Is booking Disney’s club-level rooms worth it?

If you’ve browsed online for hotel reservations at Disney Resorts, you might have come across the phrase “Disney Club Access,” leaving you curious about its meaning.

While it’s clear these options are priced higher than standard rooms, understanding the specific benefits of Disney club access—and whether it’s worth the extra cost—can be more challenging.

Luckily, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing several Disney club-level accommodations at various resorts over the years. Here’s a comprehensive overview of these more expensive rooms to help you decide if they’re worth the investment for your next Disney holiday.

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Understanding Club Level at Disney Hotels

At its core, club level at Walt Disney World means your room includes access to an exclusive club lounge. This lounge offers food, beverages, and snacks throughout the day, along with a dedicated space to relax and concierge services.

Club level accommodations aren’t available at every Disney Resort, but you can find them at select Disney Deluxe and Moderate properties:

With a club-level stay, you not only secure a special room type but also gain entry to the lounge and access to the helpful staff there. These hosts can assist with park reservations, address basic tech support issues, offer day planning advice, and generally ensure your stay is more personalized—and truly magical.

Benefits of Disney Club Level

Upon checking into your Disney club-level room, you’ll usually be personally escorted to the lounge for a quick registration session outlining everything the lounge has to offer. A Disney cast member may even greet you by name if you arrive via a security gate, allowing for a smoother transition to your club-level accommodations.

Club rooms are typically positioned centrally within the resort, allowing for convenient access to amenities. For instance, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, club-level rooms are located in the atrium, close to restaurants, the monorail, and, of course, the lounge itself.

The most notable feature of Disney’s club level is the lounge, where you can enjoy food, drinks, and snacks from morning until night. Breakfast and evening appetizers are usually the most substantial offerings, and you might even want to consider them as full meals if you so choose. Don’t forget to save room for dessert; the selections are consistently delightful!

Years ago, when my children were young and I first booked club level at the Contemporary, I was advised to indulge in dessert, grab some wine from the lounge, and enjoy a personal fireworks viewing from my park-facing room. It was just as delightful as promised; experiencing the show with the music playing in the background while savoring snacks was truly special.

Expectations from Disney Club-Level Lounges

Now, let’s delve deeper into the food and beverages available at Disney’s lounges so you know what to anticipate.

During my recent visits, breakfast has typically been served from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with coffee available as early as 6:30 a.m.

Morning menus usually include a variety of hot and cold items. During our stay at the Contemporary’s club-level accommodations, we were treated to comfort foods like fried chicken on biscuits and creamy grits, alongside lighter options like avocado toast, fruit, yogurt, cold cuts, and an assortment of pastries.

It’s important to note that not all Disney club levels are created equal; each resort’s club lounge has its unique theme, style, and offerings. For instance, at the Grand Floridian, the breakfast items evoked memories of the delightful buffet at the 1900 Park Fare character breakfast, including the beloved strawberry soup. I’d personally say it was my favorite of all the Disney club lounges I’ve experienced.

In the afternoon, you may find that offerings in the Disney club lounges become slimmer. However, the fridge typically remains well-stocked, perfect for grabbing a drink between park visits. We’ve even been known to snag an Uncrustable, cookies, and packaged grapes to enjoy in the parks for a quick snack.

Related: The best restaurants at Disney World

One highlight of the Grand Floridian lounge has been the unlimited ice cream sandwiches—including classic Mickey bars!

In any case, around 5 to 7 p.m. is when you can expect the most popular offerings to be served. Whether you’re seeking a quick snack before heading back to the parks or aiming to assemble a light “dinner,” the lounge can accommodate either need, provided your group isn’t too picky. Each evening usually features some hot options from one of the hotel’s restaurants.

Families can typically find child-friendly choices like chicken nuggets and tater tots alongside more sophisticated options like short ribs and soy-glazed salmon. During our recent stay at the Grand Floridian’s club, we particularly enjoyed hearty potato cakes with prime rib, pineapple coconut shrimp ceviche, and salmon cakes.

For an optimal club lounge experience, I recommend avoiding the rush right before closing at 7 p.m., as food tends to be stocked more generously earlier in the evening.

After the dinner offerings conclude, the lounge turns its focus to desserts and drinks from approximately 8 to 10 p.m. This is a lovely way to relax after a day at the parks—especially if you can align your snack time with watching the fireworks from the lounge or your room, particularly with a theme park view.

Desserts vary but may include cookies, cupcakes, pastries, and other sweet treats. You can also expect a selection of adult beverages, including various wines, bottled beers, and sometimes a beer on tap, along with popular cordials like Grand Marnier and Kahlua.

A charming addition at the Grand Floridian lounge is the daytime mimosa bar, complete with takeout cups for poolside enjoyment.

Cost of Disney Club Level

The cost for Disney club-level rooms can range anywhere from $500 to $1,500 a night, depending on the resort and the time of year. Gran Destino rooms tend to be the most budget-friendly option since they are the only Moderate club-level accommodations, while the Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Polynesian offer the priciest options, given their proximity to the Magic Kingdom monorail.

I’ve noticed that the price for Disney club-level rooms typically starts at about a $200 nightly premium over non-club rooms. However, at premium resorts like the Grand Floridian and Contemporary, the difference can reach $300 to $500 nightly, especially since rooms in the main building are generally pricier than those further away.

To ensure you get the best value, I highly suggest utilizing a free Disney vacation planner (like TPG’s booking partner Mouse Counselors) who can keep you up-to-date with current discounts and assist with trip planning.

Is Disney Club Level Worth It?

Having explored what Disney club rooms offer and their typical costs, it’s now time to evaluate whether the club level is a worthwhile investment.

If you’re seeking an experience filled with convenience, exceptional service, and a sprinkle of magic at Disney World, splurging on a club-level room can be well worth it—similar to the advantages of concierge service on a Disney cruise.

However, if by “worth it” you mean spending extra here to save elsewhere (like on meals and drinks), the answer is more nuanced. While you’re unlikely to save outright by booking a club-level room, there are instances where the added amenities and services can effectively lower certain costs.

For example, if your family enjoys utilizing the lounge’s food and beverage options, you may offset the room’s price difference by eating in the lounge rather than in the pricier theme parks.

Of course, ordering essentials and having them delivered through a grocery service is likely cheaper; however, opting for a club-level room can still lead to some savings on dining.

Beyond financial considerations, the quality of service you’ll often receive in a Disney club-level room truly enhances the experience.

During our recent stay at the Grand Floridian’s club level, we encountered an issue with some of our booked Lightning Lanes. Typically, this would require waiting in line at the parks for assistance, but while seated in the club, I asked the concierge for support. Although she couldn’t assure me of a resolution, she tried and ultimately solved our issue, saving us both time and hassle. That kind of intangible benefit is invaluable and significantly enhances the overall experience.

As with all Disney resort rooms, you can also utilize credit card rewards to further reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card allows you to apply accrued miles toward any travel charges on the card, including any Disney reservations made through Capital One’s travel site. The Bilt Mastercard® also features a travel portal where you can use rewards for Disney Resort bookings.

Final Thoughts

Unless you have a generous budget, a lengthy stay in a Disney club-level room might not be the most practical decision. However, splurging on this type of accommodation for a few nights during your trip—or for a shorter visit—can be beneficial, particularly if you plan to limit offsite meals and don’t intend to spend the entirety of your time in the parks.

Be strategic about when you book this type of room. Aim to secure it when the nightly difference from your otherwise selected room doesn’t exceed $300, so you can extract more value from the experience and enjoy the privileges of Disney’s extra-extra magical service and spaces.

For tips to help your family make the most of your time at Disney World, check out these articles:

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See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.