Concierge/Club Level Information- Part IV, July 2012

[AngiTN]

Sorry I am such a newbie with concierge! So, since they only have liter sized glass water, if we brought our own reusable water bottles, what would be the best way to fill them without either a.hoarding glass water bottles in our room or b.feel like we are thieving the water from the lounge? Just trying to figure out if it would just be better if we buy a 24 pk of water from garden grocer? Anyone with experience on how they brought water to the parks? Through concierge?

I haven't stayed CL before but I bring filtered bottles and just fill them from the fountain in the parks. The filter removes that awful FL water taste perfectly. And it means a lot less to cart around the park each day.

 

[disneydee6]

Just simply ask one of the CM's for a bottle of water. You can take it back to your room and fill up your water bottles for the day!

I'm just concerned one won't be enough for a family of five, would it be a faux pas to ask for two? Too greedy?

I just don't want to be the 'annoying water people' to the CMs

 

[fly girl]

I've seen many of families walk out with 2 bottles and it didn't look like the CM's were bothered by it at all. However, we are a small family of 3 so I haven't done it personally.


Hopefully someone on here can back me up and say it's OK.


I think for the money were plunking down for CL only asking for a couple bottles of water a day isn't a biggie. But that's just me.

 

[Angeejoe]

One important factor to consider is if you are booking a package. If you are looking at a package that includes park tickets and the dining plan and you want to split that stay with a "Non dining plan" segment you would want to do the package first and then inquire about adding additional days to your park tickets that would extend into your room-only CL stay. If you tried to do your room-only CL stay first then do a package with dining second you'd have to buy tickets again.

Great point TigrLvsPooh about the tickets! . I'd love to move up into AP & never have to worry about tickets for a year!

 

[Angeejoe]

We've done lots of split stays. If I'm splitting between CL and non-CL, I'd generally opt for making CL the later part of the trip myself...but you may also temper that by your arrival and departure times. One option we have done if we have a late arrival is to stay some place inexpensive the first night (or last night), then move to CL. You do lose time in moving, but if you pack stregically, then it's not too bad. The way I do it, we do a one day bag..or else we fill a suitcase full of dirty laundry. I also plan our park touring and ADR's around where we'll be. So AKL and Boma/Sanaa/Jiko is good pairing. CR/Poly/GF and the monorail dining, or BWK/BC/YC and area dining including Swan/Dolphin/Epcot's WS.

Disney will move luggage, but we've also found that having a car makes split stays easier, so you an usually leave part of the luggage in the car.

Another important consideration is if youa re doing a pakcage- then you really want to make that the firt part of your trip. You don't want to buy two sets of tickets, and you have until midnight of the day you check out to use up DDP credits.

For us, CL plus DDP is too much food. Also, my prime reason for picking DDP was to save money. In 2013, it is not priced to save money. You should look at the math yourself, but I think you'll find it a losing proposition. You are most likley better paying oop. Maybe look at deluxe DDP, but that would also be serious overkill IMO.

Keep in mind the new credit card fee cancelation policy too. I tend to go in a large group, and we are pretty eager to keep our signature reservations once we make them, but I hate the idea of a $20pp fee hanging over my head. So we've cut back on meals at places w cc holds.

Whichever part you pick for CL should ideally be days where you plan to spend *more* time at the resort, or at least where you'll take an afternoon break.

CL is a meal replacement for breakfast, just not lunch or a complete dinner.

Thanks mickeyluv'r on your great thoughts, it helps to get advice from the CL experts for sure. I do agree that if we did split stay we'd want to do either BC/YC & go to EPCOT, DHS & MK while there & then end AKL CL & do AK, hotel/pool time & maybe sunrise safari to end on a slower note.

We're also good about keeping our ADRs & did not incurr any cacellation fees last year. It's just me & DH so it easy to stick to schedule when needed.

 

[disneydee6]

I've seen many of families walk out with 2 bottles and it didn't look like the CM's were bothered by it at all. However, we are a small family of 3 so I haven't done it personally.


Hopefully someone on here can back me up and say it's OK.


I think for the money were plunking down for CL only asking for a couple bottles of water a day isn't a biggie. But that's just me.

Thanks!!

 

[lililoo12]

Have stayed yc cl and BWI deluxe room cl. We liked yc more because the food was better, having a fridge instead of a tub for sodas and it had a kiddie section with a TV which my kids loved. What other cl has a separate TV for little ones?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Have stayed yc cl and BWI deluxe room cl. We liked yc more because the food was better, having a fridge instead of a tub for sodas and it had a kiddie section with a TV which my kids loved. What other cl has a separate TV for little ones?

I know that WL's Old Faithful Club and CR's Atrium Club have separate TVs for kids. WL has a small table and small chairs near a TV that plays the Disney Channel and the CR has seating (like cubes) in front of a TV just for kids. The seating area at WL is larger than CR and both have fridges.

 

[lililoo12]

I know that WL's Old Faithful Club and CR's Atrium Club have separate TVs for kids. WL has a small table and small chairs near a TV that plays the Disney Channel and the CR has seating (like cubes) in front of a TV just for kids.

Thx. We are too many for WL but may try the atrium next time. I love the Epcot resorts best.

 

[babyberger]

Have stayed yc cl and BWI deluxe room cl. We liked yc more because the food was better, having a fridge instead of a tub for sodas and it had a kiddie section with a TV which my kids loved. What other cl has a separate TV for little ones?

I know that WL's Old Faithful Club and CR's Atrium Club have separate TVs for kids. WL has a small table and small chairs near a TV that plays the Disney Channel and the CR has seating (like cubes) in front of a TV just for kids. The seating area at WL is larger than CR and both have fridges.

At CR the lounge was fairly empty so my kids actually watched the big tv while sitting on the couch and ate a quick dinner. They didn't want to sit at the kids table ( of course). But I think they enjoyed the balcony and the MK view the most!!!

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[TigrLvsPooh]

Great point TigrLvsPooh about the tickets! . I'd love to move up into AP & never have to worry about tickets for a year!

Then you can join my club and worry about AP discounts! They always come out at the last minute and nothing I really want is ever available.

 

[zima-cheryl]

Thanks Zima-Cheryl! We've never had free dining, just always paid for it. We've gotten 35% off the rooms at BC/YC because went in Feb/March when not as busy. I'd hate to pay full rack rate for sure. CL just sounds like cool experience! I'd love to be pampered for a few days for sure .

Im leaning towards ending with CL, I think it would be a great way to end trip.

Have you ever done a split stay? Or the sunrise safari?

Thanks,
Angee

No, we've never done the split stay although we have friends who have. From what I'm told WDW tries to make it pretty seamless for you.
If you have a car, toss your stuff in the trunk & just leave on resort in the AM & go to the new one at the end of the day.
If you don't have a car, check your bags with bell services & they will work their way over to your new resort. I've heard that it can take a while so don't think you are checking out at 9a & will have your bags by noon at the new resort.

Never done any of the AK tours. They all look fantastic though.

 

[Angeejoe]

Then you can join my club and worry about AP discounts! They always come out at the last minute and nothing I really want is ever available.

AP rates always come out at the last minute? So you can never plan ahead?

 

[mommadjones]

AP rates always come out at the last minute? So you can never plan ahead?

It's pretty frustrating but yes lately AP rates have been released latter. It depends on when you vacation. We often go in August and they tend to release Summer rates not including our August dates. So our dates tend to be at the front of the new release which then runs into octoberish. We tend to book our vacation and budget for the full cost. Then cross our fingers that an ap rate will come out and apply it.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

AP rates always come out at the last minute? So you can never plan ahead?

They vary. Sometimes we get decent notice. Sometimes not as much.

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[TigrLvsPooh]

No, we've never done the split stay although we have friends who have. From what I'm told WDW tries to make it pretty seamless for you.
If you have a car, toss your stuff in the trunk & just leave on resort in the AM & go to the new one at the end of the day.
If you don't have a car, check your bags with bell services & they will work their way over to your new resort. I've heard that it can take a while so don't think you are checking out at 9a & will have your bags by noon at the new resort.

Never done any of the AK tours. They all look fantastic though.

I have done many, many split stays. Don't count on seeing your bags until mid afternoon at the earliest. Typically the way it goes is we checkout of resort 1 , bus or boat to resort 2, check-in and give them our cell phone number to be called when the room is ready. Head to a park. Get back to resort 2 mid afternoon , get to room, call bell services for luggage. And hopefully have it in time to freshen up for the night out. Usually we do.

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[dana278]

Hi everyone. I'm planning my first trip and I have a quick question, please:

From what I've read here on the boards, when you make ADRs you can change/cancel online as necessary. (Assuming times are available, of course.) If you choose to have the IPO make your ADRs for you are they magically entered into your online account somewhere, or do you have to contact them every single time you want to make a change?

 

[Mousemommy1]

Hi everyone. I'm planning my first trip and I have a quick question, please:

From what I've read here on the boards, when you make ADRs you can change/cancel online as necessary. (Assuming times are available, of course.) If you choose to have the IPO make your ADRs for you are they magically entered into your online account somewhere, or do you have to contact them every single time you want to make a change?

You can still access your reservations on line.
Depending on how I feel on a given day, I make the change myself, or email IPO with the request.

 

[dana278]

Awesome, thank you! I definitely want to utilize that service, then.

Oh and how far in advance of the 180 day window should you email those in? I thought I read somewhere that resort guests could do ADRs an extra 10 days early, but I can't find this info now!

 

[Tess]

Awesome, thank you! I definitely want to utilize that service, then.

Oh and how far in advance of the 180 day window should you email those in? I thought I read somewhere that resort guests could do ADRs an extra 10 days early, but I can't find this info now!

You may email your requests anytime after you have a confirmed reservation. The IPO will reserve for you when your window opens--180 days +10 as a resort guest.