Dining Plan or Concierge

[tinker*dust]

I'm ready to book my next trip to the World (family of 5). I'm going with a split stay between the BC and the Poly. The first 5 nights will be at the BC with the dining plan and 7 day hoppers. The last 2 nights I was planning to try the Poly LV Concierge. Never stayed at the Poly, never stayed concierge anywhere, never had the dining plan.

We love, love, love the BC and hubby is insisting that we stay there. I, however, would like to sample other resorts.

Anyway while checking rates with my AAA agent, she asked why I would want to stay concierge when you get so much more for the dining plan. A night at the BC w/ dining and a night at the Poly concierge are pretty close in $$. Now I'm wondering...should I scratch the concierge and just get dining plan while at the Poly?

Any thoughts????

 

[patsal]

Concierge is not intended to make up for your need to spend money on dining. It is light fare--continental breakfast, snacks and beverages, if I were with a family, for certain I would take the dining package, since I will still need to have some meals. If it were just DH and I I would do CL and just pay out of pocket for the extra meals.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Patsal makes an excellent point -- concierge food offerings are not intended to be complete meals. That said, I've observed some people attempting to make a "meal" of it anyway. I would not book concierge as an alternative to the dining plan either. Our family prefers eating at the restaurants too much. We stayed at the concierge-light level at CR last year, which worked fine for us. Light snacks available to supplement real meals.

 

[DutchsMommy]

We stayed AKL and Poly concierge in Feb. While I knew that the fare was 'lite' I really thought we could sqeak by a light meal or two using the concierge food (we're not really big eaters so I figured a few pot-stickers would do us). Anyway, I was really wrong. The food is totally 'snacky' (IMHO) and really wouldn't cut it for any type of meal. If it is any indication for you, we are going back in Sept and staying at POR with the dining deal. I can't wait to try the places I have ADRs for - many of which I probably wouldn't if I had to pay out of pocket for them (that's just my mentality though). Also, because I am a planner (as are most people on the DIS I think), the concierge services became less of a value to me as I was pretty well prepared with ressies, what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go etc. I also don't think the concierge will be as successful at getting the 'hard to get' ADRs during the Dining Promo as everything is so filled up (again, just MHO). So........long story short.......while it is a nice treat if you can swing it.........the dining plan is, I think, too good a deal to pass up.

 

[MNmom]

We are doing both!!!!

I am not planning to use the concierge at the Poly for our meals at all. Well maybe a light breakfast of fruit/yogurt/bagel.

We have had concierge book all of our dining ARs, and with the dining plan that has been a lot (& we have changed our minds a million times and they have always gotten what I have requested!!)

My son has food allergies and they are providing us with soy milk and soy yogurt and some safe snacks and candy. (Don't have to bring it all from home!!)

We will have 5 in our room so we are totally planning to use the lounge as a place to take a break. Have the kids go relax/play cards or mom and dad take a break at night and have a night cap

Just knowing that I won't have to bring my soy mild/diet coke/ water bottles/orange guava juice from home really helps me out.

Yes--the dining plan will have plenty of food. We are not planning to go crazy trying to "get the most" from our plan. We will have a nice lunch or dinner each day, one character BF, and then wing it from there for CS and snacks. If we have leftover credits we will buy lunch for a nice family or bring some snacks home!!!

JMHO

 

[Stitches]

When are you going and does the room decor matter to you? The concierge building, Hawaii, is supposed to get refurbished rooms in Sept/Oct. I'm going during December's value season, so I chose garden view concierge to ensure (I hope) that I'll get one of the newly decorated rooms. From the pictures I've seen, I think they will be beautiful. I've been to the Polynesian before and while I loved the resort overall, I didn't particularly care for the room decor.

 

[kirbsam]

concierge can supply you with an adequate breakfast.