Concierge/Club Level Information- Part IV, July 2012

[HBGdancermom]

Goodness, this canard has been rehashed in my absence again.

Just back. I admit, I momentarily contemplated this while we were there. Thinking about this while at WDW reinforced my opinion that worrying about what other folks ate is beyond silly. Let me count a few ways...

First off, who paid rack vs. 30% off? That's $150/day! How many rolls is $150/day? What about guests in the $2000+/day 2bdrm suite? How many extra rolls does $2000/DAY buy?

Second, CL is a 'flat rate'. Should a family of four eat 1/4 the food a solo guest eats?

To determine anything, IMO, you'd have to follow the other guests from check-in to check out, otherwise you can't assume much of anything.

Maybe they only ate 'appetizers' two days of ten. Skipped breakfast? ($13 per adult/day) Skipped wine ($7+ per glass in the bar)? Was their food bread ($4 a loaf) vs. lobster salad ($30+ per pound)? (BC)

Did you confirm they ate 'full' portions at the buffets like non-CL guests do? They paid just as much.

I love CL, and this was the most laid back trip we ever took. We were at WL for four nights: two park days, plus 1/2day in TL. Even still, we missed at least half the food periods. I can't imagine anyone going to WDW and spending an entire week in the lounge. They'd miss everything else at WDW! Very sad.

Beyond that, leftovers get tossed! Meanwhile, staff asked us multiple times if they could get us more to drink. They also replenish food trays as needed. The only time they don't is the end of offering periods. Even then, they are usually willing to get you almost anything you request duing their hours. Staff has told me that on every CL visit.

Shall I continue?

People in the lounge are NOT using buses, boats, or attractions. Gas is $3.50 a gallon... How many times per day can guests use the free boats? Toilet flushing? Showering? Shampoo? How many newspapers and extra park maps did he grab? Should we penalize the little kid who takes a fresh map every day even though dad's got a smartphone?

How many hours per day are guests allowed to use park tickets? How many rolls do you give the guy who pays for a park ticket he didn't use? Or only used for one how between food offerings?

The variables are just too complicated, IMO.

Good points.

 

[sjs314]

I know that I tried to center our evenings around the lounge this trip, only one evening we have dinner at Flying Fish at 550 (Villains party that night) but other than that we will be in the lounge at 5 and then go back to the parks!

We have 4/7 breakfasts out of the Lounge, does this mean I get more appetizers in the evening? JK!!!!! lol

I actually did the same for our upcoming trip Planning on dinner at Kouzzina's 6:30 and Flying Fish 6:05 I figure have a few apps in the lounge then afterwards dessert in the lounge as we watch IllumiNations from the lounge balcony. I am thinking it will be a nice way to end two of our days.

 

[imobsessedwithdisney]

Has bc started to label their offerings yet? I'm a vegetarian and didn't want to try much of there offerings bc I didn't want to chance eating any chicken meat or fish.

 

[Ofinn]

I have to say...this is such a well-though-out response to this whole issue! I completely agree with everything you said!

Well almost everything...

You said you couldn't imagine anyone going to WDW for a week and spending the entire time in the lounge. Well, we just got back from 8 days at Poly CL and we did partake in almost every food offering. Crazy, I know! We've been to WDW so many times that we decided to really dial it back this time, relax, and enjoy the resort and being together as a family. We hung out by the pool a lot, we watched Wishes from our room 3 nights and from the lounge 1 night, we did the torch lighting ceremony and the marshmallow roast, etc, etc. Don't get me wrong...we definitely visited the parks. But, we just made an effort to head back to the resort every day around snack and appetizer time for some good ole fashioned hangin' out and relaxin'! Very sad? Definitely not

But, seriously, thanks for your post. You have a great way of looking at things. There really is no good way to judge...just too many variables.

Your not alone. If I'm going to pay for club level we take advantage of all the offerings. We don't spend a lot of time in the parks. We were at BC last year, and we met another family that was staying club level. The mom told me that they only drink water, and they don't eat the food because it's not organic. They were building a home at Windemere (sp). The same community Tiger Woods lives in so I guess money wasn't a object.

 

[scottmel]

I don't know why this bothers anyone? At appetizer hour I will eat a mini meal. Easy! However we don't drink alcohol or eat sugar and don't do much processed foods. So if you see me loading up on the veggie dishes several times this is why! Or that I have 4 eggwhites at breakfast but don't touch the bagels or sweets, this is why. Disney either needs to do away with ALL food offerings and lower the price (keep it to cold drinks and afternoon snacks constantly) or accept that guests will be eating the food. .

 

[2manypets]

I don't know why this bothers anyone? At appetizer hour I will eat a mini meal. Easy! However we don't drink alcohol or eat sugar and don't do much processed foods. So if you see me loading up on the veggie dishes several times this is why! Or that I have 4 eggwhites at breakfast but don't touch the bagels or sweets, this is why. Disney either needs to do away with ALL food offerings and lower the price (keep it to cold drinks and afternoon snacks constantly) or accept that guests will be eating the food. .

I don't think it's Disney that needs to accept it, they replace the food regularly, they got it already. However I think it's some of the other guests need to get a clue and not snarl or look at the people that actually take advantage of the offering like "they just don't get It".

 

[Deb123]

Your not alone. If I'm going to pay for club level we take advantage of all the offerings. We don't spend a lot of time in the parks. We were at BC last year, and we met another family that was staying club level. The mom told me that they only drink water, and they don't eat the food because it's not organic. They were building a home at Windemere (sp). The same community Tiger Woods lives in so I guess money wasn't a object.

On our recent stay at WL CL, I pretty much laid around at the resort, because I was recovering from surgery and limited as to what I could do. I figured that WL CL was a great place to recuperate, and it was!

 

[sarmat1]

I don't think it's Disney that needs to accept it, they replace the food regularly, they got it already. However I think it's some of the other guests need to get a clue and not snarl or look at the people that actually take advantage of the offering like "they just don't get It".

Absolutely correct. Disney already has no problem with anyone eating and drinking as much as they want at the clubs. It's a small minority of guests (and a couple of posters on this Board) that for some reason think you're only allowed to have one morsel and then need to stop. The only tangible benefit to CL is the food and drink. If those people don't want to partake in what's offered, I'm not sure why they would even book CL to being with. Eat and drink all you want. That's what it's there for. And the CM's will tell you this as well as keep bringing out more as long as people want it.

 

[AliceIn]

I don't think it's Disney that needs to accept it, they replace the food regularly, they got it already. However I think it's some of the other guests need to get a clue and not snarl or look at the people that actually take advantage of the offering like "they just don't get It".

If you ask folks who have stayed club level over the last 10 years, you'll find that Disney has seriously scaled back offerings and stopped offering a lot of the things they used to. They used to have a much higher quality and a greater selection of food. Ever wonder why they had to do that?

 

[2manypets]

If you ask folks who have stayed club level over the last 10 years, you'll find that Disney has seriously scaled back offerings and stopped offering a lot of the things they used to. They used to have a much higher quality and a greater selection of food. Ever wonder why they had to do that?

No I never had to wonder why they did this. Basically it's their bottom dollar. The scale down has happened all over WDW. The restaurant menus are terribly scaled down and quality is not what it used to be.

The added benefits of staying onsite (ie. the shorter EMH's) have decreased as well.

I'm sure it's not because a few people were extra hungry a night or two of their stay.

 

[AliceIn]

I'm sure it's not because a few people were extra hungry a night or two of their stay.

Or a lot of people using the appetizers as a full meal.

 

[gwynne]

If you ask folks who have stayed club level over the last 10 years, you'll find that Disney has seriously scaled back offerings and stopped offering a lot of the things they used to. They used to have a much higher quality and a greater selection of food. Ever wonder why they had to do that?

Could be.

I also think that occasionally folks that are new to CL don't always consider that they have other options. It's really not either a big huge meal at a restaurant or dinner in the lounge.
We often enjoy some lounge snacks, and the have a dinner reservation. We will order a couple of salads and share an appetizer or just two appetizers. We get to enjoy both places, the lounge and a restaurant, without feeling over full.
Some days we'll have a yummy late lunch, and then only want some snacks, and then dessert later.
During food and wine, occasionally we enjoy a few lounge snacks, and then head out to sample some more booths.
There are lots of options, that's the great thing about WDW.

 

[samnbilly]

Can we please move on from this food issue & get back to what the concierge lounge used to be about. Info from others to share advice about upcoming trips, hearing about people's previous trips, suggestions on how to work with IPO..
This used to be a warm place..we don't need to get into rude comments, people's explanations of what their meal habits are..I myself have been guilty of getting involved in this hot topic. I have always enjoyed staying CL, & I don't want to get Into reasons of its worth or anything else of the sort. Lets enjoy what this CL thread used to be about-I'm sure some of you posters can remember being on this thread years ago with some really "interesting" people...Regardless-this was always an extremely welcoming thread..lets keep it that way

 

[Disney Diva Mom]

Ditto!!!

 

[eeyore81]

Anyone have any recent reviews of AKL CL or any tips which will help us enjoy our stay? We leave in 3 weeks. Getting excited!!!

 

[sjs314]

I do have a question about BWI.....I have read that the cold beverages are kept on a tub of ice in the Innkeepers Club as opposed to a Cooler like in the other CL Lounges and do wonder why? Was there a cooler originally which broke and was just never replaced? Just seems odd to me that the beverages are stored in this manner.

 

[gwynne]

I do have a question about BWI.....I have read that the cold beverages are kept on a tub of ice in the Innkeepers Club as opposed to a Cooler like in the other CL Lounges and do wonder why? Was there a cooler originally which broke and was just never replaced? Just seems odd to me that the beverages are stored in this manner.

It is sort of odd that they don't have a cooler. For as long as we've stayed there, though, it's been a tub of ice on the table.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

Should we do online check- in if staying CL? Or does it really not matter either way?

 

[gwynne]

Anyone have any recent reviews of AKL CL or any tips which will help us enjoy our stay? We leave in 3 weeks. Getting excited!!!

Our trip is coming up soon, too! It is exciting.
It's been a few years since we've stayed CL at AKL, so I don't have any new CL tips. But whenever I am at Jambo house or Kidani, I always try to make time to really enjoy my surroundings. Art, cool sayings, the animals, so much to see!

I have been enjoying these youtube videos (below) about AKL/CL. They are current, uploaded in the last few days.
They use the magicbands in the video, fun to see. Enjoy your stay!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrOMkv7USZo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKRzhXJ8kr8

 

[Disney Diva Mom]

Our trip is coming up soon, too! It is exciting.
It's been a few years since we've stayed CL at AKL, so I don't have any new CL tips. But whenever I am at Jambo house or Kidani, I always try to make time to really enjoy my surroundings. Art, cool sayings, the animals, so much to see!

I have been enjoying these youtube videos (below) about AKL/CL. They are current, uploaded in the last few days.
They use the magicbands in the video, fun to see. Enjoy your stay!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrOMkv7USZo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKRzhXJ8kr8

Thank you! Going to AKL CL in 3 weeks too and so excited. First time at a deluxe let alone a CL. How are the views from the CL rooms?