What would you do? Contemporary, GF or Yachtclub: Club Level....

[Justplainchy]

Hey everyone. So, the annual pass bug bites again: when looking for a vacation spot this summer for 4th of July we floated all the ideas: Colorado to get out of the heat, Boston for the history...and then the magic words: "Well, Disney is having a pretty big sale for those dates..."

Nothing is set in stone yet, but for about the same price as traveling anywhere else, we could book a week at Disney at a Deluxe resort. We've never stayed in one before: we're a solidly lower-tier moderate kind of people. SO the question is: right now the following are all about the same price and within the budget - the Contemporary, the Grand Floridian and the Yacht Club: Club Level. If you could pick one, where would you pick?

Pros and Cons as I see them: Yacht Club with club level gives us 1. access to Stormalong bay (important with the heat in July), and 2. access to food offerings in the morning and evening (we can definitely turn "heavy apps" into dinner). We also love Epcot, so walking distance seems really nice, especially when we'd spend more time than usual at the resort. Grand Floridian is our bucket list resort though: it's gorgeous and on the loop and it would be nice to stay there once when it's on sale and before GE makes everything one million dollars (I kid, I kid). Contemporary: Also a bucket list resort - on the monorail AND walking distance to MK is amazing. We've taken more than one bus there to take advantage of that walking trail so again, the access would be nice. Of course, neither of those has CL access included; so we'd be paying OOP for food.

Thoughts? Opinions? Where would you stay with the same choices and the knowledge that since we'll have been pretty recently (Honeymoon 3/15-3/23) this trip would be more "resort"-centric.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I’ve stayed all 3 several times. YC CL is my favorite by far.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I've stayed at all three and, for the same price, hands-down I would pick YC CL. YC is beautiful and they did a great job with the rooms in the refurb. Throw CL on top of that and it's definitely a bigger bang for your buck.

 

[emmabelle]

I would definitely pick club level at YC over a regular room at the other two. Club level is awesome. For me there's enough food that I only eat lunch out, plus the ability to walk to Epcot and SAB seal the deal.

 

[FSU Girl]

Those are three great options! For GF would it be the main building or outer building? I've only stayed club once and it was in the main building and amazing. I loved it. Yacht Club could be really nice for you since you'll be close to Epcot and the pool.

 

[jhoannam]

For the same price I would do YC:CL, no question.

 

[snappy]

Three excellent choices. In July storm along bay will be very busy. In general, the Epcot resort area is what I choose due to such easy access to 2 parks, the many restaurants available at the 5 Epcot area resorts and Epcot, and boardwalk fun at night. Newly renovated rooms at yacht club too would sway me. We don’t opt to do CL but if you eat breakfast and dinner there, it would be a savings. However, if MK is your main focus for this trip, I would pick GF or Contemporary. Check out the pools at those too resorts.

If you plan to eat meals at other resorts and don’t have a car, contemporary would make it easier to bus directly to that resort.

Great dilemma to have! Happy planning!

 

[mrsap]

GF RPC! It’s just such a great atmosphere. Good luck deciding!

 

[Shellyb84]

I haven't stayed at CR but have stayed at GF and YC. They are both great resorts, but I prefer YC. Especially considering you will be spending a lot of time at the resort, it would be really convenient having CL access. The new rooms are lovely, Stormalong Bay is fantastic, and Epcot is our favorite park so we love being so close.

 

[marchingstar]

Those are three great options! For GF would it be the main building or outer building? I've only stayed club once and it was in the main building and amazing. I loved it. Yacht Club could be really nice for you since you'll be close to Epcot and the pool.

I think the OP is saying the only club level option is YC, so GF would be an outer building (the main building is RPC, all club level).

OP: based on your party, etc. i would vote for YC: CL. It sounds like the best value, not just because of CL but for the resort amenities and location.

My only other suggestion: what about a split stay? 5 days at YC and 2 days at GF, maybe? then you’ll get the bucket list part in without adding too much to your food costs.

 

[soccermom54]

I will throw in my 2 cents worth:
1. Contemporary - we have stayed at the Contemporary with MKV over the 4th of July. It was incredible to watch the fireworks from our private balcony. Being able to walk to the MK is also a huge perk. Lots of food choices at monorail resorts or the boat at the back of the Contemporary to Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness.
2. Yacht Club - We have stayed at YC several times. Since it is just DH and I now, we like to be near EPCOT and having the boat access for 2 parks is a big plus for us. We love the feel of YC and that all rooms have a balcony or patio.....this is important to us. Also the abundance for food choices at the EPCOT resorts and the Boardwalk plus quick access back to EPCOT for dinner.
Any of your potential choices will be great. Have a wonderful time!

 

[FSU Girl]

I think the OP is saying the only club level option is YC, so GF would be an outer building (the main building is RPC, all club level).

Oh I misread I thought each hotel was a club level choice.

 

[snappy]

I second the split stay idea, doing YC first, then move to one of the MK resorts. Focus on EOCOT and HS the first leg, then on one of your MK resort options during the last leg. And don’t forget to visit AK too!

 

[Shellyred8]

I would go for either YC or YC/GF split. I'm only recommending the GF split because you said GF is a bucket list stay and it's on sale. Otherwise, I would go for YC the entire stay.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[stephk1981]

I vote for Yacht Club CL, if you'll eat breakfast/ most of dinner in the lounge it's a money saver! Epcot is my favorite park though, so I may be biased. We had a surprise DD arrive last year and even though we are frequenting MK more often; I still choose BWI, YC, and BC over MK resorts. BC is by far my favorite resort. My family doesn't care for the Contemporary, although we all love Polynesian and GF. I just really dislike changing monorails to get to Epcot, and the now bag check at the ticket center made walking from Poly to TTC not much of a time saver for us. We have DS10 and DD 1 and even with stroller for DD I would pick YC. You're going to have an amazing trip no matter where you choose! Have a magical summer trip

 

[Justplainchy]

You guys are amazing! Thank you so much! I think we were already sort of leaning toward YC:Club Level and then your affirmation just assured us we were right to lean that way. I'll talk to the Lady about a split stay, but I think you're right, the food and proximity to two parks will make all the difference. We'd likely only go to MK on the 3rd anyway! Thank you for the input!!

 

[Justplainchy]

I’ve stayed all 3 several times. YC CL is my favorite by far.

That seems to be the consensus! Thank you!!

I've stayed at all three and, for the same price, hands-down I would pick YC CL. YC is beautiful and they did a great job with the rooms in the refurb. Throw CL on top of that and it's definitely a bigger bang for your buck.

I will admit, I love the look of the rooms! And hey, we were thinking East Coast Trip at first so this is sort of the same thing, riiighhht???

I would definitely pick club level at YC over a regular room at the other two. Club level is awesome. For me there's enough food that I only eat lunch out, plus the ability to walk to Epcot and SAB seal the deal.

That was our hope! That we'd only have to eat lunch out, and portions at Disney are big enough that we would be happy splitting an app and an entree somewhere.

For GF would it be the main building or outer building? I've only stayed club once and it was in the main building and amazing. I loved it. Yacht Club could be really nice for you since you'll be close to Epcot and the pool.

Sadly it would be the outer building because GF and Contemporary are both just standard rooms for the same price.

For the same price I would do YC:CL, no question.

Yeah, that's sort of what I was leaning towards before I even posted, but figured it would worth asking and maybe people who had stayed at the others would have strong arguments. Nice to know we're on the right track

Three excellent choices. In July storm along bay will be very busy. In general, the Epcot resort area is what I choose due to such easy access to 2 parks, the many restaurants available at the 5 Epcot area resorts and Epcot, and boardwalk fun at night. Newly renovated rooms at yacht club too would sway me. We don’t opt to do CL but if you eat breakfast and dinner there, it would be a savings.

That's definitely a fair point about the busy-ness of the pool in July. It'll likely be packed. But I imagine it'll be packed at all of them? Apparently I needed to do more resort-centric stays! Usually we just end up in the parks from RD to fireworks, I haven't actually spent a lot of time around the resorts. Also yeah, the Boardwalk area is still really new to me, but reading about it, it sounds like a really cool place to hang out in the evenings! Which is likely when we'll venture out do to that Florida heat!

I haven't stayed at CR but have stayed at GF and YC. They are both great resorts, but I prefer YC. Especially considering you will be spending a lot of time at the resort, it would be really convenient having CL access. The new rooms are lovely, Stormalong Bay is fantastic, and Epcot is our favorite park so we love being so close.

Good to know that of those two you prefer YC! That makes me feel better. We also love Epcot the most, which is a lot of the draw!

I think the OP is saying the only club level option is YC, so GF would be an outer building (the main building is RPC, all club level).

OP: based on your party, etc. i would vote for YC: CL. It sounds like the best value, not just because of CL but for the resort amenities and location.

My only other suggestion: what about a split stay? 5 days at YC and 2 days at GF, maybe? then you’ll get the bucket list part in without adding too much to your food costs.

yeah, the others are same price for no club level, just closer to MK. And yeah, I think YC is looking more and more like the winner, but a split stay is definitely a possibility I haven't considered!

I will throw in my 2 cents worth:
1. Contemporary - we have stayed at the Contemporary with MKV over the 4th of July. It was incredible to watch the fireworks from our private balcony. Being able to walk to the MK is also a huge perk. Lots of food choices at monorail resorts or the boat at the back of the Contemporary to Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness.
2. Yacht Club - We have stayed at YC several times. Since it is just DH and I now, we like to be near EPCOT and having the boat access for 2 parks is a big plus for us. We love the feel of YC and that all rooms have a balcony or patio.....this is important to us. Also the abundance for food choices at the EPCOT resorts and the Boardwalk plus quick access back to EPCOT for dinner.

Oh that's a good point re:fireworks, but I imagine we'd have to have park-view rooms. Those were a couple hundred (!!!) more every night. And I didn't realize they all had balconies. That's even more exciting!

I second the split stay idea, doing YC first, then move to one of the MK resorts. Focus on EOCOT and HS the first leg, then on one of your MK resort options during the last leg. And don’t forget to visit AK too!

I think we would probably end up doing it in reverse if we do a split stay. MK first before the 4th of July crowds and then seeing Epcot's fireworks on the 4th. But a split stay isn't a bad idea!

I would go for either YC or YC/GF split. I'm only recommending the GF split because you said GF is a bucket list stay and it's on sale. Otherwise, I would go for YC the entire stay.

Yeah, that's where I'm torn. GF is really nice, but maybe it's a resort we save for when we have kids and want to be really close to MK. YC does seem to be pulling out ahead as the winner here.

I vote for Yacht Club CL, if you'll eat breakfast/ most of dinner in the lounge it's a money saver! Epcot is my favorite park though, so I may be biased. We had a surprise DD arrive last year and even though we are frequenting MK more often; I still choose BWI, YC, and BC over MK resorts. BC is by far my favorite resort.

Yeah, that's sort of what we were thinking! And yeah, we love Epcot too, so we're just as biased. Ladylove likes MK, but she's also content to ride a bus or a lyft to get there She might actually prefer that I don't make her get up and walk over, come to think of it!

 

[Justplainchy]

Thanks to all of your wonderful suggestions and our inability to not visit Disney this year we pulled the trigger this morning! We have a reservation from July 1st-July 5th at Yacht Club at Club level! We're so excited!! We've never stayed at a Deluxe before, much less Club Level, and we are just--beside ourselves feeling special! Thanks for all the input; it's gonna be a great trip!!

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks to all of your wonderful suggestions and our inability to not visit Disney this year we pulled the trigger this morning! We have a reservation from July 1st-July 5th at Yacht Club at Club level! We're so excited!! We've never stayed at a Deluxe before, much less Club Level, and we are just--beside ourselves feeling special! Thanks for all the input; it's gonna be a great trip!!

You’re going to feel spoiled for anywhere else once you stay CL! Enjoy your trip!

 

[TJA]

Thanks to all of your wonderful suggestions and our inability to not visit Disney this year we pulled the trigger this morning! We have a reservation from July 1st-July 5th at Yacht Club at Club level! We're so excited!! We've never stayed at a Deluxe before, much less Club Level, and we are just--beside ourselves feeling special! Thanks for all the input; it's gonna be a great trip!!

I think you made a great decision! I was late to cast my vote, but I was also going to chime in for YC CL versus a regular non-CL room anywhere else. I think you guys will love experiencing CL and the Yacht Club is just so beautiful.