Missing Club level

[lala5176]

Hey there. I was wondering if anyone has gone from mostly staying club level and then booking a standard room and then hating it?? We are booked at the Polynesian this June and couldn't get a club level room. I know, poor me as if Poly isn't fantastic enough!!! For those of you who have stayed and then not, did it make that much of a difference??

 

[MsThumper]

The only resort that we can justify paying for club level is AKL. We feel that the price difference between savannah view and savannah club-level view at AKL is worth doing, because when we go to AKL we usually don't go to the parks much, if at all.

We have been upgraded to club-level for free, several times, and we love it. We just can't justify it when it comes out of our pocket, especially because there are only 2 of us in the room. So we do survive when we book non club level rooms.

 

[lala5176]

We haven't stayed AKL because we don't fit as a family of 5 but hear it is amazing. We have unfortunately never been upgraded but great for you!! We spend about 4 days at the resort with no parks and another five at the parks so feel like we can get some lounge time in but totally see your point! It is a great expense if you don't take full advantage of it.

 

[MsThumper]

We haven't stayed AKL because we don't fit as a family of 5 but hear it is amazing. We have unfortunately never been upgraded but great for you!! We spend about 4 days at the resort with no parks and another five at the parks so feel like we can get some lounge time in but totally see your point! It is a great expense if you don't take full advantage of it.

Yeah, I can understand spreading that additional cost for club-level between 5 people probably makes it quite reasonable.

Maybe somebody will cancel and something will open up for you, you just never know.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I love club level, but stayed standard last time. We stocked up our own little mini-bar of snacks and beverages in the room, and spent our extra time at the pool restaurant/bar and resort lounge. Biggest thing I missed was the easy breakfast.

 

[lala5176]

I love club level, but stayed standard last time. We stocked up our own little mini-bar of snacks and beverages in the room, and spent our extra time at the pool restaurant/bar and resort lounge. Biggest thing I missed was the easy breakfast.

 

[lala5176]

I was totally ok with it thinking we'd do the same and stock up on little snacks and drinks but my kids were so disappointed when I told them. I think breakfast is the best part. Quick serve locations are always so crazy in the mornings!!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hey there. I was wondering if anyone has gone from mostly staying club level and then booking a standard room and then hating it?? We are booked at the Polynesian this June and couldn't get a club level room. I know, poor me as if Poly isn't fantastic enough!!! For those of you who have stayed and then not, did it make that much of a difference??

Just asking, any interest in trying another resort that has CL available? That's one reason I started trying other resorts/CLs... leave it up to me and I'd go to Poly CL every time. But if it's not available or not at a reasonable price, I'll go to another resort.

 

[Nancyg56]

WE go back and forth. I book CL when I know that we will spend more time at the resort. I like it, and we do use the amenities when we have it, but I don't regret not booking it when we choose against it.

 

[bellebud]

I agree with GADisneyDad14, I'd try another club level and save the Poly for another time.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

We are headed to the Poly CL this June. Also a family of five. We really enjoy the extra space the lounge provides as my oldest is fifteen and she needs some space away from her siblings sometimes. It's very convenient, but I wouldn't have a problem not going that route. I would probably have a grocery delivery for breakfast stuff though. That is a very great option that CL provides. I hope you have a great trip either way. Also, keep checking and maybe even ask when you check in if any Hawaii rooms have opened up. Maybe I'll see you at the pool. Have fun!

 

[VAfamily1998]

I personally don't think it's usually worth the extra cost. We are a larger family (4 kids plus two parents) so our first few Disney trips were off site due to costs. Then in 2012 someone gifted us with a 2 bedroom club level suite at BWI (!!!) It was awesome, and our first "on site" experience as a family. The next trip, I treated my brother to club level at YC (I was able to get a great deal with a military discount.) The biggest advantage of that: We had a late afternoon flight so we had already checked out of our room--but it was HOT and HUMID and my brother wasn't able to tolerate walking around the parks. It was great to have the lounge as a place to just hang out and drink cold drinks.
All of our trips since then have been non CL--with the exception of a 5 night stay during marathon weekend 2017. Dh and I were on an adults only trip and got a garden suite that was CL. While the breakfasts/snacks/etc. were nice--I almost felt like I had to be at the lounge for appetizers each night, or else it was a "waste." Same with breakfast--I wouldn't have made a breakfast ADR, because it would feel like we were wasting the free one at club level.

So, in general, I actually PREFER to not stay club level--due to the "guilt" factor. I did choose a CL room for an upcoming stay at GF this summer--but only because it is for only one night, and we will not be doing any parks. I plan on "using" the CL lounge as much as possible from 7 am check in day until about 9 or 10 pm check out day!

 

[lala5176]

Just asking, any interest in trying another resort that has CL available? That's one reason I started trying other resorts/CLs... leave it up to me and I'd go to Poly CL every time. But if it's not available or not at a reasonable price, I'll go to another resort.

 

[lala5176]

We have done that too. I actually tried that but found that there really isn't much available at all with the discount we receive. Also we don't fit in the rooms st AK or WL since we are a family of 5. I really love Poly but like you am willing to switch and try other resorts. I guess I can wish that someone changes their mind and it opens up for our dates.

 

[mickeynut1]

Hey there. I was wondering if anyone has gone from mostly staying club level and then booking a standard room and then hating it?? We are booked at the Polynesian this June and couldn't get a club level room. I know, poor me as if Poly isn't fantastic enough!!! For those of you who have stayed and then not, did it make that much of a difference??

We don't stay CL every trip and we have just as great a time without it as we do with it. The food/drink offerings are nice (as is having the lounge for another place to sit and relax), but our trips are just as nice/enjoyable without CL.

 

[Hisgirl]

We used to stay CL, but after the GF started cutting back on proteins available for breakfast, I decided that extra money for oatmeal wasn't worth it. We just got back on Thursday and stayed at GF. It would have been an extra $950 to stay CL for the week but we took that money and bought beer, wine, cereal, milk, nuts, berries, snacks, oranges etc and enjoyed super nice restaurants for our meals. We actually didn't miss it at all.

 

[heidijanesmith]

We have stayed at the Poly CL and non-CL. I enjoy the Poly non-CL just as much as CL. The only thing that I would miss is watching Wishes from the lounge. The good thing about the Poly is there are plenty of places to watch Wishes.

We liked the Niue longhouse location more than Hawaii longhouse location. Niue is so convenient to the pools and GCH. We order groceries, beer, drinks and snack from gardengrocers, so we do not miss the CL snacks and drinks.

 

[bellebud]

If I couldn't do CL, I'd try for a 1 bedroom villa somewhere. Having the kitchen helps a lot with breakfast, snacks, lounging in the room. I love having the living room and kitchen, washer and dryer in the room.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If I couldn't do CL, I'd try for a 1 bedroom villa somewhere. Having the kitchen helps a lot with breakfast, snacks, lounging in the room. I love having the living room and kitchen, washer and dryer in the room.

Yes, I agree with this. We actually haven't stayed CL in a while because we really love the extra space the villas provide. We've done 1 and 2 bedrooms at BCV, BWV and WLV (now Boulder Ridge) and we just stock the fridge with our favorites and use the living room and balcony or patio as our "lounge". I find the villas to be quieter and more relaxing than the resort side at each of these properties.

 

[GoGoBeans]

We did it once with a "we're going to tour differently" attitude and truth be told we really missed CL. We like being able to run to the lounge whenever, we like the extra space, like mosying to breakfast, or grabbing a drink on the way in, or places to hang in the evening.

I think if you go with a "I need to make it worth it" approach, it would be different. We love having it as a convenience and that is worth it to us.