Concierge Service - What are the benefits?

[DVCinderella]

Does anyone know what "Concierge Service" consists of (Cat 1-3)? I have been told that they will take care of reservations for Palo's, the spa, excursions, etc. Are there any other perks?

 

[Michelle]

The concierge will book all your reservations at a meeting the first afternoon. At the meeting you can also sign any children up for the children's programming, get tickets to Tea With Wendy, and sign up for the Palo Wine Tasting.

The concierge staff will stop by daily and leave small gifts...fruit, cookies, etc. They will take care of having your tips charged to your account if you request. They are a phone call away and on my cruise last December they were very helpful when I wanted to switch some appointments around.

You can check out CDs and videotapes from the concierge to listen to/view in your room.

You'll enjoy the concierge service.

 

[DisneyKids]

It is great service. One of the nice "little" things they did was leave reminder messages on your phone for things you have reserved (spa, palo, etc.). There is also a concierge reception with drinks and snacks. They also gave us a book on the making of the ship that was VERY cool and, I understand, hard to get otherwise.

 

[dizneykids]

we asked miska on the magic as we did not receive the little "somethings" every day as we had on the wonder. miska said that because it is a longer cruise, they don't leave food everyday.

however, our boys (3 of them) each received $10 cards for quartermasters twice (as did the kids of friends of ours who were linked with us in the computer, but who were not concierge). my dh received an autographed picture from mickey wishing him a happy birthday. we received the "making of the magic" book.

when you get to your stateroom, there will be dcl stationery with your name and stateroom printed on it. you receive free water and soda throughout your trip (you have to call the concierge and request it). you can order full breakfast room service (vs continental bkft in non-concierge) and you can get a full meal served in your stateroom from any of the restaurants on board (including from palos).

oh, and my personal favorite...prior to boarding, you wait in a lounge area with couches and you get to board first...you don't have to stand in the line with 3 boys whining at you "how much longer???"

 

[DVCinderella]

dizneykids

You mentioned that you had friends linked to your reservation, but they were not staying in a concierge category stateroom.

Our situation is similar...

I was not allowed to reserve a 2-bedroom because I am booking the cruise only. You must book a Land & Sea package in order to reserve a 2-bedroom. I have to wait until 30-days-out before I can reserve a 2-bedroom (if one is still available).

In the meantime, I reserved a 1-bedroom (Cat 3) and an adjoining Deluxe Family Stateroom (Cat 4). The Cat 4 would serve as the 2nd bedroom. Our party consists of DH and I, and my parents.

I wonder if we will be able to board together, or if half of our party will enjoy the concierge benefits, and the other half will not? I don't expect free soda, books, stationery, etc. for the Cat 4, but I hope that our party can stay together for the boarding process. I also hope that if concierge makes reservations, they can make them for our entire party, rather than half of us.

 

[Michelle]

Just a note, we did NOT receive free sodas or stationery with our name in it in the Cat. 3 cabin we had in December.

And it is true we did not receive something every day, but many days. We did get the arcarde cards too, but very late in the trip and we still have some left over...I hope they don't expire.

DVCCinderella, when you check in be sure to let them know you are all part of one party. You should be able to ALL do the concierge priority boarding. Also let the concierge staff know you are all part of one party as well, and I think they will allow all of you to take advantage of the concierge services.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by DVCinderella

I was not allowed to reserve a 2-bedroom because I am booking the cruise only. You must book a Land & Sea package in order to reserve a 2-bedroom. I have to wait until 30-days-out before I can reserve a 2-bedroom (if one is still available).

Really? You have to book the Land & Sea package in order to book a Category 1 or 2 on the Wonder? I hadn't heard this before.

 

[DVCinderella]

dizneykids...

I just spoke with my TA at Dreams Unlimited, and I was told that there is not a separate waiting area for concierge guests at the port. I don't mind standing in line...it wasn't that long the last time and I rather enjoyed the pre-boarding activities. I was also told that concierge guests do not board first.

She did, however, mention that Castaway Club members have a separate line for check-in at the port.

Once on-board, we meet with the concierge staff and go over reservation requests.

WebmasterMichelle...

"dizneykids" mentioned that they had to call concierge to request the free soda and water. Did you do this and still not receive the beverages?

Dave_from_Marietta...

Initially, I called the DCL directly and tried to book a Cat 2 for Dec 2002 (4-day Wonder). I was told that I could not book a Cat 1-3 as a cruise-only vacation.

I decided to try Dreams Unlimited. They told me that I could not book a Cat 1-2 as a cruise-only, but they were able to secure a Cat 3 (with adjoining Cat 4) for May 2003.

Do you know why they have these restrictions?

 

[Gretel]

We did not get free soda in Jan either, and I did ask.

We did get to board before the other guests with concergie (we were in a cat3) People in wheelchairs or concergie do board first if they want. All I did was ask the line guy and he walked us right up front to the little waiting area with seating.

We also got the arcade cards.

 

[Michelle]

On the Wonder they only allow the Cat. 1 and Cat. 2 suites to be booked as part of the LAND/SEA package up until 30 days before a sailing a date...then they are released for booking as cruise only. DCL wants to encourage land/sea packages, obviously, with the bigger suites.

There is not a separate WAITING area but there is a "preferred boarding" line (with the wheelchair folks) for concierge. I did not know such a thing existed either until December. You definitely can get on first.

I did not ask for free soda or water. There was a small supply in the room and once that was gone we did not ask for more.

 

[BethA]

We did not get a separate waiting area or the book on the making of the magic--that I was disappointed about. Is Miska on of the concierge staff now? She was a cast member on our cruise last year. We did receive very small snacks each night on the 7 day.

 

[Gretel]

I would have never known you could go to the front of the line had I not asked. In fact I kind of joked about it and asked the guy holding the end of the line if my room key had any priority on boarding the Magic when we saw the line was huge. He said oh yes, follow me, and led us to the front off to the side and explained we would be able to board right after the people in wheelchairs.

When we sailed in Jan the concergie team was Miska and Thierry. They were wonderful. I hope they are there next Jan!

 

[skuba]

I loved Miska. She could make a hurricane feel like a rain shower. We had a lot of little stuff going bonkers in our Walt Suite. Nothing that was major, just a little annoying and in the end quite comical. Some examples--we blew a fuse, the battery to our safe died, we couldn't seem to get the room service for breakfast to come which was a little more than annoying. She was great. everything got fixed immediately and with a smile.

I was wondering if anyone tipped them. I did and wonder if it was enough. They did so much for us getting everything taken care of that I wanted to do something without offending them that it was too low.

I do hope we get her again if we ever re-book.

DG

 

[Michelle]

Skuba, the concierge staff does not accept tips, they are adament about that. I asked.

 

[DVCinderella]

Originally posted by WebmasterMichelle
On the Wonder they only allow the Cat. 1 and Cat. 2 suites to be booked as part of the LAND/SEA package up until 30 days before a sailing a date...then they are released for booking as cruise only. DCL wants to encourage land/sea packages, obviously, with the bigger suites.

What do you think our chances are of getting a Cat 2 only 30-days-out? Even if a Cat 2 is available, if I switch my current reservation, I may lose my early booking discount. This seems so unfair.

Originally posted by WebmasterMichelle
There is not a separate WAITING area but there is a "preferred boarding" line (with the wheelchair folks) for concierge. I did not know such a thing existed either until December. You definitely can get on first.

This is great news! Thank you "WebmasterMichelle" and "Gretel" for letting me know about the priority boarding!

Originally posted by WebmasterMichelle
Skuba, the concierge staff does not accept tips, they are adament about that. I asked.

Wow...no tips! I'm really surprised. I would think that level of service would garner a tip. In addition to concierge, is there a cabin attendant, and will he/she accept a tip?

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by WebmasterMichelle
Skuba, the concierge staff does not accept tips, they are adament about that. I asked.

I'm assuming they can accept a small gift such as a box of Godiva's (my favorite little thank you gift) or pre-paid phone cards, etc.?

Anne

 

[Gretel]

Just to clarify...the little waiting area I am referring to is one anyone can sit in. It is next to the area where you can go outside to view the ship from the one side before boarding. It is not exclusive to anyone.

 

[skuba]

Webmastermichelle--

I didn't know that. Thierry did take my envelope with our tip in it on the last night when he came for our cd's and he gave me a big thank you. I hope I didn't get him in trouble. I used one of the envelopes that came with your name and stateroom. Now that I know this, I am not going to worry about giving too little. They just did so much for us that I think I saw her a few times each day.

DG

 

[Familyof6]

You people always amaze me with your up to the minute information!
When I had to cancel our Land/Sea Cat 2 suite last Oct. I tried to rebook cruise only. (This was because I booked and then found these boards...after reading the boards, I learned I could save so much more money by booking everything individually. Especially since we are military and can get cheaper park tix. ) They told me then that I couldn't book the Cat 1 or 2 as a cruise only. (I didn't inquire about Cat 3 since it's too small for us.) I was surprised to hear that, but I figured I had just missed something on the boards. I guess it was news to the boards then and should have been posted...but I was too depressed to read the boards then.

How do you go about asking to go to the "priority boarding area"? We are taking Happy Limo to the port so we will have to check our bags in at the port. Will they tell us then or will we have to ask..or what? I had no idea we'd have this option. It's a nice plus!

Are there anymore tips of which we may not be aware? I truly want to get the most out of this trip! It'll be the only time I get to take a trip like this. It's not something my dh would book. (which is exactly why I booked it this one time! )

Thanks for all the great information! I love these boards!

Oh, BTW, I just went to the local DS and bought a lime green shirt with three Mickey outlines across the front. ($4.05-- 75% off plus 10% DC card) I'm all set to run into others with lime green ribbons on!

Lisa