Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[mickeynut1]

If your hesitant, try it for a short stay, or a winter stay, or a heavily MK centric stay like for MNSSHP, MVMCP, DAH, or EMM, or even better combo of those!

Good advice

 

[smmco]

Assuming they are right (I suspect they are), I've seen reports that DSS has confirmed the Gran Destino Tower will be eligible.

You do need a 2 night minimum stay to book. I'm going to say no, 2 non-consecutive nights won't work - but it's worth asking DSS to see what they'll say (and report back if you don't mind for tracking purposes!).

I think these Gran Destino Club level rooms are going to become very popular and hard to get if this is true. We were there presidents day weekend and having the extra fast passes was worth every penny. The only lines I waited in were in the women's restroom. The walkways and fast food places were crowded, but with all the fast passes we had a great trip.

If you have a choice between paying 350.00 a night for a standard room in the epcot area or 275.00 for a club level room at Destino and buying extra fast passes it seems like a no brainer to me. I love being in the Epcot area, but the one night we stayed at CSR we lyfted over to Yacht club to eat at Beaches and Cream. The cost was 6.00 dollars each way. Even rack rate at Gran Destino CL is around 375.00 a night still not a bad deal. It's hard to find any negatives with this resort unless the prices soar.

 

[vinotinto]

I think these Gran Destino Club level rooms are going to become very popular and hard to get if this is true. We were there presidents day weekend and having the extra fast passes was worth every penny. The only lines I waited in were in the women's restroom. The walkways and fast food places were crowded, but with all the fast passes we had a great trip.

If you have a choice between paying 350.00 a night for a standard room in the epcot area or 275.00 for a club level room at Destino and buying extra fast passes it seems like a no brainer to me. I love being in the Epcot area, but the one night we stayed at CSR we lyfted over to Yacht club to eat at Beaches and Cream. The cost was 6.00 dollars each way. Even rack rate at Gran Destino CL is around 375.00 a night still not a bad deal. It's hard to find any negatives with this resort unless the prices soar.

I'm not so sure. They added 1800 rooms and didn't put in a pool or a hot tub. Yeah, you can use the main pool, but it's nowhere near the tower and it will be serving a lot of rooms. Can you imagine trekking back and forth from the main pool to CL for drinks and snacks? I think the tower will be busy with conventioneers, but not as much with vacationing guests.

 

[Babsy]

I think these Gran Destino Club level rooms are going to become very popular and hard to get if this is true. We were there presidents day weekend and having the extra fast passes was worth every penny. The only lines I waited in were in the women's restroom. The walkways and fast food places were crowded, but with all the fast passes we had a great trip.

If you have a choice between paying 350.00 a night for a standard room in the epcot area or 275.00 for a club level room at Destino and buying extra fast passes it seems like a no brainer to me. I love being in the Epcot area, but the one night we stayed at CSR we lyfted over to Yacht club to eat at Beaches and Cream. The cost was 6.00 dollars each way. Even rack rate at Gran Destino CL is around 375.00 a night still not a bad deal. It's hard to find any negatives with this resort unless the prices soar.

It's a tempting price point for sure. However, with no balconies I am not sure that I want to stay here for even the 2 night minimum. We have one night booked for Dec and I am wondering if I want to add a second night or. not. I loved the extra CL FP+ too, but not sure if staying in Gran Destino for more than one night would be worth it to me. Maybe if there are windows that open, at least. Otherwise a suite at the Swan or Dolphin might be the better budget option for the CL FP+, IMO.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

If I call DSS to book something like a dessert party are they able to make any special requests such as seating location preference?
Or can they not do anything more than I could if I just booked it myself?
Just wondering if there is any real advantage in having them book it vs myself.

 

[Babsy]

AFAIK, there is no advantage to using DSS over booking yourself. We always book our own. However, if you are having trouble getting something particular you can always ask them to try as well. Extra help can possibly be beneficial. That said, DSS has never managed to get us anything that we had difficulty getting ourselves.

 

[Rachel GB]

Sorry, I'm not a good one to ask about food in CL.

First off, it has been a few years since we have actually stayed CL in the CR. We only go to WDW once or twice a year and haven't found any good discounts to stay at CR CL during our dates for the past three years. Our more recent CL stays have been in the GF, AKL, BWI and YC. At the time of our last CL stay at the CR, IIRC, the food was fine, but not memorable! LOL! (I do remember the CM's were really nice - offering to bring us a case of bottled water for use in our rooms, carrying food to our rooms for us, setting up a few balloons in the room to welcome our arrival - just generally going above and beyond to make our stay special.)

Hopefully someone that has stayed in the CR more recently can let you know more.

We are also not good at reviewing food, as we often only use the lounge for breakfast and somewhat haphazardly during the day/evening for relaxing or as a meeting place. When I am in WDW I usually want to eat at specific restaurants ( or wherever we are at meal times). It's not always convenient to return to the resort just for appetizers. So, lately, we often miss the appetizers (5-7) altogether and usually don't bother with the desserts (8-10) even if we are back in time for them.
For breakfast, I just eat fruit and oatmeal most mornings. So, as you can see, the food in the CL isn't a big factor for us.

Of course, we have had the occasional time when we managed to make a light meal out of the apps and desserts, but in most recent visits that is the exception rather than the rule for us. It depends upon the focus of the trip - lately it seems that we have started becoming a bit more theme park than resort focused. Perhaps it is a result of the new rides/lands being developed?

Hopefully someone else can help!!

Enjoy wherever you decide to stay!

That's disappointing! We currently have a GW GV booked for BB for Dec. I call every day to try to get a CL BB, but no luck anywhere! (well except for a 2 bedroom suite, in CL which is way too much $$$ for us, I'm afraid). I will keep trying, though. I basically have the GW GV as a BB 'holder' reservation. I had to book something while still at the resort in order to take advantage of the offer and that was the ONLY reasonable offer available. There were a few DVC options, but they were all with one bed and a pull out sofa. You usually have to go to a 2 bedroom in DVC if you want to get more than one real bed! UGH! We will only stay somewhere with 2 real beds, but we really don't need a 2 bedroom suite for just 2 - 4 people.

Thanks for your replies! We have had a CL stay in which we didn't really utilize the lounge food and we felt like we really missed out, so we're more focused on that now. I think we're a bit opposite of your touring style- more resort time, less park time! Love that Disney has a way to meet everyone's needs and preferences !
As far as the BB discount, I think calling every day is a great strategy! I've been doing that and do seem to find different things popping up when I call (ie. found a Poly TPV CL room, which hubby has decided he no longer wants ). As mentioned, there was a CR CL room in early December when I called a few days ago, but it was gone yesterday, so you never know when you keep calling! Good luck!
We have a GF RPC Deluxe room stay booked for September, and that's really our #1 choice. I just wanted to use the Bounceback offer to book a backup trip in December in case there's a hurricane in September, and CR looked like a fun alternative to try! I love learning about the different CLs, especially at the MK area resorts.
Wherever you stay, I hope your next trip is fantastic!

 

[Babsy]

Thanks for your replies! We have had a CL stay in which we didn't really utilize the lounge food and we felt like we really missed out, so we're more focused on that now. I think we're a bit opposite of your touring style- more resort time, less park time! Love that Disney has a way to meet everyone's needs and preferences !
As far as the BB discount, I think calling every day is a great strategy! I've been doing that and do seem to find different things popping up when I call (ie. found a Poly TPV CL room, which hubby has decided he no longer wants ). As mentioned, there was a CR CL room in early December when I called a few days ago, but it was gone yesterday, so you never know when you keep calling! Good luck!
We have a GF RPC Deluxe room stay booked for September, and that's really our #1 choice. I just wanted to use the Bounceback offer to book a backup trip in December in case there's a hurricane in September, and CR looked like a fun alternative to try! I love learning about the different CLs, especially at the MK area resorts.
Wherever you stay, I hope your next trip is fantastic!

Thank you!

Yes, we have also had many trips that were more resort focused. very relaxing. Some days we would only go in to the Theme parks for a couple of hours, or even not at all. It seems that every trip is a unique balance of relaxation and fun - depending upon what we are trying to achieve with that particular trip.

this year, we have been trying out new strategies, going into new rides/lands plus checking out a number of Disney's extra charge add ons. It has kept us away from the resorts more than we had been in recent years. Guess we have cycled back to park heavy visits for a while.

I'm sure that you will enjoy GF RPC. We have had some lovely visits there.

If you do get a back up trip for Dec in the CR CL, I hope that you enjoy it as much as we have!!! And, you never know, perhaps we'll see you there!!! I'm still trying!

Enjoy!

ETA: looks like we won't see you in CR CL! We are now booked in the YC CL! Hope you get what you are looking for as well!

 

[Babsy]

Yay!!! I just managed to change my Dec BB offer from the CR GW to YC CL!!!

So great to have this settled. We really wanted the second half of this trip in the Epcot area. BWI was our first choice, but the YC will be a nice second! I will keep trying for the BWI deluxe CL, but we're OK now regardless.

So now it's 2 nights Gran Destino Tower CL, 2 bedroom villa in BLT (4 nights) and finish off with 4 nights in YC CL!!!

Now, on with the rest of the planning........

 

[PPFlight75]

Yay!!! I just managed to change my Dec BB offer from the CR GW to YC CL!!!

So great to have this settled. We really wanted the second half of this trip in the Epcot area. BWI was our first choice, but the YC will be a nice second! I will keep trying for the BWI deluxe CL, but we're OK now regardless.

So now it's 2 nights Gran Destino Tower CL, 2 bedroom villa in BLT (4 nights) and finish off with 4 nights in YC CL!!!

Now, on with the rest of the planning........

That sounds like such a fun trip! Will you be there over Christmas?

 

[Babsy]

That sounds like such a fun trip! Will you be there over Christmas?

Thank you!

No, we are going early in Dec. will still get to enjoy the extra Christmas decorations and festivities, though! I was very excited ......until I just read the news on the Rumours board......

I just learned that we will now have three different (and short) FP+ windows! SO now I'm worried about getting any of the difficult FP+, especially with SWGE. Hopefully the extra FP+ will still be available for purchase with CL in Dec. It looks like we are going to need them!

Our split stay days will be over after this trip, I guess. SO, I am just going to have to go and enjoy it anyway! Just when I thought that I was getting it under control! LOL!

 

[PPFlight75]

Thank you!

No, we are going early in Dec. will still get to enjoy the extra Christmas decorations and festivities, though! I was very excited ......until I just read the news on the Rumours board......

I just learned that we will now have three different (and short) FP+ windows! SO now I'm worried about getting any of the difficult FP+, especially with SWGE. Hopefully the extra FP+ will still be available for purchase with CL in Dec. It looks like we are going to need them!

Our split stay days will be over after this trip, I guess. SO, I am just going to have to go and enjoy it anyway! Just when I thought that I was getting it under control! LOL!

I have never been for Christmas but have been during Christmas season and we absolutely love it! One day I want to go for Christmas but waiting until the kids are older and want to do it too! I'm sure you will have such a a great time!

I had no idea about the split stat thing with Fps. I have a split stat coming up in July and this is so terrible. I'm sorry it is messing up your plans. I hope they fix that and let us keep the same booking window. Ugh!

 

[dansdad]

I had no idea about the split stat thing with Fps. I have a split stat coming up in July and this is so terrible. I'm sorry it is messing up your plans. I hope they fix that and let us keep the same booking window. Ugh!

The change was done on purpose, so unfortunately there's nothing to fix.

 

[PPFlight75]

The change was done on purpose, so unfortunately there's nothing to fix.

That's a shame for this type of situation.
I read all of the loophole discussion and it makes perfect sense. However, for the split stay, is there not discussion about a possible change for that?

 

[dansdad]

That's a shame for this type of situation.
I read all of the loophole discussion and it makes perfect sense. However, for the split stay, is there not discussion about a possible change for that?

Not that I have heard.

 

[PPFlight75]

Not that I have heard.

Thanks. I'll keep an eye on the discussion about it. I don't think it will cause a major inconvenience but definitely affects 1-2 key FPs. I'll have to come up with some alternate plans. When they zig, we have to zag lol!

 

[mrsap]

Thanks. I'll keep an eye on the discussion about it. I don't think it will cause a major inconvenience but definitely affects 1-2 key FPs. I'll have to come up with some alternate plans. When they zig, we have to zag lol!

Someone just posted this on another board

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...elled-confirmed.3732429/page-41#post-60295439

 

[mickeynut1]

Yay!!! I just managed to change my Dec BB offer from the CR GW to YC CL!!!

So great to have this settled. We really wanted the second half of this trip in the Epcot area. BWI was our first choice, but the YC will be a nice second! I will keep trying for the BWI deluxe CL, but we're OK now regardless.

So now it's 2 nights Gran Destino Tower CL, 2 bedroom villa in BLT (4 nights) and finish off with 4 nights in YC CL!!!

Now, on with the rest of the planning........

Congrats on the change. Sounds like a fun trip! Enjoy the rest of your planning .

 

[Babsy]

Congrats on the change. Sounds like a fun trip! Enjoy the rest of your planning .

Thank you!

Yes! Plus it is a complicated scenario with 12 more people coming, staying together sometimes, switching up where we are all staying, arriving and departing at staggered times.... Meanwhile I get to plan and book for everyone! Fun times, but more complicated than I am used to!!

I hope that Disney doesn't throw any more monkey wrenches into my plans! LOL!

 

[Rachel GB]

To illustrate how “hit or miss” DSS communciation can be...
We currently have two CL stays booked, one right after the other. One we booked when the most recent room discount came out (in my name), the other we booked as a Bounceback a couple of weeks ago (in hubby’s name).
We got a welcome card from DSS in the mail today for the CL stay under the BB, but never received one for the other! Both were booked directly with Disney, too.
I’m just so excited to have finally received the card !