Problems with guests at concierge lounges.

[madcoco]

Has anyone noticed an increase in guests being incosiderate of others in the concierge lounges? Or was it just one of those stays? We had a nice stay last week at the AKL Room #5233 after the Member cruise.Too bad we couldn't bring the weather with us. People were running rampant in the lounge hoarding the food, not waiting until the CMs got a chance to put the stuff out. On a number of occasions, there was nowhere to sit it was like people were living in the lounge. People reading the newspaper, spilling their food on it(using it as a placemat), and leaving it so no one else can read it. Kids and adults putting their hands in the food. Two days in a row,one guest had his shoes off ,dirty socks and all just sprawled out one of the couches for more than an hour. The snacks ran out a number of times. They do not get an endless supply of food to put out. Even the CMs were commenting on the conduct of some and how incosiderate it is. The CMs say their hands are tied. Felt really sorry for the AKL concierge staff. They are wonderful. Sorry for the rant.

 

[vbfamily]

It was that way when we were at WL Concierge in October-kids grabbing food, sniffing it and then putting it back. GROSS! I actually saw one lick a little dessert and then put it back.

Unfortunately, I don't think things like this will change because people with manners like that tend to be like that forever.

I would never dream of taking my shoes off in the lounge-we were taught that that wasn't polite to do when there was food around and when you were sitting amongst a group of people you
don't know.

I really think the CM's are helpless because if they say anything that particular person is probably going to make a big stink and not even realize they are being rude and just continue doing what they are doing.

 

[gepetto]

You mean you didn't see anyone hanging out in their robes? We saw several people at the lounge at the Polynesian last year that always wore robes or their jammies.

 

[vbfamily]

Madcoco,

Did you enjoy the concierge stay when the problems weren't happening?

Did you enjoy yourselves and would you stay there again?

I'm just curious what your opinions are-would you book a standard room next time or do concierge again?

 

[Sleepy]

I noticed that same behavior at Hard Rock Hotel last summer. It was our first experience with concierge and I was appauled by the conduct of other guests. I know the beer is free and everything, but is it necessary for one person to grab 6 bottles of the best brand and literally run to the room with them? It was not just one person doing this...it was about 50%. You would have thought they were in a strarving country the way they acted.

 

[Seahunt]

gepetto! That happened to us at the Poly too! One lady even came down one morning in her slip, hair in curlers, cigarette dangling, with no shoes on, and they had to tell her that she wasn't dressed appropriately and to please go back to her room and get dressed before coming down to breakfast! Duh! What are people thinking when they use these lounges?!!!

 

[Gillian]

It's like people are too lazy to watch their kids or something! Yesterday at the dr's office a little boy (6?) was putting his finger in the water fountain spout & then getting his sister (who was too short to see what he was doing) to press the button. The mom was right there, but didn't say anything.

He only stoped because when I turned around from hanging up my coat & saw it, I said "no!" as a reflex. I didn't feel like getting soaked! THEN the mom told the kids to stop.

Or, going by the couch & newspaper stories, maybe it's just adults with bad manners teaching their kids bad manners.

 

[Gillian]

Seahunt, people really use curlers at WDW? Wow!

There needs to be a sign "This lounge is not your living room"

 

[figmentvi]

My stars Seahunt !!!! If I had seen that lady you described in the lounge, I know I wouldn't have been able to control my laughter.

I am positively amazed at the behavior of people sometimes. I guess I just can't get over the fact that if they are paying so much extra $$$ to stay at concierge, that they can't exhibit proper manners. Silly me.

I too have witnessed people in jammies, no shoes and some unruly kids at the YC Concierge. Heck, I didn't even want to go down there without makeup on

 

[ducklite]

This is my take on it.

With all the codes and discounts, the concierge level has drawn a new demographic group. That group is "out to get their money's worth" because they are paying extra for the concierge service.

They don't look at the lounge as a comfortable place to relax for a few minutes, they look at it as a place to eat all their meals, and the staff to babysit their kids. They don't look at the staff as a resource to help make their stay easier and more magical by suggesting and booking meals, recreation, and other activities, rather they look a them as personal servants, after all "they are paying extra for this".

I've seen people in the lounges in robes as well, and personally find it very distasteful. I also find bare feet unless you are in a pool or on a pool deck gross. I've also seen the food hoarding, again, I think much of this is people who plan on using the lounge for all their meals, that's why they take all the Uncrustables and cookies at night, they use them for lunch the following day.

Regretfully it's a different mindset, and until they stop discounting concierge to the level that they have been, it's not going to stop.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Oh, when I was at the oly last August there was a woman walking around in a bathing suit--g-string bottom and microbra top, and she filled that out well. The concierge asked her to put a coverup on before coming to the lounge. I didn't want her naked butt sitting on the sofa before me

Anne

 

[DisneyMim]

YES!! YES!! YES!! Thank you for posting. I'm always afraid of huring people, but I have to agree 100%!!!!! We were at the Poly last August and we were all shocked at some people's behavior. People in robes, grabbing as much food as they can. There was one man, every morning would ask for 5 chocolate milks and a LOAF OF BREAD!! Can you believe this!! They must have made sandwiches for lunch. Unreal. This same man would take ALL the breakfast rolls that were out. In the evening it was the same thing. Ducklite I totally agree with you. Some people are using this as dinner. We just think of it as a snack, take a little and go out to eat. My whole family was just amazed, even my two teenage kids. Another thing, there was one family with three kids who had the kids in the hall the whole time. Every time we went in or out these three kids were playing in the hall, running up and down and screaming and yelling. The family beside them said they couldn't sleep at night because of these three kids and their parents. They were also very annoying at the pool. I honestly don't know what has become of manners and respect for others. A lot of people just think of themselves and feel they are "entitled" to everything.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by ducklite
This is my take on it.

With all the codes and discounts, the concierge level has drawn a new demographic group. That group is "out to get their money's worth" because they are paying extra for the concierge service.

They don't look at the lounge as a comfortable place to relax for a few minutes, they look at it as a place to eat all their meals, and the staff to babysit their kids. They don't look at the staff as a resource to help make their stay easier and more magical by suggesting and booking meals, recreation, and other activities, rather they look a them as personal servants, after all "they are paying extra for this".

I've seen people in the lounges in robes as well, and personally find it very distasteful. I also find bare feet unless you are in a pool or on a pool deck gross. I've also seen the food hoarding, again, I think much of this is people who plan on using the lounge for all their meals, that's why they take all the Uncrustables and cookies at night, they use them for lunch the following day.

Regretfully it's a different mindset, and until they stop discounting concierge to the level that they have been, it's not going to stop.

Anne

I completely agree with you, but you do realize this practice of using the concierge food in place of regular meals has been encouraged right here on these boards. Many have said that they can save on meals by eating in the lounge.

If you do a search for concierge you will see what I mean.

 

[Eeyore1954]

My DW and I stayed at BC concierge last Nov. for the 1st time. I didn't see any really rude behavior -- except one older lady who came in one morning in her robe. It was bright pink with a "furry" border all around. I swear she looked like Phyllis Diller having a not-so-bad hair day. It was all I could do not to stare!

I agree with others though -- the entitlement mentality is so pervasive at WDW. People seem to think they are "owed" so much for what they pay. *SIGH*

 

[LvsTnk]

Well. if people keep using the lounge for meals they won't be able to discount it.

Maybe that explains why the concierge staff would announce loudly where we were having dinner. LOL

The worst problem I had was a women who planted herself in a chair in front of the desserts at the Inn Keepers club at the BWI. Just wanted a cookie for DS (we stayed in that night). She looked at me like I had two heads because I said excuse me could you please move.

 

[gonga]

Don't you love the people that take the tray( the one that is under the ice bucket and glasses in your room) and proceed to make a haystack of food on top of it? it is discusting and boorish. I have seen that many times at the GF RPC. One person sees another using the tray and they all start loading up. Although I must say the rudest and grossest people I have ever witnessed at the Cons. level was at the Hard Rock last year. Someone else posted this as well - it was a discusting, discusting site. First of all the Hard Rock Consierge is not worth the money, as it is not like WDW. There are some hot dishes of food, not thet good, kinda gross, which disappears in a matter of seconds because people actually line up 15 min before food is put out - glutenous! I have also witnessed beer being taken by the "6 pack" and multiple glasses of wine taken at once. the lounge looks like Grand Central Terminal on a cold day. People in robes laying on the couch, food and papers sprawled out, leaving a big mess behind. The behavior at the Hard Rock was so discusting, I could not believe it. I guess the rates are lover at the HRH than the GF or something - but everyone thinks they are entitled to their "fair share" and everyone has their own opinion of what that is. I will never stay at the Hard Rock again!

I do find however that the GF RPC is a much more generous Consierge level than most other hotels. They keep it very clean and replenish food constantly. Even when we go back to our room in the mid afternoon, there is always a snack of some kind there. I found the hor's dovours to be quite tasty, and is nice to have a glass of wine and some cheese while getting ready for dinner. I think the main reason for discusting behavior at the consierge levels is that many people thing they can "cheap out" and use the consierge food as their meal. They eat the "free" food instead of buying dinner, for which it is not intended. That I find repulsive!

 

[vbfamily]

I think it all depends-

We sometimes had a light meal in the lounge at WL Concierge because it was virtually empty when we were there. The CM's even told us all the food was going to go to waste.

We did not, however, go to the lounge in bare feet, robes, swimsuits, etc.

We didn't over indulge either. We have very good manners and acted accordingly.

I don't think the rude behavior mentioned in these posts has anything to do with people making a light meal out of the snacks.
Rude people are just rude-no matter where they are or what they are doing. I don't think the behavior of these people can be blamed on the fact that they might have been told you can make a meal out of the concierge offerings.

Sometimes you can and sometimes you can't-but people with manners know the right way to act. Am I going to call myself rude because I put 2 roundwiches on my plate instead of one or I had 2 helpings of the hot entree because it was 7:00 and they were going to throw it away, no.

Even if they don't discount Concierge services, you will still have the same problems. I think it depends on how people are raised and not how much money they have-I saw many people who could afford to pay full price for concierge acting like the people that madcoco mentioned.

 

[ducklite]

And many of those people are EXACTLY the ones we are talking about!

Breakfast, yes, you can eat a filling breakfast in the concierge lounge without talking it all or making a pig of yourself. But lunch? No way. Dinner? Nope. It's NOT supposed to be lunch or dinner, but a snack or appetizer.

That's not to say that if you have a big late lunch a small plate of appetizers taken for dinner is a problem. We're talking about ignorant people who take HEAPING plates of food, cleaning out the spread and leaving nothing for other people, dropping food all over the place and expecting others to clean up after them because after all "We're paying extra for this".

And asking for a loaf of bread? If I had been the concierge I would have directed him to the store in the main building to buy a loaf.

When I was at the AKL in December of 2001 I saw two very bad examples. One was two people who had spent Friday night in concierge in order to do the Sunrise Safari. They freely admitted that they had eaten appetizers and desserts there, and "lots of them" so they didn't have to spend money on dinner, then THEY HAD THE NERVE TO SNEAK A FRIEND INTO THE LOUNGE WITH THEM FOR BREAKFAST (the friend was either staying off-site or at the AS, I can't recall which)!!! And yes, they are on the Disboards!

There was another couple (the gross people) who stunk like they hadn't showered in a week. Get this, they were carrying around a clear plastic grocery bag with loose feminine protection products in it! EWWWWWW!!! They ate so much that I thought they were going to explode. I swear, they ate as much at breakfast BEFORE THE SUNRISE SAFARI as DH and I eat in an entire day. Then they GORGED themselves at the Tusker House breakfast after the Safari! THey both looked ill when they left.

That same trip a lady was ahead of me in line for desserts one night, she took several heaping plates of cookies back to her room, because they had friends visiting from another hotel. She left NONE for anyone else.

Like I said, stop discounting the concierge rooms, because these are the type of people that stay there only because they got a "bargain".

Anne

 

[jlieblaw]

I agree with vbfamily. It doesn't matter how much money you have. It's just a matter of manners. I don't think it's fair to say that it's the people who take advantage of the discounts that are causing the problems. I'm sure there's just as many people who can afford the rack rate that create problems. Personally, I'm grateful for the discounts. I'm hoping to take advantage of a discount when I go this year, not so much for a "meal" but because I want to be on the top floor at WL. However, I will take advantage of the snacks but most certainly will not use it as a meal nor will I make a special trip back from a park just to eat there. I think people need to be careful about lumping people into categories based on their finances. I'm sure I'm a lot more concerned about how my child acts than some people are that make ten times my salary.

 

[Gillian]

I don't know if ending discounts will get you a more polite crowd. There are plenty of rude rich people around. I don't see how you can blame it on those getting a discount unless you take a survey of everyone's financial status.

While some people here on the DIS post about getting a full meal or more at the lounges, others are obviously polite and well-mannered. I can't tell that the ones who don't need a discount are any better behaved than those that do.