Concierge... I dont get it.

[lovemygirls]

Hi there,
I'm new here... lots of information too... yay!

We've been only once to WDW... a newbee on Intercot and a newbee with experience at WDW. We loved it of course and want to go back again.

Our children are 9 & 13 - both girls and are counting down the days... its amazing some of you have been SO many times.. you are so lucky!!!

Anyways - we dont travel much, and are usually on a tight budget - but I'm hoping in early 2008 we can go and have a good time. We stayed at CBR last time we went. We liked it... and DH wants to stay there again - for consistency sake - but I'd like to try something new -

I really wanted to go all out and try concierge... but I'm not really seeing if its worth it..? I dont get it. I mean, I typically would have all my tickets for shows already and my seating already done... so why would I want to pay that much more?.. for a few snacks..? Please.... Please.. explain -

Also - which resort concierge would you stay at if you you were staying in concierge.

And if you decided NOT to stay in concierge - which deluxe would you stay at???

thanks for your help so much!!!

[SgtTigger]

Welcome to INTERCOT



I agree we also dont do concierge we have everything set and we can get our own snacks.....

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge... and we loved it so much we bought into DVC Disney Vacation Club.... We now stay at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge........

[GrmGrninGost]

We don't see the need for concierge either. As for a deluxe? Wilderness Lodge is it for me!!

[meldan98]

On our honeymoon we stayed and BC Concierge and the preplanning was nice, but honestly not that helpful. In part, because I didn't end up using it until just prior to our departure. I did like being able to get up in the morning and tell the person where we wanted to eat that day and be assured that it was taken care of, although, I think that has changed due to increased demand for ADR. We went in 2000 during Xmas week and we made all of our choices each morning. Now, you can't do that. We are about 140 days out, and I've already made all of our ADR's, and I'm such a planner, the planning help wouldn't be of much help, except that maybe I wouldn't have to be up and calling at 4:00am.

The snacks were okay, typical snacks and continental breakfast. I liked the service we received because it was a special occassion, but now that I have child, I would say, save your money, pick a new resort to change things up a bit and use that extra money to do something special for your kids.

[Polynesian Dweller]

Well, somebody has to defend conceirge. We do it every time. Its not the snacks or the reservations services but the conveniences that we find with it at the Polynesian. The breakfast lets us get out to the parks in a leisurely manner without the rush in the restaurants we used to experience. We can take a coffee and bagel back to our balcony and look out at the Seven Seas. At night, a free drink and a couple of small cakes on the balcony and watching the Fireworks, just great.

The concierge staff are very helpful with everything we need and can usually fix any problem we have. The concierge building is also the best placed for lagoon views, the fireworks at night, and the Electric Water pageant. Its got it all.

May not be worth it everyone but for us the vacations are a lot more relaxing with concierge than they used to be.

[lockedoutlogic]

concierge is one of the worst things at WDW...I could go into a huge diatribe about it...but it's all been said before......

Trust me...the only thing you get is a room on a higher floor and snacks (which doesn't mean alot if you are at a theme park the majority of your day)...everything else they "do" is no different than if you did it yourself. WDW Concierge enjoy no special privileges to handle requests....

That is the essence of Concierge...and Disney can not provide it.

[TammiMcMan]

Disney's form of concierge is very different than what you'd receive elsewhere. Many people do like the convenience of the one-stop shopping that's provided by club level. They can be very helpful if you're planning a special trip or if you have specific needs while you're there. The lounge is not a meal replacement plan, but breakfast will fill up most families and if plans involve a lot of time at the resort, then the lounge can come in handy. There's private check-in, a private floor or building and dedicated staff. Whether or not these things are important to somebody is probably the deciding factor to stay on that level.

I've paid for that level a few times at Disney and usually it coincided with a special occassion. One year, I planned a surprise Christmas trip and they setup a tree in our room, with gifts they had purchased for me placed underneath. They were also amazing in getting us on an Illuminations cruise that had been sold out.

I would say a majority of guests don't use or need many of the services that they provide. In that case, it just comes down to a matter of personal choice. One family may want to spend the extra money on more souveniers or a special tour, while other families would go with a club level room.

The WL is probably the best value for a deluxe. It has most of the same amenities offered at the others, except for the location and standard rooms have a maximum occupancy of 4. Their concierge level is nice as well and one of the lesser expensive ones. The only resorts that I would avoid for club level, are the YC/BC. Personally, I don't think they're worth it. As far as standard rooms in a deluxe though, they're all pretty comparable. There are definitely pro's and con's with all of them, but I'd probably choose based on which parks we're most likely to spend the most time at. Convenience and location are a big factor for me.

[lockedoutlogic]

Originally Posted by Polynesian Dweller

Well, somebody has to defend conceirge. We do it every time. Its not the snacks or the reservations services but the conveniences that we find with it at the Polynesian. The breakfast lets us get out to the parks in a leisurely manner without the rush in the restaurants we used to experience. We can take a coffee and bagel back to our balcony and look out at the Seven Seas. At night, a free drink and a couple of small cakes on the balcony and watching the Fireworks, just great.

The concierge staff are very helpful with everything we need and can usually fix any problem we have. The concierge building is also the best placed for lagoon views, the fireworks at night, and the Electric Water pageant. Its got it all.

May not be worth it everyone but for us the vacations are a lot more relaxing with concierge than they used to be.

the question is: are the benefits you're stating worth $150.00 more per night?

Many people have more disposable cash than myself and the vast majority of those that visit WDW....

...but even if they do, are the "benefits" a reasonable return on the money spent for the vacation? I can't see how....a "Better building"?....no WDW hotel was designed with concierge service in mind except AKL....
...and their concierge is being converted to DVC....

that says alot...

[castlegirl]

Concierge stay at the Poly was our best trip yet! The concierge staff got us all our ADRs, especially CRT for breakfast for my DD. I emailed them my choices a few days prior to the 90 day mark and that day they emailed back that we were in! Check-in was easy and relaxing, with a personal CM to handle our check-in seated at a desk while we sipped guava juice and ate cookies. The staff of the concierge was so great in saving our ADR for the HDDR. Due to a delayed flight, we arrived at the Poly at 4:30 when we had a 5:00 ressie for Hoop Dee Doo. As soon as I told the CM, she immediately got on the phone to the HDDR and asked them to change our time to the 7:00/7:30 show. In that respect, they were lifesavers! The lounge area was the best with breakfast, snacks, drinks, and evening buffets and beautifully decorated for Christmas. We were a family of 5. We felt the breakfast everyday itself was worth it! Our room was on the first floor with a lagoon view. Every morning we opened the curtains and looked at Cinderella's Castle. It was like no other experience! We felt totally pampered and it made for a vacation we will never forget! Yes, it is extra $$ and we've only done it once, but it was a vacation experience of a lifetime!

[TammiMcMan]

Lockedoutlogic, you have a good point of view and many people don't have the luxury of writing a blank check when they vacation at Disney. I think the bottom line though, is what each one of us defines as "worth". You could easily find vacationers who don't think staying onsite is worth the money they charge, as well as vacationers who can't justify the cost of a mod over a value. It's what we feel is important, that we're going to spend the money on.

I don't think it's necessary to defend concierge, it's something that's not right for everybody. Just simply noting the pro's and con's are a great help to people trying to make a decision. Personally, I have experienced club level CM's who do appear to have some privileges in getting things done. That may be an exception rather than the rule, but I can only report on what they've done for me. The unfortunate thing about it, is that the service is not consistent. Ultimately, that's what you're paying for, a higher level of service and sometimes it's there and sometimes it isn't.

Speaking of AKL, I haven't heard alot of details yet, only that DVC will be sharing the concierge lounge with the resorts club level guests. I'm not sure if that's only applicable to the Jambo units, or if all DVC villas will have access. Seems to be still a work in progress.

[lockedoutlogic]

Originally Posted by TammiMcMan

Lockedoutlogic, you have a good point of view and many people don't have the luxury of writing a blank check when they vacation at Disney. I think the bottom line though, is what each one of us defines as "worth". You could easily find vacationers who don't think staying onsite is worth the money they charge, as well as vacationers who can't justify the cost of a mod over a value. It's what we feel is important, that we're going to spend the money on.

I don't think it's necessary to defend concierge, it's something that's not right for everybody. Just simply noting the pro's and con's are a great help to people trying to make a decision. Personally, I have experienced club level CM's who do appear to have some privileges in getting things done. That may be an exception rather than the rule, but I can only report on what they've done for me. The unfortunate thing about it, is that the service is not consistent. Ultimately, that's what you're paying for, a higher level of service and sometimes it's there and sometimes it isn't.

Speaking of AKL, I haven't heard alot of details yet, only that DVC will be sharing the concierge lounge with the resorts club level guests. I'm not sure if that's only applicable to the Jambo units, or if all DVC villas will have access. Seems to be still a work in progress.

Hey, sister...I'm right there with you on this one...

But consider two things:
1. I just watched a five hour game to see the Sawx LOSE in 13 innings...so I'm cranky
2. The setup of the concierge is exactly what doesn't make it true concierge.
There is no special staff...and no special policies....

hence the "inconsistencies" in the level of service. I just hate it when people imply that the staff is "better" at concierge. That is not true at all. There is nothing that is in place to even pretend that Disney has that as a goal.
So, in my opinion, Concierge is an outright lie....they should call it something else. those that expect true service are rarely satisfied with what they get.

As far as the concierge performing their "wizardry" in acheiving dining reservations..as mentioned in the post above....
that same function can be performed by anyone who works for disney with access to the dining system...and by calling someone at 407WDW DINE...

heck...if someone reactivated my password and got me in remotely...I could do it for you at 6:45 tomorrow morning....

Cinderella's FOR EVERYONE!!!

[TammiMcMan]

Originally Posted by lockedoutlogic

But consider two things:
1. I just watched a five hour game to see the Sawx LOSE in 13 innings...so I'm cranky

Yeah, me too .

So, in my opinion, Concierge is an outright lie....they should call it something else. those that expect true service are rarely satisfied with what they get.

Well, they are trying "club level", but I'm not so sure that's working out. I don't honestly know how many people that stay on the club level at Disney, have experienced true concierge service elsewhere. Even those of us who have, there's just something about Disney. You get to this magical place and somehow you're just more forgiving and accepting of how they do things. I don't fault anyone who wants to spend their money, but I think knowing exactly what's offered will at least help them make a better informed decision.

[CAS]

Originally Posted by castlegirl

We felt the breakfast everyday itself was worth it!

$150 a day extra for a miniature breakfast and some snacks?

That coffee better have 14k gold creamer in it!

[psychotekkie]

I would spend the concierge money on something else in the parks.

Deluxe resorts, we love the Poly the best. Yes it is more expensive than Wilderness Lodge, but having the monorail convenience (esp. with small kids who need naps... actually we needed the naps too) is priceless. Plus I love the theming.

I am from Canada, and Wilderness Lodge feels like we stayed home instead of going somewhere different. lol

There is a poll currently running that asks peoples favourite resort, so that would be worth looking at.

[TammiMcMan]

Cas, actually, that part of it is not that difficult to price out when you compare it to what you'd pay for similar items at just counter service.

Continental breakfast served at counter service:
Fruit plate $2.50
Juice $2.25
Coffee $2.25
Bagel $2.50
Cereal/milk $2.75
Yogurt $2.50
= $15.00 pp x 5 = $75

Evening:
2 beers $9.00
2 glasses of wine $9.00
P B & J sandwich $4.25 x 3 kids = $12.75
3 bottles of soda = $6.00
= $36.75

So without factoring in any other snack items, appetizers, desserts or cordials that they might enjoy, they're already up to $112 of that $150 per night difference. It can be easily justified by some people and that difference can simply be the convenience of walking 50 feet from their room, as opposed to outside and across the resort.

[Aurora]

Have the food offerings changed that much since 2003? We stayed at the Poly concierge in October 2003 and not only did we get a generous continental breakfast (most other hotels consider rolls, coffee and milk a c. brkfst.), but we also got what we would consider a small dinner offering -- including hot foods like an oriental noodle dish!

It sounds like standards may have changed...

On that trip the extra money was totally worth it for us.

[Clotho]

For me, we stop at a store and pick up a few things for breakfast on the way to the resort. So we have bagels and cream cheese and fruit and tea every day. For far less than $150 a night. And we are never back at the room early enough to enjoy evening aperitifs! We're night owls, though. If we could enjoy these snacks more, we might be more intrigued. But at the price difference...it's not worth it to US. But I bet there are some people who love not only these conveniences, but the plain ol prestige of it. I know I can appreciate that reasoning at times.

[mrsgaribaldi]

to Intercot lovemygirls


I've only stayed one time with concierge at the Beach Club for my 40th birthday.
It was something I always wanted to try. I really didn't find it worth the extra money for us. Alot of times we were not in the resort to take advantage of the offerings. We only asked the concierge staff members a few questions to help us and they were wrong every time. The room was nice with a balcony overlooking the water. I loved the convenience of walking to Epcot. Other than that, I didn't care for the resort at all.
We stayed at the Polynesian in January, not concierge, just a regular room and it was fantastic!!! If I could afford it I would stay there everytime The grounds are beautiful and the CMs super nice and helpful. The room was great too
The WL lodge is nice too. We stayed there once and got upgraded to a pool view with a large balcony. It was nice but we haven't gone back there.
We also stayed at the Contemporary with a MK view in Nov. It was nice but I really like the Poly alot more. If I could I would only stay at the Poly. It just was so nice and had such a nice relaxed feel about it. Even if I had to choose between CR with a MK view and the Poly with a regular view I would pick the Poly every time.

I think if I were you I would stay at a deluxe resort on the monorail and not do concierge. Your kids are older so you might find yourselves in the parks alot and missing out on the offerings at the resort. If you were on the monorail it's so easy to get around. I loved that aspect of the resorts too

[Tinkerbellfan]

Hello,

We are doing a concierge room for the 3rd time this trip. I did it once as a child and this will be my second adult trip with concierge. This is my mother's first trip back to WDW in over 15 years, so I wanted to make it even more special.

We are staying at the WL concierge again. I love having breakfast there for me each morning so there is less rushing around. Also, my mother and I trip tons of water, so I know we will end up saving $30+ a day on drinking bottled water from the concierge each day. We also love turn down server, cordials & wine each night. We also find we say $$$ on ordering appetizers each night since we have a hot snack from the concierge before we leave the resort.

Also, this year, we were able to book our ADR before the 180 mark so we were able to get every meal we needed and it also took a quick e-mail - no waiting a long time on a phone call.

This trip, we will also be going on the safari ride at AK that is only offered to concierge guests.

We can't afford to get a concierge room every trip but I do like to treat my party every few trips. As others said, it is a personal perference just like choosing which resort to stay at, which park is your favorite, CS vs. sit down vs a signature restaurants.

Good luck deciding - and, as others said, Wilderness Lodge is a great deluxe.

[TammiMcMan]

Originally Posted by Aurora

Have the food offerings changed that much since 2003?

Some things have changed, for example no more small bottles of water and freshly made hot oatmeal is only available during certain times. They do however offer sodas now, beer and oatmeal packets when they don't have fresh.

I definitely describe the breakfast as much more of a deluxe continental and evening offerings do still include 2 hot appetizer dishes on all club levels. What you get for the rest of the day varies by resort. At the YC for example, from 11am - 4pm, they had out bowls of goldfish crackers, gummy worms, peanuts, pudding packs and some uncrustable PB&J sandwiches. Compare that to the GF, which offers a light salad, vegetables, dips from 11am - 1:30 and from 2:00 - 4:30 it's afternoon tea, with warm scones & cream, brownies, cookies, sometimes a trifle.