Concierge Etiquette

[chobie]

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).

She's ignoring me not because I was insulting her but because she did not like they way I interpreted her post?

So, if you don't agree with her view of the world you don't exist?

So much for reality.

The truth must hurt.

 

[macfamily]

All I can say is, I think I'm glad I decided to stay at one of the value resorts! I know it won't be quite up to the "standards" of the concierge resorts, and I'm sure I'll see plenty to gawk at there, but at least I won't be as offended as I would if I paid the price I would at the upper echelon resorts

 

[csmommy]

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.

Yes, the Swan did make us sign in now that I think about it.

I had been e-mailing the CL staff at the Poly regarding our stay. They were not able to get the PS's I wanted. I am almost tempted to send an e-mail regarding all that I have heard about the Poly Concierge & say I am thinking of changing my ressies & see what they say.

 

[DisneyFans4]

CsMommy-
And if you recall there were CM's in that Swan lounge at all times.

 

[csmommy]

CsMommy-
And if you recall there were CM's in that Swan lounge at all times.

I guess what your saying is I will not find a Mama T or Thebo type anywhere but the Swan.

 

[SB in KY]

2 summers ago we stayed in a concierge level room at the Hard Rock by Universal for 2 nights...and if you think Disney concierge lounges are a zoo....this one took the cake.

The first night we stopped by the lounge to get a drink and my daughter got in the cattle call for the food line (mooooo) and right in front of her was a young woman apparently in her early 20's....she was alone and after fingering all of the crackers and most of the cheese, she selects several pieces, picks them up, sniffs them, LICKS 2 of them and puts them BACK ON THE TRAY!!! She then moves onto veggies and dip, repeats the fingering and then picks up the ladle out of the dip and DRINKS some of the dip before pouring some on her plate and returning the ladle to the bowl!! (talk about a way to clear out the crowd in the food line!! About 10 people suck air, gag, set their plates down and leave FAST!!) We walked over to the concierge and told them what had happened and here was her response "Oh yea, that's Susie (not her real name), she stays here with her parents all the time, see, they are right over there. She is sort of autistic, so she does wierd things like that all the time. You should see her at breakfast, she likes to lick all the donuts" (want to guess what I did NOT eat for breakfast the next AM?)

Now mind you this woman made no move to have the food trays that had been "taste tested" removed from the line or ask the parents to supervise the woman more closely or anything....that was it. She did at my daughters request finally call someone to bring a clean serving spoon out for the dip (but never had the bowl replaced).

Everytime we went into the lounge for drinks (often it was hot!!) this woman was there with food, often in line and always fingering, sniffing, "tasting and returning" etc. Never saw anyone intervene, but we did watch a lot of people behind her leave rather quickly!!

And people there would line up 1/2 way down the hall and pile entire trays full of loaded plates before heading back to their rooms. One AM this man in his robe and barefooted comes around the corner from the lounge as we are waiting on the elevator with a tray that had enough food on it to feed a NFL team for breakfast....he must have had 4 dozen donuts and pasteries... as we all turn and stare he says "Just taking my wife a little breakfast in bed" and my daughter mutters "Watch out for the wet donuts"

 

[tiggersmom2]

OMG!!!!! SB in KY you win .....hands down.....that was the worst. Autistic or not...I would have had a little chat with the CM's and the parent's. That is just ridiculous.

 

[Nik's Mom]

We have been considering a stay at one of the concierge levels. We even booked a room, but recently switched to POFQ. After reading this thread, I'm glad we changed our minds. While I love the idea of having a lounge to relax in, and a special check in area, it's not worth the headache. Seems like too many greedy people stay there (not directing that comment to anyone here). If we ever consider concierge, I'd stay at the Swan and Dolphin.

Why do so many threads end up with mud slinging? As a famous L.A. resident once said, "Can't we all just get along?".

 

[epcotfan]

OMG!!!!! SB in KY you win .....hands down.....that was the worst. Autistic or not...I would have had a little chat with the CM's and the parent's. That is just ridiculous.

DITTO. I would be infuriated to pay that much money for food I couldn't eat because of some careless parent not watching their child. I don't care that she was in her twenties and autistic. That unsanitary behavior should have been stopped immediately by the staff.

 

[Sammie]

We have been considering a stay at one of the concierge levels. We even booked a room, but recently switched to POFQ. After reading this thread, I'm glad we changed our minds. While I love the idea of having a lounge to relax in, and a special check in area, it's not worth the headache. Seems like too many greedy people stay there (not directing that comment to anyone here). If we ever consider concierge, I'd stay at the Swan and Dolphin.

Why do so many threads end up with mud slinging? As a famous L.A. resident once said, "Can't we all just get along?".

Don't blame you at all. For the cost of concierge you could get 2 rooms or some pretty fabulous dinners.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

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.

You should be fine at the YC. I saw a very pleasant atmosphere when I visited the lounge there. I most appreciate concierge for the same (second) reason that you listed (higher level service). I am passionate about luxury hotels and love to learn about the history and culture of the place where I am staying. A vacation is as much about the hotel for me as the location (we love the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec and the Lodge at Koele in Lanai--truly unique ). During our WDW CL we haven't seen much that was overly unusual, so it is amusing to me to hear all the wild things people have witnessed. I like hearing about all the ranges of experiences people can have, good or bad. I think you will enjoy YC concierge, I found the CMs very nice

 

[Ladyhawke10]

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.

Kind of makes me wonder about that cheesecake or torte I was hearing was offered at dessert time at the Beach club concierge....I never saw one (only saw the petite fours)...did someone eat it every night before we got there???
Maybe the guy taking full bottles of wine was taking off with the whole cake, too??

(I'm kidding...sorry, couldn't resist...it's just me to find the humor in it--and it DOES explain why we never saw a cake )

 

[nwdisgal]

That 20 something gal with autism at Universal licking the food and such sounds like an exception to the rule. Most kids affected by this condition today receive social skills training of some sort early on and are better mannered than many of their mainstream peers IMO... It might be scripted, but they have the manners Clearly that was an isolated case, with a parents being asleep at the switch, more than the condition of that gal's autism causing that behavior.

Lodge at Koele is top notch, puts the "S" in Service.

Sorry to hear about the recent bad "people" experiences at concierge level. Alot of it is this " me first mentality". When you live in a tourist spot, you definately see the rude people who think the world owes them something because they are dropping a dollar here (and I'm not talking about the people who live here).

 

[chucknjulie]

In my opinion..I don't care if I get flamed............you need to stay somewhere else.......somewhere within your real budget.
...If you have to "ask" what concierge IS, what the "food offerings" are..........well, ...............

If LindaR and some of the other posters on this thread had been in the right position of power, I'd have been denied a truly wonderful blessing last month.

I didn't know what "the concierge level" was! I can imagine the mouths gaping... No, I wasn't born in a barn, and not that I have a problem with mobile homes, but I don't happen to live in one. On real estate ads, our developement is called "highly exclusive" - but I guess not quite exclusive enough - because I live here - and I didn't know what the concierge level was!

I had a room I had booked with a promo code (ehhwww, stop reading now if you're starting to feel ill, LindaR) at the WL. We got off of our cruise ship in Ft L and drove to Orlando. When we went to check in, they said "Congratulations, you've been upgraded to our concierge level" I said "How nice, Thank you" But, I didn't know what I was thankful for. When I realized what had been done, I went back and told the cm thank you - I was so touched. (Little did I know, if LindaR was there, she'd have sent me right back down the elevator to a lower level where I belonged!)

There were 4 of us, all adults and we enjoyed it very much. We didn't steal wine bottles and we didn't hoard food or try to sneak doggy bags. (There was one father who watched as his daughter coughed all over the fresh fruit, but I stood there, and politely warned a couple people - and the cm brought a fresh bowl out at my request)

I am really surprised some of you mix with the commoners at any amusement park. I mean, really - people as a rule can just be so tacky - I'm shocked you've survived it at all.

 

[ducklite]

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. Threehearts

Absolutely hysterical!!! Did his chauffer have to fish him out? ::::::snicker::::::

I LOVE to fly first class, but I generally won't "pay" for it. I get a lot of free upgrades for taking a bump, being a frequent flier, or using air miles, or at one airport that I fly in and out of very regularly, I bring the gate agent a treat when I know he'll be there--he likes a certain Starbucks coffee

Anne

 

[tigefan]

You have made my day!

 

[LindaR]

Chucknjulie.........personal attacks show a lack of class.......I didn't say wealth, I said class.

I hope you got it out of your system and feel better now!

 

[Nik's Mom]

That 20 something gal with autism at Universal licking the food and such sounds like an exception to the rule. Most kids affected by this condition today receive social skills training of some sort early on and are better mannered than many of their mainstream peers IMO... It might be scripted, but they have the manners Clearly that was an isolated case, with a parents being asleep at the switch, more than the condition of that gal's autism causing that behavior.

Lodge at Koele is top notch, puts the "S" in Service.

Sorry to hear about the recent bad "people" experiences at concierge level. Alot of it is this " me first mentality". When you live in a tourist spot, you definately see the rude people who think the world owes them something because they are dropping a dollar here (and I'm not talking about the people who live here).

It's true about the social skills training. My sons teachers love him. He is in a special ed class (not for autistics), and he is the only child who says please and thank you. And he follows the rules to a T. In fact, if he catches a kid breaking the rules, he tries to stop them.
I think that poor autistic lady in her 20's is the victim of neglect. Her Parents should have stopped her.

 

[dreamflight99]

It's true about the social skills training. My sons teachers love him. He is in a special ed class (not for autistics), and he is the only child who says please and thank you. And he follows the rules to a T. In fact, if he catches a kid breaking the rules, he tries to stop them.
I think that poor autistic lady in her 20's is the victim of neglect. Her Parents should have stopped her.

Kudos to you, for your devoted parenting. It's truly profound to behold the effectiveness of seemingly simple (Magical) words such as "please, thank you, excuse me, and I'm sorry." These words work WONDERS in places like the Concierge lounge! Our family uses these manners in the home on a daily basis, with one another. It is instrumental in implementing such skills. My DD is also one to follow rules. She has never caused any problems in school (or anywhere else for that matter). We are blessed to have such conscientious & caring children. We have never had to worry about her behavior in public, (restaurants, concierge lounge), as we are cognizant of her behavior in the home.

*My favorite concierge lounge remains the CL in the WDW Dolphin.

*Ducklite...Since I truly detest flying, I choose to fly FC. I also enjoy the perks of frequent flyer miles, and reduced fares on some destinations whenever possible. I thought I'd seen it all, until I recently saw a gentleman get up from his seat (suite/bed) to use the bathroom~in a complete state of "undress." My mouth fell agape, as I tried to look away...but couldn't!?! In true "trainwreck-style" I stared in a fixated manner. He apparently "forgot" where he was, after ingesting one too many cocktails prior to passing-out! The flight attendant used great discretion in taking care of the matter, (but this didn't lesson the effects!). I was just thankful DD was asleep. Never a dull moment...

 

[LindaR]

Dreamflight99, your post reminded me of something that happened last summer to my daughter! I thought it was funny!

She was flying by herself to Washington DC for a student conference type thing.

The flight attendent for fc kept asking and asking her if she would like wine, champagne, or a mixed drink. DD was 15 at this time! She kept saying that her water was fine but he frequently kept trying to give her alcohol! She ended up giggling every time he came around. She couldn't wait til she landed to call me. She kept saying, "Mom can you believe it! I had a chance to taste champagne and I turned it down! AND the flight attendant thought I was RUDE cause I kept giggling!"

On her return flight, different attendant, walked thru the cabin while they were boarding, asked dd if she would like something to drink...........then did a double-take and said that she was gonna keep an eye on her cause she didn't think she was old enough to drink (dd confirmed it) and didn't want a drunk and disorderly teenager in fc.........there were enough adults to fill that category!