink as much beer and eat as many snacks as I want. Especially when your competition up the street at Universal is offering the same service for $100 per night on a room that is already $200 a night cheaper in a resort that is every bit as nice as the WDW deluxe.

Having said that, you wouldn't catch me acting like a caveman though!

 

[saskdw]

I'm sure there are people like the ones you described, however, the majority of guests don't act like that yet Disney is punishing everyone? I think it's more of the charge more/give less philosophy. It will continue until people tell Disney either through emails, pocketbooks, or a combination that enough is enough.

I agree. Most guests probably never take enough from the lounge to come close the CL upgrade cost.

 

[DebbieB]

I can see why Disney may be trying to do some policing of piggish behavior as we saw some real doozies during our GF Sugarloaf stay last year. One family filled up a stroller with beer. Literally must have taken 16 bottles to take out to the pool. Then there were the ladies crowded around the buffet who took a bottle of the wine off the display to refill their glasses while they ate directly from the serving dishes and treated it like their own private party. It was gross. and I saw both of these situations (the beer stroller and entitled ladies) on 3 of our five days there. So if Disney is saying take two drinks at a time, I'm kind of okay with that.

I only stayed club level once, it was at AKL. One evening we were waiting for food to be brought out and there were 2 or 3 teenage boys ahead of us. They took almost everything from the plates when they were brought out and took it back to their family's table! The rest of us were left standing there!

 

[Three cats]

Sounds like I need to lower my CL expectations already

That's just it though....for what you are paying I don't think you should have to "lower your expectations".

I used to think that maybe we were missing out by not booking club level. Not anymore. I'd never spend the extra on it.