Talk me into paying $1500/night for a GF club room

[mefordis]

My mom just lost my dad to cancer. After 6 months of not leaving the house, she has agreed to let me take her to WDW. My sister will also be going. Mom's always wanted to stay at the GF. I checked club room prices (I'd like to go all out) and whoa! $1500 a night.

This is for those of you who pay that amount for a room like this (SOMEONE out there HAS to be). Talk me into reserving this room. Is it worth it? Will the club level be all that?

I really want to treat my mom, we technically have the money, but ouch! I'd be footing the entire bill for the room.

 

[meremac]

If you think your mom will really love this, if it would bring joy to your family after a really tough time, and if you can afford it, I would say go for it. It's the same conclusion I came to when I bought floor tickets for an Elton John concert for me and my mom. Would I spend that amount of money (ouch!) if she wasn't come with me? No. And i wouldnt have done it if it was going to put us in a tight financial situation. But we can afford it, I know it's going to make my mom super happy, and I am excited to do something really special for her after everything she's done for me in my life. If you're in the same boat, I'd say go for it.

 

[Miffy]

OP, I hope that someone who's stayed CL at the GF posts here, because who knows what's going on at any given resort at the moment. We stayed in a savanna-view room at AKL in December and had practically zero housekeeping. The hallways were littered with people's trays and trash bags and our room was made up exactly once during our 8-night stay.

And we paid $250+ more per night for that room than we've ever paid at AKL.

Perhaps things at CL at the GF are better. It is Disney's flagship resort. But $1,500/night? For one room? No, I don't think so.

 

[meremac]

Also we just stayed CL. With CL you do get full housekeeping every day and we didn't see any garbage or dishes in the hallways at all.

 

[Miffy]

Also we just stayed CL. With CL you do get full housekeeping every day and we didn't see any garbage or dishes in the hallways at all.

That's great to know. Thanks for posting this.

I'm not really sure that's worth $1,500/night, though! And I hope that number includes taxes.

 

[mefordis]

Here's the quote I got:

Main bldg club level GF (mid sept 5 nights) 3 people, park hopper and genie plus:

$7,983.36

I'm open to all opinions! Thank you!

 

[DisneyHomework]

I love all club lounges and especially RPC, but $1500 would not match the value for me. The club is great (not better than many non DISNEY club lounges to keep expectations in check), but the current rates are extremely high based on our experience. Of course if it’s a bucket list trip, values are relative. So sorry for your loss.

 

[Meglen]

What about renting dvc points for GF? would cut the price down by alont but still be in the resort.

 

[Eastern]

Sorry for your loss.

Please post on the CL forum, you will get a lot of advice! And lots of current pictures of the various lounge offerings.

People are saying rent points but I don't think you can get CL with points. It is a lot of money. I paid $900/night for GF RPC preCovid and I thought that was a lot!

You know best. It is not going to be 'worth it' monetarily but I'm sure it would make nice memories if you can afford it. Otherwise there are other club levels that are very nice without that high of a price tag. Price them all out and check out the comments on the CL thread. (It's a long thread so start maybe 5 pages from the end to get an idea)

 

[Carol_]

Rent DVC points. Use the saved money to buy VGF 2 when it starts selling later this year. Go every year for the next 50 years.

 

[Neener16]

Life is short. The memories will be forever and the cost of this trip will fade. If you can do it, I would.

 

[patty57]

I spent five nights at WL club level this past December. It was over $1100 per night. I did it because my 95 year old mom loves WL, and I seriously doubt that she will travel again. I am basically a cheapskate, and the thought of spending that on a room killed me, but it was worth it to go with my mom and my niece. If it's her dream...do it. Make the memories.

 

[Meglen]

Is club level worth it yet? I heard the new lunch situation was mostly snacks. I would just make sure its worth the up charge.

 

[AliceIn]

I've stayed in the club levels of all of the Monorail resorts plus at the Beach Club. While I really enjoyed the experience, I don't know that $1500 per night would be worth it to me personally when traveling with adults only. I would expect a very high level service and a very luxurious feel. You could get a park view room at the Four Seasons for a bit less per night and and really get pampered. You'd get top notch service at the Four Seasons. Even club level at Disney can be hit or miss service wise at times.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

We did my MIL's 90th birthday at the Grand Floridian in Jan 2020 (Main building, Club Level, Theme Park View) for the whole family - we had 4 rooms and 20+ of us. My MIL LOVED, loved, loved the club. She snacked on and off all day, people came in and out to visit with her between park visits, and she could sit on her balcony or in the lounge. It was worth every penny for us and the experience for everyone.

That said, we opted for Dolphin for just DH and I on cost.

If it's something affordable for you, I would go for it because as we get older experiences are worth it. And the whole family still talks about how delightful the stay was.

 

[Ursula J]

I am so sorry for your loss. As far as the money goes, I would absolutely do it. It's a ridiculous amount of money, sure, but...time and joy are priceless. Being able to travel with your mom and know she's experiencing some extra pampering (in the lounge, etc) would be worth it. At the risk of over-sharing, a few years ago I was talking to a therapist about ridiculous it was to spend the money to go to WDW 1-2 times a year, overpay for hotels (and there were more benefits then!), etc. But it was the only place where I felt like everything was right and taken care of. She interrupted me and said "Are you jeopardizing your finances by doing it, as in you're going to fall behind on bills?" I said no, but it was taking money we'd otherwise save. She said, "Prioritize joy. If your joy is Disney, that's your indulgence. Give yourself permission to prioritize it." I haven't stayed club level before, but I'm saving up for my dream Christmas-season trip in 2023 and am considering it, along with possibly figuring out ways to pay for my parents to go (that's a TON of money for us! We're teachers!) But my traveling time with them is likewise growing short, and God willing we're all here in December 2023, I will pay every upgrade and prioritize joy. God bless. I'm cheering for you!

 

[mefordis]

What about renting dvc points for GF? would cut the price down by alont but still be in the resort.

Can you get club level when renting dvc points?

 

[toodycat]

I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope you and your mom are healing. I stayed in the main building club level at the GF. I don’t think I paid quite as much. I am all about splurging, but it was not that different from staying in a regular room at the GF. The club food is good, not great and the view is not spectacular. I’m not sure if the experience has been changed by COVID protocols. If it has, you may be getting less bang for your buck. That said, I would just stay in a theme park view room at the GF and plan some amazing special excursions like watching the fireworks from a boat in the lagoon or dining at V&A.

 

[Upatnoon]

First, can you afford it? If this means piling a bunch of debt on a credit card, no way.

As a value proposition, it's not worth it. There are plenty of other places to stay on property that are nice and cost less.

As an emotional purchase, it may be worth it. However, if you go and the room isn't perfect and the food isn't great, will you still be happy that you did it?

Will you forever resent that you spent that much money or will you laugh about how you got suckered into an aspirational purchase?

One of the perils of a Disney vacation is that it becomes a high-stakes affair. You spend a huge sum and the expectations for perfection soar.

If you can spend the money and enjoy the experience -- even if it isn't perfect -- I say go for it.

If you are having second thoughts, remember, it's the time you spend with your loved ones that is priceless.

 

[Her Dotness]

Well, I'm going to add a Royal Palm Club rave.

We've stayed there several times and consider it akin to the experience of eating IN THE CASTLE that CRT provides. Even if everything doesn't meet dream level, it's still practically perfect.

The continental breakfast was lavish in the past, may no longer be due to covid and some-guy-whose-name-starts-with-C. And we got only snacks like chips, cookies and trail mix in the lounge at lunchtime when we last stayed there in '15. Used to be coldcuts, cheeses and salads at lunch <sigh>, so much less then isn't due to covid. The afternoon tea finger foods and late-night cocktail snacks are yummy.

Absolutely worth the cost, I say, if you can afford it, particularly when it's your mom's dream stay, and she really could use some pampering.

We will never forget our Christmas stay there when we got upgraded to a turret room with a Castle view. We stood at a window watching Wishes and felt the magic like never before.

In fact, sometimes we wish we were back in the RPC instead of in VGF. Not that we don't love it for the fact that the cost of those GF CL stays meant we broke even in two years, but there's simply nothing quite as magical as the RPC.

As ever, YMMV.