Seeking Grand Floridian RPC vs Yacht Club Club Level comparison - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
PassPorter.com
Award-winning travel guidebooks

   guidebooks   |   news   |   podcasts   |   boards   |   blog   |   worksheets   |   photos   |   articles   |   updates   |   register   |   follow us on


Forums Closed
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.

So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.

Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.

And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.

We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm​. You made it all happen.

There are other changes as well.

Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:

We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.

It's time to move on and move forward.

PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.

But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.

So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.

And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.

That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!

If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.

So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

Go Back   PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums > PassPorter's Walt Disney World Resort (Florida) > Staying in Style: The Resorts/Hotels at Walt Disney World
Register


Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.

To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.

If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-04-2015, 10:33 PM   #1
Her Dotness
Community Rank: Explorer
 
Her Dotness's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: St. Louis, Missouri suburb
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 11,403

Post Thanks / Like
Seeking Grand Floridian RPC vs Yacht Club Club Level comparison

We're thinking of trying Yacht Club Club Level next trip, but having read some reviews of it, I'm not so sure we'll think it worth the cost compared with how posh the Royal Palm Club is.

One of our biggest disappointments with CL at WL was how skimpy the lounge foods were, especially at breakfast. Nowhere near the variety of the Royal Palm Club, although I did like the gummy bears in the afternoon at WL.

It's discouraging that reviews of YC CL indicate that the lounge breakfast there is similar to WL's except that the Epcot resorts have hardboiled eggs which neither of us wants at breakfast anyway. Later in the day, the variety at YC sounds just as limited as at WL, in fact several of the same things were mentioned.

The dining area is cited as being inadequately small at breakfast time, too. That might not be such a problem as we're often there when breakfast first starts. Except if the variety is as limited as it was at WL.

Honestly, I'm thinking we might do better to wait to go back until we can afford a RPC stay again. I REALLY missed going to the lobby or sitting in the lounge which overlooks the lobby to listen to the live music in the afternoon and evening.

But, we'd also like to see how an Epcot resort suits us. The main reasons we're considering YC are its elegant atmosphere and proximity to WS which would make choosing restaurants really simple for us as many as we enjoy there, not to mention enjoying wandering around WS. Except getting to the MK, our favorite park, would be more of a pain.

Your thoughts if you've stayed CL in both within the last few years?
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
My Countdown Counting down to: Our Happiest Place for Mickey’s and my birthday—again!
Happy Birthday, Mickey and me!
My Previous TripsWDW 10/2017--VGF; WDW 12/2015--GF; WDW 11/2014--WL; WDW 11/2013--GF; WDW 1/2010--GF; WDW 7/2004--CR Tower /// DH to WDW several times in the 1970's & 1984; Me DL 1969.
Her Dotness is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2015, 04:29 PM   #2
julieb
Community Rank: Trekker
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Massachusetts
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 1,972

Post Thanks / Like
We've done Club Level at BC, GF (both RPC and outer building), CR and BWI. Although we haven't tried YC, I'd say that if you're looking for club level on the Epcot side of the world, how about the Boardwalk? It was extremely nice - bigger lounge than the Beach Club and very nicely appointed rooms and lounge. It's hard to beat the GF, but I thought that BWI was excellent.
__________________
JulieB
My Previous TripsMay 2017, WLV; April 2017, WLV; March 2017, BWI; Oct. 2016, BLT; Feb. 2016, GF; Nov. 2015, BLT; Feb. 2015 GF; Oct 2014 Poly; Oct. 2013 VGF; May 2013, GF; Feb 2013 BWV; Dec 2012 BCV; May 2012 BWI; Jan. 2012 AKV; Dec. 2011 BLT; Oct 2011, CR; March 2011, BC; Oct. 2010, AKV and BLT; Oct. 2009 GF; April 2009 BWV; Dec. 2008 BWI; Feb. 2008 BWI; Dec. 2007 Poly; Dec. 2006 BC; Feb. 1998 YC
julieb is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2015, 09:49 PM   #3
Linnynad
Community Rank: Jetsetter
 
Linnynad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 2,357

Post Thanks / Like
We have stayed CL at the BC 2 yrs ago. I have been told both CL lounges and offerings are the same between YC & BC. As much as I LOVE the BC, the lounge was a disappointment. It's so darn small!! In the mornings it really is down right crazy in there. We are early risers so as long as we were walking in just as they were opening, it was manageable .......but boy did it fill up quick! The evenings were always fine for us, but they is no real wow factor to the lounge itself.The offerings were fine for us, nothing blew me away, but we were fine with all they had. It is hard to pass up being so close to Epcot though. We will be staying at RPC next month for the first time so I'll have a better understanding on what you are used to.
I am however a HUGE fan of the CL at the Poly! The food was fantastic and the lounge and view is hard to beat...........but then again with the construction going on......well that is kinda a big issue.
Good luck deciding ........ I'd say try the YC once and see how you like being close to Epcot and WS. I know we will stay BC/CL again mainly for THAT reason. Just know going in that the CL is nice, but just not what you are use to.
I'm anxious to see and experience RPC for myself, but I know going into this trip that we will never be staying there again, anytime soon that is.
__________________
Linny





My Countdown Counting down to:
My Previous TripsMany as a kid in the early 80's all at the Poly, GRAD NITE 92, offsite in 96 and 2005, CBR May 2007, Poly Dec.2008, GF Dec.2009, Poly Oct. 2010, BC/DCL DREAM/AKL Oct.2011,POR RGR May2012, Poly Sep 2012, BC/CL May 2013, Trans-Atlantic Magic 2014, GF/CL April 2015, Merrytime cruise Fantasy Nov 2015
Linnynad is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2015, 05:38 AM   #4
Her Dotness
Community Rank: Explorer
 
Her Dotness's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: St. Louis, Missouri suburb
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 11,403

Post Thanks / Like
Thanks, both of you.

From what I've read here and elsewhere, it sounds like the lounge size could be difficult as much as we depend upon the breakfast.

I think we've both pretty much determined that saving till we can afford the RPC again is the plan unless DBIL whose family will stay at YC this summer really likes it.

It is sooooo great being right there in the GF's main building a few floors above the monorail station with such a spacious lounge. Really about the only drawback (other than cost!) is that you have to go outside and around part of the building to get to Gaspy's entrance since it opens directly outside facing Narcoosee's.
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
My Countdown Counting down to: Our Happiest Place for Mickey’s and my birthday—again!
Happy Birthday, Mickey and me!
My Previous TripsWDW 10/2017--VGF; WDW 12/2015--GF; WDW 11/2014--WL; WDW 11/2013--GF; WDW 1/2010--GF; WDW 7/2004--CR Tower /// DH to WDW several times in the 1970's & 1984; Me DL 1969.
Her Dotness is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2015, 04:32 PM   #5
poohmaine
Community Rank: Trailblazer
 
poohmaine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Maine
Posts: 5,893

Post Thanks / Like
I have not stayed at YC but the Boardwalk CL was out of this world-- food, staff, service, room location (we were over the sweet shop) was fantastic and I would highly recommend it.
__________________
poohmaine
My Previous TripsWDW October 2013; DL October 2012; WDW October 2009; WDW October 2007; WDW Christmas 2005; WDW March 2001; WDW November 1999; WDW October 1985; WDW March 1982; WDW August 1977
poohmaine is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2015, 12:00 PM   #6
Sue M.
Community Rank: Legend
 
Sue M.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Concierge Level: 2
Posts: 15,667

Post Thanks / Like
I've stayedd at BC CL, but from what I've heard its same food as YC. Nothing compares to RPC.
__________________
My Countdown Counting down to: WDW WL
back to the lodge
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsWDW Aug 2003 LBV Marriott Courtyard, Universal/Sea World/Busch Gardens Aug 2005 Hilton Garden Inn SeaWorld, WDW Aug. 2007 CBR, WDW Jan. 2008 POP & WL, Universal/SeaWorld/Aquatica Aug 2008 Hyatt Place,Sheraton 4 Points, Hard Rock Hotel & Doubletree Universal., St. Pete Beach Aug 2008, WDW Jan 2009 AKL, WDW Aug 2009 POR & WL, WDW Jan 2010 Poly, WDW Jan 2011 POR, WDW Aug 2011 POR & BC CL, WDW Jan 2012 WL, WDW Aug 2012 AKL CL, WDW Jan 2013 POFQ, WDW Aug 2013 Pop, GF, YC: WDW Jan 2014 POR, WDW & Universal August 2014 GF & Portofino Bay, WDW Jan 2015 POR, Aug 2015 Poly, Aug 2016 GF, Sept 2017 DL, Dec 2017 PoP, May 2018 DL, Sept 2018 WL, Nov. 2018 DL And too many trips to count to DL in the 80's.
Sue M. is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2015, 08:51 PM   #7
Mom of three 1971
Community Rank: Trekker
 
Mom of three 1971's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,230

Post Thanks / Like
Madame Dot! My like minded sister! I can give you at least my take on BC Club level having just returned. Simply put 'not wowed'. The Club cast members were somewhat lack luster, though, as you well know, we have been spoiled by the group at RPC. Maybe it was because it was our first visit and they don't know us but I found them to be bland. I was talking to one of them and asked if she knew if they has wheelchairs over at the International gateway entrance to Epcot. I had major lower extremity swelling from my cardiac meds and she said they did but the Beach Club could give me a complimentary one for the length of my visit if they had any. She told me to go down to lobby concierge and ask them. I asked her to call them and ask and she seemed surprised. Ummm why would I go stand in line at lobby concierge when I paid extra for club concierge. So she called ahead, I went down and they had it waiting for me and when I tried to take it into Epcot they charged me 12$. Whatever, I was planning to rent it anyway.

The lounge was fine. Breakfast was as expected. Evening offerings seemed to vary little. We saw chicken kabobs and spring rolls often. Not really much variance on the cheeses either. Desserts were the same each night. Green apples with caramel and pb&j shooters. Wine selection was good, beer was ok, my husband would have prefered Heineken or Coors light but he made do with the Bud light (yuck).
It was very crowded in the morning. Right abour 5pm the evening crownd was always in sprint position with people carrying several plates at a time back to their rooms. I don't really remember seeing a lot of that at the RPC. The halls were just filled with food carrying crowds. Definately a lot of people making meals out of the evening snack. No judgement. Personally I just like it for snacks in the evening. We do seem to be able to get by with it as a breakfast though.
All in all, Dot, we'll stay there again because the girls loved the pool but we will do split stay with RPC. I think we may try Yacht Club in an effort for it to be maybe a little quieter.
On the subject of noise...OMG, it was very noisy. And I am not disputing that it's Disney and there's kids ( I have my own after all) but this was a far larger level of noise than we have experienced in the past at the GF or even the POR. It may have had to do something with our next door neighboors always having their door open and enough people (adults and children) for a soccer team! It was like the clowns fitting into the little car! How many people can you fit into a room!

BTW i see alot of people mentioning the size of the lounge as being small. Has it recently been remodeled? There was the food area and then some tables then another area that you walked through that had beverages that led into another area of seating. It was defiantely crowded but I wouldn't call it small.
__________________
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips2016 10 DAYS IN LAS VEGAS 2016 AKL Club/ POLY CL 2015 Turks & Caicos BEACHES RESORT 2015 Beach Club CL 2014 BEACHES RESORT Jamaica 2013POR/GF RPC 2011 POR/GF RPC PLATINUM/BEACHES, JAMAICA 2009 POR/GF RPC Platinum Trip 2008 DCL Wonder Walt Disney Suite 2008 MAJESTY OF THE SEAS BAHAMIAN CRUISE 2008 NAVIGATOR OF THE SEA CARIBBEAN CRUISE 2007 ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS CARIBBEAN CRUISE 2007 MAJESTY OF THE SEAS BAHAMIAN CRUISE 2006 Grand Floridian-Platinum 1996 Grand Floridian-Grand Plan 1994 Grand Floridian-Grand Plan

Last edited by Mom of three 1971; 03-15-2015 at 08:54 PM..
Mom of three 1971 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2015, 09:31 PM   #8
Her Dotness
Community Rank: Explorer
 
Her Dotness's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: St. Louis, Missouri suburb
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 11,403

Post Thanks / Like
Milady MOT,

Thanks for that detailed assessment. Really appreciate your taking the time to evaluate your stay so thoroughly.

We've pretty much determined we simply can't stand another so-very-NOT-RPC stay and will return only when we can afford it again.

We'll see what BIL thinks of his family's YC stay in August out of curiosity. However, when either of us mentions staying there, we end up engaging in a back-and-forth itemizing of all the things we'd miss about the RPC.

As DH said on the recent thread asking what's your home resort, merely arriving at the GF for Afternoon Tea felt like coming home again after much too long away. We both feel so relaxed and at ease there.

You know the feeling, I'm sure.
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
My Countdown Counting down to: Our Happiest Place for Mickey’s and my birthday—again!
Happy Birthday, Mickey and me!
My Previous TripsWDW 10/2017--VGF; WDW 12/2015--GF; WDW 11/2014--WL; WDW 11/2013--GF; WDW 1/2010--GF; WDW 7/2004--CR Tower /// DH to WDW several times in the 1970's & 1984; Me DL 1969.
Her Dotness is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2015, 12:24 PM   #9
ARCNurse
Community Rank: Visitor
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1

Post Thanks / Like
Go back to RPC

My family and I have stayed club level frequently at the Y.C. Unfortunately, it is a small and tight space for anyone, let alone someone who may need to use a wheel chair or scooter. The past couple of times we went, my husband wasn't even able to get into the club lounge without parking his scooter outside in the hallway and using a walker to get into the lounge to get food or to sit at the table. There just isn't enough space in the lounge for any such devices to get around the tables and couch. Our last stay was in the fall of 2014 so unless they've had some major reworking of the lounge, you may be better off going back to the GF and the RPC.

Last edited by ARCNurse; 04-15-2015 at 12:30 PM..
ARCNurse is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Reply




Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump














Please login or register to hide these ads -- it's free and easy!

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:14 PM.

-->

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like v3.4.0 Patch Level 1 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
(c) 1998-2017 PassPorter Travel Press/MediaMarx, Inc.
Celebrating 19 Years of Making Dreams Come True
Ad Management plugin by RedTyger