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

[isaboo]

I need to go back to work so I can support my Disney habit!!

That's the whole reason I have a job right now! I was a SAHM for 14 years and just went back to work part time.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

That's the whole reason I have a job right now! I was a SAHM for 14 years and just went back to work part time.

Me too, I was a SAHM for 15 years and started working last year. Paid work that is! LOL

 

[TinkerBellLiz]

ok, need some food/ADR advice as this is our first time CL and only our 2nd trip to WDW. First time we stayed at the poly, garden view and had the dining plan. Found it was too much food, desserts, etc and too scheduled around ADRs. That's why we opted for CL this time. All that said, we do enjoy our sit down dinners and I can't seem to get away from trying to plan a ADR each day. Do I need to take a chill pill and relax with the ADRs since we are doing CL? I understand the offerings are not meal replacements, just wondering how many ADRs you would plan to do for a 7 day stay CL.

Our 3 CL days we are planning on appetizers at Sanaa and Victoria Falls lounges if we find ourselves hungry. Other than Rum Dole Whip runs into AK we aren't doing any parks. Just sitting by the pool with Tropical Fruit Drinks

For the non CL days, DH picked which repeat places he wanted (Artists Point and Afternoon Tea) and I picked 2 new places! I found CL food and then dinner every night was just WAY too much food so we chose not to do CL the whole trip. I also want to graze around the Kiosks at Flower and Garden!

My advise is pretty simple: Make your ADRs You can always cancel them 24 hours in advance but you can't always get them!

I still make an ADR for each day. Then I decide later. I have a really hard time deciding which nights we want a sitdown and which nights we just want to hit the lounge for appetizers and then park snacks or quick service after. Sometimes I don't even know until the 24 hour deadline. I just have to see how my stomach feels.

I just bought our airfare for June! I'm starting to get more excited now!!!

It is NEVER too early to get excited! And I second making ADRs or hitting the lounges. I LOVE Territory Lounge in WL and Sanaa at Kidani. Just today I was reminded of pickled garlic at Sanaa. I'm hoping Victoria Falls is as nice since I've already picked out what I want

Liz

As I sit sipping a home made Magical Star cocktail

 

[mrsap]

Make sure to check in on the wl board. Kook has some more resort info there as well.

Thanks! I spent a lot of time on Kooks board last year for our first trip to WL! It's so full of great information!!!! Love how helpful Kook is!!!!

Awesome! WELCOME! I will add you right now! I spent last Christmas at the WL CL, such a beautiful time to be there!

Thank you so much!!!! I appreciate it! It truly is beautiful for Christmas. It has such a homey feel to it!! Looking forward to chatting with everyone!

 

[trishadono]

ok, need some food/ADR advice as this is our first time CL and only our 2nd trip to WDW. First time we stayed at the poly, garden view and had the dining plan. Found it was too much food, desserts, etc and too scheduled around ADRs. That's why we opted for CL this time. All that said, we do enjoy our sit down dinners and I can't seem to get away from trying to plan a ADR each day. Do I need to take a chill pill and relax with the ADRs since we are doing CL? I understand the offerings are not meal replacements, just wondering how many ADRs you would plan to do for a 7 day stay CL.

Last May at poly CL dd and I did lunch adrs . I did 12pm which worked great.

We really enjoyed France. By getting first available slot for lunches we found we got best seating at the restaurants too. It was the best of both worlds. We got to have a nice sit down but time to work it off! Prices a smitch better as well for same offerings.

 

[jdd]

Last May at poly CL dd and I did lunch adrs .

This what we do too. Big meal at lunchtime - since we go in August, it also gets us out of the afternoon heat for a bit. Sometimes the CL snacks are enough after that big lunch, sometimes we grab quick service for dinner. It's usually my 17-year old that needs more food

 

[Ferrentinos]

We typically do an ADR for lunch too. Sometimes we do a dinner one - but not every day. Sometimes we just do appetizers and then a QS dinner somewhere if we get hungry. We also are there in the summer heat and I look forward to our lunch ADR's for that break from the heat too!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We really enjoyed our lunch ADR at BOG! It felt like a sitdown even though it was quick service. Such a nice break in the middle of our MK day.

 

[TJA]

That's a good point. You get the best of both worlds. We loved CL at the yacht club.
Would you consider staying at Poly all nine nights and moving to a club level room for maybe just 5 nights?

I would probably split it too with an Epcot resort. Best of both worlds indeed with an MK resort and an Epcot resort in the same trip!

Otherwise, something I might consider is the deluxe dining plan for part of the trip in a regular Poly room, then move to CL with no dining plan. Personally, we loved the deluxe dining because we did a 2-credit meal every single day and got to try some amazing places. From memory, we ate at Jiko, California Grill, Spirit of Aloha, Hoop de doo, to name a few. Then the other daily credit we used as a character meal breakfast or Kona breakfast. It wasn't too much food because we spaced it out with only 2 meals a day, usually breakfast and dinner. That way we could use our snack credits during the afternoon time. Just a thought.

 

[mickeynut1]

My opinion of letting the IPO's make ADR's. 180+10 was available starting 4/10 since I was traveling at the time I let the IPO make my ADR's. Late in the evening I was finally able to check my reservations on line, well the IPO got me three out of my ten selections. When I contacted them about some of the dates I choose and gave them alternatives they said none were available and that I have been put on a wait list that searches daily for availability. Nothing has happened with that, but I searched on my own and have found two of my choices available and one of those being BOG for a 7:00 pm dinner reservation on a Sunday, so much for their waiting list checking daily! They did however get me wished dessert party.

I'm sorry IPO wasn't able to get more of what you wanted. I always do my own ADRs as it's easier for me to make changes should my first choice not be available. With that said, glad you were able to get two others on your own, including BOG .

Has anyone else heard of the flooding of Poly CL garden view rooms today due to an irrigation system leak?

That is horrible . Hope those guests were well taken care of!

Hello everyone!! I'd love to be added to the board!! We'll be staying at WL CL from 11/28 - 12/5. We tried it for the first time last year for our 10 Year Anniversary, and like most of you said would happen, we are Hooked!!!!! We really loved being at the Lodge for Thanksgiving and all the Christmas decorations! Looking forward to going back and chatting with all of you while we wait for our trips to arrive!!!

WL CL is one of our favorites! Have a great trip .

ok, need some food/ADR advice as this is our first time CL and only our 2nd trip to WDW. First time we stayed at the poly, garden view and had the dining plan. Found it was too much food, desserts, etc and too scheduled around ADRs. That's why we opted for CL this time. All that said, we do enjoy our sit down dinners and I can't seem to get away from trying to plan a ADR each day. Do I need to take a chill pill and relax with the ADRs since we are doing CL? I understand the offerings are not meal replacements, just wondering how many ADRs you would plan to do for a 7 day stay CL.

We do a TS every night of our trips, CL or not. When we stay CL it's more for the lounge and having someplace else to sit and relax, rather than for the food offerings. My DH and DSs don't usually take advantage of most of the CL food offerings, so a TS dinner is a must for us. With that said, I would make the decision based on how your family eats .

Love how helpful Kook is!!!!

I agree, KOOK is great

 

[TJA]

ok, need some food/ADR advice as this is our first time CL and only our 2nd trip to WDW. First time we stayed at the poly, garden view and had the dining plan. Found it was too much food, desserts, etc and too scheduled around ADRs. That's why we opted for CL this time. All that said, we do enjoy our sit down dinners and I can't seem to get away from trying to plan a ADR each day. Do I need to take a chill pill and relax with the ADRs since we are doing CL? I understand the offerings are not meal replacements, just wondering how many ADRs you would plan to do for a 7 day stay CL.

Most days we book a lunch ADR as our big meal. Or, since our kids love character meals, we will book a later breakfast (like 11:00/11:30) at Chef Mickeys, etc., that constitutes our "big" meal of the day. Usually the 5-7 lounge offerings are enough for us considering we already had a big meal that day. If not, then we will get quick service food to fill us.

The only dinner ADR we normally book is Ohana. We simply love it there.

 

[lala5176]

That's the whole reason I have a job right now! I was a SAHM for 14 years and just went back to work part time. [/QUOTE
My husband already planned it all out. He said once my youngest starts school all day you can go back to work and we can put your income towards vacations and "stuff". Fine with me. That just means we can spend more... woo hoo!!!

 

[lala5176]

I would probably split it too with an Epcot resort. Best of both worlds indeed with an MK resort and an Epcot resort in the same trip!

Otherwise, something I might consider is the deluxe dining plan for part of the trip in a regular Poly room, then move to CL with no dining plan. Personally, we loved the deluxe dining because we did a 2-credit meal every single day and got to try some amazing places. From memory, we ate at Jiko, California Grill, Spirit of Aloha, Hoop de doo, to name a few. Then the other daily credit we used as a character meal breakfast or Kona breakfast. It wasn't too much food because we spaced it out with only 2 meals a day, usually breakfast and dinner. That way we could use our snack credits during the afternoon time. Just a thought.

OOOH that sounds good. A lot of the places you mentioned we want to try but have held off because of the 2 TS credits or the price Thanks for the tip.

 

[trishadono]

This what we do too. Big meal at lunchtime - since we go in August, it also gets us out of the afternoon heat for a bit. Sometimes the CL snacks are enough after that big lunch, sometimes we grab quick service for dinner. It's usually my 17-year old that needs more food

Yep my DS17 all day long

 

[pixarmom]

Agree with all the lunch ADR suggestions! For a long time, we booked two ADRs per day - lunch and dinner. I could just order appetizers instead of entrees, it allowed us to fit in everyone's favorites and our boys seem to eat a lot. But a few things changed. My parents live nearby so we visit more often and aren't in a rush to fit in everyone's favorites. Also, FP+ is great for us, but it does mean we're more scheduled than in the past. So dropping at least one ADR per day helped us to regain some flexibility. And our experiences at WL, GF and AKL taught us that sometimes, CL appetizers and a TS dinner is just too much, even when ordering light at TS! BC offers a lot more than I recall from the past, and Poly is right on the edge depending on the offerings for any given night. In our experience, BWI and CR were the lightest. In any event, while we all warn that CL appetizers are not a meal replacement, there are times that a few CL snacks may not leave much room for dinner!

Best case scenario = CL appetizers and F&G or F&W!

 

[mrsap]

I'm sorry IPO wasn't able to get more of what you wanted. I always do my own ADRs as it's easier for me to make changes should my first choice not be available. With that said, glad you were able to get two others on your own, including BOG .



That is horrible . Hope those guests were well taken care of!



WL CL is one of our favorites! Have a great trip .



We do a TS every night of our trips, CL or not. When we stay CL it's more for the lounge and having someplace else to sit and relax, rather than for the food offerings. My DH and DSs don't usually take advantage of most of the CL food offerings, so a TS dinner is a must for us. With that said, I would make the decision based on how your family eats .



I agree, KOOK is great

Thanks so much!!!! I appreciate it! Kook really is very knowledgeable about all things WL, and then some!

 

[mom2randj]

Love the idea of the Lunch ADRs. I think we are going to do Via Napoli and Sci Fi for two lunches and then save some of the dinner ADRs for late evening (think Ohana and Cali Grill). Will probably try ESPN for lunch also (I know we can't make an ADR for this one) b/c DS is a sports fanatic. I will go ahead and book a few more ADRs for later in the week, but as pp mentioned, I can cancel if I find that we are getting enough with QS and CL offerings.

Btw, what is KOOK?

 

[trishadono]

Love the idea of the Lunch ADRs. I think we are going to do Via Napoli and Sci Fi for two lunches and then save some of the dinner ADRs for late evening (think Ohana and Cali Grill). Will probably try ESPN for lunch also (I know we can't make an ADR for this one) b/c DS is a sports fanatic. I will go ahead and book a few more ADRs for later in the week, but as pp mentioned, I can cancel if I find that we are getting enough with QS and CL offerings.

Btw, what is KOOK?

You know how you are mom2mandj? she is wdwKOOK. She has great info on the threads she runs. Go take a peek at the CR thread. She just posted lots of pics. Even the cupcakes I requested

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Just posted some pics of my new WDW Pandora bracelet in progress: The Murphy's are LIVE from WDW and Kidani! March 21-28 and April 2-5

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Well – I see what you WL fans were saying. We just stayed at the WL CL for 8 days beginning Easter. Well we are in love. The hotels that we usually stay in are the YC/BC CL and never thought that I would love another resort like those. The WL went above and beyond any expectations.

To start off you are greeted at the front and escorted upstairs. (We just stayed at the Poly in February and this didn’t happen). We were then given a tour of the CL floor and explained the rules. They said our room wasn’t ready (it was about 1pm) – but as soon as we sat to have a snack our room was ready. Since we are a family of 6 we had a deluxe room and I feel we had the best deluxe room at the resort – room 4123. We had a balcony overlooking the pool and the lake. It was breath-taking. The deluxe rooms are wonderful. The bedroom was a great size – there was a small balcony off the bedroom – two sinks outside of the bathroom – nice size living room – the best pull out couch in all of DW (so comfortable) – sink near the refrigerator in the living room – table and chairs in the living room – and the beautiful porch off the living room. What was so nice was the pocket door near the bathroom so you wouldn’t wake anyone up when using the bathroom – also the french doors from the bedroom to the living room.

Every CM was lovely and so helpful – from the bell hops, to the valet desk, to the concierge desk, to the CMs in the lounge. If we went to bring our dishes to the place for dirty dishes – they would thank us.

This year we were trying two new resorts – the Polynesian and the WL. I truly thought the Polynesian was going to be our favorite and it was not – we did not feel the Magic there at all. Our stay at the WL was truly a magical stay and we will be making it our home. Probably doing split stays with the YC/BC.