Seeking Grand Floridian RPC vs Yacht Club Club Level comparison About This Page:

[Her Dotness]

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?

[julieb]

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.

[Linnynad]

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.

[Her Dotness]

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.

[poohmaine]

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.

[Sue M.]

I've stayedd at BC CL, but from what I've heard its same food as YC. Nothing compares to RPC.

[Mom of three 1971]

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.

[Her Dotness]

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.

[ARCNurse]

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.