Feeling Classy on the Club Level
September 3, 2020
I recently took a girls’ trip to Disneyland and stayed on property at Paradise Pier Hotel for the first time. This was also the first time I ever stayed on the Club Level of a Disney resort. Let me tell you, the Club Level in and of itself is a luxury experience and that is without even entering the parks! I will outline below all the ways we took advantage of this indulgence and say upfront, it was worth every single penny.
At check in, our cast member was very helpful and outlined everything staying on Club Level had to offer. Like in Disney World, only those staying in a Club Level room have access to the lounge. In Walt Disney World, you use your MagicBand to enter, in Disneyland you need your room key! The lounge is open four times a day. We made sure to stop by each day at different times to see the similarities, differences, and experience it all!
Our resort room was beautiful as it overlooked all of Disney’s California Adventure. We were also surprised with two cookies welcoming us to our room and another schedule outlining the lounge. Cast members do a great job at going above and beyond taking care of their guests and keeping them in the know. We arrived late in the evening, so we did not take advantage of the lounge on the first night, but instead headed out for dinner. When staying on property at Disneyland, a walk to Downtown Disney for meal is less than 5 minutes away.
Our first morning started in the Beach Comber Lounge. We scanned our room key, walked in, and were immediately welcomed by two cast members. The lounge was bigger than I expected with lots of seating at tables and couches. I never felt overcrowded and there was always an open table and room to spare. There was also a large flat screen TV playing movies for the kids (and adults too!).
The breakfast spread was more than I expected as well and took my thought of “continental breakfast” to a new level. There was everything from bagels and lox, to muffins and Danishes, cereal, eggs and bacon, a parfait bar, waffles, and my favorite… a wall of donuts! There was complimentary coffee, tea, a hot chocolate bar full of toppings, juice, milk, and water. I think of all the meals and options in the lounge, breakfast stayed pretty much the same from day to day; however, there were so many options that we never ate the exact meal twice.
Insider tip I learned from a couple traveling together: request some champagne! It is complimentary and you can mix it with the OJ for a nice mimosa!
I was also impressed with how easy it is for everything in the lounge to be taken to go. We personally liked to stay in the lounge for our meals and enjoy the area that we were paying for; however, everything can easily be taken to go to Downtown Disney or back to your room. We saw a few parents getting plates of food and drinks and bringing them to the room for their families while they were getting ready for the park. Cast members also provided them with drink carriers and lids for the cups. I think this really adds an element of convenience for a family trying to get out the door and enjoy some early magic hours in the parks. One parent can grab everyone’s food while the rest get dressed, washed up, and pack their park bags up!
If you do not see to-go coffee cups, ask for them! Since both parks are within walking distance of the hotel, take that coffee on the walk with you! Walking through the cool California morning air with a hot cup of coffee and a castle in sight is the perfect way to start the day.
While the lounge does not call it lunch, midday snacks are available, and it could be turned into another meal! We came back to the hotel midday for a break (and another excuse to go to the lounge). We expected snacks as it was described on the schedule. However, there were salads, mini sandwiches, meat and bread to make your own sandwiches, chips, fruit, veggies, and more! This is also when I learned about the mini fridges under the buffet. I had no idea that the wood paneling opened! Inside were waters and sodas. These were great for our break and even better… we could take them back into the park later or down to the pool and save money!
Since it was after 12, wine and beer were available upon request. So requesting we did! Again, the cast members did everything they could and we barely needed to lift a finger. Our cast member poured our beers into plastic cups so we could take our drinks down to the pool and didn’t have to pay for drinks at the bar. Another great perk!
That same evening we stopped by for desserts as well because we could watch World of Color, Disney California Adventure’s nighttime spectacular, from our room. No need to order snacks in the room. The lounge had that available for us.
The second day staying on the Club Level, we visited again for breakfast but did not come back until happy hour. Beer and wine were once again offered, and the apps were great! My favorite was the taco salad.
We frequented the lounge many times throughout our visit. Sometimes it was because we needed a meal, other times it was because we could get a drink. Most of the time it was just because we could, there were always fresh baked cookies, and calories don’t count in Disney! It was a sense of entitlement and luxury that we splurged on and had so much fun with! It may have gotten to the point that the Cast Members recognized us by name, but that just made it more fun! They welcomed us each time, asked about our days, and really made us feel at home.
My favorite hello and hardest goodbye is usually Main Street U.S.A., but the Beach Comber lounge was a close second on this trip. If you are looking for a splurge that will add convenience, save you time, and add a little magic to your trip, Disney Club Level rooms are the way to go. I am happy to help you add these extra moments of luxury to your custom itinerary. For more information, please contact me at maggie@wisehsfamilytravel.com or www.facebook.com/wishesfamilytravelmaggie