Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[2vets]

Wow, that’s a dumb justification for cutting costs. Who would hear that excuse and not immediately think “then they should standardize prices too” Feel bad for the CMs at RPC having to deal with any repeat guests used to the old ways, it can’t be pretty.

That was exactly my thought. RPC is a whole level up pricewise from CR CL. And don’t get me started on the Epcot resort CL or WL, AKL, GDT.

As the wonderful @trishadono once said (I paraphrase), I can buy a lot of wine and snacks for my room with the money I save.

 

[2vets]

I just got back from the YC CL and the food offerings were the same as last year but I felt the quality and presentation was not as good. I am not blaming the food at YC but I was sick the last two days I was there and did not eat anywhere else. I won’t be going back for a while unfortunately, it was a tough trip. Mid day snacks were the same veggie and dip,crackers, chips hard boiled eggs, lunchables, cookies etc. The best food was the pot roast with mashed potato and chicken fingers. Breakfast was iffy so I stayed with cereal and oatmeal. Food was not that hot, just warm. Pretty disappointed. It is my favorite resort.

I’m so sorry it wasn’t a great trip, and that you were ill .

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I’m always a little hesitant to post things I hear because people talk, information may or may not be accurate or complete, things change, CMs change, leadership changes, etc - it’s all a cycle that will continue forever… but I had also heard there was a recent push to ‘standardize’ mid-day offerings by higher ups (meaning, folks beyond the individual resort), although in fairness I don’t really know what all that actually means.

From what I understand it’s a bit of a grey line between what’s ‘standard’ across CLs and what individual resort GMs/managers control, but from what I do know the best way to make sure they know how you feel is to use the feedback option when there, the post-stay survey, and writing guests services. They do really read all of those things and if they hear the same comments enough things change.

 

[pangyal]

Can anyone please remind/ tell me whether they block off the Poly beach for guests/ CL only on December 30th as well as December 31 (they block it off that night, right?) or is it just for NYE? At this point, I’m willing to stalk and pay for a night if it means not having to go to MK with my grumpy family to watch the fireworks on one of those days…

 

[trishadono]

That was exactly my thought. RPC is a whole level up pricewise from CR CL. And don’t get me started on the Epcot resort CL or WL, AKL, GDT.

As the wonderful @trishadono once said (I paraphrase), I can buy a lot of wine and snacks for my room with the money I save.

Thanks for the ”wonderful” lol.

I did a last minute trip late dec 2020 to early 2021.There wasn’t cl open! Gasparillas at gf had a thing you could order in app. A single serve bottle of champagne and chocolates in a Cinderella’s carriage! That cost was way less than RPC And fun!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Can anyone please remind/ tell me whether they block off the Poly beach for guests/ CL only on December 30th as well as December 31 (they block it off that night, right?) or is it just for NYE? At this point, I’m willing to stalk and pay for a night if it means not having to go to MK with my grumpy family to watch the fireworks on one of those days…

They only restrict the beach area on 12/31, not 12/30.

ETA: For 12/31 the entire beach is restricted to Poly guests only (and strictly enforced) with an additional reserved section in that area with seats for CL guests. They usually have a table with cheap bubbly and NYE trinkets in the CL area as well.

 

[trishadono]

Can anyone please remind/ tell me whether they block off the Poly beach for guests/ CL only on December 30th as well as December 31 (they block it off that night, right?) or is it just for NYE? At this point, I’m willing to stalk and pay for a night if it means not having to go to MK with my grumpy family to watch the fireworks on one of those days…

I really enjoy the 6:30pm fireworks. Many people don’t know or care about them so it’s not crowded.

 

[MagicalAdventures]

They only restrict the beach area on 12/31, not 12/30.

ETA: For 12/31 the entire beach is restricted to Poly guests only (and strictly enforced) with an additional reserved section in that area with seats for CL guests. They usually have a table with cheap bubbly and NYE trinkets in the CL area as well.

Is the CL seating area available for both sets of fireworks on the 31st do you know? Are refreshemnts provided at both or just the midnight fireworks? Thanks

 

[pangyal]

They only restrict the beach area on 12/31, not 12/30.

ETA: For 12/31 the entire beach is restricted to Poly guests only (and strictly enforced) with an additional reserved section in that area with seats for CL guests. They usually have a table with cheap bubbly and NYE trinkets in the CL area as well.

Thank you! I knew the experts would know

 

[pangyal]

I really enjoy the 6:30pm fireworks. Many people don’t know or care about them so it’s not crowded.

I was thinking that might be a good choice- are they as impressive as the ones with the perimeter fireworks at 11:50?

 

[SL6827]

So you get the same mid-day snacks in a CL room at AKL and the Grand? Unreal

 

[NicoleLarson]

They have priced me out next year with the minimal AP discount. When it’s double the price of a room for cl? That’s the point that it’s not worth it.

With all the wedding expenses I really wanted to drop cl for Nov trip. However I have BWI deluxe at AP and I really want to see the new rooms and lounge. they finally release late Nov-Dec RPC dates. It’s been odd. They release a few weeks worth of availability then close it again. I have been stalking for months!

ANYBODY have a clue why CG is blocked off for NYE? S71 only has times until 2pm, Citricos and Narcoosees just say not available for 12/31. It’s so frustrating you can only get poly dining for NYE. 11/1 was date they said they would release for NYE but still nothing.

*I know they didn’t book up , I was up every hour on the hour checking.

I don't think anyone answered you. GC has a huge VERY expensive party on NYE in the past. You used to be able to get tickets, like 10 years ago they were like $500/ person so that's probably $1000 now. It's not something I keep current on so I'm assuming they still do this. Same for narcoossees and citricos, they've done special pre fixe dinners there in the past. I wonder if they're going to do the something similar at steakhouse 71, hmmm.

 

[trishadono]

I don't think anyone answered you. GC has a huge VERY expensive party on NYE in the past. You used to be able to get tickets, like 10 years ago they were like $500/ person so that's probably $1000 now. It's not something I keep current on so I'm assuming they still do this. Same for narcoossees and citricos, they've done special pre fixe dinners there in the past. I wonder if they're going to do the something similar at steakhouse 71, hmmm.

I keep checking. Since we don’t have cl planned we wanted a dinner. However I panicked and booked 12/31 at WL cl just in case. I still don’t know if we can go but the planning is fun!

I did move from late dec to arriving 12/31. CSR AP is LESS than $200 a night. So dd and I are trying to finagle another trip with diSL and dh both having ap‘s this year.

 

[trishadono]

I was thinking that might be a good choice- are they as impressive as the ones with the perimeter fireworks at 11:50?

It was posted this year it will be the same but in years past it was not, However it is so cute!

google “Fantasy in the Sky” there are a lots of videos.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I was thinking that might be a good choice- are they as impressive as the ones with the perimeter fireworks at 11:50?

In my humble opinion 6:30 is nice (and perfectly fine if you have other plans for midnight), but 11:50 is the show you really want to see. Nothing beats the site/sounds of the full launch points.

Cutting/pasting a little blurb about NYE fireworks I’ve used on the theme parks board in the past which touches on your question. For 12/30 and 12/31, it’s the same Fantasy in the Sky show for all four times. The only difference is that the 6:30pm show each night is the “180 degree” version which uses the main behind the MK launch point along with two additional/supplemental behind the park launch points (same as what you see in party fireworks). The 11:50 show is the “360 degree” version where they add additional launch points in the Seven Seas Lagoon - a main launch point on an island in front of Poly that basically mirrors the main behind the MK launch point and two supplemental sides (one more towards CR, one more towards GF).

So, 6:30pm (main MK launch point and two supplemental left and right (similar to party fireworks):


Vs 12:30pm (main MK lunch point and simulcast on island in front of Poly):


All six launch points….

 

[trishadono]

In my humble opinion 6:30 is nice (and perfectly fine if you have other plans for midnight), but 11:50 is the show you really want to see. Nothing beats the site/sounds of the full launch points.

Cutting/pasting a little blurb about NYE fireworks I’ve used on the theme parks board in the past which touches on your question. For 12/30 and 12/31, it’s the same Fantasy in the Sky show for all four times. The only difference is that the 6:30pm show each night is the “180 degree” version which uses the main behind the MK launch point along with two additional/supplemental behind the park launch points (same as what you see in party fireworks). The 11:50 show is the “360 degree” version where they add additional launch points in the Seven Seas Lagoon - a main launch point on an island in front of Poly that basically mirrors the main behind the MK launch point and two supplemental sides (one more towards CR, one more towards GF).

So, 6:30pm (main MK launch point and two supplemental left and right (similar to party fireworks):
View attachment 808365

Vs 12:30pm (main MK lunch point and simulcast on island in front of Poly):
View attachment 808361

All six launch points….
View attachment 808362

View attachment 808363

View attachment 808364

Oh thanks I didn‘t know all that.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

And while I don’t like to gripe about changes, it’s inevitable and not good energy, I do miss the pre-Covid greatly expanded launch points that they used to use. :-(

 

[KBoopaloo2]

We check in Saturday and got my call from BWI yesterday. Thanks to those here who advised me to request a deluxe room on the 4th floor due to my mom’s mobility issues - the CM was able to tell me we are assigned to a 4th floor room as of yesterday barring any unexpected things that pop up. I appreciate the advice I got here!

 

[FidFam]

We arrive on Sunday at BC CL and got the call today. Cannot wait to get to WDW…

 

[BobbiD]

For the past 25 years we have enjoyed our CL stays but we've come to the (sad) conclusion it is no longer worth it. We were die hard RPC fans but our last stay a couple years ago was so disappointing. No orchestra, no afternoon tea, no greeting upon arrival, and now I read they are cutting back on the mid-day offerings which used to set GF apart from other CL. While disney's club level has never been on par with Four Seasons or other brands, it has become a mediocre experience.

We decided to try CL at Wilderness Lodge and Boardwalk. The lounge offerings at Boardwalk were quite limited. It is head shaking to me that I can get a tasty full breakfast at Comfort Suites but $700 plus a night for disney and we left breakfast hungry at Boardwalk. Appetizers were okay but barely warm. Desserts were not particularly inviting. The Wilderness Lodge offerings were definitely better. We thought the staff at both places very friendly and helpful. (just wish they had told me at the Boardwalk they had Mickey bars available - read about it after our stay lol)

There is nothing special about CL to justify the cost anymore. It used to be so nice to be greeted outside and escorted to the lounge but that hasn't happened for us in many a trip. I know disney won't care (or miss us) but I've grown weary of paying $$$$$ for less and less. I don't mind spending money but I want value for my dollars and no longer find it at disney's CL. JMHO