For those that book club level rooms do

[JJ&JSMOM]

you book directly w/disney or somewhere else? I was thinking of using DU for our next trip to disney and to stay at the WL we'd have to book the deluxe room which is now concierge. Does it make sense to use DU if the WL concierge will be helping us book our dining? I'm leaning towards just booking w/disney and using WL concierge to make my ADRs as I would be paying for that service anyways. Thanks for any opinions. If anyone has any opinions on the concierge services at WL I would love to read them. If concierge booked your dining, were you satisfied w/the results? Wondering if maybe I should just do it myself.
TIA


Joanne

 

[lilyv]

I think it makes great sense to use DU to book concierge level. We are booked for concierge AKL in 2008. I wanted real quote, without all the new drama that seems to accompany trying to get info from WDW reservations these days. (I feel for the reservationist, but this is my vacation, and I'll put a deposit down when I have decided. Period.)

What did DU do for me? They checked, and were able to obtain a AAA rate, saving me several hundred dollars. I am making regular payments at their website at my convenience. So easy!
When my window for ADR's comes up, I can either use DU or the IPO for my reservations. (Or, of course, make them myself.) Haven't decided yet which I'll do-far enough away this is on the back burner.

Finally, DU was so nice when we changed our reservation from a regular room to concierge. They were happy to get me a new quote, and just transfer my payments over to our new selection. No problem. They seemed to really want me to be happy. I love good customer service!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Thanks lilyv! I've read that IPO sends paperwork to complete - did you still fill out the paperwork from concierge eventhough you made your own ressies? Curious because we'll have 2 bdays to celebrate the next time we go and I want WL to be aware of them. I'll order their cakes on my own & other surprises. Thanks again.

 

[lilyv]

Thanks lilyv! I've read that IPO sends paperwork to complete - did you still fill out the paperwork from concierge eventhough you made your own ressies? Curious because we'll have 2 bdays to celebrate the next time we go and I want WL to be aware of them. I'll order their cakes on my own & other surprises. Thanks again.

We're still quite away from our 180 days, so I haven't worked on any paperwork.
I think if you use DU you just need to let the IPO office (via email) know you're coming, dates, and any requests. Your travel agent (should you go with DU) can tell you more. (This is pretty much the only difference from using WDW reservations, as if you use reservations they automatically notify the IPO, as I understand things.)

What fun to celebrate birthdays at Disney!!!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Thanks again- you've been very helpful.

 

[lilyv]

Thanks again- you've been very helpful.

My pleasure. Feel free to PM if you have other questions. And, you may already know this, but if you ask for a quote be sure to check your spam filter. I've known of quite a few posters who "found" their quote there.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Whenever my family and I book a Club Level room we always do it threw CRO, so it would be a room only reservation. Since we are not big on making ADR's we don't use the IPO for that and when it comes to specifc requests we let the Cast Members working on the Club Level floor what we would like. In the past when we told this to the IPO they never sent that info to the computer at the actual Club Level floor.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Whenever my family and I book a Club Level room we always do it threw CRO, so it would be a room only reservation. Since we are not big on making ADR's we don't use the IPO for that and when it comes to specifc requests we let the Cast Members working on the Club Level floor what we would like. In the past when we told this to the IPO they never sent that info to the computer at the actual Club Level floor.

Thanks for the info. One would think that IPO would communicate better w/Club Level. I'll be sure to go right to the CMs w/any specifics once we're there.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for the info. One would think that IPO would communicate better w/Club Level. I'll be sure to go right to the CMs w/any specifics once we're there.

That happened to be my families experience with them, because I have read other stories were the IPO was very good. The funny thing about what I said earlier is a week before we were to arrive WDW, we got a call from the Contemporary IPO asking if there is anything we would need? So it's weird how what we said never got sent over to the Cast Members computers at the Atrium Club.

 

[mommylicious]

I don't think it really matters as far as IPO is concerned if you book on your own or with a TA. I usually book with a TA who has stayed at most, if not all, of the deluxes in CL as well. At her suggestion I do not wait for the paperwork from IPO to contact them. She has always given me the email address and I contact them myself by email. We usually book around 6 months in advance anyway so it's almost always close to the 180 days. I just go ahead and send them an email with my info and any requests for ADRs, room requests etc. I get the paperwork forwarded from the TA but I never bother to fill it out because I've already contacted them myself.

I will say we have now stayed CL at WL, Poly, AKL, BWI, BC and CR (12 and 14). I have favorites in terms of IPO, lounge, food, lounge area CMs and which was best for just DH and I, for a family in general and for the kids. I haven't had a BAD experience at any of them and I would return to any of them...some of them would be a "YEA! we're going back to XYZ" and some would be "we wanted CL and we could get ABC so we are going back."

I really don't think it matters one way or another. Book however you feel comfortable.

btw...I assume that is Baxter in the pic? We had a dog named Baxter as well who we also love and miss. DH thought it was such an original name when we gave it to him gosh, 15 years ago now but we keep hearing more and more people with pets named Baxter.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

I don't think it really matters as far as IPO is concerned if you book on your own or with a TA. I usually book with a TA who has stayed at most, if not all, of the deluxes in CL as well. At her suggestion I do not wait for the paperwork from IPO to contact them. She has always given me the email address and I contact them myself by email. We usually book around 6 months in advance anyway so it's almost always close to the 180 days. I just go ahead and send them an email with my info and any requests for ADRs, room requests etc. I get the paperwork forwarded from the TA but I never bother to fill it out because I've already contacted them myself.

I will say we have now stayed CL at WL, Poly, AKL, BWI, BC and CR (12 and 14). I have favorites in terms of IPO, lounge, food, lounge area CMs and which was best for just DH and I, for a family in general and for the kids. I haven't had a BAD experience at any of them and I would return to any of them...some of them would be a "YEA! we're going back to XYZ" and some would be "we wanted CL and we could get ABC so we are going back."

I really don't think it matters one way or another. Book however you feel comfortable.

btw...I assume that is Baxter in the pic? We had a dog named Baxter as well who we also love and miss. DH thought it was such an original name when we gave it to him gosh, 15 years ago now but we keep hearing more and more people with pets named Baxter.

Thanks for the info. So you give room requests to IPO - do you also give them to your TA as well? Before we schedule our dining - which is a long ways away - I'll make a list of the ADRs I want and the ones we really really want I may do myself to make sure no mishaps happen. I am a control freak...I admit it .

Yes thats Baxter - our newfie who we had to have put down this past July. He was named after my favorite state park here in Maine - Baxter State Park. He was a wonderful animal and friend. Thanks for asking.

Thanks again!
Joanne

 

[mommylicious]

Thanks for the info. So you give room requests to IPO - do you also give them to your TA as well? Before we schedule our dining - which is a long ways away - I'll make a list of the ADRs I want and the ones we really really want I may do myself to make sure no mishaps happen. I am a control freak...I admit it

I give room requests to the TA as well but I give them to IPO too and IPO says they send a note to the room assigner and can go in and make changes if need be as well. I will say we have had our room requests honored everywhere except AKL. My requests were (1) to be near the lounge (2) to view an active Savannah (3) bunk beds if possible. I knew that a few of the rooms closet to the lounge are pool view but I was OK with that. We were only staying 3 nights there and I knew our itinerary would be pretty full those days so we wouldn't be in the room much so the view wasn't as big of a deal as convenience while travelling with 2 little kids. Our room was one floor below the lounge, across the bridge on the other side of the building (Kudu Trauil) and in the very last section of the building on that opposite side. It took us longer to walk from our room to the lounge than it did to walk to the monorail from our room at the GF (non-CL, stayed in Conch Cay, this was a split stay trip). Not convenient at all. We saw very few animials but honestly I think that was because of the weather and we had no bunk beds. When I asked about moving I was told that we'd have to pack up and have all of our stuff out before 10 am and stored with bell services then we would have to call to see what room they would put us in after 3:00. We had plans with friends we were travelling with and wouldn't be back to AKL until after the Illuminations Grand Gathering Dinner thing. It was December so Illuminations started at 9:30. We wouldn't be back until probably at least 10:30 and we knew the kids would be exhausted so finding out what new room we were assigned to and having to call and wait for luggage to be delivered before we could bathe them and get their jammies on just didn't make sense. Not for only that night and the next night in a different room. If it was 7 nights maybe, but not 2. We just dealt with the hike to the lounge (and didn't use the lounge or it's offerings much as a result). Everywhere else 100% of our room requests have been honored.

As for ADRs, I give a list to IPO. If I have some that are a big deal, I call too that way hopefully both of us get them and I have a choice. I just cancel whichever we don't need. If I book anything myself (which if it's getting close to our trip date I usually do b/c I figure it's faster for me to pick up the phone than to email IPO, have them see the email and check for the ADR. If I can't get it, I always ask them to keep an eye out for cancellations and have had good luck with that (especially asking once we arrive). If I book something on my own, I always email them with the confirmation #. I was told by a CM at the WL CL that they note you are a CL guest on your ADR. No idea if that makes a difference in anything but why not. I know it did not help us get a table near the tank at Coral Reef but DH swears it has help us be seated faster at LeCellier. I doubt it makes a difference though.

Our Baxter had to be put down last year about this time so I understand your sadness. DH and I both went to the Univ. of GA and Baxter Street runs through the middle of campus...we named ours after that street.

 

[Poppinsme]

We did everything through Poly concierge for our upcoming trip.
All our ADRs we requested were done.
Wildlife excursion, no problem getting.
We communicated by email and they were great.
I am very happy with the concierge service so far.
In fact today I'm sending them an email about champagne and strawberries in the room.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

As for ADRs, I give a list to IPO. If I have some that are a big deal, I call too that way hopefully both of us get them and I have a choice. I just cancel whichever we don't need. If I book anything myself (which if it's getting close to our trip date I usually do b/c I figure it's faster for me to pick up the phone than to email IPO, have them see the email and check for the ADR. If I can't get it, I always ask them to keep an eye out for cancellations and have had good luck with that (especially asking once we arrive). If I book something on my own, I always email them with the confirmation #. I was told by a CM at the WL CL that they note you are a CL guest on your ADR. No idea if that makes a difference in anything but why not. I know it did not help us get a table near the tank at Coral Reef but DH swears it has help us be seated faster at LeCellier. I doubt it makes a difference though.

Our Baxter had to be put down last year about this time so I understand your sadness. DH and I both went to the Univ. of GA and Baxter Street runs through the middle of campus...we named ours after that street.

Thanks for the info. Good idea about making those that are really a must. The only one I can think of would be a lunch at CRT for DD's 4th bday w/BBB prior too. We did this for DD5 5th bday last month and DD2 really wanted a princess makeover then so I know she'll love it when she turns 4.

Sorry about your Baxter. My sister's vet has a plaque that reads - the hardest thing about having a dog is outliving them.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Whenever my family and I book a Club Level room we always do it threw CRO, so it would be a room only reservation. Since we are not big on making ADR's we don't use the IPO for that and when it comes to specifc requests we let the Cast Members working on the Club Level floor what we would like. In the past when we told this to the IPO they never sent that info to the computer at the actual Club Level floor.

We're headed for trip 40 in January and have stayed a few times conceirge level and never used a Travel agent. Have checked a few times to compare prices, DU vs. CRO and most always either CRO was the same price or less. I rather be in control of my entire vacation, its my money so if any problems arise, they're mine. Even conceirge level, we make our own reservation day before right from our room, nothing in advance, we see other things or we tour opposite what we planned and just call or if the conceirge person is a friendly type we tell them. Other than reservations, the conceirge person does nothing for us and we don't ask. The WL, in my own opinion had the best, mind you, had, best service and layout that we have encountered.

So ,booking a conceirge stay through CRO is an easy snap, we always just book room only and purchase our tickets when we arrive, only have a few must eats, make HDDR reservations at room booking via CRO and thats it. The simpler you keep your trip, the less you're to encounter all the negatives I've read on these boards. I just some guests book each and every meals for every day of their stay and after a few days for power eating, Disney meals are huge, its hard to cancel the rest . Touring Disney by your watch to be where your ADR's are is not exciting to us, we see way too many places and meals we never thought of and just like to pop here and there.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

We're headed for trip 40 in January and have stayed a few times conceirge level and never used a Travel agent. Have checked a few times to compare prices, DU vs. CRO and most always either CRO was the same price or less. I rather be in control of my entire vacation, its my money so if any problems arise, they're mine. Even conceirge level, we make our own reservation day before right from our room, nothing in advance, we see other things or we tour opposite what we planned and just call or if the conceirge person is a friendly type we tell them. Other than reservations, the conceirge person does nothing for us and we don't ask. The WL, in my own opinion had the best, mind you, had, best service and layout that we have encountered.

So ,booking a conceirge stay through CRO is an easy snap, we always just book room only and purchase our tickets when we arrive, only have a few must eats, make HDDR reservations at room booking via CRO and thats it. The simpler you keep your trip, the less you're to encounter all the negatives I've read on these boards. I just some guests book each and every meals for every day of their stay and after a few days for power eating, Disney meals are huge, its hard to cancel the rest . Touring Disney by your watch to be where your ADR's are is not exciting to us, we see way too many places and meals we never thought of and just like to pop here and there.

When you purchase your tickets when you arrive, is that at checkin? We've always bought a package so everything is put on our room key. Since I doubt we'll be purchasing the ddp (too much food plus I think we could have eaten cheaper on our own) next time I think maybe we'll do things separately. In October - I booked about 9 ADRs and cancelled 3 while we were there. W/o the ddp I doubt we'll schedule as many ADRs although it was nice to sit down & have a nice meal as I wasn't too keen on the CS choices for my kids but thats another thread !

Thanks for the info.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

We did everything through Poly concierge for our upcoming trip.
All our ADRs we requested were done.
Wildlife excursion, no problem getting.
We communicated by email and they were great.
I am very happy with the concierge service so far.
In fact today I'm sending them an email about champagne and strawberries in the room.

I've been reading really good things about Poly IPO lately. We stayed at the Poly last October (not concierge) and loved it.

Early congrats on your anniversary - enjoy! Thanks for the info.

 

[cara loves the poly]

Directly with Disney.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Directly with Disney.

Did/does Disney contact IPO for you or did you have to contact IPO? Thanks for the info.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Not sure what we'll do yet. I like the idea of booking it myself but I also like the idea of having someone to bounce questions off and get their opinions. When I made ADRs the last time I was a nervous wreck so I guess handing that to someone else to do wouldn't be so bad as long as I trusted them to call asap when it was time. Good thing our vacation is a long ways because we have some decisions to make. Thanks all for your help.