Just can't justify concierge anymore; Disney is charging too much.

[Puffy2]

I'm rather bumbed. I love staying on the concierge floors at the Disney hotels, but these rates are just ridiculous. I remember staying at the Polynesian - garden view concierge with an AP discount for around $239.00 (tax might have been extra). That was manageable. But I'm seeing rates now with tax AND THE FREAKING DISCOUNT at still over $400.00 a night.

I think they have lost their minds and they can keep their hor'dourves, cup of coffee, and bottled water (oh that's right, they don't give you plastic bottles of water anymore. Must be too "costly" for them. )

 

[ducklite]

As has been said many times, some people have no problem paying for the increased levels of service on concierge, while others don't want to. That's your perrogative.

I think that there were far too many people trying to jusitfy the cost of concierge by using it as a food plan, and thus creating havoc in the lounges. Raising prices would cause people looking to "get their monies worth" from booking. Might be what they've decided to do. It would make sense from a business perspective. Seeing as most of the CL's seem to be booked solid during Easter week, a very expensive week, I don't think thye're hurting for business.

Anne

 

[swilphil]

Disney is always going to charge what they can get. We forego concierage, but stock up on snacks and breakfast room on a grocery stop. The new MYW dining package may also be attractive to those who do concierage because of the food.

 

[magicmouse2]

It all depends on what your budget is and what you want from your vacation. Our priority as a family of 5 was space and comfort, whilst staying onsite, so we were prepared to buy into DVC to get that. Personally I dont need someone to make my PS bookings and I realise that concierge is definately not a food plan - you could do a character brakfast each day for the price of concierge. If your priorities are that you require a litle extra service and quiet, someone to book your meals etc, then concierge is right for you!

 

[Shells9]

I've toyed with the idea of trying concierge but it would not be worth it for us. I enjoy making our PS and we usually do only a few of them anyway. I am not sure we would be around to take advantage of the snacks and stuff since we come and go at untraditional times. For us, the only difference in concierge would be the room location. Although, I might opt to try it at AKL once so we can take advantage of some of the special safari offerings.

 

[johnsonet]

It IS expensive but it's worth it if you like "going concierge". You're paying for an "exclusive" type of stay. The extra services and offerings, plus the "second home" of the lounge make for a much more luxurious vacation. It's not meant to "worth it" or not. It is a higher level of lodging and SHOULD be more expensive and exclusive (not the clientele, just the level of accomodations )

 

[Poohbear123]

Nope, no Concierge for me, I am a simple kind of gal.

 

[skiwee1]

I don't think you should try to justify the cost of concierge with the material things you get such as food. Concierge isn't a meal replacement. I thought about concierge but then decided it against it as I view concierge only for the service. Since I love to plan my own trip and make my own PSs I see no reason for concierge. I certainly don't go to concierge hoping for bottled water and all you can eat appetizers. There are way too many nice places to eat at WDW without having to feel the need to pig out on the offerings day and night. If you choose concierge then do for the services you get and genuinely need and not for the appetizers as the latter is certainly not worth it! LOL!

 

[Bracho]

I know what you mean but as long as the market will bear the price increase each year and they keep filling the rooms, they will keep raising the prices and in some cases cutting back on some of the perks at the same time.

I do agree with the others as well about people trying to get as much out of the floor as possible or trying to justify the cost per day by turning the lounges into a buffet... NOT GOOD FOLKS!!!

I have never understood why anyone would stress themselves out so much just to stay on a concierge floor. Now don't get me wrong I book concierge as much as I can and the rest of my trips I stay at a DVC property but if I felt strapped in any way or there was a chance I would have to cut back on some of the dinings rooms I loved or any of the other features I enjoy when staying at Disney just to have a room on the concierge floor, I'd be garden or parking lot view in a heartbeat. For me I would find that Disney magic no matter where I stayed as long as I stayed at Disney.

 

[Puffy2]

I love concierge. And if it was a reasonable cost, I'd still book it. But from what I'm seeing, the cost difference in some cases is $250 a night more. (I'm basing that on a standard room at AKL of $139 with an AP rate and concierge - from what has been quoted here at - around the $400 mark. - someone PLEASE correct me if I am wrong).

For the reasons I like concierge (the ease of getting a cup of coffee in the morning, the joy of seeing the look on my kid's faces when they can go and "pick out what ever they want" from the lounge offerings, the ease of check in, etc...) it's just not worth the money at all anymore.

I know some people will continue to pay for it (and that's why Disney will continue to raise the rates) , but I'm done. We could enjoy quite a few snacks and full meals for that kind of money. It's a shame though - was fun.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I think this year because the rate is $100 off rack rate rather than a % off like it was last April-June those level of rooms are more expensive, but like someone said, if they fill up at the higher prices, why not charge it?

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

The rates do seem to creep up. We pick and choose when we want to do concierge. Last trip, we had 3 rooms and I didn't want to have to pay concierge prices for 3 rooms. We ordered room service and went to great restaurants instead.

On our next trip, I'm travelling with my mother and 3 children. I picked the GF RPC for the extra bit of security. I like that someone has to have a key to get onto our floor. The lounge will be convenient for getting everyone feed and on their way in the mornings. My mother and I will enjoy having a glass of wine in the evenings. To me it will be well worth the cost.

Lori

 

[Sammie]

Right now Disney is not having any problem booking those rooms at that rate. If they begin to see bookings drop off again, then deeper discounts will appear. However the trend right now does not support it.

Supply and demand.

 

[meandtheguys2]

We stay concierge when we travel elsewhere, but Disney's prices are too high. At Disney I don't need the service provided, such as restaurant help and reservations. When we travel into unknown territory, it is a blessing to have that help. I oftentimes have no idea where and what the nice places are, let alone have a 7:00 Sturday night dinner reservation already scheduled.

At Disney we always have advanced plans of some sort. Wouldn't leave it to chance!

 

[patsal]

I figure, charge what the market will bear. If people are willing to pay and the rooms are all filled than I guess it isn't too expensive! When and IF Disney finds the rooms not "selling" they will make appropriate adjustments. This level of service was never meant to be affordable by all and by no means was it ever advertised as such.

 

[cjsmith]

We always stay on the concierge or club floor when we travel and only do so occasionally at Disney. I love the people who work up on that floor at the Yacht Club, but I never use them to make my PS,the rooms are okay, and I don't hang out at their lounge so when the price is way too high, I just can't see doing it. My husband doesn't like it because he says our boys spend way too much time in the lounge rather than hanging with us at the parks!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I don't think you should try to justify the cost of concierge with the material things you get such as food. Concierge isn't a meal replacement. I thought about concierge but then decided it against it as I view concierge only for the service. Since I love to plan my own trip and make my own PSs I see no reason for concierge. I certainly don't go to concierge hoping for bottled water and all you can eat appetizers. There are way too many nice places to eat at WDW without having to feel the need to pig out on the offerings day and night. If you choose concierge then do for the services you get and genuinely need and not for the appetizers as the latter is certainly not worth it! LOL!

I agree...for the extra cost you might as well go to Narcoosee's or Yachtsman Steakhouse every night if one is trying to justify the cost of concierge with food. MUCH better than the two hot appetizers they have out in the lounge!!

I love concierge for special occasions...it adds to the excitement of the stay...but we only go for it on rare occasions 1. to maintain the special stay mentality 2. usually would rather spend time at our favorite restaurants around WDW than the lounge 3. I like to plan the trip myself

 

[Lewisc]

The code and AP discounts used to be a flat percentage, around 45%. It's now a dollar discount, around $100. The discounted rate for the standard rooms is similar to the old discounted rates but the discounted rates for the upgraded rooms is generally higher.

 

[Hieatt]

Puffy2, I am totally with you. I love splurging, and I usually book concierge/club rooms at most hotels, but when I have looked into booking concierge at Disney hotels, I always just about choke. Like someone said, I like the convenience of grabbing a quick breakfast and cup of coffee down the hall, and having a few snacks and drinks before dinner, but not for an extra friggin $200 a night!! I'll just do room service every day for those prices! Not that I blame Disney - if they can sell rooms at those prices, more power to them. But they must be selling to foreigners with really advantageous exchange rates, to people to whom money is not an object, and to people who thrive on exclusivity. For me, the benefit to cost ratio isn't positive.