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

[BambiTamby]

Originally posted by MickeyMac
Hey, I'm staying concierge (finally) but have that Illuminations cruise question: we are a family of four and I'm an Illuminations junkie. Are we better off booking a pontoon, or booking the Breathless? I hate the thought of watching Illuminations from under a bridge...

Breathless, I believe costs more than the pontoons, MickeyMac.
Haven't done the Breathless either.

You can see alot from the boats, even under the bridge.
Actually, you're just a little past the bridge.
Although I do remember the Breathless being a little more out in the lagoon.

Done the Illuminations cruise five times, only once did the smoke come our way! GAG!
But, that could happen even when you're not on the cruise.

BTW...did you get the YC CL like you originally wanted, MickeyMac?

 

[goodferry]

Hello everyone Glad to hear ds is on the road to recovery luckywife! How stressful for you, I am glad to hear that you have a mil that will help you.
BT-- you are so sweet, you are a fountain of information for everyone!
We booked a wishes cruise for this trip, and have two other DIS families joining us, I can't wait! Illuminations wasn't immediately available, and the Wishes Cruise would pick us up at the Poly, so that made our decision easier!
steveanddonna--glad to hear your trip went well (relatively speaking) Sorry to hear about your massage Yikes! Was the lounge extremely crowded in the morning?

 

[BambiTamby]

Aw, goodferry! You're sweet for saying that!

And remember, You learn something new everyday here on the DIS!


I'm excited about our first Wishes cruise, too!
Melissa from Poly IPO emailed me this am with the available dessert offerings for the G1 cruise.

The dessert plate is of French pastries, petit fours, and some fruit and cheeses. It is $36. The chocolate slippers is $8 per plate and there is one slipper on each plate. If you wish to order these items or other items for the Grand 1 cruise, please email us to advise what you wish to order.

Just an FYI....if any of ya'll are interested in having extras on your cruises.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Yeah! Luckywife's DS is getting better! That is such good news!

I am scouring the threads for Poly information... Oh, on one hand I am getting worried, on the other hand excited! I am not afraid to nicely ask exactly what I want, so I am not worried about that... but if its a free for all in the concierge lounge I don't want anything to do with that! I hope it was a bad week with a weird crowd. Give me any information you have.. good or bad! please!

 

[BambiTamby]

Debbie...those type of folks are everywhere.
I remember being at the Dolphin Club last year and there was a family that woud clean out the lounge!

Some people feel like they have to get their money's worth or they use CL as a meal plan.

One of the things about the Poly CL is that they are constantly replacing the food/drink offerings.

Chef Dick really stays busy and his food is wonderful and the layout/design of his spread is fabulous!

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by Majestic
Tonight, MGM is open 3 hours after closing for resort guests. My buddy and I are heading over to get our ride kicks taken care of.

FRED...WHAT is THIS CALLED?!? In all the years I've been to WDW...I've always LOVED E-RIDE nights at the MK. This sounds similar...and I always WANTED the other parks to be included. Is there an additional fee? How did they advertise this? Thanks!! Glad to read you are having a great time. Sorry about the Concierge personnel in the SHELLS at the POLY. I've always loved your personal take/posts on the wonderful gregarious nature of the Concierge in the WL. It's been EONS since we stayed there on CL. Your trip reports always make us want to visit again. Thanks for taking the time out of your MAGIC, to bring some to us! Have fun...

VALgal~I'll be RIGHT there with you!! On the ROOFTOP (strapped for safety) of the SAFARI VEHICLE! Bambi would be sorry she invited us.... Think they would let us strap a nice lounge chair up there for each of us?

floridafam~I'm thinking of reserving one when our friends visit this summer. Did you truly have a great view of the fireworks? Were there any refreshments available? Was the tour advantageous over standing/sitting in Epcot lakeside? Thanks for your help. I'm reserving the SEGWAY tour for some added COMEDY (as if we NEED any) for DH & I!! I'm sure someone will video us, and it'll end up on TV somewhere (As I DIVE head-first into the brush/LAKE!).

luckywife~More {{{HUGS}}} for you and your DS!

MickeyMac~You too? We LOVE illuminations! We have watched it from every possible location/angle. We love it from the suite atop the Dolphin, but prefer the ground patio at the Rose & Crown in the UK. The pontoons are lovely...as we have rented these for fun (DH can CAPTAIN for a spell...LOL). Breathless...is MY BABY. My dad has the same Cris Craft, and it's my all~time FAV! You would have a BLAST "sliding" across the lake in this piece of heaven. :coud9:

goodferry~DITTO on your sentiments with respect to the CL LEADING LADY LIZARD....BAMBITAMBY!! She's an ANGEL!
Speaking of the Wishes fireworks spectacular...has anyone posted any experiences from the WISHES cruise? I may be interested in reserving that one instead. Is it more private? As...if you are sitting on a boat in Epcot, just under the bridge...aren't there TONS of people standing directly overhead looking down upon you? Just curious. I would think in the MK Lake, there would be NO ONE standing overhead, etc. I would love to hear any replies to this query!

*Hope everyone whom recently returned from the MAGIC had a wonderful/memorable trip...and anyone GOING soon, will have the BEST of TIMES as well. SAFE TRAVELS...to all.

A KIND and HAPPY WAVE to all the rest of the LOYAL LOUNGE LIZARDS!


TTFN...DF99

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by BambiTamby
Debbie...those type of folks are everywhere.
I remember being at the Dolphin Club last year and there was a family that woud clean out the lounge!

Some people feel like they have to get their money's worth or they use CL as a meal plan.

One of the things about the Poly CL is that they are constantly replacing the food/drink offerings.

Chef Dick really stays busy and his food is wonderful and the layout/design of his spread is fabulous!

We noticed some there too! They had some young boys with them, and the boys would literally FILL their backpacks with ALL the water, Coke, and cookies placed on the trays by the CL CM's. FINALLY, we heard one of the CM's tell the youngest boy to please refrain from taking any more water bottles! We too, were amazed at how they worked like a GYPSY-CLAN, taking turns and using a strategy! These types seem to be at EVERY CL we have ever visited. As much as we find their tactics shameless, we also find them oddly amusing/entertaining/interesting. I guess, these folks NEVER cease to amaze/shock us! I'm sure we'll see them again, this summer. We are on CL at every resort we visit (W/exception to DVB...which does not offer this perk). The Peabody has a wonderful CL. The Portofino used to have one, and then they removed it, and now...it's BACK! We even had FULL BUTLER SERVICE at the PBH on our initial visit. We still stay in a butler Villa suite, sans the butler. It will be interesting to try the CL, since I've read mixed reviews on the return of this service.

my sis...hope all is going well for you!!

TTFN...DF99

 

[BambiTamby]

ROTFL, DF!!!! on the Segway tour!
Now, that would be a site! hehehehe!

This will be our first Wishes cruise, so I can't give out any info on that.
And you did make an accurate observation about the Illuminations cruise!
But usually, the crowds above are waving at you and saying that they wish they could be with you!

It is nice to "not to battle" with the departing crowds after Illuminations!

Janet2k and floridafam will be reporting on the Grand 1 in about a week and a half, so we'll know more!

 

[Mouseteacher]

I am just popping in to give my humble thoughts - I have stayed CL only once. It was a wonderful experience but I now have to assume it was that because we were at the Dolphin the last week of August when crowds were down. The CL room was never crowded. Each morning there was only one other family besides my crew and an occasional business traveler. I often wondered what it would be like if the resort was busy and would I have enjoyed the CL as much. I certainly know there are pushy, rude, greedy people and I don't know if I could have handled their boorish behavior. I am glad my one experience was such a positive one.

 

[blowinbubbles]

Originally posted by dreamflight99
We noticed some there too! They had some young boys with them, and the boys would literally FILL their backpacks with ALL the water, Coke, and cookies placed on the trays by the CL CM's. FINALLY, we heard one of the CM's tell the youngest boy to please refrain from taking any more water bottles!
my sis...hope all is going well for you!!

TTFN...DF99

Oooh, this might sound seriously redneck, but if I caught my sons doing that I'd bust their little boo-tays! LOL!

 

[BambiTamby]

Thanks for your insight, mouseteacher!
And welcome to our humble little thread!

I think it's "hit and miss" with the CL hoarding, as we were there this last Spring Break (tremendous crowds) and did not witness any of the above behavior from any CL guest.
The CL CMs worked feverishly to replenish the food/drink offerings at the AKL and BC CLs, so there was plenty for everyone.

So, we didn't witness any "horders" on this last trip, thank goodness!

 

[Mouseteacher]

about CL -

I am an early riser so I was in the CL room fairly early on. It was so peaceful to have my coffee and continental breakfast sitting near the picture window and watching the "World" waking up. I would peruse the newspaper and chat with CMs as I waited for my family to join me. As I write this, it brings back such wonderful memories.

 

[BambiTamby]

Originally posted by Mouseteacher
about CL -

I am an early riser so I was in the CL room fairly early on. It was so peaceful to have my coffee and continental breakfast sitting near the picture window and watching the "World" waking up. I would peruse the newspaper and chat with CMs as I waited for my family to join me. As I write this, it brings back such wonderful memories.

Pssst! Mouseteacher.....I don't know if you've realized this, but...

You ARE a LOUNGE LIZARD!!!!

 

[Mouseteacher]

Yipee!! BT - I'm official and I didn't know it!!!!

 

[steveanddonna]

#1hockeymom didn't mean to scare you - we've NEVER EVER run into this type of behavior at the Poly before, and it certainly didn't ruin our trip this time. The CMs handled it beautifully, especially Ivette who was constantly looking out for a toddler boy whose parents couldn't be bothered to keep an eye out for him. Ivette even saved him from a tumble down the stairs. The lounge was most crowded at the beginning of the morning and the 5 PM service, then it would clear out. I really think it was just the time of year or something. we still had a wonderful time, just spent a little extra effort trying to ignore the boorish behavior around us.

DF - the extended evenings are being held on a trial basis through May 22 right now. They're called extended magic evenings. We took advantage of the MK one and it was just as good as e-ride night. Unlike e-ride night, there is no extra charge, so we thought it might be a little crowded, but it was heavenly. You can't beat standing on Main Street watching the masses leave after Wishes while you get to stay on for another 3 hours. We hope they'll continue this so we can try it at the other parks.

As to my massage, after having the most amazing therapist at the GF spa in March, this one was a disappointment. The therapist I had in March, Ignacio, wasn't available, and the one I had this time was just not very good. She kind of poked & prodded and couldn't keep the pressure consistent. Then she did some manipulation with my arm & shoulder that felt more like chiropractic manipulation, so I asked her to stop. I started experiencing shoulder pain followed by tingling and numbness in my hand about 15 minutes later. My MD diagnosed a pinched nerve yesterday, which I have to assume was a result of the weird massage. It's already improving with rest and anti-inflammatories, so hopefully I will not need steroids or anything else. I've had several really good massages at the GF spa, so I have to assume that this was a fluke, too. I guess this was just our trip for snags & glitches. It was still a magical, wonderful time and a lot of that has to do with the wonderful CMs both at Poly CL & at the parks.

BTW, those zebra domes at Boma might be the convincing my DH needs to stay at AKL. They were awesome!

 

[steveanddonna]

Almost forgot...

Chef Dick really stays busy and his food is wonderful and the layout/design of his spread is fabulous!

Don't you just love his little tropical landscapes made of fruit? Our niece was absolutlely fascinated by this in January - she would have stood and looked at the display all evening if we had let her.

 

[lovesdumbo]

On my 2 trips to Poly CL (Jan/Oct) we were always able to get a table and the only rude behavior I noticed was an adult boy (late 20's/early 30's) pestering his Mom one morning-"Mom are you going to iron my white pants? Mom when are you going to iron my pants? MOM? MOM?" until his mother finally said she would. We would often arrive toward the end of the evening hours and would nearly always find plenty.

Luckywife-its so good to hear your baby is on the mend. You really need a vacation!

goodferry-you're going to have such a great trip. Have you tried those table topper placemats for your baby? They were so great with my DD in Jan. Here's a link:
Table Topper

 

[MickeyMac]

BTW...did you get the YC CL like you originally wanted, MickeyMac?

Yes, I did... sooo happy.... Lagoon view, too. DH is happy that we are at his Mom's favorite resort, DD is happy she's got a sandy pool to play in, DS is happy that he's got all the Krispy Kremes he can shove down his skinny hollow legs (I promise to not let him hog... we've already forwarned the CL... LOL!) and I'm happy that I might get to see Illuminations from my balcony while sipping a cordial every night. (for a teetotaller, that's quite a lot!)

OK, rambled on a bit there fantasizing... LOL!

Dreamflight - I sooooo love the look of the Breathless, I was just surprised you are so far back. I want to book a cruise solely for picture taking, and for my son's birthday (using hm as an excuse) and I'm a bit worried about the shrubbery obstructing with the Breathless since it has no cover? I heard the pontoons go a bit further out? I'm thoroughly confused.

 

[floridafam]

BambiTamby,

Actually we're not going out on the Grand One. I was able to book it. A few weeks later DH found out that we would have to cut our vacation short so I had to cancel.

Then he found out that he had a job interview the day we were supposed to be on the Grand One.

Needless to say, I'm sad, but we are going to try and reserve it for the Fall and enjoy it then. Believe me, it was tough to cancel it. We'll still get to view Wishes from Janet2l's Summerhouse Party and we are very much looking forward to that!!!


df99,

Did you ask about the Illuminations Cruise? We LOVED it. The boat was basically brand new and very comfortable. Our children had some nice conversation with our Captain. We didn't notice any smoke and felt like we had the best view in the house!

 

[BambiTamby]

floridafam...You'll have a wonderful time with Janet! the Grand 1 will be there this fall!

You know, now I'm getting confused about the Breathless.
Last time we did the Illuminations cruise, last August, the Breathless was pulled out beyond the other boats.

But, like I said before, only once did we experience the smoke, other than that, it is FABULOUS!

"Best view in the house"....ITA!