Can Concierge at AKV Book a "Sold Out" Restaurant?

[robinb]

I'll be staying at AKV starting next week. My DD just told me that she really wanted to go to the restaurant that has the "sushi dessert". That would be the California Grill for those of you who do not have the children's menus memorized. OF COURSE, it's way too late to make an ADR and the place is booked solid. I have heard that the concierge staff can sometimes pull a little magic ... would they be able to book us at California Grill?

As aside ... I think she really only wants the "sushi". Would I be able to go up and order just some sushi for her to go? Do they still allow people up for a drink? I know they keep the doors well protected these days.

 

[Vemnox]

Concierge cannot override a restaurant. If it's full - it's full. Your best bet is twofold:

1) Keep calling to check for cancellations (unlikely).
2) Go to the lounge, which doesn't require reservations, and ask for the sushi.

 

[MissionMouse]

With the Disney name change..concierge is the front desk and they have no special abilities.

If you are referring to the Club at Deluxe resorts they do have a little edge to get you into the restaurants at the resort you are staying at as they have stated they reserve (hold) tables for them. If it is outside the resort they have no special rights to tables.

 

[CanadianGuy]

While you never know... and I wouldn't COUNT on it..

Sometimes a concierge staff can make some magic happen.. even when a restaurant is "full". By the same token, sometimes there's nothing they can do.

It certainly doesn't hurt to ask.

Knox

 

[pixiechick]

I read somewhere that a few tables are held until that day's afternoon for concierge parties.

My experience supports that, ask a day in advance, get what you want. Wait until that day, you might be out of luck.

I'd bet Don could figure out something one way or another.

 

[Vemnox]

While you never know... and I wouldn't COUNT on it..

Sometimes a concierge staff can make some magic happen.. even when a restaurant is "full". By the same token, sometimes there's nothing they can do.

It certainly doesn't hurt to ask.

Knox

While I normally agree with Knox on just about everything, I have to wholeheartedly disagree here. If the restaurant is marked full in the system, no concierge/front desk/guest relations/guest services person can override that.
Now, whether or not that is true for Club Level cast members, I'm not sure. What I would presume, though, is that they don't have the power either but they do have the authority to contact the managers of the respective restuarant and see if an accomodation can be made.

 

[kato0627]

We were in MGM last week at lunch time. I walked into Sci-Fi just to see if they hade any openings. The man in front of me in line was also a walk in. He told the CM he was concierge at... resort (did not hear that part) and he was told 15 mins. I am positive that he said concierge level. I was turned away, which I expected to be without ADR's.. Did not put up a fight b/c I was not in the mood, heck I did not have ressies. But... he got in??
Not sure what the Signature Rest will do but it worked for him.

 

[Blessedx3]

Don has always had some extra magic for us everytime we have been in a bind and needed an ADR last minute. I would talk to them as soon as possible though so they have longer to work on it. I have also been told that clud level "do" have certain tables held just for clud level guests at certain resturants. Good Luck!

 

[Vemnox]

We were in MGM last week at lunch time. I walked into Sci-Fi just to see if they hade any openings. The man in front of me in line was also a walk in. He told the CM he was concierge at... resort (did not hear that part) and he was told 15 mins. I am positive that he said concierge level. I was turned away, which I expected to be without ADR's.. Did not put up a fight b/c I was not in the mood, heck I did not have ressies. But... he got in??
Not sure what the Signature Rest will do but it worked for him.

I assure you that nothing that gentleman said - whether Club, Concierge, DVC, Passholder, etc. - he did not get any more leeway than you. There is no "preference" system for standard reservations, nor for walkups. Are you sure he had the exact same party size as you? Because you are booked at specific tables for your party size. Are you sure it was for the same day in the same time frame as you? Are you also positive that he was a walk in and didn't just give his name and resort because he was notifying them that he was on the Dining Plan?

At any rate, be certain that there was nothing he said that "got him in before you."

 

[robinb]

By "concierge" I mean "club level". Not general guest services at the hotels. We're staying AKV Concierge. I guess I'll talk to someone when we get there and see what they can do. I'm pretty flexible about when we go and we're at AKV for 5 days and then over to BWV for 5 days.

Vemnox, will they still allow guests up to the lounge at CG? I thought they have been restricting all access to people with reservations for a long time.

 

[sjaakie]

Didn’t you receive a mail from your hotel where you can mail back all your wishes and reservations?

We stay at the GF at club level and short after I booked the mail was in my mailbox.
Maybe its worth trying to make a reservation this way?

 

[stitchypoo]

Are you sure the CG is booked solid or is it only booked solid for the number of people in your party? I've heard that if you're trying to book a table for two and if that particular restaurants 2-person tables are already all booked you'll probably get turned away. However, that same restaurant may have plenty of 4-person tables available for the time you want. I've heard of some people that this happened to and they called right back and changed their party of two to a party of three and got a table with no problem. Then when they got to the restaurant they told the hostess that their third person couldn't make it. They even noticed that there were several tables still free while they ate so they didn't feel like they were taking away a table from anyone who actually had a party of 3-4 people. I've never tried this, and some people may consider this "cheating" but it may be worth a try depending how badly you want that reservation. Good luck!

 

[tomandrobin]

I have found the best approach is to go to the restuarant and ask for the manager/assit. mgr the day before you want to get a reservation. Be gracious and ultra flexible for your request. I have found this to work very well for me.

The Disney Dining reservation system and the actual restuarant operrations are two different entities. The actual restaurant is usually more flexible. I would not expect a dinner time at 5-9 pm, but before 5 and after 9 are you best bets.

Good luck!

 

[robinb]

Are you sure the CG is booked solid or is it only booked solid for the number of people in your party? I've heard that if you're trying to book a table for two and if that particular restaurants 2-person tables are already all booked you'll probably get turned away. However, that same restaurant may have plenty of 4-person tables available for the time you want.

Thanks for the tip . I have heard that as well. We are already a party of 3, though.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Concierge / Club level DOES have opportunities for getting tough reservations that we don't but their ability is very limited and sad to say, it does depend a little bit on which Concierge you have working for you. But trust me, if Kelly Ripa wants her fam to eat at CG on short notice, my bet is you'll be seeing them there (meaning never say never)...Just sayin'...

 

[crisi]

I assure you that nothing that gentleman said - whether Club, Concierge, DVC, Passholder, etc. - he did not get any more leeway than you. There is no "preference" system for standard reservations, nor for walkups. Are you sure he had the exact same party size as you? Because you are booked at specific tables for your party size. Are you sure it was for the same day in the same time frame as you? Are you also positive that he was a walk in and didn't just give his name and resort because he was notifying them that he was on the Dining Plan?

At any rate, be certain that there was nothing he said that "got him in before you."

Except, perhaps, being ahead of you in line.

A few years ago, after Le Cellier became the hot reservation, we walked into Le Cellier with our ADR - 4 people at 5:30. The folks in front of us (party of 3) were walk ups - and immediately got seated. Hostess came back for us and I said "wow, they were really lucky." She said "we just had someone call and cancel - that is likely to be the only walkup we will seat all night."

Being in the right place at the right time can make all the difference. Two minutes later and some other walkup would have gotten that table. Two minutes earlier and the cancellation wouldn't have come in yet.

(CG has a deposit policy - 48 hours I believe - so I'd call about 3 days before when people realize that they don't really want to go. And the sushi dessert is oh, so easy to make - a batch of rice krispies, a fruit rollup or two, and some swedish fish - very clever dessert, but not exactly Zebra Domes in what it takes to assemble.)

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Concierge / Club level DOES have opportunities for getting tough reservations that we don't but their ability is very limited and sad to say, it does depend a little bit on which Concierge you have working for you . . .

1) There are overrides for VIP's and for guests of Disney GM's/VP's.
2) Some concierge people (lobby or club level) have the code.
3) But, not many throughout the entire property.
4) I could be wrong, but I don't know any at AKL/AKV.
5) We overrode ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE, but didn't let it out when we did it.
6) Some concierge (lobby or CL) have a relationship with a restaurant manager.
7) Sort of a "quid pro quo" relationship.
8) If so, they can pull strings once in a while.

9) But, in most cases, Concierge have no more power than you calling 407-WDW-DINE.

 

[pixie08]

We stayed at the conceirge or "club" level in June at the Boardwalk. We called them right before the trip and I believe emailed them as well and they were very helpful. The were certainly able to get adr's when none were available through wdw-dine. I say give them a call now-they are very helpful...that is their job. Even if they can't get you an ADR they may be able to work something out for you.

 

[Poppinsme]

We stayed Poly LVC from 11/26-12/4 and WE got ressies at the last moment at Kona. Concierge called over there and they said they were booked. She then told them we were VIP and we got a table in 10 mins. Very cool and special!
Try it and see what happens.

 

[micmacmissy]

A couple years ago we stayed concierge at the GF in a 2-bdrm suite.

The kids decided at the last minute that they wanted to eat at CRT. That was when only the breakfast was a character meal and it was nearly impossible to get into. We asked our GF concierge if they could get us in and they came up with not one, but several reservations at CRT for us to pick from.

I wondered, given how booked that place always is, if there was some preference based on room category. If so, it would be a nice perk, considering how ridiculously expensive the suites are.

So call and ask, it can't hurt!