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Club level: Poly or Contemporary?
- Thread starter Mr Toad
- Start date
zurgandfriend
Well-Known Member
I have never stayed club level at either but I would go with the Contemporary as I would be on the upper floors looking out on the Grand Canyon Concourse.
wolf359
Well-Known Member
My one stay at the Contemporary was on the 14th floor for my honeymoon and it was simply outstanding in every way.
When we arrived at the hotel before we had even walked into the lobby we were met by a Cast Member who instructed us to leave our car keys with the valet and give our bags to the bellman before being personally escorted up (in a private elevator) to the 14th floor to check in.
Because it was our honeymoon they had decorated the table and included balloons and several gifts including a framed and autographed 8x10 of wedding Mickey and Minnie. The view of the Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon (and the Grand Floridian, and the Polynesian) was stunning, especially at night. The quality of the room amenities were great, and having the lounge just steps away from the room was really nice. The concierge staff were really friendly and helpful, and because there are only a few rooms there they really did a great job getting to know us during our stay.
Housekeeping cleaned and straightened the room, and both made up AND turned down the beds each day. Any purchases sent back to the hotel were picked up and delivered directly to our room. The refrigerator was stocked daily with bottled water and a few different cans of soda and by the third day they had noticed we weren't drinking any Diet Coke so they removed them and only put water and regular Coke in it for the rest of the week.
With the current vacation trend of being overstuffed via Dining Plan I wonder if the elaborate food and drink offerings in the lounge would be as big of a draw to most people but we really enjoyed the variety and convenience of it all. Just being able to avoid any kinds of food court lines to get coffee, juice, and a croissant or muffin before heading to the parks made breakfast on the go quick and easy for us. We didn't take advantage of the mid-day or early evening options much but almost every evening we took our desserts and wine to our own balcony to watch the Electric Water Pageant and see the rest of Disney World wind down with us.
The Club Level rooms at the Deluxe Resorts are wildly expensive, and many of the bullet-point features you receive may not make it sound like a good value, but the overall experience of staying there is something so special it is both hard to quantify but also hard to really put a price tag on. If staying on the concierge level at the Polynesian is anything like my experience at the Contemporary, I really don't think you could go wrong with either one.
When we arrived at the hotel before we had even walked into the lobby we were met by a Cast Member who instructed us to leave our car keys with the valet and give our bags to the bellman before being personally escorted up (in a private elevator) to the 14th floor to check in.
Because it was our honeymoon they had decorated the table and included balloons and several gifts including a framed and autographed 8x10 of wedding Mickey and Minnie. The view of the Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon (and the Grand Floridian, and the Polynesian) was stunning, especially at night. The quality of the room amenities were great, and having the lounge just steps away from the room was really nice. The concierge staff were really friendly and helpful, and because there are only a few rooms there they really did a great job getting to know us during our stay.
Housekeeping cleaned and straightened the room, and both made up AND turned down the beds each day. Any purchases sent back to the hotel were picked up and delivered directly to our room. The refrigerator was stocked daily with bottled water and a few different cans of soda and by the third day they had noticed we weren't drinking any Diet Coke so they removed them and only put water and regular Coke in it for the rest of the week.
With the current vacation trend of being overstuffed via Dining Plan I wonder if the elaborate food and drink offerings in the lounge would be as big of a draw to most people but we really enjoyed the variety and convenience of it all. Just being able to avoid any kinds of food court lines to get coffee, juice, and a croissant or muffin before heading to the parks made breakfast on the go quick and easy for us. We didn't take advantage of the mid-day or early evening options much but almost every evening we took our desserts and wine to our own balcony to watch the Electric Water Pageant and see the rest of Disney World wind down with us.
The Club Level rooms at the Deluxe Resorts are wildly expensive, and many of the bullet-point features you receive may not make it sound like a good value, but the overall experience of staying there is something so special it is both hard to quantify but also hard to really put a price tag on. If staying on the concierge level at the Polynesian is anything like my experience at the Contemporary, I really don't think you could go wrong with either one.
Tuvalu
Premium Member
Stayed club at the Poly in May. Rooms have been recently refurbished and are beautiful. The two-story lounge has a stellar view of the beach, lagoon and Cinderella castle. Soundtrack for the Electrical Water Pageant and Wishes is piped into the lounge nightly. The staff is exceptional and food offerings plentiful.
Enjoyed it so much we are going back next month!
Enjoyed it so much we are going back next month!
shipley731
Well-Known Member
I haven't stayed on the Club level at the Poly, but I have stayed at the Contemporary Club level 3 different times. The service was wonderful. I do have to say that I did not pay out of my own pocket for this. I do some work for a professional society and they had their annual meeting at the Contemporary 3 years running. With the hotel contract we got 3 upgrades to Club Level - the president got one, the president elect got one & I got the other. It was great after being downstairs running a meeting all day to be able to come back upstairs & grab a glass of wine and a snack & unwind. I also very much enjoyed watching the fireworks from either the lounge balcony or the balcony of my own room. Because I was in charge of logistics & the running of the meeting, I was always going downstairs to the convention center before the cont. breakfast was put out. However, the first day I went downstairs the staff saw me carrying a can of coke. (I don't drink coffee.) The next morning, on my way down, they had a cold can of coke waiting for me with a cup of ice. Happened every time on my way downstairs to work the registration desk. It was something small, but I really appreciated the gesture. I generally stayed for a couple of days after my meeting to unwind & it was nice coming back from the parks & being pampered just a little bit. Club level isn't something I would do normally, but for a special occasion, I might be willing to splurge.
shuflemstr
Well-Known Member
I just got back yesterday from staying Club Level at the Wilderness Lodge. It was my third time doing it. I only do it on my solo trips. The cast members were awesome and I enjoyed every dinner we had. For me, it's well worth it.
SMRT-1Michael
Well-Known Member
I stayed at the Polynesian Club level once and it was my favorite resort experience ever. And I've stayed at all Disney resorts and been to Walt Disney World over 100+ times
DisneyDebNJ
Well-Known Member
We normally do Poly Club level and LOVE it!!! All views, the room was the same, IMHO. Loved the offerings in the Concierge Lounge, customer service was outstanding, grounds, music, fireworks on the beach, you name it, it was wonderful!!
twinfo3728
Well-Known Member
Congrats to you! What a wonderfully hard decision to have to make.
We have stayed at both hotels. The Contemporary we had club level, the Poly no club level. Here is my opinion on it. I think you are going to get excellent service and offerings at both hotels. Foods offering will vary to keep with the hotel theme and feel. What it really comes down to is your personal style.
The Contemporary has a modern, sleek design and ambiance. Lots of metals and modern designs mixed with sheik colors and rich woods. If you stay in the main building, everything is close to you, food, characters, pool, excellent dining. Plus you are with in walking distance to MK! The only drawback, at least for us, was the 7am dance party at Chef Mickey's. We happened to be on that side of the hotel and the noise was noticeable if you were trying to sleep in.
The Polynesian is a world away. You actually feel like you are in a completely different place. The grounds are full of lush gardens, waterfalls, lizards and birds. Each longhouse has pluses and minuses depending on where you want to frequent such as Epcot, Grand Floridian, Great Ceremony House or the pool (two pools, quiet and AWESOME volcano pool). I have not been in the remodeled rooms yet (91 days and counting) but appear to be brightened up and more modern feel. Everyone says "Aloha". No one seems to be in a hurry, after all you are on island time. The restaurants are wonderfully inviting. Ohana's is great for breakfast and dinner. Breakfast has characters. Plus they have PINEAPPLE DOLE WHIP at Captain Cooks! OH BABY!
Hope that helps!
We have stayed at both hotels. The Contemporary we had club level, the Poly no club level. Here is my opinion on it. I think you are going to get excellent service and offerings at both hotels. Foods offering will vary to keep with the hotel theme and feel. What it really comes down to is your personal style.
The Contemporary has a modern, sleek design and ambiance. Lots of metals and modern designs mixed with sheik colors and rich woods. If you stay in the main building, everything is close to you, food, characters, pool, excellent dining. Plus you are with in walking distance to MK! The only drawback, at least for us, was the 7am dance party at Chef Mickey's. We happened to be on that side of the hotel and the noise was noticeable if you were trying to sleep in.
The Polynesian is a world away. You actually feel like you are in a completely different place. The grounds are full of lush gardens, waterfalls, lizards and birds. Each longhouse has pluses and minuses depending on where you want to frequent such as Epcot, Grand Floridian, Great Ceremony House or the pool (two pools, quiet and AWESOME volcano pool). I have not been in the remodeled rooms yet (91 days and counting) but appear to be brightened up and more modern feel. Everyone says "Aloha". No one seems to be in a hurry, after all you are on island time.
The restaurants are wonderfully inviting. Ohana's is great for breakfast and dinner. Breakfast has characters. Plus they have PINEAPPLE DOLE WHIP at Captain Cooks! OH BABY!Hope that helps!
cslafferty
Well-Known Member
Have done club level at both, but its been almost 10 years! Our favorite park is MK so I prefer CR because its a quick walk there and back. And the theme park view rooms are the best, especially during the fireworks. But, the food offerings at the Poly club were hands down better than the CR - you could literally make a meal of the hors d'oeuvres. Like I said, it's been a long time, so things may have changed. We had a theme park view from our Poly room to, and the view of the castle was breathtaking. But, at park closing you still have to wait for either the monorail or the boat. The quick 10 min. walk to the CR was worth its weight in gold to me! You really can't loose either way. Enjoy!
disneylemons
Active Member
We have done Club Level at both resorts and I would vote for the Poly hands down.. not only for the food, but the room that it is served in has a huge window that overlooks the lake and is quite relaxing in the morning and evening. The food was good also - not the run of the mill norm but not so weird you don't want to eat it either. This is actually our families FAVORITE place to stay!
Innkeeper's Club
Well-Known Member
I stayed Club Level at both resorts and I would choose the Contemporary. In my opinion the biggest difference is staying in the Tower and being an elevator ride away from everything, where as at the Polynesian you need to walk outside when going to and from the GCH. So that could mean walking in a thunder storm. Plus I thought the food offerings at the Contemporary were better and their rates are less expensive.
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
Oh my! I wish I had that difficult choice.