Club level thoughts

[ajmellu7]

Hi all, was just wondering if you could help. It's a kind of 3 question type of post! I am looking to book for August 2022 for 3 weeks. The first question is, do we know when Club level is going to become available again (I am from the UK) as we would want that. Will the dining plan be coming back anytime soon as well? And finally, out of Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Yacht Club, which would be peoples choice to book for? I know things are not great at the moment and we may not have the answers, but just looking to get something sorted to hopefully look forward to! Thanks in advance....

 

[nickys]

Hi all, was just wondering if you could help. It's a kind of 3 question type of post! I am looking to book for August 2022 for 3 weeks. The first question is, do we know when Club level is going to become available again (I am from the UK) as we would want that. Will the dining plan be coming back anytime soon as well? And finally, out of Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Yacht Club, which would be peoples choice to book for? I know things are not great at the moment and we may not have the answers, but just looking to get something sorted to hopefully look forward to! Thanks in advance....

Club Level - no news yet.
Dining Plan - no news yet.
Resort Choice - would depend on what parks you want to be close to.

YC - can walk to Epcot and DHS, Stormalong Bay
WL - boat to MK, stunning lobby
AKL - not yet open (other than DVC rooms)

In a perfect world, with AKL fully open with all resort activities and cultural reps back, AKL would be tempting.

For three weeks, you could do a split stay and try all three!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

1. no one knows.
2. no one knows.
3. I've only stayed Club Level at the Contemporary but out of the ones you mentioned I'd go with Animal Kingdom Lodge. I've heard great things about their Club Level Lounge.

 

[StarshipDisney]

We have stayed Club Level at Animal Kingdom Lodge (2007) and Yacht Club (2010). Of the two I would recommend AKL for the unique experience it offers and the fact that the Club lounge is (or was in 2007) about 10 times bigger then YC. The breakfast also seemed to have more selection than YC as well as a special fruit drink that was unique to AKL.

 

[KaliSplash]

Too early on questions 1 and 2. Wilderness Lodge on question 3. No question.

 

[KCheatle]

I would be surprised if club level doesn't reopen sometime in 2021. Universal's resorts have club level open.

As for the dining plan, I would expect they bring it back. It is a good money maker for them. And, so many people come during the off season to get the free dining discount. This helps Disney disperse crowds. Right now, they would make too many people upset if they offered it because they would not be able to use their dining credits due to the limited amount of restaurant space with social distancing. As soon as social distancing requirements go down (like this new 3 feet instead of 6 feet thing) or go away, I think they'll bring it back.

As for club level, of the 3 you mentioned, I have only personally done WL. I liked it. It was not a good as contemporary's CL, which I think is the one to beat. Not sure if Yacht Club would be similar to BC's club level? I've done BC's and it was nice. I would say it was on par or maybe slightly better than WL. I have no idea what AKL's is like. I can tell you that I, personally, would be doing some research before booking that one. My experience has been that the menus for the club levels stay on theme with the resort. That being said, I would be researching the menus and pictures of AKL's club level before I committed to it to make sure me and my family would enjoy the food selections.

 

[Tinkerbelle*]

I would be surprised if club level doesn't reopen sometime in 2021. Universal's resorts have club level open.

As for the dining plan, I would expect they bring it back. It is a good money maker for them. And, so many people come during the off season to get the free dining discount. This helps Disney disperse crowds. Right now, they would make too many people upset if they offered it because they would not be able to use their dining credits due to the limited amount of restaurant space with social distancing. As soon as social distancing requirements go down (like this new 3 feet instead of 6 feet thing) or go away, I think they'll bring it back.

As for club level, of the 3 you mentioned, I have only personally done WL. I liked it. It was not a good as contemporary's CL, which I think is the one to beat. Not sure if Yacht Club would be similar to BC's club level? I've done BC's and it was nice. I would say it was on par or maybe slightly better than WL. I have no idea what AKL's is like. I can tell you that I, personally, would be doing some research before booking that one. My experience has been that the menus for the club levels stay on theme with the resort. That being said, I would be researching the menus and pictures of AKL's club level before I committed to it to make sure me and my family would enjoy the food selections.

Have you done WL lounge before they updated it just about 2 years ago? I think it was finished in late 2018, we stayed there in Jan 2019.

I used to get great discounts booking early before they changed the other half to DVC.....35% even 40%, but since they changed it not very much at all.

 

[KCheatle]

Have you done WL lounge before they updated it just about 2 years ago? I think it was finished in late 2018, we stayed there in Jan 2019.

I used to get great discounts booking early before they changed the other half to DVC.....35% even 40%, but since they changed it not very much at all.

Yes! I did it in July 2016 and in November 2019 (so both the old and new versions)

 

[Toodycat]

I don’t have info for your first two questions, but we love AKL a lot. Seeing the animals adds a whole other dimension to the resort. The cast members are incredibly friendly and those who work near the animal viewing areas are very knowledgable and interesting. Also, Jiko and Boma are both excellent restaurants. AKL Club level is good, not great. We felt some of the offerings were a little low-rent. After AKL, I would say WL—amazing lobby and landscaping—-and then YC with the caveat that I’ve not stayed at YC, just BC, but I find Stormalong Bay too crowded for my taste and I am not a fan of any of the restaurants in the YC/BC compound. However, if you want to walk to Epcot, YC is the way to go.

 

[uncle jimmy]

AKL is one of our favorites with regards to watching the animals, the restaurant choices and the pool area. On our last trip we did Club level at AKL and I will be honest with you, I didn't expect the lounge to be an elevator ride and a walk away from the room. Food offering wise, it was awesome and cast members there where awesome!
YC club level, I've had family stay there and they also loved the lounge offerings and CM. The location of the YC to everything takes the cake! When we don't stay at AKL, we stay at the Beach Club....
I would do a split stay, YC first half and then AKL the 2nd half.