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

[Invisable89]

Have both the BC and the YC had their club lounges refurbed or just one of them?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I came here to ask the same question. I am really hoping that they are still doing the text thing. It would be great to get some more details, I feel like I don't exactly know how it works.

For example, do you tell them in your text what ride you are interested in? Or do they give you choices? Also, if we use all of our FPs in the morning of one park, can we have them check for evening FPs at a different park?

More what you are interested in getting, but the CM might give you a list of choices in response.

I am pretty confident ALL WDW guests now get the automated text when the room is ready, that's been true for some time. (though it is not 100%, if you don't have a text by 4pm, call.)

The texting service being discussed is similar to how/when/why you'd call IPO, only a little more. Mostly we used it to get our 4th+ FP in MK.

A 4th FP isn't much use in Epcot, AK, or HS. By the time you look, tier 1 FP are gone for the day.

The service was new when we went for us and CM's. The challenge of texting a FP request is similar to phoning last minute ADR requests; you can't see the available options list yourself. Do you prioritize proximity of location or timing? Sushi? Characters?
*****
Asking for a Mtn as 4th FP was a waste: not available. Too low priority FP is also a waste when standby line (lines) are zero. It's a gamble.

The best approach we found was to send the CM open requests, "We'd like a FP close to now, please. Are any of these available: Pooh, Little Mermaid, Dumbo? " The CM working the lines was very perceptive, and got to know us. She often came back a short list: "Pooh at 4pm or Dumbo at 7pm?"

You can send requests however you prefer. We found though if we made our requests very specific, it just took more time and texts to get our next FP. The more open our request, the better. As the day progresses, the list of available FP dwindles to nothing. Appreciation is also always appreciated!

Yes, if you are in one park, you can request FP for a different park later that night. The service was SO new, I think we were among the first to try! The desk CM didn't know the answer when I asked!

Also, the reception in the parks and while riding the bus is not 100%. Some responses came in seconds, others took a few minutes. Depends who busy they are, and the nature of your request. Just like IPO, they stop at 10pm.

Texting was also useful was when we missed one of our FP, and some traditional IPO requests and questions.

Using MDE and in-park kiosks are also options.

 

[outahere]

Have both the BC and the YC had their club lounges refurbed or just one of them?

At this point, only the BC lounge has been refurbed.

 

[1Winston]

How long is the bus to magic kingdom from akl and how often does it come? Thank you!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

This is possibly a dumb question but I really don't know.

Do CL guests get any benefit for sending purchases in parks to the room/resort? I swore I had heard it gets there faster than the regular 3 days. I could be totally thinking of something else though.

In park CM's also don't know about this. They may tell you to pick up your packages in lobby gift shop, but they magically appear in your room.

Others have said 24hours, which is part of the answer. You must have over 24hours left on your resort stay. You'll be asked, "Are you checking out tomorrow?" If yes, you can't use this service. It does take a few minutes to fill out the paper work and you'll be asked your room number. (helps to know it).

Another options is having packages held at the front of the park (need 3 hours). Packages can also be MAILED to your home address. (I think there's a fee. I can't recall what it was last time I did it, but it wasn't bad. Good for fragile items.)

 

[mickeyluv'r]

How long is the bus to magic kingdom from akl and how often does it come? Thank you!

Ride time from AKL to MK is 20minutes from leaving AKL - see below.

Bus frequency varies. Usually more frequent at peak hours, but not always. Not always even distribution. They may be running two buses, but those buses maybe aren't evenly spaced. Also the dispatcher at the park may send an extra bus to AKL if lots of guests waiting.

Mid day waits at any resort can be 30min (or sometimes longer, esp if you hit a shift change!)

Some AKL buses go to both AKL resorts. It has been some times since I rode AKL buses, but at all resorts, they usually have dedicated buses at very peak times (of day and year), and shared buses at slow times of day/year. So more buses Easter week, than end of Jan. BUT- If the bus area I very full, there's a chance you might on fit on the bus. (more if you are leaving the park at peak time)

 

[disneyfakefam2015]

We are staying Poly CL in September using the magical deal but I have a few questions, sorry if they're repetitive. I tried to read old threads to see if these had been asked before:

Since we booked through the agency, do I need to contact the CL staff for ADRs myself or will they contact me?

Also, when do they contact me? Will they book ADRs at the 180 day mark or will they book them early? Just wondering the advantage of using them, the travel agent or myself to book reservations.

Finally, we're doing a split stay at POFQ, will the CL office make my reservations for that part of my stay as well or only for my portion of stay at Poly?

Thanks!

 

[Maxie86]

We are staying Poly CL in September using the magical deal but I have a few questions, sorry if they're repetitive. I tried to read old threads to see if these had been asked before:

Since we booked through the agency, do I need to contact the CL staff for ADRs myself or will they contact me?

Also, when do they contact me? Will they book ADRs at the 180 day mark or will they book them early? Just wondering the advantage of using them, the travel agent or myself to book reservations.

Finally, we're doing a split stay at POFQ, will the CL office make my reservations for that part of my stay as well or only for my portion of stay at Poly?

Thanks!

Sometimes they contact you first sometimes not. You can send them an email or call them. If you are using them for making ADR's definitely call, you should never put your CC# in an email. They can only book ADR's 180 days out same as you. They will only make ADR's for the CL stay. I have been doing them myself ever since you can book online, but we don't make many...if you are making a lot it is easier to have someone else do it for you. I would have my TA make the ADR's if you didn't have the time or want to take the time to make them, that way he or she can make them for both parts of your trip.

 

[grubens]

This is possibly a dumb question but I really don't know.

Do CL guests get any benefit for sending purchases in parks to the room/resort? I swore I had heard it gets there faster than the regular 3 days. I could be totally thinking of something else though.

CL guests benefit by having purchases in the park delivered directly to their room. While all on-site guests can have packages delivered to their hotel, non-CL guests pick them up in their hotel lobbby; CL guests' packages are delivered directly to the room.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We are staying Poly CL in September using the magical deal but I have a few questions, sorry if they're repetitive. I tried to read old threads to see if these had been asked before:

Since we booked through the agency, do I need to contact the CL staff for ADRs myself or will they contact me?

Also, when do they contact me? Will they book ADRs at the 180 day mark or will they book them early? Just wondering the advantage of using them, the travel agent or myself to book reservations.

Finally, we're doing a split stay at POFQ, will the CL office make my reservations for that part of my stay as well or only for my portion of stay at Poly?

Thanks!

Your first two questions get asked in this thread almost every week..

As to your last question, it kind of depends. You are considered a CL guests until midnight of the day you check out. Beyond that, they are not required to make them for you, but sometimes they will. (esp if non CL is AFTER your CL). Generally they will give you a print out of all your ADR's (Esp if you ask)

The CL staff will make your ADR's at the 180 day mark. A TA is supposed to do that as well. You are paying for their service. If you were less than 180 days, it is more of a tossup. If you only want low demand ADR's then it probably doesn't matter much. If you want high demand places at specific times, I think it is far better to let them take care of it.

I have never known any CL to miss a request I sent.

 

[L&Lfan]

4 nights standard club level at the Boardwalk Inn and 4 nights deluxe club level at the Beach Club in November. First time club level for us at those two resorts. Our only experience has been standard club level at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We loved it and are now hooked on club level stays.

 

[emilypaul]

More what you are interested in getting, but the CM might give you a list of choices in response.

I am pretty confident ALL WDW guests now get the automated text when the room is ready, that's been true for some time. (though it is not 100%, if you don't have a text by 4pm, call.)

The texting service being discussed is similar to how/when/why you'd call IPO, only a little more. Mostly we used it to get our 4th+ FP in MK.

A 4th FP isn't much use in Epcot, AK, or HS. By the time you look, tier 1 FP are gone for the day.

The service was new when we went for us and CM's. The challenge of texting a FP request is similar to phoning last minute ADR requests; you can't see the available options list yourself. Do you prioritize proximity of location or timing? Sushi? Characters?
*****
Asking for a Mtn as 4th FP was a waste: not available. Too low priority FP is also a waste when standby line (lines) are zero. It's a gamble.

The best approach we found was to send the CM open requests, "We'd like a FP close to now, please. Are any of these available: Pooh, Little Mermaid, Dumbo? " The CM working the lines was very perceptive, and got to know us. She often came back a short list: "Pooh at 4pm or Dumbo at 7pm?"

You can send requests however you prefer. We found though if we made our requests very specific, it just took more time and texts to get our next FP. The more open our request, the better. As the day progresses, the list of available FP dwindles to nothing. Appreciation is also always appreciated!

Yes, if you are in one park, you can request FP for a different park later that night. The service was SO new, I think we were among the first to try! The desk CM didn't know the answer when I asked!

Also, the reception in the parks and while riding the bus is not 100%. Some responses came in seconds, others took a few minutes. Depends who busy they are, and the nature of your request. Just like IPO, they stop at 10pm.

Texting was also useful was when we missed one of our FP, and some traditional IPO requests and questions.

Using MDE and in-park kiosks are also options.

Thank you so much for the detailed info! This is exactly what I was looking for. I feel like I have a much better understanding of the process now.

 

[mindystar]

So excited that I'm able to give one of my sisters and mom a night on our girls' trip at the Poly, club level to boot.
We've done club level one other time--at the CR for sister's wedding. However they were working on the lounge and our experience was a table by the elevators with cookies and pop, where the concierge sat. So we are looking forward to a building dedicated to club level and a lounge
Shhh. . .I'm secretly hoping to see if I can't get us upgraded (if there's availability when we arrive at CR) to club level there too. There was none available with the AP discount, so I'd like to check and see if I can pay for the upgrade when we get there. If not that's fine--one night at Club Level will be a treat
Love getting to read everything here and it makes me even more excited about going

 

[Circusgirl]

In an unexpected flare of last minute activity (I leave this Friday), I upgraded yesterday to CL at WL from my longstanding Courtyard view room reservation there. I think it was all the talk about the oatmeal that finally got to me, and the fact that the passholder discount became available for my dates.

I've been looking forward to the ambience of the Lodge in the cooler weather and now it's a little like a second Christmas to look forward to all the things people have raved about.

I'm only a little concerned that I will find the dormer solid wall balcony room claustrophobic. The dormer rooms at the GF seem really dark to me. What have other people's experiences been?

I'll try to get the oatmeal recipe while I'm there!

 

[trishadono]

So excited that I'm able to give one of my sisters and mom a night on our girls' trip at the Poly, club level to boot.
We've done club level one other time--at the CR for sister's wedding. However they were working on the lounge and our experience was a table by the elevators with cookies and pop, where the concierge sat. So we are looking forward to a building dedicated to club level and a lounge
Shhh. . .I'm secretly hoping to see if I can't get us upgraded (if there's availability when we arrive at CR) to club level there too. There was none available with the AP discount, so I'd like to check and see if I can pay for the upgrade when we get there. If not that's fine--one night at Club Level will be a treat
Love getting to read everything here and it makes me even more excited about going

Keep checking for CL availability. As Circusgirl experienced some opens up last minute. I had 2 poly CL visits in 2014 and

Have a great girls trip! Sounds fun

In an unexpected flare of last minute activity (I leave this Friday), I upgraded yesterday to CL at WL from my longstanding Courtyard view room reservation there. I think it was all the talk about the oatmeal that finally got to me, and the fact that the passholder discount became available for my dates.

I've been looking forward to the ambience of the Lodge in the cooler weather and now it's a little like a second Christmas to look forward to all the things people have raved about.

I'm only a little concerned that I will find the dormer solid wall balcony room claustrophobic. The dormer rooms at the GF seem really dark to me. What have other people's experiences been?

I'll try to get the oatmeal recipe while I'm there!

glad to have helped!

 

[mindystar]

Keep checking for CL availability. As Circusgirl experienced some opens up last minute. I had 2 poly CL visits in 2014 and

Have a great girls trip! Sounds fun

Excellent advice I will keep on it right up to asking at check in. Anything you think we should absolutely do in our limited Poly CL stay?

 

[trishadono]

Excellent advice I will keep on it right up to asking at check in. Anything you think we should absolutely do in our limited Poly CL stay?

Enjoy that lounge! The view is amazing at all hours of the day!

I even got take out lunch and brought it to the lounge. No one there in the middle of the day and yet free drinks, silverware and snacks work great with your lunch.

You can get beer or wine during the day. For my mom they even had some special punch at 2pm one day when I enquired. She doesn't drink at home but loved having a glass with her darling daughter

 

[mindystar]

Great idea! We love Captain Cooks-what a great way to end our stay I too don't really drink--but I do indulge in a foo foo drink every once in a while
Thanks so much for the great info.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Poly CL is tempting for Spring Break. AP rate is $499 a night, that's about as good as it gets on the monorail. But I told myself I wasn't going to stay there again until the construction was done. Hmmmmm... it's such a hard decision.

 

[pixarmom]

Poly CL is tempting for Spring Break. AP rate is $499 a night, that's about as good as it gets on the monorail. But I told myself I wasn't going to stay there again until the construction was done. Hmmmmm... it's such a hard decision.

Just returned from a split stay that included AOA, AKL CL, GF RPC and then 5 nights Poly CL. We booked garden view at Poly and they upgraded us to lagoon view for all five nights.

We were happy with our decision to stay at Poly, but there are several relevant factors. First, loved the upgrade. Second, we really love the new lobby. I've been staying at Poly since childhood and the old waterfall had sentimental value but I like the new lobby so much more. It's open, airy, still smells great and that view out the lobby to the castle - incredible. And will be even better when the pool is finished. Third, it was cold during our stay so we didn't miss the volcano pool.

We decided to return to Poly for Easter Weekend and cross our fingers regarding the volcano pool. If it's not looking good for the pool, we may consider a switch.