Disney's Club Level (CL) Information & Questions

[Babsy]

Feeling torn and need some expert advice, please!
We’ve been planning for (and dreaming of! ) our upcoming RPC stay in September for quite some time. First, I was worried about heat/humidity/hurricanes, as well as taking the kids out of school so close to the start of the school year. But we thought it was worth it for the low September crowds .
Then... the SWGE announcement. We were upset and had initially said we would cancel in that situation, but after a lot of thought, we decided to rework our trip with one MK day with EMM and lots of extras (BBB, cabanas, etc.) to fill the time and make the best of it. Now, MK EMM dates are ‘lighting up’, but per Disney, they’re not opening it up for booking right now.
My husband feels like too much has gone wrong, and with all of our ‘extras’ (many pre-paid and I would want to book them this coming Tuesday at 180 days), the trip price is climbing much higher than planned.
RPC is our dream, and I know we won’t get it for 30% off again anytime soon.
I guess the question is... when do you let go of a trip?
We’ve come up with two shorter summer trips (non Disney) we could take at luxury resorts for less than this one, but it’s hard to move on!
Thank you for your advice, support, and reading endurance ! I know all of you understand how much a Disney trip (especially CL!!!) means!

I let go of a trip when multiple circumstances make it evident that it will not work well for us. One minor issue, I try to work around. Multiple or large problems, I just let it go.

We have often changed or cancelled trips to WDW. Even the trips that we DO take are usually completely different by the time that we actually go! LOL!

However, I can understand not wanting to lose a good deal on a dream stay like you have at RPC. Personally, I would try to make it work, if possible. But if it was just not going to be in the budget planned or not going to work in the way that I had originally thought, I would cancel.

We were planning an Aug/Sept trip ourselves that will likely get cancelled. Disappointing.

But we'll do a beach trip instead. Better weather, and we will be back to WDW another time.

Good luck deciding!

 

[Babsy]

Hey guys. I just started ( this morning) looking at maybe booking a trip the first weekend in December. I’m looking at the club level at animal kingdom what are your thoughts about it? I am so confused because I haven’t been to Disney since 2008. We normally do universal every six months but really no planning is involved with universal.

You have lots of time for planning for Dec, although it will keep you busy. Many things have changed since 2008.

AKL is one of our favourite resorts and many people love the CL at AKL. The food is awesome in the CL lounge and at the restaurants. The resort is perhaps the best themed in all of WDW. The two pools are awesome. The rooms have balconies and are very comfortable. Even if we don't stay at this resort, we visit it every time to eat in one of the restaurants.

I would definitely go for it! ( We are going at that time as well!)

Dec is a great time of year in WDW, IMO: SWGE won't be quite as 'new', Christmas decorations will be up, weather is not hot, MVMCP is available.

 

[Andrea]

Thanks so much. I feel very overloaded with all this planning. I can’t book yet, but when I can this is where I will book.

 

[PPFlight75]

Same here. I could sit and watch/listen to the boats and buses all day. I think it's relaxing sometimes to just sit and take everything in without having to be on a strict schedule rushing to get somewhere, whether it's at a park or a resort. I could sit at the Poly or GF for hours just watching/listening to the boats going back and forth to MK .

Me too! I love to sit and listen to the boats and people watch. I especially love listening to the resort music at the Poly!! Just need a drink and a table and I could hang out for hours.

 

[PolyRob]

Thanks so much. I feel very overloaded with all this planning. I can’t book yet, but when I can this is where I will book.

When you say you can't book, do you mean you are not ready to commit or that the website isn't allowing you to? If its for December 2019, you should be able to book.

 

[Andrea]

Sorry I meant I can’t commit right now. We just got home from universal. We head to Austin TX in April and Japan in October. I need to see if I can work this into my budget.

 

[Rachel GB]

I let go of a trip when multiple circumstances make it evident that it will not work well for us. One minor issue, I try to work around. Multiple or large problems, I just let it go.

We have often changed or cancelled trips to WDW. Even the trips that we DO take are usually completely different by the time that we actually go! LOL!

However, I can understand not wanting to lose a good deal on a dream stay like you have at RPC. Personally, I would try to make it work, if possible. But if it was just not going to be in the budget planned or not going to work in the way that I had originally thought, I would cancel.

We were planning an Aug/Sept trip ourselves that will likely get cancelled. Disappointing.

But we'll do a beach trip instead. Better weather, and we will be back to WDW another time.

Good luck deciding!

@Babsy , thank you for your reply!
Yes, I agree, trips always seem to end up completely different than originally planned! Just about NONE of this September trip is shaping up to be what we originally planned .
I hope you don’t have to cancel your Aug./Sept., but if so, perhaps it’s for the best! A beach trip sounds fantastic, and Disney isn’t going anywhere!

 

[Babsy]

@Babsy , thank you for your reply!
Yes, I agree, trips always seem to end up completely different than originally planned! Just about NONE of this September trip is shaping up to be what we originally planned .
I hope you don’t have to cancel your Aug./Sept., but if so, perhaps it’s for the best! A beach trip sounds fantastic, and Disney isn’t going anywhere!

yes, August's not gone yet, but it doesn't look good. I can't get flights for the CSR reservation dates that I have booked and I can't seem to get the CSR dates changed to match the available flights. Split stays aren't a good idea for a short trip anymore, IMO, so....perhaps we will just wait until we go in Dec.

It's all good, either way!

Let us know what you decide.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hey @Andrea, I don’t have a ton of experience at AKL CL but we stayed there 1.5 times last year, I wrote about those stays here:

AKL CL - April 2018

AKL CL - Oct 2018 (breakfast only)

CL stuff tends to change/morph over time and these have some age to them, but generally speaking those posts should give you a rough idea of what AKL CL is all about.

AKL is a very different resort and CL experience compared to other Disney options and has its own set of pros/cons (like all resorts), but we really enjoyed our time there, FWIW.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

 

[QueenElinor]

Definitely doable and a very good plan. You can check in as early as 6:00AM and once you check in, you will have access to the lounge once it opens. And you never know, your room might be ready by the time your DH gets back with your son.

Thanks!

 

[Andrea]

Awesome thank you so much

 

[QueenElinor]

Reservations for 5 at BWI- check.
ADRs- check
4 Tickets & one AP to get the awesome room discount- check
Club Level FP- check
Regular FPs- check!!! (I heard I might be able get in early so I tried it and was successful! I shouldn't be able to get these for another week.)
Airfare- check (this is hard because we're coming from 4 cities and some are multi-city fares).

We're ready!!!!

Edit: Oh, wait! Still need the rental car, hahaha. Good, it gives me something to do.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

These are NOT MY PICS, but we have some friends at Poly CL this week and they texted these from tonight.

Poly CL has its flaws, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a bit of the feels seeing live pics - just such a great spot in WDW.

 

[QueenElinor]

These are NOT MY PICS, but we have some friends at Poly CL this week and they texted these from tonight.

Poly CL has its flaws, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a bit of the feels seeing live pics - just such a great spot in WDW.

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Is that Angry Orchard I see there? My older kids will love that!
DS20 won't because they'll remind him how he got tipsy on apple wine in the real Germany and started singing Bohemian Rhapsody with his dad, hah.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

Is that Angry Orchard I see there? My older kids will love that!
DS20 won't because they'll remind him how he got tipsy on apple wine in the real Germany and started singing Bohemian Rhapsody with his dad, hah.

Happy Orchards!!! If you give me 3-4 and maybe something with a little extra kick......I can do an awesome Radio Ga Ga!!!!!

 

[mrsap]

Is that Angry Orchard I see there? My older kids will love that!
DS20 won't because they'll remind him how he got tipsy on apple wine in the real Germany and started singing Bohemian Rhapsody with his dad, hah.

Happy Orchards!!! If you give me 3-4 and maybe something with a little extra kick......I can do an awesome Radio Ga Ga!!!!!

Nothing like a little karoke and alcohol!! American Pie, I Got You Babe, California Girls...I Have a bunch!!!

 

[jdd]

Just posting to see my ticker I'm crashing two days of my sister's vacation at GF SL and just can't wait

 

[mrsap]

Just posting to see my ticker I'm crashing two days of my sister's vacation at GF SL and just can't wait

Hope you have a great time! Can you please take some food pictures for us if you have a chance?! Thanks!

 

[trishadono]

Anyone know if all the BC CL water view rooms have full balconies? I’ll hang up and listen...thanks.

Im not ure about all but if you look at the 5th floor facing the water it looks like they do. I had one in 2015 and all I could see had abalcony but there were more rooms on the other side I couldn't see from my room. I'd ask on BC thread, someone there may know.