Useful Concierge Information

[calgarygary]

Don and Juanita have been great in meeting our needs. When I sent off an email requesting the questionnaire to Juanita 2 weekends ago, Don replied within minutes that she was off but after viewing our res. didn't think that we needed the questionnaire as we had pretty much communicated our needs. A few days later the questionnaire arrived in the mail and Don was right - didn't need it.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I hope someone can be my calm voice of reason. We are staying Atrium Club at CR the week before Christmas. I contacted them by phone when I made the reservation earlier this year just to see if they had my name etc... I was told they would send out a packet for us to fill out as it came closer to our 180 day out time period. When should I expect this to arrive? I hate to bother someone because I am an excited idiot. I would like to have some time to digest the park hours when they come out this week and figure out what to reqest for ADR's. I think our 180 day mark is 6/21. We aren't going to any of the very popular places that demdand being booked ASAP, but I do want to get our first choices if at all possible.


So, am I just getting worked up over nothing yet? When/should I be worried? Thanks in advance oh wise ones.....

The e-mail or postal mail that they send out is just a questionnaire on what kinds of dining that you would like to book. You don't need to wait for it to arrive. Just e-mail them, and ask for them to e-mail you a generic copy, and they'll send it out.

You also don't need it to book anything. Just e-mail them what you want, and they'll take care of it.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

the staff at the poly has been amazing
they made all my adrs and have been great
answering all my questions and asking lots of questions about the kids
which is great cuz our 7 year is so excited to stay there
i even got an email about them dropping something in the mail for shawn as a welcome
I am very impressed

 

[lyeag]

The e-mail or postal mail that they send out is just a questionnaire on what kinds of dining that you would like to book. You don't need to wait for it to arrive. Just e-mail them, and ask for them to e-mail you a generic copy, and they'll send it out.

You also don't need it to book anything. Just e-mail them what you want, and they'll take care of it.

Is this true even if I have a AAA package? Or does the agent have to call for the ADRs? I emailed the IPO yesterday in the morning asking them how do I go about giving them my ADR requests and so far, I haven't heard back. I have been doing a lot of research, and my 180 day is the 18, not the 21, so I want to make sure it doesn't go to waste.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Is this true even if I have a AAA package? Or does the agent have to call for the ADRs? I emailed the IPO yesterday in the morning asking them how do I go about giving them my ADR requests and so far, I haven't heard back. I have been doing a lot of research, and my 180 day is the 18, not the 21, so I want to make sure it doesn't go to waste.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

My ADR form has our name c/o our travel agency. You may deal with the IPO staff directly.

It took me about 2 days to hear back from the IPO staff for the YBBW concierge staff, and they wrote back with the form attached.

If you don't hear back from them, I have a blank copy of the form I could e-mail you, but I'm sure you'll hear back from them soon.

 

[TinkTatoo]

Is this true even if I have a AAA package? Or does the agent have to call for the ADRs? I emailed the IPO yesterday in the morning asking them how do I go about giving them my ADR requests and so far, I haven't heard back. I have been doing a lot of research, and my 180 day is the 18, not the 21, so I want to make sure it doesn't go to waste.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

I agree with what Tyler said

I just e-mailed them and introduced myself and sent a list of all my ADR's. They got back to me to say they would book them as soon as the 180 day mark comes arround. They have been very helpfull even when I have changed a few things here and there

E-mail them today and you should hear back in a few days

 

[denisekayt]

I sent my list of ADR requests, etc. to the intinerary planning staff at WL since my 180 days window starts up pretty soon (June 10th in fact!). I received a nice email back from them stating that they can book "some" dining 190 days out for resort guests, and sure enough they booked my Sci Fi dinner that I had requested already! The rest she stated would be booked once my 180 days came up.

My other ADRs were for Le Cellier (2 times) and Artist Point and those were not booked (must not be part of the "some" that are available at 190 days).

Anyway, I found this really strange! I know they have an 180+10 policy, but I've NEVER heard of getting dining ADRs BEFORE 180 days out! The day she booked Sci Fi for me I was officially 189 days out from our arrival date.

Is this a new policy or have I just not been paying attention

Thanks!

 

[wasabi girl]

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for some concierge info for a trip in the very initial stages of planning...I'm thinking for our 25th anniversary I'd like DH and I to stay concierge...premium plan (gotta have that unlimited golf thing) and be supremely pampered...I was thinking of GF or AKL (would love any other suggestions)...what was your best concierge experience? Our trip would be in early January in about 3 years (it'll take me that long to save enough moola!). TIA

 

[mlwear]

I posted this as a seperate thread, but am not getting any response. I think I should have come here first.

I don't know what to do and am to the point that I am just getting really frustrated. I really want to stay AKL concierge. We are staying Poly concierge the first half of our stay. I like to read about things on this board, but when it comes to making ADR's and getting general help, I need someone. AAA is my TA, so not much detailed help there. I also would like to use the lounge the first two nights as MIL will be staying with us and to be frank she gets on my nerves and I will need a retreat. The first two nights it will be me, DH, MIL and two DS's -- a lot for one room.

Here's my problem. I've written about it before but with the trip getting closer, I really need to make the upgrade now, if I am going to do it. Even as it is there may not be availabilty. It is the whole non-guarantee of pool view or savanna view. Currently, I have a deluxe bunk bed savanna view (guaranteed non-smoking due to medical) room booked. That's what I want but with concierge service. I don't want to risk giving up the view. For the life of me, I don't understand why AKL doesn't have two concierge prices: pool view and savanna view like the Poly does (lagoon view or garden), you know what you are going to get even though you pay for it. We are staying at AKL for the view as there are a couple of days we will be off-site. The room view is what everyone is looking forward to. I'm sure the pool nice, but DH will not be happy with me spending so much $ for a pool view. DS will also be very disappointed.

I have thought about asking to upgrade (pay for it, of course) once we are there but I don't think there will be availability with the free dining going on, plus I want the pre-planning service (that is what I want most for my $, not the food).

I'm sure others have been in this situation. Did you take the gamble? What would you do?

 

[TammiMcMan]

Disneykayt, I've seen it posted a few times where the pre-planning staff was able to confirm an ADR prior to the booking window. It doesn't happen all the time, but maybe some select restaurants.

WasabiGirl, I'm partial to the GF main building. DH and I celebrated our 20th anniversary there, also around the same time frame (early January). It was amazing. My DH really likes the spa/healthclub and I love the MK, so being that close was a plus for me. I just like the resort feeling that it has and I love being able to see the castle everyday.

Mlwear, from what I understand, there are only 33 deluxe rooms with a view of the pool and 191 deluxe rooms with a savannah view. Right away, I think your chances of getting a pool view are fairly small. Also, I would guess that if you book concierge deluxe and request a savannah view, you would get priority over a guest booking deluxe without concierge benefits. It's my understanding too, that for a better view with the deluxe room, ask for the 5th floor. You will need to go up a level for the lounge, but if the view is what's important, that's what I would do.

If you don't get a more experienced response, then I'd suggest that you drop a PM to #1HockeyMom . She's our resident AKL concierge expert. I'm sure she'd be happy to help you out.

 

[mlwear]

Thank you for the help! I decided to switch to concierge at AKL and hope for the best. It seems that I should be OK.

I have another question (well, sort of a list)--hope you can put up with another and hopefully that will be it for a while!
My reservations are separate reservations, not a split stay. I had to make them seoparate to get AAA discount prior to free dining. I don't know if that matters or not, but my question concerns concierge planning. Poly IPO has really been pretty good, a few glitches, but not nearly as bad as some have described recently. Knowing that we were staying four additional nights AKL and at that time non-concierge they were nice enough to schedule ADRs for both reservations. Of course, I have read that AKL planning is superb. I do need to make some ADR changes some during the time that we will be at AKL. Should I just ask Poly IPO to do it and explain that we are now staying AKL concierge. Is the planning run out of one central office or do the resorts really have their own offices or is it people assigned to work for separate resorts?
TIA.

 

[BCV23]

I would ask the AKL office to make the changes for that portion of the stay. There are seperate planning offices. I think they are all busy and it's only fair to split the work.

We've always had great service from the Polynesian IPO too. For everyone who reports a glitch there are probably tons that have no problems at all. AKL IPO was the one that was the slowest in responding and was able to only get one of two things I requested. But the actual experience there was great so all was good with us.

 

[Leash]

Ok I have a question. We will be staying WL concierge in December and i recently email my ADR requests to them. Well the day before my 180 day mark I got an email with some of my ADR's that were made but not all of them. I had heard that IPO can sometimes make some ahead of the 180 day mark so I didn't worry too much but I did send an email asking if the rest would be made the next day. I did not hear back from them as fast as I had been so I went in to make sure I had actually sent the email and I realized that the ADR's had been made by the Poly concierge not the WL. So I forwarded the ADR email to the WL and asked if my other ADR's were made. Was this right, I have just been hearing how booked Le Cellier is getting and that is one that they hadn't made and now I am past my 180 mark and am worried I won't get the ADR. Also is that common for another IPO to do things?

 

[KristineN]

I am not sure.... but I am staying at Poly Concierge Dec 1-10, and I notice on all of the emails that I get from them it says:
Email Options:
wdw.polynesian.island.planning.office@disney.com
wdw.wlodge.itinerary.planning@disney.com

so I assume they are responsible for both resorts.

Kristine

Ok I have a question. We will be staying WL concierge in December and i recently email my ADR requests to them. Well the day before my 180 day mark I got an email with some of my ADR's that were made but not all of them. I had heard that IPO can sometimes make some ahead of the 180 day mark so I didn't worry too much but I did send an email asking if the rest would be made the next day. I did not hear back from them as fast as I had been so I went in to make sure I had actually sent the email and I realized that the ADR's had been made by the Poly concierge not the WL. So I forwarded the ADR email to the WL and asked if my other ADR's were made. Was this right, I have just been hearing how booked Le Cellier is getting and that is one that they hadn't made and now I am past my 180 mark and am worried I won't get the ADR. Also is that common for another IPO to do things?

 

[NJBILL]

The room view is what everyone is looking forward to. I'm sure the pool nice, but DH will not be happy with me spending so much $ for a pool view. DS will also be very disappointed.

I have thought about asking to upgrade (pay for it, of course) once we are there but I don't think there will be availability with the free dining going on, plus I want the pre-planning service (that is what I want most for my $, not the food).

I'm sure others have been in this situation. Did you take the gamble? What would you do?

I am in the same boat about "risking the view" and the more I think, the less I want to risk it....

 

[AlexandNessa]

Hi there. We hit our 180-day window yesterday, and the YBBW IPO had our dinner ADR requests prior to that and had me review them. Should I assume that they have booked them for us already, and if so when do you usually hear what your ADR times are and if you got your first choice restaurants? Or, should I follow up with them?

TIA

 

[KristineN]

I would suggest emailing them I have been dealing with the Poly IPO via email and they have been pretty quick to respond...but I have always initiated things.

Hi there. We hit our 180-day window yesterday, and the YBBW IPO had our dinner ADR requests prior to that and had me review them. Should I assume that they have booked them for us already, and if so when do you usually hear what your ADR times are and if you got your first choice restaurants? Or, should I follow up with them?

TIA

 

[mlwear]

I am in the same boat about "risking the view" and the more I think, the less I want to risk it....

I went ahead with the gamble. But, I think my heart literally stopped beating for minute when the CM said "Now, you know with concierge you aren't guaranteed a savanna view. It can be either savannah or pool view." I just answered "I know, but will you request savanna". It still makes me anxious to think about it.

 

[irisbud]

AlexandNessa, I also just passed the 180 day mark for my ADRs. I waited a day or two and then e-mailed AKL IPO. They promptly responded that everything was in order. And I got everything I asked for!

 

[AlexandNessa]

AlexandNessa, I also just passed the 180 day mark for my ADRs. I waited a day or two and then e-mailed AKL IPO. They promptly responded that everything was in order. And I got everything I asked for!

Thank you!