Mini-report from recent stay at PPH concierge

[oc_tony]

Although we are locals, my DS wanted to stay at PPH for one night on his 9th birthday. We were able to secure a decent AP rate for a concierge room, so we went for it.

The lounge has several tables, a TV with Disney DVDs constantly playing, and a couch. The lounge is always staffed by a CM who can take care of just about anything that a front-desk CM can.

Of course, most people are there for the food and beverages. The hot beverage station featured coffee (reg and de-caf) and hot water for cocoa and tea.

Breakfast includes whole and fresh fruit, muffins, pastries, bagels (with toaster), various cereals, milk, cranberry juice, and orange juice.

Mid-day brings light snacks such as trail mix, pretzels, whole and fresh fruit, goldfish crackers, chips, and ice water. Cold sodas and bottled water are in a mini-fridge in the cupboard below.

The late-afternoon/evening adds chips and salsa, a cheese platter with crackers, veggies and dip, Uncrustable pj&j sandwiches, a hot appetizer (on our night, they had lumpia, which are like small crispy egg rolls), and a large selection of mini-desserts, cookies, and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

I'd like to think that I could eat all of my meals in the lounge, but it really is best for breakfast and snacks. DW commented that she would get tired of eating the same, not-so-healthy food each evening, but also agreed that for breakfast and snacks, the lounge was perfect. It was nice to have a place to grab a quick bite or drink whenever we wanted.

 

[albertamom]

Thank you so much for the great report! Although we are in love with GCH, we have been seriously considering PPH because of the daybed (giving each of our kids their own bed ).

We could probably never justify concierge at GCH, but with a good AP rate, we could definitely swing it for PPH. DS and DD would be in heaven with that large assortment of pastries for breakfast each morning...they are definitely carb. lovers.

Are all the concierge rooms standard view? (That's what I have in the back of my mind.)

 

[QueenDoOver]

Thanks for the great report. We are staying 2 nights in early August. Wondering about check in. Did you go straight to the lounge, and the CM checked you in? Also, lounge is on 3rd floor, right?

We are thinking of requesting Cabana room, which would also be 3rd floor. We plan on long pool breaks. Any pros or cons that you know of?


Any chance that the smucker sandwhiches might be available in the frozen format? My son loves them, but will only eat them frozen. Can you say "texture issues"?

 

[oc_tony]

We checked in at about 11am via the CM in the lounge (which is on the 2nd floor). We left our bags in the car (but they could probably hold them for you at the bell desk) and went to the park for a few hours. We came back at about 3pm, but the room wasn't ready until 4, so we hung out in the lounge for an hour and watched tv, played scrabble on the iPhone, and ate snacks.

I don't know about the views for all of the concierge rooms. We got a cabana room (on the 3rd floor), since we knew we would be using the pool. The sliding door opens out to the walkway that leads to the pool. The only "con" was that we couldn't figure out how to lock the sliding door from the outside. There might have been a way to do it, but we couldn't see how.

DS loved the water slide.

As far as freezing the Uncrustables, the only option I can see is if you ask the CM to put some in the freezer for you for a few hours, and then come back for them.

 

[closetmickey]

I'm having trouble finding concierge rates on the website. Do you know the AP price difference? Do you have to call for that info? Thanks!

 

[Hound 109]

Great report & great pics.

A couple of comments and a question. I've done the PP Concierge twice & also enjoyed it.

- Both times our rooms were DCA park view (kind of looking over the GCH) from the second from the top floor (not sure of the floor number...is there a penthouse floor?)...but i didn't know that the cabana rooms might be available...both would be better than standard, imo.
- In addition to the food & snack offerings beer & wine was available at 5pm, which could be a benefit to some (it was to Mrs. Hound ).
- I agree that the food would take care of one or two meals....but a nice "sit down" meal per day would compliment the offerings.
- Taking a handful of bottled waters with us (it was offered by the CM) to the parks each day was handy since we hadn't brought any.

OC Tony, what kind of value would you put on Concierge (vrs Standard PP room)? I'd put $20-$25 per adult & $10 - $15 per kid (per day).



Thanks again for the post.

 

[engo]

Thanks for the great report! We were in a Cabana room early June and LOVED it!

Thanks for the great report. We are staying 2 nights in early August. Wondering about check in. Did you go straight to the lounge, and the CM checked you in? Also, lounge is on 3rd floor, right?

We are thinking of requesting Cabana room, which would also be 3rd floor. We plan on long pool breaks. Any pros or cons that you know of?


Any chance that the smucker sandwhiches might be available in the frozen format? My son loves them, but will only eat them frozen. Can you say "texture issues"?

We went straight to the lounge to check in. Take the glass elevator up to the 2nd floor. It's on your left when you exit. Knock on the door and they'll let you in. Check in was a breeze. DS5 and DS2 had a light snack watching Aladdin while DH got us checked in.

DS2 napped in the afternoon while DH and DS5 went for a swim, so I was always there to open the sliding door for them. Once DS2 woke up I would lock up and take the key with me to the pool. We also watched the fireworks from the deck one night. It's doesn't compare to watching it inside the park, but they do pipe in the music, which was very nice.

Have a great trip!

I seem to remember there is a *tiny* freezer in the fridge, which may fit a couple of uncrustables. They only had uncrustables out after 5pm, but you can always ask for some, along with milk and bottled water.

 

[QueenDoOver]

Thanks for all the information. I was thinking the Concierge lounge was on 3 for some reason. Never the less, stairs from 3 to 2 will be very easy and quick when the elevator is taking forever, which is frequent.


By the way, the concierge rate quoted as part of the summer special was exactly the same as the AP Concierge rate, but the regular AP rates were lower than the regular summer special rates, so I was able to convince my husband that I needed an AP, so it worked for me

Hound you have reconfirmed my belief that $80 more for the concierge room is a good value. I am planning one sit down for each day, as I know my husband will not be able to make do with the offerings available. We will certainly take advantage of the beer and wine each night, and with 3 adults, that will likely be $25 worth, right there

 

[Hound 109]

Thanks for all the information. I was thinking the Concierge lounge was on 3 for some reason. Never the less, stairs from 3 to 2 will be very easy and quick when the elevator is taking forever, which is frequent.

I'm not sure about the stairs from 3 to 2.....but from the lobby to level 2, the stairs are a couple of steps from the elevators AND a couple of steps from Concierge....VERY convenient for running up & grabbing a couple of last minute items.


By the way, the concierge rate quoted as part of the summer special was exactly the same as the AP Concierge rate, but the regular AP rates were lower than the regular summer special rates, so I was able to convince my husband that I needed an AP, so it worked for me

What is the AP rate for the PP Concierge? When we did it 18 mos. ago it was $169 (i think).

Hound you have reconfirmed my belief that $80 more for the concierge room is a good value. I am planning one sit down for each day, as I know my husband will not be able to make do with the offerings available. We will certainly take advantage of the beer and wine each night, and with 3 adults, that will likely be $25 worth, right there

That's why i came up with the $$ estimate that i did. (& you're right, 2 beers or 2 glasses of wine in DTD would be $20 bucks right there...i'm thinking). Mrs. Hound would enjoy drinking a second cup of coffee in the morning &/or a second glass of wine in the evening....she didn't feel compelled to spend EVERY single minute with her Commando Husband & his trusty sidekick, 10 y/o Padewan Alec....who believe in riding rides if it's daylight & resting when we get home.

 

[bumbershoot]

Tracey, I would just ask the CMs if they had any in the back. I think that those things are meant to start off being frozen, so they likely have them in there.

When we stayed at DLH concierge they were lovely about checking in back for things. Just lovely.

Of course you know that I'll tell you to check those ingredients, b/c if he's reacting to the ingredients, like Eamon does, it might be making the texture stuff worse!

 

[oc_tony]

I'm having trouble finding concierge rates on the website. Do you know the AP price difference? Do you have to call for that info? Thanks!

I was able to view the AP rates on the website, but you have to log in to the annual passholder's section. If you're having trouble though, I'm sure you could find out the info over the phone.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

Thanks for all the information. I was thinking the Concierge lounge was on 3 for some reason. Never the less, stairs from 3 to 2 will be very easy and quick when the elevator is taking forever, which is frequent.


By the way, the concierge rate quoted as part of the summer special was exactly the same as the AP Concierge rate, but the regular AP rates were lower than the regular summer special rates, so I was able to convince my husband that I needed an AP, so it worked for me

Hound you have reconfirmed my belief that $80 more for the concierge room is a good value. I am planning one sit down for each day, as I know my husband will not be able to make do with the offerings available. We will certainly take advantage of the beer and wine each night, and with 3 adults, that will likely be $25 worth, right there

You can't take stairs from the third floor to the second. It is the only downside to staying in the concierge cabana rooms.

 

[MartinaC]

Yay, Thank you for the trip report. We are staying at the PPH concierge in 2 weeks and I have requested a Cabana room. (crossing my fingers that we get it)

 

[QueenDoOver]

Tracey, I would just ask the CMs if they had any in the back. I think that those things are meant to start off being frozen, so they likely have them in there.

When we stayed at DLH concierge they were lovely about checking in back for things. Just lovely.

Of course you know that I'll tell you to check those ingredients, b/c if he's reacting to the ingredients, like Eamon does, it might be making the texture stuff worse!

Yes, you are right Molly, they do start off frozen. The ingredients are terrible, but I don't think Nathan is sensitive in particular. A bit of trivia for you. Remember Scott, Jack's Dad? He is actually the one that designed the machine for those sandwiches, as one of his first engineering jobs. Too bad he didn't have the patent, huh? Nathan calls them "uncle scott" sandwhiches. I rarely let him eat them though, but he does like them, and I would let him eat them on vacation. I also think they are yummy, but also prefer them frozen for some reason?

I don't understand why you can't go from 3 to 2. I actually took the stairs from floor 5 to the lobby several times, as the elevator was broken. I don't think the stair doors are locked. I will have to check that out. I do know the wide decorative stairs that you are talking about, but I just mean the fire exit stairs.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

Yes, you are right Molly, they do start off frozen. The ingredients are terrible, but I don't think Nathan is sensitive in particular. A bit of trivia for you. Remember Scott, Jack's Dad? He is actually the one that designed the machine for those sandwiches, as one of his first engineering jobs. Too bad he didn't have the patent, huh? Nathan calls them "uncle scott" sandwhiches. I rarely let him eat them though, but he does like them, and I would let him eat them on vacation. I also think they are yummy, but also prefer them frozen for some reason?

I don't understand why you can't go from 3 to 2. I actually took the stairs from floor 5 to the lobby several times, as the elevator was broken. I don't think the stair doors are locked. I will have to check that out. I do know the wide decorative stairs that you are talking about, but I just mean the fire exit stairs.

You can't enter the second floor from the fire exit stairs. You have to take the stairs from the third floor to the lobby, then the stairs from the hallway heading out to the parking garage up to the lounge area(the wide, decorative stairs). It is still shorter than waiting for the slow elevators. I think it has to do with the layout of the second floor. It isn't as large as the other floors due to the two story ceilings in some of the first floor areas. Does that make sense?

 

[QueenDoOver]

You can't enter the second floor from the fire exit stairs. You have to take the stairs from the third floor to the lobby, then the stairs from the hallway heading out to the parking garage up to the lounge area(the wide, decorative stairs). It is still shorter than waiting for the slow elevators. I think it has to do with the layout of the second floor. It isn't as large as the other floors due to the two story ceilings in some of the first floor areas. Does that make sense?

Awe! Yes, perfect sense. Got it. Thanks so much. Tracey