To Club level or To Not Club Level

[BayLaker25]

We are going to WDW in August My wife and I have never stayed at Club Level and cant decide wether to do it or not. If you have stayed at club level do you feel it's worth it? After doing some research we found most people think Ploy club level is the best, other than Poly (incase we cant stay there if we decide to go Club Level) which of the other club levels do you feel is the best? Thanks for the help!!

[Soph and Han's Mom]

My family and I enjoy club level and think it is definitely worth the extra cost. We grab breakfast in the lounge before hitting the parks. Usually we will have a light counter service lunch and head back to the lounge for cocktails and appetizers around 5 or 6. There is so much food available we can make a dinner out of it most nights! It's also nice to grab some snacks and drinks before heading out to the pool.

Our fav lounge is the Poly...the views are great and the rooms are large and comfortable. Staff is very friendly as well. If you can swing it it's a great place to stay!

I'm sure a lot of people feel it's not worth the extra $$, but if you take advantage of the food and cocktail offerings I think you'll find it's worth it!

[ThanxForNoticin]

Actually, the only club level we'll return to is the AKL. They do a really nice job there. There are also some perks they offer only to club level guests - we especially enjoy the Sunrise Safari and breakfast.

We find there is probably no need for any dining plan if you stay as a concierge guest - many opportunities for food and drink during the day in the club level lounges.

Enjoy your stay!

[BayLaker25]

Thank you for your help! I think we are going to def do club level and we have TIW so we aren't doing the DP. I have heard mixed reviews on all the resort club levels...the only one we aren't thinking about doing is AKL because we just stayed there in October. But I did look at AKL pictures and it looks really nice. We are just torn on which club level to pick!

[faline]

We've stayed Club level at Wilderness Lodge a couple of times and feel we got our money's worth out of the club level food and drink options. The cost, with room discounts, was equivalent to rack rate in the non-club level rooms.

[BrerGnat]

If you can get it with a discount, definitely do it. We do it when we travel as a family. It's the only way my DH will go when we are visiting the Disney resorts. I don't think any one Club Level is that much different from any other (GF excepted). Go with the resort you want to be at overall. In the summer, I'd recommend a resort with a great pool!

[BayLaker25]

Thanks for the suggestions! I think we have decided on a deluxe club level room at BW!! I hope we get a room over looking the boardwalk! 185 days can't come soon enough

[Kerry]

Thanks for the suggestions! I think we have decided on a deluxe club level room at BW!! I hope we get a room over looking the boardwalk! 185 days can't come soon enough

All deluxe rooms overlook the BW. The lounge is on the 4th floor as are some of the deluxe rooms. Some are also on the 3rd floor. I have stayed in both and actually enjoy the 3rd floor. There is a back staircase to get to the lounge, so it never bothered me. The 3rd floor rooms have a larger balcony. You picked my favorite resort!! The cast members there are the best. Have fun.

[nat]

Does anyone have any info on the Beach/Yacht club levels?

[BrerGnat]

Does anyone have any info on the Beach/Yacht club levels?

Yes, we just stayed there for the second time in 2 years, in December. What do you want to know?

[queenmom9497]

We stayed at Boardwalk Club level in 2010. Great time, worth the money I guess if anything is. We were greeted off the Magical Express by a staff member stating "S**** family?" Weird as we just walked off the bus! Magical to say the least. Then he escorted us up to the Club level where my dh and I checked in while our dd's were treated to cookies and other baked delights while they waited. Our room was ready early. The view from the room of the quiet pool was nice. My only downside was the Club levels are located on the 4th floor and I had to take stairs up and down to the quiet pool on bad knees. Otherwise...we will definately be doing a Club level again when finances allow!

[BrerGnat]

My only downside was the Club levels are located on the 4th floor and I had to take stairs up and down to the quiet pool on bad knees.

Why didn't you just use the elevators?

[pamickeys]

The only thing that bugs me about club level is that the food is for snacking , not for dining upon. That's what restaurants are for. I can't tell how many times we've gone to grab a little something and there is nothing there, but you see people with plates that look like they are at a buffet. The staff does their best to keep up but, they are out manned.

[BayLaker25]

Just an update...we decided against the club level because we are going to drive instead of fly...since my wife and I have been together (8 years) we have always flown into Orlando. This is our first time driving since either of us were kids. The price of airfare has gone up so much this year its rediculous, for 1 person round-trip it will cost what it normally does for both of us to fly. Since we are driving we figured we can stop and buy drinks, snacks, beer etc. There really isn't a need to pay extra for club level when we can get a 1 Bedroom Villa for less and use the extra money for food and snacks we really want. Anyone have any good place to stop on the way from Philadelphia to Orlando to buy snacks, beer, etc.?

P.S. we can also bring home the souvenirs we always want but can't bring on the plane!

[javamama]

We've stayed at the poly club level, and YC/BC club level. The service at the poly was fantastic the first time we stayed there, the second it was ok. The food was always good, our first stay we were treat very well by our host in the suites. My kids every night while we were at the parks had tons of cupcakes, cookies, chips, and pastries waiting for them in our room when we got back. We always had beer waiting in our room on ice around 3pm...we had 10 people in our suite the first time we stayed in club level at the poly. After being treated like that, nothing compares... Plus chef Dick was still at the helm and he was the best!
Last year we stayed at the YC/BC, it was stuffy. The breakfast was good, but not tons of room in th lounge. Snacks during the day were minimal, they did get whatever you asked for though. Beer is now avaible earlier, and you can take it to your room. Water is avaible for your room in glass bottles, at the poly we had plastic being in the suites. The dinner offerings for kids were not as good as the polys. For adults they were great, lobster rolls, bacon wrapped scallops, some type of steak from yachtsman. Kids were always pbj...my kids were not happy after the second day where my hubby and I could have made dinner out of the apps.

Just Call which resort your thinking of staying at they'll tell you the menu, I did that before choosing. My next club is GF or CR...it's my 40th bday!

[puck292]

If you are lucky enough to book with free dining recommend againt club level. It was TOO MUCH food. my kids spoiled their dinners every night eating the hot snaks. you feel as though you have to eat there to get your moneys worth. when free dining came up in september we cancelled BWI club level and switched to a regular room at the Poly. Just my two cents.

[BrerGnat]

If you are lucky enough to book with free dining recommend againt club level. It was TOO MUCH food. my kids spoiled their dinners every night eating the hot snaks. you feel as though you have to eat there to get your moneys worth. when free dining came up in september we cancelled BWI club level and switched to a regular room at the Poly. Just my two cents.

I agree. I never recommend doing Club Level with a dining plan, free or not.

We use the Club Level in lieu of a dining plan. We find that it quite adequately meets our needs for food, as we are more of a "snacking" family.

[Airblue1]

We are doing CL at Beach, but we still have ADR's each day of our trip. It gives us some type of scheduled part of our day.
Looking very forward to our trip in less than 60 days!

[spoiledraf]

We're looking at Club Level at the Poly in June. Retirement trip so were taking some of the family. The 3 grandkids and their moms, one of which will be 6 months into our next grand child! The kids are 4,5 and 7 and I'm going on recomendations that the Poly is the best resort for kids on the monorail circuit. The dads aren't real Disney fans and don't mind a week away from kids, or probably wives for that matter.
We were going to go Deluxe Dining because my wife wanted to hit Cinderellas Castle (2 credits each) and also a dinner at Narcoosees (2 credits) but there is nothing available with the Princess so were are rethinking eveything. Especially after reading that you can get by pretty well with the offerings that come with Club level.
My only fear at the Poly is I've heard the pool area is on the small side and I think we'll spend a fair amount of afternoon down time there with the kids. By the way, is there a water slide and how big do you have to be to use it??? The 4 and 5 year olds are not real tall although they can both swim. Any input?