If you’ve decided to book a Disney World Deluxe Resort, you’ve probably already looked over all of the price points, and the amenities help you make that decision.
If you’re going to splurge on a Deluxe Resort, could it be worth it to spend a wee bit more for that super posh experience to stay Club Level?
We’re gonna dive into the details of staying “Club Level” at Disney World Resorts. Where you can find it, what you can expect with your stay, how much it’ll cost you, and if it’s worth it for your ideal vacation.
Before we dig into the meat and potatoes of what’s available at the Club Level, let’s recap what all is included in the Deluxe Resorts, in general.
There are plenty of reasons why you may want to stay at a Disney World Deluxe Resort hotel on your next vacation. For starters, these hotels offer top-tier amenities. If you want to stay on Disney World property and have the ultimate luxury experience, then the deluxe hotels are going to be where you’ll want to look first.
The deluxe hotels feature highly themed resort grounds and guest rooms, with tons of attention to every detail. Most have multiple pools to lounge by and enjoy (BTW, some of the deluxe hotels have the best pools on Disney World property), as well as fitness centers, room service, and well-stocked gift shops.
There are also multiple dining options at each deluxe hotel. While the Value Resorts only offer counter service dining, and the Moderate Resorts are typically limited to just one table service restaurant, Disney World’s Deluxe Resort hotels offer multiple table service restaurants, some of which are among the best dining across Disney World property.
Signature dining options and character dining options are exclusively available the deluxe hotels. Resorts like Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa are worth a visit, even if you aren’t an overnight guest just for the dining!
Most deluxe hotels offer their guests multiple transportation options to get to and from the theme parks, and most deluxe hotels are usually pretty close (sometimes within walking distance) to at least one of the parks!
There are, of course, the Monorail resorts: Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa — just minutes from Magic Kingdom. Disney’s Riviera Resort is located along the Disney Skyliner route, which gives guests quick access to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Another BIG perk (pun very much intended) is the larger size guest rooms! Some Disney World hotels have notoriously tight accommodations, but the deluxe hotels are sometimes the exception to that rule. In some cases, you’ll find that the deluxe hotels give you plenty of elbow room.
Finally, staying at a Deluxe Resort makes you eligible for Disney World’s extended evening theme park hours. On select nights, certain parks will remain open past normal operating hours — but unlike Extra Magic Hours, which were available to all on-property resort guests, these extended evening hours are ONLY for guests staying at Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resorts. This exclusivity could make for even lighter crowds, which is indeed a neat perk.
Click here to read more about extended evening park hours in Disney World!
What is Club Level?
Club Level is a special room category at select Disney Resort Hotels that offer extra perks! If you’re staying in Club Level accommodations, you will have access to a special lounge that offers snacks and beverages throughout the day. While the offerings vary by resort, typically you’ll find light continental-style breakfast options in the morning, afternoon snacks and beverages, and the evenings provide small dishes that are “tapas” or small-bite style, as well as wine, beer, and cocktails. Those who book a Club Level room also receive planning help before their visit and a dedicated Concierge Desk on-site to help you get any last-minute Advance Dining Reservations and other vacation add-ons like tours or dessert parties.
The Concierge at Club Level is open between 7AM and 10PM and is usually found near the Club Level Lounge and can help with MagicBands, tickets, dining, recreation, transportation, and even provide recommendations for a daily itinerary. If you’re staying Club Level, you’ll be checked in at an exclusive area and escorted up to the Club Lounge. Once you’re checked in, you’ll receive a sort of Club Level “orientation” to let you know the services provided to you. You’ll also be introduced to the Concierge Cast Members, who can help you set up any resources or special services during your stay.
Club Level guests also receive a nightly turn-down service, complete with pillow mints or chocolates.
Club Level areas are usually restricted by levels or floors and tend to only be accessible with a MagicBand, MagicMobile, or key card that is linked to a Club Level reservation. This ensures that Club Level benefits are only used by those who have paid for the service.
The Pros and Cons of Staying at a Disney World Moderate Resort
Where Can You Find Club Level
Each of the Deluxe Resorts offers a Club Level, and there is an additional Club Level option at Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort, the only Moderate Resort with a Club Level (so far).
- Royal Palm Club Level in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Atrium Club Level in Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Chronos Club Level in Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort
- Kilimanjaro Club Level in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- King Kamehameha Club Level in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Old Faithful Club Level in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Stone Harbor Club Level in Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Regatta Club Level in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Innkeepers Club Level in Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of staying Club Level ranges from around +$200/night to +$700/night depending on the resort, room tier, and season. Generally, the more expensive the hotel and room category, the greater the added cost.
When we looked at a stay at the Grand Floridian in early November, a standard “Outer Building-Garden View” room was priced at $904 per night. The lowest-tiered Club Level room, “Main Building-Standard Room” is priced at $1,498 per night. That’s almost a $600 increase, per night.
If you plan to save some pennies, but still wanna live it up and are looking at Gran Destino Tower, the same time of year in a “Tower Standard Room” will cost at least $440 per night. And the lowest-tiered Club Level room, “Tower-Standard View” is priced at $714 per night. That’s $274 above the standard room cost.
If any discounts are being offered, like Annual Passholder Discounts or Florida Resident Discounts for room-only bookings, those can be applied to Club Level rooms as well, depending on the season, availability, and the terms of the discount (gotta read that fine print!).
Disney World Deluxe Resort List and Ranking
What Is Included in Club Level at Disney World?
You may be disappointed to learn that even though you could be paying $600 more per night than other rooms, your actual room doesn’t look any different. Unless you’re opting into a suite, your Club Level room will likely look just like the ones on the lower floors. What you’re paying for isn’t an enhanced room, but access to the Club Lounge and the extra services provided by the Club Level Concierge Cast Members.
Speaking of those extra services, let’s temper those expectations. We’ll be the first ones to wave our Cast Member Support Flags and cheer and shout for all they do to make Disney vacations special. However, the Concierge service is not the magic wand, miracle-granting service you might be expecting for the price tag. If you’re expecting for a Concierge Cast Member to magically secure dinner for a party of 8 at Be Our Guest with just two hours’ notice, that’s not the kind of service they provide.
In fact, if you’re anticipating a comparable experience to services provided at other luxury resorts like Waldorf Astoria, Four Seasons, or Park Hyatt, you may find yourself dissatisfied.
Concierge Cast Members a great at making some personal recommendations or offering a fun and entertaining interaction. They can even provide you with some unique insight about the parks you’re visiting and the history or trivia about the resort. Many of the same reasons we love so many Cast Members. But suppose you’re looking for super-specific, individualized, even border-line miraculous service. In that case, you’d actually be better off using a certified Disney travel agent (like Small World Vacations) for that magic-wand kind of assistance.
The primary selling point of booking Club Level is access to those Club Lounges. With access to snacks and beverages from 7AM until 10PM, if you plan it right, you can fill up in the Lounge instead of stressing about dining reservations. You’ll get the most value if you plan to eat multiple meals in the lounge. Most people will take advantage of continental breakfast, but not lunch, dinner, or late night desserts, as they’re busy enjoying the parks.
As we mentioned, breakfast is pretty much a Continental-style option. You’ll find some pastries, fruit, yogurt, cold cuts, cereal, coffee, juice, hot chocolate, and even some espresso machines for your morning cappuccino. You may also find a limited variety of warm options, like oatmeal, biscuits and gravy, or grits. The main takeaway is that these breakfast options won’t rival Whispering Canyon or Tusker House, but do provide a decent assortment of “grab and go” options as you head out for your day in the parks.
The light afternoon snacks are just like they sound — chips, packaged cookies or other sweet bakery items, trail mix, hummus and pita, a selection of vegetables, and various other random things. This is definitely NOT lunch, but some nice, portable snacks if you’re planning to spend the afternoon by the pool, or want some things to snack on in the room while the little ones nap.
The evening small plates tend to offer the most value and “bang for the buck.” But if you’re planning to capitalize on it, you’ll want to set your clock, because it’s typically only available between 5PM and 7PM. There are usually plenty of small plate dishes that are prepared by chefs in the resort’s restaurants. These tend to be very good, despite being appetizer-sized. But remember, you’re not ordering off a menu, what’s offered is what it is. Though you can usually find some kid-friendly options like tater tots and dinner rolls, you may also find other small plate versions of short ribs or salmon fillets. So, if you have a family full of picky eaters, “making a meal” out of this appetizer service likely won’t satisfy anyone in your party. As with any buffet-style service, it’s best when it’s fresh. So, if you want to maximize this option, get there as close to 5PM as you can, as by 7PM you will likely find the options pretty picked over and not being replenished.
Finally, from 8PM to 10PM, you’ll find some dessert options. If you’ve ever been to one of Disney’s Fireworks Dessert Parties, or even a standard buffet in Disney World, you’re familiar with the dessert options. Mostly cookies, brownies, and mini-cupcakes. Some may have a special flourish, or you may find a verrine or mousse option. And, of course, you can enjoy wine and beer with your sweet treat.
CHANGES Announced for the Fireworks Dessert Parties and Dining Packages in Disney World
When you combine the general perks and benefits awarded to the Deluxe Resort guests along with the enhanced perks of staying Club Level, you might find yourself too spoiled to ever stay at a Value Resort, again. You’ll get some of the best service and attention Disney can offer, but you’d have to weigh that price tag to see if those resort perks provide that value to your Disney vacation, or if you’ll be spending more time in the parks than to warrant that additional price.
Ranking the Disney World Hotels With Club Level Rooms
Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels?
Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels
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Have you stayed Club Level at a Disney Resort? Which perk is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
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