CL - I don't get it

[bluejasmine]

The sangria at Poly is yummy!!!

Sept 2013 Poly, 2012 Disney Fantasy, BC CL, GF CL, POR, 2011 Poly CL, CR, Poly CL, AKL, 2010 Poly CL, ASMu 2009, SSR 2008, Pop 2006, POR , Asmo 2005, Asmo 2003, offsite 2000, 1999,1989, Poly 1980, offsite 1979

 

[sonofanarchy]

Stayed CL once at WL. Would never do it again. Complete waste of money.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Stayed CL once at WL. Would never do it again. Complete waste of money.

I just did this -



But, we are all entitled to our opinions.

 

[TJA]

OP-we used to feel just like you until we were upgraded one time to CL -- since then we haven't looked back. For us, it's more about the pampering and convenience. I'm not sure if it's "worth it" money-wise, but I've never taken the time to calculate it because it's very "worth it" otherwise to us. Just to have the breakfast each morning saves us time and starts off our days perfectly. DH loves having beer whenever he wants it, so we must save a ton of money from that alone We normally book our big meal of the day during the afternoon, so we use the lounge appetizers at night as a filler and it works out perfectly for us. If we're at the resort later on, we certainly take advantage of the desserts too. And no matter what time of the day we are at the pool, we enjoy bringing some snacks and drinks from the lounge down to the pool. If the pool is very near the lounge (like at Poly), it's very convenient to go back and forth. My kids also love getting DVD movies and playing them in our room. And most lounges are accommodating as far as food not set out, such as my kids love strawberries and they would gladly bring us a whole bowl of them whenever we asked.

 

[TJA]

The sangria at Poly is yummy!!!

Sept 2013 Poly, 2012 Disney Fantasy, BC CL, GF CL, POR, 2011 Poly CL, CR, Poly CL, AKL, 2010 Poly CL, ASMu 2009, SSR 2008, Pop 2006, POR , Asmo 2005, Asmo 2003, offsite 2000, 1999,1989, Poly 1980, offsite 1979

That alone sort of justifies the extra $$ spent on CL Just kidding, but I agree it's very tasty. I assume you mean that drink they make for the lounge....

 

[AmMeinOh]

For us when we have stayed CL, it wasn't so much about the food costs, and yes it was nice. It was about the continence. I had small children with me both times. MIT was nice giving them a bigger area to be in, a place to sit down in the mornings to eat breakfast or snacks rather than trying to do in in a room with 5 people. Not having to track down our purchases, knowing they would be in our room every night. Having the concierge make my reservations was nice and make any adjustments. I had my dd's 7 th birthday down there the last time and the concierge helped me out if time. For me it's not just about the cost of food, but things I can have them help me with when I have 3 small children to handle.

 

[MagicallyDelicious]

Stayed CL once at WL. Would never do it again. Complete waste of money.

Why? Can you elaborate a bit?

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

You could just as easily question why someone would spend so much to stay in a deluxe at all when they get the same basic features in a value.

It was easy to justify when we stayed CL at the Contemporary. We had already decided to stay at the Contemporary, and I wanted a tower, MK view (the view from the 11th floor is unbelievable!). There was a 40% room only discount at the time, but the only rooms that met my criteria that were eligible were CL. It was cheaper for us to stay CL than not.

It is all about what you want to get out of a trip. I had the same budget for these two trips:

2 weeks, CSR, regular dining plan, flying, Disney + one day at Universal & Sea World
1 week CR CL, deluxe dining plan, driving, Disney only

Both were great trips, but we wanted different things out of each trip. It was very nice grabbing a beer each time I went to the room and bottles of water each time we left for a park.

 

[WMorganS]

Can't you also give the CL concierge a list of dining reservations at 11 months, and then forget about it? That's why I'd be tempted!

 

[sonofanarchy]

Why? Can you elaborate a bit?

Sure.

Hours. You'd think for $150 more per night (at least), the lounge would be open at least the entire day. It isn't. It's open for a very basic continental breakfast, then closes for about an hour and a half, then reopens for snacks for lunch, then closes again, then reopens for dinner appetizers. We went to get a drink from the fridge during one of the down times, and a CL CM told us to leave.

Room. Your room is no better than a standard room, except for a DVD player, which is useless if you have your own laptop. At the WL, the CL is on the top floor and you have to stand on your balcony in order to see anything.

Food. It's not like it's bad, but it isn't very good either. And we certainly didn't eat $150 of it per day. The best part was dessert, and you had to be there early as they always ran out. The snacks were just goldfish, gummy worms and M&M's.

Service. I was expecting something "magical" from the CM's. They do nothing (and know nothing) that we can't do ourselves. It takes just as much time for them to make an ADR as it does the Concierge at the front desk, and they have no more pull.

That's pretty much it.

 

[sonofanarchy]

You could just as easily question why someone would spend so much to stay in a deluxe at all when they get the same basic features in a value.

I used to think that until I stayed at a Deluxe. No comparison. The rooms are gorgeous. The pools are much nicer. There's room service. There are restaurants, not just a food court. Most importantly, there's the location. Nothing beats leaving Epcot after Illuminations and being back at your room in 5-7 minutes, and not having to worry about carrying sleeping kids along with a stroller onto a bus, while waiting for that bus with 500 other people.

That being said, Disney's Deluxe Resorts are way overpriced and I wouldn't stay there without a discount.

 

[Kim1964]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I have a quick question. A few of you have mentioned grabbing bottles of water to take to the parks. The first time we stayed CL (6 years ago) we could do that, but since then I haven't seen it. They've had the large bottles of Evian. Has this changed again? Or do they have bottles to go but you have to ask for them?

 

[DisneyMommaToTwo]

Can't you also give the CL concierge a list of dining reservations at 11 months, and then forget about it? That's why I'd be tempted!

This was one of my favorite perks! The Poly CL IPO made all of my reservations for me and for the times I wanted. It was perfect!

 

[Mousemommy1]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I have a quick question. A few of you have mentioned grabbing bottles of water to take to the parks. The first time we stayed CL (6 years ago) we could do that, but since then I haven't seen it. They've had the large bottles of Evian. Has this changed again? Or do they have bottles to go but you have to ask for them?

WL CL in 2012 did not have plastic water bottles to go, but YC CL in 2013 did have them. They didn't have them out but usually when we were leaving they would ask if we wanted some to take with us.

 

[samnbilly]

I think somehow Concierge has changed from what it was designed for, to a food substitution for some people.
If you've ever stayed Concierge at other travel destinations, you'd be able to compare.
For our family, it's for the help & convenience of adjusting our travel arrangements, ADR's, and other planning details.
No, I don't think they have the pull that some Concierge does to get an ADR that ppl book months & months in advance.
We change around our ADR's & such & they do that for us & I don't waste time on the phone or running around to do so.
They've helped me in the past in an emergency to set up a rental car when we were unable to fly home. I could've done this myself, but I wanted to enjoy my vacation & not deal with the details.
We use the lounge to let the kids grab breakfast while I'm getting ready in the a.m. That's a time saver. I don't look at it as a food savings plan. I have two teenagers that could clean that place dry if I let them, which I have seen people do that-
After we come back in the afternoon, my kids will grab a few snacks. Again-they're teenagers & they could eat all day!
We aren't usually there In the evening for appetizers or whatever is there-were out @ the parks & we have dinner reservations when I believe that's open. Probably if you were just adults & ate later, you'd have time & grab a few appetizers prior to dinner. Teenagers or not, we don't eat late, we never have & to me, there's nothing worse than an overtired baby, child or teenager during dinner..now that I'm getting older, I guess that sentence should include adult! Lol
We also stay Deluxe for the convenience of the proximity to the parks that those hotels are in.
I've stayed off-site & loved the extra room, but hated how far it seemed.
As for the alcohol & whatever else they serve @ night, my hubby will have one or two beers while we enjoy the balcony at night & our kids wind down & watch T.V. or whatever they're doing. I'm not a real big drinker, except when I pass the Margarita machine in Mexico! Yum! Lol

I'm not sure why people feel the need to justify the amount of money and ask themselves if they can possibly eat, say an extra? $500 for example on Concierge food? I suppose you can, & I'm pretty sure I've seen people who have tried, but that's not what my family uses it for. Everyone is different, & I don't begrudge whatever ppl use it for..for me, it's worth the extra $$, to use their services to free up my time sched activities last min. & changing ADR's & even travel plans. There are a few extra things I use them for, & to me, it's worth it. Like I've seen many other PP write, it's YOUR worth of something.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Please don't go to the lounge in your PJs Thank you

Uncivil and rude....

 

[sonofanarchy]

Uncivil and rude....

I agree, but I know why people do it. It's Disney and people are always walking around the hotel in their bathing suits, no shirts, etc.

 

[mefordis]

Are you aware concierge in the lobby will make adrs for you?

I think somehow Concierge has changed from what it was designed for, to a food substitution for some people.
If you've ever stayed Concierge at other travel destinations, you'd be able to compare.
For our family, it's for the help & convenience of adjusting our travel arrangements, ADR's, and other planning details.
No, I don't think they have the pull that some Concierge does to get an ADR that ppl book months & months in advance.
We change around our ADR's & such & they do that for us & I don't waste time on the phone or running around to do so.
They've helped me in the past in an emergency to set up a rental car when we were unable to fly home. I could've done this myself, but I wanted to enjoy my vacation & not deal with the details.
We use the lounge to let the kids grab breakfast while I'm getting ready in the a.m. That's a time saver. I don't look at it as a food savings plan. I have two teenagers that could clean that place dry if I let them, which I have seen people do that-
After we come back in the afternoon, my kids will grab a few snacks. Again-they're teenagers & they could eat all day!
We aren't usually there In the evening for appetizers or whatever is there-were out @ the parks & we have dinner reservations when I believe that's open. Probably if you were just adults & ate later, you'd have time & grab a few appetizers prior to dinner. Teenagers or not, we don't eat late, we never have & to me, there's nothing worse than an overtired baby, child or teenager during dinner..now that I'm getting older, I guess that sentence should include adult! Lol
We also stay Deluxe for the convenience of the proximity to the parks that those hotels are in.
I've stayed off-site & loved the extra room, but hated how far it seemed.
As for the alcohol & whatever else they serve @ night, my hubby will have one or two beers while we enjoy the balcony at night & our kids wind down & watch T.V. or whatever they're doing. I'm not a real big drinker, except when I pass the Margarita machine in Mexico! Yum! Lol

I'm not sure why people feel the need to justify the amount of money and ask themselves if they can possibly eat, say an extra? $500 for example on Concierge food? I suppose you can, & I'm pretty sure I've seen people who have tried, but that's not what my family uses it for. Everyone is different, & I don't begrudge whatever ppl use it for..for me, it's worth the extra $$, to use their services to free up my time sched activities last min. & changing ADR's & even travel plans. There are a few extra things I use them for, & to me, it's worth it. Like I've seen many other PP write, it's YOUR worth of something.

 

[samnbilly]

Are you aware concierge in the lobby will make adrs for you?

Um..yes, I am...if I had all day I'd stand in that line or try & come back a million times, but I don't care or want to.
As I said, these were the reasons I use concierge..I'm not asking anyone else to use it or use it for what I use it for!

 

[sonofanarchy]

Are you aware concierge in the lobby will make adrs for you?

Or you can pick up the phone from your room and press a button for Disney Dining.