To book club level at HRH or not??!!

[Mom3girls]

We are coming to stay at the Hard Rock Hotel in mid August for two nights before checking into Beach Club at Disney. We have never stayed club level anywhere and would like to know if anyone has done this and think it's worth the $100 over pool view rooms? I'm thinking the grab and go breakfast items will help to get us out the door and to HP faster than a sit down breakfast. I would like to know what is offered for breakfast. What kinds of beer do they have in the evening and are you able to get a beer say midday or only 5-7? We will be heading back to the hotel for some pool time midday and I'm not sure anything is offered at that time of day. Any and all help is appreciated! I posted this on the resorts boards but didn't get any responses.
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[Metro West]

I'm going to move this thread over to the Universal Resorts Board.

 

[Bluer101]

I have never been club since we do not feel it is worth the money. For th extra $100 I could buy other food around the Universal parks or Citywalk at my own pace and time without being at the hotel at certain times.


Here is a thread with photos from HRH to get an idea.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2565526&highlight=club

 

[Mom3girls]

Thanks...I already posted this on the resorts board and no one ever responded! Thought I'd try the general discussion board.

 

[SmallWorld71]

We stayed club level in August. It was $75 dollars to upgrade for us and it was so worth it! We are a family of 5 with two boys (15 and 12) and a DD8. I think DS15 got our monies worth for us at breakfast alone! All five of us had breakfast there every day before heading out. We also would get a bottle of water to go each (big $ saver). The snacks during the day weren't much, some pretzels and the like. But, it was nice to have access to the soda/ juice/ water all day long in the summer heat. Beer and wine was only available from the 5-7 time. I'll have to ask DH what kinds as I don't drink beer. It was nothing fancy though; I know Bud Light Lime was one of the choices. I think the kids favorite part was the milk and cookies before bed.

Anyway, I think it depends on how many of you are traveling, how much you eat and what your touring style is, whether or not it is worth it. We don't like to push ourselves too much in the summer and were able to take advantage of the offerings.

 

[B's Marie]

We loved club level at HRH! For our family of five (youngest was an infant at the time), I agree with PP, breakfast and waters alone were worth it! It was nice to be able to grab a snack in the afternoon, as well. Evening apps were convenient also (as well as the beer and wine)! I remember them having Miller Lite and Bud, can also check with my husband on the other choices. We would do it that way again and again!
Have fun!

 

[RayRing]

We are traveling down later this year and have reservations at HRH foor 3 nights. I decided against the Club service, due to cost. It looks like it would be an additionaly $130 a night, for the four of us. It sounds very convienent, but I don't think we would be around at night, at least not from 5 to 7. So if we were only able to take advantage of breakfast (and the water carry away), it doesn't appear to be worth it.

However, I am interested to hear if there are things I am not thinking about, and would like to hear what others think.

 

[damo]

I think it all depends on the ages of your kids and if you a planning to take advantage of all the food offerings or just do breakfast.

$100/night is quite a bit for just breakfast, but not bad for breakfast, snacks and a light dinner and alcohol if you've got a nice big family. There is also the early evening desserts.

 

[baraliem]

Just returned from HRH club level yesterday. We weren't that impressed. Nothing bad really, just not what I would expect from a club lounge - room wasn't comfortable, it was loud, closed earlier than I would have expected, and offerings were only fair. In terms of making it to early park opening - you will have to be very quick. The lounge isn't unlocked until 7 which is the same time the first boat leaves for IOA. You will need to grab and go to make the 2nd boat at 7:15 or walk. I would plan to be at the turnstiles not later than 7:30.

 

[Mom3girls]

Original poster here...I think I have decided to just book a standard room for two nights for approximately $700. The pool view is approx $808 and club level (AAA disc) would be approx $900. REALLY want to try club level but think we should save the $200. What is this all access pass that can get you possible room upgrade?? Do you think they will be booked solid Aug 9 & 10 and wouldn't be able to get the upgrade anyway??


We will be booking southwest and since you get two free bags per person we could pack our own snacks, breakfasts and juices/ water. But where to get beer at a decent price???

 

[B's Marie]

Depending on what car service gets you to the hotel... that would determine the beer you can get. The car service we used brought us to a grocery store that also had beer and wine. Prices were decent. Some sales were going on while we were there.

 

[Jara50]

Just stayed at HRH and TOTALLY found it worth it for club level. It was so nice to send the kids (we have teens) to breakfast while we got ready. We then would be at the parks all day and come back around 4 and grab a drink. At 5 we'd get the appetizers (I'll post the menus on another thread) and beer/wine. Then we'd go out for a dinner around 7 and be back in time for the end of dessert. It was wondeful!

 

[gzmtlock]

Just stayed at HRH and TOTALLY found it worth it for club level. It was so nice to send the kids (we have teens) to breakfast while we got ready. We then would be at the parks all day and come back around 4 and grab a drink. At 5 we'd get the appetizers (I'll post the menus on another thread) and beer/wine. Then we'd go out for a dinner around 7 and be back in time for the end of dessert. It was wondeful!

Ha ha! I'll be there in a couple weeks with my two teens - only I think it will be me going for breakfast while they're still getting ready!

Actually, I chose club for both the food AND the space. I keep such different hours from my teens, especially the 16-year-old, that for us to spend a week together almost requires separate space beyond a hotel/bed room.

I am SO looking forward to our trip!

 

[Florbust]

We are a family of 4, going in early June and staying 5 nights. Doing the airport transfer with Tiffany(as previously recommended here). I figured I'd take advantage of the 30 min grocery stop to grab beer/booze and some food items rather than spend an extra $550 to upgrade to Club level. Do I upgrade to Club or go with this plan? Seems like it'll be much cheaper doing it this way

 

[damo]

We are a family of 4, going in early June and staying 5 nights. Doing the airport transfer with Tiffany(as previously recommended here). I figured I'd take advantage of the 30 min grocery stop to grab beer/booze and some food items rather than spend an extra $550 to upgrade to Club level. Do I upgrade to Club or go with this plan? Seems like it'll be much cheaper doing it this way

Stick to your cheaper plan. You can buy a lot of snacks/drinks for $550!!!!

 

[Florbust]

Kind of figured that but wanted to see if anyone would try and talk me out of it!

 

[SmallWorld71]

We are a family of 4, going in early June and staying 5 nights. Doing the airport transfer with Tiffany(as previously recommended here). I figured I'd take advantage of the 30 min grocery stop to grab beer/booze and some food items rather than spend an extra $550 to upgrade to Club level. Do I upgrade to Club or go with this plan? Seems like it'll be much cheaper doing it this way

We actually did both. But, we did very few meals in the parks. We ate 1 TS meal on our last day at Bubba Gump's. And, other than our Discovery Cove Day, only ate a handful of CS meals. Mostly, we used the Club Level for morning and evening and then our food from our grocery stop for our lunches. When we travel to WDW, we usually have the dining plan and spend a fair amount of time in restaurants and decided to change things up for our UO trip. It had it's pros and cons.

But, I completely agree with Damo that the grocery stop would be cheaper.

 

[macraven]

i have stayed in a king suite on club level HRH, solo 6 different times.

those stays were during october when i did HHN.

5 of those stays were not worth the additional cost.
i only took advantage of the breakfast offerings and the soda/water during the day.
one of the stays i did return for the food/beverage offerings that started at 5.

also have stayed club level with 2 of my 4 sons.
(don't remember if i took them to cl 7 or 8 times.....)
when we did it in May and in September also early October, it was worth it!
they eat a lot.
they also used the perk of the cd library plus afternoon snacks.

i either booked deluxe rooms or standard park view with the teenagers.



for the early morning, i had to take a tray to the room for their food stuff.
teen age boys do not wake up early when on vacation.....

i needed to do that as the best pastry and donut offerings were not replenished once they were gone.
all other items were replenished up until about 9:30.
club closed breakfast at 10 am.



i don't regret staying solo or with my sons on club level the times i did.
but, the value was not in it for me on 5 solo visits.

it's a personal choice.
do i spend the extra money knowing i will not get my value out of it???
or do i prefer to use that extra $100 plus tax for souveniers to take home...


i say go for it at least one time.......
that money i spent is long gone but the memories were and still are fantastic!

 

[SmallWorld71]

One other perk that we took advantage of, was the ability to use the showers in the fitness center. This was great after swimming; we were able to have everyone shower and get ready at the same time instead of trying to do it all with the one bathroom in the room and having people have to wait in the AC all dripping wet.

 

[maggiew]

Just stayed at HRH and TOTALLY found it worth it for club level. It was so nice to send the kids (we have teens) to breakfast while we got ready. We then would be at the parks all day and come back around 4 and grab a drink. At 5 we'd get the appetizers (I'll post the menus on another thread) and beer/wine. Then we'd go out for a dinner around 7 and be back in time for the end of dessert. It was wondeful!

This is our plan too!

Maggie