For all those staying at the Poly

[craig]

Just wanted to let everyone know that if you are using your points to stay at the Poly you could be staying in a concierge room.

I don't know why everyone hasn't done this. Using points, A DVC member can get Lagoon View regular room. Paying cash, a Garden View Concierge room is the SAME PRICE as a Lagoon View regular room. Who wouldn't take Poly concierge over a view?

The only thing you need to do is to first ask upon arrival at the concierge building is ask if there is availabliity. This is the second time we have used our points to stay at the Poly and both times we have been upgraded to concierge without using more points or paying cash out of pocket.

We did have to wait three days for a concierge room to open up but it is worth the wait.

 

[JonHM]

What's the big advantage of a concierge room? Never having stayed in one, I'm not sure. But the lagoon views at the Poly are mighty impressive, aren't they? Don't they face both the MK and the Contemporary? Not sure it'd be worth it to me to give that up just for free snacks and someone there to answer my questions.

I am SURE that I am missing something about the concierge rooms. If you have a minute, Craig, please let me know what benefits you get with a concierge room.

Btw, this is *completely* hypothetical, since the next few times we're visiting we're in DVC villas, but your question 'who wouldn't take Poly concierge over a view?' intrigued me...

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

We just got back from a concierge stay at the Poly in Oct. We have two kids, 2 and 4 and we think that concierge is the way to go if you've got kids. The food service is more than just snacks, it is a full cold food breakfast...cereal, fresh fruit, oatmeal, toast etc. It saves so much time (and $$$!!!) when you don't have to go out to eat. Plus, you may take soda and water from there to the parks with you saving you $10-15/day in drinks alone. The dinner hour served some sort of rice or noodle cassarole with fruits and vegatables, chesses, hot appitizers etc.....also wines and after dinner drinks are available. You could skip eating out most meals if you go concierge. I can't tell you how many times we've ordered the $8.95 kids meal at WDW only to have it go into the buspan, hardly touched. I am glad to learn of this as we enjoyed our stay at the Poly and would like to stay there again. It is the next best thing to DVC....IMHO. Plus the poly lounge has a great view of the lake, GF and the MK fireworks show.

Give it a try sometime when you have a few extra points to burn (which doesn't happen too often).......Johnnie

 

[RobDoc]

Beginning in 2002, DVC members may make reservations for Concierge rooms at the Poly, GF, Y&B specifically using points. I think the Poly concierge begins at 48 points per nite for Sun-Thurs. This was one of the changes made with the Disney Collection for the upcoming year.

Previously, DVC points could not be used to guarantee such a room request, but the request could sometimes be met. I suspect that there will be no similar upgrades in the future (unless you also want the accompanying point charges).

 

[PamOKW]

I think Doc is right. This is a great tip for anyone traveling this month....then it will just be a distant memory.

 

[Beachangel]

The only perk I ever encountered staying concierge was the food but I've only experienced breakfast since I'm on the run all day. From what I've read here on the DIS, many guests use the concierge lounge as their B, L, D restaurant which is certainly not its intended purpose.

Oh, yeah, bathrobes are provided too.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Oops, forgot about the cruel points change for the DC in 2002. Guess you'll really need points to burn to make a concierge stay worth while.

BTW, I believe the intended purpose of concierge food would be indicated by several factors, including such things as:

1) The guests view of such a service (after all you pay for it, it is not a perk).

2) The types of food that are served (i.e. a chicken rice cassarole is not, in my opinion, an appitizer. It's a main dish. Thus, if main dishes are being served, the intended purpose of concierge food may well be a meal.

3) One mans snack is anothers meal.

As long as resort guests are not excessively wasting, The concierge lounge should be utilized however it best fits into your individual vacation plan.

johnnie

 

[craig]

The benefits of concierge is greater than a good view. The view from the conc. lounge is better than any room view. From this room you can watch the fireworks and water parade nightly. Every night is a different themed meal. Sushi, chicken wings, nachos with everything, etc. Not to mention all the wine, sodas, juice & water. Between breakfast and dinner there are snacks of cookies & other finger food. There are also items for kids-food, coloring pages & candy.

The concierge staff was able to get us 4 seats for Cinderella's breakfast (which was booked when we tried to call everyday for 10+ days) and Chef Mickey's.

For my birthday they gave us hats, ballons & a 6" cake. They also took a picture of our group and gave us a copy and put one in a photo album belonging to the Poly.

We brought a stroller for our 2 month old son but did not have one for our 4yo daughter. We were able to us a 3-wheel stroller for her for free. My wife's aunt, who was in a cast was able to use a wheelchair for free also. We were able to take both of these into the parks with us and return them at the end of our stay.

A view is nice but the time spent in your room looking out the window is finite. Just think of the money we saved not having to buy breakfast, drinks, dinner, snacks and stroller for 11 days! We only bought one breakfast (Cindy's) and one dinner (Chef Mickey's) For 2 adults and one child, that's is a HUGE savings.

It's worth arguing with DVC regarding the same price for lagoon & concierge and the point difference for members. I can't remember what the point difference is but there shouldn't be one.

 

[RobDoc]

It's worth arguing with DVC regarding the same price for lagoon & concierge

I'm afraid arguing with DVC won't gain much, as the point charts are "negotiated" with the other resorts with little for DVC to bargain with.

As for the point difference- Poly Lagoon view begins at 40 points per night, while Concierge Lagoon View starts at 48. That would seem fair- considering the extra amenities offered with the Concierge service.

Poly Garden view rooms begin at 31 points per night.

 

[craig]

I know there is no use arguing with DVC but I do think it is ridiculous that there is a difference in points when there isn't a difference is cash. Even the concierge staff said this when I told them of the change coming next year.

 

[sonogirl]

I can't wait to try this!!! We leave in 7 days for the Polynesian. I tried twice to get concierge added on for a cash price and was told couldn't do it with points. Try asking when we check in, but I am going to try your way first. I will let you know if it worked. Thanks Lori

 

[JonHM]

Craig and Johnnie for filling me in on all the additional stuff that concierge rooms give you that I didn't know about. I appreciate it!

Thanks again!

Jon

 

[craig]

I just checked the point schedule for next year and they only have 3 types of rooms listed
1. Garden View
2. Lagoon View
3. Concierge Lagoon View

Garden View Concierge is not listed. I woder if GVConcierge and LView are interchangeable? Why would they leave out GVConcierge?