Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[focusondisney]

Absolutely correct. I noticed that also in March with the salads. Kinda disappointing. Same with the crackers mid day. Some days there were 2 kinds of crackers, others just one. The homemade potato chips some days were more seasoned than others.

Hmm, I don’t think I even saw any of the chips.

 

[Ricguz]

Hmm, I don’t think I even saw any of the chips.

They would be served midday next to the dip and crackers, to the right of them. Last year they did not serve them and this March they were back.

 

[focusondisney]

They would be served midday next to the dip and crackers, to the right of them. Last year they did not serve them and this March they were back.

I don’t think they had them the last few days. I saw the crudite, packaged chips, cookies & pastries left from breakfast. No homemade chips.

 

[focusondisney]

So this again reinforced to me that the CMs don’t expect tips & can actually put them in an awkward situation when guests do it.

Quoting myself… saw the same situation this morning at breakfast in YC. After an older man left the lounge, his wife said to the CM “he’s trying to find a way to tip you”. The CM was a younger male, answered “please don’t, we’re not allowed to accept”. The woman replied he really wants to, after some back & forth a few times I heard the CM say something about small things like a pin from the parks.

I know this question has come up here over the years. I’m glad both CMs had the same answer, so we can know for sure they’re not allowed to accept. But we’ve been staying CL for over 25 years & have never seen or heard it in person in the lounges. Now twice in 1 stay! I’m sure with how prevalent tipping has become absolutely everywhere guests just assume they should tip here too.

 

[Ricguz]

Quoting myself… saw the same situation this morning at breakfast in YC. After an older man left the lounge, his wife said to the CM “he’s trying to find a way to tip you”. The CM was a younger male, answered “please don’t, we’re not allowed to accept”. The woman replied he really wants to, after some back & forth a few times I heard the CM say something about small things like a pin from the parks.

I know this question has come up here over the years. I’m glad both CMs had the same answer, so we can know for sure they’re not allowed to accept. But we’ve been staying CL for over 25 years & have never seen or heard it in person in the lounges. Now twice in 1 stay! I’m sure with how prevalent tipping has become absolutely everywhere guests just assume they should tip here too.

Yes I have seen over the years at CL, guest leaving gifts such as candy, chocolates with the CM lounge manager to share with all.

 

[focusondisney]

Yes I have seen over the years at CL, guest leaving gifts such as candy, chocolates with the CM lounge manager to share with all.

I’ve brought a local specialty candy for Christmas & Easter stays. I just meant I’ve never seen guests try to actually hand money to them.

 

[Ricguz]

I’ve brought a local specialty candy for Christmas & Easter stays. I just meant I’ve never seen guests try to actually hand money to them.

I never seen that either. That must have been uncomfortable for the CM.

 

[PPFlight75]

Quoting myself… saw the same situation this morning at breakfast in YC. After an older man left the lounge, his wife said to the CM “he’s trying to find a way to tip you”. The CM was a younger male, answered “please don’t, we’re not allowed to accept”. The woman replied he really wants to, after some back & forth a few times I heard the CM say something about small things like a pin from the parks.

I know this question has come up here over the years. I’m glad both CMs had the same answer, so we can know for sure they’re not allowed to accept. But we’ve been staying CL for over 25 years & have never seen or heard it in person in the lounges. Now twice in 1 stay! I’m sure with how prevalent tipping has become absolutely everywhere guests just assume they should tip here too.

Thank you for this. I know I always hear they can’t accept them but I always feel bad like I should try. This is great to know. I did do cast compliments on my recent trip so I hope that benefits them in some way. There are so many great cast members.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Thank you for this. I know I always hear they can’t accept them but I always feel bad like I should try. This is great to know. I did do cast compliments on my recent trip so I hope that benefits them in some way. There are so many great cast members.

I totally agree with your comments. I guess we have figured there's more than one way to 'tip' a good cast member. Instead of money, we will go out of our way to do the cast compliments on the app, or even find a manager and make sure they know about the exceptional service.

 

[focusondisney]

The menu for today at YC



Also, we weren’t told anything about being able
to go to BWI pool. And never saw any kind of transport there happening.

 

[trishadono]

Finally after a month with my dd and new baby I’m heading home! Capital One Lounge? Yes please!

Also Disney planning! Booked HBD for MDW with dh. He likes to wing it but we missed this in April so I booked!

 

[Ricguz]

The menu for today at YC

View attachment 964214

Also, we weren’t told anything about being able
to go to BWI pool. And never saw any kind of transport there happening.

When I was there in March, the CM CL Lounge Manager told me CL could use BWI pool and there was a transport at the marina. I be curious if it’s still happening. Ask the lounge manager.

 

[Club Level Mouseketeer]

 

[focusondisney]

When I was there in March, the CM CL Lounge Manager told me CL could use BWI pool and there was a transport at the marina. I be curious if it’s still happening. Ask the lounge manager.

We checked out yesterday. I wonder if they don’t volunteer the info but will tell you if asked. I did see a recreation CM under an umbrella on the walkway just before the dock. But they just seemed to be handing out buttons & answering questions.

 

[cwis]

So we just came back from a trip to WDW where DW and I stayed CL at CR (Tower), WL and the Polynesian. It was a very nice trip, and it was somehow knowledgeable to perform such back-to-back hotel stays. We were able to compare the various offerings they have in the different clubs, and how they managed things. To keep things readable, I am about to make multiple posts, starting with the first night at the Tower Club.

To give some background, some of you may remember when we used to go at WDW once a twice a year and stay CL in the same resort for two weeks. Since Covid, our vacation habits changed, as did Disney with their pricing, and we shifted to sailing with DCL more, going to DCL more, and to WDW less. This trip was in fact a pre-trip before our transatlantic cruise on the Disney Fantasy. In fact, I am writing this from the deck, we just arrived in Ponta Delgada for our first port of call after six days at sea.

For our WDW pre-trip, we wanted to go to the parks, and take the opportunity to enjoy some of the CLs we never have been before. We made a multi-split stay starting with the Holiday Inn Disney Springs, and then 1-night stays at every CL.
The Holiday Inn was basically a free stay as we paid with points and is so convenient to visit the theme parks (if you've ever taken a ride-share back to a Disney hotel you know that on your way back, it might have a line and it moves slowly as they check every car). I love this hotel because the location is so convenient (and even better than most Disney resorts if you ask me), breakfast is excellent with made-to-order omelets, we didn't pay for it because of our status with IHG, and bedding is top-notch (almost similar to Disney's).

Now let's focus on the CL part of our trip because, hey, this is what this thread is about isn't it.

We started with the Contemporary Tower. Never been to CL there but this has always been on my bucket-list. I love the architecture and the vibe of the hotel. We've stayed once before on the Garden Wings and DW didn't like it because it was far from the lobby and my wife disliked the pool. The pool is still a long way from the hotel and the lounge, I wish they would have themed the walkway more, it feels like you're going through a parking lot to go to the pool, and the fact there are no rapid refill stations on the pool worsens it as you eventually walk a lot. We were lucky to grab one of the few “King” rooms (that we knew from asking here were on the Tower floor).
On our arrival, we spoke to the greeter in the lobby. He gave us wrong instructions (about which elevators were going to the club floor, and about how to connect to go to Typhoon Lagoon). Not a big deal, but for a first impression, definitely not the best. Thankfully once on the CL we were greeted by one of the most friendly cast members at Disney. I don't remember her name, but those who go here often probably know who I am talking about. She introduced us to the club lounge and made sure we were relaxed and ready to enjoy our day. As a bonus, we got our room early (around 10am maybe even earlier) and it was the closest to the lounge! If I'm not mistaken the exact previous guest also posted their review here.

Pros :
- The hotel is beautiful, and once you are in the Tower Club you are in a bubble inside a bubble. The view from the lounge (and our room which was basically the same view as it was next to it) cannot be beat.
- The staff at the club level is so nice. It was our first interaction with CL at WDW since we stayed at DLR and we felt it was on-par — which we didn't expected. This is really specific to CR Tower though, WL CL and Poly CL were all inferior (and by far).
- The food offering is excellent. If I was do it again I would eat all their truffle fries. Those are amazing. (I was addicted to those fries back in the days, with the truffle flavoring it is next level. The other CLs did not have those house chips.) And of course all the asian-inspired dishes.
- They have edible straws! So good with a soda or an iced coffee.

Cons :
- They don't clear tables, so if like us, you intend to stay for a while, be prepared to have to ask, or to move your plates to another table. (We did that and they did not clear the other table, so I believe it's just not something they do.)
- The dreaded Nespresso machine.
- The lounge is VERY small. When you're alone this is excellent. But if you share it with guests that whose education do not align with yours, it can become tricky. The first night there was a party of 6-8 people that talked very loudly as if they were in a sports bar, and on the morning someone was watching something on their phone, next to our table, with the volume on the speaker. I very much prefer the layout (and number of people allowed in) of other “high-end” lounges, such as the former Castle Club at DLP, or E-Lounge at the Disneyland Hotel.
- The room refurbishment is a mess. It's not in-your-face with, but it's low-quality design, low-quality work, low-quality maintenance. Closets do not close, it's recent but still shows wear and tear, design is dubious (mirror aligns perfectly so you can see who's on the toilets from the bed). In fairness the Holiday Inn we were in was of better build quality than our CR room and this is not acceptable for the price they ask.

To be continued with the WL!

 

[Ricguz]

We checked out yesterday. I wonder if they don’t volunteer the info but will tell you if asked. I did see a recreation CM under an umbrella on the walkway just before the dock. But they just seemed to be handing out buttons & answering questions.

It was pretty hush hush unless you ask or were friendly with the CM manager.

 

[FSU Girl]

So we just came back from a trip to WDW where DW and I stayed CL at CR (Tower), WL and the Polynesian. It was a very nice trip, and it was somehow knowledgeable to perform such back-to-back hotel stays. We were able to compare the various offerings they have in the different clubs, and how they managed things. To keep things readable, I am about to make multiple posts, starting with the first night at the Tower Club.

To give some background, some of you may remember when we used to go at WDW once a twice a year and stay CL in the same resort for two weeks. Since Covid, our vacation habits changed, as did Disney with their pricing, and we shifted to sailing with DCL more, going to DCL more, and to WDW less. This trip was in fact a pre-trip before our transatlantic cruise on the Disney Fantasy. In fact, I am writing this from the deck, we just arrived in Ponta Delgada for our first port of call after six days at sea.

For our WDW pre-trip, we wanted to go to the parks, and take the opportunity to enjoy some of the CLs we never have been before. We made a multi-split stay starting with the Holiday Inn Disney Springs, and then 1-night stays at every CL.
The Holiday Inn was basically a free stay as we paid with points and is so convenient to visit the theme parks (if you've ever taken a ride-share back to a Disney hotel you know that on your way back, it might have a line and it moves slowly as they check every car). I love this hotel because the location is so convenient (and even better than most Disney resorts if you ask me), breakfast is excellent with made-to-order omelets, we didn't pay for it because of our status with IHG, and bedding is top-notch (almost similar to Disney's).

Now let's focus on the CL part of our trip because, hey, this is what this thread is about isn't it.

We started with the Contemporary Tower. Never been to CL there but this has always been on my bucket-list. I love the architecture and the vibe of the hotel. We've stayed once before on the Garden Wings and DW didn't like it because it was far from the lobby and my wife disliked the pool. The pool is still a long way from the hotel and the lounge, I wish they would have themed the walkway more, it feels like you're going through a parking lot to go to the pool, and the fact there are no rapid refill stations on the pool worsens it as you eventually walk a lot. We were lucky to grab one of the few “King” rooms (that we knew from asking here were on the Tower floor).
On our arrival, we spoke to the greeter in the lobby. He gave us wrong instructions (about which elevators were going to the club floor, and about how to connect to go to Typhoon Lagoon). Not a big deal, but for a first impression, definitely not the best. Thankfully once on the CL we were greeted by one of the most friendly cast members at Disney. I don't remember her name, but those who go here often probably know who I am talking about. She introduced us to the club lounge and made sure we were relaxed and ready to enjoy our day. As a bonus, we got our room early (around 10am maybe even earlier) and it was the closest to the lounge! If I'm not mistaken the exact previous guest also posted their review here.

Pros :
- The hotel is beautiful, and once you are in the Tower Club you are in a bubble inside a bubble. The view from the lounge (and our room which was basically the same view as it was next to it) cannot be beat.
- The staff at the club level is so nice. It was our first interaction with CL at WDW since we stayed at DLR and we felt it was on-par — which we didn't expected. This is really specific to CR Tower though, WL CL and Poly CL were all inferior (and by far).
- The food offering is excellent. If I was do it again I would eat all their truffle fries. Those are amazing. (I was addicted to those fries back in the days, with the truffle flavoring it is next level. The other CLs did not have those house chips.) And of course all the asian-inspired dishes.
- They have edible straws! So good with a soda or an iced coffee.

Cons :
- They don't clear tables, so if like us, you intend to stay for a while, be prepared to have to ask, or to move your plates to another table. (We did that and they did not clear the other table, so I believe it's just not something they do.)
- The dreaded Nespresso machine.
- The lounge is VERY small. When you're alone this is excellent. But if you share it with guests that whose education do not align with yours, it can become tricky. The first night there was a party of 6-8 people that talked very loudly as if they were in a sports bar, and on the morning someone was watching something on their phone, next to our table, with the volume on the speaker. I very much prefer the layout (and number of people allowed in) of other “high-end” lounges, such as the former Castle Club at DLP, or E-Lounge at the Disneyland Hotel.
- The room refurbishment is a mess. It's not in-your-face with, but it's low-quality design, low-quality work, low-quality maintenance. Closets do not close, it's recent but still shows wear and tear, design is dubious (mirror aligns perfectly so you can see who's on the toilets from the bed). In fairness the Holiday Inn we were in was of better build quality than our CR room and this is not acceptable for the price they ask.

To be continued with the WL!

We stayed in that king room for our first visit to the tower club. Did you find it crazy noisy from cleaning in the middle of the night? That’s my biggest downside to that room. The food offerings are great. My parents are currently on that cruise with you

 

[SkyGuy]

Offerings at BWI this morning. Lorenzo was a bright spot on this dreary day!