Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[GADisneyDad14]

The 14 days include arrival and departure days where I don’t plan anything for those days. We’ve come to love the resorts as much as the parks, so we wanted 1-2 days at each resort to relax, enjoy the amenities, disney springs. We have found it best to stick to the littlest ones schedule, so no late nights in the parks, and no park hopping this trip. 9 park days gives us enough time to do everything without rushing, considering adding time for baby swap, etc.

I have considered paring that one down to 10-11 days, just waiting to see what the flight situation looks like Thursday when Southwest releases flights.

Ahh, OK, so you generally know what you’re doing/know what you’re in for.

Tough call. Mine are a little older (10/6) but we really enjoyed our CL stays when younger. It just adds such a nice “convenience” factor, especially for parents.

But 14 days and really having the time to enjoy WDW is awfully nice too. We did 2 weeks last summer and it was the best trip we’ve ever done (some of that may have also been we were just happy to be anywhere). But still, that much time is really great.

I think I might be inclined for the WL 8 day stay over the longer stay straddling Thanksgiving. That’s an amazing time to stay at WL with the tree/holiday vibe and all, and you’ll be leaving town right when the Christmas crush takes over. Assuming pre-COVID conditions hold, I personally think WL is a really strong CL and I enjoy their offerings quite a bit, especially breakfast with the little ones.

Although we did a trip once during that week after Thanksgiving and loved arriving that Sunday when it seemed like the rest of the world was leaving WDW after the holiday.

A Poly / WL split at least gives you a mix of room sizes.... with WL being on the rather small side and Poly being larger. Obviously both will be newly renovated, so that’s nice.

I don’t know - I’d probably have a tough time with this one, as you can tell by my indecisiveness above!

 

[Simba06]

Ahh, OK, so you generally know what you’re doing/know what you’re in for.

Tough call. Mine are a little older (10/6) but we really enjoyed our CL stays when younger. It just adds such a nice “convenience” factor, especially for parents.

But 14 days and really having the time to enjoy WDW is awfully nice too. We did 2 weeks last summer and it was the best trip we’ve ever done (some of that may have also been we were just happy to be anywhere). But still, that much time is really great.

I think I might be inclined for the WL 8 day stay over the longer stay straddling Thanksgiving. That’s an amazing time to stay at WL with the tree/holiday vibe and all, and you’ll be leaving town right when the Christmas crush takes over. Assuming pre-COVID conditions hold, I personally think WL is a really strong CL and I enjoy their offerings quite a bit, especially breakfast with the little ones.

Although we did a trip once during that week after Thanksgiving and loved arriving that Sunday when it seemed like the rest of the world was leaving WDW after the holiday.

A Poly / WL split at least gives you a mix of room sizes.... with WL being on the rather small side and Poly being larger. Obviously both will be newly renovated, so that’s nice.

I don’t know - I’d probably have a tough time with this one, as you can tell by my indecisiveness above!

You basically echo all of my inner thoughts

We did a long weekend at WL CL in 2019, and I remember sitting up there thinking “this would be even better at Christmas time”

we have also gone the week after Thanksgiving and the crowds were great. We haven’t been that close to Christmas though, and the potential for crowds worry me. I know it is worse the week between Christmas and New Years, but I am sure the week leading up to Christmas gets busier as it goes on.

I am slightly worried that a 14 day trip would be too long, since babies are unpredictable. Sure she’s easy going now, but one week of teething can knock you out.

I really pictured club level for us on our next trip, I just wish it were available a few weeks sooner!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Does anyone know if the Contemporary Club Level Lounges are being renovated along with the rooms? We’re staying Atrium level in early December. We haven’t been to WDW for 11 years and I’m spending all of my free time trying to get back up to speed. I’m so glad I’m retired now because so much has changed.

 

[chimo2u]

Ok… I’m going in circles but I’ve changed my mind again!!!
I’m considering maybe doing wilderness lodge club level this time for our trip and I booked us 2 CL rooms. Those who have stayed CL at Old Faithful what do you like about WL? Is it a good resort choice? I like the look of the new room Reno’s and the boat to MK is quaint. The pool looks lovely too! I know I’ll have to deal with buses but I think I’m resigning to the fact that WDW means buses… would ℒℴ𝓋ℯ to hear the great things about WL!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Does anyone know if the Contemporary Club Level Lounges are being renovated along with the rooms? We’re staying Atrium level in early December. We haven’t been to WDW for 11 years and I’m spending all of my free time trying to get back up to speed. I’m so glad I’m retired now because so much has changed.

Excellent question. I don’t think we really know. Presumably yes/maybe I guess (??), but TBD!

 

[mrsap]

Which would you pick?
(For reference a family of 4 with a 6 yr old and 1 yr old)

14 days starting the Saturday before Thanksgiving and leaving the following Saturday, split stay between Poly and WL (standard and nature view respectively). No club level. 9 park days.

8 days December 16-23 Wilderness Lodge Club Level. 6 park days

The price is similar between the two.

That’s tough. I love CL, but I also love long stays. In the past, we’ve done the 14 day split with one week CL and the other at another resort or DVC stay. Can always keep a long split and just shorten one of the weeks (if you have to) so you get the best of both in one stay. That would be my suggestion. Good luck deciding!

 

[focusondisney]

FYI, in case anyone needs park passes for October 1st, the resort & ticket buckets are open again. APs are still full tho.

 

[Runnsally]

FYI, in case anyone needs park passes for October 1st, the resort & ticket buckets are open again. APs are still full tho.

Wonder if the fact that they are expanding the ticket bucket means no new resorts opening by 10/1…

 

[ninafeliz]

Ok… I’m going in circles but I’ve changed my mind again!!!
I’m considering maybe doing wilderness lodge club level this time for our trip and I booked us 2 CL rooms. Those who have stayed CL at Old Faithful what do you like about WL? Is it a good resort choice? I like the look of the new room Reno’s and the boat to MK is quaint. The pool looks lovely too! I know I’ll have to deal with buses but I think I’m resigning to the fact that WDW means buses… would ℒℴ𝓋ℯ to hear the great things about WL!

I only stayed there CL once, and the lounge and food were great! I love those MK resort large, open club lounges they all have, and all with great or amazing views! We had a deluxe room, so I loved the room but didn’t love the distance to the lounge. My brother’s family, though, had a regular CL room. I liked their distance from the lounge, but I really don’t like the closed balconies that all of those rooms have. I would be willing to overlook them to stay CL on the lounge floor there, but am really not a fan. I hate staring at the wall when I sit, and I’m short so even standing I have to be right up against it to see well. It also makes the room dark. The views are so nice, though, I would just like to be able to see them home sitting n the balcony or bed.

 

[focusondisney]

Wonder if the fact that they are expanding the ticket bucket means no new resorts opening by 10/1…

I don’t know, at the very beginning resort & ticket buckets were separate. But they have been the same for months now. I was thinking the opposite actually. Increasing park passes because they’re opening more resorts. No po8nt in booking a hotel if you can’t go to a park.

 

[mystery222184]

FYI, in case anyone needs park passes for October 1st, the resort & ticket buckets are open again. APs are still full tho.

I guess I’ll have to watch this too. We didn’t buy tickets yet, just the resort placeholders for November. Wouldn’t want to be shut out of our planned parks. Still not used to this new reserving system…

 

[Runnsally]

I don’t know, at the very beginning resort & ticket buckets were separate. But they have been the same for months now. I was thinking the opposite actually. Increasing park passes because they’re opening more resorts. No po8nt in booking a hotel if you can’t go to a park.

The ticket bucket will go fast. Sure, people could buy tickets now and hope AKL (for example) gets announced, but seems like Disney would be better off announcing AKL (for example) and adding 10/1 availability at the same time.

 

[Dispro1]

The ticket bucket will go fast. Sure, people could buy tickets now and hope AKL (for example) gets announced, but seems like Disney would be better off announcing AKL (for example) and adding 10/1 availability at the same time.

Those passes will definitely go fast! We grabbed some just before I saw the announcement from @focusondisney! We were going to have to scan in at HS first and hop over at 2pm. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there like us. This will make things so much easier...even though I don't think MK will be easy...it will be insane!

 

[03GirlsMom]

Ok… I’m going in circles but I’ve changed my mind again!!!
I’m considering maybe doing wilderness lodge club level this time for our trip and I booked us 2 CL rooms. Those who have stayed CL at Old Faithful what do you like about WL? Is it a good resort choice? I like the look of the new room Reno’s and the boat to MK is quaint. The pool looks lovely too! I know I’ll have to deal with buses but I think I’m resigning to the fact that WDW means buses… would ℒℴ𝓋ℯ to hear the great things about WL!

We stayed in a deluxe CL room at the WL over Thanksgiving a few years back. The lounge is amazing! The view of the lobby, the variety of food offerings, the space for the kids…it was perfect for us. The CMs were all so friendly and helpful there.

If we stay there again, I would probably opt for 2 CL rooms vs the deluxe (we’re a family of 6) as I didn’t like how far those rooms were from the lounge. I couldn’t easily pop over for a quick coffee in the morning and wouldn’t have been comfortable sending the kids over for a quick snack by themselves like I do at other CLs. The room itself was fine. We had a nice view but the balcony wasn’t as big as the one we had at the GF RPC so we found we didn’t use it as much which was a shame.

The pool and splash pad are great. I also loved how many food options were available between all of the QS and TS restaurants. Geyser Point is a must do! It is probably my favorite place on property. It’s so beautiful there!

Now for my probably unpopular opinion, I hated the transportation options. While the boat is lovely, we often had to wait 30 min or more for a boat to come by. It could have been the time of year but it’s not like the boats were ever full when they did stop. It was just waiting for one to actually show up that was frustrating, especially with small kids. The buses weren’t much better. We skipped some of our plans because we just didn’t feel like dealing with the transportation to get where we wanted to go. We’re clearly monorail resort people. Now we know!

 

[Eastern]

Now for my probably unpopular opinion, I hated the transportation options. While the boat is lovely, we often had to wait 30 min or more for a boat to come by. It could have been the time of year but it’s not like the boats were ever full when they did stop. It was just waiting for one to actually show up that was frustrating, especially with small kids. The buses weren’t much better. We skipped some of our plans because we just didn’t feel like dealing with the transportation to get where we wanted to go. We’re clearly monorail resort people. Now we know!

It is an unpopular opinion that I agree with. I have had WL and AKL booked several times each and I always cancel when I think of the transportation. I have to be able to walk somewhere. (exception POFQ which is easy to navigate as a resort, reasonably priced and the bus transportation is really good. I give up walkability for that)

 

[Eastern]

You basically echo all of my inner thoughts

We did a long weekend at WL CL in 2019, and I remember sitting up there thinking “this would be even better at Christmas time”

we have also gone the week after Thanksgiving and the crowds were great. We haven’t been that close to Christmas though, and the potential for crowds worry me. I know it is worse the week between Christmas and New Years, but I am sure the week leading up to Christmas gets busier as it goes on.

I am slightly worried that a 14 day trip would be too long, since babies are unpredictable. Sure she’s easy going now, but one week of teething can knock you out.

I really pictured club level for us on our next trip, I just wish it were available a few weeks sooner!

What about a shorter trip, Poly CL in the post-Thanksgiving time frame? (we love to talk about options here)

If I had to choose one, I would choose the shorter trip. I am actually someone who does not like to go to Disney for a long time. 5-6 nights is what I usually plan and we go to parks every day except departure day (sometimes my kids will run over but I am too tired by that last day).

I don't think there are any 'bad' choices and imo your choice is mostly about longer vs shorter, CL vs non CL. With young kids, I think that CL is extremely convenient and I would probably choose that over a non CL stay. When they are younger I think you get the most bang for your buck due to the convenience of drinks and snacks at your resort.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

 

[Simba06]

What about a shorter trip, Poly CL in the post-Thanksgiving time frame? (we love to talk about options here)

If I had to choose one, I would choose the shorter trip. I am actually someone who does not like to go to Disney for a long time. 5-6 nights is what I usually plan and we go to parks every day except departure day (sometimes my kids will run over but I am too tired by that last day).

I don't think there are any 'bad' choices and imo your choice is mostly about longer vs shorter, CL vs non CL. With young kids, I think that CL is extremely convenient and I would probably choose that over a non CL stay. When they are younger I think you get the most bang for your buck due to the convenience of drinks and snacks at your resort.

If I knew when Poly CL was reopening that would help! When I originally booked the trip I was hoping CL would be back both places for Thanksgiving. But it’s looking like neither will be. So I booked the before Christmas one as a backup until I decide which way to go.
I agree with the convenience of club level for small kids. Im just trying to decide if outweighs a shorter trip at a potentially busier time.
Our longest trip was 11 days, and we didnt do much resort stuff.

 

[kylenne]

But 14 days and really having the time to enjoy WDW is awfully nice too. We did 2 weeks last summer and it was the best trip we’ve ever done (some of that may have also been we were just happy to be anywhere). But still, that much time is really great.

This is really why we are taking our first 2 week trip in the fall, besides just wanting to spend more time together. Even going solo just now, 8 days didn’t feel like enough. I figure we will finally have time for the things we always put off, like Disney Springs, a water park visit, etc.

I hope Poly CL comes back by then, there’s no way we could afford it for 10 days at the rack rate they will likely still be charging but a night or two at the end of the trip would be nice. As it is I feel very fortunate to have it for the CR part of our stay, but I’m worried about those lounge limits over the 50th weekend.

 

[Eastern]

If I knew when Poly CL was reopening that would help! When I originally booked the trip I was hoping CL would be back both places for Thanksgiving. But it’s looking like neither will be. So I booked the before Christmas one as a backup until I decide which way to go.
I agree with the convenience of club level for small kids. Im just trying to decide if outweighs a shorter trip at a potentially busier time.
Our longest trip was 11 days, and we didnt do much resort stuff.

Ok forgot about the delayed CL reopenings. In that case I would probably do WL CL before Christmas. I think it is going to be pretty busy at WDW, no matter when you go, for the forseeable future.