Dream Concierge

[poison ivy]

Thank you!!! Do you think shoreside might be helpful if I contacted them in regards to HA route/procedures for the terminal parking?

edited to add: I found this on disney's site. on the port canaveral site it says i can prepay for parking, but here it says you pay upon exiting??? should i prepay? i wonder if it would be less hassle?

Preferred parking is also available for $25.00 per day. The preferred parking area is located inside the secured area, next to the vehicle dropoff area.

Guests enter via the car gate, drop off their luggage and then make a left turn in to the preferred parking area. There are total of 113 spaces, including 6 accessible spaces. Parking in the preferred area is on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the size of the lot, there is no over-sized vehicle parking available in the preferred parking area.

this is a map from the port Canaveral website. Disney's Cruise Terminal is 9155 Charles M Rowland Dr.
If you expand it you will see the arrows designating the one-way traffic flow. I believe the preferred lot you are speaking of is that triangular shaped open area directly to the right of the words "cruise terminal drive". I don't know if this also serves as the HA lot I read about.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/9...b1!3m1!1s0x88e0a626d85f1eb9:0x960395f32114d5a

we entered from 401 and had to take the Charles M Rowland Drive all the way around behind the parking garages. You'll arrive at a junction where the arrows split right and left. I'm not sure if this is the point that gentleman who was attempting to park handicapped tried to bear right and was forced to make a left.

 

[poison ivy]

here's a good video of what the drive in to the Disney Terminal at Port Canaveral is like. When they arrive at the first checkpoint you'll notice a vehicle from GA stopped in front of them and then being directed straight to a guard booth. Meanwhile they are instructed to turn left to enter the parking garage. I'm not sure why that other vehicle is sent in that direction and am wondering if it has to do with handicap parking. If I figure it out, I'll post.

 

[cashe]

Thank you! I sent my husband the map of the terminal yesterday and when he got home from work, i asked him "did you get the map i sent?" and he said "no. oh wait, i got a link but i didn't click it." I told him, "well i sent it to you so you could figure out where we are supposed to go." He said "I just figured I'd drive until I saw the sign that says 'big boats over here.'"

Doh.

 

[cmille3]

Hello!!! I was checking back in to see how your cruise was. Did you enjoy cabin 12016? Can't wait to see your pictures and hear all about your concierge cruise!

I'm here!! Weather was a little chilly (but still a whole lot warmer than home) so we explored a lot of the onboard spaces.

Here's the link to the Snapfish album with the room pictures: http://www1.snapfish.com/snapfish/t...otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

I'm trying to figure out how to just put them here. I need a few minutes...

 

[cmille3]

Be afraid! I figured it out.

Approaching the door from the side Concierge exit/entrance (it's only a few steps down)

Darling Hubby opening the door with our pre-teen looking on (and adding snarky comments)

"Oh right - I forgot all about the key card for lights..."

View from the doorway

View from the other side of the bed

Looking at the desk from the veranda doors

Looking into the room from the balcony

Closets (I didn't take a picture inside the closets. The ones on the left have shoe storage and a safe so we used it for shirts and folded slacks. The closet on the right is for taller stuff and had the bathrobes inside.)

Toilet

Vanity (I think I'm waving)

Shower (love the two shower heads!)

The long walk to concierge

Adding a view with the bunk bed pulled down.

 

[LUVDisney1975]

cmille3 thank you soooooo much for the pictures!!!!! They are great!!!! I can not wait for our turn to stay in that cabin. It looks beautiful!!! I would love to hear all about your experience with concierge. The staff, lounge, everything!!! Yay!!!! Did you get a cabana? Thank you again so much for the pictures! I'm so so excited! My girls know we are going on the cruise but I have not told them that I upgraded to concierge. They won't find that out until the day we get on the ship.

 

[JLMDisneyCruise]

BUT not everyone needs or wants those extras. And some of us HAVE cruised concierge and learned that we don't need or want them - especially when we can pay much less and cruise more often! It just irks me when people say "Once you sail concierge you'll never sail another way" because there are lots of us who DO even after trying it. That is the point I'm trying to make. I did briefly consider it for my Feb 2016 Wonder cruise just to see if I really missed something when my dad booked concierge on the Dream in the summer of 2013. It's only just less than double my 4B cabin, and less than what I'd been pondering on the Fantasy 9B. But honestly the only thing I'd miss is the drinks (not even sure they have those on the Wonder), and even then there is NO WAY I would drink close to $1200 worth of drinks. I have no desire to ever get a cabana (heck, the price of that is like half the price of another cruise!), and I don't really need or like having my hand held and being fussed over. "I'm a big girl. I tie my own sandals and everything!" (I've said before when we were concierge, I went into the lounge at some point on Nassau day to get a can of diet Coke - maybe 2 so I could put one in the fridge - and the host was so happy to see me - or anyone in our cabin - ask for something, he grabbed as many as he could carry and took them to our cabin.) So no, it's never going to be worth it for me.

Don't assume that just because you sail concierge you will never be able to sail "commoner" again.

Well, your right, if you have done it, and don't care for it...don't worry...there are some of use who can use that room next time around. Different stokes for different folks! Not all are cut out for concierge.. There is no need to get up in arms about it! Some of use enjoy that atmosphere and want that experience, and some just roll this way. Just sayin...

 

[JoiseyMom]

We have sailed in a cat 11c, 10a (SPH) (2x), cat 5, cat V and Roy Suite. Our ,next cruise is an 11b. All were good, but if I had to choose, it would be concierge each and every time hands down! I will cruise in the cabin I an afford at the time. We also love the cabanas on CC, and my DH will not get off the ship if he couldn't have one. Every family is different in what they like to do on Vacation. We have been lucky that our last 2 cruises that went to CC we were able to get a cabana. The first time we shared, the second time DH booked concierge to make sure we got one.

Different strokes...

 

[williamspawpaw]

I'll add that I would be in concierge every time if I could. It's not just saying that I can do these things myself as for most of them I can. For me it was both some little things and some bigger things that could have effected our vacation.

1) all of our plans and wants were taken care of way in advance of the trip - dates, times, etc.
2) We were in the V HA cabin and the CM's checked with us at each port and if I was getting off they took us down to the ramp and made sure that we
safely off. At Castaway Cay, they arranged for a shuttle to meet us at the ship and bring us back.
3) Were we pampered ? You betcha !

I live on SS and this took a lot of cost cutting on my part but I would do it again in a heartbeat just to have the experience and see the light in my GS's eyes when he had a private character meet and was treated like a king in the lounge.

Are we going on the Fantasy again ? Once again - You betcha. This time in a 5E. The first one was to fulfill a wish that my wife had when our GS was born. The next one will be with his other Grandma who loved my wife and fell in love with the pictures of our little pirate.

So to each there own. There is no right or wrong answer, only what you really want to do or can do with what you have. For me it was a lot of peanut butter and bologna to make the Magic happen..

 

[SolitaryPhoenix]

Someone had posted earlier about getting a message from Concierge; this is the bulk of the first message I got from them when we sailed last September:
As a Concierge Guest, your services begin even before you board the ship. The Shoreside Concierge Services team can begin to accept requests for calendar reminders and offer you personalized service in planning the details of your cruise beginning 125 days (May 2nd, 2014) prior to your sailing. Pre-arranged services include:
•Port Adventures
•Adult dining reservations at Palo and Remy
•Spa services/treatments
•Nursery reservations
•Dining Room seating preference requests
•Special occasions and celebration planning
•Transportation
•Assistance with special requests
The Concierge booking window opens at 120 days (May 7th, 2014) prior to sailing. On this day, the Shoreside Concierge team will assist in booking your requested activities provided your reservation is paid in full. Please note requested services are booked in the order in which they are received, and it is possible that some services may not be available.
The Disney Cruise Line Shoreside Concierge Services team is available Monday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., EST. We can be reached at1-866-784-1654 or by email at DCL.Concierge.Services@disneycruise.com.
We are thrilled you are sailing with us and are ready to make your pre-arrival experience exceptional!
Keep in mind this was from last year, something may have changed.

They actually helped get me the #1 Cabana, which I was pretty much frantic to get, because my mom, who turned 79 that month, has mobility issues, and (as far as I know) #1 is the only handicapped accessible unit. We're going again this September, for her 80th, and I'm hoping they can pull that out for us again! Love concierge; they were wonderful and really helped us enormously.

 

[LUVDisney1975]

That is great solitaryphoenix!!! Thank you!!! Do you remember about when you got that email from them? My 120 day mark is April 16. So I was just wondering when I should expect to hear from them.
Thank you!!!

 

[cashe]

That is great solitaryphoenix!!! Thank you!!! Do you remember about when you got that email from them? My 120 day mark is April 16. So I was just wondering when I should expect to hear from them.
Thank you!!!

You may or may not hear from them FYI. I had my requests drafted in an email and sent it at 11pm CST (midnight EST) to them at 125 days.

 

[LUVDisney1975]

You may or may not hear from them FYI. I had my requests drafted in an email and sent it at 11pm CST (midnight EST) to them at 125 days.

That's good to know. I'll just plan on drafting an email and having it ready to send at 9pm pst at 125 days. Well I guess for me it would be 126 since I'm 3 hours behind. Thanks for the info!

 

[perditax]

Well, I read this thread a few weeks ago out of nothing more than curosity. Then last night something clicked in my head (probably reading other people's trip reports all weekend while I've been sick) and I decided to check concierge pricing on my upcoming (first) cruise in September on the Dream.

One of the fabled bump-out rooms was available ... Deck 12, starboard, near the concierge lounge. I think you can guess the rest of the story.

 

[undertheradar]

Well, I read this thread a few weeks ago out of nothing more than curosity. Then last night something clicked in my head (probably reading other people's trip reports all weekend while I've been sick) and I decided to check concierge pricing on my upcoming (first) cruise in September on the Dream.

One of the fabled bump-out rooms was available ... Deck 12, starboard, near the concierge lounge. I think you can guess the rest of the story.

Congratulations! What date do you sail?

 

[perditax]

Congratulations! What date do you sail?

Thanks. September 14. I hardly know how I'm supposed to wait that long.

 

[cashe]

You are on Itinerary I - there's only 2 this year, one in May and one in Sept. I'm on the one in May. it's IMPOSSIBLE to find navigator info for that cruise as it's not been done before. also we were told by shoreside the dining rotations will ERAA, AERR and RAEE if that helps you at all in your planning. It's completely different from the rotations they've recently changed to.

 

[perditax]

You are on Itinerary I - there's only 2 this year, one in May and one in Sept. I'm on the one in May. it's IMPOSSIBLE to find navigator info for that cruise as it's not been done before. also we were told by shoreside the dining rotations will ERAA, AERR and RAEE if that helps you at all in your planning. It's completely different from the rotations they've recently changed to.

Haha, I don't even know what itinerary I means, is it the order of locations each day that is unusual?

I've read different things about how they assign rotations, but it sounds like some of it is urban legend. (E.g., at as an adults-only party we probably won't get AP the first night?) I do have some rotation hopes but it goes like this:

--I'm not really interested in AP
--I'm definitely not interested in the pirate menu
--Wish I knew for sure what night pirate night is so I could aim for for Palo that night
--Wouldn't it be nice if my AP night happened on pirate night so I could knock out two birds with one stone

But I'm not clear on if I'll know any of the above before we're actually on board?

I'll also be trying for a Palo brunch. I've seen conflicting reports on whether they'll 'let' you do both.

 

[undertheradar]

Haha, I don't even know what itinerary I means, is it the order of locations each day that is unusual?

I've read different things about how they assign rotations, but it sounds like some of it is urban legend. (E.g., at as an adults-only party we probably won't get AP the first night?) I do have some rotation hopes but it goes like this:

--I'm not really interested in AP
--I'm definitely not interested in the pirate menu
--Wish I knew for sure what night pirate night is so I could aim for for Palo that night
--Wouldn't it be nice if my AP night happened on pirate night so I could knock out two birds with one stone

But I'm not clear on if I'll know any of the above before we're actually on board?

I'll also be trying for a Palo brunch. I've seen conflicting reports on whether they'll 'let' you do both.

Now that you have booked concierge, you can add your dining rotation to your list of requests when you are 125 days from sail date.

 

[cashe]

If you are concierge you can request a specific dining rotation. Our Pirate night is on nassau day which is day 3. I'm not saying this is how yours is, but i could see what night pirate night was on before checking in. It shows up when you go look at your itinerary online.

If you don't want AP then I would suggest AERR. I requested ERAA because i do not want Royal Palace and I have a daughter who wants to be in AP on pirate night and a regular night. We scheduled Remy for the second night because I didn't want to fight to get back to the room and get ready after a day at port.