Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[Disneytam]

I know these kinds of questions are very subjective but looking for some honest "What Would You Do" feedback. I currently have a reservation for a BWI CL Deluxe Room for early April. I am debating switching to a BC CL Standard View Room (only room type that's available at BC). It's a 7 night stay with me, DW, DS6 and DD2.

We are "resort people" who tend to spend a decent chunk of time at the resort, pools, lounge, etc. I get the benefits of Stormalong Bay and all that, but looking for comments on the overall experience between the two.... the resorts, the lounges, those specific room types, room location relative to the lounge, etc.

I have limited experience at the Epcot resorts and am having trouble wrapping my head around the overall best choice for our style, ages, 7 nights, etc. We love places like Poly, GF, and CR because they are "easy" resorts (especially with a little one) so looking to find that same feeling at one of these.

Any thoughts or feedback is appreciated.

We just stayed in the deluxe CL rooms at the BWI and just loved them. I would recommend asking for the fourth floor because it makes it so much easier with the kids to just walk across the hallway to the lounge.The view in those rooms is so nice and I think you will really enjoy the extra room to spread out or even have the couch made up for you every night and the kids can have their own bed and still have room to move around. Be sure to find and use the elevator that takes you from the second floor down to the boardwalk. Very handy with a stroller. The quiet pool and just down the staircase through it's own back entrance and of course the slide at the Clown pool is great. Even this 50 year old enjoyed it.
Have fun with whatever you pick, this is my favorite resort section of Disney.

 

[bbailey1021]

Hi everyone! I am so excited to join this forum! We stayed Polynesian CL last June and we are so excited to stay at the RPC at the Grand Floridian for daughter's 8th birthday this June! We have a standard club level room booked and I was wondering if anyone had any room suggestions. I have been trying to find a room that could provide some firework views but it's just really hard to tell. Also, anyone have any advice or any must dos while we are there? This is a bucket list item and not sure we will be able to do it again so we don't want to miss anything Thank you for any help you can give!!

 

[ErinsMommy]

sorry to hijack GADisneyDad's post, but for those in favor of BWI what is the view like? Do you walk to HS and Epcot? Or prefer to take boat? I've seen the line for the boats and it could be quite the wait. How did you find the travel time to MK and AK? (And I'm assuming the easiest most direct is by bus?)

My DD will never stay at the BC/YC because of the sand bottom pool (sensitivity issues) and me and DH don't feel the YC is suited to our 'style' and being the YC/BC share amenities, its one in the same for us.

TIA!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hi everyone! I am so excited to join this forum! We stayed Polynesian CL last June and we are so excited to stay at the RPC at the Grand Floridian for daughter's 8th birthday this June! We have a standard club level room booked and I was wondering if anyone had any room suggestions. I have been trying to find a room that could provide some firework views but it's just really hard to tell. Also, anyone have any advice or any must dos while we are there? This is a bucket list item and not sure we will be able to do it again so we don't want to miss anything Thank you for any help you can give!!

So cool! I posted this same post back after my stay in March of last year but will again for convenience (and because I really like looking at my photos from that trip). It answers some of your questions.

This was a standard view room. Note there are also standard rooms that are on the other side of the atrium that face towards the Poly, so a different view/location than this one. Hope it helps!

A month or so ago I asked advice on room location / requests for GF RPC standard view rooms. Despite the tons of info here and on the GF thread I was still a bit confused with the different room types, layout of the building, turret rooms, etc. Hopefully the info below is helpful to those looking to stay at RPC. FWIW, the two requests I submitted were "upper floor" and "close to the lounge." I was given Room 4418, three doors "down" from the lounge. I very much enjoyed this room, the view, and location.

Here's the floor plan from the back of the door. The red dot was our room.


If only I could keep the room this clean after unpacking..



View to the right. You can see the top of the Spaceship Earth (Epcot) in the distance...


View looking straight ahead towards the courtyard pool...


View to the left. You can see Space Mountain and the main entrance (hard to see in the photo). If you look closely the very tippy top spear of the castle is that little line right next to the tallest Sugar Loaf turret.


And the similar view at night. Not too bad in my book for a "standard" view....


And finally, my morning view...

 

[Disneytam]

sorry to hijack GADisneyDad's post, but for those in favor of BWI what is the view like? Do you walk to HS and Epcot? Or prefer to take boat? I've seen the line for the boats and it could be quite the wait. How did you find the travel time to MK and AK? (And I'm assuming the easiest most direct is by bus?)

My DD will never stay at the BC/YC because of the sand bottom pool (sensitivity issues) and me and DH don't feel the YC is suited to our 'style' and being the YC/BC share amenities, its one in the same for us.

TIA!

The view looks over to the YC and BC or some very pretty garden areas. We always walk over to EPCOT but if it's been a long day we will take the boat back since the BWI is the first stop. Over to HS is about 50/50 on if we walk or take the boat. We will often take the boat back and get off at the Swan/Dolphin stop and walk the bridge back to the BWI.I can only think of one time that we had to waite for a second boat because the first one filled up with guests in all the years we have stayed at the BWI. The buses to MK and AK never seem very long. We always plan an early morning breakfast at Boma on our AK day and then take the bus from the AK hotel to the AK park. We take a cab from the BWI to the AK on that morning since we don't drive a car.

 

[bbailey1021]

So cool! I posted this same post back after my stay in March of last year but will again for convenience (and because I really like looking at my photos from that trip). It answers some of your questions.

This was a standard view room. Note there are also standard rooms that are on the other side of the atrium that face towards the Poly, so a different view/location than this one. Hope it helps!

A month or so ago I asked advice on room location / requests for GF RPC standard view rooms. Despite the tons of info here and on the GF thread I was still a bit confused with the different room types, layout of the building, turret rooms, etc. Hopefully the info below is helpful to those looking to stay at RPC. FWIW, the two requests I submitted were "upper floor" and "close to the lounge." I was given Room 4418, three doors "down" from the lounge. I very much enjoyed this room, the view, and location.

Here's the floor plan from the back of the door. The red dot was our room.
View attachment 217358

If only I could keep the room this clean after unpacking..
View attachment 217359


View to the right. You can see the top of the Spaceship Earth (Epcot) in the distance...
View attachment 217360

View looking straight ahead towards the courtyard pool...
View attachment 217361

View to the left. You can see Space Mountain and the main entrance (hard to see in the photo). If you look closely the very tippy top spear of the castle is that little line right next to the tallest Sugar Loaf turret.
View attachment 217362

And the similar view at night. Not too bad in my book for a "standard" view....
View attachment 217363

And finally, my morning view...
View attachment 217364

This is fantastic information and great photos!! Thank you so much for posting this again for me! I really appreciate it!

 

[minniemouse803]

We just booked our stay at GF RPC for August 5-11. We are so excited. This is our first time staying club level and our 2nd time staying at the GF.

I had a question. If I email Disney Signature Services will they do all of my ADRs for me? Do I just tell them what I want and the timeframe I would like for the meal? Or do they expect you to do that on your own via MDE?

Thanks!

 

[cwis]

Thanks for sharing the email address!

We have a CL trip next Auguest, I just send them an email to introduce. I'll keep you posted when/if I get a response!

Just to keep you guys updated, I still not had a response!

Has anyone received a mail from Disney Signature Services?

 

[TJA]

@GADisneyDad14 I know I'm in the minority here on the DIS, but my vote goes to BC CL. Honestly, I'm beginning to wonder if there's something wrong with me (lol) because I keep saying I should love BWI CL as much as everyone else here on the DIS does. I can't quite place my finger on it -- it could be because I love the monorail resorts so much right now that the Epcot ones just don't give me the same feeling. It used to be just the opposite for me a few years back! Anyway, in your shoes, I know you need to try the Epcot resorts with your whole family to judge for yourself. We used to LOVE BC CL, and we really still do, it's just getting all of our room requests has put a damper on staying there. When our girls were in cribs, though, it was a no-brainer for us - it was the perfect resort for our family back then.

In my opinion, the 2 things that BWI CL has over the BC CL are: the awesome CM's and housekeeping was fabulous at BWI CL. However, neither of those things are deal breakers for us.

Our deluxe room at BWI CL was a great size, but not really separate rooms but more just a very long room. We liked it that way, though. The view was nice. But we did not like the balcony at all. It was just way too small for us. Balconies are a big part of our vacation, so maybe that brought me down a little. Now I requested a room on the same floor as lounge, so I did realize going into it that I would have a small balcony. You could request a room with the larger balcony but it wouldn't be on the same floor as the lounge. Not sure if it would be an easy elevator ride up/staircase up.....

Both have great food - well, you know BC does since you've stayed there. I know you were hesitant about BC because of SAB, so maybe give BWI a shot! You'll probably love it - there are a lot of positives about staying there! I know I haven't helped with your decision....

 

[got15]

Possible change of plans- we are currently booked at BWI (love it there- and the amazing CL & staff). We are planning on going back to BWI in November. This has us thinking that we should change our May trip to somewhere different. We are thinking about AKL CL. Im nervous bc people on the boards always talk about the AKL CL's decline in offerings and services. Has anyone who has stayed at the BWI CL and AKL CL give us some advice. For perspective, we are a family of 4 (2 DS, 3&7).

 

[bbailey1021]

Just to keep you guys updated, I still not had a response!

Has anyone received a mail from Disney Signature Services?

Hi! I emailed them today and got an email back within a couple of hours with my itinerary and letting me know that they are there to help. Hopefully you will here back soon!

 

[cwis]

Hi! I emailed them today and got an email back within a couple of hours with my itinerary and letting me know that they are there to help. Hopefully you will here back soon!

Thanks for your info! I'm going to wait a few more hours before I send them another mail!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

The greedy one in me votes you stay at the Poly CL again and take lots of pics. LOL. The non-greedy one says BC because it looks like such a fun resort and walking distance to both Epcot & HS has to be awesome, and I heard the water slide is a blast!

No need to fear.... I'll be at Poly CL in a few weeks for a short stay with iphone camera in tow! Poly didn't make the list of prospects for April given sky high rack-rates and a relatively weak AP discount. I might love Poly, but I don't love it THAT much!

 

[ErinsMommy]

sorry to hijack GADisneyDad's post, but for those in favor of BWI what is the view like? Do you walk to HS and Epcot? Or prefer to take boat? I've seen the line for the boats and it could be quite the wait. How did you find the travel time to MK and AK? (And I'm assuming the easiest most direct is by bus?)

No need to fear.... I'll be at Poly CL in a few weeks for a short stay with iphone camera in tow! Poly didn't make the list of prospects for April given sky high rack-rates and a relatively weak AP discount. I might love Poly, but I don't love it THAT much!

I'm so looking forward to pics, which undoubtedly will make the next 7 months seem that much longer! DH and I are already tossing the bounceback idea around when we come in September for the following year - he's of course bent on wanting to try out CR CL and I would really love to try an Epcot resort for a change of pace.

 

[Regan117]

Has anyone stayed in a 2-bedroom suite in the GF? If so, could you please tell me how the room is set up. Two adjoining rooms? A suite with an adjoining room? I'd like to figure out sleeping arrangements before we go.

I know we have 1 room with 2 queens, 1 room with a king, and 1 room with 2 pullouts. We have 3 kids—2 in full sized cribs, and one kid in a queen. Ideally, we'd like to put the each of the 2 cribs in their own "space" behind a door in a hall, bathroom, big closet….is this a possibility?

Also, how close to the club are the rooms?

Thanks in advance for your help!

EDITED TO ADD: Basically I'm looking for a floor plan or pictures of a B5 room at the GF. I can't find one in this thread! Thank you!

We have stayed twice in a 2-bedroom outer building suite at GF. We have always gotten Conch Key (by request), which is a location we like. It's by the boat dock and has the view of the lake and Magic Kingdom. It's a quick walk to Sugarloaf for morning breakfast and we used RPC for evening apps after returning on the monorail.

That being said, I don't know the layout of the 2-bedrooms in the main building. I've only ever stayed in a 1-bedroom in the main bldg. Outer bldg 2-bedroom was: walk into a large foyer. To the right was the two bedrooms (basically a standard king room with bathroom attached to a standard 2-queen room with bathroom as a lock-off). From the foyer, if you go straight, there is another full bathroom and then a wet bar and living room. I have a video somewhere I can post if you want.

 

[mickeynut1]

Hi everyone! I am so excited to join this forum! We stayed Polynesian CL last June and we are so excited to stay at the RPC at the Grand Floridian for daughter's 8th birthday this June! We have a standard club level room booked and I was wondering if anyone had any room suggestions. I have been trying to find a room that could provide some firework views but it's just really hard to tell. Also, anyone have any advice or any must dos while we are there? This is a bucket list item and not sure we will be able to do it again so we don't want to miss anything Thank you for any help you can give!!

We haven't tried CL at the Poly yet, but RPC is amazing! Hope you have a great time and enjoy RPC .

We just booked our stay at GF RPC for August 5-11. We are so excited. This is our first time staying club level and our 2nd time staying at the GF.

I had a question. If I email Disney Signature Services will they do all of my ADRs for me? Do I just tell them what I want and the timeframe I would like for the meal? Or do they expect you to do that on your own via MDE?

Thanks!

Congrats on booking your first CL stay. Anywhere at the GF is great, but RPC is amazing! Hope you have a great time .

In the past, IPO was there to book ADRs, etc., but I'm not sure how the new system (signature services) works. Hopefully others will be able to help .

Possible change of plans- we are currently booked at BWI (love it there- and the amazing CL & staff). We are planning on going back to BWI in November. This has us thinking that we should change our May trip to somewhere different. We are thinking about AKL CL. Im nervous bc people on the boards always talk about the AKL CL's decline in offerings and services. Has anyone who has stayed at the BWI CL and AKL CL give us some advice. For perspective, we are a family of 4 (2 DS, 3&7).

We haven't stayed CL at either resort, but I am always reading great things about AKL CL. With that said, it seemed that most CLs were on the decline, but from recent reports, it seems Disney is making changes across the board for the better. Hopefully those who have been to AKL CL recently will post their experience .

 

[TJA]

So exciting I received a call from the new IPO! Unfortunately I was in the middle of a workout class so I didn't have my list handy, but I did touch on the fact that I'll have a bday celebration for my girls. The CM was the best I've ever dealt with - super friendly with lots of ideas. She is going to contact me via email with a list of ideas and she said when I make my decisions, she will book everything for me, even the cakes! I'm beyond thrilled. I book my own ADR's, but her help is very welcome for my girls' bday celebration!

 

[cpdisney]

Sorry, I missed the email address for the new IPO. I'm staying YC CL in May and haven't heard from anyone and have question about a birthday celebration. Thanks for your help.

 

[cwis]

Thanks for your info! I'm going to wait a few more hours before I send them another mail!

This is exciting! We just received a reply from DSS!

They confirmed they are able to assist us in make reservation in restaurants and umbrellas/cabanas in water park. Like the IPO team, they require guests to call to give them their credit card details before they can proceed with making reservations. I was given the number 1-407-939-7777, that can be reached everyday from 9am to 5pm EST.

 

[Regan117]

This is exciting! We just received a reply from DSS!

They confirmed they are able to assist us in make reservation in restaurants and umbrellas/cabanas in water park. Like the IPO team, they require guests to call to give them their credit card details before they can proceed with making reservations. I was given the number 1-407-939-7777, that can be reached everyday from 9am to 5pm EST.

This is so nice to hear.