Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[grannyminnie]

So when they approve late check out, how much more time do they allow you to stay in room?

I was allowed to stay til 1, but I bet if I had asked my housekeeper, she would have allowed me to stay a bit longer, had I needed it. She was a sweetie, and I enjoyed chatting with her during my stay.

 

[PolyRob]

So when they approve late check out, how much more time do they allow you to stay in room?

I usually request 1:00pm based on when my DME pickup is. The time I changed it by 30 minutes I asked about 12:30pm and it was approved.

 

[LisC79]

View attachment 379542
Have you seen these? Someone posted a few years ago and very helpful .

I can't find my 5th floor but most of those are suites .

Rpc std 4x13-18 and 4x23-28. FYI 4x29 is a std king. It's upon request only. It's slightly smaller but set up differently. It also has a double balcony because it's on a corner. ( I had it once and loved it).

4201-09 are deluxe kings, 43 and 4401-09 are rpc TPV. 4x21 and 4x30 are the other deluxe kings. 4x19, 20 and 22 are deluxe queens bookble by calling only.

The rest are suites.


I might have a passion for room/buildings maps and numbers

Thank you so much! This is extremely helpful!

 

[BabybetterDisney]

Hi everyone

Does anyone have a link where I can read about all the club level perks? - we are staying club level in September and I would like to prepare

We are staying at AKV Jambo if that makes a difference.

TIA.

I don't have a link but I will tell you what I learned, in no particular order:

1. On check in day, you can start eating at the lounge for breakfast, long before your room is ready. The breakfast is very good and the lounge can be crowded. Similarly, on your checkout day you can stay and eat the evening appetizers, though that can't make a meal. All day long you can snack like you own a small convenience store, if you are around to do that. Most importantly, your kids can run down and grab food and drinks by themselves any time. No tipping necessary.
2. They provide small bottled water to take, and canned soda in the fridge.
3. You can bring food to eat in your room if you prefer.
4. You have your own front desk staff that sit there all day to answer your questions or help you with stuff. Though they have no unusual power over dinner reservations or fastpasses, they are helpful when you need to know something and don't know where to ask. Like I once asked if the lounge has a microwave, they said no but they immediately sent one to my room.
5. They call you once before your trip to welcome you to the club. You also get a card in the mail.
6. You check in from a special club level desk and don't have to wait in line. Be sure to mention to the doorman that you are club level if you check in at the front desk. They also have someone lead you to your room, I think, but I always do online checkin and find the room myself. Like when I stayed at the Grand Floridian Sugarloaf, I just got to GF at noon, walked around until I found Sugarloaf, used my magic band and opened the front door, walked in, and started eating!
7. You have the option of buying extra fastpasses and booking them 90 days in advance rather than the normal 60. They are expensive but worth it ($50 per 3 fastpasses per person), if you know which fastpasses you want.

So what can you do to prepare? Nothing that I can think of, except for the fastpasses.

 

[AngiTN]

I don't have a link but I will tell you what I learned, in no particular order:

1. On check in day, you can start eating at the lounge for breakfast, long before your room is ready. The breakfast is very good and the lounge can be crowded. Similarly, on your checkout day you can stay and eat the evening appetizers, though that can't make a meal. All day long you can snack like you own a small convenience store, if you are around to do that. Most importantly, your kids can run down and grab food and drinks by themselves any time. No tipping necessary.
2. They provide small bottled water to take, and canned soda in the fridge.
3. You can bring food to eat in your room if you prefer.
4. You have your own front desk staff that sit there all day to answer your questions or help you with stuff. Though they have no unusual power over dinner reservations or fastpasses, they are helpful when you need to know something and don't know where to ask. Like I once asked if the lounge has a microwave, they said no but they immediately sent one to my room.
5. They call you once before your trip to welcome you to the club. You also get a card in the mail.
6. You check in from a special club level desk and don't have to wait in line. Be sure to mention to the doorman that you are club level if you check in at the front desk. They also have someone lead you to your room, I think, but I always do online checkin and find the room myself. Like when I stayed at the Grand Floridian Sugarloaf, I just got to GF at noon, walked around until I found Sugarloaf, used my magic band and opened the front door, walked in, and started eating!
7. You have the option of buying extra fastpasses and booking them 90 days in advance rather than the normal 60. They are expensive but worth it ($50 per 3 fastpasses per person), if you know which fastpasses you want.

So what can you do to prepare? Nothing that I can think of, except for the fastpasses.

To clarify a few things that are not absolutes
1. Evening apps CAN make a meal, this is very individual. It does make a meal for us.
5. You MAY receive a phone call. This does not happen 100% of the time.
6. You MAY check in at the CL desk. This does not happen 100% of the time.

 

[AngiTN]

Hi everyone

Does anyone have a link where I can read about all the club level perks? - we are staying club level in September and I would like to prepare

We are staying at AKV Jambo if that makes a difference.

TIA.

This IS the link you need to learn all about the CL at Disney.

 

[louey]

I usually request 1:00pm based on when my DME pickup is. The time I changed it by 30 minutes I asked about 12:30pm and it was approved.

Thank you

 

[Cyberc1978]

I don't have a link but I will tell you what I learned, in no particular order:

1. On check in day, you can start eating at the lounge for breakfast, long before your room is ready. The breakfast is very good and the lounge can be crowded. Similarly, on your checkout day you can stay and eat the evening appetizers, though that can't make a meal. All day long you can snack like you own a small convenience store, if you are around to do that. Most importantly, your kids can run down and grab food and drinks by themselves any time. No tipping necessary.
2. They provide small bottled water to take, and canned soda in the fridge.
3. You can bring food to eat in your room if you prefer.
4. You have your own front desk staff that sit there all day to answer your questions or help you with stuff. Though they have no unusual power over dinner reservations or fastpasses, they are helpful when you need to know something and don't know where to ask. Like I once asked if the lounge has a microwave, they said no but they immediately sent one to my room.
5. They call you once before your trip to welcome you to the club. You also get a card in the mail.
6. You check in from a special club level desk and don't have to wait in line. Be sure to mention to the doorman that you are club level if you check in at the front desk. They also have someone lead you to your room, I think, but I always do online checkin and find the room myself. Like when I stayed at the Grand Floridian Sugarloaf, I just got to GF at noon, walked around until I found Sugarloaf, used my magic band and opened the front door, walked in, and started eating!
7. You have the option of buying extra fastpasses and booking them 90 days in advance rather than the normal 60. They are expensive but worth it ($50 per 3 fastpasses per person), if you know which fastpasses you want.

So what can you do to prepare? Nothing that I can think of, except for the fastpasses.

Thank You.

Iirc isn’t there a tour or similar at akv only available to CL customers?

We have actually tried the CL experience once but I don’t think we got all the perks out of it as I wasn’t are of all of them. We bought the extra FP+ At that time we got to try FOP twice per day as we also used our regular FP+ which my daughters thought was very nice.

In that regard are you able to book both avatar rides on the extra FP+ passes?

This IS the link you need to learn all about the CL at Disney.

Noted

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I don't have a link but I will tell you what I learned, in no particular order:

1. On check in day, you can start eating at the lounge for breakfast, long before your room is ready. The breakfast is very good and the lounge can be crowded. Similarly, on your checkout day you can stay and eat the evening appetizers, though that can't make a meal. All day long you can snack like you own a small convenience store, if you are around to do that. Most importantly, your kids can run down and grab food and drinks by themselves any time. No tipping necessary.
2. They provide small bottled water to take, and canned soda in the fridge.
3. You can bring food to eat in your room if you prefer.
4. You have your own front desk staff that sit there all day to answer your questions or help you with stuff. Though they have no unusual power over dinner reservations or fastpasses, they are helpful when you need to know something and don't know where to ask. Like I once asked if the lounge has a microwave, they said no but they immediately sent one to my room.
5. They call you once before your trip to welcome you to the club. You also get a card in the mail.
6. You check in from a special club level desk and don't have to wait in line. Be sure to mention to the doorman that you are club level if you check in at the front desk. They also have someone lead you to your room, I think, but I always do online checkin and find the room myself. Like when I stayed at the Grand Floridian Sugarloaf, I just got to GF at noon, walked around until I found Sugarloaf, used my magic band and opened the front door, walked in, and started eating!
7. You have the option of buying extra fastpasses and booking them 90 days in advance rather than the normal 60. They are expensive but worth it ($50 per 3 fastpasses per person), if you know which fastpasses you want.

So what can you do to prepare? Nothing that I can think of, except for the fastpasses.

1. Um, kids under a certain age are NOT supposed to go to the lounge by themselves. I want to say WDW said age 12, but I'm basing that on a memory from a few years back. CR actually gave us a printed copy of the rules. Other times, the CM's at WL gave us a tour and shared similar rules. (FYI, the CL's at Universal have similar rules.)
2. Bottled water has come and gone from CL's over time. At present, CL's provide them, but I have had MANY CM's give me strange looks when I asked about bottled water over the years.
3. Yes, we have taken food to our room, but...CM's have asked us not to take certain dishware to our room- or at least to return it promptly if we do- like the wine glass stemware. The lounges only have so many dishes, and get concerned when too much goes walking. They usually provide paper cups, especially if guests want to take drinks to the pool.

 

[Cyberc1978]

1. Um, kids under a certain age are NOT supposed to go to the lounge by themselves. I want to say WDW said age 12, but I'm basing that on a memory from a few years back. CR actually gave us a printed copy of the rules. Other times, the CM's at WL gave us a tour and shared similar rules. (FYI, the CL's at Universal have similar rules.)
2. Bottled water has come and gone from CL's over time. At present, CL's provide them, but I have had MANY CM's give me strange looks when I asked about bottled water over the years.
3. Yes, we have taken food to our room, but...CM's have asked us not to take certain dishware to our room- or at least to return it promptly if we do- like the wine glass stemware. The lounges only have so many dishes, and get concerned when too much goes walking. They usually provide paper cups, especially if guests want to take drinks to the pool.

Are you allowed to bring soft drinks(cans)from the lounge to the pool?

 

[AngiTN]

Are you allowed to bring soft drinks(cans)from the lounge to the pool?

Yes

 

[AngiTN]

Thank You.

Iirc isn’t there a tour or similar at akv only available to CL customers?

We have actually tried the CL experience once but I don’t think we got all the perks out of it as I wasn’t are of all of them. We bought the extra FP+ At that time we got to try FOP twice per day as we also used our regular FP+ which my daughters thought was very nice.

In that regard are you able to book both avatar rides on the extra FP+ passes?


Noted

They used to offer a Sunrise Safari to AKL CL and DVC guests but this was discontinued several years ago
I'm not aware of any other that is for CL only

 

[GADisneyDad14]

1. Um, kids under a certain age are NOT supposed to go to the lounge by themselves. I want to say WDW said age 12, but I'm basing that on a memory from a few years back.

Just FYI, the handouts I have received at several WDW CL’s over recent stays have all indicated guests under the age of 10 should be accompanied by an adult guest.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hi everyone

Does anyone have a link where I can read about all the club level perks? - we are staying club level in September and I would like to prepare

We are staying at AKV Jambo if that makes a difference.

TIA.

A lot of this has been covered above and may be stuff you already know (sorry if so!), but I'll give it a shot. CL "perks" generally include:

• Pre-arrival planning services provided by Disney Signature Services (DSS) - https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/signature-services/
• DSS is basically a pre-arrival concierge service, for lack of a better term. You can ask them to make ADRs, make FPs, book tours, book cabanas, etc. In this age of being able to do much of that online yourself, this doesn't necessarily have a ton of value these days, but it can come in handy at times. I'll often use them to book a water park cabana (for example) or things along those lines that otherwise require calling. If you use them to book anything that requires pre-payment, you'll need to call once and put your credit card on file. Thereafter a lot of requests can be handled over e-mail, which I find more convenient than having to call.
• You can use DSS to add room requests and any notes to your reservation. Again, this can be done over e-mail which is often convenient. For example, when we stayed at AKL I sent my request - "Zebra Trail, close to the elevators to the pool" - via e-mail to DSS. Easy-peasy. Over time I have become reasonably confident these e-mails get properly noted on our reservations.
• You may or may not receive a phone call and/or post card from DSS. If you don't, don't worry about it - you can call or e-mail them anytime (just have your reservation number handy). It is normal for some guests to not receive the call and/or postcard (for unknown reasons).
• AKL CL standard rooms are all on the 4th floor facing the Arusha Savanna - so a CL perk at AKL is knowing where you room will be located (within a general area). (Edit, although I just re-read and saw you said "AKV Jambo" so I'm guessing you may be in one of the DVC CL rooms).
• You have access to the Kilimanjaro Club lounge which is located on the (edit, 6th) floor overlooking the main lobby. This is one of my favorite CL lounges for its setting, layout, and larger size.
• The lounge itself is open 24/7, but it is staffed/stocked from 7am-10pm. Here's a snapshot of the various service times. Beer/wine/mimosa/bubbly are available upon request when staffed - just ask. The lounge also has various sodas, juices, water, and coffee out throughout the day, including a nice Nespresso machine. I don't recall AKL CL having individual bottles of water, but I may be mistaken (bottled water is inconsistent across the various CLs).

• The lounge has newspapers available daily, if so inclined.
• AKL CL is one of the few CLs that still does a decent job of the "arrival greeting" - although your mileage may vary here and anywhere. On our two stays in 2018, we were greeted upon arrival with a CM out front specifically looking for us. They then escorted us up to the Kilimanjaro Club to hand off to a CL CM (there are two CL desks off elevator as you head to the lounge) who finished the check-in process there. While waiting we were offered drinks, etc. It's a nice touch, especially if it's very busy in the main lobby. Many resort CLs have moved away from this personal greeting, but it seems to get reported with some relative consistency at AKL CL (and WL CL).
• The CL CMs at the desks in the Kilimanjaro Club are available to assist with any mid-trip planning needs. Need to cancel an ADR? Have some other complicated planning trouble? These folks don't have a lot of magical super powers but depending on the situation/need, they may be able to assist. I think all the CLs these days (including AKL) have the "texting service" which allows you to text directly to the CL CMs. I've used this (with mixed results) to change ADRs on the fly in the park, or similar actions. I don't use this feature a lot, just on occasion. I don't think I used this at AKL when there last but I 'think' they have it.
• As noted by a PP, as a CL guest can purchase the Trial Extra FP program (although sounds like you've done it before), which you can find info about here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/f...ing-anytime-fps-cl-fps.3538258/#post-56320893
• If interested, here is my trip report from April 2018. It was our first time at AKL, we enjoyed it immensely: AKL CL - April 2018
• CL offerings/perks tend to morph over time, but I agree with the PP that this thread is one of the more useful spots on the Internet for current Disney CL info, recent reports, etc.

Sorry again if that is all stuff you know and you were looking for something different (and that it's TLDR), but maybe it's helpful. Happy to answer any questions.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

 

[BabybetterDisney]

1. Um, kids under a certain age are NOT supposed to go to the lounge by themselves. I want to say WDW said age 12, but I'm basing that on a memory from a few years back. CR actually gave us a printed copy of the rules. Other times, the CM's at WL gave us a tour and shared similar rules. (FYI, the CL's at Universal have similar rules.)
2. Bottled water has come and gone from CL's over time. At present, CL's provide them, but I have had MANY CM's give me strange looks when I asked about bottled water over the years.
3. Yes, we have taken food to our room, but...CM's have asked us not to take certain dishware to our room- or at least to return it promptly if we do- like the wine glass stemware. The lounges only have so many dishes, and get concerned when too much goes walking. They usually provide paper cups, especially if guests want to take drinks to the pool.

I have never been given any rules about club level, any time, at the Grand Floridian or Polynesian where we stayed club level. When I say kids can go eat by themselves, I mean kids old enough for it, of course. You don't want to send your toddler down there unsupervised. I have never seen any kids being reprimanded in the lounge for anything. In fact, the food area of the lounge often has worker around at all, and the dishes often pile up on the tables with nobody to clean them off, and even when the dishes are removed, the tables are not wiped and we have to wipe them ourselves.

To clarify a few things that are not absolutes
1. Evening apps CAN make a meal, this is very individual. It does make a meal for us.
5. You MAY receive a phone call. This does not happen 100% of the time.
6. You MAY check in at the CL desk. This does not happen 100% of the time.

And yes, you can make a meal out of potato chips and cookies and carrot sticks and bits of something wrapped in bacon if you are a small eater, but I don't think most people can. We did, though! I had never eaten so much raw zucchini in my life!

 

[gillep]

I have never been given any rules about club level, any time, at the Grand Floridian or Polynesian where we stayed club level. When I say kids can go eat by themselves, I mean kids old enough for it, of course. You don't want to send your toddler down there unsupervised. I have never seen any kids being reprimanded in the lounge for anything. In fact, the food area of the lounge often has worker around at all, and the dishes often pile up on the tables with nobody to clean them off, and even when the dishes are removed, the tables are not wiped and we have to wipe them ourselves.




And yes, you can make a meal out of potato chips and cookies and carrot sticks and bits of something wrapped in bacon if you are a small eater, but I don't think most people can. We did, though! I had never eaten so much raw zucchini in my life!

I have only ever done AKL CL but the staff there has quite consistently monitored the entire food service and seating areas, restocking food and dishes and cleaning up spills. If they are very busy it may take a couple moments to clear off and wipe a table, but they usually get to them quite promptly, also many people seem to clear their own dishes like we do so that helps. Maybe it’s a much smaller CL than those you have been to because it always seems to be quite well staffed.

Also, AKLs evening offerings are significantly more substantial than you are describing, the chips and cookies aren’t even out for evening apps, as there isn’t room with the delicious soup or stew, cheese plate, chef’s plated apps, etc.. There is a vegetable tray, but it is literally a single plate amongst an entire counter of other offerings, I don’t think my husband has ever touched it in the 10 years we have stayed there.

 

[AngiTN]

And yes, you can make a meal out of potato chips and cookies and carrot sticks and bits of something wrapped in bacon if you are a small eater, but I don't think most people can. We did, though! I had never eaten so much raw zucchini in my life!

You clearly have not been for evening appetizers

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I have never been given any rules about club level, any time, at the Grand Floridian or Polynesian where we stayed club level. When I say kids can go eat by themselves, I mean kids old enough for it, of course. You don't want to send your toddler down there unsupervised. I have never seen any kids being reprimanded in the lounge for anything. In fact, the food area of the lounge often has worker around at all, and the dishes often pile up on the tables with nobody to clean them off, and even when the dishes are removed, the tables are not wiped and we have to wipe them ourselves.




And yes, you can make a meal out of potato chips and cookies and carrot sticks and bits of something wrapped in bacon if you are a small eater, but I don't think most people can. We did, though! I had never eaten so much raw zucchini in my life!

As with almost everything CL, the experience varies from visit to visit. I'm sure it has much to do with each individual manager and CM.

Sometimes we have been greeted out front, for example, but not always. Food offerings are also kind of all over the place. I think we've been offered apples and oranges for every stay, but sometimes the fruit bowl has pears and even bananas.

Over many WDW CL stays, we've only been handed a paper list of rules a few times, and it was far from our first time staying CL. We actually wondered if we'd erroneously been put on some secret "rulebreaker naughty list."

It seems to us, if the CM's are busy when we arrive then we get expedited service. If we arrive at a quiet time, then the CM's spend more time going over everything with us. It is also important to note that if folks arrive outside the CL hours, there are no CL CM's at all.

Of all the CL's, WL is a bit distinct. Of all the CL's, they REALLY tend to spend extra time going over everything with us when we arrive.


As for making meal out of evening appetizers, our experience has also varied widely.

Truly, I left the DISboards for about 6 months because a poster got VERY nasty with me (VERY QUCKLY) over the subject of CL food offerings!

Please humor me for a moment....

In the past 9 months we've had three CL stays: a WDW CL, a Universal Orlando CL, and a 3rd CL (different hotel brand/different city). During all 3 CL stays, we came for desserts and lingered a little while. At ALL of them, the dessert offerings varied within the span of 30 minutes!

We just recently saw cookies trays replaced with pink cupcakes replaced with cake pops replaced with coconut cupcakes replaced with fruit tarts, and back again to cookies! Most folks grabbed a few treats and left before the tray was changed, but the variation over the course of just half an hour was crazy! (Mind, this isn't always the case, CM's often replace same with same.)

We often travel with folks who have food allergies. Often the chefs themselves will talk to guests with food allergies to meet their needs. Multiple chefs have explained to us that availability and pricing are inconsistent. Sometimes they simply can't get a certain item or the seasonal price is too high. Other times, they are able take advantage of low prices. (Produce and seafood are especially prone to fluctuations.) Other times, they place an order, but the item doesn't arrive.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

If they are very busy it may take a couple moments to clear off and wipe a table, but they usually get to them quite promptly, also many people seem to clear their own dishes like we do so that helps.

Alas, this ALSO varies from CL to CL and over time....

No wonder guests are confused!

Some WWD CL CM's have very specifically asked us NOT to bus our table!
The CR CL used to always put out a tray for dishes, but then they stopped having one.

Personally, we are also inclined to want to clean up our own dishes.

The CL's also have another rule that is semi-known: guests should use a fresh plate each time they get (more) food. In particular, children don't always know this rule.

Then again, I've seen adults ignore tongs and grab food with their bare hands, or they cross-contaminate foods by using the wrong tongs. Then again, it isn't always clear which tongs are supposed to go with which tray.