Concierge level... Worth it?

[Clotho]

Wow, that is a STEAL for club level! I can't believe it is so small a difference! WELL worth it, I would say.

For us, at Poly and BW, where we have stayed, the $300 a night difference is in no way worth it. We do all our own itinerary planning--they would just be making all the phone calls for you, basically, you still have to research and plan what you want to do and when. The food we are never around for, except breakfast. We are gone all day every day, and have meals at the parks and resorts. We certainly don't need MORE food than what we already eat.

SO for us, that isn't worth $300 more per night, or nearly double the cost of the regular rack rate, to us. But for only $30-$50, and the chance to get turndown service and better views, it would be totally worth it to me. SO go for it!

 

[TammiMcMan]

I think the AKL, as it's priced right now, is the only club level where it's pretty easy to "justify" the added cost. If you've already booked a savannah view, it's only $45 a night to upgrade. A family of 4 who just stops by the lounge for breakfast each morning, would break even with no problem.

Other than the lounge and sunset safari benefit offered at AKL, there's really nothing else that you couldn't take care of on your own. Turndown can be requested through housekeeping, the healthclub is free to all AKL guests, you can call and make your own ADR's and use the lobby concierge desk for any last minute assistance on site. What IPO offers is one-stop shopping and personalized service. Pretty easy to say "yes" to at $45 a night, but definitely a bigger decision if it's costing you $100-$300 more a night.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I think the AKL, as it's priced right now, is the only club level where it's pretty easy to "justify" the added cost. If you've already booked a savannah view, it's only $45 a night to upgrade. A family of 4 who just stops by the lounge for breakfast each morning, would break even with no problem.

Other than the lounge and sunset safari benefit offered at AKL, there's really nothing else that you couldn't take care of on your own. Turndown can be requested through housekeeping, the healthclub is free to all AKL guests, you can call and make your own ADR's and use the lobby concierge desk for any last minute assistance on site. What IPO offers is one-stop shopping and personalized service. Pretty easy to say "yes" to at $45 a night, but definitely a bigger decision if it's costing you $100-$300 more a night.

AKL is very good at this. Many of the others seem to be going DOWNHILL.

 

[4greatboys]

We have stayed concierge several times at different resorts and enjoyed it each time. The lounges were nice and it was so easy with 2 little ones to pop down to get a snack, a drink or whatever. But I would not pay rack rate for it. We have in past gotten some great discounts be it with the AP rate or leisure group rate sadly the AP discounts are not what they used to be anymore.

One of the resorts we have stayed concierge at was AKL and we did really like it and the Sunrise Safari was wonderful.

 

[RachaelA]

Many IPOs have made ADRs more than 180 +10 days out. And have also gotten ADRs when there supposedly wasn't any left.

Now its not a guarantee, but for an extra $50-75 a night it'd be worth it to me.

 

[psu1978]

Having the Itinerary Planning Office make ADR's was worth the incremental difference alone. I work and my 180-days out date fell on a week day. I was able to email all my requests to the AKL IPO and they made made the ressies for me. A detailed itinerary was in my email inbox when when I got home. They also took care of any changes I wanted and sent an updated itinerary each time. They were very responsive. Based on the level of service I have received so far (haven't even seen AKL yet), it has been worth it!

We have also booked the Sunrise Safari based on so many positive comments - something else the IPO took care of for me. It's been like having my own personal Disney secretary. We are early risers who love to get to the parks early - so having breakfast right there is one more plus.

 

[disneymyway]

If you could read my opinion in a blog entry I wrote.

http://web.mac.com/wendyd3520/Disne...Lagoon_View_Club_Level_-_For_the_Weekend.html

 

[Clotho]

Having the Itinerary Planning Office make ADR's was worth the incremental difference alone. I work and my 180-days out date fell on a week day. I was able to email all my requests to the AKL IPO and they made made the ressies for me. A detailed itinerary was in my email inbox when when I got home. They also took care of any changes I wanted and sent an updated itinerary each time. They were very responsive. Based on the level of service I have received so far (haven't even seen AKL yet), it has been worth it!

Did you know you can get this service for free? Companies like Mouseketrips and Small World Vacations will do all that for you for free. My first trip to the World we contacted Mouseketrips, and Scott made all the calls and arrangements for us, kept an eye out for changes in package rates and changed them for us if they got lower, made suggestions of his top picks for stuff to do (which turned out to be some of our favorite things of the entire trip!), and much more.

So if that is why you are doing club level, save the cash and get the same service free! If you have other reasons, of course go for it!

 

[frdeb1999]

It's very much worth it for our family. I would do it .... especially with what you were quoted.

 

[TPCShauna]

Did you know you can get this service for free? Companies like Mouseketrips and Small World Vacations will do all that for you for free. My first trip to the World we contacted Mouseketrips, and Scott made all the calls and arrangements for us, kept an eye out for changes in package rates and changed them for us if they got lower, made suggestions of his top picks for stuff to do (which turned out to be some of our favorite things of the entire trip!), and much more.

So if that is why you are doing club level, save the cash and get the same service free! If you have other reasons, of course go for it!

Yes, Small World Vacations will do this for free but they don't have the same access that the IPO staff does. For example, IPO has access to a few tables held back in most TS restaurants for CL guests. As Disney staff, they are able to get "hot" ADRs very easily without calling first thing.

I live in California and my Small World TA is here as well. She told me that she would make all of my ADRs for me but that she doesn't call until later in the day and there is a chance some of them might be booked. I called at 4:00am my time on my 180-day mark and had trouble with a couple of my ressies. They would have been completely gone by the time she called at 9:00am our time.

My point is that IPO has access that TAs don't. I just wouldn't count on these third party vendors to have the level of access I can get from Disney staff if I had ADRs/tours/etc. that were important to me.

 

[vcunning]

Yes, Small World Vacations will do this for free but they don't have the same access that the IPO staff does. For example, IPO has access to a few tables held back in most TS restaurants for CL guests. As Disney staff, they are able to get "hot" ADRs very easily without calling first thing.

I live in California and my Small World TA is here as well. She told me that she would make all of my ADRs for me but that she doesn't call until later in the day and there is a chance some of them might be booked. I called at 4:00am my time on my 180-day mark and had trouble with a couple of my ressies. They would have been completely gone by the time she called at 9:00am our time.

My point is that IPO has access that TAs don't. I just wouldn't count on these third party vendors to have the level of access I can get from Disney staff if I had ADRs/tours/etc. that were important to me.

I did notice when we used AKL Concierge that our PS were marked as that in the comments (when I peeked over to look at the reservation screen). Don't know if that makes a difference or not, but I enjoy the service for the pure convenience of the food. Especially with little kids, it was great to get breakfast and dessert at the lounge.

 

[TammiMcMan]

For example, IPO has access to a few tables held back in most TS restaurants for CL guests.

I think this is actually a common misconception. Per Disney, the only tables that can be held are for VIP's. In most cases, if a restaurant is sold out, it's sold out to club level as well. There are a very few IPO CM's that seem to know about a backdoor way to book ADR's, but that's the luck of the draw with who you get to work with.

 

[thesupersmartguy]

Absoutely! We booked YC CL for August.

 

[lovemy2boys]

We walked down to the CL on our vacation and always got the last minute reservations that we wanted.... they always found a spot for us! The GF CL was great!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

We walked down to the CL on our vacation and always got the last minute reservations that we wanted.... they always found a spot for us! The GF CL was great!

Yes they are.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I think this is actually a common misconception. Per Disney, the only tables that can be held are for VIP's. In most cases, if a restaurant is sold out, it's sold out to club level as well. There are a very few IPO CM's that seem to know about a backdoor way to book ADR's, but that's the luck of the draw with who you get to work with.

That's true and I saw this myself. A few years ago while waiting to ask something to the Club Level Cast Members at the Atrium Club, a mother and daughter were asking about last minute reservations at the Concourse Steakhouse and I believe it was just before Christmas or on Christams Eve. Anyway the Cast Member said all they had was for 9:00 PM, so when they asked were there any other times the Cast Members said there was not.

 

[Clotho]

I have no doubt it's great to have someone on site to make last minute changes and requests on your behalf. And I feel fairly confident they may have occasional ability to squeeze people in here or there in a way that we ourselves calling Disney dining may not be able to; though I also agree that the idea they hold back reservations "just in case a club level patron wants a reservation" is a misconception.

However, I wouldn't pay $200-$300 more per night (at some of the deluxe hotels) for
~ the possibility that one or two nights I might want a last minute reservation at a restaurant that may be booked at the time I want (especially since I make all my plans before I go, and if anything I give UP reservations, not add new ones)
~ turn-down service, and
~ food in the lounge I would never be at the hotel to eat (and if I was, I could get a whole meal for my family for less than half what I would pay per night to get those snacks, so I am not sure how the food can justify it either).

My trips have been 10-days long each time. To do Club Level at the hotels I choose to stay at, it costs twice as much per night, or around $300 extra. That means $3000 (that's THREE THOUSAND) dollars more to get the above service. While they are services I might be willing to pay for, I wouldn't in a million years pay THAT MUCH.

Now, at AKL, apparently it is a lot cheaper. So crunching the numbers, if it is $50 per night, for a 10 day trip it would cost $500. And honestly, that amount of money would buy a LOT of great food and drink (we're foodies!), or even a couple extra nights stay. I would rather do that than the snacks and having someone make some phone calls for me. But that is my preference. Some people simply adoooore Club Level. I don't understand it, but I don't have to--it's their money, their vacation, and good for them!