Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[mickeynut1]

My family and I spent a long weekend at Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort. We loved the tower and the resort. This trip was a bit of an experiment. I wanted a weekend getaway where we didn't have to drive, cook, or clean. I didn't want to have to rush anywhere, so this visit was a non-parks visit. We just enjoyed the pool and resort amenities, Disney Springs shopping and dining (I love Jaleo!), and resort hopping/riding all four forms of transportation in one day. This ended up being a lot of fun and very relaxing as it was hot and I'm not sure you could have paid me to take my kids into the parks!

We stayed in a deluxe suite with club access (Chronos Lounge). Room 457 (triangle, parking lot/parks view).

Overall:
Club level enhanced our experience. I adored the Chronos Lounge. I can't imagine having a better experience anywhere.

Thanks for your review. Glad you had a nice trip overall .

@mickeynut1, thank you for your reply! I appreciate your input and experience.

You're very welcome!

We were not going to renew our AP’s, but with the discounts that posted this morning DH renewed his and I will just buy regular ticket. Staying club level in a cottage room at the BWI. That has always been my dream room there. Amazing rate for my Spring Break week. Happy dance...happy dance

Congrats on the great rate! Hope you have a great trip! Have fun with the rest of your planning .

We stayed CL at AKL in July. I just requested a refurbished room. We got our request. We were in a 4th floor room on Kudu Trail.

Would love to see pics of a refurbed room if you have any .

Sooo couldn’t resist an RPC discount. We switched from a 2BR at Riviera to RPC for late March ! I have sticker shock at the discounted RPC price (we usually go in lower-priced seasons), and I am still nervous about the March crowds, but we are so happy to know we are going to our happy place at our “home” GF!

Congrats on the discount! Have fun with the rest of your planning .

Have a short stay coming up; was able to switch to WL CL, as a room opened up. I’m really happy, as we’ll be getting in mid-day on check in day and leaving late, so it will be nice to have the lounge there as a place to relax if we want. Also, WL is my favorite, so, wahoo on all counts!

Glad a room opened up and you were able to switch! Hope you have a great time .

 

[ltlbityjen]

You all have been very helpful. I was hoping you would help out again. On our arrival night, we decided to stay at the AKL (we will be at the BC CL) the rest of our stay. We are not doing the parks our first full day. We are going to resort hop and do Disney Springs. We have never stayed at the AKL before and decided to go with a Savanna room. To upgrade to the CL is not that much more. Is it worth it for a day?

 

[Amy M]

You all have been very helpful. I was hoping you would help out again. On our arrival night, we decided to stay at the AKL (we will be at the BC CL) the rest of our stay. We are not doing the parks our first full day. We are going to resort hop and do Disney Springs. We have never stayed at the AKL before and decided to go with a Savanna room. To upgrade to the CL is not that much more. Is it worth it for a day?

My family loved our AKL CL stay back in July. We spent 3 nights there and didn’t go to the parks. There was plenty to do around the resort. The Kilimanjaro Club was wonderful. All of the lounge CMs were amazing. If it isn’t much more to upgrade, I say do it!

 

[Staren]

You all have been very helpful. I was hoping you would help out again. On our arrival night, we decided to stay at the AKL (we will be at the BC CL) the rest of our stay. We are not doing the parks our first full day. We are going to resort hop and do Disney Springs. We have never stayed at the AKL before and decided to go with a Savanna room. To upgrade to the CL is not that much more. Is it worth it for a day?

It really depends on whether you will be there to enjoy it. I stayed at AKL CL for my first solo trip in 2018. It is very nice in my experience. The question I have is whether on the day that you are staying at AKL you will be around the resort for awhile, or if you plan to be out and about. If you plan to have a relaxing evening and maybe a slow start in the morning, then I think Club might be worth it. If you're not going to be there much to enjoy the lounge and might only stop in once or twice, than I would skip it for that first night.

 

[HolRae]

You all have been very helpful. I was hoping you would help out again. On our arrival night, we decided to stay at the AKL (we will be at the BC CL) the rest of our stay. We are not doing the parks our first full day. We are going to resort hop and do Disney Springs. We have never stayed at the AKL before and decided to go with a Savanna room. To upgrade to the CL is not that much more. Is it worth it for a day?

I enjoy CL at AKL but if I was only there for one night I would want dinner at Jiko and breakfast at Boma so the extra money for CL would be wasted.

 

[ltlbityjen]

Of course the CL AKL room is not available at a discount now. I guess that made my decision easier. Thanks for the help!

 

[Sandi]

What are the opinions on the extra FPs? It‘s just me and my 25 yo DD for our December trip and we typically do well with the regular FPs. But now with the stupid tiering at DHS, I’m thinking about shelling out $300 to get us a few days of the extras. Part of me thinks it’s not that valuable and I’d be happier with some nice meals, but another part wants the good rides. Our trip dates are 12-14 thru 12-19 if that figures into the calculation. We will be at BWI this time. Thanks!

 

[VicarJT]

Posted both here and the CL board since I'm not sure which will get me a response.

Hi folks. I have a club-level standard room for a couple of nights in early March, and it will be our first time at the resort and our first club level. We are very excited! There will be three adults in the room, and one will have a mobility scooter. So it seems to me that having the large shared balcony might be an asset in our case. Has anyone ever stayed in rooms with a shared balcony that has stories to share? Any information would be appreciated.

 

[Poohspaleeyore]

Are any of the villas considered club level for extra fastpass trial program purposes?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Are any of the villas considered club level for extra fastpass trial program purposes?

To my knowledge the WL cabins and Poly bungalows are eligible. I also seem to recall seeing a thread somewhere around here recently about how the grand villas are also now eligible (but I'm not 100% sure on this part, hopefully someone knows for sure).

Those few AKL CL villas are also eligible (I believe, someone please correct me if you know otherwise).

 

[Poohspaleeyore]

We have a week planned at beach club for club level standard room . but i am having thoughts of changing the last half if our stay to a villa 1 bedroom for extra space (2 adults and two adult children) there are a couple of resorts with availability. however if i change to a split stay there is one day where extra fast passes are scheduled that my room ressie would not be club. would these extra fastpasses be cancelled or what if they are scheduled for transfer day, would they be cancelled?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

What are the opinions on the extra FPs? It‘s just me and my 25 yo DD for our December trip and we typically do well with the regular FPs. But now with the stupid tiering at DHS, I’m thinking about shelling out $300 to get us a few days of the extras. Part of me thinks it’s not that valuable and I’d be happier with some nice meals, but another part wants the good rides. Our trip dates are 12-14 thru 12-19 if that figures into the calculation. We will be at BWI this time. Thanks!

We did it once, but haven't felt compelled to do it again. Although I'll caveat that we're APs with a few trips per year and aren't necessarily commandos/trying to maximize park/ride time - so my lens may not be applicable to some styles.

I found planning (and actually using) six per day to be a bit of a challenge! Our style is to usually hit a park for a few hours, grab a meal, then move on - back to the resort, something else, etc. I don't mind the structure of three FPs but did mind the structure of six, if that makes sense.

With two people, I'd be awfully tempted to not to do the program and just stick to refreshing to solve your DHS FP dilemma... save your money for meals and such as you suggest.

But it certainly can be a valuable program for some styles, so don't take my input as gospel. Many people seem to love it.

Sorry for the ramble, but hope that helps.

 

[chiisai]

Even when the gates are closed in between offerings they say you can still ask for coffee or adult beverages, they just want the area empty while they clean and set up .

Thank you!

 

[sanibellife]

poohspaleeyore,
I think you only need 3 club level nights to be eligible for the cl fast passes. I can't remember if the have to be consecutive days. We were club level the entire stay so I'm not sure. I would call DSS and see what they can do.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

poohspaleeyore,
I think you only need 3 club level nights to be eligible for the cl fast passes. I can't remember if the have to be consecutive days. We were club level the entire stay so I'm not sure. I would call DSS and see what they can do.

FYI, the Extra FP program can be booked with a two night CL stay.... which means given the three day FP minimum purchase you're booking on the arrival and departure day. That wouldn't work for many, but it can be done.

 

[iona]

To my knowledge the WL cabins and Poly bungalows are eligible. I also seem to recall seeing a thread somewhere around here recently about how the grand villas are also now eligible (but I'm not 100% sure on this part, hopefully someone knows for sure).

Those few AKL CL villas are also eligible (I believe, someone please correct me if you know otherwise).

This is a confirmation rather than a correction - the AKL CL villas are eligible. As far as I can work out the only difference between them and a “normal” CL room is a reduced range of toiletries (just body lotion in a small bottle - nothing else).

 

[HolRae]

We have a week planned at beach club for club level standard room . but i am having thoughts of changing the last half if our stay to a villa 1 bedroom for extra space (2 adults and two adult children) there are a couple of resorts with availability. however if i change to a split stay there is one day where extra fast passes are scheduled that my room ressie would not be club. would these extra fastpasses be cancelled or what if they are scheduled for transfer day, would they be cancelled?

I had a split stay last year and had a similar situation. DSS told me I could use the fast passes for a day during my second stay even though that part was not club level. I ended up doing a couple of dessert parties instead so did not actually book the fast passes.

 

[gillep]

This is a confirmation rather than a correction - the AKL CL villas are eligible. As far as I can work out the only difference between them and a “normal” CL room is a reduced range of toiletries (just body lotion in a small bottle - nothing else).

The toiletries in the DVC CL rooms are hit or miss, we have received the full compliment of CL toiletries for some stays and the regular compliment for others, and basically everything in between, the CL CMs are happy to give you whatever you need though. I have no idea what the actual toiletries policy for these rooms is and we have stayed in them about 10 times over that many years.

 

[Sandi]

We did it once, but haven't felt compelled to do it again. Although I'll caveat that we're APs with a few trips per year and aren't necessarily commandos/trying to maximize park/ride time - so my lens may not be applicable to some styles.

I found planning (and actually using) six per day to be a bit of a challenge! Our style is to usually hit a park for a few hours, grab a meal, then move on - back to the resort, something else, etc. I don't mind the structure of three FPs but did mind the structure of six, if that makes sense.

With two people, I'd be awfully tempted to not to do the program and just stick to refreshing to solve your DHS FP dilemma... save your money for meals and such as you suggest.

But it certainly can be a valuable program for some styles, so don't take my input as gospel. Many people seem to love it.

Sorry for the ramble, but hope that helps.

Very helpful and insightful. Thank you @GADisneyDad14. We typically reserve our FPs in the afternoon having hit rope drop in the morning. I get what you’re saying about managing six. Thanks again.

 

[JJ2017]

Is there a strategy on how to keep an eye on CL at CSR for pricing (besides a travel agent)? Looking to book a long weekend getaway for an adults trip. Thanks!