How many of ya'll been "bitten" by the Concierge "bug"!

[EToo]

Our family is soooo excited about our Easter trip. We will be staying 8 days 14th floor concierge level at the CR. We know it will be busy but we have learned so much from these boards. We plan on hitting the parks early then spending the afternoons resting at the resort,then back to the parks at night. If anyone here can tell us a little more about the service and food choices offered by the CR concirege we would really appreciate it.
Thank you again for all of the great tips .

EToo

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by #1hockeymom
I just booked our Easter vacation airfare and will have to redo all of our reservations due to the fact they don't really match up with our days. DS and I LOVED AKL concierge, but Poly has always interested me, despite the mold stories and I think it looks like a Brady Bunch reunion. Anyone have the price for the AP con. rate for the Poly? We would only be there seven days, but I am afraid If I don't spend some time at AKL I will really miss my ankole cattle family! Two trips, one room apart, has had me feeling like I KNOW the cattle personally! DS and I loved the sunrise safari, perhaps DH and I could partake in the sunset safari!

I still have partial Dolphin reservations that would work for my dates..... OH, what is a Disney Lover to do?

Debbie

PS This concierge thing is much more addictive than I originally had thought! Last night I had a dream about wine and african crisps!

Debbie~You are SO funny!! (cattle family!)
I LOVE Poly Con. (& you know I feel Concierge/CL is the only way to go...anywhere!). I have yet to do AKL....(out of all the other resorts we have visited, which includes all the mods, and all the other Deluxe), and would HAVE to do CL, possibly the 1BR suite (which is a GREAT price!). Call the resort directly for the prices. I have also seen reports of CL @ AKL discounted with AP, and other Disney offers. Good Luck, Sister! :

TTFN...DF99

 

[#1hockeymom]

Thanks DF! I have such great mentors on these boards! I can get my dates for Poly con. at the end of our stay; I would really rather have it at the beginning since we always do MK or MGM the very first day we arrive. The Dolphin CL would put us near MGM. I can't break up 7 days into 3 reservations though, without feeling like we'd be spending too much time packing and uppacking. Oh decisions, decisions!

Debbie

PS In my mind, the cattle are named Mr. Ankole, Mrs. Ankole, and Baby Ankole. You must see them soon! I do believe they have a two bedroom suite in the area that I love!

 

[sm4987]

Can't wait to try the Dolphins!!!!

 

[iansmomm]

So exactly what does it mean to be staying "conceirge" anyways??

Anybody know of any fantastic rates for ANY resort 3/10-3/14?? Not AP, FL res, nothing. Bummer huh!

 

[MagicPrincess]

When you are mailed your itinerary questionaire from the concierge, if you have already made your PS's, what other things do you typically include on the sheet? Do you list the PS's that you already have? I really don't have much else to add.
Just wondrin'!
Thanks!

 

[mom_rules]

Yipee-they contacted me-my kit is on the way. Thanks for the info guys, I knew I could count on you.

 

[ead79]

iansmomm,

Concierge rooms are on a private-access floor, building, or section of a resort (you must use your specially coded room key to enter the concierge floor/section/building). They come with some additional amenities such as bathrobes in your room, upgraded toiletries (like Mickey toothbrush and toothpaste to go with the regular Mickey soaps and shampoos), a concierge staff to assist you with anything at WDW like dining reservations, Cirque du Soleil tickets, etc. There is a also a concierge lounge with food items out all day for the concierge guests. The concierge rooms cost more than regular rooms at the deluxe resorts, so you do pay for these extra services. However, there have historically been some excellent discounts available on concierge-level rooms (just as with all Disney rooms) in the past couple of years. Basically, concierge is pampering.

 

[BambiTamby]

iansmomm.....i'm always calling and checking rates, and you're right.
There is NOTHING left as in discounts for that time period.
It is a "BUMMER"!


But, please stick around, learn some things here.
Call it "research"!

Us "Lounge Lizards" (as Janet2k has lovingly dubbed us concierge lovers), can teach you ALL you need to know, and how to get.....
that awesome, incredible, spoil-you-forever concierge experience!


hockeymom....how's the concierge planning going?
I'll be looking out for "Mr. Ankole, Mrs. Ankole, and Baby Ankole"
(too cute! the names!)
next month!

 

[#1hockeymom]

I haven't started my "planning" as of yet. DS's hockey game was tonight and we're about to take the whole team on their third tournament over the weekend, (first two we took first place!) Please say hello to my "family" for me and tell them we'll be there soon! You gave great advice and I'll be using it next week!

Don't give up on the AP rates! I just booked mine on the 9th! I couldn't get the first part of my vacation but I got lucky and received the last part! Keep calling CRO and keep the faith that someone cancels at the last minute! I had CL at the Dolphin booked for the entire Easter break, with an AKL overlap which I was going to have to make decisions on, but due to flight changes I had to make drastic changes. It worked out famously! I will be calling right up until we leave to change my beginning of the trip standard savannah rooms into concierge rooms for my entire trip!

DF and BT>> Thank you ever so much for all of your advice and encourgement!
Janet2k>> Your pictures are what originally made me try the concierge lounge at AKL on our second AKL trip! Thank you for sharing with us all!

Good night everyone!
Debbie

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Bambi -

I too have put off reading this thread - we had AKL concierge booked last year and had to switch to std. sav. view .

DD(14) and I are returning to AKL in April - booked AP rate, but after reading this thread, I've thought about trying to get concierge as a surprise for DD!! Probably no AP rate left, but worth a shot!! Peak season, wow!! You're so bad for starting this thread!!

Since you are the "concierge queen," can you answer me this? I've read conflicting posts regarding tipping concierge - have even read WDW's "official" position on no tipping of concierge cm's. But have also read about people giving a "great tip" for good service!! What's the skinny on concierge tipping?! I know you are the one to ask!!

 

[mom_rules]

We were also under the impression that concierge was not allowed to accept tips (before we stayed concierge at the GCH in DLR in October). So we opted for purchasing and giving unique gifts from our region to various concierge staff (like boxes of maple sugar candies, collectible glasses etc.) They loved it. One evening when we were enjoying our wine and cheese hour, we noticed a gentleman at another table discreetly slip the wait staff in concierge some cash. We followed suit and it was most appreciated. So I'm wondering, maybe the concierge desk folks can't accept tips but maybe the table wait staff can?

 

[MagicPrincess]

I've been hearing conflicting reports about the tipping as well. What is the appropriate thing to do? Could someone please help out a CL newbie? Thanks

We're staying WL CL next month! Really looking forward to it. I mailed out my itinerary to them yesterday (although we already have most of our PS's booked already).
Anyone else stay WL concierge???

 

[LvsTnk]

I have had no problem with them accepting gifts, but when I tried to give a monetary gift I was told they couldn't take it.

 

[MagicPrincess]

If you do bring along little "hometown momentos" for the staff- how many should you bring? How many CM's are typically on staff?
Thanks!

 

[ead79]

Count me in as another one who is curious about gifts for concierge staff. I have never done this before, but I certainly would like to if they can accept it. I think I heard of someone who got the staff a big box of Godiva chocolates so they could all share.

 

[MagicPrincess]

Originally posted by ead79
I think I heard of someone who got the staff a big box of Godiva chocolates so they could all share.

Nice idea!!!

 

[floridafam]

I'm going to go with cash for our stay in May.

 

[TINKTWINS]

I'd live at the Poly Concierge if they would let me

 

[jeankeri]

Tinktwins- I'm with you on that??
When you refer to concierge staff, it is the desk and lounge workers, correct? Mousekeeping and turn-down are considered 'tippable' staff, correct? Don't want to leave anyone out. Like the ideas for concierge staff gifts..What else have you done?