Disney's Club Level (CL) Information & Questions

[jods]

No real right or wrong here, just discussion.

I personally have no issue with everyone - even the included good neighbor resorts - being a part of EMH (or whatever benefit they want to do) so long as the quantity/quality of such benefit matches the potential audience size. I’m a fan of resort type and price options more than I am of certain benefits for certain resort levels. But I’m also comfortable with the value I am currently receiving at the Deluxe rates, a highly personal opinion for everyone. Someday I may not feel the same, but I’d rather have that flexibility and it not impact my park plans.

If you ask me, the real PM EMH “problem” was created years ago. Roughly 2012 they went from 3 hours to 2 hours. DHS hasn’t had regular PM EMH since 2017, DAK since 2011. Two hours at Epcot and MK typically two nights in any given week was a relatively light amenity given the way things evolved over the years.

Although I’ll be honest, I can count on one hand the number of times we actually attended PM EMHs - due to “avoid the park with EMH” strategy and having littles so bedtime was often more of a priority. So I always hesitate to have some strong opinion about PM EMHs, since I don’t “really” know with any great depth of experience!

You missed out on a lot seriously, my favorite times were pm EMH. We would walk on most rides. It was awesome. We didn't do the mountains so can't speak for those. Even when my kids were younger, they were night owls. Still are. We never take advantage of morning emh because it's too hard to get them up and out. We like to sleep in on vacation.

 

[twinklebug]

I'm confident Disney will not leave the Values and Mods out to dry on this... BUT... they may first try them on an upcharge to attend EMH.

There's a term for the way the modern version of Disney parks and resorts janks around the consumer this way and it's not polite. I wish upper management would tell them to stop.

The name "Disney" should mean "You chose well, enjoy your stay, we've got this." not "Pay up".

 

[mickeynut1]

While we always stay deluxe, and this will benefit us, I am not in favor of limiting emh to only deluxe resorts.

I'm not in favor of that either. We've always stayed deluxe so we'd benefit as well, but I think Disney is on a slippery slope offering EMH to only deluxe resort guests as not everyone can afford (or has the desire) to stay deluxe. If EMH is offered, I think all onsite guests should be eligible, not just the ones paying higher resort costs.

Unrelated/related: I hate the park pass system. While I understand it keeps Disney on top of controlling numbers and is probably much needed for big days such as the 50th or opening of a new attraction, it forces families who are planning out their trips to buy passes earlier than they'd otherwise do if only to set up the ability to get into parks.

I agree. I booked the resort for the 50th weekend as soon as I could (499 days out), totally forgetting about having to buy park tickets. As time went on and I started reading about people making park reservations for that weekend (especially for 10/1), it hit me that we didn't have park tickets. It was a blessing in disguise though as we ended up cancelling our resort reservation, but for those who don't know or can't afford to buy park tickets way ahead of time, they can have a hard time making reservations (especially if they're going at a busy time).

I'm sure that some people are probably ok paying deluxe prices and just getting the resort, but most probably aren't, which is why Disney has to come up with perks to justify the price.

I agree that Disney's probably trying to come up with ways to justify the price, but for me, an hour or two (or whatever it turns out to be) of extra park time is not enough for me to justify the outrageous prices being charged. I was excited when I booked for the 50th (CR CL), but once it started to sink in, I realized how outrageous those rates are ($3400 for 3 nts ). I'm one who has always used "Disney math" to justify the cost, but I finally hit my breaking point and decided enough was enough. I'm probably in the minority, but adding little "perks" like EMH (something Disney's had in the past for everybody), is not enough to keep me going back, especially at those rates.

 

[DisMaven]

The EMH hour for deluxe at WDW is no different then "free" express passes for deluxe UO hotels. Its just a benefit of certain hotels. Its like if you book a 1st class airline ticket, you get certain perks. I think where WDW went wrong with this announcement was, calling it EMH. If they would have come up with a different name entirely and made it sound really different, it would have been received better. But now just giving something to deluxe that used to be for everyone is where people are getting upset and I get their point too. It doesn't really affect me, I think we've done evening EMH maybe twice in what is now probably over 100 trips.

From what I read they aren’t calling them EMH. Maybe just semantics but seems like they’re trying to justify the exceptionally high deluxe prices. I’ll be interested to see what they do for CL perks other than the food.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Funny how no one complains about the 'parties' being elitist as you often have to pay ~$100pp for those. But limit it to deluxe guests and it inflames people. Look at the comment sections on some of the other websites that have announced it and it gets a lot of criticism. Money is money no matter how they want to label it. Disney wants more money. end of.

I don’t know - as the past OP and active participant in several “upcharge” threads on the theme park board (EMM, dessert parties, After Hours, etc) and ‘affectionately’ called Mr. Upcharge by a fellow DISer friend, I’d say there’s plenty of shade for the upcharges too! Although I guess it’s more subtle.

 

[jods]

One of those magic touches I was missing in recent years was finding out from the front desk or the cast member at the bus stop that the park we were headed off to had their operating hours extended to midnight (non EMH). I'm sure it stunk for some cast members who found it hard to work that late, while others loved bringing in the extra time. As a guest, there was nothing quite like the freedom it gave us to calm down our touring plan and take in time dining, shopping or just heading back to the room for a swim and a nap without that worry of an early close.

Unrelated/related: I hate the park pass system. While I understand it keeps Disney on top of controlling numbers and is probably much needed for big days such as the 50th or opening of a new attraction, it forces families who are planning out their trips to buy passes earlier than they'd otherwise do if only to set up the ability to get into parks.

Yes, this is so annoying. I have an AP so my rooms are room only. I had to buy my family non refundable tickets months ago. Which kind of sucked because plans change. I suppose you could do the package which is only 200 and book park passes that way and then switch but that's annoying too. We ended up shortening our trip so I.will have an extra day of tickets. Annoying.

 

[Eastern]

I was excited when I booked for the 50th (CR CL), but once it started to sink in, I realized how outrageous those rates are ($3400 for 3 nts ). I'm one who has always used "Disney math" to justify the cost, but I finally hit my breaking point and decided enough was enough. I'm probably in the minority, but adding little "perks" like EMH (something Disney's had in the past for everybody), is not enough to keep me going back, especially at those rates.

ok I have never seen any of us write out the amount before, lol, but it really is crazy. I do like CL and I would miss it but saving lots of money has it's perks, too. I did an offsite stay recently to see how I would like it. It's definitely not Disney, but there was enough magic for me at the price I paid, which was like $100/night with breakfast and evening happy hour $100 is like one CS meal for my family

If it was just me I would cancel 50th, but my family took off work and it's done. At the time I thought, 'these prices are nuts, they will have a discount'. haha on me.

 

[Eastern]

I don’t know - as the past OP and active participant in several “upcharge” threads on the theme park board (EMM, dessert parties, After Hours, etc) and ‘affectionately’ called Mr. Upcharge by a fellow DISer friend, I’d say there’s plenty of shade for the upcharges too! Although I guess it’s more subtle.

Yeah I think it is. Saying that only 'deluxe resort guests' will get EMH just has a bad sound to it. Not sure how they can say it any nicer, though. 'We want more money'.

Me after paying my CR bill

 

[Eastern]

From what I read they aren’t calling them EMH. Maybe just semantics but seems like they’re trying to justify the exceptionally high deluxe prices. I’ll be interested to see what they do for CL perks other than the food.

Maybe it's to distract your attention from the new food offerings they will present. Maybe they'll offer us noodles and take away hot food. (We are trying to be guest friendly. We thought our guests wanted noodles. yada. yada. yada.) Can't wait to see what's in store!

 

[Twende]

I would prefer they go back to 1 hour in the AM and 3 hours in the PM and restrict it to on site resorts. No Disney Springs resorts. They could even exclude the Swan and Dolphin.

We rarely used the AM feature except when it first came out in the late '80's early '90's. If we did it after that, we stayed until the park got busy and then hopped to another park. But we often did the evening extra hours and really enjoyed the extra time in the parks!

 

[jods]

Not to derail the current talk. Just had a quick (for me) question. When you transfer bags on a split stay when do they typically get to the new hotel? My kids want to switch the last night of our stay to AKL CL. Still debating. Hubby threw up his hands and said do whatever I want lol. Trying to get all the info before I decide.

 

[Kms943]

Not to derail the current talk. Just had a quick (for me) question. When you transfer bags on a split stay when do they typically get to the new hotel? My kids want to switch the last night of our stay to AKL CL. Still debating. Hubby threw up his hands and said do whatever I want lol. Trying to get all the info before I decide.

In the past and with our last stay in 2019, it’s been pretty consistent that the bags would be available at our Epcot area resort by early afternoon (1-3 pm). This was coming from a MK area resort, so not sure if the times would be different for different transfers from different resort areas.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I’m really just grumbly that we have all these new things coming and old things reopening, while CL’s return is painfully slow! Since we’re in money making mode, let’s get going Disney.

 

[Sarahslay]

Not to derail the current talk. Just had a quick (for me) question. When you transfer bags on a split stay when do they typically get to the new hotel? My kids want to switch the last night of our stay to AKL CL. Still debating. Hubby threw up his hands and said do whatever I want lol. Trying to get all the info before I decide.

For me it's been anywhere from 2-5pm, usually closer to 5pm, which is why I usually pack a smaller bag (like a back pack with anything I might need). It's not really that bad, especially if you have the lounge, and animals to look at at AKL.

edit to add: I did a BWI - AKL split stay in January 2020 and my bags got there closer to the 5pm mark which is the latest I've received them before

 

[EmilyGahr]

I’m really just grumbly that we have all these new things coming and old things reopening, while CL’s return is painfully slow! Since we’re in money making mode, let’s get going Disney.

I'm hoping that the delay in CL returning is because they want it to be 100% normal when it does return!

 

[twinklebug]

I'm hoping that the delay in CL returning is because they want it to be 100% normal when it does return!

I can't help but think they want it to be 100% normal because as an overall group CL guests have the highest expectations,

and TBH we have some folk in the group who will go out of their way to make their lives miserable if it's not everything it was last visit and more.

Me: I just want the cappuccino machine back.

 

[NicoleLarson]

Not to derail the current talk. Just had a quick (for me) question. When you transfer bags on a split stay when do they typically get to the new hotel? My kids want to switch the last night of our stay to AKL CL. Still debating. Hubby threw up his hands and said do whatever I want lol. Trying to get all the info before I decide.

Haha....I think we're married to the same person. Mine just said the exact same thing to me. As others have said, its pretty willy nilly with bag transfers. I would say late afternoon is normal but that was pre-covid and its pretty apparent that they're short handed in the staffing of service jobs right now. To be sure you could send one person in an uber with the luggage to AKL in the morning and store with bell services. Then you know it will be there when you want it.

 

[kylenne]

I don’t know - as the past OP and active participant in several “upcharge” threads on the theme park board (EMM, dessert parties, After Hours, etc) and ‘affectionately’ called Mr. Upcharge by a fellow DISer friend, I’d say there’s plenty of shade for the upcharges too! Although I guess it’s more subtle.

Same and there definitely is...the Boo Bash discussion had it. Snide comments here and there. The CL FP discussions got really ugly too. But like we're not rich at all (civil service and art restoration don't exactly bring in the millions). There's no way we could travel the way we do if we had kids. But we don't, so our disposable income goes to Disney and our hobbies.

Not to derail the current talk. Just had a quick (for me) question. When you transfer bags on a split stay when do they typically get to the new hotel? My kids want to switch the last night of our stay to AKL CL. Still debating. Hubby threw up his hands and said do whatever I want lol. Trying to get all the info before I decide.

I spent moving day on my split stay the other week at AK and when I got to YC at 4pm my bags were waiting for me from GF.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I can't help but think they want it to be 100% normal because as an overall group CL guests have the highest expectations,

and TBH we have some folk in the group who will go out of their way to make their lives miserable if it's not everything it was last visit and more.

Me: I just want the cappuccino machine back.

Me: I just want some hot coffee in the AM, cold beer available any other time of day, and friendly CMs to talk to, hopefully regular faces from past stays that have returned. I am easy to please.

 

[rick1zoo2]

I would say my wife is an enabler - whatever odd thing I cook up, she will not only agree to, but get excited about and probably add to it as well. Our August trip is now a split stay starting at Wilderness Lodge for two nights, then on to Animal Kingdom Lodge Club level for three nights. One of the neat things is that you have access to the Club Lounge all day of every day of the trip. One time we had an early flight to Orlando, got to Wilderness Lodge around 9:30, went right to the Club Lounge for a quick breakfast, then on to the Magic Kingdom for the day.

We were just having a conversation about Epcot and what a long walk it is from the front to the back and around the lake and how we may just skip Epcot in August if it is too hot. I mentioned that I think it may be worth it to go out the International Gateway, take the Skyliner (or boat) to Hollywood Studios, and catch the bus back to WL, instead of making the long, hot walk to the front of Epcot to get the bus. To that, she said maybe we could catch diner at Caribbean beach or Riviera on the way too.