Just back last night from the Poly Concierge. Lukewarm review.

[Juliet25]

ppony--Thank you for sharing your experiences. I don't think any of your requests were unreasonable. I've never stayed concierge, but I'm planning to on my next trip. I'm going mostly for the food services, but CM's that go the extra mile are definetely an expectation (I mean, look at those prices!!!). I think I'll cross the Poly off my list. Too many bad or iffy reviews.

I'm sorry your experience was bad. How frustrating!

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

That is the great thing about WDW! Everyone has an opportunity to find the resorts that fit their needs. So everyone who will let some not-so-great reviews keep them away, by all means try other resorts. That will leave Poly Conc. to those of us who love it!

 

[twinmomplus2]

First of all. It was not our blankie but, rather belonging to friends. Yes ina perfect world I am sure the DAD would no blankies where abouts at all time. However, he did not. Blankie was thrown away from the table not caught in bed sheets.
If you had ever had a child in a hotel room with a lost blankie at midnight, trust me you would attempt to find it as well. As for club level. I simply was stating that I had attemted to find it myself and was unsuccessful in my trials, And that they were helpful as a go between with guest service people. I was not holding anyone responsible... simply stating they were a great help with a problem.

 

[ppony]

I just thought I'd shed a little light on exactly why it was as disappointing to me as it was.

1: We only get to WDW every 4 or 5 years so one trip is planned as far as I can to make the best of it.

2: We were VERY lucky to have gotten my mom's help to get a concierge room and probably never will be able to again so it as even more or a let down to not have had them follow through on their promises. We may not even get to a deluxe in the nest trip because of tight $.

So it was me choosing the resort I thought would be as far from MN culture and landscaping as possible and would be fun for children and someone close to 60. the Poly was the best I thougt to fit the bill though in retro spect the AKL might have been better. But with my mom's 2 knee replacements, I thought being on the monorail would be a good thing. Turns out we didn't use it as much as we thought with her handicap hang tag in the car.

Oh well, it really was only 2 CM that were bun heads but that's the way it goes.

thanks for the discussions everyone.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by twinmomplus2
First of all. It was not our blankie but, rather belonging to friends. Yes ina perfect world I am sure the DAD would no blankies where abouts at all time. However, he did not. Blankie was thrown away from the table not caught in bed sheets.
If you had ever had a child in a hotel room with a lost blankie at midnight, trust me you would attempt to find it as well. As for club level. I simply was stating that I had attemted to find it myself and was unsuccessful in my trials, And that they were helpful as a go between with guest service people. I was not holding anyone responsible... simply stating they were a great help with a problem.

My point was for anyone traveling with children with a beloved blanket do not risk leaving it anywhere it can be thrown away by mistake. That is not a perfect world scenario, it is preventing a beloved object from getting lost. My neice had a blankie, and kept it until college. Where it then got put away with family heirlooms. They traveled many times with it, but my SIL always made sure it was in a safe place.

I can understand that Dad might not be able to know blankie's wherabouts at all times, but usually Moms are great at that type of thing.

That was my point,

 

[Walt'sFan]

TWINMOMPLUS2,
Sorry to here about the blanket incident, but then anyone who has ever had children would know what you and your friend went through. So many times I have read about people having a problem only to see some sarcastic remark made. I really get tired of it. Most people are very understanding, but 1 thing we don't need is someone telling us that you should be perfect as in a previous post, like their family who still has their blanket.
Come on there is no need to go after a person because they did not do o,r say what you personally wanted them to.
By the way I wonder if that poster work at the resort? Just a thought. HAPPY HOLIDAY.

 

[twinmomplus2]

Thank you for articulating what I thought after reading that post. I was simply stating that I found AKl's club level staff to be very helpful.

Sammie... I too have my blankie and I am 34.
Mom's tend to be crazy about keeping track of stuff like that.
This particular Dad was on his first trip as a divorced DAD with 2 little girls. Who are having a little adjustment trouble. The loss of blankie was a BIG thing at this point in her life. And trust me a big issue when the girls went home to Mommy.

 

[floridafam]

Something similar to the blanket incident:

When we were at VB in October my DD spilled something on her terry swim cover up that wouldn't come out. It was around our last day or two so I put it in the trash-it was getting small and she would need a bigger size next trip.

The housekeeper took it out of the trash twice and folded it and put it on the bench as if she thought it accidentally fell in there.

I thought this was so sweet. She was wonderful probably thought my little girl would miss her cover up. This just made a really good impression on me.

 

[Sammie]

TwinMom

No one was critizing anyone, and sorry if anyone took it that way.

I was just sharing info for future travelers about securing any beloved item be it Blankie or a laptop . I am sure Dad did have his hands full if this was his frist trip solo and losing Blankie would be a big deal to many kids.

I am glad AKL staff was helpful many places would not be, hence my suggestion.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Walt'sFan
TWINMOMPLUS2,
Sorry to here about the blanket incident, but then anyone who has ever had children would know what you and your friend went through. So many times I have read about people having a problem only to see some sarcastic remark made. I really get tired of it. Most people are very understanding, but 1 thing we don't need is someone telling us that you should be perfect as in a previous post, like their family who still has their blanket.
Come on there is no need to go after a person because they did not do o,r say what you personally wanted them to.
By the way I wonder if that poster work at the resort? Just a thought. HAPPY HOLIDAY.

If you are referring to my suggestions for future travelers I would suggest you reread the post because I am totally confused as to how you could think I said anything near that.

I was not critizing TwinMom or her friend. I was making a suggestion for future travelers. As to being sarcastic, well I guess that is one's perspective, which in this case to me would be a case of the kettle calling the pot black.

TwinMom was bragging on the staff being helpful so I see no reason to think I work at the resort. Your point was?

Actually my orginial post was made for anyone traveling in the future, not a comment at all about the situation TwinMom experienced except she made a great point as to how this type of thing can happen.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Wendi
Sammie,



I agree with #2 to an extent, but don't understand #1. I don't think that anyone has had unrealistic expectations. My experience stunk and I NEVER asked for anything until they encouraged me to do the picture and balloons which didn't happen.

I am just trying to understand why it is that if someone says something bad about the Polynesian it seems to be defended by others. I whole hearted believe in telling the good as well as the bad, but it just seems like so many are saying it's the people who had the bad experiences fault. People do screw up and obviously when you hear about some of the WONDERFUL things that Concierge has done for some people you would think that some little things would be NOTHING. They should NOT say they will do something then NOT do anything. When the Concierge staff tells you on the phone that they offer:

Breakfast offerings
Light Snacks mid day
Evening offerings
Drinks & Snacks throughout the day "Please take extra's"
Priority Seatings
Special Event arrangements
Travel Information
and I quote "Just about anything within reason you need".

Not that I would ever think about asking for an out of this world
request, but please. Disney does need to DEFINE it's DEFINITION
of what they are offering guests better. I know when we stayed at the Yacht Club, Melissa and I got chatty one night and I asked what the wildest thing was that someone asked them to do was.
She told me that a man asked them to go buy him underwear while he was out at the park. They couldn't believe it, but they called a manager and they DID have someone go get the man his DRAWERS! OH, MY GOD! NEVER. I just wish some would not jump to the conclusion that it is always the OP fault or the person who had the problem. People do error.

Sorry Sammie, this wasn't all for you. I jumped onto another soap box. I'm done now.

Don't get me wrong.....I Love the Atmosphere, Location and other
services that the Polynesian has. If I say there again it WON'T be in Concierge. I am thrilled for those of you who have had such Memorable Vacations with them without fault, so please don't cut down the people who had bad experiences that where UNPROVOKED!


Wendi

Wendi, my remark was not about your stay, more about other reports I have read. I think your situation was badly handled. I have read other reports where in my personal opinion expectations were a little unrealistic.

 

[Wendi]

Thanks Sammie!

 

[Jen D]

Ppony-- I don't think any of your requests are unrealistic-- especially since Poly concierge agreed to them in advance!

It does seem there are different ideas about what concierge means-- to some people, it seems to be all about the food offerings, but for anyone who has stayed in a fine hotel with a concierge, like, say the Ritz Carlton, or a Four Seasons, they certainly wouldn't think it unrealistic to think that the hefty premium Disney charges for "concierge" would entitle them to what would be the most minimal concierge service at other hotels. I read comments like, "concierge isn't supposed to be your personal servant or party planner!" Um, well, that's what they do in other hotels with concierge services. A Ritz concierge wouldn't tell you to go down and get your own darn boxes.

If we are going to simply accept the fact that in the world of "Disney concierge", it doesn't actually mean someone to help with special needs or requests, but instead it means a little buffet four times a day, well, fine, but then they shouldn't make guests promises they don't intend to meet.

Glad you didn't let it all ruin your trip!

 

[floridafam]

A Ritz concierge wouldn't tell you to go down and get your own darn boxes.

You are so right!

 

[KathyTX]

But a Ritz concierge also couldn't get you Hoop-de-doo tickets!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Jen D -

You have articulated exactly what I have been thinking while reading this thread. I have never stayed Disney concierge, but have stayed in other hotels where concierge was included in the room price (for every room) and the services at these hotels included dinner reservations, hard-to-get show tickets, shopping services, etc. I don't understand why, just because it's Disney, we don't seem to expect the same service level. The prices are certainly comparable, if not more expensive!

Hope I don't get slammed, I am a huge Disney fan, I just don't think this means they are always perfect.

 

[Walt'sFan]

sammie
A suggestion to future travelers with young children bringing that beloved blankie. Be responsible for it yourself. Be proactive. Put it in a safe place each time you leave the room and not where it can be tossed out with the laundry. [/B][/QUOTE]

Sammie- Yes you do say to future traveler ect......,but it was the fact that you made mention of the laundry, that you seemed to turned the tables and made it a jab. That is where I thought it became malicious and apparently so did twinmom. Don't you think that the sentence could have ended at each time you leave the room,and it would have served everyone just the same. I am not here to quarrel. and I appologize if I took it out of contextand read to much into it. I do hope that everyone when posting becomes a little more cognizant of how we word our statements.
The other comment, it just seemed to me that your opinons sometime seem more critcal of what we could do different and not the resort. Again my appologies for upsetting you.
Don't worry I am done and I will not post again.
Hopefully we remain cordial and understanding that people are only posting there experiences. We may not always agree on everything but one thing we can agree on is, good or bad, we still love the mouse.
See You Real Soon! HAPPY HOLIDAYS

 

[floridafam]

You can stay at the Ritz in Orlando for less than what it costs for some concierge rooms at Disney.

Ritz blows Disney concierge services out of the water.

I would/did expect at least similar service from Disney. I think they just have different ideas in mind when it comes to concierge service.

Heck, a Ritz concierge would probably go get gas in your car or address your Christmas cards if you asked them to. I say that with a bit of sarcasm, but it's true!

 

[Bojangles]

Actually, concierge takes on a different meaning depending on where you stay. Many higher end hotels have a concierge desk that serves all guests. They arrange airport transfers, print off maps/directions and make dinner/show reservations. I doubt they would fetch boxes for you or buy gifts before your arrival to have sitting in your room when you got there. No free food either.

 

[floridafam]

Bojangles,

You're right. I should have said Club Level at the Ritz. That is more of what is called Concierge at WDW.