Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[GADisneyDad14]

We land at MCO at 8:30am so we should be there by 10 from past experience. Hopefully staffing won’t be an issue that early.

What are the main differences you would say between a CL stay and a regular Deluxe stay?

I think of CL vs non-CL as “simple conveniences” - if that makes sense.

Simple things like getting a cup of coffee in the morning. Walking to the lounge is much more convenient than going to Captain Cooks (especially if it’s crowded).

We save quite a bit of money on breakfast.

With Poly CL, you know you’ll be in the Hawaii longhouse vs the longhouse roulette with other reservation types - to me that has a ton of value.

We don’t use CL CMs all that much, but it’s nice to have them close by in case you need anything - help with cancelling an ADR, MagicBand not working, etc. Again, simple conveniences.

I get a lot of mileage from the espresso machine in the lounge.

Probably other things I’m missing, but those are the highlights that come top of mind.

 

[SarahC97]

I haven’t been to BC in awhile, but have been to YC recently and they both have the same things (to my knowledge).

YC puts out an individual bottle of filtered sparkling water, like what you see on the very far left below:

View attachment 463623

Excellent! My daughter will be very happy -- thank you!

 

[gillep]

Just arrived for our week stay at AKL CL. Currently sipping coffee and a mimosa!

We took an Uber but were greeted by a CM with a sign for our ‘Safari’ and escorted to the lounge to check in. This is at least the third year in a row we have been greeted outside when checking in at AKL CL.

There’s apparently a family with my same last name staying CL for 4 nights starting today, as that’s the reservation that came up at both the guard shack and desk after tapping my MB. I am not even going to try and explain it as the CM said my MB is correctly linked to my account there’s no reason any other party should come up but it’s Disney IT sooooo.

I am terrible at pictures, but if anyone has specific questions tag me so I see them.

 

[gillep]

AKL CL just put out a watermelon feta salad, breads with dips, trail mix fixings, banana bread, gummy bears and jelly beans, sugar and chocolate chip cookies, chips, and both chicken coconut curry and butternut squash soups.

 

[AngiTN]

I think of CL vs non-CL as “simple conveniences” - if that makes sense.

Simple things like getting a cup of coffee in the morning. Walking to the lounge is much more convenient than going to Captain Cooks (especially if it’s crowded).

We save quite a bit of money on breakfast.

With Poly CL, you know you’ll be in the Hawaii longhouse vs the longhouse roulette with other reservation types - to me that has a ton of value.

We don’t use CL CMs all that much, but it’s nice to have them close by in case you need anything - help with cancelling an ADR, MagicBand not working, etc. Again, simple conveniences.

I get a lot of mileage from the espresso machine in the lounge.

Probably other things I’m missing, but those are the highlights that come top of mind.

Speaking of which, is there a better machine than the one installed at GDT? I could make a cortado at the push of a button!
I mean, the old Nepresso at BWI is fine but I did love that one at GDT a lot!

I still make coffee in the room though. My first cup of the day must come before I'm presentable enough to be seen in public, LOL

 

[kylenne]

Food and beverages. They are not provided for a non CL stay
You stand as good a chance of the CM being away checking in another guest as any other time of day. They rarely have more than 1 stationed but any CM can help. Just ask, go to the regular desk. It won't matter who helps show you the way

Thanks! For some reason I thought it had to be a specific CM. That's really good to know.

I think of CL vs non-CL as “simple conveniences” - if that makes sense.

Simple things like getting a cup of coffee in the morning. Walking to the lounge is much more convenient than going to Captain Cooks (especially if it’s crowded).

We save quite a bit of money on breakfast.

With Poly CL, you know you’ll be in the Hawaii longhouse vs the longhouse roulette with other reservation types - to me that has a ton of value.

We don’t use CL CMs all that much, but it’s nice to have them close by in case you need anything - help with cancelling an ADR, MagicBand not working, etc. Again, simple conveniences.

I get a lot of mileage from the espresso machine in the lounge.

Probably other things I’m missing, but those are the highlights that come top of mind.

I'm not a very big coffee drinker (I'm much more of a tea person), but I do enjoy a mocha from time to time. My gf is a beer aficionado though and we'll probably get a lot of value out of the lounge just from that. We only did Captain Cooks for breakfast one time on our first Poly stay, and it was a total zoo. We preferred to grab pastries and things from Kona Island. Neither of us are huge breakfast eaters anyway so I think breakfast in the lounge will be perfect for us.

 

[melissa723]

AKL CL just put out a watermelon feta salad, breads with dips, trail mix fixings, banana bread, gummy bears and jelly beans, sugar and chocolate chip cookies, chips, and both chicken coconut curry and butternut squash soups.

I'm so excited about these updates since I just booked my next CL stay yesterday! We won't be there until November, but just reading about the new things they have since my last stay, like soup in the afternoon, is getting me in the vacation planning spirit already!

 

[flangel813]

Doing our very first CL stay at AKL in March. I couldn't get CL level for the whole day so we have standard room the first night. I should be able to enjoy breakfast at the lounge though since it will be the CL check in day, right? So I am thinking after breakfast, we will need to leave our bags with the bell hop until we are notified our CL room is ready? I'm so excited!!

 

[gillep]

Doing our very first CL stay at AKL in March. I couldn't get CL level for the whole day so we have standard room the first night. I should be able to enjoy breakfast at the lounge though since it will be the CL check in day, right? So I am thinking after breakfast, we will need to leave our bags with the bell hop until we are notified our CL room is ready? I'm so excited!!

Yes, you will be able to enjoy breakfast your first CL morning. Your bands may not work in the elevator to access the 6th floor though if you haven’t checked out of your standard room and into the CL room, and if you check out of your standard room you may not be able to retrieve your bags from your standard room. In the past I have been given a key card at AKL that only works in the elevator when doing a similar switch to access the lounge without abandoning my first room super early, so when you check in you may want to ask the CM the easiest way to transition in the morning.

Yes, you will need to store bags with bell services. You can either take them down yourself or call to have them picked up.

 

[pangyal]

AKL CL just put out a watermelon feta salad, breads with dips, trail mix fixings, banana bread, gummy bears and jelly beans, sugar and chocolate chip cookies, chips, and both chicken coconut curry and butternut squash soups.

They’ve been rotating the soups daily (though the butternut squash seems to be a fixture most days, with the other soup being the alternating one) so you should be seeing the corn chowder tomorrow- it’s delicious!

I hope that you enjoy your stay, I feel like I’m in constant withdrawal from that wonderful place

 

[flangel813]

Yes, you will be able to enjoy breakfast your first CL morning. Your bands may not work in the elevator to access the 6th floor though if you haven’t checked out of your standard room and into the CL room, and if you check out of your standard room you may not be able to retrieve your bags from your standard room. In the past I have been given a key card at AKL that only works in the elevator when doing a similar switch to access the lounge without abandoning my first room super early, so when you check in you may want to ask the CM the easiest way to transition in the morning.

Yes, you will need to store bags with bell services. You can either take them down yourself or call to have them picked up.

Thank you! Yes, I'd rather not have to leave our standard room before breakfast so I will definitely ask at check in.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thank you! Yes, I'd rather not have to leave our standard room before breakfast so I will definitely ask at check in.

Maybe obvious, but you may want to ask at check-in if there’s any way you can go ahead and get a CL room for your first night. You may not like the economics (they may make you pay rack rate for the night) but it might be worth a shot if you’re looking to avoid moving rooms like that. Just a thought.

 

[atkinstogram]

Speaking of which, is there a better machine than the one installed at GDT? I could make a cortado at the push of a button!
I mean, the old Nepresso at BWI is fine but I did love that one at GDT a lot!

I still make coffee in the room though. My first cup of the day must come before I'm presentable enough to be seen in public, LOL

About a year or so ago I bought a Nespresso Vertuo machine for home. Completely on a whim. It has become the most used appliance in the house. It makes half a dozen different styles of coffee at the push of a button (depending upon the capsule), and dozens of varieties of coffee.

I wonder if it'll run on 110v..... I could bring it with us...

 

[auntfrannie]

Speaking of which, is there a better machine than the one installed at GDT? I could make a cortado at the push of a button!
I mean, the old Nepresso at BWI is fine but I did love that one at GDT a lot!

I still make coffee in the room though. My first cup of the day must come before I'm presentable enough to be seen in public, LOL

I'm glad GDT got their machine fixed. It was on the fritz the entire 4 days of my November stay with the machine not stopping and just spewing fluids all over the counter! I actually prefer the machine at BWI CL because two people can be making a drink at the same time; with only one machine in GDT it means a longer wait especially when one person is there making beverages for their entire family. They need to get a second machine!

 

[grannyminnie]

Speaking of which, is there a better machine than the one installed at GDT? I could make a cortado at the push of a button!
I mean, the old Nepresso at BWI is fine but I did love that one at GDT a lot!

I still make coffee in the room though. My first cup of the day must come before I'm presentable enough to be seen in public, LOL

Oh, I'm so with you on that! No matter how it tastes...I make the coffee in the room before going to get a better cup.
I'm going to be experiencing GDT club level for the first time next week and am excited to try that machine you mentioned. By the way, what is a cortado? I love a good coffee and will pay extra for one, but have never heard of that one.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm glad GDT got their machine fixed. It was on the fritz the entire 4 days of my November stay with the machine not stopping and just spewing fluids all over the counter! I actually prefer the machine at BWI CL because two people can be making a drink at the same time; with only one machine in GDT it means a longer wait especially when one person is there making beverages for their entire family. They need to get a second machine!

Ha, I saw this in November too. People were making drinks and the machine would overflow every cup badly making a terrible mess. I assumed it was user error, but maybe not. Ha!

 

[auntfrannie]

Ha, I saw this in November too. People were making drinks and the machine would overflow every cup badly making a terrible mess. I assumed it was user error, but maybe not. Ha!

No, I don't think it was user error! The CMs were commenting on how the machine cost thousands of dollars and wasn't working already!

 

[atkinstogram]

No, I don't think it was user error! The CMs were commenting on how the machine cost thousands of dollars and wasn't working already!

We have a £2,500 coffee machine in our office. It breaks WEEKLY, and that's with only about 120 people using it..

 

[AngiTN]

Oh, I'm so with you on that! No matter how it tastes...I make the coffee in the room before going to get a better cup.
I'm going to be experiencing GDT club level for the first time next week and am excited to try that machine you mentioned. By the way, what is a cortado? I love a good coffee and will pay extra for one, but have never heard of that one.

Cortado is basically 1 shot espresso, 1 shot steamed milk, though I always make mine a double 2 and 2. No flavor/sugar for me. So a latte with way less milk. I discovered them at a couple local coffee shops. Which on a side note, I ran in to one of the owners at Epcot on NYE of all places/times. I'm walking along to the bathroom and I hear someone behind me say, Signal Mountain? And I'm, What? Yes. How on earth would you know that? He explained he runs the coffee truck I stop at often as I'm driving down the mountain. Then I remembered the staff had mentioned he went to Disney often too (they'd seen my magnets). Still, wild to run in to him there and then. Busiest night of the year at Epcot.

Just letting 1 make at a time is a bit of a draw back but we were lucky that it was never really busy, and we were there Christmas. I wait longer on the one at BWI, even when it can make 2 at a time. Of course, when it's doing 2 cups of coffee it can't steam milk which is another delay. That and the pod waste area is forever filling up, which shuts down a side till it can be tended to.

 

[mickeynut1]

Just arrived for our week stay at AKL CL. Currently sipping coffee and a mimosa!

We took an Uber but were greeted by a CM with a sign for our ‘Safari’ and escorted to the lounge to check in. This is at least the third year in a row we have been greeted outside when checking in at AKL CL.

There’s apparently a family with my same last name staying CL for 4 nights starting today, as that’s the reservation that came up at both the guard shack and desk after tapping my MB. I am not even going to try and explain it as the CM said my MB is correctly linked to my account there’s no reason any other party should come up but it’s Disney IT sooooo.

I am terrible at pictures, but if anyone has specific questions tag me so I see them.

Hope you are having a great time .

AKL CL just put out a watermelon feta salad, breads with dips, trail mix fixings, banana bread, gummy bears and jelly beans, sugar and chocolate chip cookies, chips, and both chicken coconut curry and butternut squash soups.

Thank you for taking time out of your trip to post about the offerings. We are trying AKL CL for the first time at the end of Feb/beginning of March, so it's nice to read current reports .

I'm so excited about these updates since I just booked my next CL stay yesterday! We won't be there until November, but just reading about the new things they have since my last stay, like soup in the afternoon, is getting me in the vacation planning spirit already!

Enjoy the planning as your trip will be here before you know it .

Doing our very first CL stay at AKL in March. I couldn't get CL level for the whole day so we have standard room the first night. I should be able to enjoy breakfast at the lounge though since it will be the CL check in day, right? So I am thinking after breakfast, we will need to leave our bags with the bell hop until we are notified our CL room is ready? I'm so excited!!

Your question has been answered, but I wanted to say I hope you have a great trip .