Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[mickeyluv'r]

Wow, we all just got booted from the resort board. Since when are FAQs considered community threads?

Very unfortunate. Before our first CL stay, this thread was almost the ONLY place I could find information about CL. (Actually an earlier CL thread)

I think MOST WDW guests have no idea what CL is. Even with his thread, CL wasn't quite what we expected.

When it comes to hotels, we don't often splurge much for luxury services, but we absolutely LOVE the convenience of lounge food offerings! (closer, quieter, and faster than the food court)

 

[Dispro1]

I don't think I've ever seen Baileys in any of the lounges! It's one of the few I'd try! Bailey's tastes great mixed with coffee, and isn't cloyingly sweet.

Most other cordials are either very strong (flavor), very sweet, or both. for me, it can be a bit like drinking cough syrup, albeit with better flavoring- at least in some cases. (no fan of amaretto! blech!)

If you like sweet coffee, then you might enjoy something like Grand Marnier (orange) or Kahlua (coffee flavor) mixed with coffee, especially something strong like (decaf?) espresso.

Many cordials also classically mix well with (bittersweet) chocolate. Putting some over a mousse or chocolate cake might be good, if the chocolate isn't too sweet already.

I'm glad you don't remember any Bailey's in the lounges either because I thought we had missed it somehow, although I knew that was probably impossible since DH and I drink a lot more on vacation than we do normally -LOL The Kahlua tastes really good in one of the lattes from the Nespresso machine! I'm not really into drinking the cordials straight either, but I do plan to experiment with mixers in October!

 

[Dispro1]

I think if you like Baileys you would love Amarula. It's a little less sweet, lovely flavor. I've seen it at AKL and Contemporary, may be at other CL's too.

Hmm...I don't remember this one at RPC, but I tend to stick with what I know, so I'll have to look for it in October...because now I'm curious!

 

[Dispro1]

Wow...I totally missed the Amarula at BC, but there it is in my picture to prove it was there! I hope they have it in RPC so I can try it!

 

[dansdad]

The whole point of this FAQ thread (and all the other resort FAQs) is to help folks learn more about CL and answer any questions they might have. This isn't a social thread and we stay on the topic of CL at all times. The resort board is going to suffer and new visitors are never going to find these FAQs.

I completely agree with you.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Hello CL experts! For those of you who have stayed CL at YC and AKL before, I'm hoping to pick your brains and get your opinions. We are currently set for GV CL at YC, but I am toying with changing to AKL. As I've mentioned previously in this thread, this will be our first deluxe (and inherently, our first CL) stay, so just don't want to have any regrets when it comes to our resort choice.

Your last sentence was the clincher, keep the bounceback offer, unless a bigger discount comes along.

I'll preface all by saying CL's frequently change in small ways. We stayed at AKL in Jan (short) and already they've changed it a bit.

Conversely, all CL's are very similar in food. Breakfast, for example = assorted starches, yogurt, assorted fruit (but mostly boring stuff like industrial apples, green melon, maybe grapes). Each has slightly different breakfast offerings. (see images)

The desserts roughly = the desserts served at that hotel's buffet (Chef M's at CR, 1900 P Fare at GF, Cape May) We've literally walked from restaurant to lounge to see the same exact desserts!

I'm not sure why you would have any regrets. All the Disney resorts are great, if $$$.

Let's see, between the two, you already named most key pros and cons. Every Disney resort has pros and cons. It's what matters to you. If not going to parks, and not staying CL, AKL is my favorite WDW hotel. For CL, YC is one of my favorites. Great location, very clean looking rooms, excellent pool!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I think if you like Baileys you would love Amarula. It's a little less sweet, lovely flavor. I've seen it at AKL and Contemporary, may be at other CL's too.

Oh I will. How funny. I think I just assumed it was Amaretto flavor, which I don't like.

Ill have to keep an eye out for it next time we stay CL.

 

[erinkristen04]

Your last sentence was the clincher, keep the bounceback offer, unless a bigger discount comes along.

I'll preface all by saying CL's frequently change in small ways. We stayed at AKL in Jan (short) and already they've changed it a bit.

Conversely, all CL's are very similar in food. Breakfast, for example = assorted starches, yogurt, assorted fruit (but mostly boring stuff like industrial apples, green melon, maybe grapes). Each has slightly different breakfast offerings. (see images)

The desserts roughly = the desserts served at that hotel's buffet (Chef M's at CR, 1900 P Fare at GF, Cape May) We've literally walked from restaurant to lounge to see the same exact desserts!

I'm not sure why you would have any regrets. All the Disney resorts are great, if $$$.

Let's see, between the two, you already named most key pros and cons. Every Disney resort has pros and cons. It's what matters to you. If not going to parks, and not staying CL, AKL is my favorite WDW hotel. For CL, YC is one of my favorites. Great location, very clean looking rooms, excellent pool!

Thank you!! Your post was very reassuring. I also am reminding myself that one person's experience at a particular CL may not necessarily be the same experience I have. I've decided to stay put at YC CL for now (agreed, it is too hard to turn my nose up at a bounceback or cutting back on the need for bus transportation haha).

I've loved having these threads as a sounding board. With all the choices and planning that goes into these trips, its easy to get swept up and second guess my decisions. Dare I say that I think I had an easier time planning and making final decisions for my wedding!

I, too, agree that its unfortunate the CL thread got moved to this subcategory. I had NO clue what CL was (or that it was even an option) until I stumbled upon this thread while planning last year's trip. Had it not been for this thread, there's no way I'd have ended up with a CL reservation this trip. And especially now that we are booked CL, I'm finding this thread more resourceful than ever and frantically went searching for it when I realized the threads had all been relocated haha. I'm very appreciative of all the insight people share here for us newbies, and only hope that others will still be able to have a serendipitous discovery of this thread so that they can benefit from all this info, too!

 

[erinkristen04]

Also, every time I read the title to this thread I read it to the tune of "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses. Someone please tell me I'm not alone!

 

[BC1836]

Thank you for the new thread! I'll be more than happy to take plenty of pics of the CR Tower Club and our room when we're there, but it won't be until October. (wish it was sooner!)

Indeed, the new thread with all of its details and photos is a treasure trove of info.

We are at the Tower Club right now (sorry, no photos) and will be moving to the RPC on Wednesday. Both club level experiences are quite different from the other, from food and beverage offerings to physical plant appearances.

All the best!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I've loved having these threads as a sounding board. With all the choices and planning that goes into these trips, its easy to get swept up and second guess my decisions. Dare I say that I think I had an easier time planning and making final decisions for my wedding!

You're welcome. Be aware you might acquire the Club level addiction! You might not like me so well after that.

My posts are often too long, but I agree WDW has many details. It's hard to know what is important to you, but all the WDW hotels have much to offer. Even many offsite options!

For us, part of the fun is exploring and improving visits. (at least as long at the place you like doesn't take away a perk you like, or deteriorate.) I'm actually feeling like CL resort prices have kind of jumped pretty steep this year. I hope we don't get priced out of CL!

CL CM's are also important. Some are decent, many are excellent. An excellent CM on CL can really make the whole experience come together.

 

[mmmears]

Be aware you might acquire the Club level addiction! You might not like me so well after that.

This is a real thing. We really enjoy staying CL and miss it when we don't. Maybe it would have been better not to have booked those first 2 CL rooms back in 1999...

 

[Ferrentinos]

Hi all! After a bunch of CL stays at WDW we are thinking about venturing out west to DL next July! We are in love with CL but we can't seem to find much out about CL at the hotels out there - does anyone have experience with it? Is there a thread that you know of that has information about this? I know this is all about WDW CL but I thought if anyone might know, this group would!

 

[BC1836]

CL CM's are also important. Some are decent, many are excellent. An excellent CM on CL can really make the whole experience come together.

Indeed....the CMs add to the experience, and the GFR's RPC CMs are exceptional. A tip of the hat (with Mickey ears attached) to Abdul, Marie, Gayle, Loretta and Patty!

All the best!

 

[trishadono]

I don't think I've ever seen Baileys in any of the lounges! It's one of the few I'd try! Bailey's tastes great mixed with coffee, and isn't cloyingly sweet.

Most other cordials are either very strong (flavor), very sweet, or both. for me, it can be a bit like drinking cough syrup, albeit with better flavoring- at least in some cases. (no fan of amaretto! blech!)

If you like sweet coffee, then you might enjoy something like Grand Marnier (orange) or Kahlua (coffee flavor) mixed with coffee, especially something strong like (decaf?) espresso.

Many cordials also classically mix well with (bittersweet) chocolate. Putting some over a mousse or chocolate cake might be good, if the chocolate isn't too sweet already.

I probably thinking of Kahlua, lol! I used to drink both until I became lactose intolerant. Now I save my tummy for cheese

Hmm I am going to have to experiment with the cordials some more!! Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Already got an email from GF IPO for December! Now I'm starting to get excited again!! Best cure for P.D.D.

 

[BC1836]

Currently staying at the Tower Club though we have access to RPC (don't ask how). Superb desserts at the Tower Lounge (the club level's oatmeal raisin coookies are a bit better than the RPC's version; and the Tower Lounge's Snickerdoodle cookes are even better than the excellent RPC sugar cookies). However, the three wine offerings at the Tower Club are rather disappointing (and one of them is white zinfandel...Ugh!). Wonderful CMs at the Tower Club.

All the best!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Currently staying at the Tower Club though we have access to RPC (don't ask how). Superb desserts at the Tower Lounge (the club level's oatmeal raisin coookies are a bit better than the RPC's version; and the Tower Lounge's Snickerdoodle cookes are even better than the excellent RPC sugar cookies). However, the three wine offerings at the Tower Club are rather disappointing (and one of them is white zinfandel...Ugh!). Wonderful CMs at the Tower Club.

All the best!

Thank you for this information! Please let us know how the other offerings (breakfast, snacks, evening appetizers) compare. We rarely ever have any reports back from the Tower Club!

 

[scili]

Just wanted to report how great the GF/CR IPO is! They've now helped me on 4 separate occasions on different dates with ADRs where I couldn't find availability for dates or times that I wanted while trying to do it myself on the MDE app or website. I know people say that they have access to the same system as the general public and that they don't have any special reservation rights. However, on 4 occasions, I checked for an ADR but couldn't find the date or time slot that I wanted right before I called, but then they were able to find the date and time slot that I wanted literally seconds later. I used them to get ADRs at Jiko, California Grill, Via Napoli and Artist Point. Maybe I've just been lucky but it's been terrific and a relief not to have to keep checking availability myself constantly.

Also, when making today's ADRs, I asked the IPO again today about the FP texting service for my upcoming September stay at the CR and they confirmed that the service is available for GF/CR CL guests.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Just wanted to report how great the GF/CR IPO is! They've now helped me on 4 separate occasions on different dates with ADRs where I couldn't find availability for dates or times that I wanted while trying to do it myself on the MDE app or website. I know people say that they have access to the same system as the general public and that they don't have any special reservation rights. However, on 4 occasions, I checked for an ADR but couldn't find the date or time slot that I wanted right before I called, but then they were able to find the date and time slot that I wanted literally seconds later. I used them to get ADRs at Jiko, California Grill, Via Napoli and Artist Point. Maybe I've just been lucky but it's been terrific and a relief not to have to keep checking availability myself constantly.

Also, when making today's ADRs, I asked the IPO again today about the FP texting service for my upcoming September stay at the CR and they confirmed that the service is available for GF/CR CL guests.

That's great! Your trip is in September? Are you just now doing your ADRs for the first time? Or did you originally book some and then change them?