Concierge Etiquette

[Ladyhawke10]

LOL, the mad face cracked me up so I put him up there...


Anyway, I thought I'd start a new thread since it seems like the Poly one had taken this new turn.

Someone had mentioned people bringing in grocery bags to take away food offerings with (does the staff replace the food again?)

I had a concierge experience where a man came in only his robe every afternoon during the hot offerings time slot and was making conversation with people. He made me nervous!

Other than that rarity, I've only seen concierge folks behave normally (not that I sit around staring at what others are doing, but nothing stands out).

Anyone have any WDW concierge experiences to share?

Thanks!

 

[PrinceJohn]

a friend of mine was at Poly last Nov. he said there was a guy who was in the lounge everytime they went in. He just camped out there. they started to call him Kramer. I think it might freak me out a little.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

**Donning flame proof suit**

I don't like it when an entire family comes to the lounge in their pajamas. I think it is okay for a toddler, but I think anybody over the age of 4 should come to a public place appropriately dressed.

Certainly not meant to offend...

 

[TaurusSES_Sport]

**Donning flame proof suit**

I don't like it when an entire family comes to the lounge in their pajamas. I think it is okay for a toddler, but I think anybody over the age of 4 should come to a public place appropriately dressed.

Certainly not meant to offend...

I agree, they could at least throw on a pair of shorts and a pullover sweat shirt or something like that.

*Also I think it is so gross when parents just stand there watching their kinds take and sort through food with their hands...essh I just want to scream at them...

 

[ducklite]

I've seen a few pretty rude things.

At the GF (this one is unbelievable!) there were kids on the 2nd and 3rd floor--I'm pretty sure all from one family or group--THROWING FOOD off the balcony at other kids below! Of course the other guests were getting pelted as well. I think a CM should have stepped in and stopped the behaviour, there were two of them who saw the entire incident and did nothing! Same group was filling plates so full that half the food was dropping all over the floor.

At the AKL one night this one lady and her daughter filled up plates and took EVERY COOKIE! They didn't leave a crumb for anyone else. I can't recall how I know--must have overheard the conversation, but they had guests in their room who were not concierge guests they were taking the cookies back for.

Speaking of guests, I've twice met someone in a concierge lounge who was not staying concierge, but had been brought to the lounge by a concierge guest to eat. I'm not talking grandma having a cup of tea while her daughter and grandchildren have breakfast, I'm talking pigging out stuff yer face kind of eating. Happened at the AKL and the 14th Floor CR.

Bare feet on the furniture at the YC. Blech!

Housecoats, ratty slippers, and curlers at the BWI. Now I'll be the first to admit that my hair might still be wet, and I might not have my makeup on, but before I step foot out of my room I shower, dress and brush my teeth.

The gross people at the AKL...ewwww....this couple looked and smelled like they hadn't bathed in weeks (there's no extra charge to use the soap and shampoo, let alone the shower!). Stuffed themselves full before the Sunrise Safari, then jumped into the buffet at teh Tusker House even though we were all asked to sit and allow them to tell us about the food. They each ate probably three or four heaping plates full, and both left looking like they were going to be ill.

Kids dropping food all over the place at the Polynesian, the parents saw it and didn't even pick it up, so it ended up being stepped on by others who didn't notice it. If your kids can't carry their plates without tipping/dropping food, they need to be escorted while getting food. And if you or your kid drops something, for God's sake pick it up before someone slips!

Anne

 

[jillhou]

I would say most of mine have been VERY nice - no problems at all for the most part.

Did have some people throw my food away when I got up to go refill my coffee. A plate with a warm bagel - uneaten with cream cheese already on it, fruit and a glass of milk. Now - in their defense - I HAD consumed over half the milk! There were no empty tables so they decided to make mine empty.....

The other thing I cannot stand that I saw a lot last time was people like hawks waiting for the food to be done at 5.....one day, they had the food covered and this one family got plates and uncovered the food and started eating at about 4:30. We had just come in from the park and were getting something to drink and a couple of cookies and saw them standing up there waiting for it to be brought out....vultures is the word i was looking for.....what is the big deal - can't you wait until they get it all out there and ready?????

 

[LindaR]

In my opinion...........MY opinion, folks seem to go to a huge extreme with the WDW concierge. I've stayed in quite a few hotels around the country.....and the ones that leave me slack-jawed are the folks at WDW.

I don't care if I get flamed.........if money is sooooo tight and you stay concierge.........and expect to eat all your "meals" from the concierge offerings......you need to stay somewhere else.......somewhere within your real budget.

Wiping out the entire lounge without regard to others is very low class. Going to the lounge in your pajamas is low class.

If you have to "ask" what concierge IS, what the "food offerings" are..........well, ...............

 

[ducklite]

Linda,

You SO hit the nail on the head. I've never seen behaviour like I have at WDW CL's when I've stayed at various "Club" levels/Fairmont Gold, whatever you want to call it.

There often sems to be a pervasive "gimmegimmegimme" attitude, like people want to "get their money's worth" at WDW. The only thing I can figure is that people who regularly stay "Club Level" at non-WDW hotels and resorts are people who travel regularly in that manner, and many who do so at WDW are not frequent travelers and just don't know better. They feel that the rates at WDW CL are "exhorbitant" (they are comparable to club level rates at business hotels in major cities) and they feel the ned to get their monies worth. The sad part is taht they would probably have a lot less stress if they would just stop at a grocery for snacks and beverages and take the time to enjoy the parks without worrying about missing an offering at the hotel.

Anne

 

[LindaR]

I'm a snob!!!!! I was also going to say that..........can you imagine if the WDW concierge lounges offered alcohol????????????

I have NEVER encountered this mindset at non-Disney hotels. I WILL stay concierge at non-disney places.........absolutely WILL NOT at Disney!

 

[TammiMcMan]

Ahhhhh, one of my favorite past-times is people watching in the concierge lounge. That seems to be where most of the etiquette slipping occurs. I don't think bathrobes or bare feet are appropriate. This is a public place, not your kitchen. Children left to get their own food bothers me. Is there a parent in the world who doesn't know that kids pick things up (sometimes even taste them) before putting them back on the plate? My youngest is 8 and I am with her at every buffet line, let alone the concierge lounge. I don't even let her handle the tongs, I just tell her to point to what she wants. Does everyone here also clean up after themselves? I would feel so strange leaving my dirty plates behind on the table. The most dangerous situation I saw was in the GF RPC lounge. They were between servings, so there was no staff around. I was sitting at a table reading and enjoying a cold drink when two couples walked through. They stood and chatted while these young children chased each other around the lounge and under the food service table. If you're not familiar with it, it's a large round table with a glass top. They also had glass blocks arranged on it to hold the dinner serving which would be coming out next. These kids were knocking the glass blocks over like they were dominos. I don't know how the table top didn't shatter. I finally asked the parents if they thought what their children were doing was appropriate. I got a look, but they did get on the elevator and leave pretty quickly.

 

[tinknsnow]

at the WLC (and at WDW in general-- though every once in while there IS a screaming, verbally abusive parent that makes me and )...

On our WLC stay earlier this month, I did laugh at something. Two teenaged boys (brothers) were at the food table and the younger boy (I'd guess 13-14) had an empty *used* plate. He started to put the used plate onto the stack of clean plates when he was finished. His older brother noticed this and yelled at him and showed him where to put the dirty plates. He seemed so ashamed of his brother's actions. It was kind of cute.

Last year, I did watch a guy carry an entire bottle of wine back to his room.

Most people I've encountered have been very, very nice.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

Last year, I did watch a guy carry an entire bottle of wine back to his room.

Oh man!

 

[ducklite]

Last year, I did watch a guy carry an entire bottle of wine back to his room.

Most people I've encountered have been very, very nice.

In his defense, I was once sent back to my room with a bottle of wine, of course there was *maybe* a glass or so left in it. I had mentioned to the concierge that I really enjoyed the wine, and she insisted that I take the remainder of the bottle back to sip on while I watched wound down. Somehow I don't think this is what you're saying you saw though

Anne

 

[dreamflight99]

Anyone have any WDW concierge experiences to share?

Oh...I have enough to fill a book! Having stayed concierge in all the Deluxe properties at WDW, and many more in other resorts and hotels, I have had plenty of peculiar experiences!

Many I will not post, as some of you may not desire to stay Concierge if I did! The others, are similar to what many have already posted. I've seen the "cookie hoarders" in the lounges, and the soda thieves! They actually take at least 6-8 cans at a time, and place them in a back-pack. On one occasion, a CM approached the woman (presumably the mother of the perpetrator) and requested they cease the pilfering! This woman became so incensed, she raised her voice when replying to the CM, so everyone in the lounge could hear. It was your typical "defensive" scene.

I truly detest when people touch/handle food with their fingers(?).

LindaR is on the mark with the post regarding "DINNER" in the concierge lounge!! And adding Alcohol to the mix? Argh...don't even GO THERE!

Tammi...thanks for stating the facts! I have more "graphic" images of the unattended children helping themselves to a "taste-testing" while at the table in numerous lounges. Completely ruins my appetite. I actually "alerted" a CM to the problem at the CR...and she quietly addressed both the child & parents in regards to health codes. I've also witnessed children "pile" the food high upon their plates as if they are at some type of dinner buffet. Perplexing & frustrating.

tinknsnow~ Carried out a bottle of wine? Now...that's a new one for me! LOL. Takes all kinds...

 

[Disney-Kim]

I have stayed Concierge at WDW and on other vacations. I enjoy the extra amenities, but the food is always just a bonus. I never plan on it being anything else.
I agree with some of the other posts....if you stay Concierge at other hotels on non-Disney trips...then you have some sense of how people act. WDW is a whole other story. I have seen many posts on this board about how people are going to use concierge to pad their food budget. i.e...eat in the lounge,save eating at restaurants. I agree that WDW visitors feel they are "owed" more or something. I don't want to be flamed either but I am in the club that thinks.....don't stay concierge if you are doing it to save money on food. I have seen the examples of bad behavior people have listed here. I can't believe the people who horde.
anyway...the food just isn't that exciting to skip a meal over, except maybe breakfast. imho.
Concierge and being recognized for special events (bdays, etc) are the biggest instigators on these boards. Just think of all the posters who are mad over not getting something from the staff in recognition of their own event. but they expected it because they read about it here. ok, I am rambling.

 

[tracy51]

No experiences to share - I've never stayed Concierge before, but all I can say is to some of the things I've read.

I've always considered concierge a way to be pampered - little extras to make the trip that more special. I can't believe some people consider it a meal plan!

It does make for some interesting stories though. Keep sharing them

 

[mycropht]

I already posted in the Poly thread, but I have to say (Just to add, because...) when we were there in Sept., it appeared to me that there were at least 6 families who were ONLY eating the concierge food. This wouldn't bother me if the food were restocked. I don't like feeling as though I'm playing Supermarket Sweep when all I want is some cheese and crackers.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

I'm a snob!!!!! I was also going to say that..........can you imagine if the WDW concierge lounges offered alcohol????????????

I have NEVER encountered this mindset at non-Disney hotels. I WILL stay concierge at non-disney places.........absolutely WILL NOT at Disney!

I won't either.

I have stayed of club floors before at non-Disney hotels. I won't stay at one at Disney. I don't think people realize that it would be cheaper to by snacks and get breakfast from room service.

 

[DisneyFans4]

Ladyhawke-
It was I that said guests came to the Poly concierge lounge with grocery bags. Yes...I saw it first hand and what bothered me is that nobody was ever there to stop it!!! Some people even took trays from the other restaurants and brought them back to their room for the sole purpose of stacking up on concierge food. I wouldn't have the gall to do that to those guests yet these people did it right in front of you!
I also saw people come in first thing in the morning in their robes and some right from their bath/shower. Kids coming in with wet bathing suits to grab soda and cookies.
There is usually only one, maybe 2 CM's in the lounge but they are so busy going in the back to get food, drinks, etc. that they don't see what is happening. This is why I say they need to have a CM in that room at all times to monitor. Besides, how many of them may have even been concierge guests. It's so easy for anybody to just walk in there, your not checked.
This is why I love the Swan. They make you sign in to confirm your a concierge guest and they stay in the room. They are very friendly also. Thabo is the BEST at the Swan.
What bothered me the most were the adults that actually took all this food and didn't even care about the other guests.
I hate to say but this is management's fault. If they allow this to continue it always will.

 

[dejr_8]

At WLC we have seen people fill the "milk glasses" with wine which takes about a 1/2 a bottle. Same with the liquors...

We spoke to one woman who was taking all of the afternoon (small) cookies because the large ones at night were too big for her to finish.

Always see people touch the food and not use the tonges even when they just watched you use the tonges.

You always have the people that must congregate right in front of the food and eat while they are standing there.

Also have seen the towering plates of food that go back to the room. Make you wonder which army they are feeding.