Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[gwynne]

Got to our room at the Beach Club and have an awesome view of The pool and the Boardwalk. We are on the club level, but no greeters outside .
I asked where I check in and was told to go to the front desk like everyone else and the cast member then escorts you up. I asked the cast member when this started and she said on Monday and it will be property wide. I am not being snobby, but I always got a kind of thrill to be greeted outside and escorted upstairs.

I think they should have emailed folks with reservations about the change, but there's probably little chance of that. Appreciate you updating us on this.

 

[Babsy]

We just booked GF SL for this May. We've never even stepped inside the GF before. We've just ridden past it on the monorail. We weren't really looking for it particularly but we got a great deal. We've stayed CL at the BCR and loved it. Last time we didn't stay CL and missed it terribly. Now I'm reading everything I can my hands on about the GF and SL. It sounds amazing so far! Trying to decide what room requests to make for standard view. Can you see the fireworks from there very well? Are there windows in the SL club? Any trip reports you can point me to? I'm looking but have only found a couple so far. Thanks!!!

WE stayed in GF SL last November. None of the rooms have a view of fireworks (However, outdoor viewing areas are nearby at the boat dock or in front of Gasparilla's Grill Rooms face either the marina and another building across the marina (Sago key, I believe) or the courtyard pool and Big Pine key. We had a closeup and personal look at a tree! It totally blocked our view of anything else. Not exactly stunning, but it wasn't all that bad. We could have moved a couple of days later to a better view, but decided it wasn't worth the hassle. All standard views are nice at the GF, but none are amazing, IMO. The rooms and balconies are all pretty much the same except for the dormer rooms which are on the top floor. The balconies are smaller and enclosed on these rooms and the rooms themselves are smaller. However, the rooms are very quaint and the higher ceilings give a feeling of spaciousness. My Mom loves the dormer rooms. I slightly prefer the regular rooms with the more open balcony.
Basically, you can't get a bad room here and the difference between the rooms isn't a matter of much concern, IMO. If you do happen to get a room that you aren't happy with, they will endeavour to move you as soon as something else is available.

The SL lounge is basically the central lobby area on the ground floor of the SL building. There are no windows, but you can look out through the glass doors leading outside if you sit at one of the tables lining the walkway to the exit. I don't think that the area was originally intended to be a CL lounge. The same area is in each of the exterior buildings in the GF with seating areas. The area is small and getting a seat can be problematic at peak times. Food is fine, but not fabulous. You will get a nice continental breakfast. There is afternoon tea with fresh scones and cream that is lovely if you are at the GF in the mid to late afternoon. You can also get afternoon potato chips and cookies. We find the afternoon and evening offerings nice if you happen to be around, but not worth a special trip back to the resort. We occasionally took advantage of a few hors d'oeuvres before heading out to dinner and on some evenings picked up a dessert on our way back to the room for the night. Breakfast was the most convenient of the offerings by far.

The location of the Sugar Loaf building is very convenient. it is centrally located near the courtyard pool, boat dock and main building. Personally, I think that this is the best part of a stay in SL. We LOVED the location! The CM's were nice, but we didn't really have a lot of interaction with them. We did try to change our room upon arrival, but they weren't able to do anything until later in the stay. At that point we were settled and the issue was too small to bother moving.

I probably would stay in SL again if we had a good deal. I might not make the same requests again that I made this time (for an open balcony with a nice view). We did get the open balcony. Whether or nor the back side of a tree is a nice view is debatable, but we weren't impressed. I'm actually not sure that I would stipulate open balcony next time. Perhaps I would rather have a dormer room and be able to see something other than leafy branches. My best recommendation would be to ask for a room with an unobstructed view.

ETA: you can see some room views on the Touring plans website. They don't always seem to be 100% accurate, but it will give you a good idea what to expect. Using their email for requests has never worked for us, but it might be worth a shot. just don't count on it.

Enjoy GF SL!!

 

[Disneytam]

Got to our room at the Beach Club and have an awesome view of The pool and the Boardwalk. We are on the club level, but no greeters outside .
I asked where I check in and was told to go to the front desk like everyone else and the cast member then escorts you up. I asked the cast member when this started and she said on Monday and it will be property wide. I am not being snobby, but I always got a kind of thrill to be greeted outside and escorted upstairs.

I don't think you are being snobby at all. We all pay a lot for CL and one of the reasons that I stay CL is to save time and hassle. One of these is having someone meet us at the door and escort us to the CL. Since we always fly in early our room is never ready when we arrive and I have no interest in standing in line at the main desk just to ask to have someone bring us up to the lounge and check us in. Since we are being asked to give up one of the perks of staying CL will we see a discount in room price? Of course not. I really hope guests push back on this one and write some e-mails. We are all paying for this. I know it's not a big deal but next will be no preplanning help, or no turndown, or every other day room service, or only breakfast served in the lounge. You can see were I am going with this.

 

[Eastern]

I don't think you are being snobby at all. We all pay a lot for CL and one of the reasons that I stay CL is to save time and hassle. One of these is having someone meet us at the door and escort us to the CL. Since we always fly in early our room is never ready when we arrive and I have no interest in standing in line at the main desk just to ask to have someone bring us up to the lounge and check us in. Since we are being asked to give up one of the perks of staying CL will we see a discount in room price? Of course not. I really hope guests push back on this one and write some e-mails. We are all paying for this. I know it's not a big deal but next will be no preplanning help, or no turndown, or every other day room service, or only breakfast served in the lounge. You can see were I am going with this.

Best way to get them to upgrade services is for people to stop booking CL rooms at $700-900 per night. CL does sell out at these prices so no reason for them to try any harder or stop downgrading the services.

 

[Disneytam]

Best way to get them to upgrade services is for people to stop booking CL rooms at $700-900 per night. CL does sell out at these prices so no reason for them to try any harder or stop downgrading the services.

Agreed, with the exception that most of us book these months in advance so we were not aware of the current changes, and of course Disney didn't let any of us in on the secret I have to admit to being more afraid of how the CM attitudes will be next week when we go with all that I have been reading this week of large cuts with more coming. I think it would be very hard to be happy and cheerful when your hours have been cut and your job might be on the chopping block.

 

[cwis]

I don't think you are being snobby at all. We all pay a lot for CL and one of the reasons that I stay CL is to save time and hassle. One of these is having someone meet us at the door and escort us to the CL. Since we always fly in early our room is never ready when we arrive and I have no interest in standing in line at the main desk just to ask to have someone bring us up to the lounge and check us in. Since we are being asked to give up one of the perks of staying CL will we see a discount in room price? Of course not. I really hope guests push back on this one and write some e-mails. We are all paying for this. I know it's not a big deal but next will be no preplanning help, or no turndown, or every other day room service, or only breakfast served in the lounge. You can see were I am going with this.

Couldn't agree more. Just asked WDWToday on Twitter how the procedure will look like for CL guests:
https://twitter.com/cwiiss/status/700099079909539843

Personally, I wouldn't mind (or at least, I would less mind) if they prepare separate desks for checking in regular guests and CLs. They do that in Disneyland Paris, it works and it's efficient (they can move staff around if required). OTOH, having to wait in line for dozens of minutes just to check-in on CL… I would find that kind of harsh and way below expectations.

 

[KerryCM]

If they continue with cast cut backs, there will be fewer cast members working the front desk creating a backup to checkin. We waited about 15 minutes today, I can see it being longer if you have guests asking many questions.

I get a good discount as a retired store cast member, but even still not sure it is going to be worth staying club level if that special feeling is gone. We have a regular room booked at the Beach Club for my birthday in December, just could not justify club level prices, especially now with all the cut backs!

 

[mmtwinmama]

I know the 4th FP texting service is not guaranteed to happen, but will the CL staff book a 4th FP for you at their desk?
I'm curious because if we leave one park and head back to Poly for a break and then heading back out to a different park at night, will they book us a 4th FP when we arrive back at Poly for our break? Just thinking we would have a better shot of getting a decent 4th FP if CL can do it.

 

[KerryCM]

It is not the cast members working club level that do it. The texts go to the Itinerary Planning Office and they answer the texts within 9 minutes, or so I was told today.

 

[BlueSkies]

Babsy What a terrific and thorough SL review...Would you mind sharing that over on the GF thread...I think lots of folks would appreciate reading it...

I just added some SL lounge photos there because of all of the interest...

I am guessing that the room that you had was either 6210, or 6310...there is a big old tree right in front of those balconies. ..does make them seem a bit private though!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I try not to be snobby, but maybe I am. I will be very frustrated if I wait 20 minutes (a real possibility if you're the last off the ME bus) for check in to then be escorted to the location where I actually check in. Why not just check in at the main lobby at that point? How hard is it to have a separate line for CL, even if that line just works like a FP?

Maybe this encourages me to do online though--then can't I just go right to the club level without waiting in line? (Have never done online check in before so not really sure how that works.)

 

[SGB13]

I would be furious to have to basically check in twice. I love walking in and being whisked upstairs. I have had to find the greeter before and tell them who I was, and I was okay with that. But to wait thru the check in line downstairs first, just to be taken upstairs. Why are we paying more to waste more time?

 

[mmmears]

Agreed, with the exception that most of us book these months in advance so we were not aware of the current changes, and of course Disney didn't let any of us in on the secret I have to admit to being more afraid of how the CM attitudes will be next week when we go with all that I have been reading this week of large cuts with more coming. I think it would be very hard to be happy and cheerful when your hours have been cut and your job might be on the chopping block.

Exactly. And with a CL stay coming up in a few weeks, I'm pretty unhappy with what I am hearing. We are paying way too much money for a downgraded experience. Wondering if I should try to change our reservations.

 

[ClareH37]

Makes me wonder why on earth I'm paying a non discounted rate to stay in a watered down CL experience. Have been staying CL since 2006 and seeing the changes over the years, I think my mind has finally been made up for me to stay in a true deluxe resort rather than Disney's overpriced watered down version. Seriously considering cancelling my 2017 BC CL trip as I am not liking the sound of these ominous 'further cutbacks'.

 

[dancemonkey]

I know the 4th FP texting service is not guaranteed to happen, but will the CL staff book a 4th FP for you at their desk?
I'm curious because if we leave one park and head back to Poly for a break and then heading back out to a different park at night, will they book us a 4th FP when we arrive back at Poly for our break? Just thinking we would have a better shot of getting a decent 4th FP if CL can do it.

In December we were able to get a 4th and 5th fast pass at the club level concierge desk. They were very helpful with other questions too! I love CL level at Disney!

 

[ToyStory3]

I haven't stayed CL in a few years. I've seen some references to texting and concierges getting additional fast passes. How does this work? Is this something new? Thanks!

 

[KerryCM]

Our checkin was handled downstairs and then we were escorted upstairs. The cast member upstairs only handed us a letter with the times the lounge was open. Now, we were here at the Beach Club in September and offered a drink etc. nothing this time. My husband asked for some water and we were given some in a to go cup. So very different then our September trip and also very disappointing.

 

[mrsap]

Got to our room at the Beach Club and have an awesome view of The pool and the Boardwalk. We are on the club level, but no greeters outside .
I asked where I check in and was told to go to the front desk like everyone else and the cast member then escorts you up. I asked the cast member when this started and she said on Monday and it will be property wide. I am not being snobby, but I always got a kind of thrill to be greeted outside and escorted upstairs.

Hey there! Saw this posted on the Park boards, might explain more. Seems like all the curbside greeters will be gone...

http://www.disboards.com/threads/fyi-more-cuts-coming.3484327/

 

[Disneytam]

Our checkin was handled downstairs and then we were escorted upstairs. The cast member upstairs only handed us a letter with the times the lounge was open. Now, we were here at the Beach Club in September and offered a drink etc. nothing this time. My husband asked for some water and we were given some in a to go cup. So very different then our September trip and also very disappointing.

Please take the time to write Disney about how disappointed you were in the watered down "CL" experience. We are really hoping for the best next week and will let everyone on here know how things go.

 

[mickeynut1]

I called Delta today due to a change they made on our reservations. They offered me a much better flight down, arriving mid-afternoon rather than evening. I just made reservations at Chefs de France for dinner our first night. Can't wait for April at YC CL!

Congrats on the earlier flight! It's always nice making changes that get you to Disney earlier than expected .

Thanks again!!!! I appreciate your kindness

You're welcome .

The location of the Sugar Loaf building is very convenient. it is centrally located near the courtyard pool, boat dock and main building. Personally, I think that this is the best part of a stay in SL. We LOVED the location!

I agree, SL is in a great location .