Concierge questions if you don't mind

[disneydave2003]

Okay, I've been reading up and saw that the deluxe resorts have concierge service. For those who have used Disney World concierge, why did you choose it? Is it because they will make your dinner reservations, the food, or because you are in separate areas of the hotel (from what I can tell by reading the boards and some other link) or all of the above. Do you need your room key to get access to the concierge sections of the hotel? Just wondering if we do choose a deluxe for our stay, which will probably be Sept. or Oct due to rates, is concierge the way to go-

Thanks
disneydave2003

 

[JOC]

We stayed at the Polynesian concierge in December only because we got a great rate...I wouldn't have paid rack rate for it. We also spent a lot of time at the resort, so we got our money's worth as far as the concierge lounge offerings (there were four of us). We didn't need any priority seatings, so we didn't use concierge service for that. At the Polynesian Hawaii building is concierge and you use your resort key to get into the building. They'll be undergoing renovations this summer; don't remember when they'll be done. As far as whether or not concierge is the way to go, I guess it depends on you: your budget, will you get to take advantage of concierge lounge offerings, etc. I wanted to try concierge; my husband is satisfied with a clean bed to sleep on and a golf course nearby!

 

[gonga]

We love the GR RPC for all the reasons you stated. I also find that , in our experience, we actually spend less money when we stay in a consierge level than when staying in a standard room. It may not appear so when booking the trip, but when your trip is over and you add up everything - we tend to spend less overall with the consierge room. That is not the only reason though, we just happen to like the convenience and the "extra level of service" that comes with consierge. In the GF your room key is coded to the elevator allowing you access to the consierge level. If it is not coded you cannot get in.

We happen to love consierge level in all our travels, that is just the way we go, but not everyone does, but hey....different strokes...

 

[Tonyspad]

I stay in a concierge room for a couple of reasons. First and formost is the lounge, my life is made much easier having the kids pick there breakfast and evening snacks without having to sit or go to a resturant and the choices are plentiful and wholesome. Second is the location of the concierge rooms, they are typically in the better section of the hotel.

 

[ducklite]

All of the above plus, robes in the room, turndown service, a private area of the hotel which is "usually" somewhat quieter...

Anne

 

[cortegro]

Are the rooms big enough for family of 5 in concierge level at the poly?

Also, I am going with my wife and three sons...12,11,9 and will travel offsite to a convention during our stay , I was most interested in the transportation ease of the poly and the convenience of aquick bite before (dare I say it...) going off site for a few hours during the day. I figure the TTC right there and all will make it easier for us all to meet up at odd times of the day.

Still in planning stages...but thats half the fun!!

Thanks, Cortegro

 

[JOC]

The Polynesian rooms have two queen beds and a daybed. My 17 yr. old slept on the daybed and he slept fine. As far as transportation, we used the monorail to get to MK and caught the bus to Animal Kingdom...we didn't have to wait for that one because it pulled up just as we got to the bus stop.

 

[ducklite]

LOL! My son slept on the daybed at the Poly rather than having the other queen all to himself--he liked being able to see the castle at night from bed!

Anne

 

[jlillberto]

Hi,

We're just back today from a 4 night stay at the Poly concierge with our two granddaughters. My husband and I travel quite often, usually stay in 5-star hotels, love staying 'club' level with all the perks. Had a two room suite on a transcanal cruise in December. My thoughts about our trip:

-Rooms are certainly not what I would call deluxe.

-Housekeeping was rather hit or miss. Never had the same housekeeping staff twice. Some would take dirty towels during turn-down, some not. One day our room was not even touched until about an hour before turn-down service!

-Service in general was also very hit or miss. I am a smoker..emailed prior to our reservation reiterating my smoking room request. Upon our check-in, found we were on 2nd floor (non-smoking, non-balcony floor). Now, I don't quite underdstand how in the world they can charge the same price for a room without a balcony but they do. They did manage to change our room after a LONG wait (we checked-in after the 3pm check-in time). The bellman said he would have an ashtray sent to our room. The next morning, I once again requested an ashtray. Once again, no dice. Finally that evening I called and said I thought having to request such a simple thing three times in a 24 hour period was not acceptable. Finally, the dreaded ashtray showed up.

-I did not feel the extras in the lounge were worth the extra price we paid. Basically a continental breakfast, afternoons there were just cookies, gummybears, M&M's and some fresh fruit (like apples & banannas). Evenings there was a bit more. One could make a meal out of it. Included fresh vegetables and fruits with sauces, cheese cubes and crackers, and one night a pasta wth a tomato sauce..another night taco kind of stuff..along with wine. There was always bottled water, soda, coffee and juice. The very best were the deserts and cordials served between 8pm and 10pm. The deserts were good and the cordials top drawer. The two nights we tried to make the lounge our dinner, we were starved! Other hotels where we've stayed at club or concierge level, offered a much higher standard of food and service. I was very disappointed.

-All in all, if we were to go back to WDW, I would probably opt to stay at a better resort outside of WDW. I understand the convenience of staying in WDW but don't quite understand why WDW resorts can't offer comparable service and accomodations as other resorts located outside. If I pay $400-500 a night for a room, I expect a certain level of service and don't feel like my expectations were meant at all.

 

[exiles]

We stay for the level of service. We stay in concierge when ever we travel. The snacks in the lounge were something we had never experienced until Disney. I don't understand equate the snacks into meals. I guess some people lack the experience of traveling in style.

 

[jlillberto]

Dear Exiles,

I did not post my comments to be bashed by you or anyone else. We have stayed in many of the world's top rated hotels and resorts so I do have a pretty good idea of what excellent service is. I just honestly gave my opinion about the service (or lack thereof) and hit or miss housekeeping practices during our four night stay.

Prior to our trip, plenty of people posted that the food in the lounge in the evening was plenty to make a meal of. And it was. I guess, we're just used to a higher quality and variety of food and service. The lounge was nice to have but IMHO not a reason to stay concierge level. And if the service is better staying concierge level, I shutter to think what the service is like elsewhere. Perhaps we were at the Poly at an off time. I sincerely hope so.

And, my dear, I do hope you do get an opportunity to stay at a truly deluxe property. Obviously, you've not done so.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Concierge staff are extremly attentive and help you out anyway they can.

The food/beverage offerings are very conveniant and make your holiday more stress free and relaxing.

Rooms are in prime locations and have turndown in the evenings.. I also find they are serviced in a more timely manner
(ie) you don't get back from the park at 2pm and your bed is still not made.

You get express checkin and checkout which means you do not have to line up in the lobby.

Having the lounge to stop by is great... rather then just being in your room when you return to the hotel... we often watched a DVD in the evening.. and if it rained in the afternoon we would go for a drink.. it is like having your living room with you on holiday... except you don't have to clean it =)

You also get to meet other families and socialize in a nice atmosphere.

>>^..^<<

 

[ducklite]

I dont know where in the world you got the idea that you could make a meal of the snacks in concierge, but other than breakfast it just doesn't happen. Anyone who posts that they want to try to do so on these boards are generally told it won't work.

Yes, I've seen people try, and perhaps if you had a large late lunch you could make a meal out of appetizers for dinner, but this is cetainly NOT the intention of the concierge srevice. (I have seen some OUTRAGEOUS behaviour with people taking entire trays of appetizers leaving none for others so they could have "dinner".

I've also stayed in world class places, and VERY few club levels (or whatever that hotel/resort calls it) offer a substantial enough spread for a meal.

Hit or miss housekeeping was also a concern of ours at the Poly. But I've had hit or miss housekeeping in some of the worlds finest resorts as well...

Anne

 

[cmcvean]

We stayed Polynesian conciege in January. I was looking forward to seeing what the food was going to be like because I had heard so many different opinions on it.

I thought it was good, but breakfast was about the only thing we made a meal out of. Now, my mother-in-law and grandmother (both senior citizens) spent a lot more time at the resort than we did and ate most of their meals there and thought it was great. They really don't eat much so it was perfect for them. We were just more active and needed REAL food!!

It was really great to grab drinks through out the day. As well as a glass of wine and something sweet when we got back from the parks.