Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[DJFan88]

Is the AKL CL lounge being refurbished in May?

 

[mmmears]

We had a great check in experience at sugar loaf today. We were met as we got off DME by a CM who was great and he led us to the most wonderful CM I've ever met named Denny. He made our check in magical. Even got our kids bags of gummy bears to take into the park. It was wonderful and. I waiting in line in the lobby. This is how club level check in should always be

So glad to read this! Now if only everyone could report the same. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[gwynne]

I have an AK CL reservation but not for until July. But, I've already passed the 180 days, and never got any itinerary plan from them. I made my own reservations. Is there any reason I need to contact them otherwise? This is my first CL visit, so don't really know what I would want from them now. I know the reservation is right since I have a lot of correspondence from disney. Does it take awhile after you make your reservations? I only made mine about a week before the 180.

@DJFan88
Disney doesn't have the best computer system. People get missed, it's happened to me. I always suggest once guests have booked a reservation that they make contact with the IPO. You can send them an email, put your last name and reservation # in the subject line. In the body you can mention who's coming, how you're arriving (rental car, DME or towncar) expected arrival time and anything else. You can also make any room requests by email.
The email for Disney's Kilimanjaro Club is animal.kingdom.lodge.itinerary.planning@Disneyworld.com
You can also contact them by phone. (407) 938-4755
Sometimes the IPOs will send you multi page planning sheets. I usually don't fill them out, they are long and kind of don't apply. (I'm not booking multiple rounds of golf and Cirque shows x3...) What I do is put anything that I'm requesting (or asking for assistance booking) or things they need to know in brief form in an email.
Hope this helps. We love CL at AKL. It's a very special and unique experience.

 

[mmmears]

I have an AK CL reservation but not for until July. But, I've already passed the 180 days, and never got any itinerary plan from them. I made my own reservations. Is there any reason I need to contact them otherwise? This is my first CL visit, so don't really know what I would want from them now. I know the reservation is right since I have a lot of correspondence from disney. Does it take awhile after you make your reservations? I only made mine about a week before the 180.

I always initiate contact (or almost always since it's rare that they contact me) and introduce myself, ask any questions I might have, and give them my room requests.

 

[pangyal]

Okay! Back from AKL Concierge for five days (sob). Ask me anything !

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thank you for the nice words. Magic band was fixed and the luggage arrived about 3:30 so not to bad. The workers have gone for the weekend so things should be better until Monday. Two lovely glasses of wind and some nice apps including a very tasty clam chowder and things are looking much better! You said it just right the way they handled the room switch was not good but it is what it is. Off to dinner at The Rose and Crown.

Disneytam, probably just missed you again! Stopped by R&C for a beverage this evening before the Illuminations dessert party. Caught some of the British band playing in that courtyard area, they were rocking! Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Okay! Back from AKL Concierge for five days (sob). Ask me anything !

Any refurb noise or signs of work being done?

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We had a great check in experience at sugar loaf today. We were met as we got off DME by a CM who was great and he led us to the most wonderful CM I've ever met named Denny. He made our check in magical. Even got our kids bags of gummy bears to take into the park. It was wonderful and. I waiting in line in the lobby. This is how club level check in should always be

You're making me miss SL! After our last two stays it's going to be hard to come down from that high.

 

[DJFan88]

@DJFan88
Disney doesn't have the best computer system. People get missed, it's happened to me. I always suggest once guests have booked a reservation that they make contact with the IPO. You can send them an email, put your last name and reservation # in the subject line. In the body you can mention who's coming, how you're arriving (rental car, DME or towncar) expected arrival time and anything else. You can also make any room requests by email.
The email for Disney's Kilimanjaro Club is animal.kingdom.lodge.itinerary.planning@Disneyworld.com
You can also contact them by phone. (407) 938-4755
Sometimes the IPOs will send you multi page planning sheets. I usually don't fill them out, they are long and kind of don't apply. (I'm not booking multiple rounds of golf and Cirque shows x3...) What I do is put anything that I'm requesting (or asking for assistance booking) or things they need to know in brief form in an email.
Hope this helps. We love CL at AKL. It's a very special and unique experience.

I always initiate contact (or almost always since it's rare that they contact me) and introduce myself, ask any questions I might have, and give them my room requests.

Thank you both. I will do just that. I put a couple requests on my reservation, but I like the idea of the email with arrival and restating the requests.

 

[DJFan88]

Okay! Back from AKL Concierge for five days (sob). Ask me anything !

Any muffin/pastry details you can remember. Also, did they have sliced apples in the afternoon?

 

[pangyal]

Any refurb noise or signs of work being done?

Absolutely none that we heard or saw. We were on the sixth floor.

 

[pangyal]

Any muffin/pastry details you can remember. Also, did they have sliced apples in the afternoon?

Oh I know the first one lol. Breakfast included croissants, mini blueberry muffins, and cinnamon rolls for pastries. We were never around for 11-3, but after that I saw brownies, rice crisp treats and scones for the tea. No sliced apples until dinner at 5.

 

[mrsap]

Okay! Back from AKL Concierge for five days (sob). Ask me anything !

Hope you had a great trip!! I'd like to ask if there was a children's food table. If not, was there a chef there preparing appetizers? Can you let us know some of the evening main dishes? Thank you!!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

We are sitting on the ME bus right now and I received a text that our room is ready. Our room is on the fifth floor. I will let you know if we can go right up when we get there.

Hope you have a great trip .

MB worked on the elevator to access 5th floor. No CM outside to escort us but we ran into one in the lobby and she greeted us and took us up. I used my MB on the elevator to test it so it did work and got us into our room without having to check in again. We were given our welcome letter as we passed the lounge. No gifts in room though we have previously always gotten fresh flowers and chocolates before.

Glad your MBs worked without having to do check in either in the main lobby or lounge .

Thank you for the nice words. Magic band was fixed and the luggage arrived about 3:30 so not to bad. The workers have gone for the weekend so things should be better until Monday. Two lovely glasses of wind and some nice apps including a very tasty clam chowder and things are looking much better! You said it just right the way they handled the room switch was not good but it is what it is. Off to dinner at The Rose and Crown.

Glad your luggage arrived in a short time and your MB issues were resolved. Hope the rest of your trip is magical .

I have an AK CL reservation but not for until July. But, I've already passed the 180 days, and never got any itinerary plan from them. I made my own reservations. Is there any reason I need to contact them otherwise? This is my first CL visit, so don't really know what I would want from them now. I know the reservation is right since I have a lot of correspondence from disney. Does it take awhile after you make your reservations? I only made mine about a week before the 180.

Sorry I'm late to respond, but I see gwynne and mmmears answered your questions. Hope you have a great time in July .

We had a great check in experience at sugar loaf today. We were met as we got off DME by a CM who was great and he led us to the most wonderful CM I've ever met named Denny. He made our check in magical. Even got our kids bags of gummy bears to take into the park. It was wonderful and. I waiting in line in the lobby. This is how club level check in should always be

Glad check in went well! Hope you have a great time .

Is the AKL CL lounge being refurbished in May?

The last I heard it was supposed to start around that time, but I don't know if it's changed. If it has, hopefully others will be able to give updated information .

@DJFan88
Disney doesn't have the best computer system. People get missed, it's happened to me. I always suggest once guests have booked a reservation that they make contact with the IPO. You can send them an email, put your last name and reservation # in the subject line. In the body you can mention who's coming, how you're arriving (rental car, DME or towncar) expected arrival time and anything else. You can also make any room requests by email.
The email for Disney's Kilimanjaro Club is animal.kingdom.lodge.itinerary.planning@Disneyworld.com
You can also contact them by phone. (407) 938-4755
Sometimes the IPOs will send you multi page planning sheets. I usually don't fill them out, they are long and kind of don't apply. (I'm not booking multiple rounds of golf and Cirque shows x3...) What I do is put anything that I'm requesting (or asking for assistance booking) or things they need to know in brief form in an email.
Hope this helps. We love CL at AKL. It's a very special and unique experience.

Okay! Back from AKL Concierge for five days (sob). Ask me anything !

I don't have any questions, just wanted to say I hope you had a great time .

I like the idea of the email with arrival and restating the requests.

It can't hurt .

Oh I know the first one lol. Breakfast included croissants, mini blueberry muffins, and cinnamon rolls for pastries. We were never around for 11-3, but after that I saw brownies, rice crisp treats and scones for the tea. No sliced apples until dinner at 5.

Sounds like a nice variety .

 

[Dreamin192]

We're currently booked AKL CL and GF RPC for our upcoming trip. I'm worried about AKL for us since we're a family of five. The only reason we can even stay there is my twins will be just under 2 and technically in pack n plays. The problem is I don't know if they'll actually sleep in them and if they don't then we are a bed short for my four year old. Soooo I'm considering changing it up and doing a Poly GF split. I can't decide if I should do TPV RPC at GF or TPV CL at Poly. We have never stayed CL at either resort and never in a TPV. What do you all think? Who has a better TPV?

*adding that mu current winning plan is 5 nights sugarloaf/4 nights poly TPV CL. Thoughts on that?

 

[TJA]

We're currently booked AKL CL and GF RPC for our upcoming trip. I'm worried about AKL for us since we're a family of five. The only reason we can even stay there is my twins will be just under 2 and technically in pack n plays. The problem is I don't know if they'll actually sleep in them and if they don't then we are a bed short for my four year old. Soooo I'm considering changing it up and doing a Poly GF split. I can't decide if I should do TPV RPC at GF or TPV CL at Poly. We have never stayed CL at either resort and never in a TPV. What do you all think? Who has a better TPV?

*adding that mu current winning plan is 5 nights sugarloaf/4 nights poly TPV CL. Thoughts on that?

I think you are in for a real treat with your current plan! Poly CL TPV is one of our favorite room types in Disney -- it's SO hard to beat that view right from your balcony. If a full balcony is important to you, be sure to request that because the 2nd floor only has standing balconies, while the 3rd floor has full balconies. We personally love the 1st floor patios, but with the bungalows there now I believe they are mostly all classified as Lagoon View. With young kids, it's hard to beat being able to skip the Wishes madhouse at MK and see the beautiful show right from your own room . If the kids are asleep, you and DH can grab a drink from the lounge and enjoy the show right on your balcony. You'll also love the convenience of the CL building to the main pool. Just steps away. So you can easily go back and forth to your room during pool time.

We are trying GF CL for the 1st time next month, and we're very excited!

As for AKL CL - we do want to try that one day with our kids, but we have stayed there in the past and the rooms are SO small for us. We are only a family of 4, but we also have twins and I remember it being very, very cramped once we got the 2 pack n plays in there, plus double stroller, etc. It's the same with WL rooms....we loved the WL CL experience but just didn't love the rooms like we do at other deluxes like Poly and BC (and hopefully GF too

 

[cocoabean1]

MB worked on the elevator to access 5th floor. No CM outside to escort us but we ran into one in the lobby and she greeted us and took us up. I used my MB on the elevator to test it so it did work and got us into our room without having to check in again. We were given our welcome letter as we passed the lounge. No gifts in room though we have previously always gotten fresh flowers and chocolates before.

Fantastic!!! good to know

 

[Dreamin192]

I think you are in for a real treat with your current plan! Poly CL TPV is one of our favorite room types in Disney -- it's SO hard to beat that view right from your balcony. If a full balcony is important to you, be sure to request that because the 2nd floor only has standing balconies, while the 3rd floor has full balconies. We personally love the 1st floor patios, but with the bungalows there now I believe they are mostly all classified as Lagoon View. With young kids, it's hard to beat being able to skip the Wishes madhouse at MK and see the beautiful show right from your own room . If the kids are asleep, you and DH can grab a drink from the lounge and enjoy the show right on your balcony. You'll also love the convenience of the CL building to the main pool. Just steps away. So you can easily go back and forth to your room during pool time.

We are trying GF CL for the 1st time next month, and we're very excited!

As for AKL CL - we do want to try that one day with our kids, but we have stayed there in the past and the rooms are SO small for us. We are only a family of 4, but we also have twins and I remember it being very, very cramped once we got the 2 pack n plays in there, plus double stroller, etc. It's the same with WL rooms....we loved the WL CL experience but just didn't love the rooms like we do at other deluxes like Poly and BC (and hopefully GF too

Thank you so much for your insights, it's really helpful. The more I look at the AKL rooms, the more I think we are going to be in trouble when it comes to space. Last year we stayed at Poly and rented two cribs as they were only 11 months old. Between the two cribs, a double stroller, and a single stroller for my oldest, it was cramped. We got smaller MacLaren strollers for this trip but I still think the AKL rooms will just be too small. DH thinks I'm crazy and it will be fine but I'm relieved to hear from another twin parent that it was a bit snug. I'm playing around with dates trying to find a way to extend our time at the Poly TPV room, it seems like with tax returns coming in the room availability has dropped significantly haha so it's tough. My girls are almost always in bed around 7 so I'm sure we will never get to stay at MK for wishes, a view from our room would be great.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We're currently booked AKL CL and GF RPC for our upcoming trip. I'm worried about AKL for us since we're a family of five. The only reason we can even stay there is my twins will be just under 2 and technically in pack n plays. The problem is I don't know if they'll actually sleep in them and if they don't then we are a bed short for my four year old. Soooo I'm considering changing it up and doing a Poly GF split. I can't decide if I should do TPV RPC at GF or TPV CL at Poly. We have never stayed CL at either resort and never in a TPV. What do you all think? Who has a better TPV?

*adding that mu current winning plan is 5 nights sugarloaf/4 nights poly TPV CL. Thoughts on that?

I would switch, I think the rooms at AKL are too small for 5 humans, even though they are technically allowed because of their age. I just think you need more square footage to feel sane. You can't ask for anything better than the monorail resorts when it comes to room size. You'll enjoy your trip more with more space.
I'm actually dreading our small AKL room for the 3 of us next month. Originally when I booked the room it was just two of us, which was going to be perfect. Now we're going to have to have a rollaway for Connor and I hate how much space it takes up in the room. I much prefer rooms with a daybed so my kids can sleep apart and we can all be happier.

 

[MKMK]

Alcohol guard at GF RPC..... (Actually, she is very nice, so this isn't really fair)...

View attachment 153175

Your post made me laugh. When we were at RPC during the holidays, my husband assigned code names to the "guards". We dreaded nights when "Sergeant by the Book" was working -- she poured barely an inch of wine and refused to let him take 3 glasses to our room (for him, me and my sister who were getting ready for dinner) -- 2 glasses per person apparently. Alternatively, when "Lieutenant Lots of Fun" was working, it was a generous "pour" and a tray to carry the glasses to the room.