Concierge question...or two

[princessdi]

We are going in several months to the WL and staying on the concierge level. From what I have read on here- the IOP contacts you about your stay and preplanning events- is that correct? Also our trip is in December can we book this far ahead for dinner reservations and should I reserve these or let the IOP do this? Will they give suggestions on the stay?

We have stayed on site at WDW five times previously and once was a concierge level at the Poly, but were never contacted by the "IOP". So forgive me if I am a bit surprised and confused .

So glad I found this board a month ago- learning new stuff all the time on here!!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

They should contact you and ask you want you need.
I would check out the WL FAQ thread.

 

[johnsonet]

Hi.
If Disney has your correct email address, you should receive an email from "Corp Business Objects" within a couple of days of making your reservation. I always book Room Only thru Central Reservations, so if you have a WDW Package it may be different?
However, this form email will ask you for arrival info, dining requests, recreation requests like specialty cruises or boat rentals... fishing expeditions maybe. It will also include, in your case, the WL IPO (Itinerary Planning Office) email address. Forward your completed form to the WL IPO and you should hear back promptly. I hope so
You will love the WL and I have really read nothing but good things about that one

 

[disneywith4boys]

I was contacted by WL IPO around 190 days before my trip and was told they could make ADRs 190 days out. I had of mine back and confirmed before 180 days.

 

[AllyGirl_79]

The IPO should contact you about six months in advance of your stay -- so sometime in the next few weeks, depending on your arrival date in December. If you don't hear from them and your six month window arrives, check the concierge thread to find the direct email address for the WL, and contact them yourself.

They can make dining reservations. My understanding is that they can make those ADRs 180 days before the first night of your trip -- for up to 10 days of your vacation at one time -- but sometimes they do seem to be ahead of the game. (I got a confirmation with all of my dining reservations 183 days before I was due to check in, so they might get it done early.) Theoretically, if you check in December 1, they'd be making those reservations for you on June 1, and should contact you a few days in advance of that. To your question about doing this yourself, I wouldn't think there is much of a reason to. You're paying for that service, so let the IPO do it, unless you enjoy that sort of thing or want to have control of the process for some reason.

When you send in your dining preferences at six months out, you can also request things like specialty cruises, but those reservations are made 90 days in advance. They will note your preference on your itinerary, but they won't be able to book it (and send you a confirmation) for a while.

The IPO office can make suggestions about the trip, but I've always found the experts on this board to be a better -- faster, more reliable, more creative -- source of information on everything from activities to restaurant choices.

Have a great trip!

 

[disneywith4boys]

I reviewed my letter again from IPO and the letter actually says "we may begin booking as early as 190 days in advance". I was told over the phone that they can book 190 days prior to each date we needed. They booked our first 5 days right away, and we had to wait a couple days for the last 2 ADRs, though this was still done before my 180 day mark came. I was able to get all the times requested. It was so much easier than doing it myself, and when my 180 day came -it was marked on my calender- I was so glad the reservations were done and I didn't have to wake up early!!

 

[mmmears]

Note the word "should" in the above posts. Yes, the IPO office "should" contact you before the 190 day booking period for ADRs. In reality, they may or they may not. If you've already booked the room, you may also go ahead and contact them. Let them know you are coming and how they can help you. We've stayed CL several times and our IPO experience has ranged from fantastic to so-so to non-existant (I really never even knew they existed). So if pre-planning service is a reason you chose to book a concierge room, and you dont hear from them, go ahead and email or give them a call. Sometimes they are busy and people fall through the cracks.

Have a great vacation! The WL is gorgeous!

 

[princessdi]

Thank you for all the great input! As I said before- we are going in Dec 2008 and have confirmation emails from WDW.

However still no emails from the IPO. I really didnt know what the IPO was until I read it on here a day or two ago. I do want to have dinner reservations, but it sure would be nice for someone to contact me and make them for me! I think I may be too far out still so I suppose I should wait a bit. Can dinner reservations be made this far out for Dec anyways??

Thank you all so much- it helps to have people who know all this stuff!!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

If you haven't heard from the IPO by the 190 day mark I would contact them. Just call the resort and they can connect you.

 

[tiger4me2]

We stay club levels & sometimes we hear from them & sometimes we don't. I always make my own ADR I know they can but I know I am getting what I want but this is just how I do it. I found with the IPO planners at the WL can be a little slow at times. But email them I tell them your ressie # & see what happens. Good luck !

 

[paladin]

I always contact the IPO via email with my requests (without waiting for them to contact me).

This year, for example, we booked in January for a trip in December. I contacted IPO in January with my requests (and several times since with changes). It is still to far in advance for them to book anything that I want, but they will do so at the appropriate time.

This is the method I have used for all of our trips and so far it has worked perfectly.

 

[drcandon]

We are going in December and staying at AKL CL level - I did not take a chance- after reading the CL thread, I went ahead and contacted them myself. And yes, they did answer back within 24 hours and were very nice. They will make your ADR's for you and in some cases can get better results then you can make yourself. I am not saying that CL level gets privs over other guests, just that they have direct links in.

However, they did take my request for MMCP and I already have the tickets for the event. And that was about 3 weeks ago I made them - way before our the 180 day mark.

They also have my other ressies for dining - BUT and before I start an avalanche of people contacting the IPO office, they made it clear they will HOLD them and then input them somewhere around the 180+10 day mark..

They explain they cannot do any better then that since it will start a riot of phone calls - after all if the AKL IPO can call at 190 days then maybe the GF IPO can call at 192 days etc etc...if you get my drift...

So, it makes me feel releived that on the 180 day mark the ressies go in first thing @ 7am EST and I don't have to be on the phone...

 

[princessdi]

Guess what! I JUST got "the" email from the WL IOP people! Yeah! WooHoo!

I am so happy!!! Will return it asap with all reservation requessts!!

Thank you guys!!