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So I did some research and watched some You Tube videos on Poly & Beach Club level. I liked Poly's offerings better but love Beach's layout for the resort. And staying at CT for Cub Level is more than Poly & Beach, plus I am not too crazy about staying in the tower.... AKL we like visiting only. (Sorry Dot I can't even consider your favorite resort....maybe one day it will be just be me)
But I did some math too.... if I decided to not do Club level and add the Dining Plan, I am spending alot more than if I just did Club Level...
Explain to me why do you do Club Level? To me it would feed my older sons for Breakfast, Lunch and snacks (maybe a 2nd dinner) throughout our trip ....Dinners would be OOP and I don't really care for the dining plan anyway.
Please help.....Thank You!
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
For a splurge, as we must save like crazy to afford it. We do CL mostly for the nicer rooms, increased privacy and luxury along with terrific extra services. Other than the continental breakfast, we've never eaten much of the lounge food at all.
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To me it would feed my older sons for Breakfast, Lunch and snacks (maybe a 2nd dinner) throughout our trip ....
Hate to burst your CL bubble, but no. The lounge foods will most definitely not be enough for lunch unless all are extremely light eaters.
Here's why. The first time we did CL at the GF in 2010, the noon spread was ample: deli meats, various breadstuffs, plenty extras to make sandwiches, three or so deli salads, raw veggies with dips and cookies or pastries.
At WL four years later: Chips and a dip, a bowl of apples, oranges and bananas, trail mix and a bowl of gummy bears, plate of cookies. At least, there was a kettle of venison chili so one might eke out a somewhat light lunch.
We shrugged, thinking that was just WL, least pricey of the Deluxes.
Went back to the GF CL at Christmas 2015. Chips and a dip, a bowl of apples, oranges and bananas, trail mix and a bowl of gummy bears, plate of cookies, minus any hot dish. We were really disappointed.
So, I say skip the CL if you're thinking it will provide sufficient food past breakfast. You'd eat better OOP for sure.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 05-18-2017 at 07:28 AM..
Lunch will definitely not feed anyone let alone boys, lol. For me, I like CL for many of the same reasons as Dot. I love that we can have breakfast while someone else is getting ready as it gets us out the door faster. I love having them book ADR's. I love getting my water bottles filled (BWI gave us Evian bottles daily, YC did not). I love grabbing a beer or wine anytime. With my DS's autism sometimes we have to spend a tad more time in the room for him to decompress. DD will go to the lounge and grab some food/drinks which helps her not feel stuck. We aren't dining plan people as DS isn't a fan of table service. I love CL for the convenience factor and exclusivity.
Btw, meant to add to my initial remarks that those YTube videos often show a panorama, carefully edited, of foods served throughout the year.
You are not going to get as much variety in one trip as the videos suggest.
Even at the GF's Royal Palm Club in '15, the breakfast had the exact same foods every day of our stay. Used to be a few years earlier, they'd have at least a couple different things daily. No more.
The breakfast at other CLs is somewhat lighter. WL had roughly half as much variety as the GF.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
I wasn't looking for big meals at Breakfast and Lunch for my sons. Just something to eat. Are the rooms bigger if you stay at Club Level? Because there wil be 3 of us in a room. I guess I will figure this out when I speak to the boys at Christmas time!
I just wanted to understand the whole CL. I am a light eater but my kids will be looking for something more for dinner...
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
As far as I can tell the rooms are the same size. At least where I stayed CL at BWI & YC. I wouldn't consider anything serve in the afternoon as lunch. Trail mix, potato chips, candy...
So basically the Club Level is offering snacks...but a little more at breakfast.
Yup, you've got it. Everything after breakfast is snack foods or bite-sized munchies for the most part.
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I am not sure at this point...I am not sure if I want to spend the extra money on Club Level...rather on sit-down places for Dinner.
I wouldn't advise blowing money on CL you could spend on some really nice dinners while staying more modestly when you seem to be saying it is a choice between a fancy room and really enjoyable meals. A fancier box to sleep and shower in or dinner at Citricos and Flying Fish? Ain't no choice at all if someone's asking me!
Which is more important for your enjoyment is something only you--and your budget--can decide.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Yup, you've got it. Everything after breakfast is snack foods or bite-sized munchies for the most part.
I wouldn't advise blowing money on CL you could spend on some really nice dinners while staying more modestly when you seem to be saying it is a choice between a fancy room and really enjoyable meals. A fancier box to sleep and shower in or dinner at Citricos and Flying Fish? Ain't no choice at all if someone's asking me!
Which is more important for your enjoyment is something only you--and your budget--can decide.
You very smart!
Exactly but yesterday my college son said "Beach"...even though I stated to him that he didn't like Epcot. But then he said "Mom I am now 20 and I like Epcot"...so maybe?
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
Actually, it's more the result of CL experience and my own thinking: If we had to choose between staying CL or the DxDDP, no choice there. You know which would win for us!
CL, we discovered at WL when finances made us cut back, is fun but not essential since you can get a nice enough standard room without all the frills and still enjoy the stay.
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But then he said "Mom I am now 20 and I like Epcot"...so maybe?
You sound like a mom whose mindset hasn't quite adjusted.
When we'd go visit DH's parents, his mom would usually have something containing blueberries in the fridge for him. He still likes them but not nearly as much as when he was a kid. It was touching of her to do something so motherly, but he often ate blueberry things he didn't really want that much.
Yeah, the discussion with your sons about which stay that you mentioned you intend to do could be an eye opener.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 05-21-2017 at 12:16 PM..
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