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

[TDluvsDaisy]

Would you mind sharing what's on the menu, subject to change of course.

I really wish those short ribs from CR would show up more places.

Sorry for the delay. Life and work got in the way of my DIS reading.

Below is what I got from YC/BC Itinerary Planning when I mentioned my DH's food allergies and our stay in early June.

7 Day Rotating Menu for Concierge 2014 Hot Food:
Sunday
Conch Fritters with Cajun Remoulade
Raspberry and Brie En Croute

Hope this helps!!

Monday
Greek Spanakopitas
Beef and Blue with Roasted Shallot Aioli

Tuesday
Vegetable Spring Rolls with a Citrus Soy Dipping Sauce
Chicken Skewers with Yo gurt Cucumber Sauce

Wednesday
Crab Rangoon with Sweet Chili Sauce
Potato and Pea Samosas with Mango Chutney

Thursday
Raspberry and Brie en croute
Beef and Blue with Roasted Shallot Aioli

Friday
Chicken Skewers with Yogurt Cucumber Sauce
Vegetable Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce

Saturday
Greek Spanakopitas
Bacon Wrapped Scallops with Mustard Dipping Sauce

 

[HBGdancermom]

I am walking on air right now!!!! After 3 weeks of torturous checking and rechecking I finally got spots for the Feel the Force VIP event! Thank goodness!!!!! Now hopefully my kids won't be trampled this year and we'll actually have a decent spot for the parade and fireworks. I emailed IPO to let them know they can take us off the waiting list. Only 10 days left to go!!!!!

Persistence pays!!!! Yeah!!!

 

[epsmith921]

LOWS: -The only real complaint I have is that there weren't "to-go" cups like Poly has... I hated giving DD3 such breakable dishes, cups and plates! She didn't break any but I was constantly concerned! Also, I didn't realize I could ask for a coffee cup to take "to-go" until the last morning - I wish they would just have these out! I will take some disposable things next time!:

I was also not pleased in September last year about having only breakable dishes, but it made sense. We were staying at BWI CL with our 2.5 year old and I just used her sippy cups and then for plates, I grabbed extras at the boardwalk bakery or maybe at the pizza window. Those were a lifesaver so at least if she had food in our room she wasn't stuck eating off a paper towel or something. In the lounge I would give her one of the plates but if she started getting careless with it, her food went onto a napkin.

You are right though, it would be a little nice if they saw you bringing a smaller child in and broke out some less fragile items. I mean, they sell plenty of the stuff.

Not a deal breaker though, just made eating a little nervewracking in the lounge.

 

[Ferrentinos]

I was also not pleased in September last year about having only breakable dishes, but it made sense. We were staying at BWI CL with our 2.5 year old and I just used her sippy cups and then for plates, I grabbed extras at the boardwalk bakery or maybe at the pizza window. Those were a lifesaver so at least if she had food in our room she wasn't stuck eating off a paper towel or something. In the lounge I would give her one of the plates but if she started getting careless with it, her food went onto a napkin. You are right though, it would be a little nice if they saw you bringing a smaller child in and broke out some less fragile items. I mean, they sell plenty of the stuff. Not a deal breaker though, just made eating a little nervewracking in the lounge.

Agreed that t was definitely not a deal breaker - I just didn't realize that it would vary from lounge to lounge. Not really a big deal!

 

[happymomof1]

Thanks for the helpful menu TDluvsDaisy! It's nice to see what might be available.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hello Folks,

I have made advanced reservations for AKL CL for 2015 May 21st to June 1st. (This is hopefully during two SWW next year.)

My Question for you is how helpful has the IPO office been to get those really hard reservations? I see some of my SWW peeps here from the tips and tricks thread and I was wondering was it easier to use the IPO or did you still get stuff on your own. I know there were many reservations I got this year pre-Disney announcement of the event/dinning and I am not so inclined to think that the IPO office would be as responsive, I mean heck we found some of the CMs when we called rarely knew all the details and I seemed to know more than they did on those reservations I made pre Disney official announcement.

Do you get what I mean? Not sure I am asking right... I just wonder if I should only give the IPO the easy non SWW stuff and do the others myself next year?

Thanks for your help!

I have full confidence the IPO can handle dining and events especially if you give them your list before the 180 day mark, or try as soon as you can. I also think they're good at getting last minute dining because they'll put you on their call list and they will check availability daily. I asked for BOG dinner in March about 2 weeks before our trip and they got it for me.

Now, when it comes to booking special events that haven't been announced, for example when the Feel the Force VIP event was announced, I think you're better off doing those yourself IF you're the type of person who follows the boards daily and stays on top of things. Last night when I read on the Theme park strategy board they had released extra spots for FTF I was able to grab those myself quickly. IPO was already closed for the day, they wouldn't have had any idea. If I wouldn't have seen that post (right place at the right time) I'm sure I wouldn't have gotten it.
So I think you can do a mixture of things, definitely let IPO handle everything you know you want , but also keep your eyes open for special events as they are announced. If you miss an announcement definitely let IPO know so they can put you on their cancellation call list.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Sorry for the delay. Life and work got in the way of my DIS reading.

Below is what I got from YC/BC Itinerary Planning when I mentioned my DH's food allergies and our stay in early June.

7 Day Rotating Menu for Concierge 2014 Hot Food:
Sunday
Conch Fritters with Cajun Remoulade
Raspberry and Brie En Croute

Hope this helps!!

Monday
Greek Spanakopitas
Beef and Blue with Roasted Shallot Aioli

Tuesday
Vegetable Spring Rolls with a Citrus Soy Dipping Sauce
Chicken Skewers with Yo gurt Cucumber Sauce

Wednesday
Crab Rangoon with Sweet Chili Sauce
Potato and Pea Samosas with Mango Chutney

Thursday
Raspberry and Brie en croute
Beef and Blue with Roasted Shallot Aioli

Friday
Chicken Skewers with Yogurt Cucumber Sauce
Vegetable Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce

Saturday
Greek Spanakopitas
Bacon Wrapped Scallops with Mustard Dipping Sauce

This is the same food we had in March, I wish they would change it more often for those of us who make multiple trips in the same year. And BRING BACK lobster salad!!!!!!!!!

 

[wdwfan]

I'll be staying at YC CL again this August. The hot appetizer menu looks like the same thing we had to eat last August. It is time to change it up!! Lobster salad sounds lovely! I love club level, but I don't know... the food offerings are not that great anymore. I guess what I really enjoy most is the service - having cm's right there to help with problems and such.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I'll be staying at YC CL again this August. The hot appetizer menu looks like the same thing we had to eat last August. It is time to change it up!! Lobster salad sounds lovely! I love club level, but I don't know... the food offerings are not that great anymore. I guess what I really enjoy most is the service - having cm's right there to help with problems and such.

I agree!!!

 

[lkrasnavage]

Hi all! We are back from 4 glorious nights at AKL CL! We had such an amazing experience so I thought I'd post the highs and low's!
HIGHS:
-The lounge is gorgeous, spacious and very welcoming!
-The food offerings are delicious - all day, every day! Evening apps were so different and wonderful! Loved the variety of hummus at night and the tea in the afternoon was a nice treat! The scones with cream shouldn't be missed!
-The jungle juice mimosas - drink many of them if you can!
-Our room had an amazing view and was maybe a 2-3 minute walk to the elevator and lounge - no problems with the room being on 4 and the lounge on 6 - We had a bunk bed room which was lovely!
-The CM's in the lounge were out of this world! They when out of their way to be friendly, accommodate us in anyway, answer our questions and then some! They were definitely a highlight of the trip!

LOWS:
-The only real complaint I have is that there weren't "to-go" cups like Poly has... I hated giving DD3 such breakable dishes, cups and plates! She didn't break any but I was constantly concerned! Also, I didn't realize I could ask for a coffee cup to take "to-go" until the last morning - I wish they would just have these out! I will take some disposable things next time!
-I wish the lounge looked out over the Savannah - I know that it can't be moved but I would have loved that view while we snacked!

Overall, we had such an amazing experience CL at AKL! I highly recommend the experience!

Now... looking forward to trying out GF SL in July!!!

Nice review! Do you happen to know what room you were in or what trail you were on?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Ferrentinos: I don't know if this is the same set-up, but at WL-CL/OFC the to-go cups and lids aren't displayed, but are stored in a large drawer underneath the area with beverages. Guests are free to take them as they please, but it's not obvious that they're in there. I've never stayed at AKL-CL/KC so I don't know if it might be the same.

 

[Ferrentinos]

Ferrentinos: I don't know if this is the same set-up, but at WL-CL/OFC the to-go cups and lids aren't displayed, but are stored in a large drawer underneath the area with beverages. Guests are free to take them as they please, but it's not obvious that they're in there. I've never stayed at AKL-CL/KC so I don't know if it might be the same.

That's good to know! At AKL when I finally saw someone with a coffee cup I asked - they had to unlock the cabinets under the coffee and get one out for me. I didn't ask about any other to-go things so I'm not sure if they actually had things that they just kept in those cabinets now that I think about it.

I'm so excited about our upcoming GF SL stay!!!! I think I'll pack a few disposable things - just to be safe - and then just soak it all up! Can't wait for the first people to check in before us so maybe we'll see pictures of the renovations to the lounge!

 

[MelanieRI]

Hi all! We are back from 4 glorious nights at AKL CL! We had such an amazing experience so I thought I'd post the highs and low's!
LOWS:
-The only real complaint I have is that there weren't "to-go" cups like Poly has...

I'm glad to hear that your trip went so well! I also was annoyed about the "to-go" cup situation at the YC in April. I first thought they didn't even have them anymore until I saw some people with them. I asked a kid where he got his and he showed me the inside scoop of where they were at. By the end of my stay, they were out again in the open instead of hidden away. It's so weird, b/c at Christmas, the "to-go" cups were the type of cups placed in the rooms at POFQ. They hand out 4-5 cups everyday in your room. Yet, at the CL rooms they're treated like gold. I mean...really?

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I know exactly why... because of the abuse of the club lounges. People come to the lounge and load up multiple to-go plates and cups, filling to-go cups with food, snacks and wine, and taking out as much as they can carry. They are feeding large groups of people, maybe even people who aren't even staying club level? Whatever the reason it results in the rest of us having to suffer. I have seen it happening over and over again. People pouring a half bottle of wine into a to-go cup or mug, that's why we're now seeing a castmember pouring wine. People scooping out tons of dry snacks into cups, now they take away the cups.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

I have full confidence the IPO can handle dining and events especially if you give them your list before the 180 day mark, or try as soon as you can. I also think they're good at getting last minute dining because they'll put you on their call list and they will check availability daily. I asked for BOG dinner in March about 2 weeks before our trip and they got it for me.

Now, when it comes to booking special events that haven't been announced, for example when the Feel the Force VIP event was announced, I think you're better off doing those yourself IF you're the type of person who follows the boards daily and stays on top of things. Last night when I read on the Theme park strategy board they had released extra spots for FTF I was able to grab those myself quickly. IPO was already closed for the day, they wouldn't have had any idea. If I wouldn't have seen that post (right place at the right time) I'm sure I wouldn't have gotten it.
So I think you can do a mixture of things, definitely let IPO handle everything you know you want , but also keep your eyes open for special events as they are announced. If you miss an announcement definitely let IPO know so they can put you on their cancellation call list.

That's what I was thinking... ok I will be sure to work it both ways for sure next year THANK YOU!

 

[AngiTN]

I know exactly why... because of the abuse of the club lounges. People come to the lounge and load up multiple to-go plates and cups, filling to-go cups with food, snacks and wine, and taking out as much as they can carry. They are feeding large groups of people, maybe even people who aren't even staying club level? Whatever the reason it results in the rest of us having to suffer. I have seen it happening over and over again. People pouring a half bottle of wine into a to-go cup or mug, that's why we're now seeing a castmember pouring wine. People scooping out tons of dry snacks into cups, now they take away the cups.

Makes sense. I was thinking they'd switched to real dishes to be more green. Disposable stuff at Disney add volumes to the trash bin. I for one am glad to see them switch to something more green even if that wasn't the reason for it.

At WL the paper cups were in a drawer by the coffee at all times. Do you now have to ask for them? Or is there no coffee to go at all?

 

[vettegirl]

Just switched from AKL CL to BC CL for our December trip Really wanted to go with AKL but the location just isn't going to work with a 5 month old baby. Now I just need Disney to renew the military salute so I can afford it

 

[Sue M]

Thanks for the review, next year will be my first CL experience and I choose to do it at AKL... I am such a planner and a go, go, go person that I never thought CL was worth the money cause I didn't think I would be around to use it... BUT with us staying for 12 days/11 nights in 2015, I thought if there were ever a time to try it, that would be the time!

If any of you have things I should know, tips and what not please spill all your advice on me... I really will soak it in. I have been the over planner my whole life so this will be such a new experience for me using the IPO and what not.

I do know that I want to do the AKL CL only safaris, anyone done those before, anything I should plan for them?

Thanks bunches in advance for all your help!

The Sunrise Safari is amazing!! I'd send IPO an email to book it as soon as you're booked at AKL!
CL is great at AKL. The CMs are very nice. Lounge is very comfortable. I was concerned that lounge wasn't on same floor as rooms, but it wasn't a problem at all.

 

[Sue M]

Sugar Loaf? when will refurb be done? Will both rooms and CL be finished by August?

 

[Celine]

Sugar Loaf? when will refurb be done? Will both rooms and CL be finished by August?

Wait, what? There's a refurb going on at Sugar Loaf? When is it expected to be done?