Which monorail resort has the best concierge/club level?

[Coconuts]

On our next trip, my MIL might be traveling with us again. On our last stay at CBR, she said there was too much waiting for buses and requested that we stay at a monorail resort(she also offered to pay the money for the upgrade). I have never stayed CL before and was interested in it for our next trip, especially if we don't get free dining.

Which was your favorite, Poly, CR, or GF and is it worth it?

 

[hstrickland]

We have stayed at all 3 resorts. The Poly and GF are our favorites by far. We just recently returned from a Poly CL stay that was awesome. I think CL is wonderful....Is it worth it?? For our family, yes....but it's not something that will save you money on food....IMO. It's a convenience and a luxury...not a "good deal". We had an awesome room with a great view, which helped make the trip that much better. The CL lounge is on the second floor and you look at the castle while eating....this is how we began our day...very magical. DH and I would love to try CL at the GF...have heard great things about it. Have you looked at the CL InfoThread and the CL Picture Thread? There's a wealth of info on those 2 threads.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I have stayed Club Level at both the Contemporary and Polynesian, however we have not stayed Club Level at the Grand Floridian. So when I compare the Contemmporary to the Polynesian both were great in their own way, however I would have to say it's the Contemporary and this is why. I liked their food offerings more and I am talking about the hot food which they serve from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, the Magic Kingdom View from the lounge is great, their rooms are amazing and the Cast Members who work up there are some of the best in all of WDW.

 

[bsredfish]

Can't comment on the CR because I have never stayed there. My wife and I have stayed at the GF and the Poly. Our last trip to the Poly was CL. We had a terrific time. I was not excited about staying CL because of the money, but when it was all said and done, I had a blast. One of the reasons I became very fond of the Poly was because of the great view of the fireworks. Our family has watched the fireworks from the GF and CR (California Grill). Other than being right there in the MK, the Poly has the best view. Even though the CR is closer, it's not a dead on shot, it's a view from the side; same at the GF, from the side. The Poly view is straight on, dead center. Now, don't get me wrong, if someone was paying for me to stay CL, I would stay at any of these three! I just prefer the grounds of the GF and Poly a little better than CR.

 

[Coconuts]

So MIL is going to pay the upgrade? the difference between the cost of CBR and the CL. O K.

Well, I like what Heather said, except MIL probably won't go for the 1 sink idea and she'll nix that resort. Following me?

And the GF RPC? My first vote, but waaaay pricey, in the main building, up MIL's alley and nice BIG rooms, fabulous CL offerings, awesome staff and service. Need I say more. But a H U G E pricetag, even with a discount.
Now, the SL will run you a little less and it is nice also. Same stuff, just not in the main building. Least expensive with the atrium club.

FWIW, my vote goes to the CR's Atrium club. Can't be the Tower Club on the 14th floor as the standard CL rooms there only hold 4. The Atrium rooms are nice and laid out, very very big and CR4L has a great thread and pics on two threads about all the positives. Excellent food offerings and the CL CMs there are very good. Great transportation also.
The view from the CL is AWESOME. It is like you are IN the MK. I love it. Worth every penny.

JMHO. HTH.
Have a wonderful trip!

Thanks for the feedback Dream, and everyone else. BTW, my MIL said she was willing to pay for the upgrade from CBR to a monorail resort. She didn't say anything about CL; I took that upon myself to look into! To be honest though, that is the hotel service she is used to, so she would probably love it. I didn't know about the CL thread/pics, so I'll have to look at them.

 

[DisneyChristmas]

We have stayed CL on both 12th and 14th at CR. Both were excellent with MK views and comfy lounge. Also have stayed at Poly CL a few times. Addicted!

With choice of both boat and monorail from Poly to MK and possibility of walking to TTC from Poly, it is the easiest spot for transportation IMO.

 

[bsredfish]

So MIL is going to pay the upgrade? the difference between the cost of CBR and the CL. O K.

Well, I like what Heather said, except MIL probably won't go for the 1 sink idea and she'll nix that resort. Following me?

And the GF RPC? My first vote, but waaaay pricey, in the main building, up MIL's alley and nice BIG rooms, fabulous CL offerings, awesome staff and service. Need I say more. But a H U G E pricetag, even with a discount.
Now, the SL will run you a little less and it is nice also. Same stuff, just not in the main building. Least expensive with the atrium club.

FWIW, my vote goes to the CR's Atrium club. Can't be the Tower Club on the 14th floor as the standard CL rooms there only hold 4. The Atrium rooms are nice and laid out, very very big and CR4L has a great thread and pics on two threads about all the positives. Excellent food offerings and the CL CMs there are very good. Great transportation also.
The view from the CL is AWESOME. It is like you are IN the MK. I love it. Worth every penny.

JMHO. HTH.
Have a wonderful trip!

You are sooooo right! Probably won't like one sink if there are 3 adults in the room. Didn't even think about that. Maybe she will be willing to pay for the RPC

You really aren't going to make a 'bad' decision...you have 3 great resorts to choose from.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I've stayed at all of them several times. GF Royal Palm Club would definitely be my choice, between the lounge, service, and overall amenities of the hotel. It's so wonderful!

RPC is just amazing. There's nothing like taking the elevator down, hopping on the monorail, and being at MK in 3 minutes. The lobby is gorgeous, and you'll have wonderful views of it (plus views of the pool, garden, beach, lagoon, Poly, even the Castle) from the spacious, 3-floor lounge. Listening to the pianist and band from the lounge at night is so relaxing. GF concierge is the only one of the MK resorts to have afternoon scones and accompaniments, and its breakfast is the only one with decent protein options - cold cut ham and turkey, plus a wider selection of pastries and bread than the other lounges. Service has been better for us at GF, and I love how the rooms are light, airy and spacious (Poly's are darker and, in the Hawaii concierge building, smaller). Other little touches include nicer bath products (h2o spa products, including mint foot rub!).

Honestly, they're all great options for different reasons, but RPC truly stands out for the little (and big) touches.

 

[ElizabethB]

RPC is very nice, but the rooms seem small to me, especially if staying with MIL. There is very little storage space and the sink/bathroom area takes up quite a bit of the room's square footage. When we stayed there with two adults and two children, I ended up having to put my clothes in the nightstand with the phone book!

For this reason, I'd go with the Contemporary -- great, walkable location to MK plus larger (or at least they seem larger) rooms. We've not stayed CL at CR or Poly, although we've stayed at both resorts, so I can't compare the CLs directly with RPC.

We also thought RPC service was lacking (compared to BC CL). The concierges were good, but the food workers mostly seemed to stand around "guarding" the food and eager to start taking it away. We also had a mad housekeeper in the lounge who insisted on vacuuming under our table and others while we and others were seated there! Further, we came back to our rooms one evening and my sister's room carpet was soaking wet in the entryway. No one had a explanation as to what happened or even seemed to care. Overall, we'd put service at RPC at about a C+.

Still the lounge is gorgeous and the piano music is nice. We must have had the third string band playing our week because it was not very good.

But, with MIL in the room, I'd go for the CR with larger rooms (or at least rooms that seem larger).

 

[Coconuts]

You are sooooo right! Probably won't like one sink if there are 3 adults in the room. Didn't even think about that. Maybe she will be willing to pay for the RPC

You really aren't going to make a 'bad' decision...you have 3 great resorts to choose from.

No, my MIL would definetely have her own room! We got connecting rooms last time and it worked out perfectly. The older kids had to sleep with grandmom every night and we had someplace to go when my youngest DD was napping. Wherever we have traveled with her, she ALWAYS has her own room.

 

[hstrickland]

No, my MIL would definetely have her own room! We got connecting rooms last time and it worked out perfectly. The older kids had to sleep with grandmom every night and we had someplace to go when my youngest DD was napping. Wherever we have traveled with her, she ALWAYS has her own room.

When we took my parents with us in May, we had connecting rooms at the Poly....was great! like having one huge room. Our oldest son usually slept with the grandparents. For us, the sink never was a problem, maybe because our children are 3 and 4.

Let us know what you decide! Happy Planning!

 

[Coconuts]

2 rooms? You didn't tell us that!

MIL's pocket's better be deep! ...

I have to say she is very good to us: I lucked out for a MIL!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I forgot to mention this before and I am not sure how much of a difference this will make in your decision, but the Contemporary is the only one among the Monorail Resorts where they have balconies in all their Tower rooms. So if choose to stay there you are guaranteed to have one, however they are not guaranteed in at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian.