Useful Concierge Information

[Lives4Disney]

You'll usually be contacted by the Itinerary Planning Office 7 days prior to your vacation. One of the questions they confirm with you is arrival time and method.

When you drive through the Security Kiosk, just let them know you are checking into Concierge. They will give you a special parking pass. When you stop at the Valet area, the valets will take your luggage, and a Concierge cast member will greet you and take you up to the Royal Palm Club (or Sugar Loaf) to check in.

In the event that there is not a concierge cast member outside to greet you (possible if there are many guests arriving at once...) just let the Valet know you are staying in Concierge, and they will get someone for you real quick.

Tyler, this sounds great, but unfortunately it has never in all of our concierge stays happened this way for us before. I have never been contacted by IPO unless I email first. We have always used Southern Elegance Limousines (FABULOUS service) and when we have pulled up, the bell services gentlemen come and help unload the limo, but they have not ever, despite being told that we are checking into RPC, helped speed the process up or seemed to care that we needed to be brought up to check in. This has happened at the Grand Floridian on our past 4 trips and also at the Poly and BWI. Concierge check in has always been an awkward and unanticipated part of our trip. We leave the terrific service of the limousine company and feel a bit let down by the odd reception at the resort. (We're not creepy or scary, either!! ) I love RPC and and staying concierge, but feel like the stay gets started off on the wrong note as we have to search somebody down to help us, take us up & check in. I have felt like I wanted to just jump back into the limo and leave. Thanks for the heads up, though, on the procedure leading up to check in. I will make sure to email/phone ahead this time to (hopefully) insure a nicer check in!

Lives4Disney

 

[Lives4Disney]

The IPO contacted us back very quickly, and very thoroughly too I might add (with the info we wanted, confirmed ADR, etc.) -- but they didn't sign their email. It was signed hope you have a Grand day and a dancing chicken little there. LOL It had the IPO phone/email information underneath that. I emailed back thanking him/her for the information but I didn't even know how to address them in the email... since no name was given. Is that normal when you contact them by email? Wondering what the secrecy is with the no name thing and if that means we'll have a less "personal" relationship with our IPO if we aren't even privvy to their name. I mean I can't even say well "so and so" confirmed this or that- or took our room request (not that we expect it as a guarantee but like if they said we made no room request at all- or something of that nature) - I don't know their name! And I can't print out the email either because it's in html with lots of designs at the top (disney ofcourse) and the chicken little gif.

???

I agree with you!! I emailed them for the first time regarding our March stay and I received a response with no signature, also. Mine didn't even have the cute designs or chicken!! When we stayed at the BWI for Thanksgiving, I was so impressed by the personable service their IPO team gave. They did sign their names so that I could also phone and follow up with the same person, which I did. I am staying at Portofino Bay for a few nights in March before the Grand Floridian and they do the same - sign their emails. I think it is a small thing, but a nice touch.

Happy planning!

Lives4Disney

 

[LvsTnk]

Lives4Disney..your girls are so cute!(at least you got a nice picture on your balcony at the BWI LOL) I hope you have a great next trip, PFB is wonderful.

I just wanted to say Amy happened to be at the BWI when we were checking in and introduced herself sweet lady and easy to see why everyone likes her soo much. She explained how some of the things work and she was just an all around nice gal!!

 

[YCFAN]

I just wanted to say Amy happened to be at the BWI when we were checking in and introduced herself sweet lady and easy to see why everyone likes her soo much. She explained how some of the things work and she was just an all around nice gal!!

Isn't she the greatest!! It's CM's like her that make our stay extra special. You can tell she really loves her job.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Tammi - I was wondering how the concierge at YC is? We are thinking about booking here instead of POR. I know IPO is fab-u-lous.

I was looking at a garden view room. How are the views in this category?

Hi VAgal and Happy New Year! I can't say enough nice things about the IPO department. Alana, Amy, Angie and Lauren are all terrific. They should be the examples for all the other IPO departments. To be truthful, I wasn't overly impressed with the YC's club level concierge though. I had an issue at check-in and my experience was that the on-site staff made almost no attempt to correct it. I actually looked up the number I had for Alana and called her. Within 10 minutes, she had our room category fixed and we were all set, but first impressions of the on-site staff were not very good.

The lounge is very small and had limited seating. I don't know why they didn't build this room on other side, with a water view. If you sit out on the balcony, you get to overlook the parking lot. This is one of the few lounges that also doesn't stay open all the time. You can only go in when food service is going on. Not a huge deal, but I'm a very early riser and part of the reason why I stay in CL is that I can go to the lounge, relax and read my book until my family gets up. Instead, I sat on the chair outside the lounge and drank my coffee until 7am. Not that we use the lounge to replace any meals, but I missed having afternoon tea set out. The YC serves snacks straight through from 11am-4pm (goldfish crackers, assorted nuts, pudding packs, gummy worms, PB&J uncrustables).

It's really just a few little things that probably wouldn't bother a lot of people. Just my opinion. Totally love the proximity to Epcot and MGM, but if we stay in that area again, I'll opt for the Boardwalk Inn CL.

Our view was a standard view, which overlooked the parking lot, convention center roof and the employee break area. We were there in December though and it was really too cold to use the balcony, so the view was not an issue. If I was planning on spending time on the balcony, I'd definitely go with a garden or water view.

Hope that helps.

 

[ead79]

Tammi - I was wondering how the concierge at YC is? We are thinking about booking here instead of POR. I know IPO is fab-u-lous.

I was looking at a garden view room. How are the views in this category?

TIA!

Hey there!

I stayed at the YC CL back in December 2002, and we had a wonderful stay. We encountered several super-friendly cast members who we enjoyed having conversations with. We didn’t have robes in our room, and when we mentioned it off-hand (we weren’t complaining about it), they rushed some up to us.

We thought the lounge was pretty, but it was pretty small. However, we never encountered crowds because we were there during a really low attendance period. The food in the lounge was quite yummy.

We had a lagoon view room, so I can’t comment about the garden view rooms. It is my understanding that some of the garden view rooms actually face the cute little YC gazebo though, so you might try requesting one of those.

We loved the room décor and the overall feel of the resort. Plus, while the YC is definitely family-friendly, we enjoyed seeing lots of other adults staying there.

Here are some pictures from my visit (sorry they are so dark):
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=9nofjoj.16hijln3&x=0&y=ghja45

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Tyler, this sounds great, but unfortunately it has never in all of our concierge stays happened this way for us before. I have never been contacted by IPO unless I email first. We have always used Southern Elegance Limousines (FABULOUS service) and when we have pulled up, the bell services gentlemen come and help unload the limo, but they have not ever, despite being told that we are checking into RPC, helped speed the process up or seemed to care that we needed to be brought up to check in. This has happened at the Grand Floridian on our past 4 trips and also at the Poly and BWI. Concierge check in has always been an awkward and unanticipated part of our trip. We leave the terrific service of the limousine company and feel a bit let down by the odd reception at the resort. (We're not creepy or scary, either!! ) I love RPC and and staying concierge, but feel like the stay gets started off on the wrong note as we have to search somebody down to help us, take us up & check in. I have felt like I wanted to just jump back into the limo and leave. Thanks for the heads up, though, on the procedure leading up to check in. I will make sure to email/phone ahead this time to (hopefully) insure a nicer check in!

Lives4Disney

Do you book directly through 407-WDISNEY, or a travel agent? If its through a TA, that's why you haven't been contacted... IPO doesn't get your contact information unless you or the TA gives it to them. Most (but not all) travel agents won't pass on the guest info to IPO, because they want to be the middleman, and earn thier business.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Lives4Disney, that is very strange that you never get contacted by IPO. That's only happened once to us and it was many years ago (booked with CRO and not a TA). Our next trip, we were contacted at 30 days out. Not a big issue, because at that time, you could request "patio" for the Rose & Crown and I don't think they had even started Cinderella's Breakfast. I've learned a little bit more each time we've stayed concierge and now I drop them an e-mail and introduce myself once the reservation is in the system. One of the questions they usually ask is what time we are planning on arriving at the resort. I don't know if this helps them with scheduling a greeter. I think we had to go inside to the main registration desk once and we waited there for only a few minutes, before a CM brought us upstairs to RPC (our first time meeting Mejay). I do have to admit though, it's very nice pampering to actually be met by someone right away.

I think at a few of the resorts, you aren't met by anyone at all. I know when we stayed recently at the YC, they mailed us a concierge key that would allow us to punch in the 5th floor on the elevator. I thought the BC and BWI were set up the same way. At the AKL, bell services brings you upstairs. It might make things easier if they had a system in place that was used throughout the resorts. I was super impressed with the IPO girls at the YC. I got this huge manila envelope from them, with a questionnaire, park maps, recreation guides, resort information and the concierge elevator key. I wish that was standard.

I hope your next trip starts with some pampering right at the front door .

 

[LvsTnk]

Isn't she the greatest!! It's CM's like her that make our stay extra special. You can tell she really loves her job.

Very nice, even though she wasn't our planner this trip she took the time to meet us. Nice to put a face with a name that's for sure.

 

[garada3]

I got this huge manila envelope from them, with a questionnaire, park maps, recreation guides, resort information

Can I request this from RPC IPO?

I have emailed them with our requests and received confirmation of them but would love these other goodies!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Do you book directly through 407-WDISNEY, or a travel agent? If its through a TA, that's why you haven't been contacted... IPO doesn't get your contact information unless you or the TA gives it to them. Most (but not all) travel agents won't pass on the guest info to IPO, because they want to be the middleman, and earn thier business.

Tyler, I have never used a travel agent - ever. Always book thru CRO myself or online myself. I don't like a middle man. I like to do it all!! I thought maybe it was common not to have the system work out as it is supposed to - now I am thinking it is just us!!! Oops! I honestly have NEVER once been contacted by anybody before a trip unless I have initiated the communication. I have never been asked what time I am planning to arrive in any of my emails or phone conversations.

Tammie- How strange - it must just be us!! It makes for an awkward first impression because we tell the bell services and they don't move to do anything, we have gone in and told the front desk and they direct us to some other bell service person......This has been the pattern EVERY check in we have had!! Over Thanksgiving at BWI, this happened and we wound up waiting in line for the front desk for 20 minutes and they had to phone twice to get somebody - ANYBODY - to take us up! A bell services gentleman did the honors, but he was very rushed and it wasn't a nice experience for our first introduction to BWI. I did enjoy the BWI IPO - particularly Alana, but we were not mailed a key. I booked 2 nights in YC concierge following our March RPC week, just to try it out, but from your review I am second thinking it.....my husband wanted to give it a try, but I honestly am not excited about the place - just the pool for my kids.

You know, I would be very happy to be mailed a key up to the concierge floor just so I didn't have to worry about how I would find a way to get up there!

Lives4Disney

 

[paladin]

We were at BWI in December and as we came in the gate, once we gave them our name, they gave us a parking pass for the car. The valet/bellman knew were staying concierge and took us right up to the 4th floor. Sorry it doesn't work out that way all the time.

 

[VAgal76]

Tammi & Ead79 - Thank you for sharing your experiences (and pics) with me. The BWI's lounge was closed here and there, but it didn't matter much to my mom and I. We typically would only go at certain offering times. Didn't they have stone crab at YC as an offering? I wonder if they still do? Mmmm..... ITA with you, Tammi. I really do enjoy being able to hang out during those off times and read a book, sip on a drink and sometimes nibble on a treat. I think that's one of the reason's DH is so attracted to AKL. It's just his style and pace. I think I can manage two nights @ YC with the lounge being closed inbetween. I don't plan on taking my novels with me on this trip. I must concur with you about the staff at BWI. They are absolutely terrific. Don't get me wrong, BC's club folks were good. I had to engage them in conversation first, but they'd keep it going. Anything I needed, they would assist me. Now that we've stayed BC, DH thinks it wouldn't be a half bad idea to check out the YC. He thinks it looks a little nicer or I should say sophisticated than BC. You know me, I adore the Epcot area so I'm not pulling the reins in on him. If only he'd say GF or Poly. Oh, well! I know I said we do POR, but just for the record -this is HIS idea. What a spoiled man he is! I tried to swing him over to BWI, but I'm getting a little resistance right now. Doesn't he know, his efforts are futile? I'll let you know where we end up. If I do book YC I think I better book a lagoon view then. Wow, Tammi - a parking lot/roof top view? I thought I was the only one with that kind of luck. I got a beautiful view of the WLV building and rooftop at my WL CL stay. Ok, off my soapbox regarding concierge views.

So, now the real question is - YC for SAB or BWI b/c I know how well the people took care of me?

 

[TammiMcMan]

Can I request this from RPC IPO?

I have emailed them with our requests and received confirmation of them but would love these other goodies!

You can definitely ask them to send you a packet, I don't think it's normal for them to send out any information on their own. At least I've never received anything from them previously. It was a really nice surprise when I opened up the envelope from the YC.

Lives4Disney, I think you'll really enjoy the YC. I know that I went in there with RPC expectations and it just wasn't happening. If you know about the atmosphere ahead of time, then you won't be disappointed. I will say that the mousekeeping staff was excellent and the bedding was probably the most comfortable I've ever experienced at a Disney resort. Funny about your husband. I was shocked that I got my DH over to the YC. He is a die-hard GF fan, but we got a great rate and I knew we'd be spending most of our park time between Epcot and MGM.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Lives4Disney, I think you'll really enjoy the YC. I know that I went in there with RPC expectations and it just wasn't happening. If you know about the atmosphere ahead of time, then you won't be disappointed. I will say that the mousekeeping staff was excellent and the bedding was probably the most comfortable I've ever experienced at a Disney resort. Funny about your husband. I was shocked that I got my DH over to the YC. He is a die-hard GF fan, but we got a great rate and I knew we'd be spending most of our park time between Epcot and MGM.

[/QUOTE]


Oh, I don't know.....I am kind of afraid it will be a letdown after a week at the GF. My husband also loves the GF. On our last stay (at BWI) we were excited to try a new resort, but after the first night, he really thought we made a mistake. We were both disappointed with BWI. I really think he will be sorry he decided to try YC. A few years ago he REALLY wanted to try the Poly, so we did and he was very disappointed in it! He had wanted to stay there for years and I just didn't care to. Now that he stayed there, he never wants to stay there again! My daughters and I enjoyed it, so we do Poly when he doesn't join us on our trip. We have stayed at the YC before, seven years ago - if that tells you anything - we haven't been back......why the sudden urge to try it again, I don't understand......men......

Oh, and I booked a standard concierge view room - sounds like what you had. I really wouldn't mind looking out at grass, but parking lot or roof tops won't do a thing for me. We have five in our family, so that is all they would let me book. Water view concierge only sleeps 4. Those SMALL daybeds have me concerned, too, with a 15 yr old son. Are the rooms noticably smaller than GF's?? How about the daybeds?? I really don't remember a whole lot from seven years ago except the walls were THIN!!! We had a kid crying 24/7 in the room next to ours.


Lives4Disney

 

[TammiMcMan]

Oh, and I booked a standard concierge view room - sounds like what you had. I really wouldn't mind looking out at grass, but parking lot or roof tops won't do a thing for me. We have five in our family, so that is all they would let me book. Water view concierge only sleeps 4. Those SMALL daybeds have me concerned, too, with a 15 yr old son. Are the rooms noticably smaller than GF's?? How about the daybeds?? I really don't remember a whole lot from seven years ago except the walls were THIN!!! We had a kid crying 24/7 in the room next to ours.

I think you were mis-informed about the waterview rooms sleeping only 4. We could have booked one for our family of 5, I just chose the standard because I knew we wouldn't be using the balcony very much. I'm pretty sure that now they have 3 view classifications, standard (parking lot), garden and water/pool. If you have standard, you are going to be looking over the front of the resort. You might want to call again and verify the room setup. The overall size of the room was smaller than the GF. When we really noticed it, was trying to eat a room service meal. There were not enough chairs and someone had to sit on the bed. I don't remember the daybed being smaller though. My 5'8 son had no complaints about sleeping on it.

Maybe you should show him some of these posts about the YC and then he can decide if it's really what he wants. I hate to say that I was disappointed and I do freely admit that my expectations were too high going into that vacation. I just missed the resort setup at the GF and felt more like we were staying in a hotel instead. And even though I loved the location, I really wanted to see the castle. I would not stay in that area again for a full week, but I'd gladly do a split stay and end with my favorite, the GF.

 

[YCFAN]

It's true. CRO will no longer let you book 5 people in a room for lagoon view yet you can do it across the hall. It makes no sense at all. In order to get around it if you really want 5 people in a lagoon view room you must book a room only ressie and add the 5th person when checking in. The rooms are exactly the same size as the other ones and some include the daybed. The daybed is quite comfortable and I have even slept on it before.

It's funny how people feel differently about resorts. I don't like the Poly and really wanted to but I can't keep away from the YC!!

 

[TammiMcMan]

CRO will no longer let you book 5 people in a room for lagoon view yet you can do it across the hall. It makes no sense at all. In order to get around it if you really want 5 people in a lagoon view room you must book a room only ressie and add the 5th person when checking in. The rooms are exactly the same size as the other ones and some include the daybed.

You're right YCFAN, that doesn't make any sense. The only potential problem I see with booking 4 and adding the 5th at check-in, is that you may be assigned to a room with only 2 beds. This is the issue that happened with us. I only booked 4 when I made the reservation, but I specifically asked for a daybed room because our oldest was joining us from college the next day. When we arrived, they had put us in a room without the daybed and wouldn't look for another room because the room assignor was off for the weekend (found out this wasn't the case, as I was at the concierge desk later in the day with the afternoon shift and they were very happy to help another guest find a king bed room to switch to). Instead, they told us our only option was a rollaway. They brought it in and because of the furniture placement in that room, they had to put the bed in front of the balcony, which pretty much blocked it entirely. Plus there is such a small space between the bed and the balcony door, that in order to get into the rollaway, you had to crawl across the bed.

YCFAN, your statement about peoples feelings towards resorts is right on. I wouldn't let someone elses experience change my mind about a resort, but I really do like hearing both sides. My guess is that had I been a little more familiar with the YC setup and not had a bad first impression with the staff, I'd feel a little bit warmer towards this resort. Like I said, I'd stay again in this area, but being more informed now, I'd opt for a split stay and end my vacation at the GF. You get the best of both worlds.

 

[YCFAN]

TammiMcMan, this was exactly my worry when I booked the room two years ago. I was afraid we'd get there and not have the daybed. My planner at the time assured me she'd take care of it and there was not a problem. We had booked 5 in a room the previous year through CRO and there was no problem. I was told it was a change in the system. Funny thing was we got exactly the same room we had the previous year. This past July it was only myself and my 4 year old so there was plenty of room.

This year we'll be staying 7 nights at YC and 3 at AKL. I like to try new resorts and have been to many of them. I just keep coming back to YC each time and adding another resort for a split stay. The lounge being closed between servings has never really bothered me until this past July when my son and I were waiting to go to the airport and it was in the middle of hurricane Dennis. They told me not to worry, to stay as long as I wanted and they just closed the door with me inside to do the tidying up. They couldn't have been more accommodating. I love the location here and the decor but I truly believe it's the CMs that keep me coming back.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Tammi - Thanks for the info about the daybed. That eases my mind about our YC stay. As far as my husband looking at posts - NO deal. He has less than zero interest in any part of the vacation planning. I love it, but this is where we differ. He just likes to get on the plane and have his vacation happen. I know what you mean about wanting to see that castle out of your window. I feel like my WDW vacation doesn't start until I check into a MK resort. I am not going to let other opinions sway me, but I know you love the GF as I do, so your impression of YC does have some value to me. I was not overly impressed 7 years ago, but the pool is fun for the kids. As long as my son can fit in the daybed, we can handle it for 2 nights.

As far as the waterview/standard view - I was told by CRO that the view choices for standard were garden or parking areas. Of course I chose garden, but I know it is busy season & I am not the most lucky person......

I am all for trying new resorts, but believe me we have had our share of crummy stays at places people RAVE about. Our Thanksgiving stay at BWI was a joke. I hear so many wonderful comments about the concierge staff and service being so wonderful, but it was just the opposite while we were there. Maybe the better CMs had the vacation off. One reason I don't want to book a room for 4 and try and get a rollaway was due to the fact that at BWI we booked a deluxe concierge room (sleeps 6). The sofabed mattress was just unbelievably cheap/old/thin/springy.....my son slept on the floor as he could not sleep on that mattress. I called and requested a rollaway at 2 am when I saw he was MIA from his sofabed and found him curled up on the floor. After much hassle, one showed up in our room the next day. It made our whole room smell like urine while we were out at MGM. It was disgusting. We had so much trouble getting rid of the smell in our room, getting them to come and take that rollaway, the manager promised us an aero but never delivered - he went home!!! The other manager said they were out of aeros.... BWI was a mega disappointment. I would never stay there again ever - even for free in the steeplechase suite. It was the most awful stay we have ever had - and we have been too many times to count. I would bring an aero before I would ever request a rollaway from WDW again. We will be having a 12 night trip this time and I didn't want to have to schlep another thing if I didn't have to, so prefer to leave the aero at home.

Thanks for the advice & info, Tammie & YC FAN -

Lives4Disney