Concierge "lounge" on the Wonder ... what about Magic?

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I haven't seen anything about this here so we were pretty surprised on the Wonder last weekend to see the Outlook Cafe blocked off in the evenings for a "concierge event." Apparently in mid-December, Disney quietly introduced a temporary "lounge" on the Wonder for the evening cocktail parties like they have on the newer ships.

It's great to see that DCL is trying to even out the two concierge products. For us the lounge was a big reason to do concierge on the new ships, and the fact that the old ships didn't have one was a huge negative.

I was wondering whether they are doing something similar on the Magic? I know the Magic doesn't have the upstairs Outlook Cafe like the Wonder, so wondering where they are holding it if they are?

To add to the rumors: one of the CMs in the Outlook Cafe said that DCL is going to convert the white building that you can see opposite outlook (don't know what it's called) into a true concierge lounge in dry dock.

 

[waggles02673]

We were just talking to the Concierge staff on the Dream about this last week. They were saying that they have the evening cocktail hour at a venue on the Classic ships now.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We've sailed concierge on the Magic twice: May 2012 & January 2013. Both trips they held concierge events in Sessions during the daytime. It wasn't daily, though. Closing a small night club venue for a couple hours earlier each evening might be a viable option.

 

[dcassetta]

How long was the Outlook Cafe closed? This is my favorite area on the Wonder and I would be unhappy if it was closed for long periods on a regular basis.

 

[Flossbolna]

How long was the Outlook Cafe closed? This is my favorite area on the Wonder and I would be unhappy if it was closed for long periods on a regular basis.

That was exactly my thought as well. I don't mind concierge guests getting extras, they pay a lot. But if this means that something is taken away from the regular cruisers I really don't like it.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

How long was the Outlook Cafe closed? This is my favorite area on the Wonder and I would be unhappy if it was closed for long periods on a regular basis.

A couple hours, I think.

 

[jetskigrl]

How long was the Outlook Cafe closed? This is my favorite area on the Wonder and I would be unhappy if it was closed for long periods on a regular basis.

That was exactly my thought as well. I don't mind concierge guests getting extras, they pay a lot. But if this means that something is taken away from the regular cruisers I really don't like it.

From reading other people's trip reports, I believe it was one hour two times a night (once before Main Dining and once before Second Seating - something like that). And it was only one side of the Outlook Cafe. I opened a thread a little while back asking for more recent updates also. Hopefully someone that has cruised recently can confirm that.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

From reading other people's trip reports, I believe it was one hour two times a night (once before Main Dining and once before Second Seating - something like that). And it was only one side of the Outlook Cafe. I opened a thread a little while back asking for more recent updates also. Hopefully someone that has cruised recently can confirm that.

This sounds correct but I didn't really hang around the Outlook to time it or anything.

 

[Calfan]

From reading other people's trip reports, I believe it was one hour two times a night (once before Main Dining and once before Second Seating - something like that). And it was only one side of the Outlook Cafe. I opened a thread a little while back asking for more recent updates also. Hopefully someone that has cruised recently can confirm that.

That is correct. I was on the Wonder with CaliforniaGirl09. They are basically mimicking the two cocktail hours in the concierge lounges on the Dream/Fantasy: one before main dining (for about an hour) and one before second seating (for about an hour). We were able to be in the Outlook Café in between the two cocktail hours.

 

[anna08]

One of the concierge hosts on the Fantasy told us they are planning on creating a concierge lounge on the Magic. I didn't ask for details, but maybe that's part of the plan for the Magic/Wonder dry docks in 2016. It definitely is a huge benefit to concierge bookings on the newer ships.

 

[Flossbolna]

That is correct. I was on the Wonder with CaliforniaGirl09. They are basically mimicking the two cocktail hours in the concierge lounges on the Dream/Fantasy: one before main dining (for about an hour) and one before second seating (for about an hour). We were able to be in the Outlook Café in between the two cocktail hours.

Hmm, since it will be a while until I am going to be back on the Wonder, I will not worry about it too much just yet. Thank you very much for your information! Was it only one half of the Outlook Cafe or both sides?

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Hmm, since it will be a while until I am going to be back on the Wonder, I will not worry about it too much just yet. Thank you very much for your information! Was it only one half of the Outlook Cafe or both sides?

I believe it was only one side.

 

[drnp]

Were the cocktail hours adults only? Last time I was on wonder in CL, they had 1 concierge reception at night where children were allowed, but it wasn't in the outlook cafe.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Were the cocktail hours adults only? Last time I was on wonder in CL, they had 1 concierge reception at night where children were allowed, but it wasn't in the outlook cafe.

My children have always gone.

 

[drnp]

Oh good, my kids would be crushed if there were Mickey rice krispy treats in there and they couldn't get at them!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Oh good, my kids would be crushed if there were Mickey rice krispy treats in there and they couldn't get at them!

No issues children can be there, but with a parent.

 

[shelbell77]

I was just on the wonder and outlook was definitely more impacted than just a couple hours. I was asked to leave more than once at 4pm so they could set up for the concierge reception. I don't believe non concierge guests are allowed back until after second concierge hour. The other side of outlook would be open but super crowded along with cove.

I have mixed feelings about it. My favorite thing about concierge on the big ships is the lounge. It's nice to see them trying to accommodate something like this on the small ships. But I hate being limited from my favorite venue daily.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I was just on the wonder and outlook was definitely more impacted than just a couple hours. I was asked to leave more than once at 4pm so they could set up for the concierge reception. I don't believe non concierge guests are allowed back until after second concierge hour. The other side of outlook would be open but super crowded along with cove.

I have mixed feelings about it. My favorite thing about concierge on the big ships is the lounge. It's nice to see them trying to accommodate something like this on the small ships. But I hate being limited from my favorite venue daily.

I would Covert and move the Magic/Wonder arcade and make that a concierge lounge, it's just one deck up from deck 8 and the suites and can get food/drink from Cove Cafe and did gals, the arcade can easy fit near kids areas, the vibe for example or on the space on deck 7 /6 behind the midship elevators that is just a buggy station and empty area.

 

[Flossbolna]

I would Covert and move the Magic/Wonder arcade and make that a concierge lounge, it's just one deck up from deck 8 and the suites and can get food/drink from Cove Cafe and did gals, the arcade can easy fit near kids areas, the vibe for example or on the space on deck 7 /6 behind the midship elevators that is just a buggy station and empty area.

I think you might be up to something. On the Dream they are going to turn the arcade into a candy shop. So maybe they are going to get rid of the arcades anyway. With the upgraded kids clubs there appear to be a lot of video games in the kids clubs anyway, so maybe less need for an arcade? (I have to admit that arcades hold no interest for me and I have no kids, so only very limited knowledge of the kids clubs - so, if someone tells me that there is a HUGE difference, I will happily belief that too! )

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I was just on the wonder and outlook was definitely more impacted than just a couple hours. I was asked to leave more than once at 4pm so they could set up for the concierge reception. I don't believe non concierge guests are allowed back until after second concierge hour. The other side of outlook would be open but super crowded along with cove.

We were on the 2 day and the 3 day last weekend, and we were allowed into the outlook in between the two cocktail parties one night. Maybe it was just the luck of the draw on who was working. We also came in from upstairs so maybe that made a difference. I think only one side was closed that night, but we left before the second party started so not 100% sure.

The arcade areas make a ton of sense.