Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[focusondisney]

What's a budget? Budget and Disney don't go together never mind CL. It is getting very hard to work the Disney math since I retired. We used to do 2 or 3 RPC trips a year for 5-7 days. Now I am lucky to get one in and only for 1-3 nights. With the addition of the new bar and moving the orchestra to the front of the lobby it makes it even harder to justify the price. I do what Trishadono does and use my SWA CC for everything I can so flights are taken care of. We did a lot of renovations on our house this year and I had enough points to get a companion pass so DH flies free for a year.

focusondisney will you be at the at the YC on Easter? We are staying 2 nights at AKL first then moving to the YC on Easter. When I booked the day AP rates came out I didn't know it was Easter that I was booking, I went with the dates with the lower price. I couldn't believe it when I found that Easter rates were lower than the week after.

Yes, we are there the 11- 18th. I was shocked to get a discount for Easter this year. So I was hopeful for one next year & jumped on it the day discounts came out. We hadn’t even discussed our vacation dates for next year so I booked it planning to cancel after talking with my DH. This year was the first time we ever traveled over Easter & it turns out he really liked it. Hopefully those prices mean crowds will be manageable!


We’re working on the home renos too, but I am spreading those out over 3 years. But they are getting me some Disney Visa point, so that helps. Great that you were able to make it work for a companion pass!! Right now, my plan for when we’re retired is split stays..... maybe Port Orleans (we like either one) or regular YC rooms with a few nights club level.

 

[mickeynut1]

I did CR cl in 2018 because the AP discount my week was the same as at GF. I was so surprised and booked it right away.

I did WL cl for Tgiving last year. You are the star in your own HallMark Christmas movie lol.

You gotta grab those good deals as soon as you see them .

Oh I know...lol. WL is my favorite at Christmas time. Our last WL stay was 2006 (WL CL was 2004), so It's been a long time and CL has been redone since our last stay. CR CL would be fun because it'd be something new, but I'm thinking I might regret changing once I get there and see the WL....decisions, decisions .

I just wanted to add that, when we were at YC CL in August, I asked whether we might be able to get ice cream after 10:00 when we came back from the parks because I didn't think it would keep in the room fridge. The CM winked at me and said go ahead and, if there is ice cream in the freezer, take what we'd like when we'd like. I am not one to break rules and wouldn't have gone past the rope except that the CM said it was okay. I think my nephew ended up getting some chocolate ice cream around midnight. YMMV.

When we stayed YC CL in June, we didn't arrive until about 2am. When we checked in at the front desk, the CM was telling us about the YC (it was our first YC stay) and he mentioned the ice cream. He said the serving area would be roped off, but we were more than welcome to go past the rope to get ice cream .

I only bought the 2 AP vouchers. At this point, I wish I had bought more.

I wish I would have thought to buy a few at that price .

 

[Eastern]

Thanks, that’s the only cl I have not done, YET

YC is usually the best value CL pricewise. More in the 500s than 700s.

 

[Disneytam]

So I consider myself a REGULAR here on the cl thread,

I have GF RPC in 2 weeks for DH and I for our 25th.

Then I’m taking dd and her bf for pres weekend , I liked the space of CSR deluxe suite so I booked RR 1 bedroom with the Disney visa discount,

Then my ta said she had TPV at CR for my birthday, (Easter weekend too). So I booked that and CG for my Bday dinner 11th.

Then today I booked CCV with pin code my son got for memorial weekend for me , dh, Ds, dd and bf. That 2 bedroom villa will be nice!

I wish I could do cl next year but the prices are insane! My AP ends in June so I have those trips booked.

After that I may just do 1 or 2 short trips, maybe. I always felt lucky I usually got to go where I wanted but the prices are just not worth what you get,

So sad. I have a few friends from here also doing the same. 700-1000 a nite is just a lot. A few years ago I did Cr atrium for 348 etc. how did it triple in 5 years?

Hope y’all get what you want when you book . Life is short so do what you can. I can say I never regretted anything I’ve spent at Disney. ❤

Just wish I could book what I used to.

I have to totally agree with you and it breaks my heart! The CL prices, heck just the Deluxe hotel prices, have just gotten so crazy high. Only three years ago CL at the BWI we paid in the $400 range and now I'm seeing nearly a thousand. We didn't go to Disney this year and have no planes to go next year either as we let our AP run out. Those price increases are another whole story!

So we too will be enjoying other vacation spots, and enjoying the memories.

 

[trishadono]

I have to totally agree with you and it breaks my heart! The CL prices, heck just the Deluxe hotel prices, have just gotten so crazy high. Only three years ago CL at the BWI we paid in the $400 range and now I'm seeing nearly a thousand. We didn't go to Disney this year and have no planes to go next year either as we let our AP run out. Those price increases are another whole story!

So we too will be enjoying other vacation spots, and enjoying the memories.

Thx , I am relieved to know “it’s not me!’

 

[MemphisVanessa]

Did everyone see that there is a huge GOP fundraiser at the Grand Floridian on December 7th? The president is attending. This is not a political post but I'm curious how this is going to affect things at that resort and around Disney World in general. It falls during my trip but thankfully I'm not at GF.

https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando...trump-to-return-to-orlando-for-gop-fundraiser

 

[gottalovepluto]

Did everyone see that there is a huge GOP fundraiser at the Grand Floridian on December 7th? The president is attending. This is not a political post but I'm curious how this is going to affect things at that resort and around Disney World in general. It falls during my trip but thankfully I'm not at GF.

https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando...trump-to-return-to-orlando-for-gop-fundraiser

Sounds like a traffic mess and a good day to avoid MK area. Especially considering it’s been darn near impossible to get a room with Pop Warner going on and then ROTR opening 12/5...

 

[MemphisVanessa]

Sounds like a traffic mess and a good day to avoid MK area. Especially considering it’s been darn near impossible to get a room with Pop Warner going on and then ROTR opening 12/5...

It's bad timing with ROTR, for sure! I hadn't even thought about Pop Warner. Ugh!

 

[focusondisney]

Did everyone see that there is a huge GOP fundraiser at the Grand Floridian on December 7th? The president is attending. This is not a political post but I'm curious how this is going to affect things at that resort and around Disney World in general. It falls during my trip but thankfully I'm not at GF.

https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando...trump-to-return-to-orlando-for-gop-fundraiser

We fly in on the 7th, I hope airspace doesn’t get closed off for him to fly in. Although our flight lands at 9am, so hopefully wouldn’t be effected.

 

[sparkle78]

Thanks for the update, we like to visit other resorts decorations and will avoid the monorail and GF that day.

 

[elsbit]

Yep. We bring the BWI staff boxes of mini Moon Pies (they are made in our home town) every trip. I just give it to them when we arrive. They know they are from us and actually, anticipate refilling the box each time they see we are coming.

*Waves hello to East TN* I'm in middle TN.

We are doing club level at AKL at Christmas. I'm hoping some of those mixed drinks have jungle juice in them. They served a jungle juice mimosas at the Circle of Flavors in September and it was SO good!

 

[WDW Freak]

 

[mickeynut1]

View attachment 448677

Thanks for posting this .

 

[Maxie86]

Yes, we are there the 11- 18th. I was shocked to get a discount for Easter this year. So I was hopeful for one next year & jumped on it the day discounts came out. We hadn’t even discussed our vacation dates for next year so I booked it planning to cancel after talking with my DH. This year was the first time we ever traveled over Easter & it turns out he really liked it. Hopefully those prices mean crowds will be manageable!


We’re working on the home renos too, but I am spreading those out over 3 years. But they are getting me some Disney Visa point, so that helps. Great that you were able to make it work for a companion pass!! Right now, my plan for when we’re retired is split stays..... maybe Port Orleans (we like either one) or regular YC rooms with a few nights club level.

We have been doing split stays for a couple of years now. I like a YC/GF split, but it is getting hard to get the GF in with those rates. We have stayed at POFQ and POR occasionally when we didn't get in until late afternoon. In November we are at the Hilton in DS for the night before we check into the YC. I do not want to pay Disney deluxe rates if I am not getting in early. It all helps to work the Disney Math. Maybe we will meet in the lounge. We are also at the YC Nov 30-Dec 4th, will just miss you.

 

[KerryCM]

*Waves hello to East TN* I'm in middle TN.

We are doing club level at AKL at Christmas. I'm hoping some of those mixed drinks have jungle juice in them. They served a jungle juice mimosas at the Circle of Flavors in September and it was SO good!

Hello from Middle TN too! I am in Murfreesboro! Just wanted to say enjoy your trip! I will be at the Boardwalk Inn the beginning of December.

 

[gillep]

*Waves hello to East TN* I'm in middle TN.

We are doing club level at AKL at Christmas. I'm hoping some of those mixed drinks have jungle juice in them. They served a jungle juice mimosas at the Circle of Flavors in September and it was SO good!

Not sure if you have stayed at AKL CL before but their usual mimosa is made with jungle juice, if you want regular orange juice you need to specify. Also, they have a sunrise sangria that is made with jungle juice and red wine, my guess is that if they start doing cocktails many will use jungle juice.

Also, in at least January they had a large dutch oven of soup every night we were there for evening service, they haven't done the small soup samples in a while. Not sure how well it matched to the Boma soup of the day but my guess is that at least one of the soups Boma uses each night is what the Mara and the lounge use as well.

 

[elsbit]

Hello from Middle TN too! I am in Murfreesboro! Just wanted to say enjoy your trip! I will be at the Boardwalk Inn the beginning of December.

Thanks! I'm in Nashville, so not too far from you!

Not sure if you have stayed at AKL CL before but their usual mimosa is made with jungle juice, if you want regular orange juice you need to specify. Also, they have a sunrise sangria that is made with jungle juice and red wine, my guess is that if they start doing cocktails many will use jungle juice.

Thanks for the tips. Did you like the sangria mixed that way? This is our first time doing CL period. Oh how I perused this thread to help make the decision of which one to choose (it was hard). We are doing a split stay for Christmas, 1/2 at WL non-CL, and 1/2 at AKL CL. I'm really excited, but know it won't be a regular occurrence since they keep raising room prices and we need to fit a family of 5.

 

[gillep]

Thanks! I'm in Nashville, so not too far from you!



Thanks for the tips. Did you like the sangria mixed that way? This is our first time doing CL period. Oh how I perused this thread to help make the decision of which one to choose (it was hard). We are doing a split stay for Christmas, 1/2 at WL non-CL, and 1/2 at AKL CL. I'm really excited, but know it won't be a regular occurrence since they keep raising room prices and we need to fit a family of 5.

I wasn’t sure I would, but I actually do really like the sunrise sangria, I even make something similar at home when I am being lazy and don’t want to wait for real sangria.

I hope you enjoy AKL-CL, it is by far my favorite of the three we have tried.

 

[andrew870]

Howdy from Antioch, TN. Between Nashville and M'boro.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

Howdy from Antioch, TN. Between Nashville and M'boro.

Hello all......


Hey does it count if I was going through on 24 the other day.........!