Grand Floridian Concierge- What Are the Pros and Cons?

[Mickey76]

Hey everybody, I was wondering if some of you could answer this question for me.

I'm getting married in July 2007 and will be honeymooning in WDW. My fiancee and I have already decided that we're going to stay at the Grand Floridian. I'm going to have some surprises for her during our stay, but I'd really like to surprise her by getting concierge.

Right now I'm not sure if it is in my budget, but maybe by hearing the pros and cons of staying in concierge might help me decide whether I should even bother saving for it.

A little about us. We're very active people and will probably be at the resort for a few hours each afternoon to unwind a little from the morning/early afternoon in the parks. Would concierge service be a waste for us? I'd love to hear everyone's opinions. Thanks.

 

[Mickey76]

Anyone? Anyone at all that can share their thoughts?...

 

[tom401]

Best wishes on the wedding. As a family, we try to stay at the GF Concierge - as a honeymooning couple, I would try to make it happen. First, they will make your trip planning MUCH easier - leaving you to focus on the wedding plans (all you ADRs can be taken care of, etc). You can have b-fast there, snacks, early evening drinks, and relax. Grab 2 glasses of wine and sit on your porch relaxing, etc.

If you can swing it financially, it will help make the honeymoon unforgettable - especially if it is a surprise.

 

[nicolemarie]

Congrats on an upcoming wedding! Do you mean main building concierge (Royal Palm) or Sugarloaf concierge. There is a big difference in the feel of the two. I will say this - coming up on my 13th anniversary next week, I still remember my honeymoon! I would try to splurge to the best of your ability! As for the upcharge being "worth it" - that's a tough one. The main building concierge is REALLY expensive. They do have great food out all day long and the atmosphere is wonderful. They will be at your service - especially knowing it is your honeymoon. It will make you feel really special knowing you are in the "best of the best". You can hear the live music from the concierge lobby and you are right there close to the monorail. Sugarloaf is nice, too. It has the same food offerings, but the atmosphere isn't quite as special. You are in the lobby of one of the other buildings and there isn't really enough seating in my opinion. But you don't pay as much either. You are a small walk to the main building for the monorail, and no live music. Main level concierge would be quite a surprise for your new bride!! I'd splurge if you have the time to save for it!! I don't think you would ever look back and say "I wish we hadn't wasted this money". You will probably be spoiled and want to stay there every time!!

 

[lark]

First, which concierge are you talking about? Main building or sugar loaf. They are different -- the main difference being that one is in the main building, which is a little more opulent, and the other is in one of the smaller lodge buildings. I don't think there's much of a difference at all in terms of food offerings or services.

So, without knowing that, it's a little tough to answer.

If you're considering the main building, the main con is price. At the time of year you're going, it's about $155/night more to stay in the main building than to stay in the sugar loaf concierge, and $200 to $300 more than staying in a regular non-concierge room at the GF. That's a lot of money.

One issue to think about is whether you're going to be going to a bunch of nice restaurants. If you're planning for Victoria and Alberts, the California Grill, and Flying Fish, and stuff like that, sugar loaf concierge, in my view, starts to stop being worth it, since you won't be eating much there except maybe breakfast and desert. Another thing to think about is how important view is to you. There aren't any lagoon view rooms in sugar loaf. View to me is crucial, so I just can't understand paying $55 more than what a lagoon view room costs.

If you're not a good planner, concierge helps. But, in my experience, it often depends on the quality of the person you get. We've had concierge a few times, and sometimes it's been someone great and sometimes it's been someone who was more clueless than I.

The main building, though, is a whole different ball of wax. It's really great. Plus, for just $10 you can get a honeymoon or deluxe room, which has more space. I've only stayed there once, but the view was great. Far better than we would have had at sugar loaf. We didn't even eat the food that much because we had lots of dinner reservations, but even so, for a special occasion, it was worth it.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

It depends if you are going to be around the resort a lot to enjoy the lounge offerings. For us, we love to eat at all the WDW restaurants, so we don't usually stay in concierge. I do love both the garden and lagoon view rooms at the GF --- you can't go wrong with either!

 

[threeboysmom]

The price is the only con I can think of!

We just returned from staying at the GF concierge - got upgraded from Sugar Loaf to Main Building - I think it was a honeymoon room (octagonal room with fabulous views of MK and Epcot). WOW!!! It was just DH and I, and I don't think I will ever be able to stay anywhere else! Lol! It was so nice to walk down the hall to grab something to eat or drink and sit in the lounge with a view of the castle changing colors and the orchestra playing Disney music right underneath us. It was SO magical!!! Your new bride will love you for it!

 

[nicolemarie]

How did you get upgraded? I am always nervous to request an upgrade, but hear about it all the time. Is it just timing or what? What a treat!!

 

[Stepht5]

We loved the Sugar Loaf building so much in October that we are going back in Feb.
I love that there is no tv in the lounge and that when you come back late afternoon from the parks you can grab a beer (dh) & a glass of wine (me) and just relax for a bit before getting ready for dinner.

 

[MrsTink04]

How did you get upgraded? I am always nervous to request an upgrade, but hear about it all the time. Is it just timing or what? What a treat!!

We got the upgrade to the octagonal turret suites, too. We did not ask for it, they just gave it to us! JMHO, but it just doesn't seem to be near as special if you ask for it. Plus, I am the type that would never ask for anything special...I am certainly not deserving of an upgrade any more than the next person. However, if they OFFER it...well, that's a different story!! I'm sure timing has a lot to do with it...and a lot of Pixie Dust!!!

 

[Mickey76]

Hey, everyone, thanks for your input. I didn't realize there were two concierge levels to choose from. It's defnitely something to think about, especially since we like to eat at the different restaurants. On the other hand, it would be pretty cool, sipping champagne on the balcony, looking at Cinderella's Castle at night changing color. Better start saving my pennies now.

 

[lark]

Hey, everyone, thanks for your input. I didn't realize there were two concierge levels to choose from. It's defnitely something to think about, especially since we like to eat at the different restaurants. On the other hand, it would be pretty cool, sipping champagne on the balcony, looking at Cinderella's Castle at night changing color. Better start saving my pennies now.

Just to be clear -- none of the rooms at the sugar loaf concierge would have a balcony looking at the castle. There are some in the main building, but not many. You could just as easily get one that faces the poly and the beach -- nothing is guaranteed. Of the six octagon rooms that people are talking about, only 2 have a clear view of the castle (and one may even be slightly obstructed), and none of those rooms have a balcony.

It's a lot of money -- just don't want you to be disappointed. I think the only way to get a guaranteed balcony view of cindarella's castle in all of disney is to reserve a magic kingdom view room at the contemporary.

 

[salmoneous]

Lot's of people seem to like Concierge, so it must be great for some people. But, to me, the price/benefit ratio seems way out of wack. Sure you get a nice public room to lounge out it. But isn't the whole point of staying at the GF to have a really nice room of your own. Plus there is the main lobby if you want to meet friends/family. Do you really need another?

I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to stay in Concierge. But I'm guessing you're on a budget for the wedding, and paying for Concierge will mean making a sacrifice somewhere else (I've never seen a wedding yet where people got everything they wanted and had money left over wondering how to spend it.)

 

[lark]

Lot's of people seem to like Concierge, so it must be great for some people. But, to me, the price/benefit ratio seems way out of wack. Sure you get a nice public room to lounge out it. But isn't the whole point of staying at the GF to have a really nice room of your own. Plus there is the main lobby if you want to meet friends/family. Do you really need another?

I'm definitely with you on sugar loaf, although lots of people swear by it. But, as I said, I like lagoon view, and you can't get that at sugar loaf. To pay more for non-lagoon just for the concierge services doesn't make sense to me. If you don't care about lagoon, though, it's a nice perq. The reality is that the difference is about $150 per night. $150 means different things to different people. No one of us can determine or anticipate another person's value of money -- 5 nights at $150 per night is, for me, a pretty great head start on another whole vacation. For others, it's not quite the same. What would you do with that $150? If it's buy groceries for your family, then no, it's probably not worth it. If you'd take dancing lessons, maybe it is worth it, etc.

Main building, though, to me, is a different story. The overall feel is spectacular, and just hard to put your finger on. With an AAA rate, if you can get it, on a very special occasion, in my view, it's worth it as a splurge.

I've certainly stayed in nicer hotels than the GF, some for half the price. But I've never stayed in one that, over all, has been quite the same experience. It's great.

 

[threeboysmom]

Just to be clear -- none of the rooms at the sugar loaf concierge would have a balcony looking at the castle. There are some in the main building, but not many. You could just as easily get one that faces the poly and the beach -- nothing is guaranteed. Of the six octagon rooms that people are talking about, only 2 have a clear view of the castle (and one may even be slightly obstructed), and none of those rooms have a balcony.

It's a lot of money -- just don't want you to be disappointed. I think the only way to get a guaranteed balcony view of cindarella's castle in all of disney is to reserve a magic kingdom view room at the contemporary.

If you are staying in the main building, the tables for 2 down the hallway in the concierge lounge have a pretty view of the castle changing color. That is what I was talking about in my post (although we had a pretty view of the castle from our honeymoon room as well). It was worth the price for me to sit in the lounge with my dessert & coffee late at night watching the castle and listening to the orchestra below play "So this is Love" - it brought tears to my eyes. I said to my DH at that point "it doesn't get any better than this!" It was one of those "perfect" moments!

So even if you don't get that perfect room with the castle view in the main building (although I would think Disney would do all they could to put honeymooners in the best room at the time), you can still get that castle view from the lounge or watch Wishes from the concierge balcony.

And I'm not sure how I was upgraded. I didn't ask for it - it just happened. When we checked in at the main desk, he looked and saw we were concierge so he paged Tyler to come walk us to the concierge desk to check us in. I was expecting to walk out of the building and head to Sugar Loaf, but instead Tyler brought us over to the main elevator. I spoke up and said, "Did we get an upgrade because we are supposed to be in Sugar Loaf." He looked and said "apparently you did". At the time I didn't realize this was THE Tyler from the Dis Boards - sorry Tyler! If I had known then, I would have introduced myself!!! I didn't find out until later when I was talking to DJ and found out that you were the Tyler from the Dis, and then I looked for you, but couldn't find you after that........ Oh well, next trip!!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

And I'm not sure how I was upgraded. I didn't ask for it - it just happened. When we checked in at the main desk, he looked and saw we were concierge so he paged Tyler to come walk us to the concierge desk to check us in. I was expecting to walk out of the building and head to Sugar Loaf, but instead Tyler brought us over to the main elevator. I spoke up and said, "Did we get an upgrade because we are supposed to be in Sugar Loaf." He looked and said "apparently you did". At the time I didn't realize this was THE Tyler from the Dis Boards - sorry Tyler! If I had known then, I would have introduced myself!!! I didn't find out until later when I was talking to DJ and found out that you were the Tyler from the Dis, and then I looked for you, but couldn't find you after that........ Oh well, next trip!!

I'm so sorry that you got by us at the curb... our usual procedure is to greet the guests at the curb before they make it to the front desk. Oh well... as you say, Next trip!

 

[webray]

Yes, concierge would be a total waste for you if you aren't going to be around to take full advantage of the services.

I can tell you though..if you ever do a concierge stay the GF is definately not the place to do it at. Go to AKL...there you get treated like the king and queen you are.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I'm so sorry that you got by us at the curb... our usual procedure is to greet the guests at the curb before they make it to the front desk. Oh well... as you say, Next trip!

Tyler,

Have you been at the GF for the last few years? The name sounds familiar...do you ever drive the carts that take guests to their rooms? I think I've met you! Oh well, in any case, now I'll remember for sure when we're there again

 

[Stepht5]

I'm so sorry that you got by us at the curb... our usual procedure is to greet the guests at the curb before they make it to the front desk. Oh well... as you say, Next trip!

We loved our quick *tour* on the way to conceirge check in!