Concierge Etiquette

[cmonroe]

AMEN. This is exactly what I posted above. You have hit the proverbial NAIL on the HEAD, Anne. CL floors are usually much more quiet too (IMHO). Robes, slippers, turndown...all such a integral part of the services associated with this feature. It's the same reason I enjoy flying FC...certainly NOT for the food, service, etc. But mainly for the "peace and quiet" of the small, private & comfortable cabin area. No kids "kicking" the back of my seat, or staring over the shoulder of the person in front of me (no heavily scented oils doused over children) . Since I consider my flight as much more than mere transportation (it's an essential part of my vacation experience), it begins my holiday off on the right foot. Staying in Concierge does exactly the same thing...and usually insures a wonderful & memorable visit! It's always nice to know others feel the same, and do not stay concierge "merely" for the buffet-food type offerings.

Dreamflight,

I have to ask. What kind of work do you do that you get 2+ months off from work?

 

[TammiMcMan]

You're from Saugus, Mass. Have you lived there long? My good friend's family is from Saugus.

Hi Craig, other than a brief stay in Lynn, I've been in Saugus almost my entire life. I think we moved here in 1971. I'm actually raising my family in the home I grew up in. Love the small town, but it's also great being just 15 minutes away from Boston. I live near Saugus Center.


Okay, I admit, the food offerings are a reason why I stay in concierge. I have 2 teenagers and a now 8 year old, but I do advise people not to try and justify the cost of concierge just based on the food. The amenities are nice, but you can get them to a certain degree as a regular guest also. Deluxe turndown service is available upon request and I know that the GF will also supply bathrobes if you ask. I understand that they are re-introducing guest services as "lobby concierge", but they've always been available on site to assist people with getting dining or other reservations. I won't generalize because I know there are some who save up for years to splurge and others who can readily afford concierge but decide to stay elsewhere. There's no right or wrong and we all have our own vacationing styles. I find nothing wrong with taking a plate of snacks back to your room, but would find it extreme to see someone filling a doggy bag. I don't think it's wrong to ask the staff to take care of all your priority seating needs, but I think it's too much if you demand the best seat in the house, at the best time of the day. I love seeing families together and think that all children should feel comfortable in the concierge lounge, I don't expect the staff or other guests to babysit them however. Most of this just seems like common sense and common courtesy and I think that a majority of the time, that's exactly what I witness. There are bound to be a few people that make us roll our eyes but that's what makes people watching so much fun .

Tammi

 

[dreamflight99]

Dreamflight,

I have to ask. What kind of work do you do that you get 2+ months off from work?

I take much more than 2+ months off...that's just in the summer!

 

[cmonroe]

Ok... I won't pry further.

 

[chobie]

Here we go, as usual. I never once said that people can behave anyway they want at WDW or otherwise. My point was simply this: why complain about how rude it is to take take too much food or water, etc and then be just as rude with your post. Pointing out that you shouldn't budget less money for food is one thing but did you read the original post? It wasn't about helping people at all, it was about complaining. Let's not try and make it something it's not. I don't know how thick skinned either one of us is, to be honest, and I am not sure if you read every post in this VERY LONG thread, but if you go through them, I think you will see what I mean.

ITA. The original post and many of the responses, seem to many of us nasty and petty, not classy or helpful.

 

[dreamflight99]

I only thought one or two posts went a little over the edge. I agree a few posts were somewhat rude but in general I thought this thread is much better than mug and pool hopping threads. I think the vast majority of posts were fair. The vast majority of posts in this thread made valid points regarding inappropriate dress and hogging of food.

DITTO.

 

[LindaR]

Wow! This thread lasted much longer than I thought it would...........but it's finally turned into folks on the defensive becoming offensive.

I'm the one who said that I was a snob. After reading the last page, I still stand by my beliefs! I'll do my thing and you can do yours and I KNOW our paths will not cross.......you may continue to fill multitudes of plates with your bare hands........! (joke)

Some folks DO know that concierge is much much more than food.........it's a LEVEL of service.

Let's try not to insult each other........we are each entitled to differing opinions..........I voiced mine and I certainly appreciated reading others, even if they disagree.

Peace.

 

[jenjersnap]

I am so glad to read the latest additions to this thread! The tone has become much more compassionate and less pretentious. I read the concierge threads because I have always hoped to stay CL at Disney, but I have decided that we will not now.

Now, DH and I have never stayed CL anywhere before ... not because it's out of our financial reach, far from it, but because we are relatively frugal people and have other priorities. However, we always thought Disney CL would be perfect, since, for us, all of Disney is a Fantasyland, a place to splurge for us and, especially, our two small boys. For us, the lounge seemed a relaxing place to start our day with some good coffee, a paper, and, horrors, food, same thing for our afternoon rest breaks.

But, if on one side of the lounge, are a bunch of rugrats sticking their fingers in the food with their parents' complicity ... well, I would be horrified (perhaps not being able to overlook it is a sign that I am not classy enough for the concierge lounge) and would have to say something to a CM. My younger DS has a compromised immune system and a little bug from a healthy kid could make him very ill indeed so, yeah, we are very germ-conscious all over WDW. And, if on the other side of the lounge are people who are gonna sit in judgment of me and give me dirty looks if I had more than one glass of wine one evening, took a plate of cookies to my waking-from-a-nap kids or, heaven forbid, the last strawberry, or if my kids weren't perfect in the lounge (they are *very* well-behaved normally but they are young. They've been carried out of a few public situations, but I guess if we take them back to the room someone here will be complaining about the crying kid in the room next door) or some other supposed etiquette infraction... well, that makes me feel equally horrified and, again, not classy enough for the experience (a double whammy!). Since I don't like feeling uncomfortable or judged when I am paying $500/night, I think I will spend much less and get a standard deluxe room, use a Disney TA to land all the PSs we want (always worked so far) and keep germ-free food in our own fridge. Sure am going to miss the *idea* of concierge though. Maybe when the kids are teenagers and we'll REALLY need help feeding them we'll try it. J/K!

Sometimes I think the CL fans start these threads to discourage potential CLers, makes getting a room much easier after all the horror stories and bad attitudes have scared the potential competition away, no?

 

[Ladyhawke10]

ITA. The original post and many of the responses, seem to many of us nasty and petty, not classy or helpful.

My post included?? OK, when someone misreads me this badly it's time for ignore. What a bizarre misreading of my light-hearted post (meant for DISers to share about their wildest experiences in concierge).

 

[Sammie]

Bravo! I couldn't agree with you more.

Instead of deciding that other guests are beneath you, or weren't raised as well, or have less money or class, etc. etc. etc., why not just ask for more of what you want................when I pay for a character buffet, I expect to eat what I want and all that I want (and that's only $20 bucks) and when I pay for concierge ($$$) I expect no less - in addition to the other perks..

There in lies the problem, concierge is not a buffet. It's not an endless supply. It is a snack portion, based on occupancy of the concierge floor or building. If others take more than the appropriate portion, then others do without. Some do not have any idea of what the appropriate portion is. Whether that comes from ignorance or arrogance it truely does not matter, the action is still inappropriate.

There is proper protocol for behavior in a conceirge lounge. It makes no difference if the inappropriate behavior comes from someone that is staying concierge for the first time or their 100th. It makes no difference if the guest has saved years for this visit or wealthy. My comments have nothing to do with who these people are, but how they behave and the affect that has on others. Disney has changed the offerings in the concierge lounge due to abuses by this type of person, which is unfair to everyone that knows how to act as they should.

 

[Feralpeg]

We stayed AKL concierge during hurricane Frances. Once the storm kicked up, they were going to close the concierge lounge. We were sitting there having a drink because we knew that very soon we'd be confined to our room for awhile. A CM came over with bags that she had packed for us. She filled one bag with cans of soft drinks and the other with snacks. What a sweetheart!

 

[Sammie]

We stayed AKL concierge during hurricane Frances. Once the storm kicked up, they were going to close the concierge lounge. We were sitting there having a drink because we knew that very soon we'd be confined to our room for awhile. A CM came over with bags that she had packed for us. She filled one bag with cans of soft drinks and the other with snacks. What a sweetheart!

During Charley we were in the Sugar Loaf concierge at the Grand Floridian and because everyone was confined to the building and could not get out to go to the main building, they brought in extra food for the situation and kept the lounge replenished. It was a very nice gesture. They also had board games and such in the lounge for kids.

 

[Lewisc]

There in lies the problem, concierge is not a buffet. It's not an endless supply. It is a snack portion, based on occupancy of the concierge floor or building. If others take more than the appropriate portion, then others do without. Some do not have any idea of what the appropriate portion is. Whether that comes from ignorance or arrogance it truely does not matter, the action is still inappropriate. There is proper protocol for behavior in a conceirge lounge.

Sorry but IMHO it's up to the CM to politely educate the guests or even have a CM serve the guests. Put 2 chocolate strawberries on the plate and if the guest asks for more politely suggest they come back later. Disney can either expand the quantity of food or politely limit the quantities to snack portions. There has to be a polite way for a CM to suggest that guests shouldn't want eat so much as to kill their appetite for dinner.

Having guests that get there later do without isn't really the solution a deluxe resort should be doing.

I can understand the first come first served philosophy for the Continental breakfast buffet at a Days Inn but not at a deluxe hotel even if it is just for snacks.

 

[Threehearts]

To those who fly FC or for that matter BC, I see more and more children taking those seats. The Moms are frequently alone or with a nanny and are either paying or using their husband's many miles to upgrade. The days of guaranteed quiet in the upper class of planes are over. I should say that this is seen most often on long-haul flights.

Interesting experience re: bad manners-

When I returned from London on Monday evening, a VERY drunk man seated in my row was next to me at the carousel. As he screamed for all to hear, "When I pay(insert swear) $10,000 for first class, I should never have to wait for my luggage." This man in his expensive suit and overcoat proceeded to then fall over into the rotating carousel. I point this out and say again, that financial circumstances clearly do not in the least guarantee a thoughful and considerate person. Threehearts

 

[mycropht]

There in lies the problem, concierge is not a buffet. It's not an endless supply. It is a snack portion, based on occupancy of the concierge floor or building. If others take more than the appropriate portion, then others do without. Some do not have any idea of what the appropriate portion is. .....

Disney has changed the offerings in the concierge lounge due to abuses by this type of person, which is unfair to everyone that knows how to act as they should.

See, this is where you and I essentially differ. Yes, Concierge is not a buffet. HOWEVER, just as an example, when we were at WLCL last september they would always put out 2 branches of grapes. Not BUNCHES, the branches with 8-10 small grapes. So, 2 servings of grapes on the fruit and cheese platter. After TWO guests took their servings of grapes there were no grapes for anyone else.

Anyway you size it, that's poor service. That's the type of thing I take issue with. I don't think the WC staff needs to be downstairs making 8-10 cobblers to satisfy the hollow legs of the concierge guests, but there does need to be a reasonable accounting of the demands of guests. Quite frankly, if they are going to be so cheap as to limit a floor full of guests to less fruit than I would serve at a picnic, then there is a problem. We didn't have huge problems, but this is the ONLY time I have stayed concierge ANYPLACE (I've stayed club level many many times in my life....) that they have not made any attempt to replenish the food offerings during service hours.

 

[TPCShauna]

My husband and I are travelling to WDW in December for a week-long dream trip. We will be staying Yacht Club Concierge and chose CL for a variety of reasons.

1) We have no children and despite knowing that kids and WDW go hand in hand, we were hoping that CL might be a bit quieter than other levels.
2) I have travelled all over the world and stayed in many fabulous hotels. As a result, I like a higher level of service in my accommodations. CL offers that service with the dedicated check-in area, evening turn-down and extra amenities.
3) We like the additional space in CL rooms.
4) I would like assistance with my PS arrangements as this is our first extended trip to WDW.
5) We are thrilled that our light breakfast habits will be covered by the CL lounge morning offerings and are pleased that we will be able to snack throughout the day.

We have purchased the MYW plus dining plan and are planning several meals at the fine dining establishments around WDW so I anticipate that we will use the offerings in the lounge on a very limited basis. Were the food offerings part of the reason we chose CL? Yes, absolutely. Are we planning to eat there exclusively? Of course not. Will I be upset if I get to the CL lounge late and discover there is nothing left for me to snack on? Yes because I am paying the same rates as the gluttonous pigs who ate all of the food in the first place. I will expect that it be replenished and I will complain quietly to a CM and/or manager if it is not.

Disney fails with their policy of not replenishing food because they can't expect people to automatically know how to behave properly. I have a co-worker who is utterly class-less in every way and am typically surprised at the things that she just plain doesn't know because she has never been taught properly. She could easily afford a CL trip to WDW and would probably do several of the things mentioned in previous posts such as inviting her non-CL guests to get food, pile her plate and wear a bathrobe and no shoes to the lounge because she just doesn't know better. Until Disney posts a sign in the Concierge Lounge with rules (much like the sign at the pool), these people aren't going to know what is expected of them. The hardest part of expecting people to behave like a member of polite society is that many of them don't know what that entails.

Yes, I assume that there are going to be some people in the CL lounge who behave abominally but there is nothing I can do about it other than complain quietly to a CM if I feel that is warranted. If that makes me a snob then so be it. I still plan to have the best time I possibly can on my fabulous WDW vacation.

 

[csmommy]

There in lies the problem, concierge is not a buffet. It's not an endless supply. It is a snack portion, based on occupancy of the concierge floor or building. If others take more than the appropriate portion, then others do without. Some do not have any idea of what the appropriate portion is. Whether that comes from ignorance or arrogance it truely does not matter, the action is still inappropriate.

While I completely agree it is not a buffet (Shoney's ), Disney staff needs to make sure that everyone understands this. The area does indeed need to be "policed". If I am paying for conceirge I am entitled to what I am paying for, & if they run out, then they need to replenish for all people paying for conceirge, not just those that overindulge.

Perhaps the offerings should be laid out by room #, this way everyone knows what their fair share is .

Thankfully, I have never witnessed any of this at the Swan CL, now I am very worried about the Poly Concerige. Perhaps I will change to a standard room. I honestly do get upset if I pay for a servce, & do not receive it. So if check-in takes longer then it should due to lack of staff, or if my children & I show up towards the end of CL being open & there are no cookies left for them to have, I will be upset. Will I say something to the CM's, you bet I will. Why should I be penalized for their not doing their job?

 

[DisneyFans4]

CSMommy-
This definitely does not occur at the Swan. We stayed there last year and it was great! I don't know if you stayed there but if you did then you know they make you sign in to confirm your a concierge guest in the first place. I think Disney should start doing the same.
I think half of the problem at Poly is that most of those taking advantage of the lounge are NOT concierge guests.

 

[Sammie]

See, this is where you and I essentially differ. Yes, Concierge is not a buffet. HOWEVER, just as an example, when we were at WLCL last september they would always put out 2 branches of grapes. Not BUNCHES, the branches with 8-10 small grapes. So, 2 servings of grapes on the fruit and cheese platter. After TWO guests took their servings of grapes there were no grapes for anyone else.

Anyway you size it, that's poor service. That's the type of thing I take issue with. I don't think the WC staff needs to be downstairs making 8-10 cobblers to satisfy the hollow legs of the concierge guests, but there does need to be a reasonable accounting of the demands of guests. Quite frankly, if they are going to be so cheap as to limit a floor full of guests to less fruit than I would serve at a picnic, then there is a problem. We didn't have huge problems, but this is the ONLY time I have stayed concierge ANYPLACE (I've stayed club level many many times in my life....) that they have not made any attempt to replenish the food offerings during service hours.

Oh I agree completely. Disney has gotten miseraly with their portions. But I think its due to the abuse. It did not use to be this way. You could go to the lounge eat, not stuff yourself and at the end of the time period there would actually be food left.

I think the changes which are not good for anyone, have come from the abuses of a few. That is why I won't say concierge anymore, especially at the Polynesian. I would rather pay for a lagoon room and have room service.

 

[Sammie]

Sorry but IMHO it's up to the CM to politely educate the guests or even have a CM serve the guests. Put 2 chocolate strawberries on the plate and if the guest asks for more politely suggest they come back later. Disney can either expand the quantity of food or politely limit the quantities to snack portions. There has to be a polite way for a CM to suggest that guests shouldn't want eat so much as to kill their appetite for dinner.

Having guests that get there later do without isn't really the solution a deluxe resort should be doing.

I can understand the first come first served philosophy for the Continental breakfast buffet at a Days Inn but not at a deluxe hotel even if it is just for snacks.

Sadly that is not the Disney way. Instead of doing that, they will simply stop offering the strawberries to anyone rather than have to say something to a few.