Resort Thread Disney's Club Level (CL) Thread

[focusondisney]

You're correct that a package can't become "room only," but you can always strip it of add-ons (tickets, dining plan, memory maker etc) and create a package that is only a room known as a "basic package."

Smart! I knew you could have a ticketless package, but never thought of just dropping the add ons later.

Edit to add.. I book room only, for the same reasons as you do.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Agreed! We have an upcoming trip in May, and I regularly check as if miraculously the CL rooms will get a higher discount. We’re doing MYOCL at the Dolphin instead for about $2800 less than any of the Crescent Lake CL, then we have two nights at a really good rate at CSR CL where I was able to snag a regular room. I’ve only ever been able to snag the 1-bed cl there.

Is CSR an outlier with the CL discounts?

I admittedly don’t follow very well but CL discounts were down to 10% from memory except for select ones like Disney Visa sometimes. Today when browsing for a potential June trip I noticed the AP rate was reflecting an actual discount on CSR CL deluxe suite (didn’t calculate it but way over 10%).

 

[SkyGuy]

Is CSR an outlier with the CL discounts?

I admittedly don’t follow very well but CL discounts were down to 10% from memory except for select ones like Disney Visa sometimes. Today when browsing for a potential June trip I noticed the AP rate was reflecting an actual discount on CSR CL deluxe suite (didn’t calculate it but way over 10%).

I honestly don’t know the answer to that question, but my total for those two nights is around $800ish. Had to snag it.

 

[jesserina]

Want to book a club level stay for 2026. Starting my research!!

Which ones have ice cream or soft serve machines?

Which ones have ‘fancy’ coffee makers to make the espresso, lattes, etc?

Which ones tend to have more ‘hot’ items?

Do any have panini makers?

Thank you!!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Which ones have ice cream or soft serve machines?

The Old Faithful Club at Wilderness Lodge puts out a tub of vanilla ice cream for evening dessert. The ice cream can be used on the nightly cobbler. They also have toppings for the ice cream so you can make a sundae.

 

[mrsap]

Want to book a club level stay for 2026. Starting my research!!

Which ones have ice cream or soft serve machines?

Which ones have ‘fancy’ coffee makers to make the espresso, lattes, etc?

Which ones tend to have more ‘hot’ items?

Do any have panini makers?

Thank you!!

I’m pretty sure there are no soft serve ice cream machines at any of the CL lounges, but you should be able to get Mickey Ice Cream Bars/Sandwiches and Fruit Bars at most or all now. Some may offer alternatives, as mentioned above, as well. I believe they all have fancy machines of some sort but never saw a panini maker.

 

[2vets]

I’m pretty sure there are no soft serve ice cream machines at any of the CL lounges, but you should be able to get Mickey Ice Cream Bars/Sandwiches and Fruit Bars at most or all now. Some may offer alternatives, as mentioned above, as well. I believe they all have fancy machines of some sort but never saw a panini maker.

I think it would be a cold day in Hades before a panini maker was available for guest use (thinking about the liability standpoint).

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

Want to book a club level stay for 2026. Starting my research!!

Which ones have ice cream or soft serve machines?

Which ones have ‘fancy’ coffee makers to make the espresso, lattes, etc?

Which ones tend to have more ‘hot’ items?

Do any have panini makers?

Thank you!!

As others have mentioned, I don't believe any of the club levels have a panini maker nor soft serve ice cream machines. FWIW, when I was at the Poly club level a month ago, they made individual ice cream sundaes every evening during the dessert hours. That ice cream, though, was only vanilla and not soft serve

 

[kdka421]

Want to book a club level stay for 2026. Starting my research!!

Which ones have ice cream or soft serve machines?

Which ones have ‘fancy’ coffee makers to make the espresso, lattes, etc?

Which ones tend to have more ‘hot’ items?

Do any have panini makers?

Thank you!!

FWIW Coronado Springs club level is a bit of an outlier in some instances, and ice cream is one of them - they do not regularly have any sort of frozen desserts available. If you ask, they will check if Toledo's has any Mickey bars in their freezer they can grab, but out of 3 trips we've only gotten lucky once in that regard.

Conversely they have two fancy espresso machines in the lounge and we've never had an issue with them working.

 

[jesserina]

I think it would be a cold day in Hades before a panini maker was available for guest use (thinking about the liability standpoint).

I’m saying the staff makes and sets out hot sandwiches. Wasn’t sure if that was a ‘thing’. Looks like ‘not’!!

 

[jesserina]

As others have mentioned, I don't believe any of the club levels have a panini maker nor soft serve ice cream machines. FWIW, when I was at the Poly club level a month ago, they made individual ice cream sundaes every evening during the dessert hours. That ice cream, though, was only vanilla and not soft serve

Hand scooped iced cream is even better!! I was assuming soft serve as that’s easier. Good to know!

 

[2vets]

I’m saying the staff makes and sets out hot sandwiches. Wasn’t sure if that was a ‘thing’. Looks like ‘not’!!

I was imagining an unsupervised kiddo panini-ing a hand and the parents then suing Disney (obviously would not be funny, but… it would definitely happen). I have never seen the CL staff making food - it comes from a restaurant kitchen in each resort, the staff puts it out. There are some CLs with mini sandwiches at various offering times, but I’m unable to recall specifics offhand.

 

[Dave006]

Hand scooped iced cream is even better!! I was assuming soft serve as that’s easier. Good to know!

This issue with Soft Serve is that the machine needs to be cleaned daily. They are very labor intensive. Just putting out a tub of Ice Cream is easier to manage and clean up.

Dave

 

[jesserina]

This issue with Soft Serve is that the machine needs to be cleaned daily. They are very labor intensive. Just putting out a tub of Ice Cream is easier to manage and clean up.

Dave

Makes sense!! I’m excited for that!

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Finishing up an amazing first stay at AKV CL and would love to give my first timers review soon…spoiler - it’s amazing…but I need to know about tipping. Is it a thing? Do we just do cast compliments via MDE. They have been so good to us here. Not sure what the etiquette is. Been tipping my housekeeper daily but there are so many good servers and managers up here what do we do?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Finishing up an amazing first stay at AKV CL and would love to give my first timers review soon…spoiler - it’s amazing…but I need to know about tipping. Is it a thing? Do we just do cast compliments via MDE. They have been so good to us here. Not sure what the etiquette is. Been tipping my housekeeper daily but there are so many good servers and managers up here what do we do?

While I’ve seen it happen a handful of times over the years, tipping isn’t expected or needed - it’s just not how WDW CL works. They aren’t tipped positions and technically they’re supposed to refuse, turn it in, etc. It’s a different setup than other resort “concierge” situations, DCL, etc, it’s just not a thing.

Personally, I use the Cast Compliment feature in the app and the feedback link they (usually) e-mail you at the start of your stay or QR code thing on the TV scroll for feedback while there when warranted.

And I try my best to note names so if I get a survey later and you get a question which allows open answers, I add compliments there too. I usually will keep a “Note” file on my iPhone and quickly jot down a name or situation when I can - otherwise I’m likely to forget in vacation fog later.

Glad you enjoyed your AKL CL stay!

 

[mrsap]

Finishing up an amazing first stay at AKV CL and would love to give my first timers review soon…spoiler - it’s amazing…but I need to know about tipping. Is it a thing? Do we just do cast compliments via MDE. They have been so good to us here. Not sure what the etiquette is. Been tipping my housekeeper daily but there are so many good servers and managers up here what do we do?

Did you regret not keeping the entire trip??

Are you referring to Francisco?!?

 

[TheDailyMoo]

While I’ve seen it happen a handful of times over the years, tipping isn’t expected or needed - it’s just not how WDW CL works. They aren’t tipped positions and technically they’re supposed to refuse, turn it in, etc. It’s a different setup than other resort “concierge” situations, DCL, etc, it’s just not a thing.

Personally, I use the Cast Compliment feature in the app and the feedback link they (usually) e-mail you at the start of your stay or QR code thing on the TV scroll for feedback while there when warranted.

And I try my best to note names so if I get a survey later and you get a question which allows open answers, I add compliments there too. I usually will keep a “Note” file on my iPhone and quickly jot down a name or situation when I can - otherwise I’m likely to forget in vacation fog later.

Glad you enjoyed your AKL CL stay!

Did you regret not keeping the entire trip??

Are you referring to Francisco?!?

He’s one yes! Lots of younger servers as well either in or straight out of college looking to get into hotel hospitality. I’ve done many cast compliments but will look forward to the surveys as well. Not sure we can ever go back from CL haha. Will have more thoughts as soon as we get back home!