Concierge/Club Level Information - Part III (October 2010)

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I've probably mentioned this before - and probably even to you, but it bears repeating. One reason we love the Old Faithful Club so much is that they are one of the last bastions of WDW CL civility. The CMs DO enforce the lounge rules, when they see infractions, and they do confront the guests in a polite, but firm manner. Twice I have seen younger guests enter the lounge with only socks on, and both times a CM told the offender that they must have footwear on in order to enter the lounge. I even thanked the CM one time for asking the guest to put footwear on. She said that it was important to the CMs that all guests have an enjoyable experience at WL and that the rules are there for a reason.

I remember in December 2010 when I stayed CL at the BWI while I was speaking with one of their Cast Members a guest came up and asked if they could have a bottle of wine for their room. This guest was then told they are not allowed to give out bottles of wine, however she was welcome to have all the glasses she wanted inside the lounge. Then this guest said she saw another Cast Member giving someone else a bottle of wine, although it could have been a bottle of Evian. What I found even more funny is that this guest then mentioned how her stay had been horrible from the start. I thought to myself how convenient that she mentions this when all this Cast Member did was enforce that rule.

 

[WDWKOOK]

The original post of the thread says that concierge level services is offered at an additional fee. So, does this mean that it costs money to get the services to help book dining and other services mentioned? I have never stayed club level before and staying at the Beach Club, Concierge Level in April this year. Thanks in advance for the help!

Congratulations on booking CL! The "additional fee" is mis-leading. CL is a bookable category, so once booked, there isn't an additional fee. If you don't book it, there isn't the option of paying for certain CL services. You have to actually book CL (or be magically upgraded at check-in or pay to upgrade at check-in) to use the services. You can go to the WDW booking page or to their room rate page and view the cost difference between a CL room and a non-CL room.

Your trip is coming up soon! Have a great vacation

I remember in December 2010 when I stayed CL at the BWI while I was speaking with one of their Cast Members a guest came up and asked if they could have a bottle of wine for their room. This guest was then told they are not allowed to give out bottles of wine, however she was welcome to have all the glasses she wanted inside the lounge. Then this guest said she saw another Cast Member giving someone else a bottle of wine, although it could have been a bottle of Evian. What I found even more funny is that this guest then mentioned how her stay had been horrible from the start. I thought to myself how convenient that she mentions this when all this Cast Member did was enforce that rule.

It must not always be pleasant and easy being the "lounge police," but as the WL CM told me, it's their job to make the CL experience a great one for everyone. So taking bottles of wine back to your room that are out for other guests to enjoy diminishes another guest's enjoyment of the lounge. Too bad that guest didn't like beer because she could have taken as much as she liked of those since they're in individual bottles and/or she could have taken glasses of wine back to her room

 

[turningleaf]

Thank you all for your replies!

We are almost sure to try WL for the 1st half of the trip. Again I was tempted to return to CR (afraid of WL rooms being old) but I read that the BLT slide is closed for refurbishing, which might mean more people at the CR pool.

The second half I'm still undecided. DH wants BWI but I think it may be a good time to experiment with YC or BC (Well maybe YC to get a Garden View full balcony). Seeing as the Crowd Calendar says the parks won't be at peak, perhaps the hotel itself won't be as crowded and we can enjoy both the SAB and the CL. I'll check again on BWI availability when the system goes up. Can't decide!

Re bussing at the lounges, it's like comparing eating at a restaurant I guess. In nice restaurants we wouldn't expect to bus our own tables right? But that is because the restaurant would ideally be equipped with enough staff. The reason I prefer to do it at the CL is often times there are other persons waiting for or about to want a table. If I'm seated and I see that people are filing in and getting in line for the offerings, I hurry up and get going so as not to have a shortage of seating in the lounge. In those cases, I prefer to leave a clean table for the next person instead of having them wait for the CM to clear the table. I find it so awkward standing with plates in hand, next to a table with dirty plates, waiting for it to be cleared.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Re bussing at the lounges, it's like comparing eating at a restaurant I guess. In nice restaurants we wouldn't expect to bus our own tables right? But that is because the restaurant would ideally be equipped with enough staff. The reason I prefer to do it at the CL is often times there are other persons waiting for or about to want a table. If I'm seated and I see that people are filing in and getting in line for the offerings, I hurry up and get going so as not to have a shortage of seating in the lounge. In those cases, I prefer to leave a clean table for the next person instead of having them wait for the CM to clear the table. I find it so awkward standing with plates in hand, next to a table with dirty plates, waiting for it to be cleared.

Personally I wouldn't compare bussing tables in the lounge to when that's done in a restaurant. Like I said before the Boardwalk Inn lounge has a table where guests leave their dirty plates and etc, which is always in view and I never understood why some guests choose to leave the tables dirty with their plates and etc. I mean everyone walks past it when leaving so it's not like they couldn't see it, however in this case common sense doesn't kick in for some guests and they still leave their dirty plates and etc on the tables. So the way I see it when the guests clean up after themselves they make it eaiser for the next set of guests who would be sitting down at those tables after them. Although the actual cleaning of the tables is done by the Cast Members when they wipe it down.

Now this is just my personal opinion but even during times when the lounge might get busier I don't rush to eat just so someone else can get the table I am sitting at. I will admit we try to get back to the lounge for 5:00 PM so we can get a table and we like to relax in there, so we will take our time and it's not my fault if the lounge got busy. Finally I realize it depends on what guests are doing and where they are, however everyone who stays Club Level is told what times each food service is at. So if they get to the lounge and can't find a table that's their problem and not mine, which is why I won't feel rushed giving up the table I am sitting down at.

 

[mirage0306]

I remember in December 2010 when I stayed CL at the BWI while I was speaking with one of their Cast Members a guest came up and asked if they could have a bottle of wine for their room. This guest was then told they are not allowed to give out bottles of wine, however she was welcome to have all the glasses she wanted inside the lounge. Then this guest said she saw another Cast Member giving someone else a bottle of wine, although it could have been a bottle of Evian. What I found even more funny is that this guest then mentioned how her stay had been horrible from the start. I thought to myself how convenient that she mentions this when all this Cast Member did was enforce that rule.

I have no problem with this rule or anything, but what about beer--you can take that out of the lounge, correct?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I have no problem with this rule or anything, but what about beer--you can take that out of the lounge, correct?

Yes you can take bottles of Beer out of the lounge if you feel like it.

 

[mirage0306]

Super! That's what I thought--thanks for confirming.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Super! That's what I thought--thanks for confirming.

You're welcome.

 

[goofy4mykids]

Yes you can take bottles of Beer out of the lounge if you feel like it.

Will they allow you to put a few "stock ur frig" with a couple of beers? We enjoy and evening night cap on our balcony while on vacation? Will they charge for this or remove the items from the frig when they clean the room? DH and I like to take advantage of EMH and the lounge will be closed when we return most nights. When staying non CL we always bring our own (we wont sit at a lounge/bar with our kids). TIA Kim

 

[DisMomAmy]

Just to clarify, I can or can't take a glass of wine back to my room? (Assuming I'm wearing shoes... )

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Will they allow you to put a few "stock ur frig" with a couple of beers? We enjoy and evening night cap on our balcony while on vacation? Will they charge for this or remove the items from the frig when they clean the room? DH and I like to take advantage of EMH and the lounge will be closed when we return most nights. When staying non CL we always bring our own (we wont sit at a lounge/bar with our kids). TIA Kim

If you want to take a couple of them to your room and keep them in your fridge that's ok.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Just to clarify, I can or can't take a glass of wine back to my room? (Assuming I'm wearing shoes... )

Taking a glass back to your room is ok, just remember to bring the glass back to the lounge when your finished with it.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Will they allow you to put a few "stock ur frig" with a couple of beers? We enjoy and evening night cap on our balcony while on vacation? Will they charge for this or remove the items from the frig when they clean the room? DH and I like to take advantage of EMH and the lounge will be closed when we return most nights. When staying non CL we always bring our own (we wont sit at a lounge/bar with our kids). TIA Kim

Yep, put as many as you like in there and no one will remove anything from your fridge until after you checkout

Just to clarify, I can or can't take a glass of wine back to my room? (Assuming I'm wearing shoes... )

Yes, IF you are wearing shoes, you may take as many glasses as you can carry back with you and you can keep coming back for refills, as long as those shoe are still on

 

[goofy4mykids]

If you want to take a couple of them to your room and keep them in your fridge that's ok.

Thanks for the quick reply CR Resort Fan ! Now I dont have to stop at a store I think this trip is going to spoil us

 

[DisMomAmy]

Taking a glass back to your room is ok, just remember to bring the glass back to the lounge when your finished with it.

Yep, put as many as you like in there and no one will remove anything from your fridge until after you checkout



Yes, IF you are wearing shoes, you may take as many glasses as you can carry back with you and you can keep coming back for refills, as long as those shoe are still on

OK Thanks! I'll keep my shoes on & my shirt too! (And will bring my glass back when I'm done.) I thought I could but got a little confused after reading the story about the people who wanted to take a whole bottle back... which I won't do. Thanks!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for the quick reply CR Resort Fan ! Now I dont have to stop at a store I think this trip is going to spoil us

You're welcome and I was happy to help.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

OK Thanks! I'll keep my shoes on & my shirt too! (And will bring my glass back when I'm done.) I thought I could but got a little confused after reading the story about the people who wanted to take a whole bottle back... which I won't do. Thanks!

If you read what I said before this guest asked for their own bottle of wine from the back because she claimed having saw a Cast Member giving one to another guest, however she might have seen them getting one of those glass bottles of Evian which a guest can ask for and thought it was a bottle of wine.

 

[mbcary]

Congratulations on booking CL! The "additional fee" is mis-leading. CL is a bookable category, so once booked, there isn't an additional fee. If you don't book it, there isn't the option of paying for certain CL services. You have to actually book CL (or be magically upgraded at check-in or pay to upgrade at check-in) to use the services. You can go to the WDW booking page or to their room rate page and view the cost difference between a CL room and a non-CL room.

Your trip is coming up soon! Have a great vacation


Thank you so much! I was thinking this was the case, but wanted to confirm.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thank you so much! I was thinking this was the case, but wanted to confirm.

You're welcome.

 

[turningleaf]

We have booked WL CL and BWI CL for our stay. Thanks for all your advice!

The first time that we ever booked BWI CL we did not know that you check in upstairs. We went to the regular desk and the CM helping us didn't seem to know about it either, as she told us our room wasn't ready and told us to return at 4pm. (We had arrived at 1pm). When we returned at 4pm she told us our room still wasn't ready but that she would give us our keys and she gave us regular (blue) key cards and said she would page us when they were ready. At this point DH and DD were getting tired, but luckily just then a manager happened to be behind her and stepped in and changed the color of the key cards. Again, I didn't know they were supposed to be a different color. She said our room was ready and sent us upstairs and we met Pete and he was surprised that they weren't informed we had arrived. But I wonder now if we could have saved 3 hours and perhaps our room was ready and the CM just didn't know. Well we didn't know any better then.

At our next visit however, we were greeted at the driveway and brought upstairs just like everyone here says. This was very pleasant as my mom happened to be with us and she thoroughly enjoyed herself. We hadn't been in touch with IPO because we really don't need any ADR's and such - I make them myself. It seems like they were alerted by the gate that time.

So, this time, should I rely on the gate informing the CL of our arrival or should I tell them ahead of time? How do I do this, by online check in or by contacting the IPO? I have not received any emails but then, I just booked yesterday.

Also, any advice on what kind of CL room to request at WL? We would like to see the boats coming and going, but not be too far from the lounge.