Thank you! I hadn’t even considered Wilderness.My comments below are strictly based on pre-Covid conditions - who knows what Club Level will be like upon it's return.
AKL- some of the best cast members I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Every single cast member was so friendly and accommodating. We checked in around 11 am and our room wasn't ready until around 4 pm. The entire time in the lounge (it was pretty empty), they were so attentive, refilling our drinks without asking, asking if we needed or wanted anything, and just chatting with us while we waiting. From the moment we stepped off the Magical Express, it was an amazing experience. The food was great! The only downsides are that there are no spectacular views from the actual club level lounge (aside from the view of the lobby!), and our room was not on the same floor as the lounge.
Poly - amazing views from the club level lounge, the two story glass window with views of the castle and fireworks was amazing! Again, our room was not on the same floor as the lounge, but the buildings only have three floors so it was just a quick flight of stairs. I found the adult beverage selection to be one of my favorites out of all the club levels!
Boardwalk - honestly, I really dislike the theming of the lounge, but the cast members here were amazing! I remember that this lounge, more so than the others, was always full of dirty dishes left on tables.
Wilderness Lodge - best food ever! Definitely my favorite food out of all of the club levels. The beer on tap is awesome, not sure if it will return when club level reopens. One thing to note, several of the club level rooms are right above a service area, and when I was there, there were always service trucks that were very loud, starting VERY early in the morning. There are rooms on the other side of the hallway, but just something to note.
Contemporary - amazing views (obviously!). I recall this club level lounge feeling very stuffy and "corporate." Personally, I found nothing special in terms of food or atmosphere.
We’ve done Contemporary (both levels), Boardwalk, and Grand Floridian (outer building). I liked the Contemporary the best (however I like the resort the least lol). The food there was a good variety and the staff was awesome. You also can’t beat the firework views.
Boardwalk was my least favorite in terms of food and atmosphere (one of my favorite resorts though). We went right before Covid so it was our most recent stay. They had a hot action station that was the most substantial food offering. The self serve items were super limited and the lounge is very small. There were never tables available when we went so we couldn’t sit down. We’d have to take things back to our room but that meant carrying glasses and plates. A staff member was nice enough to get us a service tray, but she was like digging it out of the back. Clearly this wasn’t something that had handled before which I thought was strange considering there was no seating on multiple days. This lounge also had very short hours.
Grand Floridian (outer building) had the most food. It was also the most busy and felt the least “exclusive”, but it had plenty of seating and tons of food options. The room location wasn’t the best for the monorail, but it was great for the boat and buses. We also got a good deal on this stay because I think the outer building isn’t as desirable as the main building. I’d stay here again.
We’ve never stayed CL at Wilderness Lodge, but that is probably my next stay. I love everything about WL so CL can only make it better!!
just curious as to what the attraction of WL is in general. For me, it’s always been inconvenient in that if I want to stay that close to MK, why not stay at a monorail resort.
Thank you! I am definitely considering.I love the theming. The trees and the water are beautiful. I like Whispering Canyon and Geyser Point is one of the best bars on property. I also love the boat access to Fort Wilderness for Hoop Dee Doo and Trails End (if it comes back ). Not to mention the boat to Contemporary so it’s easy to dine there. The regular rooms have just been refurbished so it’ll be all brand new. Copper Creek rooms are also nice. It also tends to be a little cheaper, but has a lot of the same MK perks (easy transportation, electric water pageant).
Honestly, the monorail just doesn’t do it for me anymore lol. When I was a kid I thought it was great, but as an adult I like the resorts that have boat or walking options. The monorail was not running several times on our last trip. The one to Epcot broke down several times after we had already waited. I just don’t think it’s the best transportation option anymore and I actually prefer the boat from WL to MK!
Poly - amazing views from the club level lounge, the two story glass window with views of the castle and fireworks was amazing! Again, our room was not on the same floor as the lounge, but the buildings only have three floors so it was just a quick flight of stairs. I found the adult beverage selection to be one of my favorites out of all the club levels!
If you're able to wait to make your final decision until trip reports start coming in, that would be helpful, as the reopened club level experience is likely to differ in some ways (at least in terms of staff, after all of the employment disruption) from the old experience. That said, I've stayed club level at Beach Club and Contemporary within the past few years, and I've described my experiences below.I've decided way in advance that for my next trip, I will be splurging on club level. But where???
What are your personal favorite club levels and why?
Food, decor, room perks, concierge service, convenience of access...what say you, Disboards?
Thanks! Great stuff!If you're able to wait to make your final decision until trip reports start coming in, that would be helpful, as the reopened club level experience is likely to differ in some ways (at least in terms of staff, after all of the employment disruption) from the old experience. That said, I've stayed club level at Beach Club and Contemporary within the past few years, and I've described my experiences below.
Beach Club: Warm and welcoming Club Level reception staffers greeted us and helped as needed. When I lost my purple magic band, they cheerfully replaced it with an identical one right away. They also helped me figure out how to use the Minnie Van service, which I had never used before. The Club Level floor at Beach Club was particularly attractive and peaceful: enjoyed walking through it to and from our room, which was perfectly appointed. The lounge staff was helpful and available, but unobtrusive. The lounge offerings were good, and a perfect complement to our resort-focused days of swimming. The lounge was peaceful and we never had difficulty getting seating. There is a nice balcony outside the lounge that my son would hang out at occasionally, especially during afternoon thunderstorms.
Contemporary: The Atrium Club Level reception staffers here were more aloof and less warmly welcoming, but not rude or problematic in any way. The Bay-side room was nice (identical to the Garden Wing room we'd had in a previous visit), except that I could faintly hear monorail announcements in our room all through the evening, past midnight. We got a nice set of monorail-themed chocolates in our room. The view from the lounge was great, and again, it was a peaceful lounge with nice food offerings.