poly concierge not worth it

[lainie25]

we just got back from the poly last week and stayed in the hawaii building. I was really excited to be staying concierge b/c of all the great things I read on here about it, but I was disappointed. The snacks and food were great but the housekeeping and the people at the desk were horrible. They were rude and if you went down to ask them anything it was like you were bothering them. My dh lost his wallet on dinosaur at the AK and I called the concierge desk to cancel the charging on the key and they were so nasty about it stating we had allready cancelled one card and now he was asking for another, which wasn't true. At check in they made and error and printed the wrong thing on one of the cards but she never apologized. I loved the polynesian but i don't think concierge is worth the money.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by lainie25
the housekeeping and the people at the desk were horrible.

Yep...sounds a lot like our experience there. I wouldn't pay the extra for concierge there again.

 

[Lives4Disney]

We stayed for 6 nights in August LVC. I have to agree with you. I was disapppointed, too. It seems that people either love it and have great service and experiences or pretty bad.

We were so thrilled and excited to be there and were let down immediately by the bell/valet guys. There were three of them standing around and we said "Hi, we are here to check into the concierge building!" (All smiley and excited) They pointed the way thru the GCH and that was it. Blah. I (from what I have read on these boards) expected the golf cart tour and some kind of welcoming attitude. None. We must have looked like sad puppies because one of them said "OK, I'll do it"

Then at check in - same thing. The concierge CM acted very blah and like it was a bother for her to check us in. Our room wasn't ready as it was only 11:30. OK fine. We went to the MK for lunch and fun and called back about 4:00. We were told it still wasn't ready. OK fine. We called back at 4:40. Still not ready. They guy on the phone was pretty rude (I think) because we commented that isn't 4:00 check in time - He tells us that is just a guideline and the room doesn't have to be ready by then. OK. Well that attitude wouldn't fly with them at check out time if we decided to dink around a bit longer in our room, I am sure!! Finally at 5:15 our room was ready.

I did like the rooms, housekeeping was very good to us, they left us many extra towels and shampoos, soaps, etc. They were very friendly when we ran into them and we always had turn down service.

I also felt like the times I did need help or questions answered by the concierge members, (at least the ones I ran into) they gave wrong info or I knew more than they did.

We had another awkward moment when my daughter had a bathroom emergency while in the lounge. She is 8 and for a couple of days was having diarreah(sp?) Well, we ran up to the 3rd floor bathroom and got her in. One of the CMs from the lounge came up to use the bathroom. She asked me if it was part of my party in the restroom. I told her it was my daughter. She says "Well we only have one bathroom for us and all of you. Could you get her to hurry?" OK. I understand you gotta go when you gotta go, but..... I just felt like I was really putting her out. Maybe I was - but too bad. It is too much money to spend and be made to feel like you are imposing on these CMs. There is more but these were enough to turn me off. ( I need to add that our room was on the first floor, halfway down the hall. She is vision impaired and has a REAL problem going down the stairs. It was quicker for us to run UP the stairs to the 3rd floor then to wait for the lift or try and get her to go down stairs) Otherwise I would have gone to our room.

Anyway, enough negative. Sorry to offend the Poly lovers. It seems like little things, but when it is one after another I just have to think of all the money and say it wasn't worth it to me or my family to be treated that way.

 

[Disney Freak Numero Uno]

Lives4Disney - we had exactly the same experience with the valet guys. They pointed us in the direction of Hawaii and handed us a map. I agree that Poly concierge was not worth the price. We too encountered some apathetic CMs in the lounge. My husband and I spent a few days at AKL in August and did not book concierge. I have to say that that trip was so much better than my July trip to the Poly concierge.

 

[DisneyDW]

Oh no, I do not want to hear this! Hands on ears!!! I am planning to spend major $$$ LVC next year and want spectacular treatment. I appreciate your comments though because I want to set my expectations or change. Would you guys stay at Poly again, just not concierge? Or would you choose a different concierge resort?

 

[denman007]

We arrived at 11am...told them we were staying concierge. The bellman said he would check if our room was ready. Came back 2 mins later and room was ready..3501 exact room I requested. Got the cart ride and took bags right to room. After checking things out and grabbing a bite to eat, we went to the desk to check in. No problems. Everything was fine all week.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Denman, I don't know if you were just lucky or we were just very unlucky. We looked SO forward to this trip - our first Poly stay.....

I have stayed concierge YC, BC, Swan, and CR. I have never felt the way I felt at the Poly.

Just not a great experience. Bad, actually.

DisneyDW, unfortunately I hate to tell you this - but we wouldn't ever stay there again.

Take it for what you will. There are many people out there that LOVE it and wouldn't stay anywhere else. They obviously had a completely different time there than we did. I don't understand it at all.

We just didn't feel the O'hana spirit there. We felt unwelcome and the CMs were indifferent to rude.

 

[barbeml]

These stories are sad.

We stayed at the Poly a couple of years ago, no concierge, and were treated wonderfully by everyone.

 

[freediverdude]

Well I was at the Poly last week, lagoon view without concierge. I parked near the valet station and got out and while they weren't just running up to the car to help me, once I got close to them they offered to help, took my bags out of the car, offered to park the car and I asked if they would be willing to put an autolock on the brake (similar to the Club, but on the brake pedal), and he even agreed to that as well, so I said yes and he sped off in the car while I checked in. His name was John by the way, if he's on here, good job! Then I checked in at the front desk, had a nice lady wait on me (sorry didn't get the name) and then she said "Aloha and Welcome!" and put a lei around my neck. Then she directed me back out to the luggage area and one of the guys loaded my luggage on the golf cart, and we both got in and he did take me for a little tour on the way to the room, which was Tuvalu 1413. I've never had this kind of welcome at any Disney resort, so I was pretty happy. No I didn't really get a castle view from that building, but it was a very nice lagoon view of the GF and Space Mountain and tip of the castle and tip of Big Thunder, and good view of the water pageant each night. I do have pictures of this room and the view from this room, but not sure how to post. And the room was very convenient to the main building and pool and marina, good location. Anyway, other cast members at Ohana, Kona cafe, and the gift shops were pretty nice. I really can't complain about this stay, it was very nice. I don't know if the concierge experience is different though, can't speak to that. Was wondering if it was worth it for LVC for that castle view, but not sure about that.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by DisneyDW
Would you guys stay at Poly again, just not concierge?

definitely. We stayed in a regular room at Polynesian since then and had a great time. Got a smile and leis at check in...something we didn't get in concierge. We also had wonderful housekeeping service with our regular room.

 

[denman007]

Freedriverdude...

I have a thread started with some pics from my LVC view. It really was an awesome view.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=652551

 

[BambiTamby]

It seems that the Poly concierge is having alot of "glitches" lately.

We, too, have encountered problems this year with their concierge services.
Poor check-in procedures, poor service from untrained CMs and understaffed CL POINTS to poor management.

We wanted to give them another chance so
DH and I booked a suite for the January marathon this May.
Paid deposit and got our room for the marathon as the suites sell out far in advance.
Then, we get a call from the Poly concierge management stating that they have changed the rehab dates for the Tonga building and we'll have to be relocated.
WE STILL HAVE NOT BEEN RELOCATED!!!!!!

I got the Nantucket Suite booked as a backup, but DH wanted to be on the monorail.

I doubt we'll be returning to the Poly CL any time soon.

Too bad! We always considered the Poly CL our home resort.
It saddens me to feel this way, too!

denman....I'm happy you had an enjoyable experience at the Poly's CL. The rooms are large and the lounge and views are awesome, but their concierge services need WORK.

Just a humble opinion from a lounge lizard.

 

[denman007]

Bambi...

It was my 1st concierge experience so I really have nothing to compare it to. They took really good care of us.

I thought it was cool that we got to hang out at the room and eat before we went to the 1st floor to check in. Seems they were expecting us and knew our names as soon as we walked in. They really did make us feel special. Getting an Illum. cruise from a cancellation was another pleasant surprise.

I also booked the tea party, cancelled, then rebooked it...we were joking about it with the CM's....says it happens all the time and don't worry about it.

 

[BambiTamby]

Originally posted by denman007
Bambi...

It was my 1st concierge experience so I really have nothing to compare it to. They took really good care of us.

I thought it was cool that we got to hang out at the room and eat before we went to the 1st floor to check in. Seems they were expecting us and knew our names as soon as we walked in. They really did make us feel special. Getting an Illum. cruise from a cancellation was another pleasant surprise.

I also booked the tea party, cancelled, then rebooked it...we were joking about it with the CM's....says it happens all the time and don't worry about it.

Oh, denman! I have no doubt they took good care of you!
Your pictures are wonderful and there ARE some wonderful CMs at the Poly's CL.

It's just that the concierge management has some "glitches" and these issues need to be addressed before we return to our
"home concierge".

Believe me, I'm a spoiled conciergeaholic!

 

[freediverdude]

Bambi, did they say why they haven't relocated you yet? It seems like they should have a couple alternatives ready right when they call you about it, so you're not in limbo. What did they say about where you would be going? Just something like "we'll look for something for you"?? They should be putting you in a Grand Floridian suite- that would be the logical alternative.

Denman, yes I saw your pictures. That was a wonderful view of the castle. With these reports now I'm scared to book the concierge building instead of the regular buildings though! Although I go by myself, and not likely to use much of the extra services, so I'm still undecided.

 

[BambiTamby]

Originally posted by freediverdude
Bambi, did they say why they haven't relocated you yet? It seems like they should have a couple alternatives ready right when they call you about it, so you're not in limbo. What did they say about where you would be going? Just something like "we'll look for something for you"?? They should be putting you in a Grand Floridian suite- that would be the logical alternative.

Denman, yes I saw your pictures. That was a wonderful view of the castle. With these reports now I'm scared to book the concierge building instead of the regular buildings though! Although I go by myself, and not likely to use much of the extra services, so I'm still undecided.

freediverdude...they didn't have ANY alternatives!
And you would think they would've had a replacement!
PLUS all of the suites at the GF and CR are already filled.
when I enquired about the others in the Tonga that would also be inconvenienced, I got no answer in return.
He did say that they could put us in a garden wing room at the CR though!
ACK! I'm sorry, but that isn't the same caliber as the Princess Suite.

Now, after saying all of this, I do have to say if I was going to WDW alone, I would stay concierge.
More security would be my reason for that suggestion.

PM #1hockeymom about the security of staying concierge, especially when traveling solo.
She'll fill you in on that!

Like I stated and I will stand by this....the "glitches" in the Poly's CL management need to be addressed.

 

[Threehearts]

We returned from a 6 night stay(our 3rd this year) in LVC in August and also had multiple problems. The housekeeping was cleaning at 3-4pm each day which is late for us(we did call and ask for earlier w/no change). The CMs did seem somewhat disinterested and it just wasn't special enough for us to return there again in the near future. I still think that you can't beat the location and breakfast being right there is a huge plus. The CMs in the concierge lounge deserve a medal as does Chef Dick. We never ask for help w/PSs, never call or email the conc. staff prior to arrival. All we would like is a smile and greeting as we do the same. With all fairness to the Poly staff, I believe the severe weather has put a terrible strain on morale. With all this said, I still believe that there has been a downturn in the attitude of the CMs who man the desk. Threehearts

 

[ppony]

Oh, it so sounds like our stay last December as well. We are NOT the kind of people that expect everything done for us nor are we spoiled by any means BUT you do pay for some services at the concierge and one of them is seeing smiling faced not CMs grumbling and getting attitudes! I won't go into our trip again but suffice to say, it sounded like like the original poster and many after that too. the only bright side was mousekeeping did a great job on our oom...other than that, the staff was rude when we asked for things or even had questions. they even contradicted their own policies depending on who you talked to at the con. front desk. Frustration! We'll never stay at the Poly Con. again. We loved the GF concierge (which we got just becuase they upgraded us for free since the lagoon view rooms were all full at that time with renovations. It was SO wonderful! We're going to try the AKL con. this time for a few nights. I'm jazzed! Once bitten by that Con. bug...it's SOOO hard not to treat yourself for at elast a few days when you go! Hmmm, (thinking) when we got that complimentary upgrade at the GF...was it happenstance ooooorrrr an evil ploy to get us hooked on the concierge feel! DON'T CARE!!!!!

Sorry to hear that others had the same experiences as we did.

 

[tiffsix]

We just returned a couple days ago and agree with all of you. It was our first concierge stay so i don't have other resorts to compare it to but was extremely disappointed. Housekeeping was shoddy and the people at the front desk were completely disinterested in us. We have heard so many wonderful things about the Poly concierge and it didn't meet what we thought we would be getting. Our stay in a regular room at the WL last time was much more enjoyable and the CM;s were friendlier. We didn't get turn down service the first 2 nights and probably wouldn't have the entire trip if we didn't mention something. I do want to say that Tara and Melissa from IPO were a complete joy to deal with and got us and changed many PS's for us. We had several questions for the front desk whereas we had to leave a couple days early because of the storm and they just gave us empty answers. Not much help. I do also have to say that it was nice being able to walk downstairs in the morning and grab a quick bite and head off for the day and grabbing the occasional cookie if we were around in the afternoon but definitely not worth a couple hundred extra a night. Will return to the Poly but not concierge. Maybe a different resort concierge in the future.

 

[ppony]

okay, I went into it a little on this post. Look for the ppony post. :


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=651763&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

SO sorry Tiffsix! Concierge may not be "worth it" in the litteral sense but it IS when it's done right and your feel really special. that's what it is all about to me. feeling like you're not just a number coming in and going out. Even though we all know we are, not FEELING like it is key! You might want to try a few nights some other time in another resort. From personal experience the GF was nice but I've heard LOTS of good about the AKL so that's where we're headed!