thisismyusername
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2013
- Messages
- 1,127
We are back home from a 16 day/6 resort stay, where we stayed at three different CL rooms at three different resorts, each for two nights (the other resorts were reserved on DVC points or cash and were non-CL). All three of these resorts we've stayed at before, and all we've done CL at before, so I just wanted to share a few pixie-dust-free observations and thoughts.
Just as a little background: We are a family of five. Two parents and three kids (13, 11, 7). We book CL mainly for breakfast (we usually are not at the resort during lunch time and are usually at the pool during evening snacks) and for that extra level of customer service/"specialness" during our stay. We do not use the IPO for anything prior to the trip as we handle all of our ADRs on our own and book everything else ourselves. Typically, I am fairly careful with money: I like to live nicely, but do it as cheaply as possible. Disney is what we spend our "bonus" money on, and when we go, we like to have fun days in the parks, great pools to swim in, and sleep in nice resorts with very good customer service.
The first resort we arrived to was Boardwalk. The last time we stayed here was a year ago in a deluxe CL room (3rd floor) which was awesome, but this time, we had a regular room booked. We had a boardwalk view and had a newly refurbished room several rooms down from the desk area. The room next to ours was undergoing refurbishment--as were many of the rooms near ours--and at the time we stayed here 2 weeks ago, there was no hiding the construction workers, the construction carts, etc. They seemed to be working quickly (the Steeplechase suite was 2 doors away from ours, and it looked like they completely refurbished it during our 2-night stay), so I'm not sure where construction is presently and what had already been done before we arrived, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were in a totally different area of the CL rooms, or completely wrapped up with construction on the CL floor by now. We bought our room with an AP discount, so our per night rate had a pretty deep 35% discount off rack rate, but I do have to admit that for a room that cost $400 with tax a night (that's with the discount), I wouldn't expect to be stressed while walking down the hallway that my kids are going to get the urge to dip their hands in or knock over a big open can of paint while walking past the cart, or hear nailing going on in the other room. I understand that they need to refurbish the rooms and that construction and maintenance is inevitable, but it seems to me that the best strategy would be to close the floor for a week and throw in as many workers as possible and get it done quickly and with the least amount of construction evidence and disruption to guests as possible. At least, that's what I expect for a $400/night room.
That being said, however, the workers were very courteous and the construction noises didn't bother us too much since it was only going on from 9-5, and we were out of the room during those hours. However, I did not know about the construction before we arrived, and if we had a baby/toddler (or children or adults) who needed to return to the room for a nap, I would definitely recommend that you request a room away from refurbishment as I could see the noise keeping a curious baby/toddler (or child/adult) awake.
What made our stay at the BWI, as last year, was the staff. There were a lot of new faces from last year, and some old ones, too--including Lorenzo who should win some sort of CL staff award for being one of the best ones on property. We were celebrating my birthday on this trip, and the staff left a big bunch of balloons and candy bars in our room, as well a signed Cinderella picture, and they were always exceptionally nice and warm and welcoming.
The food offerings were as what we expected. As I mentioned earlier, the Nescafe espresso/cappuccino machine is now gone, and the staff said they have been told that it might not be replaced. (My fingers are crossed that they'll get a Nespresso machine like the ones at the GF and CR.) There was always enough seating in the lounge when we went in, and we really, truly, felt special and welcome while staying there. The staff definitely helped damper the construction annoyances. We will definitely return and stay CL again. Here are a few pictures that I meant to upload earlier. I didn't take one of the room, but by request, someone asked for updated bathroom pictures and one of the hallway (the new carpeting is reminiscent of the carpeting in the GF villas)
************************************************************
Our next stay was at the Polynesian. We also stayed here recently--just in March--and wanted to return before the Volcano pool was dismantled (we weren't able to use the pool in March and my kids were bummed--the weather was unseasonably cold and I was sick during our stay). I booked this room through Orbitz on the 30% + 20% discount for two nights, which worked out to be $387 a night with the discount + tax. We were excited to return to the Polynesian and had been keeping on up the construction up until the past few weeks. Up until our stay, I had been encouraging people who asked to keep booking the Poly (until the pool closed) because I didn't think that the construction was a major annoyance when we visited in March, but I definitely have had a change of heart since revisiting the resort. I don't shy away from walking even more when we're at Disney--even after a long day in the park. I'm one who will walk from just about anywhere to get an extra 1/4 mile in so I don't feel so guilty about the high-calorie food we're consuming while at Disney, BUT, the Poly is very much torn up right now, especially if you're staying in the buildings north or east of the GCH. The walking path to the TTC is re-routed, and you basically have to walk on the edge of the resort/parking lot to reach the GCH. If you're in Hawaii, you have to either head on the east side of Samoa/Niue by the quiet pool to get to the GCH, or you have to walk by the pool and all the way over to the marina to access the GCH. I think the Poly is still a great resort to stay at if you can guarantee a longhouse on the west side of the resort (where you're basically isolated from all construction) and if you don't care about using the pool, but I will definitely be avoiding booking anything at the resort for the next half year or so until more construction walls come down and the pool reopens.
That being said, the IPO didn't know it was my birthday since I didn't mention anything on my reservation. However, they were still exceptionally friendly--despite the fact that I could tell some of them were really stressed due to guests being upset about the construction. Our room was clean and in good shape, and the food offerings were very good. We still love the location of Hawaii and the fact that we can go in and grab a drink (the wine punch in the evening was delicious!) or a snack and take it to the pool while the kids are swimming. The lounge remains one of the best ones on property that we've tried with plenty of open and available seating, and lots of larger tables for families.
Our room was in very good and clean condition, and this was the only resort that we received some towel animals and some extra stuffed animal love during turndown, which my kids just went nuts over.
I'm not a huge Poly lover like some people are as I would always prefer staying at the GF over the Poly as I much prefer the brighter rooms and theming over there, and I think the GF is in much better shape, overall. I don't think that our room was showing its age, but you just sort of get the feeling when you're staying at the Poly that it's an old resort. For some, I know that's nostalgic, but for me, as a relatively-new Disney fan, both the CR and the GF feel fresher and newer--but I have to admit that neither takes you "away" quite as much as the Poly does. With that being said, however, I know we will stay here again at some point, and wouldn't hesitate booking CL again as I love having the guaranteed building to stay in, and feel the CL is worth the extra up charge with plentiful seating in the lounge, the little higher level food offerings (when compared to the Epcot resorts) and the nice (but not over-the-top) staff.
************************************************************
We wrapped up our otherwise-amazing trip with a stay at one of our favorite resorts, the YC. We stayed CL here for three nights this past June (for a work trip), and the YC has always been one of my most recommended resorts, and the one we've stayed at the most. However, it was a huge disappointment on this trip. Our June stay was kind of "meh," (it was the first time we stayed CL here) and this trip really sealed the deal that we won't be returning to CL anytime soon. We find the staff here to be completely unenthusiastic with no extra attempts made to do anything other than their basic level of their jobs, and our room was in very sad shape. Housekeeping was also very poor, and many times, I walked through the hallways to see them milling about and socializing, and one had her phone stuffed down her bra and was texting while standing out in the hallway. Food plates were always scattered throughout the hallways for hours on end, and basic services were undone. Back in June, we received no welcome chocolates in our room and let it go as an oversight. This trip, it happened again. We didn't receive a welcome drink when we checked in during June, and didn't this trip either. We checked in early, and were told our room wasn't ready (which was fine--I wasn't expecting it to be), but another family (also staying in a standard view room) was whisked away to their room right after they checked in, 20 minutes after we checked in. Our room wound up being ready after 3 p.m. with no apology from the staff when I asked when it was going to be ready ("Uh, there's no guarantee it will be ready at 3 and it might be ready later" the CM said with a shrug), after we had spent an hour being somewhat "homeless" since we spend the time between check in and the room being ready at the pool, but an afternoon storm forced us up back up to the lounge, where we had to sit at the couch and use the hall bathroom to change back into our regular clothes, which was in simply disgusting shape. It smelled like pee, and you could see dried pee along the side of the sink vanity. During the three days we spent at the YC, the bathroom never improved and continued to reek like no other bathroom I've been in at Disney--including 6 different pool and the water parks' bathrooms.
Our room's toiletries weren't restocked, they only provided towels for four (even though it was evident there were five of us), and replenishing of them were just sort of carelessly folded on top of the vanity:
Our tub didn't drain, the shower was mildewy, the floor around the toilet was dirty and/or stained, the sink was dirty, and the chrome on many things is chipped and worn or rusted. To top it all off, the room smelled funky.
When we went in June, it was our anniversary and my daughter's birthday. We received no celebration or acknowledgement of those things other than buttons. This time, it was my birthday (which was noted by the IPO), and I didn't even receive a button. Not a single "happy birthday" from anyone, no balloons, no card, no button, no nothing. It was really a disappointing end to the vacation where I feel that every other resort we stayed at--even those where we stayed on points--at least acknowledged my birthday upon check in and all offered to provide a button and left a signed card (or more) in the room. I felt special everywhere I went during this trip, except for at the Yacht Club. It was such a disappointment. Trust me, I could care less about actually receiving these things, and it's not like a I kept a tally sheet or anything, but just a little something of acknowledgement--at least staying on par with your other CL peers--should be done. We have stayed CL during 3/5 of our family members' birthdays, and everywhere, we have received just a little extra attention and some of those little extra special touches that make staying at Disney and paying the premium on the CL rooms worth it.
On top of that, the lounge was packed and crowded, and one morning we had to wait 15 minutes at breakfast for a table. Additionally, I felt like the staff was eager to pick up our dishes and rush us out of there when we did finally get a table. I know that's rather paradoxical to note that, but hey, there's still half a muffin on my son's plate and he's clearly not done, so how about you let us have our time at the table and eat in a non-rushed manner?
In the end, yes, we still love the YC--mainly because we have come to love SAB even more as our kids have gotten older and become better swimmers. But I don't think that CL staff is in anyway on par to any of the other CL staffs that I've experienced at Disney (the only ones we haven't done at this point are BC, WL and AK). The resort is also in dire need of refurbishing, and way better housekeeping. There's no way I think I received the quality of room or the level of service that I deserved for a $375 (with the discount) per night room.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!
Just as a little background: We are a family of five. Two parents and three kids (13, 11, 7). We book CL mainly for breakfast (we usually are not at the resort during lunch time and are usually at the pool during evening snacks) and for that extra level of customer service/"specialness" during our stay. We do not use the IPO for anything prior to the trip as we handle all of our ADRs on our own and book everything else ourselves. Typically, I am fairly careful with money: I like to live nicely, but do it as cheaply as possible. Disney is what we spend our "bonus" money on, and when we go, we like to have fun days in the parks, great pools to swim in, and sleep in nice resorts with very good customer service.
The first resort we arrived to was Boardwalk. The last time we stayed here was a year ago in a deluxe CL room (3rd floor) which was awesome, but this time, we had a regular room booked. We had a boardwalk view and had a newly refurbished room several rooms down from the desk area. The room next to ours was undergoing refurbishment--as were many of the rooms near ours--and at the time we stayed here 2 weeks ago, there was no hiding the construction workers, the construction carts, etc. They seemed to be working quickly (the Steeplechase suite was 2 doors away from ours, and it looked like they completely refurbished it during our 2-night stay), so I'm not sure where construction is presently and what had already been done before we arrived, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were in a totally different area of the CL rooms, or completely wrapped up with construction on the CL floor by now. We bought our room with an AP discount, so our per night rate had a pretty deep 35% discount off rack rate, but I do have to admit that for a room that cost $400 with tax a night (that's with the discount), I wouldn't expect to be stressed while walking down the hallway that my kids are going to get the urge to dip their hands in or knock over a big open can of paint while walking past the cart, or hear nailing going on in the other room. I understand that they need to refurbish the rooms and that construction and maintenance is inevitable, but it seems to me that the best strategy would be to close the floor for a week and throw in as many workers as possible and get it done quickly and with the least amount of construction evidence and disruption to guests as possible. At least, that's what I expect for a $400/night room.
That being said, however, the workers were very courteous and the construction noises didn't bother us too much since it was only going on from 9-5, and we were out of the room during those hours. However, I did not know about the construction before we arrived, and if we had a baby/toddler (or children or adults) who needed to return to the room for a nap, I would definitely recommend that you request a room away from refurbishment as I could see the noise keeping a curious baby/toddler (or child/adult) awake.
What made our stay at the BWI, as last year, was the staff. There were a lot of new faces from last year, and some old ones, too--including Lorenzo who should win some sort of CL staff award for being one of the best ones on property. We were celebrating my birthday on this trip, and the staff left a big bunch of balloons and candy bars in our room, as well a signed Cinderella picture, and they were always exceptionally nice and warm and welcoming.
The food offerings were as what we expected. As I mentioned earlier, the Nescafe espresso/cappuccino machine is now gone, and the staff said they have been told that it might not be replaced. (My fingers are crossed that they'll get a Nespresso machine like the ones at the GF and CR.) There was always enough seating in the lounge when we went in, and we really, truly, felt special and welcome while staying there. The staff definitely helped damper the construction annoyances. We will definitely return and stay CL again. Here are a few pictures that I meant to upload earlier. I didn't take one of the room, but by request, someone asked for updated bathroom pictures and one of the hallway (the new carpeting is reminiscent of the carpeting in the GF villas)
************************************************************
Our next stay was at the Polynesian. We also stayed here recently--just in March--and wanted to return before the Volcano pool was dismantled (we weren't able to use the pool in March and my kids were bummed--the weather was unseasonably cold and I was sick during our stay). I booked this room through Orbitz on the 30% + 20% discount for two nights, which worked out to be $387 a night with the discount + tax. We were excited to return to the Polynesian and had been keeping on up the construction up until the past few weeks. Up until our stay, I had been encouraging people who asked to keep booking the Poly (until the pool closed) because I didn't think that the construction was a major annoyance when we visited in March, but I definitely have had a change of heart since revisiting the resort. I don't shy away from walking even more when we're at Disney--even after a long day in the park. I'm one who will walk from just about anywhere to get an extra 1/4 mile in so I don't feel so guilty about the high-calorie food we're consuming while at Disney, BUT, the Poly is very much torn up right now, especially if you're staying in the buildings north or east of the GCH. The walking path to the TTC is re-routed, and you basically have to walk on the edge of the resort/parking lot to reach the GCH. If you're in Hawaii, you have to either head on the east side of Samoa/Niue by the quiet pool to get to the GCH, or you have to walk by the pool and all the way over to the marina to access the GCH. I think the Poly is still a great resort to stay at if you can guarantee a longhouse on the west side of the resort (where you're basically isolated from all construction) and if you don't care about using the pool, but I will definitely be avoiding booking anything at the resort for the next half year or so until more construction walls come down and the pool reopens.
That being said, the IPO didn't know it was my birthday since I didn't mention anything on my reservation. However, they were still exceptionally friendly--despite the fact that I could tell some of them were really stressed due to guests being upset about the construction. Our room was clean and in good shape, and the food offerings were very good. We still love the location of Hawaii and the fact that we can go in and grab a drink (the wine punch in the evening was delicious!) or a snack and take it to the pool while the kids are swimming. The lounge remains one of the best ones on property that we've tried with plenty of open and available seating, and lots of larger tables for families.
Our room was in very good and clean condition, and this was the only resort that we received some towel animals and some extra stuffed animal love during turndown, which my kids just went nuts over.
I'm not a huge Poly lover like some people are as I would always prefer staying at the GF over the Poly as I much prefer the brighter rooms and theming over there, and I think the GF is in much better shape, overall. I don't think that our room was showing its age, but you just sort of get the feeling when you're staying at the Poly that it's an old resort. For some, I know that's nostalgic, but for me, as a relatively-new Disney fan, both the CR and the GF feel fresher and newer--but I have to admit that neither takes you "away" quite as much as the Poly does. With that being said, however, I know we will stay here again at some point, and wouldn't hesitate booking CL again as I love having the guaranteed building to stay in, and feel the CL is worth the extra up charge with plentiful seating in the lounge, the little higher level food offerings (when compared to the Epcot resorts) and the nice (but not over-the-top) staff.
************************************************************
We wrapped up our otherwise-amazing trip with a stay at one of our favorite resorts, the YC. We stayed CL here for three nights this past June (for a work trip), and the YC has always been one of my most recommended resorts, and the one we've stayed at the most. However, it was a huge disappointment on this trip. Our June stay was kind of "meh," (it was the first time we stayed CL here) and this trip really sealed the deal that we won't be returning to CL anytime soon. We find the staff here to be completely unenthusiastic with no extra attempts made to do anything other than their basic level of their jobs, and our room was in very sad shape. Housekeeping was also very poor, and many times, I walked through the hallways to see them milling about and socializing, and one had her phone stuffed down her bra and was texting while standing out in the hallway. Food plates were always scattered throughout the hallways for hours on end, and basic services were undone. Back in June, we received no welcome chocolates in our room and let it go as an oversight. This trip, it happened again. We didn't receive a welcome drink when we checked in during June, and didn't this trip either. We checked in early, and were told our room wasn't ready (which was fine--I wasn't expecting it to be), but another family (also staying in a standard view room) was whisked away to their room right after they checked in, 20 minutes after we checked in. Our room wound up being ready after 3 p.m. with no apology from the staff when I asked when it was going to be ready ("Uh, there's no guarantee it will be ready at 3 and it might be ready later" the CM said with a shrug), after we had spent an hour being somewhat "homeless" since we spend the time between check in and the room being ready at the pool, but an afternoon storm forced us up back up to the lounge, where we had to sit at the couch and use the hall bathroom to change back into our regular clothes, which was in simply disgusting shape. It smelled like pee, and you could see dried pee along the side of the sink vanity. During the three days we spent at the YC, the bathroom never improved and continued to reek like no other bathroom I've been in at Disney--including 6 different pool and the water parks' bathrooms.
Our room's toiletries weren't restocked, they only provided towels for four (even though it was evident there were five of us), and replenishing of them were just sort of carelessly folded on top of the vanity:
Our tub didn't drain, the shower was mildewy, the floor around the toilet was dirty and/or stained, the sink was dirty, and the chrome on many things is chipped and worn or rusted. To top it all off, the room smelled funky.
When we went in June, it was our anniversary and my daughter's birthday. We received no celebration or acknowledgement of those things other than buttons. This time, it was my birthday (which was noted by the IPO), and I didn't even receive a button. Not a single "happy birthday" from anyone, no balloons, no card, no button, no nothing. It was really a disappointing end to the vacation where I feel that every other resort we stayed at--even those where we stayed on points--at least acknowledged my birthday upon check in and all offered to provide a button and left a signed card (or more) in the room. I felt special everywhere I went during this trip, except for at the Yacht Club. It was such a disappointment. Trust me, I could care less about actually receiving these things, and it's not like a I kept a tally sheet or anything, but just a little something of acknowledgement--at least staying on par with your other CL peers--should be done. We have stayed CL during 3/5 of our family members' birthdays, and everywhere, we have received just a little extra attention and some of those little extra special touches that make staying at Disney and paying the premium on the CL rooms worth it.
On top of that, the lounge was packed and crowded, and one morning we had to wait 15 minutes at breakfast for a table. Additionally, I felt like the staff was eager to pick up our dishes and rush us out of there when we did finally get a table. I know that's rather paradoxical to note that, but hey, there's still half a muffin on my son's plate and he's clearly not done, so how about you let us have our time at the table and eat in a non-rushed manner?
In the end, yes, we still love the YC--mainly because we have come to love SAB even more as our kids have gotten older and become better swimmers. But I don't think that CL staff is in anyway on par to any of the other CL staffs that I've experienced at Disney (the only ones we haven't done at this point are BC, WL and AK). The resort is also in dire need of refurbishing, and way better housekeeping. There's no way I think I received the quality of room or the level of service that I deserved for a $375 (with the discount) per night room.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!
:
. 
.
If you want to see photos and reports and you can remember my info that was removed please come take a look. I won't post a link for fear of being in more trouble. 
