Can concierge actually SAVE you $$$

[iloveeeyore]

For a family of four (2A, 2C) staying concierge at Poly, in your experience, can you spend much less on food and snacks (almost to justify the cost, help me out here, hint hint)?

We are considering allowing ourselves to be bitten by the bug, and if we're not completely frugal, but watch it a bit more than usual (say only do one character b'fast during our stay and plan to eat only dinner at restaurants, well, OK maybe 1 dinner show, too), can we break out close to even (please, please, please tell me yes)?

 

[ducklite]

Nope. Sorry, but I just do'nt see it.

They offer a continental breakfast, so you won't need to eat that out.

You will need to eat lunch, unless a handful of Goldfish will satisfy you.

You will also need dinner, the appetzers they serve are not dinner, they are a snack. You wo'nt need dessert out, they ahve that in the lounge.

They no longer have bottled water in the lounge to take with you.

To partake in any of the snacks, you'll have to be at the lounge--takes time from your day to go back to the hotel like that.

You will not save money staying concierge. It is NOT a meal replacement plan, it is an elevated level of service with some treats for your tummy thrown in.

Anne

 

[tiggersmom2]

It will NOT save you money! Quite the contrary! My suggestion to you would be, go to the local Publix and get some good cheap snacks.

 

[iloveeeyore]

I thought there was at least some continental breakfast and more snacks than goldfish!

Anyone disagree with Ducklite?

 

[ducklite]

There is a continental breakfast. Maybe I wasn't clear in my wording. So you will not need breakfast. The added cost isn't going to make up for that tough.

There is no lunch. Midday they have small bowls of Goldfish, trail mix, and M&M's, fresh fruit, and beverages. That's it.

Anne

 

[leighe]

I wanted to stay concierge this trip, but it was going to add a little more than $1000 to our stay! We know that concierge is more than just food, but we have been working with a travel agent that has done all our PSs and we really don't utilize many of the other concierge services, so it just wasn't worth that extra money. Even if it was a "meal replacement" type plan, we just wouldn't spend that kind of money eating - but we usually only eat one "nice" meal a day at WDW. The others are fast food or snacks.

 

[Steffy]

Hi,

Here is how I am justifying my conceirge stay.

Breakfast 2A, 2C I'm thinking $32.00 per day.
Sodas 2 each 20.00 per day
Refridgerator $10.00 per day
Stroller $8.00 per day

Drinking coffee anytime I want, havinga nice coffee with Kahula in the evening, not having to leave the building first thing in the morning before I reach caffeine parity, watching Wishes from the lounge, not having to get up at 6:45 am to make my ps..priceless.



Of course it doesn't equal the price of conceirge... but that's my story and I'm sticking to it...

 

[4greatboys]

If you get a good AP discount I think you will break even or maybe even save some money. When we stayed YC concierge in 2002 we normally only bought 1 meal a day. We ate breakfast in the lounge, hit the parks and normally had a late lunch then we picked up some snacks from the lounge in the evening. They had some good things in the evening--like finger foods. We got chocolate milk and soda from the lounge a couple of times a day. I wouldnt stay there rack rate though, thats just to much $$$.

 

[DisneyMim]

In my humble opinion it is not going to save you money and I don't even think of concierge in that way. Yes there is a nice breakfast, but I have known some people who feel that it isn't enough and want eggs, bacon, etc. For my family the concierge breakfast is perfect, we are not big breakfast people and a muffin and coffee is plenty. There are snacks in the afternoon, but lots of time who wants to rush back to the resort when you are out at the parks? And the evening appetizers are just appetizers, not meals. Yes there are some people who load up on these, but it isn't what it is meant for. On our last visit I noticed that the "kid friendly" type of snacks were very limited. There were people who were telling their children to eat, but the kids didn't like anything. For example, the PB&J smuckers sandwiches were now out of the wrapper and cut in half, in my opinion to discourage hoarding. True concierge is a type of service. Over the years I think that concierge at Disney has taken on a life of it's own and some people want it to be a meal replacment, but in truth it is not. I will say the best food offerings are the night time desserts, yummy!!, BUT sometimes it isn't easy to come back for them, so I would not base my staying concierge on food. Sometimes you can get really good deals, and then it might be worth it, but I wouldn't go over budget, I don't think it's worth it.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Peter Pirate]

Concierge should not even be looked at in this way.

Concierge is there primarily for guests with deep pockets who wish/require special attention and don't mind paying for it.

The beauty of Concierge is the little things, but these are things that cannot be quantified in dollars and cents.

The best bet is to stay where you can comfortably afford and prefer...If that happens to be concierge, great!

 

[jel0511]

No, there is no way you'll "break even" staying concierge. Yes, you'll save breakfast $$$, but that's about it. It's more for the convience of having a lounge to hang out with some finger foods and having a dedicated staff to help you with your needs. Usually the difference between a regular room and a concierge room is at least $75 per night (using AP rates) and there is no way you'll make that up. As Ducklite mentioned, during the afternoon, there really isn't anything out to eat, except snacks, definately not lunch material. Around dinner there are appetizers, but there are just that appetizers, and not meant as meal replacement unless you eat very little. As mentioned above, concierge is more for the little things, and you're willing to pay for it.

 

[iloveeeyore]

OK, so aside from the lounge and the PS arrangements they make, what will they do for me? Tell me all about the special attention...please.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I disagree with Ducklite sort of? If I had one child, I couldn't justify it. But Having 4 it really ends up being a way I can justify my wanting the convienance of the lounge. Four kids in and out of the lounge all day would add up if they were hitting me up for soda or chips.
If you are looking at it as a way to SAVE money on food thats the wrong way to look at it, It is appetizers and snacks. it should supplement what you are already spending not replace it. ( with 1 exception breakfast IMHO)
If you are looking to save money, Then no it would not be a cost effective measure. You could order alot of room service for the extra the room is going to cost you on club level. If I was looking at it as a food service, I would be ordering the kids a meal through room service not going to the lounge. the lounge is in addition to your normal lunch and dinner...... I don't think that its a question of is it worth it? Would it be worth it to me to go club level if I was a die hard park hopper and never planned on being in the lounge probably not. Although not having to wait in the checkin line is a pretty good perk for me. One that I am willing to pay for.
For our touring style it is somthing that enables this mom to relax. we do club level at AKL at the end of our trip. After we are all parked out, So we are at the Lodge most of the day and then we go to dinner somewhere in the PM. All week long they are eating french fry, after french fry....When we get to club level, say we pop up from the pool for a snack, the kids have to choose whats there, fruit, pita crisps, nuts, some lemonade. Mom gets her 20th diet coke of the day.
Trust me if we were in the Mara or the marketplace, fruit would not be the choice made. I love popping in the lounge in the am for breakfast, again they are having fruit, cereal, bagels, yogurt, and juice. Not a donut or hashbrowns somewhere else.
I do not really utilize the preplanning stages. I just enjoy sitting in the Kilamanjaro club looking out over the lobby. So I guess for the way I am in the lounge with 4 children its a wash. But I don't look at it at that way, I look at it as a relaxing aspect of that stage of the trip.

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by iloveeeyore
OK, so aside from the lounge and the PS arrangements they make, what will they do for me? Tell me all about the special attention...please.

Well, the concierge staff is there to help you out with any aspect of your stay. They will make all PS arrangements prior to checking in, as well as change any while you are there, and will try to accomdate you in any way. I had the Poly concierge help me arrange an in-room birthday party for my DD. I told them what items I wanted to be placed in the room while we were out at the parks, and they did as requested and placed all the items I ordered on my room bill. They will help you plan special one of a kind events at WDW if you so desire, will greet you by name as you return into the building, etc. They basically are there to help you make your stay as effortless as possible.

 

[GoofItUp]

I have been wondering for some time what the deal is with concierge and I think I've figured out why I don't understand it. I am one of those people who enjoys planning everything, buying my own 'surprises', making my own PS's.....so, concierge is just not for me. I enjoy doing it myself and could never see paying someone else that much money to do it for me. Does it sound like I've finally 'got' it?

 

[susy]

I have never stayed concierge (yet), but my inlaws did at the WL over Thanksgiving and I did get to see what they had out. They did have quite a bit to eat out during the day, as far as snacks, but I don't think it is enough to replace a meal. To me it would be a matter of "convenience". Then again, going to the 7th floor at WL for a snack is not convenient if you are down by the pool....

If you want to treat yourself, go for it. Make your regular PS's and then play it by ear, but I wouldn't count on it replacing meals. I think you would just be obsessed with running to the lounge and keeping up with what times they are putting stuff out. Sounds really stressful to me!

 

[tjmw2727]

I don't think you can count on saving money by staying CL - you can justify it if that's what you want.

We have done it a few times, mostly as a treat for dh or I and we love it. That said if your "trying to get your money's worth" it will probably become more stress than the luxury its intended to be.

For us having some cereal, juice, fruit and milk in the room covers breakfast. The offerings in the am at CL are enough for breakfast, a continental breakfast. The only meal you can really "replace" at CL is breakfast.

We have been CL at the AKL, BC and Dolphin at WDW and by far my fav was AKL. That said you will still want a mickey bar at the pool, drink at the pool bar (ok well I do!) not to mention meals at the parks. Even the soda and water offered isn't always available when you need/want it. In reference to a previous poster we have always been charged the $10.00 per day for the fridge, even on CL.

I have found the offerings in the afternoon to be a nice touch - and the lounge itself is a great place to relax but its not a restaurant.

I think personally even with two kids, making sure we are at the lounge at the right times to get all the offerings to make my $ back would almost spoil my vacation.

Have a great time and make the decision that's right for you!

TJ

ps - there is a great faq on concierge on allears.net including specifics on the Polynesian.

 

[Puffy2]

The main draw for me is to have a separate room down the hall to wander to to get a cup of coffee and a snack while my husband sleeps - it's someplace to take the kids to and let them "get what they want " snack wise.

The continental breakfast will save a family of 4 about $35 - $45.00 depending on where you would have eaten instead. Remeber to include tip if it would have been a sit down place.

You USED to save about $10.00 a day on bottled water but that is NO LONGER INCLUDED.

At some places, you can get a wheelchair or stoller complimentary for your stay (I've heard of this at the Polynesian but be sure to call and ask the specific resort ).

With two small children, their dinner can easily be in the lounge if you are there the time it is offered. Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwhiches, fruit, vegies with dip, - this filled our children up on many nights. And while it was not dinner for adults, sometimes I was so full from snacking before dinner that I just ordered an appetiser when we went out...or soup.

At some places, conceirge means free access to the health club (will you use this feature?).

 

[hyzdufan]

Can someone give me the low down? What's so special about staying in the Concierge part of the hotel?

 

[Tess]

not Tess but DH: two years ago I looked at the cost - - from a banker's (23 years) perspective. I wanted to see and justify the cost. After running the numbers I came to the realization that if you gorge (for ducklite) at breakfast in concierge and have a late lunch somwhere, come back to the hotel, and again gorge (for ducklite) at the dinner menu in the concierge lounge; you pay (est.) $200 more for concierge compared to a standard room at the Polynesian over a 10 day stay.

All kidding aside and avoiding any rebuttle from ducklite, it does cost more to stay at concierge, however, you develop a "family ('ohana)" type feeling there that is priceless and with two kids (15 & 13 our kids' ages) it more than pays for the memories we will cherish forever.

Again, just my opinion I may be wrong, but then again I am just Tess' DH who looks at the boards and the bottom line. Some things you just can't put a price on Ron