Useful Concierge Information

[Angel16]

Tammi, Thank you for your suggestions. I have cancelled Beach Club and booked Boardwalk Inn CL. thanks to you. I also remember reading a report I believe from you regarding either the Beach Club or YC closed their lounge between food offerings. From the pictures I was able to find the Boardwalk Inn looks very spacious with large windows for french doors.

I am ready to start contacting IPO and putting our requests down to await our 190 days. We right now have Poly CL, Boardwalk Inn CL and AKL. Not too hard to take

Does anyone have holiday suggetions for activities during out stay. We will be there for a little over 2 weeks during the Christmas Holidays.

To answer the question regarding IPO staff that has been exceptional. Don, Sue and certainly Juanita at AKL. Laura was also very friendly, helpful and went out of her way for our SIL and DD when he was home on R&R from Iraq this past January.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a excetional IPO CM at the Poly or Boardwalk?

 

[KerryCM]

Angel, you are going to love the BWI! It is my all time favorite resort. I will be there in just 30 days with the "girls" for our annual trip and again in December with my husband. We will be there the 9th-16th.
I usually deal with Alana at the IPO, but she is now teaching at Disney University. I have had contact with Mary jo and Amy. The IPO here is wonderful and I am sure you will find them very accomodating.
As for the cast at the Innkeeper's Club, they are the best.
Enjoy your trip

 

[TammiMcMan]

we are thinking of the poly concierge, would the evening food be enough for dinner or is it not enough?

Mousy in Canada, the only offering that I would consider a meal is breakfast. They have fruit, yogurt, cereal, breads, etc. Other than that, it's really just snack food and in the evening, appetizers. Great for in-between snacking, but not a meal replacement.

Rowlf, my favorite is also the GF, but I'd be tempted with the new Atrium club at the CR. Reading the boards, it sounds like it's going to be very impressive, with newly remodelled rooms and a nice big lounge overlooking the MK. Provided everything stays on schedule, I think I'd give it a shot.

Angel, I'm glad KerryCM posted with her insight. I think you and Tim will really enjoy the BWI. As to activities, I'd highly suggest an Illuminations cruise (on the Breathless if possible). It was absolutely incredible and with the added holiday ending, it really made our whole trip. I'd also plan on seeing the Candlelight Processional and if you've never done Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, that's fun. I'd recommend getting tickets on a Tuesday or Thursday night as the crowds are more manageable. You also might want to look into the Yuletide Fantasy tour. It's a guided tour through some of the resorts and theme parks. I haven't done it, but have heard good things about it. When we stayed during the holidays, I also shipped down a 4 foot Christmas tree to the IPO staff. They took the time to have it all set up in our room before we arrived.

 

[Rowlf]

Thanks, Tammi! I think I'm going to go for CR. I will, of course, report back immediately upon my return!

 

[ksoehrlein]

Although I'm a WDW vet, I'm a total newbie when it comes to WDW at Christmas time, Concierge levels, and the CR. Despite that, I just booked a stay at CR Atrium Club level for 12/21-26 and I'm so excited!

The trip will be DH's and my gift to the kids, but since they'll only be 6 and 3 at the time, I guess that means that Santa doesn't get off the hook so easily. However, I wasn't planning on having a tree in the room. Would it be OK to have a quick Christmas-morning-with-presents-from-Santa in the Atrium Club lounge? (Not in our PJs, but fully dressed?) Or would that be considered rude beyond belief? (And would I read nasty comments about it on the DIS after we get back?)

If it is OK, would the Concierge CMs set out the presents for us if I ship them down ahead of time? Conversely, if we end up opening presents in our room instead, can they hide them for us until "Santa time" (which would be whenever the kids manage to fall asleep)?

One other concern: are my chances of getting the CP package we want on Christmas Eve and breakfast (or lunch) at CRT on Christmas Day better going through the IPO or getting up at dawn 180 days out to make them myself? Should I ask them to do it and do it myself at the same time to double my chances?

 

[TammiMcMan]

However, I wasn't planning on having a tree in the room. Would it be OK to have a quick Christmas-morning-with-presents-from-Santa in the Atrium Club lounge?

If it is OK, would the Concierge CMs set out the presents for us if I ship them down ahead of time? Conversely, if we end up opening presents in our room instead, can they hide them for us until "Santa time" (which would be whenever the kids manage to fall asleep)?

When we stayed at the YC during the holidays, I actually shipped down a pre-lit 4' Christmas tree and a box full of presents. The staff was wonderful and had it all set up in our room for when we arrived. It does take working closely with the staff, but this is the type of service that you are paying for. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any information on how big or what the setup of the new lounge will be. If it's large and they have couches available, I can't see where it would be a problem to open gifts. If it's on the small side, with only tables and chairs as seating, it may not be very comfortable for you.

One other concern: are my chances of getting the CP package we want on Christmas Eve and breakfast (or lunch) at CRT on Christmas Day better going through the IPO or getting up at dawn 180 days out to make them myself? Should I ask them to do it and do it myself at the same time to double my chances?

Again, this is one of the services that you're paying for, but I can completely understand your apprehension. In theory, they should have better luck booking it for you, provided you have given them the information ahead of time.

 

[PrincessShanShan]

We'll be staying at the CR Atrium Club Christmas week (honeymoon). I've been emailing back and forth with IPO and in last night's email, I was told CP packages may be available in late May/early June. I'm hoping to book for Christmas Eve also.

The IPO has been absolutely wonderful!! I'm really excited about this trip!

Princess

 

[tobie01]

We will be at the poly GV Concierge for four nights. Since our flight is coming in the previous night at midnight, I didn't want to spend the money for a room for the first night. We are at the CR for one night. I was planning on then checking out the next morning and taking the monorail to the Poly to check in. Where do we go if we are concierge guests? The monorail takes you to the second floor correct? Is it better to walk over from the CR? Any suggestions?

Did I make the right decision about the CR for only one night? We are planning on checking out at 11am and going to Chef Mickey's for breakfast and then going to the poly. I understand my rom may not be ready, but we want to get there early! We are very excited!

 

[TammiMcMan]

We will be at the poly GV Concierge for four nights. Since our flight is coming in the previous night at midnight, I didn't want to spend the money for a room for the first night. We are at the CR for one night.

We typically take the late flight in the night before and just stay right at the Hyatt in the airport. It's nice when everyone can get a goods night sleep and we make an early start of it the next morning. Just curious as to why you didn't book 1 night at the Poly, just regular garden view. Was the CR that much less expensive? At least you wouldn't have to change resorts and the switch from standard to concierge is pretty seamless.

If you end up keeping the CR, you just want to go downstairs in the Poly to the first floor registration desk. They'll need to call over to the concierge building and have someone come to escort you over.

 

[tobie01]

I thought about the Hyatt and the rate in the past was $199.00 per night. I got the CR for 199.00 (ap rate with tax). The Poly was 299.00! So $100.00 more Yikes!

Thanks for the info!!

We typically take the late flight in the night before and just stay right at the Hyatt in the airport. It's nice when everyone can get a goods night sleep and we make an early start of it the next morning. Just curious as to why you didn't book 1 night at the Poly, just regular garden view. Was the CR that much less expensive? At least you wouldn't have to change resorts and the switch from standard to concierge is pretty seamless.

If you end up keeping the CR, you just want to go downstairs in the Poly to the first floor registration desk. They'll need to call over to the concierge building and have someone come to escort you over.

 

[TammiMcMan]

So $100.00 more Yikes!

That's quite a savings and definitely worth making the move in the morning.

 

[yellowfish78]

Ok...I just want to make sure I have this down pat. I've been going through this board from post #1, and have skipped on and off (can you guess why?!)

So, I have clients going to the BC and staying concierge. From what I'm gathering from here, I should provide the concierge with my clients names and addresses so information packets can be sent, via email, phone call or snail mail.

My clients are traveling in December, so I should give concierge this information...when? 8 months out so they have time to mail the packet? 6 months so reservations for dining and Christmas activities? Now?

As you can see, I'm slightly confused. It looks like concierge is taking over what I normally do for my clients...but that's a good thing sometimes! Am I missing something?

Thanks for you're answers in advance!

 

[TammiMcMan]

So, I have clients going to the BC and staying concierge. From what I'm gathering from here, I should provide the concierge with my clients names and addresses so information packets can be sent, via email, phone call or snail mail.

Or you can simply give your clients the contact information from the 1st post. That way, they can decide if they'd like to utilize your services or go directly to the IPO department. 8 months out is a good starting point, unless they want reservations at someplace like the Hoop Dee Doo or Luau, which does book much earlier.

 

[Mom24girlygirls]

Could someone please help me! I've been through a ton of pages and tried the "search" but just can't seem to find what I'm looking for...

We will be staying 4 nights at the Contemporary and 3 nights a GF and I was wondering what the schedule is for the food offerings in the concierge lounge? I know I saw it here somewhere and just can't seem to find it again.

I just can't wait for vacation and it isn't until August! So, until then, I can "plan" and dream!

Thanks!

 

[TammiMcMan]

We will be staying 4 nights at the Contemporary and 3 nights a GF and I was wondering what the schedule is for the food offerings in the concierge lounge?

They're all alittle bit different, but I can help you with the GF:

6:30-7am ~ coffee/tea service
7am-10:30am ~ breakfast offerings
11am-1pm ~ afternoon offerings
2pm-4pm ~ tea time
5pm-7pm ~ evening appetizers
8pm-10pm ~ mini desserts

I believe the only difference with the CR is that there isn't a tea service and that the afternoon offerings runs from 11am to 4pm. Hopefully someone can give you that information though.

 

[Kteacher]

I just ordered my MNSSHP tickets through CR concierge, and they emailed back that I just needed to bring my conf. # for my tickets to the concierge desk, and the tickets will be printed out? So will these be like vouchers? I remember the MVMCP tickets I received by mail being thin plastic.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

The tickets are "Will Call" tickets. Instead of going to Guest Relations and waiting in line to get the tickets, the Concierge takes the number, and prints out the tickets onto the same plastic ticket that is used for room keys.

The other alternative is to have the tickets mailed to your home, and IPO doesn't usually like to do that because the event isn't for another 6+ months, and you might forget to bring the tickets with you or lose them. The confirmation number is much easier and safer.

 

[MsMoneyPenny]

Can anyone tell me the opening hours for the YC IPO please? I have been trying to call them today but the phone is continuously busy.

Thanks.

 

[YCFAN]

I believe it's 7:00 am. Have you left a message? They are very good about calling back from their messages.

 

[MsMoneyPenny]

I believe it's 7:00 am. Have you left a message? They are very good about calling back from their messages.

Thanks YCFan, silly me didn't leave a message