EXPIRED: Part ONE of 2015 CLUB LEVEL (CL) INFORMATION and HELP Thread DO NOT POST HERE!!!

[psac]

Off topic, but what do you guys think of people being able to book wdw vacation packages with room and dining only, no park tickets. This has been available to AP holders for a while, just wondered what everyone thought?

I think it's consistent with Disney World being more of a "destination" resort than just a place for the parks. We are AP holders, but we have done resort-only trips. We haven't done it with the DDP since we have the TIW card instead, and when we have done resort-only, it's been club. We did that last 4th of July at the Poly club and loved it. Never entered the packed parks.

 

[pixarmom]

Hey there Clare!! Oh don't worry! I showed up at BWI CL I 2009 and the couple in front of me was being told resort wide sell out so sorry and they were moved off property!! It can happen anywhere.

This is my 6th straight summer at YC CL (well actually last summer I did not stay CL) and with only 5 YC CL GV rooms I have never had an issue for my room. EVER. In fact the time I MIGHT have an issue I didn't complain as we were bumped to the Vice Presidential Suite instead!

Friends of ours arrived at BWI last year after a 20+ hour drive. They reserved a BWI deluxe CL room for their family of six, but when they arrived, BWI was sold out and had to reassign them to a BC - 2-bedroom suite. They were really happy about the suite - and even decided to extend their Disney stay for one night - BC let them keep the suite for the extra night for the same rate they initially paid for BWI deluxe.

I think it's consistent with Disney World being more of a "destination" resort than just a place for the parks. We are AP holders, but we have done resort-only trips. We haven't done it with the DDP since we have the TIW card instead, and when we have done resort-only, it's been club. We did that last 4th of July at the Poly club and loved it. Never entered the packed parks.

Same here - we are AP holders and haven't used he DDP since 2005 for a number of reasons. We always get TIW as it's a far better value for our family. But we have friends who use the dining plan and love it. The new option is nice for those who want a few days at WDW pre- or post-cruise, if the dining plan fits. I don't mind if that option is available to others.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I think it's a nice option, especially for people who might spend a week at WDW but only go to the parks a couple of days, or not at all. The only thing that worries me is the possible affect it might have on lessening the already sparse amount of dinner reservations at the resort restaurants.

 

[mickeynut1]

Same here - we are AP holders and haven't used he DDP since 2005 for a number of reasons. We always get TIW as it's a far better value for our family. But we have friends who use the dining plan and love it. The new option is nice for those who want a few days at WDW pre- or post-cruise, if the dining plan fits. I don't mind if that option is available to others.

I do agree that the TiW card can be a big savings and although I have thought about getting APs/TiW card, it would cost us $2,700 for APs and even if we took 2-3 trips a year, we just don't go to the parks that much anymore to warrant that cost. But I can see how the TiW is a savings over the DDP. You also make a good point about people possibly wanting the DDP when doing WDW pre and post cruise. We are looking at a 3 night cruise in January with 1-2 nights WDW before and 2 nights after and while I have considered the DDP, we probably won't do the parks at all those days, so no need for a park tickets. From what I understand, the ticketless package is just a trial and is available from now until sometime in December, so it will be interesting to see if Disney extends that and makes it something permanent for non-AP holders and non-DVC members.

 

[disneyfanbcv]

Hi, was wondering about the AKV club level we are dvc members and never have stayed in a club level. We usually do the dinning plan, but was thinking to do the club level instead. Your thoughts?

 

[gjl]

Deleted

 

[jcjen519]

Hi, was wondering about the AKV club level we are dvc members and never have stayed in a club level. We usually do the dinning plan, but was thinking to do the club level instead. Your thoughts?

I wouldn't suggest planning to eat exclusively in the lounge but I wouldn't necessarily get the dining plan either. We find breakfast to be a complete meal substitute and usually eat a ts at lunch or late afternoon then follow up with the apps in the lounge for dinner. It supplements dining but I wouldn't plan on it being 100% enough.

When we do the dining plan or a lot of adrs we don't really find ourselves in the lounge for the food all that much. We enjoy having the extra space of the lounge to have a drink...catch up with our group etc.

 

[disney minnie]

We are staying at a value resort the first night. - just added because we are going to the water park the next day and I don't want to waist the morning.

We would love to go check in to our beach club concierge room before going to the waterpark. I know there is a big possibility that our room will not be ready but we just want to have all the paperwork taken care of so it won't be crazy after the water park.

Do you think we will be able to visit the lounge at that time or will we need to wait until after the 3:00 check in time?

 

[TinkerbelleMom]

We are staying at a value resort the first night. - just added because we are going to the water park the next day and I don't want to waist the morning.

We would love to go check in to our beach club concierge room before going to the waterpark. I know there is a big possibility that our room will not be ready but we just want to have all the paperwork taken care of so it won't be crazy after the water park.

Do you think we will be able to visit the lounge at that time or will we need to wait until after the 3:00 check in time?

You will be able to visit the lounge. The check in desk for CL is just outside of the lounge...I sent the family in for a bite while I dealt with the paperwork. We were met in the lobby by a CM and whisked away to the CL, DH loved this, he always lets me take care of the details, and was very happy to enjoy a second breakfast instead of just wandering the lobby.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hi, was wondering about the AKV club level we are dvc members and never have stayed in a club level. We usually do the dinning plan, but was thinking to do the club level instead. Your thoughts?

We've done AKL DVC CL one time, in a one bedroom villa. It was nice! The lounge is the same as the AKL CL guests, located in Jambo .... we had a Savannah view. Unfortunately Kidani doesn't offer a CL at all. But if they did I would definitely do that for sure! As far as giving up the dining plan I don't really think it plays a factor ... you can do breakfast in the lounge and still use your dining plan for counter service lunch in the parks and a sitdown dinner at night. Some people think the evening snacks in the lounge are too much with the dining plan dinner, but for our family we still like to have dinner in a restaurant even when we stay CL.

 

[SwirlyGirly]

We've only stayed CL once and I'm worried that I'm missing some sort of etiquette. When we were at the Poly CL in May we we're encouraged to sample all of the food and Chef Eugene even brought a plate of ribs to our table at one point. We are always in the lounge for evening appetizers and it often becomes almost a meal just because the hot food is also so heavy. All of that to say that after hearing talk about wine and cheese I'm worried that we look like moochers. Can't anyone else relate? Not trying to stir the pot just curious how other people adjust their plans with CL food! TIA

I found that the apps at Poly were more substantial than at other CLs, I think bc of the prevalence of meat. We actually cancelled our Ohana reservation after our apps one night and chose to eat in the Tambu Lounge instead (it happened to be the night the chef brought us ribs to our table, too!) Usually we have apps and a drink in the lounge and then go out for a TS and order our main courses.

If you find that you are full after a plate of cheese and then a small plate of apps, then no one can tell you that you must go out for dinner! I can totally see that if someone had a late TS lunch and then some apps with protein, they might not feel hungry enough to eat a full meal. We happen to eat lunch really early, however, and one plate of apps usually isn't enough for us (they are tiny plates, and we happen to be tiny people too!)

However I have seen families who use the lounge as a money saving option and this is where it becomes problematic. (Side note: by the fact that you've even asked the question proves that you use the lounge in a manner that is right for you and respectful to other guests!) I've stayed in the CL many times in many of the resorts and there's always the one family who treats the CL like it's their personal dining room. They rush in at 5:00, the kids take a 4 seat table for the 2 of them and mom and dad take another 4 top for themselves. They bum rush the apps and spend hours, clicking away on their phones and stacking up plates, eating like they are in the Country Buffet, night after night. Meanwhile, others come in and have to stand to enjoy their single plate bc there are no free tables.

I think it's families like this that have made it so that the lounges now serve less food with less variation. I also think this is why the verbiage has change from "evening appetizers," to now, "wine and cheese."

 

[TinkerbelleMom]

I will admit to making the CL our breakfast stop, but we don't treat it like a buffet, just a bowl,of cereal,and a cup,of coffee or OJ for each of us. And the BCis so small (can't wait for the rehab!) we usually take it back to the room and avoid the crowd. DH enjoys CL, bit hates crowds, so this works for us

 

[SwirlyGirly]

I will admit to making the CL our breakfast stop, but we don't treat it like a buffet, just a bowl,of cereal,and a cup,of coffee or OJ for each of us. And the BCis so small (can't wait for the rehab!) we usually take it back to the room and avoid the crowd. DH enjoys CL, bit hates crowds, so this works for us

CL provides a continental breakfast that is meant to serve as a breakfast. It's the only serving of the day they claim is a meal service--"continental breakfast" as opposed to "evening appetizers" or now, "wine and cheese." I think 90% of CL customers have most of their breakfasts in the lounge, or as a take away as you've suggested. I usually book only 2 outside breakfasts and that's just because my kids request certain character breakfasts.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Poly CL use to have awesome food, so did YC. Ahhh those were the days.

 

[PolyAddict]

Poly CL use to have awesome food, so did YC. Ahhh those were the days.

Wait....is it strictly wine and cheese at the Poly now?

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Wait....is it strictly wine and cheese at the Poly now?

No, they still have appetizers, I think this email stating "wine and cheese" is just so people who aren't as familiar with club level won't plan dinner in the lounge. The food has definitely been cut way down from what it was 3 or 4 years ago. Will they completely eliminate hot appetizers in the future? Honestly I wouldn't be surprised. The castmembers have a really hard time trying to feed the masses when they put out a tray of small pickups and they're gone by the time 3 people go through the line.

 

[Disneytam]

Does anyone know what the upcoming BWI CL rehab is going to entail? I know it will be closed for about six weeks and that they are replacing all the hallway carpets but wondering what else is planned.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Does anyone know what the upcoming BWI CL rehab is going to entail? I know it will be closed for about six weeks and that they are replacing all the hallway carpets but wondering what else is planned.

I don't know, but when they closed YC's lounge for refurb it was carpet, curtains, chairs, stuff like that.

 

[ToyStory3]

Yes - I think the CL breakfast is meant to be a breakfast. It has what I would consider a substantial breakfast (cereal, fruit, bagels, muffins, etc.) If it didn't entail breakfast I think I would have a hard time paying that price. It doesn't replace any other meals for us but we do eat lighter when we snack in the lounge. We will sometimes just snack in the parks instead of eating a big restaurant meal. We typically make 3-4 reservations for the week when we are staying CL.

 

[happymomof1]

At Poly Club level, do they serve the real Joffreys coffee? Or, is it still Nescafé?
Thanks!