Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[rcraw45425]

If you have had to use the lounge for a while before your room is ready, are there any of the new charging stations on the lamp bases there like I saw in the main lobby? Traveling with teens and you know how they can't be away from their phones.......

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Any experience with food allergies in the club rooms?

Yes. In short, Disney is usually very good about allergies and special diets. (the following also applies to vegetarians)
1. Generally, the resort will have you speak to chef upon arrival at the resort to work out details. If your allergen is something hard to avoid, they may offer is to bring you (or to set aside) allergen-free food. Everything from prepackaged, to setting aside food so no cross contamination, to bringing you something they serve in another part of the resort. Sometimes the response is simply to tell you which foods are safe/need to be avoided.

2. In general, WDW makes some foods they serve, and others come prepared. Disney can't guarantee the safety of certain foods they don't prepare. Two big categories are bread and chocolate. so if you tell WDW you have an allergy, they will only serve special allergen free bread to that guest (even if your allergen isn't in the ingredients list).

3. The IPO (except CSR business, because no IPO) typically adds your allergy information to all you ADR's. Mostly this is great, but the allergen guest will almost always be served the special 'allergy free' rolls, etc. They are warm+ very good, but are different.

4. Staying CL actually makes eating with an allergy easier than food court dining. If you ask them to make special cookies- then you have a responsibility to be there for those cookies. (= a plan) In some cases, they need to heat your food, so it takes a little time. In some cases, you'll get funny looks from busybodies.

5. Policies and offerings vary with each visit. GF is among the best. Where allergies are concerned AKL was the biggest challenge, because of rule #2 above.

6. DO check out the DISabilities section of the DIS for more info about ADR and QS dining. Look for any mention of Chef TJ. He's amazing! (Last I heard, he was at Hoop Dee Doo.)

7. If you have a car, you likely don't really need groceries + CL, but is an option. Whole Foods ($$) carries many allergen-free brands. Easy stop off I-4 at Sand Lake Rd. (leave MCO via north, WF close to U Studios).

 

[2manypets]

I had mixed situations at two different club levels concerning my allergies. At the YC CL I emailed IPO and told them about my allergies and received an emailed back assuring that everything would be okay, that if there wasn't much to eat they would provide something special. When I got there, the CM's told me to call the chef if I wanted to know about any of the food offerings and then walked away. They seemed very callous and really couldn't care less whether I ate anything or not.

After that we moved to the Poly CL, when I asked about a certain food, the very wonderful CM pulled out a book with the ingredients of all the food to check if the food was safe to eat. I never realized that all CL CM's have access to an ingredients book and that YC was just to lazy to look for me or even give me the book to look through.

So it's potentially very different between all the Club Levels. When in doubt ask for that book!

Even though that happened at YC, I wouldn't hesitate to go back. The resort is beautiful and the location is great.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

What is the bus situation for the Grand Floridian, Beach Club/Yacht Club, Wilderness Lodge.

check out the Transportation board for a better answer, but here's the gist:

GF/CR/Poly to MK: 1 monorail or boat. To Epcot: 2-step monorail via TTC, except Poly is beside TTC.
All other parks: bus, AND MK when monorail not running.

BC/YC/BWK/Swan/Dolphin - walk/boat to Epcot/HS
All others: bus. It's been a bit for me, but typically individual buses at WDW rush hour (9am, after Wishes, etc.), shared buses at WDW non-rush hours.

WL - boat/bus to MK. Bus to all others, sometimes stops at Ft W.

ME is shared for all resorts, up to 4 stops. (At least last time we used it.) We now get a car, in part because much faster than ME.

Buses to AK and DTD also make a water park stop when WP's are open.

Transportation to other resorts are typically two-step process via either a park (daytime) or DTD (p.m.). Except hotels on the same boat route or monorail line. Direct boat between CR/WL/Ft. WL. going to MK bus stop and option for all MK area resorts. NO boat from MK to CR.

You didn't ask, but only CR offers walk to MK. No walking from GF/Poly/WL to MK!! You can walk between Poly/GF or GF to TTC, but a bit of a ways.

Full walk to HS from Epcot (IG exit) a bit long.

 

[Ferrentinos]

We're heading back to WDW in a week and although we aren't staying CL or even Deluxe (we're staying at our fav. value -POP) I am going to create our own little lounge in our room from our GG order and foods from home - it was either we stay at POP or we don't go! I just thought that I've be following this board for so long with all of our past CL stays that I wanted to share here too!

 

[princess Maxwell]

Pop has good prices right now, so have fun. I just got back from the Grand-cl even it's my favorite resort it still issues. Especially, when your paying $400-700 a night. Pop good housekeeping.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We're heading back to WDW in a week and although we aren't staying CL or even Deluxe (we're staying at our fav. value -POP) I am going to create our own little lounge in our room from our GG order and foods from home - it was either we stay at POP or we don't go! I just thought that I've be following this board for so long with all of our past CL stays that I wanted to share here too!

You won't see me hating on Pop, I love it! Heck I'd sleep in a cardboard box to be at WDW.

 

[Ferrentinos]

Pop has good prices right now, so have fun. I just got back from the Grand-cl even it's my favorite resort it still issues. Especially, when your paying $400-700 a night. Pop good housekeeping.

We got an awesome deal with JetBlue so we're quite happy!

You won't see me hating on Pop, I love it! Heck I'd sleep in a cardboard box to be at WDW.

I'm SO excited to be heading back, I don't care where we are sleeping! Looking forward to more time in the parks and hopefully some lower crowds that July 4th!

 

[Flynnismine]

I just booked 1 night AKL CL for October and requested close to the lobby and by an elevator but is there really any benefit to doing a room request since all CL rooms are on the 5th/6th floors and close to the lobby already? Just curious

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I just booked 1 night AKL CL for October and requested close to the lobby and by an elevator but is there really any benefit to doing a room request since all CL rooms are on the 5th/6th floors and close to the lobby already? Just curious

All CL rooms are definitely not close to the lobby. The last two times we stayed there we were a long, long walk down the hall to our room. So you'll definitely want to request that if you want it.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I had mixed situations at two different club levels concerning my allergies.

Surprised - but only slightly - to hear this. Maybe the CM you talked with didn't know much (that happens). I've posted many times, some CM's are more experienced/enthusiastic than others.

It may depend somewhat on the allergy, and how common the allergen is used as an ingredient, but I think all guests have the right to request to discuss their dietary needs with a chef at WDW. that's what we've been told a number of times, at many dining locations all over WDW. (though I wouldn't expect at a QS. At QS, it's more take-your-chances, though many stock prepackaged items. Like if you are on DDP, they typically have prepackaged brownies that are free of the top 5 common allergens.)

again, the DISabilities board has some good info. Some folks over there post specific brands WDW carries and all.

 

[Flynnismine]

All CL rooms are definitely not close to the lobby. The last two times we stayed there we were a long, long walk down the hall to our room. So you'll definitely want to request that if you want it.

I did not know that, thank you for this info. I'll request close to lobby and an elevator then.

 

[rcraw45425]

You won't see me hating on Pop, I love it! Heck I'd sleep in a cardboard box to be at WDW.

Erika, didn't you film your vacation for Travel Channel at Pop years back?

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Erika, didn't you film your vacation for Travel Channel at Pop years back?

Ha! Yes we did! Maybe that's why I love it so much.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I did not know that, thank you for this info. I'll request close to lobby and an elevator then.

I wouldn't say elevator. Because there are some other elevators besides the main set that would put you further away. I would say close to lobby and then if you want a second one request close to lounge or close to transportation. Those are all about the same.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but since being banished to the resort community board we aren't getting nearly the same amount of questions or new members. It's a shame really because our knowledge is basically a waste.

 

[mickeynut1]

We're heading back to WDW in a week and although we aren't staying CL or even Deluxe (we're staying at our fav. value -POP) I am going to create our own little lounge in our room from our GG order and foods from home - it was either we stay at POP or we don't go! I just thought that I've be following this board for so long with all of our past CL stays that I wanted to share here too!

I'm SO excited to be heading back, I don't care where we are sleeping! Looking forward to more time in the parks and hopefully some lower crowds that July 4th!

Hope you have a great trip!

I just booked 1 night AKL CL for October

Have a great time .

 

[gwynne]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but since being banished to the resort community board we aren't getting nearly the same amount of questions or new members. It's a shame really because our knowledge is basically a waste.

Is it OK when we answer a CL question on the "main" board to add a link to this thread?
I really like FAQ threads, they have helped me in the past. Not only can I get a specific question answered, but often I read a tip or suggestion about something I hadn't considered. I think it's probably the same for many other folks planning a vacation.

 

[Mike&AllisMom]

Is it OK when we answer a CL question on the "main" board to add a link to this thread?
I really like FAQ threads, they have helped me in the past. Not only can I get a specific question answered, but often I read a tip or suggestion about something I hadn't considered. I think it's probably the same for many other folks planning a vacation.

Yes, it is ok to give a link to this thread. I have found it incredibly helpful! We are staying at Poly & GF CL for the first time. This is our 3rd trip and there are still so many things I'm learning here.

 

[mrsap]

I had mixed situations at two different club levels concerning my allergies. At the YC CL I emailed IPO and told them about my allergies and received an emailed back assuring that everything would be okay, that if there wasn't much to eat they would provide something special. When I got there, the CM's told me to call the chef if I wanted to know about any of the food offerings and then walked away. They seemed very callous and really couldn't care less whether I ate anything or not.

After that we moved to the Poly CL, when I asked about a certain food, the very wonderful CM pulled out a book with the ingredients of all the food to check if the food was safe to eat. I never realized that all CL CM's have access to an ingredients book and that YC was just to lazy to look for me or even give me the book to look through.

So it's potentially very different between all the Club Levels. When in doubt ask for that book!

Even though that happened at YC, I wouldn't hesitate to go back. The resort is beautiful and the location is great.

WL CL also pulled out the big folder (more than once!) for our little guy. It gave you every ingredient for each and every food item they put out. It was very helpful!