Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[cakebaker]

I think they would give club level guests a quick service dining plan, if they aren't going to fully equip the lounges with food early on. For what they're charging these days, a Fritos and Twinkies (or even their upscale cousins) would only outrage paying guests.

That would solve their problem of not being able to staff the lounges as needed to have all of the food served by staff, and it would be a pretty fair replacement for the amiunt of food that used to be available in the lounge. Breakfast was definitely meant to be a meal at the club lounge. I agree the offerings aren't equivelent to three table service meals, but quick service would be about right.

A quick service dining plan would also be able to be offered last-minute, so guests wouldn't have to deal with making ADRs (in most cases for quick service).

I don’t think any meal plan would get me to keep our reservations if those rumors turn out to be true. A significant cut on the room rate might. We don’t really do CL to save on food costs. It’s the convenience and relaxed atmosphere, being outside the parks that I love about the offering in the lounges. There’s nowhere else I can sit in the peace and quiet of my balcony, eating crepes and sipping on mimosas . Besides, for the price, I’m better off with a less expensive room and buying my own food.

 

[Sarahslay]

I think they would give club level guests a quick service dining plan, if they aren't going to fully equip the lounges with food early on. For what they're charging these days, a Fritos and Twinkies (or even their upscale cousins) would only outrage paying guests.

That would solve their problem of not being able to staff the lounges as needed to have all of the food served by staff, and it would be a pretty fair replacement for the amiunt of food that used to be available in the lounge. Breakfast was definitely meant to be a meal at the club lounge. I agree the offerings aren't equivelent to three table service meals, but quick service would be about right.

A quick service dining plan would also be able to be offered last-minute, so guests wouldn't have to deal with making ADRs (in most cases for quick service).

Well, when I was at BWI in January it was definitely equivalent to 3 table service meals, the food was amazing and plentiful, and I for one wouldn't be extremely happy in that circumstance with a QS meal plan. The upcharge for those rooms can be amazingly higher than the non-CL rooms, and QS meals would only partially make that up for people who aren't traveling as a family (like for a 2 person occupancy room like the garden cottages at BWI that is hundreds of dollars more expensive per night). I would expect something more than QS in an instance like that. Of course if I find out they are giving out kindergarten level snacks for the price of a nice dinner I will just not book a CL room, and I am watching to see if we need to move any of our future CL stays. I'm still hopeful they'll either lower prices, offer good services, or come up with a good way to repay guests if their expectations aren't met, but hopefully any diminished experience is very short lived until they can work the kinks out.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I don’t think any meal plan would get me to keep our reservations if those rumors turn out to be true. A significant cut on the room rate might. We don’t really do CL to save on food costs. It’s the convenience and relaxed atmosphere, being outside the parks that I love about the offering in the lounges. There’s nowhere else I can sit in the peace and quiet of my balcony, eating crepes and sipping on mimosas . Besides, for the price, I’m better off with a less expensive room and buying my own food.

I'm talking about what I think Disney is likely to do, not what I really want. What I really want is for full club level offerings to continue as they did before, but maybe with full service staff handing out the food. That might or might not happen.

A quick service dining plan would be easy for Disney to implement and relatively easy for guests to make use of. It's not equal to the old lounge, but it's fair in a period when the old lounge might not be doable for a while.

I remember when the Polynesian feature pool was closed for a long renovation. They gave resort guests free passes to a water park for a while. Was that fair & reasonable? Yes. Was it just as convenient as having your own resort's feature pool available? No. But it was what it was. I predict the same sort of thing might happen for Club Level. A fair and reasonable, yet imperfect, substitute.

 

[cakebaker]

I'm talking about what I think Disney is likely to do, not what I really want. What I really want is for full club level offerings to continue as they did before, but maybe with full service staff handing out the food. That might or might not happen.

A quick service dining plan would be easy for Disney to implement and relatively easy for guests to make use of. It's not equal to the old lounge, but it's fair in a period when the old lounge might not be doable for a while.

I remember when the Polynesian pool was closed for a long renovation. They gave resort guests free passes to a water park for a while. Was that fair & reasonable? Yes. Was it a perfect substitute for having your own resort's primary pool unavailable? No. But it was what it was. I predict the same sort of thing might happen for Club Level. A fair and reasonable, yet imperfect, substitute.

I don’t disagree. Whether we can make full meals out of the offerings doesn’t mean that’s how Disney looks at. They don’t describe them as meals, just snacks etc. I do think qs meal plan is reasonable, maybe even more likely than a discount as it costs them very little. It’s just not something that would interest me personally. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

 

[tarak]

Well, when I was at BWI in January it was definitely equivalent to 3 table service meals, the food was amazing and plentiful, and I for one wouldn't be extremely happy in that circumstance with a QS meal plan. The upcharge for those rooms can be amazingly higher than the non-CL rooms, and QS meals would only partially make that up for people who aren't traveling as a family (like for a 2 person occupancy room like the garden cottages at BWI that is hundreds of dollars more expensive per night). I would expect something more than QS in an instance like that. Of course if I find out they are giving out kindergarten level snacks for the price of a nice dinner I will just not book a CL room, and I am watching to see if we need to move any of our future CL stays. I'm still hopeful they'll either lower prices, offer good services, or come up with a good way to repay guests if their expectations aren't met, but hopefully any diminished experience is very short lived until they can work the kinks out.

My first stay at BWI was last June. It was a trip for my daughter’s 16th birthday and we stayed CL. It completely spoiled me on the lounges as the food was hands-down the best I’ve ever had.

One thing I worry will be lost forever is getting to know the other folks staying CL. We met so many lovely people. I had my 7-year-old with me and an older couple just adored her (she’s a chatterbox and will make friends everywhere - she can be overwhelming at times). We tended to be at the lounge the same time every night, so she’d hang out and tell them about her day. She lost a tooth while we were there and they made such a fuss over her. I’ll miss that.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

I think they would give club level guests a quick service dining plan, if they aren't going to fully equip the lounges with food early on.

What would they do for guests who already had a dining plan in addition to their CL room? It’s generally not a way to save money (I wouldn’t do it), but there are people who do both. I wonder how they would be compensated?

 

[Sarahslay]

My first stay at BWI was last June. It was a trip for my daughter’s 16th birthday and we stayed CL. It completely spoiled me on the lounges as the food was hands-down the best I’ve ever had.

One thing I worry will be lost forever is getting to know the other folks staying CL. We met so many lovely people. I had my 7-year-old with me and an older couple just adored her (she’s a chatterbox and will make friends everywhere - she can be overwhelming at times). We tended to be at the lounge the same time every night, so she’d hang out and tell them about her day. She lost a tooth while we were there and they made such a fuss over her. I’ll miss that.

I've rarely had the pleasure of anyone being real friendly with me in the lounges, I'm usually by myself but sometimes with my kids, and people just generally look at me like I'm in their way. I'm not there to meet other guests though so I don't really care, so that's not a selling point for me. I go for convenience (I hate QS alone or with younger kids while I'm alone), and I love the package delivery to my room, plus the CL FP and turn down service. I also love being able to get water and coffee when I want, so I would have to debate whether any of those experiences are inhibited by changes to weigh if it's worth the price for me in the end. I'm hoping by my December trip it's more "normal" since it'll be my DH's first CL trip.

 

[Sarahslay]

I would have agreed I found it hard to believe but someone here reported they went right after 9/11 and that is what they did. GF and all they got were some beverages.

Oh- btw we’re letting the speculation fly about all the other non-CL changes on the rumor board under the modified experiences rumor thread if you want to join! (I like it- fine I get a kick out of it - but it’s not for everyone).

And just to update on my previous comment to this, I've already had multiple comments deleted even though they were about mask wearing and doubting that change would stick or even be helpful. Those mods hate me lol, it doesn't matter what I post about.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Sure is a strange time. While I'm not anxious about things per se, I continually find myself not really sure how to think or feel about any of this (travel in general, discretionary spending choices, WDW, CL, etc). We continue to keep/make trip plans - backups and more backups - to try to salvage some semblance of a summer vacation. Some of those plans include non-WDW backups. We'll adjust/modify/plan when information suggests we should.

I'm somewhere in the middle of all the rumors about operations... be it CL or the theme parks in general. I suspect it won't be nearly as 'bad' as the most aggressive/restrictive plans that have been suggested.... and it won't be anywhere as 'good' as before. Reality with Disney/theme parks/anything in life is often somewhere in the middle when it comes to opinions/discussion on message boards vs what happens or what one experiences on the ground, and I suspect some of that will be in play here too for awhile. And of course everyone's tolerance line for what they will and won't think are acceptable changes will be different.

Or it all could be far worse and my middle of the road expectations are foolish, who knows.

Beverages (coffee and espresso machine), beer, wine, and thoughtfully (key word) pre-packaged snacks/eats could work for us, generally speaking. The devil would be in the details. With my kids now older (5/9), we have found ourselves less around the lounge these days than in our earlier CL travels, hot evening apps have less appeal than they once did. Breakfast is where we do really appreciate CL, so that's more on my personal important list.

Perhaps in "there's a sucker born every minute" thinking... we're keeping our CL reservations. I want to see my CL CM friends (and hope that they are still there), I want to know where my room will be, I want to see first hand what sort of post COVID changes are implemented, I want to go on vacation and sit at the Poly pool all day. Obviously a lot of whiny wants in there and no real needs (and of course things that can be waived off if it is not medically advisable to return to travel), but it is what frames our thinking in terms of what we’re booking at the moment. Nothing else to do right now but plan anyway.

If anything, we’ll go and see what’s up so I can wave the green or red flag around here.

Anyway, just today's random thoughts.... to be substituted with whatever feeling comes next through this whole thing.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

And just to update on my previous comment to this, I've already had multiple comments deleted even though they were about mask wearing and doubting that change would stick or even be helpful. Those mods hate me lol, it doesn't matter what I post about.

What on earth are you posting?

I don't think it was me, unless you're talking about the Theme Parks Attractions & Strategies board. Then, well, it may have been me.

 

[Sarahslay]

Sure is a strange time. While I'm not anxious about things per se, I continually find myself not really sure how to think or feel about any of this (travel in general, discretionary spending choices, WDW, CL, etc). We continue to keep/make trip plans - backups and more backups - to try to salvage some semblance of a summer vacation. Some of those plans include non-WDW backups. We'll adjust/modify/plan when information suggests we should.

I'm somewhere in the middle of all the rumors about operations... be it CL or the theme parks in general. I suspect it won't be nearly as 'bad' as the most aggressive/restrictive plans that have been suggested.... and it won't be anywhere as 'good' as before. Reality with Disney/theme parks/anything in life is often somewhere in the middle when it comes to opinions/discussion on message boards vs what happens or what one experiences on the ground, and I suspect some of that will be in play here too for awhile. And of course everyone's tolerance line for what they will and won't think are acceptable changes will be different.

Or it all could be far worse and my middle of the road expectations are foolish, who knows.

Beverages (coffee and espresso machine), beer, wine, and thoughtfully (key word) pre-packaged snacks/eats could work for us, generally speaking. The devil would be in the details. With my kids now older (5/9), we have found ourselves less around the lounge these days than in our earlier CL travels, hot evening apps have less appeal than they once did. Breakfast is where we do really appreciate CL, so that's more on my personal important list.

Perhaps in "there's a sucker born every minute" thinking... we're keeping our CL reservations. I want to see my CL CM friends (and hope that they are still there), I want to know where my room will be, I want to see first hand what sort of post COVID changes are implemented, I want to go on vacation and sit at the Poly pool all day. Obviously a lot of whiny wants in there and no real needs (and of course things that can be waived off if it is not medically advisable to return to travel), but it is what frames our thinking in terms of what we’re booking at the moment. Nothing else to do right now but plan anyway.

If anything, we’ll go and see what’s up so I can wave the green or red flag around here.

Anyway, just today's random thoughts.... to be substituted with whatever feeling comes next through this whole thing.

I pretty much have the same thoughts, and kinda sad my next trip in July isn't CL (he didn't want to waste the money since we're eating out so much at TS this trip due to not having kids with us). Still cautiously optimistic about everything. Been getting word around my town, now that antibody testing has become available at one location, that people are testing positive for antibodies that they believe came from an illness in february. I'm very hopeful this thing has actually been around a lot longer than suspected and won't be as bad as we thought once things die down a bit. *fingers crossed*

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Whether we can make full meals out of the offerings doesn’t mean that’s how Disney looks at. They don’t describe them as meals, just snacks etc.

Breakfast is actually described as "Continental Breakfast" by Disney, which is what it is, not a snack. If you go to a restaurant and eat oatmeal, fruit, boiled egg, a bagel, juice, cheese and cold cuts, you're not having a snack, you're having breakfast. Not trying to quibble, but it's a fact that the lounge breakfast is a meal and that it is even described as one by Disney. And that's one reason why I don't think they're just going to try to leave out snack packets as a replacement.

 

[cakebaker]

Breakfast is actually described as "Continental Breakfast" by Disney, which is what it is, not a snack. If you go to a restaurant and eat oatmeal, fruit, a bagel, juice, cheese and cold cuts, you're not having a snack, you're having breakfast. Not trying to quibble, but it's a fact that the lounge breakfast is a meal and that it is even described as one by Disney.

I’ve already agreed it’s easy to make a full breakfast, but the offerings are definitely not near equivalent to what you get on a deluxe dining plan- not even close. A sweet roll and coffee are a continental breakfast, but every CL I’ve stayed at offers at least 1 hot item whether it’s crepes or a casserole- yet Disney only describes it as continental. The rest are described as hot samples, drinks, desserts. We can call any of it what we want, but it’s not intended to be a full 3 meals a day - even if that’s what guests can get out of it. A deluxe dining plan would be great for those that like that idea, but imo, would be above and beyond an equivalent of what we get.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

A deluxe dining plan would be great for those that like that idea, but imo, would be above and beyond an equivalent of what we get.

Right, which is why I said I thought it would likely be quick service, not deluxe. I never said the word deluxe.

 

[Eastern]

Great idea! I just did the same. We also have a trip mid/late June. If CL is nothing more than beverages and prepackaged bags of snacks, there’s no way I’m paying for a CL room. My flight to Orlando will give me the same snacks for free!

Or you can just pack them yourself!

 

[Eastern]

Right, which is why I said I thought it would likely be quick service, not deluxe.

I think quick service credits would be great in place of lounge food. If someone wants a better meal plan they can pay the upgrade difference.

I don't think CL will (at least initially) be the same as what we are used to. We are currently booked for August but I am considering postponing and downgrading. (I have already moved the reservation from July to August but considering next year instead).

 

[kacooke74]

I think they would give club level guests a quick service dining plan, if they aren't going to fully equip the lounges with food early on. For what they're charging these days, prepackaged Fritos and Twinkies (or even their upscale cousins) would only outrage paying guests & therefore cause Disney even more issues.

That would solve their problem of initially not being able to staff the lounges as needed to have all of the food served by staff, and it would be a pretty fair replacement for the amount of food that used to be available in the lounge. Breakfast was definitely meant to be a meal at the club lounge: when someone offers you oatmeal, dried cereal, fruit, boiled eggs, cheese, bagels, toast, cold cuts, etc. all at one sitting, they aren't offering you a snack, they're offering you breakfast. I agree the offerings aren't equivalent to three table service meals, but the credits you get from a quick service dining plan would come pretty close to matching the amount of food you could eat each day in the lounge if you went to every serving time.

A quick service dining plan would also be able to be offered last-minute, so guests wouldn't have to deal with making ADRs (in most cases for quick service). It wouldn't be an ideal solution (that would be full service with all of the old offerings), but it's a very doable, fair and realistic solution in case Disney can't make the ideal solution happen.

I think the only problem would be for someone like me who got the free dining for rebooking a cancelled trip. I wonder what they would do in that case.

 

[Sarahslay]

What on earth are you posting?

I don't think it was me, unless you're talking about the Theme Parks Attractions & Strategies board. Then, well, it may have been me.

I just replied to a few people on one of the rumor threads about mask wearing policies and how I don't think they'll be helpful, and used examples (like going to Costco today and seeing people touching them constantly or not even having them covering their mouth and nose). They're just delete happy at the moment and it's frustrating, can't even have a convo about anything talked about because they just *delete delete delete*. Definitely not you though, I'd be like "what the heck man?!" lol I respect their decision to do it, just frustrating since I'm a chatter and love to discuss. I try to stay on topic, but it's hard lol

 

[kylenne]

Ngl, substituting any kind of dining plan for lounge offerings would be a hard pass for us. I hate the dining plans and see absolutely no value in them for the way we travel--we have no interest in eating the way the dining plans encourage (Disney portions are insane to us and we rarely eat three full meals a day down there), nor do we want to be shackled to ADRs the way they encourage, and panicking about using every last snack credit is the antithesis of vacation to me. Lounge offerings were not going to be a meal replacement for us for anything but breakfast for the most part, but we liked the flexibility and the variety they offer. We would definitely downgrade our reservation if they did this.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

It would never work because the room count is too high (assuming normal CL capacity) but the CLs could always do something like they do in the Tonga Suites for breakfast.... a limited order-ahead menu of breakfast offerings, drop off your selection the night before with CL CMs, delivered as room service the next morning.

Again, logistical nightmare, but just a thought. Tonga Toast (or Mickey Waffles, etc) can make amends for a lot of things.