Upgrade to Poly Concierge @ check in ?

[Jilly123]

I have a dilemma that I need help with. We booked a Land/Sea package with 3 nights at the Poly and 4 nights on the Wonder, Category 4. We asked our travel agent to check on prices to upgrade to concierge for our stay at the Poly (3 nights). She gave me a price of an additional $469 for the 3 night stay. I called the Poly directly, and their regular rate for concierge amounts to only $300 for the stay. The travel agent says the difference is because an agreement between Disney Cruise lines and the resort. She suggests upgrading to concierge at check in, but warned me that it may not be available. Has anyone done this before, and what do you think the chances are of concierge availability on Sept 16? I would like to save $169, but would really like to stay in Hawaii concierge.
Thanks,
Jill

 

[bhillier]

I can't anwser from experience. Can they tell you how many of there hawaii,cl rooms are booked for that time period? This way you can get a better idea on if you should take the gamble.


Does it cost more to use a TA to book for you? I'm going in May and just started to work with DU (love lisa, by the way. she's just wonderful) I hope it's not an extra charge to work with them.

 

[Jilly123]

Bradley,
I think if you did a lot of research, checked into different discount codes, and spent considerable time, you could save some money. I have heard that if you book your Land/Sea vacation separately, it is less expensive. DU did not book my airfare, I did that myself. I am happy with DU service so far, but might give it a try myself next time to see if I can save some money.
Jill

 

[RachelTori]

Bradley, It doesn't cost you any extra to work with DU, and in fact you can save money using them if you book during a time when they offer a "rebate". That cost comes right off your total so it's an immediate savings. My advice, it never hurts to check with several TA's then go with the one who can save you the most.

 

[KathyTX]

If it's REALLY important to you to move to concierge, you should probably go ahead and book through the TA now.

There's a good chance that concierge could be booked full when you check in. I've also read several accounts of others with Land and Sea reservations attempting to upgrade at checkin (at different WDW resorts), and being denied.

Finally, are you positive that the $300 difference would be the difference that the Poly would upgrade you with at checkin? That is about the difference in list price between a regular garden view room and concierge garden view right now. But the regular garden view price might not be the value that you'd get credit for in an upgrade transaction. In other words, DCL might have the rooms on the books at a lower rate, which could mean that the price you'd have to pay to upgrade to concierge service could be higher. That could well be where the $469 quote comes in.

In any case, I'd lock it in through the TA if it's really important to you. But if you want to take a chance to see if you can get a deal, and you don't really care much if it doesn't work out, you *could* get lucky and save a little by waiting until check in.

 

[Jilly123]

{Finally, are you positive that the $300 difference would be the difference that the Poly would upgrade you with at checkin? That is about the difference in list price between a regular garden view room and concierge garden view right now.}

I am sure of the rate difference. Both the Poly reservations, and my travel agent checked the rates under my circumstances. I will call the Poly again, to confirm. It is not REALLY that important that I get concierge, so I think I will wait and take my chances. I do think that it is a little greedy of DCL to have an agreement with the resorts that is higher than a price you could get by calling the resort.
Jill