Our family just completed a four night stay at the HrR. We started in room 1041, upgraded to club room 7101 and spent the last 2 nights in 4041. We had booked the annual passholder rate of $169 for deluxe (standard was $149). At check in, I was told $70 to upgrade to standard club, but $100 to upgrade to club deluxe-- the upgrade would have cost the same had I booked the standard room at 149. I declined, but asked again the next day. The clerk offered $70 for the deluxe upgrade as an "exception" (we had malfunctioning tv in the first room). He had to get permission from someone on the phone for this.
We did not find the club level to worth $70 a day, even for a family of 5. The breakfast offerings are: cereal, fruit, donuts, pastry, bagels, bread, apple/orange juice, coffee, tea, milk, yogurt.
There are no daytime offerings other than soda, tea and coffee. Even the milk is removed after breakfast.
The evening offering the night we stayed were reheated Sam's Club type frozen appetizers (2 varieties, both equally bad), left over fruit from breakfast, cheese cubes, tortilla chips. Free wine and beer. That's it! We have had more selection (and similar quality) at the Homestead Suites free "manager's nightly reception".
The "late" offering- 8:30-9:30 was rice crispy treats. And, don't bother asking for one before 8:30 pm (my son asked at 8:25 and was refused).
We have stayed at several other hotel's club levels and have always found cookies in the afternoon, a nice selection of quality appetizers in the evening and a spread of good desserts.
The next day I downgraded us back off of club, citing the poor food and that we needed something earlier than 7:30 am. The desk clerk said the food used to be great, but they had changed it at the start of 2006, supposedly to make it more child friendly.
Other benefits are use of robes, discounts on cabana rentals and use of the club concierge. Everyone judges value differently, but I would value what HRH club offers at about $30 a day. For the same $70, my entire family enjoyed the breakfast buffet in the Kitchen restaurant with enough left over for cocktails in the hotel bar. And, the buffet breakfast is vastly better than the club breakfast (omelette bar, a dozen hot choices plus everythinng offered on club).
Also, the deluxe rooms are much larger, but the sleeping area is identical. Most of the extra space is in a dressing area across from the bathroom. We needed the deluxe for our son to sleep on the rollaway sofa.