Concierge/Club Level Information - Part II (Sept 2009)

[KimDis]

I have a couple of questions about the Grand Floridian.

I see CL outer building vs CL main building. Do they have CL lounges in different buildings? If so, do they have the same offerings?

CL Outer Bldg is a separate all club level building. It's named "sugar loaf". The main building is "royal palm club". You pay a bit more for the added "plus" of being in the main building.

I've heard it's very nice. Since we're a bit addicted to club level stays and I will stay at the GF again just for that wonderful poolside cabana rental I hope to try RPC one day.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I loved those PB&J's and the apple slices with caramel!

It was nice to meet you in person.

and even though it was hotter than you know what out, we had a really good time and managed to get done what we wanted to do. We even got to be the family in the movie they do in Backlot express!

It was great to meet you too!

How cool that you got to be in the Backlot show!!!

I had my foot surgery Monday and have to say it is very painful and the pain meds are making me very nauseated. Gonna see if I can deal with the pain using motrin.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Just want to say that when I was there in both May 2010 and July 2010 BWI CL had muffins. They alternated daily between chocolate chip, blue berry and lemon poppy seed. They also alternated pastries between chocolate/coconut crousants, cinnamon rolls and cheese danish. Every morning they had oatmeal, fruit, 4 cereals, plain crousants, bagels, yogart, & V8. We really enjoyed their morning offerings. One day we went fishing from 7 to 9 and a CM was happy to get me a coke at my request at 6:45. We got back to the resort after 9am and went to the room to wash up and then went down and just a quick pastry as the kids were starving but we had a 10:30 ADR at Cape May. There were still pleanty of offerings available at that time.

I am not a huge fan of Greek food but the quality of all the evening offerings was very nice. The CMs were always constantly refilling the trays and soda.

The CMs in the lounge were outstanding!!!

My first CL experience was in 2002 at Poly and while I have noticed cut backs (especially to the Poly's morning offerings that we are most likely to partake in) I do still enjoy the club level service at WDW. I'm not sure I'll pay the price to go back to Poly but did have a very good experience at BWI and I really enjoyed AKL CL in both May 2009 & Jan 2010.

 

[lucas]

Thanks for the Grand Floridian info, everybody!

 

[KimDis]

Just want to say that when I was there in both May 2010 and July 2010 BWI CL had muffins. They alternated daily between chocolate chip, blue berry and lemon poppy seed. They also alternated pastries between chocolate/coconut crousants, cinnamon rolls and cheese danish. Every morning they had oatmeal, fruit, 4 cereals, plain crousants, bagels, yogart, & V8. We really enjoyed their morning offerings. One day we went fishing from 7 to 9 and a CM was happy to get me a coke at my request at 6:45. We got back to the resort after 9am and went to the room to wash up and then went down and just a quick pastry as the kids were starving but we had a 10:30 ADR at Cape May. There were still pleanty of offerings available at that time.

I am not a huge fan of Greek food but the quality of all the evening offerings was very nice. The CMs were always constantly refilling the trays and soda.

The CMs in the lounge were outstanding!!!

My first CL experience was in 2002 at Poly and while I have noticed cut backs (especially to the Poly's morning offerings that we are most likely to partake in) I do still enjoy the club level service at WDW. I'm not sure I'll pay the price to go back to Poly but did have a very good experience at BWI and I really enjoyed AKL CL in both May 2009 & Jan 2010.

I think we may have been at BWI CL at the same time! I thought breakfast was so good at the BWI. I had the Irish (steel cut) oatmeal just about every day.

Coconut croissants??? How did I miss that? Well now I HAVE to go back

Breakfast in the mornings is probably the biggest "plus" for us in planning CL stays. It's so convenient to send the girls or my mom off to the lounge to get started with breakfast and it's also a decent time saver.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I think we may have been at BWI CL at the same time! I thought breakfast was so good at the BWI. I had the Irish (steel cut) oatmeal just about every day.

Coconut croissants??? How did I miss that? Well now I HAVE to go back

Breakfast in the mornings is probably the biggest "plus" for us in planning CL stays. It's so convenient to send the girls or my mom off to the lounge to get started with breakfast and it's also a decent time saver.

The coconut was on the inside. They were relatively small. More dessert like than breakfast but a nice start to a Disney day. I really loved the cheese danish.

 

[sfbank]

Kimdis & Lovesdumbo-That was the point of my post. I was being sarcastic. I was pointing out that there were PLENTY of muffins at the Boardwalk when we were there in July this year. There was plenty of food. Granted, we don't treat it as a full meal but it was still fun to try new things before heading out for the evening and breakfast was plenty for us. The cast members were friendly, took care of our needs, and we enjoyed our stay like we always do. For us we will continue to pay the ridiculous rates, hang with our extended family, including Nascargirl and her DH at the Innkeepers Club, and enjoy our vacations.

 

[KimDis]

Kimdis & Lovesdumbo-That was the point of my post. I was being sarcastic. I was pointing out that there were PLENTY of muffins at the Boardwalk when we were there in July this year. There was plenty of food. Granted, we don't treat it as a full meal but it was still fun to try new things before heading out for the evening and breakfast was plenty for us. The cast members were friendly, took care of our needs, and we enjoyed our stay like we always do. For us we will continue to pay the ridiculous rates, hang with our extended family, including Nascargirl and her DH at the Innkeepers Club, and enjoy our vacations.

Ooooooooh, lol & smh. Sorry... But maybe we shouldn't all share how great the BWI is. Cuz if everyone goes there...



Yeah I was mistaken and... um it's the worst... no food, lumpy beds... NO coconut croissants... you guys don't wanna go there. yeah. yeah. you wanna go to like the Yacht Club. They have a sand bottom pool & full balconies! I bet it's MUCH better.

 

[KerryCM]

I too agree about the BWI!! It is my families favorite place to stay and I am sure we will continue to pay the rates to stay there.
My husband and I planned a last minute trip and nothing available at the BWI. We are staying at the YC CL. I am really hoping I don't find myself comparing the two resorts too much!!! I am up trying something different, but you can't beat the feeling of walking into the Innkeeper's Club and have cast members welcome you by name and with hugs. Like sftbank and nascargirl, these CMs have become like family to us.
We don not stay CL for the food, but for the service we receive while there.

 

[PelletierBears]

Does anyone know the percentage of double queen beds to queen bed / bunk bed room for Wl CL? We just changed from the Poly to WL and we're siked since WL is a favorite of ours. It's our first time staying CL there though and we really will need a room with a bunk bed. Feeling a bit uncertain now!

Thanks!

 

[nascargirl]

I guess it is my turn to chime in We enjoyed the new offerings this time compared to January. We are not big breakfast people so what they offer is good for us. I enjoyed the different offerings in the morning and never grew tired of them. I also agree with KerryCM about the CM knowing you by name and welcoming you home each time. This coming Oct sfbank and I are trying something different. We are staying CR-CL. So if Cr Resort fan 4 life is reading this, we could you all your input. We have been studying the CR resort forum as well. DH and I will continue to stay @ the BWI with sfbank who has become our extended family.

 

[rie'smom]

Does anyone know the percentage of double queen beds to queen bed / bunk bed room for Wl CL? We just changed from the Poly to WL and we're siked since WL is a favorite of ours. It's our first time staying CL there though and we really will need a room with a bunk bed. Feeling a bit uncertain now!

Thanks!

We have the same last name! Ours is spelled Peltier though.

 

[supersuperwendy]

For those of you who have stayed at BWI CL before...is it possible to get the help of CL CMs to surprise my kids? We used to get disney dollars for them at the disney store for each trip, but the store no longer sells them. They are only available at WDW and I'd love to have some waiting for them when we check in. Do you think they could get them for me prior to our arrival? Who would I call?

Thanks!

 

[rie'smom]

If the Disney dollars are sold in the gift shop I don't see why not. Last Thanksgiving my daughter invited 2 friends to come with us to the GF RPC. I called the concierge and he picked up 3 of the little Disney Coach wallets for me. They were waiting when we checked in.

 

[KimDis]

For my CL fans who love coffee & are as sad as I am at how hard it is to find a great cup in the lounge - this really worked for me at Sugarloaf:

I used the big cup (you'll know when you see it) and made a single shot of espresso. Then I added their regular coffee (from the carafe/coffee warmer).

It actually came out as strong as I like (Starbucks strong) and tasty. Might be doable at other lounges without the amazing Nespresso machine too. You'd just have to fiddle with the volumes a bit.

Oh and I forgot to mention that I dream about that Monin White Chocolate Syrup in the BWI lounge. I was kinda sad to leave it when we moved to the GF.

 

[coopersmom]

As far as food being replenished....if the evening offerings are from 5 till 7 and the majority of the food is gone by 6:30...well that's just life in my opinion. To replenish a full serving of each of the items for only a half hour of service left is actually quite wasteful....I would bet a good portion would end up in the trash.

While I understand some things do run out, you can, by and large, arrive at any restaurant at closing time and still receive the full menu. I agree it doesn't make sense to waste for the sense of waste (i.e. for an empty room) but if someone walks in within the service window THEY PAID FOR they shouldn't find only crumbs of food and no beverage options, as people here have described. At the very least, the person on duty should ASK them what they'd like.

If you got any other buffet, which you paid for, 30 minutes before closing and they have no food do you say "that's life"? I seriously doubt it and this is no different. If they want to shorten service times, OK, but the times they list are the times and food should be available throughout. Period. ... And I say all this having stayed at various club level resorts and (happily) partaking of almost nothing but toast and diet Coke.

As for why someone who has not yet been to Disney club level would dare comment, as another poster asked (with eye-rolling emoticon) ... Why does it matter? Because, as a paying customer (and Disney definitely wants my extra $$$ for club) I'm reading this thread and not only seriously reconsidering my club-level stay, but staying on site at Disney at all.

I can stay at the Ritz Carlton in Orlando, which I know from experience has outstanding club-level service and vastly superior restaurant options, for LESS than what I would pay to stay at the Polynesian. For my husband it's not even a question. He wants to switch. Period.

I don't need someone to email me back and forth about restaurant reservations when I go do them myself online in half the time. (Or email back and forth, as I already have, only to be TOLD to do it myself online. Great "service" there.) And, other than the lounge, I don't see any other perks I would actually use, other than, perhaps, in-room souvenir shop delivery, a negligible benefit at best.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I guess it is my turn to chime in We enjoyed the new offerings this time compared to January. We are not big breakfast people so what they offer is good for us. I enjoyed the different offerings in the morning and never grew tired of them. I also agree with KerryCM about the CM knowing you by name and welcoming you home each time. This coming Oct sfbank and I are trying something different. We are staying CR-CL. So if Cr Resort fan 4 life is reading this, we could you all your input. We have been studying the CR resort forum as well. DH and I will continue to stay @ the BWI with sfbank who has become our extended family.

If there are any specifc Contemporary Club Level questions you have please feel free to ask them on the CR FAQ thread or send me a PM.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

As far as food being replenished....if the evening offerings are from 5 till 7 and the majority of the food is gone by 6:30...well that's just life in my opinion. To replenish a full serving of each of the items for only a half hour of service left is actually quite wasteful....I would bet a good portion would end up in the trash.

In my experience the food has always been replenished right up until 7:00 PM and before it's taken away the Cast Members always ask if there is anything else we want to take? They also ask the same thing just before taking away the items during breakfast.

 

[SeaSpray]

While I understand some things do run out, you can, by and large, arrive at any restaurant at closing time and still receive the full menu. I agree it doesn't make sense to waste for the sense of waste (i.e. for an empty room) but if someone walks in within the service window THEY PAID FOR they shouldn't find only crumbs of food and no beverage options, as people here have described. At the very least, the person on duty should ASK them what they'd like.

If you got any other buffet, which you paid for, 30 minutes before closing and they have no food do you say "that's life"? I seriously doubt it and this is no different. If they want to shorten service times, OK, but the times they list are the times and food should be available throughout. Period. ... And I say all this having stayed at various club level resorts and (happily) partaking of almost nothing but toast and diet Coke.

As for why someone who has not yet been to Disney club level would dare comment, as another poster asked (with eye-rolling emoticon) ... Why does it matter? Because, as a paying customer (and Disney definitely wants my extra $$$ for club) I'm reading this thread and not only seriously reconsidering my club-level stay, but staying on site at Disney at all.

I can stay at the Ritz Carlton in Orlando, which I know from experience has outstanding club-level service and vastly superior restaurant options, for LESS than what I would pay to stay at the Polynesian. For my husband it's not even a question. He wants to switch. Period.

I don't need someone to email me back and forth about restaurant reservations when I go do them myself online in half the time. (Or email back and forth, as I already have, only to be TOLD to do it myself online. Great "service" there.) And, other than the lounge, I don't see any other perks I would actually use, other than, perhaps, in-room souvenir shop delivery, a negligible benefit at best.

Holy cow, are you serious?? I've never had that happen, but if this is going to be something new, then they need to seriously reconsider! For me, staying CL at the Polynesian has it's value in the location of the Hawaii building AND the pre-planning help! Did you email them back and ask them what their purpose is, if not to make ADRs for you? I would! And I'd want to see what their reply is!

 

[KimDis]

As for why someone who has not yet been to Disney club level would dare comment, as another poster asked (with eye-rolling emoticon) ... Why does it matter? Because, as a paying customer (and Disney definitely wants my extra $$$ for club) I'm reading this thread and not only seriously reconsidering my club-level stay, but staying on site at Disney at all.

I can stay at the Ritz Carlton in Orlando, which I know from experience has outstanding club-level service and vastly superior restaurant options, for LESS than what I would pay to stay at the Polynesian. For my husband it's not even a question. He wants to switch. Period.

I don't need someone to email me back and forth about restaurant reservations when I go do them myself online in half the time. (Or email back and forth, as I already have, only to be TOLD to do it myself online. Great "service" there.) And, other than the lounge, I don't see any other perks I would actually use, other than, perhaps, in-room souvenir shop delivery, a negligible benefit at best.

So here's my two cents... cuz I think this is a really great question...

If I was going to Miami and I had to pick between the Ritz & a Disney hotel on South Beach I'd probably stay at the Ritz. (Ok, take my card away. Lock me in DISjail, whatever, ). That said I would never consider the RC in Orlando (and it has probably one of the best spas in the country.)

Why? Because there's nothing (yet) that's like staying on Disney property at a Disney resort for a Disney vacation. And when I vacation there it is to experience this inexplicable atmosphere that is truly, forgive me, magical. Disney Deluxe Resorts do this best. They combine theming, great locations, and luxury in way that is without peer.

It's there in the smile of Teena the greeter when she welcomes you back or chats with you at the Beach Club. It follows you as you stroll from Epcot past the jugglers & funnel cakes to the Boardwalk Inn. It tempts you to ask your retired mom and 12 yr old niece if they want to head to the Magic Kingdom at 11:45 at night cuz it's only one monorail stop away, the park's open until 2am for resort guests, & you've got a little more energy. And then it convinces them to say yes.

It makes your jaw drop when you check into the Animal Kingdom Lodge or the Wilderness Lodge for the 1st time and see their majestic foyers. It makes you wish you could freeze time for a moment when you watch your girls make sand castles on the Poly beach with Cinderella Castle as their backdrop. And it reminds you of a time when you were 11 and thought the coolest thing in the world was a train going right through the middle of a hotel.

I can't get that in Miami, or Vegas, or at the Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons. I can only get it at Disney. Their variety of resort options (in one resort area) make it very tailorable to so many different types of people and their vacation styles/preferences. And while we may fuss (often & passionately) about the little changes that only dimly affect our amazing times at WDW, you can tell from the tickers that most of us cannot wait to go back and hear someone say "Welcome Home".

Its well worth it to see if you'll feel that way too. If you don't - well maybe I'll bump into you one day when I finally drive over to visit that spa at the Ritz