Big changes in concierge

[cjsmith]

I just returned an hour ago from the Yacht Club having stayed 2 nights on the concierge floor. Well, Disney has ordered major cutbacks and it really shows it the amount and choices of food offered in the concierge. According to the cast members, this change started a week ago and it throughout all resorts.
They have moved the coffee from the breakwell by the front door to the lounge and moved it over by where the food is. Well you know right there, it's to take up space and not let you know that a lot of food offerings is missing. For breakfast, all there is now are bagels and crossaints (no toast or english muffins), donuts, cereal, and fruit. This morning there was also banana bread. All the muffins, coffee cakes, and extras are gone. At night the wine is gone and for desserts the cakes and cupcakes are gone. All that is out is cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and one tray of small pastries. At happy hour there were nuts, popcorn, peanut butter and jelly and pretzels. That is it! I just can't believe the changes. I did ask and they said that they have had complaints already and hope that everyone writes in. For what they charge extra, taking away the already limited amount that was out is not fair to the guests at all. This is throughout the resorts and they are trying to make everything standarized throughout.

We still had a great visit and my mom and I loved seeing them tape 2 of Regis and Kelly's tv show.

 

[wdw4us2]

Wow! How disappointing. Y&BC has always had great food offerrings every time we've been there. My friend was thinking of upgrading to BC Concierge for her trip next month, but I think I'll tell her not to.

Maybe if enough people complain or cancel, they'll change it back. For the amount of extra $$ Disney charges for concierge you wouldn't expect them to try to cut back in such an obvious manner.

 

[cjsmith]

Wow! How disappointing. Y&BC has always had great food offerrings every time we've been there. My friend was thinking of upgrading to BC Concierge for her trip next month, but I think I'll tell her not to.

Maybe if enough people complain or cancel, they'll change it back. For the amount of extra $$ Disney charges for concierge you wouldn't expect them to try to cut back in such an obvious manner.

I know, it really is disappointing. I have always been happy staying here. For someone like me who plans last minute a lot and never uses the services of the staff as I always make my own PS, it really is a loss. I also didn't see any sodas around either. My mom and I had a bagel one morning and some water and popcorn both evenings and then coffee on two mornings and that was all that interested us. I used to love having veggies and dip and other appys. Hopefully Disney will come to their senses and change this.

 

[TheRobbs]

I really hope that is not the way its going to be from now on. That is a HUGE cutback. I'd love to hear from more people who have just gotten back and stayed Concierge.

Please let us know what your experience was.

Thanks,
TheRobbs

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

When we stayed at BC concierge back in January it seemed that the offerings didn't really match the things we read online. It was weird, I had no complaints because the beer was still flowing but I wish there were some more options when it came to the food.

regardless, we're giving concierge another shot in June with Polynesian, we've heard lots of good things about it!

 

[TheNerdyMinnie]

According to the cast members, this change started a week ago and it throughout all resorts.

Nooo don't tell me that!! We're booked for poly concierge the first week of June and I'm really looking forward to it! This thread has made me nervous

 

[meandtheguys2]

Nooo don't tell me that!! We're booked for poly concierge the first week of June and I'm really looking forward to it! This thread has made me nervous

Why not just call and talk to the concierge staff. Hopefully that will ease your mind. I know that I would fret a bunch about something like that!

 

[cjsmith]

I really hope that is not the way its going to be from now on. That is a HUGE cutback. I'd love to hear from more people who have just gotten back and stayed Concierge.

Please let us know what your experience was.

Thanks,
TheRobbs

I did just get back and stay concierge. We almost always stay on the concierge floor and have been doing so for years. I couldn't believe the change and the staff on that floor confirmed it. They said it's been about a week since the higher ups at Disney decided upon these cutbacks and both (including Betty who we've gotten to know) says it's across the board on the concierge floors at the deluxes.

 

[TammiMcMan]

They have moved the coffee from the breakwell by the front door to the lounge and moved it over by where the food is. Well you know right there, it's to take up space and not let you know that a lot of food offerings is missing.

This was the same setup in December. The new coffee machine had been placed by the food and the juices, lemonade, iced tea, water and soda were on the sidebar by the door.

For breakfast, all there is now are bagels and crossaints (no toast or english muffins), donuts, cereal, and fruit. All the muffins, coffee cakes, and extras are gone.

Again, this is exactly what we experienced for breakfast items in December.

At night the wine is gone and for desserts the cakes and cupcakes are gone. All that is out is cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and one tray of small pastries. At happy hour there were nuts, popcorn, peanut butter and jelly and pretzels.

When you say "happy hour" is that the 5-7pm serving and they have no wine/beer anymore or hot items from the restaurants? Did you have to ask them to pour you a glass, or have they done away with it completely? What about the 8-10pm cordials (Baileys & Kahulua)? For desserts, we only saw a plate of mini-pastries and never once saw cupcakes or other cakes offered. From 11am-4pm, snacks consisted of cookies, pb&j uncrustables, assorted nuts, pretzels and snack pack puddings.

I wonder why the CM told you that these changes had just taken place a week ago, when clearly it sounds very much like what we saw in place in December ?

 

[mlwear]

take a look at the descriptions of concierge level on the official disney world site now! I looked at three briefly. Two had slimmed down their description (I looked at Poly and I think GF), while one still had it the same (I think that was Contemporary), but likely they will change theirs I guess. Gee! Sounds about like what I'd get at a Hampton Inn (no offense to Hampton Inn's but I'm not paying to stay there.)
I think this is unfair since they advertised something different when I decided to book CL. Do they have a disclaimer somewhere that says they can change offerings? I cry foul.

 

[nutsaboutdis]

We just returned yesterday from concierge at the Polynesian. I have never stayed there before so I don't know what they normally had but this is what was available every day on our 7 night stay: For breakfast they always had out bagels, croissants, cheese danishes, cinnamon rolls and another type of danish as well as fruit salad. There were raisan bran, cherrios and fruit loops. Three diffeent types of juices and always baskets of bananas, pears and apples. During snack time there was always lemonade, iced tea and orange guava juice as well as cans of soda. The coffee machine was there with hot chocholate settings as well as others always and there were also jugs of other coffees. There were goldfish, m&m's and gummy worms, pears, apples, bananas and crustable peanut butter sandwiches, 3 different types of cookies. During the 5-7 shift, there again was always fresh apples, bananas, pears, lemonade, sodas, etc. vegatables with different dips, assorted cheeses and crackers and whatever hot entree was there for the night. One night was delicious chicken wings and rice, another was ribs; there was mac and cheese along with grilled chicken caesar salad another night; pepper steak and rice another. There was always several assorted bottles of wine out during 5-7 and all day long you could get several types of beer at request. From 8-10 at night there were cordials put out, but you just needed to ask for wine or beer and it was given to you. At least 3 different pastries were always put out along with cookies and again, the fresh fruit was always there. Upon request, apple juice boxes were given whenever asked for along with chocholate milk containers, and large glass bottles of water. The food was always plentiful and I saw people ask for large quantities of the above mentioned and there was never any hesistation on the staff's part to supply. I thought the concierge lounge was terrific!!!

 

[TheRobbs]

nutsaboutdis,

Thanks for that Post. That is exactly what I wanted to hear and is exactly what we had last July when we were there.

Thanks again,
TheRobbs

 

[mlwear]

Agree with TheRobbs, thanks for the post. Very reassuring.

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

thanks for the post! its on like tron!

 

[cjsmith]

This was the same setup in December. The new coffee machine had been placed by the food and the juices, lemonade, iced tea, water and soda were on the sidebar by the door. Again, this is exactly what we experienced for breakfast items in December. When you say "happy hour" is that the 5-7pm serving and they have no wine/beer anymore or hot items from the restaurants? Did you have to ask them to pour you a glass, or have they done away with it completely? What about the 8-10pm cordials (Baileys & Kahulua)? For desserts, we only saw a plate of mini-pastries and never once saw cupcakes or other cakes offered. From 11am-4pm, snacks consisted of cookies, pb&j uncrustables, assorted nuts, pretzels and snack pack puddings.

I wonder why the CM told you that these changes had just taken place a week ago, when clearly it sounds very much like what we saw in place in December ?

In the past, they always had more offerings. Maybe they started phasing it out in December and just finished up the change at the YC. In the mornings, there used to be bagels, bread for toast, and english muffins over by the toaster. Then you had your cereals of course, but they used to be the mini boxes, not in a glass container like it is now. There used to be muffins, banana bread, coffee cakes, lots of different kinds of donuts, and fresh fruits.

The 11-4 snacks used to also have cheese and crackers and vegetables and dips as well as fruit platter, pudding packs, pb&j's, nuts, pretzels, and cookies. Now it's just apples, pb&j's, nuts, and pretzels.

They don't have the same amount of food at happy hour either, it has greatly slimmed down in choice. I have never seen beer and have always been told it's not available at the YC.

In the evening there used to be cupcakes, cookies, cakes, a platter of pastries, sometimes pie, rice krispie treats, there used to be a lot of choices. Now there is one small platter of pastries and cookies. Believe me, there was a lot even on our visit in the fall.

They used to even offer small bottles of water that you could take with you, now it's just the large bottle.

There were two different CM's and the concierge manager there this morning when I inquired about the difference in what was offered. They have gotten a few complaints already. They may have started to phase out some things and have now completely finished it.

 

[Angel16]

I just returned an hour ago from the Yacht Club having stayed 2 nights on the concierge floor. Well, Disney has ordered major cutbacks and it really shows it the amount and choices of food offered in the concierge. According to the cast members, this change started a week ago and it throughout all resorts.
They have moved the coffee from the breakwell by the front door to the lounge and moved it over by where the food is. Well you know right there, it's to take up space and not let you know that a lot of food offerings is missing. For breakfast, all there is now are bagels and crossaints (no toast or english muffins), donuts, cereal, and fruit. This morning there was also banana bread. All the muffins, coffee cakes, and extras are gone. At night the wine is gone and for desserts the cakes and cupcakes are gone. All that is out is cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and one tray of small pastries. At happy hour there were nuts, popcorn, peanut butter and jelly and pretzels. That is it! I just can't believe the changes. I did ask and they said that they have had complaints already and hope that everyone writes in. For what they charge extra, taking away the already limited amount that was out is not fair to the guests at all. This is throughout the resorts and they are trying to make everything standarized throughout.

We still had a great visit and my mom and I loved seeing them tape 2 of Regis and Kelly's tv show.

If this is what Disney's plan is for the future I don't think too many people will be staying concierge. We were at AKL last October. They had phased out the fresh hot oatmeal and plastic water bottle. But that was due to waste. We had such a wonderful trip and enjoyed concierge level and the food/wine offerings. We could not wait to save up to go again. However, this does not sound like waste issues, this sounds like the bottle line issues. If concierge is going to change that much, than the price needs to be decreased also. I am very happy to read Nutsaboutdis's report. Hopefully that is the normal. We are staying 6 nights at the Poly concierge then switching over to AKL concierge for 7 nights in Sept/Oct. We really are looking forward to a dream trip as I am sure all of you are. Hopefully it will be all we have grown to anticipate while staying Disney Concierge.

 

[nutsaboutdis]

I'm glad that my experience encouraged you all. I also forgot to mention, that on a couple of nights there were brownies and small bite size cupcakes as well. And I have to stress that the food was plentiful and it never ran out like I have read on other threads. Chef Dick even asked people at one point before taking away the hot entrees if they wanted anything else. I guess they dont' keep some of the things out such as wine and beer constantly and water because people take too much, However, I saw people ask for large quantities constantly and no one ever blinked or hesistated. I hope you all have the same great experience we all did. We would never stay any other way because we were so spoiled!!!

 

[DisOrBust]

No offense but if they cut back the offerings that much why stay con. level?? I already make my own PSs. I truwly only want to stay at AKL Con because of what I read here on the DIS>

 

[jjohnson]

I wonder what the offerings in concierge light will be now.

 

[eeyoresmountainpals]

For the few of you that said your were going to Poly concierge in June I'd be anxious to hear your reviews when you get back. We're going in October.