Grand Floridian Concierge

[PartyOf5]

Thanks for the welcome on my other thread about the WL pool.

I'm thinking my children will want to stay at a resort with a bigger pool. So, I'm wondering if anyone here has any info on GF Concierge? I would be interested in the Sugar Loaf building as I believe that is cheaper. However, I also understand it offers less. Does anyone know how much less they offer?

I've stayed at the Concierge at the Poly before and that was wonderful for us. I'm wondering if the GF has goodies available all day and also water/soda/juice. I would also like to use them in making PSs if we decide to go that route.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

GF Lodge Concierge (Sugar Loaf) has limited food offerings compared to other concierge lounges. They offer continental breakfast items, a few snacks and horderves during the day, and nothing at night. There is a complete list of food offerings over on the GF FAQ thread. The rooms in Sugar Loaf either overlook the marina or the courtyard pool, so no castle views. However, you still get complete itinerary planning, including PS's.

Good Luck planning!

 

[Mike_in_FL]

Partyof5,

The best Disney hotel pool (IMHO of course) for kids young and old is Stormalong Bay (aka SAB) at Yacht and Beach. They have concierge at both those hotels, with a very similar food service to the one at the Poly. If you are set on a Magic Kingdom hotel, then unfortunately this will not meet your needs. I personally prefer the lounge at the Poly (larger, wonderful view and more kid-friendly) to either BC or GF concierge.

The GF concierge at Sugar Loaf has similar food offerings to the Poly during the day, but does not have wine or the late evening desserts and liqueurs. Those are found in the lodge. The new pool at GF is fun.

Hope this helps!
Mike

 

[PghDisney]

I reserved the GF sugar loaf as well for similar reasons that made you consider that location. I spoke to the concierge there and he said that the main difference was no alcohol, that all else was the same as far as food offerings as in the main building. However, I am seeing ones post that dessert is also either limited (some posting here and other places) or not existing. I do know that something is offered until 10 pm, perhaps only soft drinks, tea and such. I still would love to know about the dessert part, but for the money (only $35 a person per day more than a standard room with the fall fantasy special) it is well worth it either way. They also are offering concierge in the main building for another $78 a couple, or $39 more than that, a total of $74 per day per person. Perhaps it is nicer in the main building, I am sure it is actually, but I can buy quite a bit of wine and desert for $40 a day, so to me the sugar loaf is the better choice. As a btw, you can (at least the days I am going, August 31 - September 7) get the BWI, Polynesian or Yacht Club concierge, with wine and all the bells and whistles for similar price or just above the sugar loaf at GF, but for me I prefer the GF atmosphere, so will stick where I am, and perhaps inquire when I get there how much to upgrade to the main building, hoping that it may be less. Hope that this helped, and if any know definitively about the desert offerings (if any) in GF sugar loaf at night let me know, I am hoping the concierge that I spoke to knew what he was talking about and that they will be there. Good luck all.

 

[PartyOf5]

for the responses! I ended up doing the upgrade today to Sugarloaf. I also called the concierge desk and he did mention that the offerings were identical to the main building with the exception of alcohol which is fine with us. I, too, hope he is right! It sounded fabulous...I spoke with someone named Randy and he seemed very nice.

I stayed at the Poly concierge a couple years ago. I would have booked it again this year but the Hawaii building is going through a rehab which means the concierge is located in the Tahiti building. That building just seems to be too far from things. Plus, my husband is on a kick to try new resorts and we wanted to stay near MK. So, it looks like GF it is!

Yes, if you have more info to add on the GF concierge service, please add your thoughts. Does anyone know if they keep water, soda and juice available throughout the day? One thing I don't like doing is having to ask...if it's out it's so much easier to grab.

Thanks again everyone - you've been a HUGE help!

 

[boomer626]

I agree with everything phgdisney said, and have the same question about the desserts if anyone knows. Going on the FTP to Sugar Loaf in late September. I checked last week and YC Concierge with Standard View is about the same price - no water views were available. With younger kids I thought the monorail to MK was also a big plus. Was also going to inquire about RPC upgrade at check-in.

 

[Oh Kay!]

-Does anyone know if they keep water, soda and juice available throughout the day? One thing I don't like doing is having to ask...if it's out it's so much easier to grab.-


We stayed at SL last December, and they did not set up bottled beverages to grab and go. However, our room had a stocked mini-refridgerator, which we did not request, and the prices were higher than even the park prices, e.g. $3.50 for a bottled water vs. $2.50 at the parks. So watch out for that.


--if any know definitively about the desert offerings (if any) in GF sugar loaf at night let me know

Once night, we came back from Epcot around 10 PM and they still had OJ, milk, and iced tea set out along with some cookies. By the way, we stayed at Hawaii last month, and when we went to the lounge around 9 PM, there were no desserts left, so just because they offer dessert doesn't mean you'd get to eat any.

Overall, I agree with PghDisney. I like the atmosphere at GF better than Poly. My two boys, 2 and 4, like Poly better. They loved waking in the morning and seeing a bunch of ducks and birds waiting to be fed just out the sliding door.

Hope this helped.
Kay

 

[justynsaunt]

A few weeks ago I called thr GF concierge directly. I was also told that the only difference between the concierge service in the main building and in Sugar Loaf is the alchoholic beverages.

As for soda, water etc. these items are available throughout the day but due to the themeing at GF they do not just leave the beverages out. Please feel free to ask and they will gladly get it for you.

By the way, before you ask, in reference to the themeing I was told that because of the turn of the century concept the powers that be feel that leaving the beverages out detracts from the ambiance that they are trying to create. At the Poly, for instance, it's a more casual, island like resort and therefore leaving the beverages out, readily available, is okay.

I told the young woman that I spoke to that management needs to re-think the GF policy. Frankly, guests want convienence above all else. That means we don't want to ask we just want it to be there. She said that the staff is aware of this and is trying to convince management to see the light. She also said that they are working on having a more consistant concierge policy throughout Disney World.

I think GF is the only resort that has two levels of concierge service. If I'm wrong please do correct me.

 

[hookedup]

Originally posted by justynsaunt
I think GF is the only resort that has two levels of concierge service. If I'm wrong please do correct me.

Actually the CR also has two levels of concierge - the 14th floor - which is a FULL concierge (IMHO one of the best in the World) and 12th floor "Tower Club" which they call a concierge light service.

I was under the impression that the SL at GF and RPC were structured similarly and the reservation agent told me that they were not. That SL was a full concierge with the same food offerings and service just no alcohol in the evenings with desert. I was a little confused because that is not what I had read.

I had booked the Tower Club at CR but switched to the SL after talking to the agent about it and it wasn't much more in cost - I hope I made the right choice!

 

[PghDisney]

Wow . . .lots of posts and all very very helpful! . . . I truly wish that they would have better info on this topic, but you all have filled in the blanks wonderfully. As I said above, I think that it is a deal even without the deserts but that is, to use a pun, the icing on the cake. The way that I figure it, by the time you get done paying for breakfast ($10 perhaps), and if you eat a few dinners at 4:45 lunch prices saving 30% for the same food (maybe another $10) it ends up costing you $15 for having a nice place to unwind during (for Me the first week of september) the hottest part of the day . . .add in the service, the special reservations (on my call the concierge told me that I had a window seat at the california grill for fireworks), and feeling pampered for a week, and it is hands down no contest. Have a wonderful trip you all wherever you end up, and many many thanks for the info above.

 

[PghDisney]

Oh, one more question, I almost forgot. I read somewhere about VCR's and lent movies being part of the service in the GF concierge (I am assuming SL as well) . . .was that so? . . . what about DVD's? If they are in the room I may pack one or two.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Our room in the RPC had a VCR, and the concierge had videos available to borrow. I'm not sure if it's the same for Sugar Loaf, definitely call and ask.

I've never seen a dvd player in any rooms at WDW. The only time we had one was at the Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal.

One thing I just wanted to add. We have considered Sugar Loaf a few times but always changed our minds because of the view. To me the snacks don't outweigh the views of Cinderella's castle, the fireworks, and the EWP. But that's just my opinion.

 

[PartyOf5]

We stayed at SL last December, and they did not set up bottled beverages to grab and go. However, our room had a stocked mini-refridgerator, which we did not request, and the prices were higher than even the park prices, e.g. $3.50 for a bottled water vs. $2.50 at the parks. So watch out for that.
**********
Don't the rooms come with a refrigerator as part of concierge? If so, I was assuming it would be empty so I could put some water in it from the lounge, similiar to what I did at the Poly? I can't image that the concierge staff would expect you to pay $3.50 a bottle when they are offering it for no additional charge in the lounge?

Oh, and I'm not happy about having to ask for water...I drink a lot of it, especially in Florida - they are going to get very tired of handing water over to me and the rest of my family! Hopefully they change that policy by August!

Hookedup - I hop you can take a few minutes to come back to this post and let us know your thoughts when you come back!
Hopefully everything is positive.

I agree with what someone else said above, it is very hard to research this information and I'm glad this board has the experts. I had even heard that Sugar Loaf stopped serving at 3:00 which would not have been good!

 

[jel0511]

partyof5 - the GF DOES NOT have bottled water for the taking to the parks like the Poly does. They do have water, but the GF offers Vittel water, which doesn't come in individual bottles, only larger glass bottles. They are left out, and you have to refill a glass. I also didn't see any cans of soda, if I asked for a soda, I was always brought out a glass. There also is a mini-bar in the room, which is filled to the gills, it's not empty like the fridge at the Poly. I NEVER say anyone beign given any individual bottles or cans of soda, and we were in the lounge A LOT. The GF concierge is more "refined" (only word I could think of) than the Poly, ie the above post. So, if you're expecting a similiar experience to the Poly, you're going to be severely disappointed, I was. They're also no trays to carry food back to your room, like the Poly. It was explained to me that they want you to enjoy your food in the lounge, and not carting it back to your room.

 

[LvsTnk]

What a shame, Vittel water comes in small plastic bottles, that is what the give out at the BWI(not cold ), all of the WDW concierge services should have the same policy. How does bringing out a cold bottle of water for a guest to take to the park ruin the ambience??? If they want to limit the amount the give out at one time fine, but they really should have it available. That is one of the best perks IMHO.

 

[Mike_in_FL]

I've never seen a dvd player in any rooms at WDW.

If you are interested in getting a room ith a DVD player, DVC properties are now being outfitted with them. This started with the 1 bedrooms and larger at BCV and is due to eventually be rolled out in all the DVC properties.

We stayed at SL last December, and they did not set up bottled beverages to grab and go.

Back to the main topic We also stayed at SL last December, and I agree - they did not have drinks "to go". We were disappointed, since that was a major plus for us at the Poly. They also absolutely did not have the same evening food as the main building. The lodge hors d'oeuvres were different (significantly better IMHO), and there were no dessert offerings at SL (maybe some cookies left over from earlier in the day). Based on what has been reported here, maybe that has changed.

Mike

 

[PartyOf5]

but I think with the amount of money it costs to go to Disney, I'm going to play it safe. I just switched over to Poly Concierge. Although the location isn't as convenient in the Tahiti building (prefer Hawaii), the cost of the trip will be about $400 less and we will have the water, etc. that is so important to us. Thanks everyone!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I'm pretty sure I've read here on the DIS that SL closes up the food early, like around 7:00 pm, and offers no desserts. Also I remember reading that water and soda were not available in the evening either because nobody is there. That was another reason we didn't book it because we don't even get back to our room until after 7:00 pm. There was a very detailed report not to long ago and it listed all the food offerings throughout the day... from what I remember it was a pretty good continental breakfast, a few cookies around lunch time, and then just a few appetizers in the late afternoon. Definitely nothing like the Poly.

As far as the empty fridge goes I'm not sure. We've always had a stocked minibar in every room we've stayed in at the GF from the RPC down to LV and GV.

Cali-D should be able to answer all these questions! Where the heck is he???

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I think you made the right decision. Poly concierge is definitely the best. I'm afraid you would have been really disappointed with SL.

 

[hookedup]

Well I will be staying at SL in 40 days so I can give an updated report. I agonized over what to book and changed my mind so many times. When full payment was due I had to commit.
We have stayed at GF before but it was just the standard room GV so it will be interesting to compare. I have never booked any WDW concierge service rooms before so this will be a new experience for us. Hopefully a good one as now I can't change my mind again!