Concierge Level Etiquette

[disneywith4boys]

I've never stayed concierge level before and am excited to be staying at the WL deluxe rooms, club level 1 year from today. I've read some posts about people taking food back to their rooms, and packing some food and juices in their bags for snacks. Is this permitted or frowned on? I'm usually a by the rules type of person, but I don't want to miss out on anything that is standard or usual.

 

[pwrflpills]

I don't mean this as a personal attack, but it's just that this topic kind of strikes a chord with me. When I say "you" in this post I mean it figuratively.

I'm just a person who is turned off by people in stores or food courts who blindly stumble over themselves and get all grabby when a free sample presents itself, like they've never tasted seasoned chicken before or something. I feel the same holds true in these kinds of situations. Just use tact, moderation and common sense. Do you really need to take 3, or 5, of something just because it's free? If you happen to be hungry when you're walking by, grab something. If you think a granola bar or banana might come in handy later or in the morning, take one with you. But don't fill your bag for all snacks or meals of the day. That's not the intention and is a way I feel people rudely take advantage of situations where honor or consideration should be used. There's no need to empty a tray of food just because it's there and a CM isn't watching you. I guess the whole reason you see the free food only in the concierge level is because for people staying in the most expensive hotel accomodation that this would not be a problem.

 

[JESW]

..another tip would be to supervise your children when they are in the lounge. (Another general "you" and not specifically aimed at the op) it is quite annoying when children are running around in the lounges since they are usually small to begin with. And don't let them pick at food and then put it back..

And please don't be like the annoying guy in the BWI last trip who thought it was perfectly ok to spread out his laptop and everything else on the largest table during breakfast time when no-one else had a place to sit..

Jill

 

[madalex]

It's okay to take food from the lounge back to your room to eat. It's also okay to grab a snack as you are heading out. It goes, too far, however, to "load up" on snacks so you have stuff to munch on throughout the day.

This used to be a bigger problem, however, as the snacks set out in the lounges during the day used to be somewhat substantial. Now, all there usually is mid-day will be pretzels, chips and cookies. There is still a decent breakfast spread and some okay evening appetizers, but much less food during the day than there used to be. (The foregoing is based on my experiences with the YC concierge lounge; it may be different at other resorts.)

 

[disneywith4boys]

I don't mean this as a personal attack, but it's just that this topic kind of strikes a chord with me. When I say "you" in this post I mean it figuratively.

I'm just a person who is turned off by people in stores or food courts who blindly stumble over themselves and get all grabby when a free sample presents itself, like they've never tasted seasoned chicken before or something. I feel the same holds true in these kinds of situations. Just use tact, moderation and common sense. Do you really need to take 3, or 5, of something just because it's free? If you happen to be hungry when you're walking by, grab something. If you think a granola bar or banana might come in handy later or in the morning, take one with you. But don't fill your bag for all snacks or meals of the day. That's not the intention and is a way I feel people rudely take advantage of situations where honor or consideration should be used. There's no need to empty a tray of food just because it's there and a CM isn't watching you. I guess the whole reason you see the free food only in the concierge level is because for people staying in the most expensive hotel accomodation that this would not be a problem.

Did you ever see the show about the family with 20 something kids- they go to costco food court, split 1 pizza, and then eat all the samples in the store!! I bring my 4 kids and get one sample and let everyone take a taste- even then, I feel so funny about it that I buy the item we sampled.
As I said, I only didn't want to miss out on something permitted by the hotel, if it is permitted, because if I didn't know, I wouldn't take anything out of the club room. And I know, even if the majority of posters say OK, I'll prob be red in the face as I leave, still feeling unsure if I should do this.

 

[pwrflpills]

Sounds like you're not the type of person that I observe clamoring for free food

 

[kapoof]

I don't mean this as a personal attack, but it's just that this topic kind of strikes a chord with me. When I say "you" in this post I mean it figuratively.

I'm just a person who is turned off by people in stores or food courts who blindly stumble over themselves and get all grabby when a free sample presents itself, like they've never tasted seasoned chicken before or something. I feel the same holds true in these kinds of situations. Just use tact, moderation and common sense. Do you really need to take 3, or 5, of something just because it's free? If you happen to be hungry when you're walking by, grab something. If you think a granola bar or banana might come in handy later or in the morning, take one with you. But don't fill your bag for all snacks or meals of the day. That's not the intention and is a way I feel people rudely take advantage of situations where honor or consideration should be used. There's no need to empty a tray of food just because it's there and a CM isn't watching you. I guess the whole reason you see the free food only in the concierge level is because for people staying in the most expensive hotel accomodation that this would not be a problem.

you make an excellent point, and i agree with you but you are assuming people come with manners and common sense. alot of people i have seen in the cl have neither.

yes people will take a whole bottles of wine and head back to their room and load up their plates with food. it is very rude not to mention piggish! i always tell my son take the one you touch, it is really gross to see childern touching all the food. to the op i would suggest getting there early before it gets crowded. the cl should open up at 7:00a.m. for breakfast. have a great trip.

 

[micmacmissy]

When we stayed concierge at GF, they actually provided trays, so you could choose your breakfast items and bring them up to the room. That is what we did. The lounge there was small, lots of people were taking trays up to the rooms, so I saw no problem with that.

We also took a piece of fruit for each child and popped it in the stroller in case they got hungry on the monorail or bus later.

I agree with the other poster--of course you shouldn't be greedy and take 10 cookies at a time. But then, you are paying a premium for this service. Take whatever you want that won't be wasted. Ask for items you need but don't see there. You've paid for it, after all!

As long as you and your children show excellent courtesy and delightful manners, no one will notice what, or how much, you take.

 

[jmkrat]

. I guess the whole reason you see the free food only in the concierge level is because for people staying in the most expensive hotel accomodation that this would not be a problem.

While I agree with some of the things you say, when you stay on a concierge floor you are hardly getting free food. Concierge floors are very expensive and part of the perks for paying for the floor is the food. I don't believe a person should hoard the food and take it just because it is there. If you are hungry, believe you will eat the snack later then by all means take it.

 

[Mike©]

I've never stayed concierge level before and am excited to be staying at the WL deluxe rooms, club level 1 year from today. I've read some posts about people taking food back to their rooms, and packing some food and juices in their bags for snacks. Is this permitted or frowned on? I'm usually a by the rules type of person, but I don't want to miss out on anything that is standard or usual.

Short and sweet. It's a buffet. How many buffets allow "Doggie Bags"?

 

[TommyTutone]

On our last trip, in the evening, my mother would load up on gummi worms or something similar and take them back to the room, but she did so to share with my son so they could have a 'movie night' while the wife and I went out. She probably grabbed a couple of diet cokes too.

That, to me, is not abuse, but simply convenience. Same would go for a family grabbing a bottle or two of water for each family member for the parks that day. It's part of what you pay for.

People who grab anything and everything not nailed down so that they can 'justify the cost' though, abuse the system and would probably steal the towels if they weren't tied to a credit card. It's no difference than seeing free food sitting out in a supermarket or whatnot.

(Of course I did try to get my money's worth of wine out of the place, but I drank it in the lounge, and even tipped the guy a few bucks to stay open a little later for one last glass)

 

[disneywith4boys]

How about this scenerio- we take extra cereal and milk one morning to keep in our room refrig for the next morn, so the kids can eat while we're getting ready? I think I'd be embarassed leaving with extra food, but really it is the same amount as we would use the next am, but we will be getting it a day before. We're in a deluxe room with club priviliges, but won't be necessarily staying close to the club floor. Also, DH usually likes to buy a 6 pack of beer at the beginning of the trip form the gift shop(at, what, $55 per pack- only kidding) to have one each night on the balcony. Can he take 1 beer in the evening and bring it to our room, or does he have to stay there to drink it.
Thanks for all your replies, I really don't want to do the wrong thing. Really embarasses me.

 

[MissionMouse]

How about this scenerio- we take extra cereal and milk one morning to keep in our room refrig for the next morn, so the kids can eat while we're getting ready? I think I'd be embarassed leaving with extra food, but really it is the same amount as we would use the next am, but we will be getting it a day before. We're in a deluxe room with club priviliges, but won't be necessarily staying close to the club floor. Also, DH usually likes to buy a 6 pack of beer at the beginning of the trip form the gift shop(at, what, $55 per pack- only kidding) to have one each night on the balcony. Can he take 1 beer in the evening and bring it to our room, or does he have to stay there to drink it.
Thanks for all your replies, I really don't want to do the wrong thing. Really embarasses me.

When people horde they take large amounts of items back to their room. They use some of it but lots of it ends up in the trash to include packaged drinks. This is one of the reasons the clubs no longer provide bottle water in non-glass containers. Disney is a business and will respond to needless behaviors of waste.

I perceive Disney expects guest to take some items back to their rooms, since they clearly observe guest doing this and in some cases people actually ask for some items to take to their rooms. Note some equates to normal portion related to an item. Also, realizing the club is not a restaurant nor a grocery store but a lounge serving snacks and appetizers.

At AKL I witnessed one evening a guy come to the club and take six beers and started to head back to his room. A CM stoppped him and he was made to put all but one back. After he departed the beers were removed from the serving line and guest had to ask for beers.

 

[bavaria]

I travel about 300 nights a year and spend a lot of time in airport lounges and hotel concierge lounges.

It seems that this 'stock up' mentality only really seems to come through here for Disney hotels. I don't see it in other hotels (or maybe business travellers don't feel the same need or entitlement). The intent of a lounge is to have a private place to relax. The food and beverage offerings are intended to be consumed while in the lounge.

There is nothing wrong with taking back a bottle of water to your room, for instance, but taking drinks to last the entire family through a day at the theme parks is not the intent of a concierge lounge.

I can assure you that hotels monitor concierge lounge costs closely, and when cost rises too much too quickly, hours, food service variety and/or quality, and staffing are cut.

As several have pointed out here, the food offerings have diminished over the years at WDW resorts. I would suspect that this is due to travellers who did not use the lounge in the spirit in which it was intended.

 

[Dis Ohana]

Also, DH usually likes to buy a 6 pack of beer at the beginning of the trip form the gift shop(at, what, $55 per pack- only kidding) to have one each night on the balcony. Can he take 1 beer in the evening and bring it to our room, or does he have to stay there to drink it.

:

I'm not sure if this is Disney policy, but we stayed at the Grand Californian at Disneyland last year and my husband wanted to take a beer back to the room to drink since the lounge was so crowded. The CM told him that he could not remove alcohol from the lounge, he'd have to get it from room service. He went on to say that it's because they have to know it's an adult consuming the alcohol.

 

[jmkrat]

I travel about 300 nights a year and spend a lot of time in airport lounges and hotel concierge lounges.

It seems that this 'stock up' mentality only really seems to come through here for Disney hotels. I don't see it in other hotels (or maybe business travellers don't feel the same need or entitlement). The intent of a lounge is to have a private place to relax. The food and beverage offerings are intended to be consumed while in the lounge.

There is nothing wrong with taking back a bottle of water to your room, for instance, but taking drinks to last the entire family through a day at the theme parks is not the intent of a concierge lounge.

I can assure you that hotels monitor concierge lounge costs closely, and when cost rises too much too quickly, hours, food service variety and/or quality, and staffing are cut.

As several have pointed out here, the food offerings have diminished over the years at WDW resorts. I would suspect that this is due to travellers who did not use the lounge in the spirit in which it was intended.

There is not always room to eat in the lounge, I never eat in the lounge we always grab our food and return to our rooms to eat in private. I don't think that there are that many people who take more food than they should, I have personally never seen it. Disney's reasons for cutting back on the food is simply due to cost cutting in general. Most people are not going to be total slobs, there are a few I grant you that much. They are the exception not the rule. To the OP, the lounge is open in the morning one of you can simply grab your breakfast, bring it back to your room and let the kids eat as you get ready. We always do this, and I consider myself a most considerate guest. I don't really know where the entitlement comment comes from, if you mean people would like to get what they pay for then I guess that is true. My trip in December will cost 750.00 a night. I more than likely won't even be in the lounge at all, except for breakfast. I still intend to take my food to eat in my room. So if that is entitlement, I guess I am guilty.

 

[kumash]

I'm not sure if this is Disney policy, but we stayed at the Grand Californian at Disneyland last year and my husband wanted to take a beer back to the room to drink since the lounge was so crowded. The CM told him that he could not remove alcohol from the lounge, he'd have to get it from room service. He went on to say that it's because they have to know it's an adult consuming the alcohol.

Hmm. My guess is that it's not policy. When DH and I stayed at WL last February, we took two beers back to our room easily. It was well within sight of the CMs, too. However, they might have been cutting us a break since they knew we had just gotten married at WL earlier in the day, and we didn't have anyone else joining us in our room.

I don't think it would be a bad policy to enforce, though. I could see the notion of taking free alcohol back to your room getting out of hand.

 

[micmacmissy]

How about this scenerio- we take extra cereal and milk one morning to keep in our room refrig for the next morn, so the kids can eat while we're getting ready?

I think that is perfectly fine. I would go down to the lounge in the morning and bring up juice, cereal, and fruit for my two kids. There were trays at the GF for this purpose--are there trays in other lounges, I wonder?

Again, I think the key is to act with great courtesy and excellent manners. Take what you need, and no one will bat an eyelash.

 

[pwrflpills]

How about this scenerio- we take extra cereal and milk one morning to keep in our room refrig for the next morn, so the kids can eat while we're getting ready? I think I'd be embarassed leaving with extra food, but really it is the same amount as we would use the next am, but we will be getting it a day before. We're in a deluxe room with club priviliges, but won't be necessarily staying close to the club floor. Also, DH usually likes to buy a 6 pack of beer at the beginning of the trip form the gift shop(at, what, $55 per pack- only kidding) to have one each night on the balcony. Can he take 1 beer in the evening and bring it to our room, or does he have to stay there to drink it.
Thanks for all your replies, I really don't want to do the wrong thing. Really embarasses me.

Haha! I don't mean to laugh, but I also didn't mean for you to overscrutinize your actions by what I said, by any means. You are obviously someone with manners and a conscience. How refreshing!

First of all, please stop worrying! There's a big difference between the conservative and smart planning that you mention above, and are apparently naturally inclined to do, as compared to people who might grab all the available boxes of cereal because they might want to gorge on sugary cereal their entire trip, flight home and following week on Disney's dime. Please feel free to smartly feed your children with no fear of repurcussions.

 

[kileybeth]

My husband travels for buisness often and normally stays at a 4 or 5 star hotel with lounges as in Disney deluxes. We most often are without our children on these trips. We just returned from a trip with our 4 children in a club level room at POLY. It puzzles me that those smaller parties would see actions of a larger party (one with more than say 2 children) as the offenders of these lounges. My DH and I are overzeolous with our children when in these situations. But if I happen to be snacking or drinking for 6 instead of 2 or 3 it is going to look like I am taking more food b/c I do not allow my children to take food by themselves!

As we enjoyed the fare at the Poly a few weeks back I will say this. Many people were taking food back to their rooms. The CM's seemed fine with this, especially at breakfast time. And trust me, if DH did not think it allowable there is no way he would have participated. We also cancelled 2 dinner time reservations after enjoying the appetizers in the lounge. It was a very "light" meal for sure, but we certainly did not gorge ourselves by any means. And our teens simply chose to go get CS meal instead of eating in lounge with us or going to sit down later. And drinks? we do not drink alcoholic beverages but we certainly enjoyed a few sodas during our trip including the ones we put in our stroller to fill our mugs with before heading out for the day. That darn GCH is just to far in the wrong direction some days! Also, our 2 toddlers like a cup of milk before bed. We asked the CM for milk each evening and were given two cartons each time. Our DD2 enjoyed the "go-fish and gumbies" in her "own" cup each day so much so that when we returned home, yup , you got it. I had to go in search of gummie sharks for her to put in a dixie cup with her go-fish!

I think as others have stated, manners are key here and not taking the last cookie off the plate and not wasting food goes without having to say doesn't it?

Please do enjoy your CL stay! Your children will love the small tables just for them if they are young and Disney channel 24/7 is a real treat for my little ones as we do not have it at home. Also if any of you happened to be in the lounge a few weeks back and experienced our furniture moving 2 year old (who insisted that all the little chairs be lined up in train fashion) I do apoligize for that! Altho only her and her brother and one other "participating toddler" where ever there neither my husband or I felt like making a big deal out of it on vacation although we did return all chairs to around the table each time!!