How to Get a Cheap Room at Disney World
Club Level at Disney World
Most of Disney World's best resorts offer Club Level rooms. This is wonderful news if you're looking for the best service possible while on your Walt Disney World vacation.
When you consider how much you'll be spending on your trip, adding a Club Level enhancement doesn't cost you too much more in the grand scheme of things. This may come as a surprise to many people because most guests assume Club Level is significantly more. Or, they've never even heard of this perk in the first place.
Below we investigate the ins and outs of Disney's Club Level, which Disney World resorts offer this perk, the benefits of upgrading to Club Level, and whether or not Club Level is worth the money. Hopefully, this will help you determine if Disney Club Level is a good fit for your next family vacation.
What is Club Level at Disney World?
One advantage to planning a trip to Disney World is the ability to customize your vacation exactly how you wish. From choosing your resorts to your restaurants, theme parks to Disney Genie+ rides, you call the shots. But – as is the case with so many things – the more enhancements you add to your trip, the more magical AND expensive it becomes. And Disney vacations are not cheap, to begin with, so extra money spent better be worth it. Luckily, there is a way to splurge on concierge-style treatment without totally breaking the bank: Club Level at Disney World.
Many hotels offer special room categories to choose from. They may offer upgraded amenities, special room perks, or concierge-level services. Like many things, the more upgrades you add on, the higher the price goes.
Disney World's version of this is called Club Level, a special category of rooms that offer its guests VIP treatment.
Club Level (aka, Club Level Concierge) is not offered at every Walt Disney World resort hotel. However, it is an option if you stay at Disney Deluxe Resorts.
Deluxe resorts are the most expensive tier of hotels at Disney World, so, while Club Level by itself isn't too expensive, the fact that you must stay at a Disney Deluxe resort may be a disqualifier for many budget-conscious guests.
Disney Resorts w/ Club Level Accommodations
Which Disney World hotels offer Disney's Club Level accommodations?
Club Level is available at all of Disney's Deluxe Resorts and at one of Disney's Moderate Resort (the brand new Gran Destino Tower at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort).
Here's a breakdown of the Disney resorts offering Club Level, as well as the name(s) of the Club Level lounge at each resort:
Deluxe Resorts
- Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kilimanjaro Club Lounge
- Beach Club Resort – Stone Harbor Club
- Boardwalk Inn – Innkeepers Club
- Contemporary Resort – Atrium Club (12th floor) and Tower Club (14th floor)
- Grand Floridian Resort – Royal Palm Club and Sugar Loaf Key Club
- Polynesian Resort – King Kamehameha Club
- Wilderness Lodge Resort – Old Faithful Club
- Yacht Club Resort – Regatta Club
Moderate Resort
- Gran Destino Tower at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort – Chronos Club
As you can see, each resort has one Club Level lounge on its property with the exception of Contemporary and Grand Floridian resorts, which have two.
Benefits of Club Level at Disney World
What are the benefits of booking a Club Level room?
Rooms that fall in this category will give you special access to a number of perks and amenities that non-Club Level guests don't get.
Each resort may offer slightly different benefits, but here are a few benefits that come standard with Club Level at Disney World.
[Update: Disney's FastPass+ has been replaced we Disney Genie+. Scare information has been released thus far so stayed tuned to see how Club Level guests can benefit from this new program]
See our Best Magic Kingdom Rides, Best Epcot Rides, Best Animal Kingdom Rides, and Best Hollywood Studios Rides pages to discover the attractions you should prioritize for Disney Genie+.
Club Level Lounge
The Club Level Lounge is one of the best things about Disney Club Level.
The Lounge provides guests staying at Club Level a place to unwind after a busy day at the theme parks.
Club Level lounges provide comfortable sitting areas, TVs, areas designed for kids, and some offer great views of the resort or nightly shows (The Club Level Lounge at BoardWalk Inn has a great view of the nightly fireworks).
Club Level Lounge becomes a home base during your trip and provides you will a fun space to spend time with your family, travel group, or to meet new people, You will be able to access the Club Lounge as soon as you check-in until midnight of your check out day.
But the "bread and butter" of Club Lounge is its complimentary food and beverages.
Club Level Lounge provides guests with a place to grab some breakfast foods, snacks, hors d'oeuvres, and desserts. There are offerings for both kids and adults, and staff will accommodate anyone with special dietary needs.
Club Level Lounge Details
Menus may vary from resort to resort, but a typical schedule is as follows:
- Coffee – 6:30 am – 7:00 am
- Continental breakfast – 7:00 am – 10:30 am
- Light snacks – 11:30 am – 4:00 pm
- Hors d'oeuvres and beverages (including wine and beer) – 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Desserts and cordials – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
As for evening-time beverages, you can expect to find a selection of complimentary alcoholic beverages (for adults) including beer, wine, and cordials in addition to the standard coffee, tea, canned sodas, lemonade, etc.,
Signature Services – Trip Planning Assistance
Up until recently, Disney Club Level guests could utilize a service called the Disney Itinerary Planning Office (IPO). Cast Members (at the specific resorts offing Club Level) were there to help guests book their Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) and FastPass+ choice.
Disney now calls this perk "Signature Services" and they are able to assist you in the same manner as the old Itinerary Planning Office.
Please be aware that Disney's Club Level Signature Services don't have special access to additional dining reservations beyond what you see in the My Disney Experience mobile app.
Additionally, Signature Services cannot book your Advance Dining Reservation or regular Genie+ reservations any earlier than you or a travel agent.
In fact, you may be at a disadvantage w/ hard to get reservations because the Signature Services office opens until 9 am EST, while the window to book reservations opens at 7 am EST. This means that either you or your travel agent will be able to book reservations a full 2 hours before a Signature Service Cast Member ever could, and you could miss out on that difficult reservation!
With this in mind, Disney's Signature Services might not be the best choice if you hope to secure hard-to-get Advance Dining Reservations selections.
Sure, the service is helpful, informative, and easy peasy, but a dedicated, commission-free Disney Travel Agent like those at The Vacationeer can do everything Signature Services does and get you the difficult Advance Dining Reservations, etc.
Contact The Vacationeer today for a free, no-obligation price quote!
Check-In for Club Level Guests
Club Level guests that arrive between 7 am – 10 pm will go directly to the Club Level floor or building to checked-in there.
By doing so, they will be able to bypass the line that forms at the front desk.
Club Level Concierge Desk
Club Level guests can seek out the assistance of Cast Members working at the concierge desk between the hours of 7 am – 10 pm.
They can help with dining reservations, ticketing issues, transportation options, MagicBands, etc.
Extra Security
Club Level rooms are typically located away from regular rooms – and on separate floors or separate buildings – of Disney resorts.
Guests staying at a Disney Club Level room must use their MagicBands to access the floor or building. This limits the traffic flow and adds a degree of security and quietness to these areas.
Evening Turndown Service
Guest staying Club Level will receive traditional room service as well as evening turndown service. Evening turndown service is when the Club Level room is given a light tidying and the bed linens are turned down in preparation for the night. And, as a special touch, guests will find chocolate treats left on the pillows!
Upgraded Toiletries
While many Disney resorts now have wall-mounted toiletry dispensers, guests of Disney Club Level rooms will find upscale H20 brand toiletries and such items like sunblock, etc. in addition to the standard soap, shampoo, and conditioner.
Robes and Slippers
Guests of Club Level rooms at Disney World will find plush robes and slippers in their rooms. Nice touch!
Complimentary Newspapers And Fax
Disney World Club Level guests can pick up complimentary newspapers near the lounges. There is also complimentary fax assistance if that is something you need.
Daily Itinerary
Some Disney resorts deliver a colorful daily itinerary to their Club Level guests each evening. This is a great visual reminder of what you have planned for the next day, delivered right to your room!
Is Disney World's Club Level Worth It?
It's hard to make the case that Club Level at Disney World is actually a cost-savings.
Sure, there are plenty of perks and if you hang out in the Club Lounge all day, then this could potentially offset some of your food expenses. But most people will be out and about most of the day and miss out on many of the food and beverage offerings.
If money is no object, then Club Level Concierge certainly makes sense because you have more options and more ways to be pampered with this level of service.
And when it comes down to it, Club Level isn't really that much more in the grand scheme of things. In fact, the cost of a room is often comparable to a non-discounted standard room at the same Disney resort.
Your Disney World vacation will be expensive no matter how many corners you cut. Sometimes it's worth splurging and getting the best!
Enjoy your trip!
Related Posts:
How to Get a Cheap Room at Disney World
Source: https://magicguides.com/club-level-disney-world/