Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[DisneyFansInNYC]

So one thing I didn’t understand / totally took for granted before doing the Wanyama Safari is that the savanna/animal areas at AKL (the resort) and those at AK (the park) are totally separate. Not connected at all.

I’m so dumb, I just assumed when we signed up for Wanyama that we’d be driving through “the whole thing” like it’s one big animal area, but that’s not the case. We quickly realized how wrong I was!

Wanyama is only around the AKL savannas. The Caring for Giants tour is at the park.

Hope that helps!

I didn't realize that either. Thanks so much - now it makes sense.

No, the Wanyama Safari takes place at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Caring for Giants takes place at Animal Kingdom park. I feel like there's another tour involving food that takes place at Animal Kingdom Park, but I can't recall the name off-hand. Maybe Savor the Safari?

When we did it, Wanyama started in a room in Jiko with some refreshments and a cultural representative. It's a small group of about 12. Then you go on a safari truck and drive all over the savannahs at the resort - we got some great photos and there was a lot of animal activity. Then we went back to Jiko and had a family style dinner - delicious! We did it as a date night thing, since I think my daughter was too young, plus my son isn't exactly an adventurous eater! It started in the afternoon and took several hours.

Caring for Giants starts near Kilimanjaro Safari at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk at AK. You take a short walk backstage and then board a bus which takes you to a viewing area on the opposite side of the elephant area at KS. There's an animal specialist and a cultural representative that talk about the elephants and conservation efforts, as well as answer questions. I was posting on another thread, I appreciated that it was more low-key. There wasn't a lot of walking, just hanging out watching the elephants. I felt like I was a world away from the business of the park, and I found it relaxing just watching them do their thing! It's about an hour and there were a lot of tour times to choose.

Did you say it's your first time at AKL? You will love it! However, be prepared that giraffe watching can impede trying to get ready in the morning!

Thank you for the info. They both sound so interesting. We eat at AKL each time we are at DW - but never at Jiko - we can't wait. Also yes this is our first time actually staying there. We are so excited. We will try to not do the parks except for a day at AK. I want to enjoy the resort.

 

[dsanner106]

Hi all,
Just booked a club level stay at AKL and not quite to my 180 days yet. I wanted to find out what the serving times are in the CL area and what sort of offerings there are. We have some kids along and just want to be sure that if we stop in there will be things everyone likes. Any tips from the veterans at this particular CL would be appreciated, I have stayed at others but not here.
THanks!!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

For AKL I am finding that there are 2 bedroom CL rooms are in the Kumu Trail and the Zebra Trail. Overlooking the Arusha Savannah or the Uzima Savannah. Does anyone have a recommendation?

If anyone has a map to show where the CL lounge is compared to the rooms - that would be great. I can't seem to find that.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Forgive me, very pic heavy posts coming up.

So the room....

Aside from the few DVC eligible rooms, all CL rooms are on the 4th floor and face the Arusha Savanna only. The CL lounge is on the 6th floor and overlooks the main lobby.

Unlike other resorts, CL and regular resort rooms are mixed together. Not all 4th floor rooms are CL rooms.

I had requested "Zebra Trail, proximate to the pool elevators" as my room request in advance. I decided on Zebra Trail due to proximity to the pool. My room was 4505, which is the red arrow. The star closest to it is an elevator that goes down to the pool. The other star is the elevator you walk to to get to the 6th floor lounge. No complaints with the room location.

Yes, everything is pretty far from the lounge here. Our room was 3-4 minutes each way. That's my worst nightmare at other resorts, but I really didn't mind it here at all. There are so many things to look at all around the resort - overlooks, artifacts, etc - I really looked forward to the walk.

View attachment 316748

Here's a zoomed in map of the Zebra Trail wing. Quick access down to the pool was a huge benefit to my particular room location.
View attachment 316749

I did a search and found your picture. Thanks. I knew you had a map. Thanks this helps a lot with deciding where to put some of the requests. Still trying to decide on the Savannah.

 

[kylaura]

Any news on the GF Sugar Loaf renovations this summer? We're going in November.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hi all,
Just booked a club level stay at AKL and not quite to my 180 days yet. I wanted to find out what the serving times are in the CL area and what sort of offerings there are. We have some kids along and just want to be sure that if we stop in there will be things everyone likes. Any tips from the veterans at this particular CL would be appreciated, I have stayed at others but not here.
THanks!!

Hi there. I'm hardly an AKL CL vet, but did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Kidding. We just stayed a week there earlier this month (we're pretty experienced with CL but this was our first time at AKL). I posted a bunch of photos here: AKL CL - April 2018

It starts with the room then gets into lounge offerings (so keep scrolling).

As far as serving times, see below:



Hope that helps. Happy to answer any questions!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

It's funny that you say this...when we went on the Wanyama Safari two years ago, there was a woman and her adult daughter with us on the tour. It was unclear whether she thought it was one area or not, but the daughter expected to see predator animals (like lions and cheetahs) on the safari, but there aren't any on the resort savannahs. She was expecting some prey/predator action but that was just not part of the deal. She sat next to me at dinner and we had to process her disappointment about the safari for several courses, lol! The wine helped!

Too funny!

I actually felt pretty foolish that I didn't really understand the savanna grounds before our safari. I just sort of assumed it was all one thing. It was fascinating to hear from the CMs how operationally they are really totally different in nearly every respect.

Did you ask for wine refills at dinner? We had a fellow table mate who... well... was somewhat similar. My only one minor complaint about the whole setup is that I wish they would have kept the wine coming a little bit more. ;-)

Sorry this is so OT all.

 

[pepperandchips]

Too funny!

I actually felt pretty foolish that I didn't really understand the savanna grounds before our safari. I just sort of assumed it was all one thing. It was fascinating to hear from the CMs how operationally they are really totally different in nearly every respect.

Did you ask for wine refills at dinner? We had a fellow table mate who... well... was somewhat similar. My only one minor complaint about the whole setup is that I wish they would have kept the wine coming a little bit more. ;-)

Sorry this is so OT all.

I thought we said off topic was fine among friends! I love the stories and all the reviews even if marginally off topic. The only problem is the funding for all these experiences y'all are selling me on. Gotta go work on my disney math

Seriously did they not offer wine refills? I would kind of expect the wine to be free flowing at that level of experience.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I thought we said off topic was fine among friends! I love the stories and all the reviews even if marginally off topic. The only problem is the funding for all these experiences y'all are selling me on. Gotta go work on my disney math

Seriously did they not offer wine refills? I would kind of expect the wine to be free flowing at that level of experience.

Ha! On our night, there were a few (not sure exactly how many) rounds of different wines, but only one pour each. There were a few times in between where I wouldn't have minded being topped off (usually when said table-mate was talking.... )

Note, I never did ask so that could all be on me.

 

[gillep]

Ha! On our night, there were a few (not sure exactly how many) rounds of different wines, but only one pour each. There were a few times in between where I wouldn't have minded being topped off (usually when said table-mate was talking.... )

Note, I never did ask so that could all be on me.

I asked for, and received, refills on a couple of the wines when we did this, but it was a couple years ago so things could have changed. This experience was one of my favorite at WDW, highly recommend.

 

[yaya74]

Regarding the sleeper sofa in the standard room at Poly CL, is it clean enough to let a young child sleep on it?? There are only 4 of us. But since my DS 6 does somersault in his sleep, it would be better to let him sleep on the sleeper sofa. Would the turndown service make the sofa bed for us? Do I need to make a special request for that?? TIA!

 

[jods]

Regarding the sleeper sofa in the standard room at Poly CL, is it clean enough to let a young child sleep on it?? There are only 4 of us. But since my DS 6 does somersault in his sleep, it would be better to let him sleep on the sleeper sofa. Would the turndown service make the sofa bed for us? Do I need to make a special request for that?? TIA!

My 10yo, 8 at the time, slept on that just about every night. He also likes to tumble in his sleep. Mousekeeping made it up for him daily and even arranged all the stuffed animals on it. Ds was so excited to see what she did with them every day. It was perfect for him and clean.

 

[trishadono]

Any news on the GF Sugar Loaf renovations this summer? We're going in November.

@got15 ? Maybe you will find out the end of the month when you there?

I haven't really seen anything other than maybe just some maintenance, FYI the lounge was just updated/redone in 2015.

 

[yaya74]

My 10yo, 8 at the time, slept on that just about every night. He also likes to tumble in his sleep. Mousekeeping made it up for him daily and even arranged all the stuffed animals on it. Ds was so excited to see what she did with them every day. It was perfect for him and clean.

Did you need to request the mousekeeper to make the sofa bed upon checking in??

 

[trishadono]

Did you need to request the mousekeeper to make the sofa bed upon checking in??

It's the same style at CR/poly/gf. It looks like a sofa but the back just flips down towards you and voila a twin bed. The sheets are already on there. A bag with an extra pillow and blanket is in the closet. FYI you can request extra blankets using the housekeeping button on your phone.

It's big enough for an adult just some may need more space/it's close to a twin size bed.

 

[cwis]

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I've posted here. DW and I have a forthcoming trip at AKL CL or Poly CL (can't decide yet), and we've been using DSS to help us make some reservations for umbrellas and cabanas at waker parks.

Specifically, we wanted to make advanced reservations for the, so-called, “private island” at Blizzard Beach. Last year, we “discovered” when we checked-in for our umbrella that this space had been recently converted to clamshells (slightly more expensive, though it does guarantees the location), so we asked DSS to make reservations for clamshells. However, we've just been told that advanced reservations could be made only for umbrellas and cabanas; clamshells were available directly at the water parks, only for same-day reservations.

We felt this is somewhat unexpected: why would not Disney be happy that we pre-pay for something several months before? We've not decided yet what to do, but we'll probably end up not going at Blizzard Beach as many days that we originaly planned: we're not going to pay for cabanas because we're going in August, and these are not shelter, and if we pay for umbrellas, why not go to Typhoon Lagoon that we enjoy more. Of course, we still have the possibility to make reservation for umbrellas, rope-drop in the hope to upgrade them to clamshells, but heck… rope dropping a water park, and take the chance to be disappointed if rules changed meantime and none of the clamshells are available is not how we plan to enjoy our vacation.

I'm sharing this here because I know many DISboarders use DSS to make reservations for the water parks, it might be helpful to someone!

 

[NicoleLarson]

For AKL I am finding that there are 2 bedroom CL rooms are in the Kumu Trail and the Zebra Trail. Overlooking the Arusha Savannah or the Uzima Savannah. Does anyone have a recommendation?

If anyone has a map to show where the CL lounge is compared to the rooms - that would be great. I can't seem to find that.

I don't think anyone answered you but I would choose the Arusha. That's the main Savannah with the most animals and the most variety. Uzima has mostly ankole cattle, some zebras and a few giraffes. Did you find them on the 4th or 5th floor? When Jambo was built 5th was the original CL floor and that's why the VP and pres. suites are up there with most of the DVC units but I wasn't sure about the 2 bedrooms. Are they at the ends of the wings or just mixed in with the rest of the rooms?

 

[dansdad]

Did you need to request the mousekeeper to make the sofa bed upon checking in??

We did not for our last stay, they just did it.

 

[Maxie86]

Did you need to request the mousekeeper to make the sofa bed upon checking in??

I would request it if you have less than five in the room, otherwise they would have no idea you needed it to be made up.

 

[mickeynut1]

Thank you - we will take lots of pictures - I love trying new hotels.

You're welcome

We do too! We have our favorite(s), but we also like trying new ones. Looking forward to your review and pics when you return .