Stroller ?, Concierge ?

[trodrigue]

We are down for the count. Leaving next Saturday morning. The cast is me, Mom, overplanner 40 something. Dad older than me by a few years, figures that everything working out(and of course it will, thanks to the overplanner!), 11 year old boy, loves to ride, scared of nothing, 5 year old celebrating his B-day, a daredevil, but just got brave enough to watch Pinochio, and still refuses to watch Snow White.

We will be at PPH Sunday to Wednesday and are then transfering to CCI. Mon and Tuesday are Park Days for us, mostly DL, with a few hours here and there at CA, as we will be passing through it some of the time, and my big boys love some of those rides.

Wed, Thurs are days off, and the big boys are going to Universal Studios. I may add a day for the little one and I, or we may just hang out.

My question- We bought a package through Costco and they offered no concierge rooms. Is there any chance that we will be able to upgrade at the front desk to a concierge room? Has anyone done that??

Also, my little guy will probably get pretty warn out from our days in the park. We are doing EE on Monday and then returning to our room for rest from about 2 to 5 . Not wanting to spend valuable morning time getting a stroller and probably won't need a stroller in the morning. I think it would be nice to grab one as we head back to the hotel (or possibly send my hubby out to grab one as we transition to the east side of park after EE, and after he grabs a SM fastpass), as that is when little one will likely be fading. I remember there being a stroller park at GCH private entrance. Thinking we could leave the stroller there, have our rest, get the stroller again for the slower paced evening and sitting in for parade, etc. Plus we will have a place to put our extra coats, scarves, gloves etc. We will follow the same plan on Tuesday, as it is also EE and we plan to try to get Nemo on this day, so again won't want to mess with a stroller first thing.

Then on Friday, I was thinking of bringing my umbrella stroller to go from CCI to front gate, if we can't manage the shuttle early enough. This is the day we are going to TTM, so we won't have a huge urgency to get through the gates, and can take the time to get a stroller early on this day. (This is the only day that I am concerned that they might run out?) But we will be going back out for a nap, and what do we do with our stroller when we do this? Can we just park it someplace and hope it is still there when we come back?

Thanks for your help once again. I am so excited for this trip to see if all my planning is going to make a difference for us.

 

[Anater]

Unfortunately I can't offer any assistance re concierge, I just wanted to share in your excitement - We're doing the happy dance countdown as well! We fly out Saturday morning, and spending Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in the parks. We're also celebrating my son's b-day as well. I hope you have a wonderful trip and get your upgrade!

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

On Friday I see you are bringing an umbrella. Are you then going to get a DLR stroller? If so, you can check the umbrella with stroller rental. They will give you a claim check and reciept(sp?) you just bring them with you to get the umbrella back when you are ready to leave. When you come back to the parks you can show them your rental reciept and get another one.

If you are not bringing umbrella and just getting a DLR stroller. If you lose your stroller anytime you can show your reciept and they will give you another one. Not sure if they will run out. Maybe others can answer that question.

If you have a Disney Visa stroller rentals will be free. When we were there DCA stroller rental never had a line. I'm not sure if that is typical. But if you wanted to hop really quick and get one it wasn't a problem.

Hope that is as clear as mud.

 

[trodrigue]

Too Cool! We are from Washington too. We are doing a BB luncheon celebration at 11:30 on Monday. My son is determined to where his Mickey Mouse Costume, so you may spot us in the parks

 

[trodrigue]

Thanks! I read your TR by the way. Fabulous. I hope we have as great a time as you did. You have to have seperate strollers from DL and DCA? I was hoping the stroller too could hop. Bummer! I will have to think about that. We do have the Visa, so the rental will be free. Good to know about the receipt. I will make sure to not store that in the stroller

 

[DangerMouse]

You can parkhop with the rental strollers, you just can't take them out of the esplanade area (DTD or beyond).

I think the pp was just recommending the stroller rental in DCA as it never has a line (I found this to be true on our recent trip, as well).

 

[GailT]

Usually you are allowed to upgrade to concierge with a fee but at Christmas time it wasn't good for us last year, CG was all booked so I already book concierge for next Christmas that way I am guarenteed to get it. YOu never know, it might just happen. Have a FUNtastic trip

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Yes, I was recommending to use the DCA stroller rental. It sounded like you didn't want to waste time in line. Sorry I wasn't clearer.

Also I wanted to add, I'm not sure how much adding an extra day will cost for you and the 5yo. I would do it. I took my DS5 with me, just me, one morning for a few hours. We had the best time. It was one of my most special memories. We did rides but, we also rode the Fire engine, Omnibus, watched cartoons on Main St., and got to really examine The Emporium windows. We even got to have cookies and cocoa for breakfast. It was such a special morning for both of us. I felt so blessed to have that time in such a special place.

 

[trodrigue]

I agree about those special times with just one kiddo. Two years ago, when my little one was two almost three, I spent a ton of time with just him, while Dad and big one hit the rides. We spent countless hours in the puddle thing at DCA. This year we will all be together more, which is great. But I am really thinking over the extra day at the park, and even considering upgrading my pass to AP, as I could then maybe get great AP rates at the hotel for another trip next year.(right now, my hubby is saying no way!) So that makes for lots of flexibility with our entry. I may do sons pass too, but will have to see. Then we could actually sneak in a few extra trips for some of the stuff he loves, like the train, and the monorail, etc.

Thanks for the tips by the way. It was actually your trip report that reminded me we would have to leave our stroller at DL and to bring the umbrella for getting back to the hotel. Glad to hear that strollers can hop though, and about them replacing them if they disappear. Also, tip about marking the stroller with a ribbon or something. All good stuff.

 

[brergnat]

You can always upgrade to concierge if it's available. They wil charge you a fee though, it could be as much as $100 extra per night.

Be aware that concierge at the PPH is very "lite". It's not as extensive as the concierge at, say, the Grand Californian.