Paradise Pier Concierge

[bammbi13]

I just wanted to know if anyone has any experience with the concierge level at Paradise Pier Hotel. We are going in April and booked a premium view room on the concierge level. What can we expect? Are the rooms the same as the others or are they bigger/better? Any other advantages to being concierge level. We requested a room on the 13th floor or higher. Anyone have any tips on how to get a free room upgrade? Thanks in advance!!

 

[bumbershoot]

You will have a DVD player in your room, and the concierge people have a good selection of movies (disney) to choose from.

They have a new cappucino machine in the lounge. It's Nestle, but it's actual coffee, and it's not awful. If you like a cappucino, ask them how to use it (or follow the slightly unclear directions near the machine) and enjoy!

DS and DH enjoyed the bagels every morning. I had a muffin and fruit each morning (not the biggest bagel fan unless they are REAL). I can't remember the afternoon offerings, but then in the evenings they have a hot appetizer and more things out. One night they had a vegetarian appetizer so we could partake. They had a honeycomb-honey that my son LOVED. I can't remember what he put it on, but he was just fascinated with it. They had chocolate dipped strawberries and macaroons. And, of course, they also have decaf pods for the cappucino machine, which was nice for me.

They have beer and wine as well.


WHen we were there, last month, the pool was closed. We had chosen a pool view room, which I assumed would be the rooms right off the pool deck. Because those weren't available, or because we have interesting luck when it comes to upgrades, we were actually put in a one bedroom suite on the 14th floor.

The staff can arrange things for you, but we've never used those services. I'm too much of a hand's on person; don't even use a TA, so why would I have someone else arrange something for me. That's just me, though, and we never have last-minute things we want to do.


We were there early, and I couldn't get in to the concierge lounge to checkin after being directed up there by a CM. I guess I could have had the guest services guy in the lobby call up to them, and they would be waiting for me to help me. But instead I just checked in with the normal desk, and had a great experience (I just love the PPH employees).


Oh, and they have bottled water in the lounge. You have to request it. We only ever got non-cold water; it's possible they have the cold stuff, but maybe you have to ask for it? But the rooms have fridges, so we just made sure to ask for it the day before we needed it, then put it in the fridge for the day.

 

[llump41]

Some of the bennies. Check in in the lounge. Saves you the wait at the front desk.
Water, soda and chips that you can take with you. Saves a lot on those items when you have to buy them in the parks.
Take advantage of the breakfast. Bagels, fruit etc.
Meet new friends. There was something about the coziness that made it easier to talk to people in the lounge.
You can make a meal out of the appetizers.

All-in-all it was a great 3 days we spent there. Probably the biggest mistake though is that DW is now spoiled and may not settle on anything less than concierge.

 

[Babybears]

We booked concierge last year and had a cababa (poolside) room on the 3rd floor. We loved it, as we could just open our slider and run out for a quick dip and come back easily. The morning food was very convenient, a little bit of something for everyone, and saved us time in getting to the parks. We also enjoyed the afternoon and evening offerings on the days we came back mid-day for a swim.

While we haven't stayed with a parkview concierge yet, I was told by the concierge CM that one HUGE perk for the concierge folks staying on the upper floors is the access to the glass elevator. Anyone can go up in that elevator (concierge or standard guests) but you can only go down on it from the top two floors (concierge), 3rd floor (cababna concierge), and 2nd floor (concierge lounge). Anyone who has stayed here knows that the regular elevators can make for long waits in the morning when you are trying to go down. So, with a dedicated elevator for you, it makes getting out much quicker in the mornings!!

 

[bammbi13]

Thanks!! I am excited to go! We just made reservations for Goofys Kitchen for dinner our first night. My girls should love it! I hope that they give us a room upgrade! My daughter just turned 4 so I will have to let them know that we are celebrating her bday!

 

[thehighprincess44]

We arrive Sunday and I just got a call to tell me that we have a cabana room. I hope my six year old enjoys it! Anyone have recent pictures?

TIA!

Stacey

 

[boiseflyfisher]

With a premium view room, the only upgrade they could give you is to a suite. We have stayed there more times than I would like to count in the past few years and have only been upgraded one time(on a one night reservation). I think the shorter your booking is, the higher chance you have of being upgraded. I don't have any facts to back it up, but if you are staying for more than a couple of nights, I would guess that your chance of an upgrade would drop.

 

[llump41]

That may be true. We booked a 3 day stay with a standard concierge room but ended up with a park view. I don't know if it was because of the length, days we stayed or that we booked early.

 

[bammbi13]

We are only staying 1 night so hopefully we will be lucky and get an upgrade! Just spoke to them at the hotel and they said the pool will still be under construction when we arrive but we will be able to use one of the pools at DLH or Grand Californian. Kind of wierd considering when I first booked I asked them about the pool and they said it would be done by the time of our visit... The whole reason we booked PPH was because my daughter wanted to use the roof top pool. We have stayed at DLH and loved it! I would have booked there had i have known we weren't going to be able to use the pool at PPH.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

We stayed concierge last October at PPH (we went to the Mickey's Halloween Party, but stayed 3 nights). We requested the highest floor possible, but were given the 8th floor. It was actually a good thing, because we were up graded (for the very first time, and we have stayed at the hotels of the DLR for 10+ years now!) to a suite. We had never had any kind of upgrade before this (even for a better view) so we were really happy! The suite was beautiful--a big bedroom, living room, dining area and two bathrooms. We actually had a great view from the 8th floor, too.

The food was fine for concierge--it isn't hot food for breakfast (so no omlettes or pancakes), but it was fine. They could actually make it much better if they tried a little harder to be honest.

We ate both breakfast and dinner there, so that helped in saving money in the parks.

 

[bammbi13]

I just wanted to let you all know what happened when we went. I made easter baskets for my 4 daughters to take to the hotel and have them delivered to our room since we would be there on easter. We got to the hotel at 12:30 and checked in. I checked in at the concierge lounge, gave them my baskets to be delivered to our room. I was not aware that they where going to charge per basket to have them delivered. When i had called the hotel previously they did not tell me that when we discussed the baskets. Anyway i ended up paying the fee to have it done. They were to be taken to our room and set out to look nice before we checked into our room. When we got to our room (which wasn't till 4:00) they were not put out! They had put them in trash bags and left them in the room in the bags! I was soooo mad!! Not only did we have to wait an extra hour (check in was at 3) to get in our room because we were waiting on the baskets to be delivered then they did not even put them out how I had paid them too!! I had to make the kids wait outside while I put them out! I went back down to the concierge lounge and spoke to the girl working in there. I was super nice and just explained to her how disappointed i was over it. She completely understood and was unsure why they had not done as they were supposed to. It ended up that they wanted to do something to make up for the mistake. She offered us fast passes, among a ton of other options. We ended up getting the money back that was charged for the delivery, a comp'ed a character breakfast for our family of 6, and they did an easter egg hunt in our room for my daughters with a special surprise treat! They waited for us to leave the room to watch fireworks then went up and hid 40 eggs with chocolates in our room along with tons of balloons, and a special surprise. When the girls found the surprise they had to take it back up to the front desk where they were given a CRAZY Disney Easter basket that the normally sell! It was amazing!! They totally made up for the mistake!! All i was expecting was my money back! I was so happy! My trip was awesome!! It made my girls Easter soooo awesome!! I was very pleased with the hotel and the staff!! I will for sure stay there again!! I made sure to call the Disney Guest Relations and let them know how pleased I was and how well the girl did! I gave them her name and they said they will pass the compliment on to her and her boss!! Overall we got $250 worth of free stuff!! It was a great weekend!!

 

[nicolispicoli]

That's awesome!! Well I am glad to hear they more than made it right!

So as for the concierge and the hotel in general, did you like it? Did you get a good room and did you think the concierge was worth it?