Poly Club level

[dprincessmom]

knocking 2 things off bucket list this trip...Poly and Club level

Anyone care to share their fav onsite club level "perks?"

Also anyone that I should plan to have cash for tips. I know mousekeeping but Club staff

 

[allsaintsatx]

The Poly and Poly club level are some of my favorite things! Only done CL once but it was pretty spectacular!

Others on this board know a heck of a lot more than I do, but I will tell you what I enjoyed about it...

The food and drinks in the lounge. Coffee anytime I wanted it (and good coffee too), a can of soda anytime I wanted it, POG juice. Desserts at night like the kind you might find at a dessert party. We ended up canceling a few breakfasts at table service because we were totally filling up on the wee little pastries, bowls of cereal, oatmeal etc etc. It seems like such a "whatever" perk, but not having to go to the lobby for food, not having to wait in line at Capt Cooks, it really was something that made us want to do CL again.

The lounge itself, beautiful. Great views. Great decoration and design. Just sitting in there and looking out the windows at the lake was a treat.

Turndown service. It's not even anything that crazy, but we adored it! We would get back from the park and our bed linens would be untucked bit, the pillows all lined up and little chocolates where on the bed.

And we loved the location. The front door is across from the side gate to get in the pool, and it's a straight shot to the boat dock to MK. You don't think about the convenience of stuff like that until you have to walk 15 minutes from your room to the pool!

And there is no tipping allowed at CL. We left out $5 everyday for housekeeping and they never took it. Later we were told they could not! The only thing the CMs can accept, I believe, is gifts. We brought some local chocolates and candies from Texas and gave it to them and they took that!

Have a great trip! Enjoy the Poly and CL!!

 

[caliope]

We also love the access to drinks and snacks throughout the day and the ability to have somewhere else other than our room to relax.

When we stay club level, we don't book ADRs for breakfast or go to QS (which we don't enjoy anyway), because the breakfast offerings are more than sufficient for us. We've found that our need for full meals is reduced because of the snacks available in the lounge in the afternoons/evenings and we significantly reduce our expenditure for drinks because of the beer and wine available.

We have an upcoming split stay scheduled in August, with 2 days at CR not club level and 3 days at Poly CL. I'll be very interested in how our food/drink expenses differ over that trip.

Beyond the food/beverage benefits, we also like being able to sit in the lounge. DS likes the tv always showing kid friendly Disney shows. And we like the fact that with CL we know exactly in which building or, in the case of our BC CL trip, on which floor our room will be. We've found the club level rooms to be very conveniently located for access to the pools and other resort amenities.

Have an awesome trip! I think you'll love Poly CL!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

And there is no tipping allowed at CL. We left out $5 everyday for housekeeping and they never took it. Later we were told they could not! The only thing the CMs can accept, I believe, is gifts. We brought some local chocolates and candies from Texas and gave it to them and they took that!

I'm surprised Mousekeeping didn't take your tip, are you sure it was "obvious" to them it was supposed to be a tip? You certainly can tip Mousekeeping and they always (in my experience) take it.

OP, @allsaintsatx is right in that you can't tip CL CMs cash. They aren't allowed to take it. The only other cash I bring for tips is for things like bell services, valets, etc.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

knocking 2 things off bucket list this trip...Poly and Club level

Anyone care to share their fav onsite club level "perks?"

Also anyone that I should plan to have cash for tips. I know mousekeeping but Club staff

The PPs have given you some great feedback above. Poly CL is one of my favorite CLs on property and probably my overall favorite CL/resort combination of the ones we have tried. All CLs have various pros/cons, but we really enjoy it.

Here's a pic of my work setup one morning last July. Catching up on e-mails & DIS with a nice sunrise!

 

[Babsy]

WE love Poly CL! First, it is the POLY!!! which has a special place in our hearts. The ambience is so relaxing and beautiful!
With CL you have the best: the Hawaii building is in the perfect location, right next to both pools and central in the resort. The lounge has huge windows looking toward the beach and the castle. (ETA: illustrated above by GADisneyDad14) Food and drink offerings weren't the best the last time we were there, but we have heard really good things about recent changes, so I expect that you will enjoy some good food, especially for breakfast and early evening hors d'oeuvres.

The CM's located right at the entrance to Hawaii are convenient if you have an issue or need some help. If you are travelling with people in another room, it is nice to know that you will all be in the same building.

Enjoy the Poly CL!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

We also love the access to drinks and snacks throughout the day and the ability to have somewhere else other than our room to relax.

We haven't tried CL at the Poly, but have stayed CL at other resorts and having the lounge for another place to sit and relax is our main reason for staying CL. The food offerings are nice, but having a lounge to go to for some down time is great .

Here's a pic of my work setup one morning last July. Catching up on e-mails & DIS with a nice sunrise!
View attachment 232575

This is one of my favorite pics that you post, it's so peaceful and serene .

 

[GADisneyDad14]

@dprincessmom Not sure if you've spent much time on the Club Level thread but I posted a bunch of pics from my Feb trip starting at the link below. Scroll through several days as my posts aren't back-to-back. They've recently enhanced the food offerings at Poly CL, which I found a welcome change.

Disney's Club Level (CL) Information and Questions

 

[NYCANC]

Agree with everyone and wanted to add a few things.
Being able to watch Wishes (who knows what the new show will bring though) when not in MK was amazing. If we were back at the Poly for Wishes, we were in that lounge watching it.
Also- just the convenience to everything- main building, boat launch and the TTC.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

We are staying Poly CL in June, stayed last year too. The best part of CL there is watching the fireworks from the lounge at night. It's like a private dessert party. My kids can watch in their pajamas and then get right to bed without all the MK crowds. So lovely!
Also, take drinks from the lounge right to the pool before you go. Hawaii building is so convenient to both of the pools. Quick breakfast in the morning is so easy too. Grab some fruit to take with you to the parks too. I hope you have an amazing time! We are in the final stretch with less than forty days to go, can't wait to be back at my happy place.

 

[justme0729]

Poly and their club level is awesome for all reasons mentioned. Don't pass it up!!

 

[allsaintsatx]

I'm surprised Mousekeeping didn't take your tip, are you sure it was "obvious" to them it was supposed to be a tip? You certainly can tip Mousekeeping and they always (in my experience) take it.

I totally get what you're saying, but it was super obvious! One of my relatives does that, leaves a tip on top of old receipts, papers and food - it just looks like pocket change! I pre-cleaned the desk and made sure there was nothing on it except for a crisp $5 bill, laying flat, face side up, lined up OCD style parallel to the edge of the desk. The only thing it lacked was a note screaming "please take me!" It's the same way I've left the tip when staying non CL, and it was always gone when we got back. This was our first CL experience, so we also thought that maybe it wasn't obvious that it was a tip! We tried 3 times in a row and every time, we came back to the room, the room was cleaned and there was the $5! And we had 2 rooms and it happened in both rooms. And we even left it there hoping the time they came by later for turndown service they would take it, but there it sat still on the top of the desk! We asked and they said they were not allowed to take cash tips. So next time I'm bringing treats for housekeeping too!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

We love the Poly CL. We love watching Wishes on the beach of the Poly with the piped in music. We also love that the lounge is opened all night long. You will enjoy it.

@allsaintsatx that happened to us once and after that we leave a note with the tip so Mousekeeping knows to take it.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

I totally get what you're saying, but it was super obvious! One of my relatives does that, leaves a tip on top of old receipts, papers and food - it just looks like pocket change! I pre-cleaned the desk and made sure there was nothing on it except for a crisp $5 bill, laying flat, face side up, lined up OCD style parallel to the edge of the desk. The only thing it lacked was a note screaming "please take me!" It's the same way I've left the tip when staying non CL, and it was always gone when we got back. This was our first CL experience, so we also thought that maybe it wasn't obvious that it was a tip! We tried 3 times in a row and every time, we came back to the room, the room was cleaned and there was the $5! And we had 2 rooms and it happened in both rooms. And we even left it there hoping the time they came by later for turndown service they would take it, but there it sat still on the top of the desk! We asked and they said they were not allowed to take cash tips. So next time I'm bringing treats for housekeeping too!

I always leave my tip in the bathroom, right next to where the toiletries are replenished each day. It has always been taken, both regular and non CL rooms. I think if it's in the bathroom it's clear that it is not accidentally left there. But, I will say that your experience is odd. Sounds like it was pretty obvious too.

 

[dprincessmom]

Thanks everyone for the insight...we are in the home stretch now (got the email that said MB are on the way), so now just need this last 26 days to zoom by, which I know they will because they are jammed packed with activities on the home front. I will be ready for vacation when vacation arrives, and I can't wait to catch sunrise from the Poly.

 

[Linda Walker]

Question- If you utilize the goodies from lounge for breakfast and snacks, does it really make sense to purchase the dining plan? We are planning on morning in parks and returning during mid day to relax by pool with sit down meals for later. What are thoughts on how to best make our Sept stay a great experience.

 

[happymommy]

Question- If you utilize the goodies from lounge for breakfast and snacks, does it really make sense to purchase the dining plan? We are planning on morning in parks and returning during mid day to relax by pool with sit down meals for later. What are thoughts on how to best make our Sept stay a great experience.

To me, club level and dining plan is overkill. Club level breakfast on the go is enough to fill us up, and evening offerings can be a nice snack to tide over until dinner, or when we were at AKL the offerings were so hearty (and wonderful) that they made dinner several nights. Also soft drinks all day, grab and go, so it's quite a lot that they offer. Unless you are a very, very big eater, even without the club level when we had the dining plan (for free) we never could utilize it all.

 

[Regan117]

We've done CL at all of the monorail resorts many times. We won't be back to Poly CL or otherwise. They just aren't in the same league as CR Tower or GF RPC.

 

[beesly]

Question- If you utilize the goodies from lounge for breakfast and snacks, does it really make sense to purchase the dining plan? We are planning on morning in parks and returning during mid day to relax by pool with sit down meals for later. What are thoughts on how to best make our Sept stay a great experience.

To me, club level and dining plan is overkill. Club level breakfast on the go is enough to fill us up, and evening offerings can be a nice snack to tide over until dinner, or when we were at AKL the offerings were so hearty (and wonderful) that they made dinner several nights. Also soft drinks all day, grab and go, so it's quite a lot that they offer. Unless you are a very, very big eater, even without the club level when we had the dining plan (for free) we never could utilize it all.

I agree with @happymommy - I wouldn't do both. My DH, DD, and I used a dining plan two years ago when not staying CL and found it tough to eat all of the food included in the plan. At AKL CL (only a two-night CL stay with no dining plan) the lounge offerings were so substantial that I didn't have any breakfast or dinner elsewhere. I'm tentatively planning a trip to Poly CL with no dining plan. It seems that the evening lounge offerings are a bit lighter than AKL's, so I expect that my DH, DD, and I will have breakfast and afternoon snacks in the lounge and then order room service (looking forward to the Polynesian Twilight Feast!) or visit Kona, Tambu, or Sam's for dinner.

 

[Cory's Gal]

Question- If you utilize the goodies from lounge for breakfast and snacks, does it really make sense to purchase the dining plan? We are planning on morning in parks and returning during mid day to relax by pool with sit down meals for later. What are thoughts on how to best make our Sept stay a great experience.

For our family the offerings (at Poly) in the morning was more than enough for our breakfast, bowl of cereal or pastry and then some fruit. We usually eat bigger lunches in the parks and then by the time the evening offerings were put out we felt like it was a nice little meal to end the day and then a great little dessert!