Useful Concierge Information

[MNTerri]

Do contact them, especially if you booked through a travel agent - I was concerned about having to do the speed dialing thing since it turned out that several of the things we wanted to do were hard to book - then I had a brain surge and rememebered I was going concierge - called them to see if they could help me with reservations and voila! no worries!

Cinderella's Royal Breakfast Valentine's Day morning - nice.

 

[#1hockeymom]

I know on my first concierge stay they had no record of me staying there since I went through a TA. Luckily, I was so obssessed with making sure I didn't have a pool view, and I wanted to have a continuing reservation in the same room, that my phone calls to them allowed them to put all of my personal information in their computers. Had I not called, they wouldn't have had a record of me until I showed up.

 

[SueEllen]

Also depending on your travel agent they may get your information. Some pass that along and others do not.
Sue Ellen

 

[mndisfam]

I hate to add a negative here, but our concierge experience was pretty disappointing - not in the actual level of service or experience once we arrived, but before hand.

I booked concierge at AKL as a treat for our family to celebrate getting thru my (Mom) major surgery. When I booked I was told they would send me an info packet. (30 days out or something). I also told them I wanted to order some kind of gift basket/balloon bouquet as a family surprise - they told me they couldn't help me at all with that but referred me to a florist (!). Never ever got any pre-planning packet or brochure in the mail.

Finally, about a month b4 we left, I emailed and got on the phone (luckily got the numbers from the boards.) The staff at AKL was VERY rude on several occasions about letting me thru to concierge when I would call and say, "gee I think I need to to talk to someone in concierge about our trip in a few weeks - I have gotten no planning calls or info packets." "Well, ma'am, are you actually a guest on concierge? Its only available to concierge guests." "Of course I am." "Ma'am, everyone says that they are concierge guests." "Well, here is my reservation number." One refused to look it up, one did and gave me a voice mail at concierge (they never returned my call) and one just ended in a disconnect.

Finally, a few (4?) repeated emails worked. A very nice lady called me back and did manage to arrange royal table breakfast & sunset safari. I forgot to even ask about PS's, and did everything else on our own. The day we arrived, I finally remembered to ask about PSs, but there were none that would work for us, so we had none.

In the end, after much work and effort on my part, I was finally able to get some "concierge planning" help. Never ever got an info packet, never could get anyone to lead the way to a gift basket - balloon bouquet - anything to show the kids the bad times were over for our family.

. I sent an email to the guest relations place about this, and never heard back.

I should not have had to pester them into helping me - not at those prices. Clearly I fell thru the cracks - but in all the phone calls and emails I sent, I kept saying, "Obviously we have fallen thru the cracks - can you help me? " And only one time did we get the help!

My kids loved concierge, but I am not happy i had to pay so much extra and work so hard for it.

 

[minniesota]

mndisfam - Oh, that is so disappointing! ANd especially when you were trying so hard to make this a really special trip. I know most posters on this thread as well as on the Lizard Lounge thread have had really positive expereinces at AKL - in fact, their comments have made me consider AKL CL even though it has never appealed to me. I have only had concierge experience at GF and BWI but after reading the Lizard Lounge thread, I actually e-mailed a specific person at each resort's planning office (based on positive reports from other Disers) and established a working relationship with those two individuals during my planning stage. Everything went great. Personally, I kind of like to set up my own PS's but will use concierge for the hard-to-get ressies. What my family enjoyed most about concierge was the lounge and the special treatment we experienced while we were there. When it was 8 of us in October in a suite, concierge was a great value. This December, when it was just me and DH, concierge was a splurge!

 

[#1hockeymom]

I wish you would have had a MUCH better trip. Yes, it does sound like you fell through the cracks, but it is still very disappointing knowing what others have experienced. I pray your next trip is better and it doesn't turn you off to the concierge experience. I hope you do hear from someone regarding your concerns and problems.

 

[TaurusSES_Sport]

The staff to say the least, is NOT friendly at the AKL.

 

[#1hockeymom]

I have stayed concierge at AKL three separate times and have only glowing reports for them. The fact is that mndisfan doesn't, and I am sure the staff at AKL would like to know how she fell through the cracks, too. They are known for fantastic service and I am sure that they will want things right with mndisfan, as much as they will want to make sure this doesn't happen again. In my line of work I know we all make mistakes, it is when we don't learn from them that the real mistakes are done.

I am one of AKL's biggest cheerleaders (there are quite a few of us!). I LOVE the place! I do, however, totally believe mndisfan's story.

Debbie

 

[DisneyDW]

Can you see Illuminations from any of the concierge rooms at BC? I did request water view - I guess that is the right side, at least?

 

[Goofy's Muse]

I could definitely be wrong about this but it seems to me that the lagoon view 5th floor concierge rooms at BC have more of a Boardwalk orientation rather than an Epcot/Illuminations orientation. We had a great room and lagoon view at BC CL this past summer but it definitely did not have an Illuminations view. I would think the lagoon view rooms at YC would have a better viewing angle for Illuminations.

That said... I do think I read somewhere that there are some BC rooms on the Epcot end of the resort from which Illumination can be seen, but I'm not sure if they are "lagoon views" and there is no 5th floor at that end of the resort. Perhaps someone with more BC experience can confirm this?

DisneyDW... You might try contacting the Epcot resorts IPO office with your question since you are planning a concierge stay. We found them to be very helpful...

 

[steveanddonna]

Does anyone have an e-mail address or phone # for the actual concierge office at the Poly? I want to check on a package shipment and the CM in the planning office was a bit clueless when I called there. Thanks!

 

[magiclives]

I was just there and we did have BC CL rooms with partial view of Illuminations and Wishes. They were Standard view rooms looking out over the front. You could see Spaceship Earth really well. I can get you the room numbers later, but they were down the hall from the lounge next to the big round couch sitting area.

 

[disneydave]

Going to be in the world from May 21 to May 26. We want to stay concierge but are having trouble picking out which one to choose. In the past we have stayed at CR Tower Club, at the GF Main Building (no concierge), and at the Polly (no concierge). We will stay at a Monorail resort and the kids prefer CR but they only have 14th floor open. That would be less expensive than GF Main Building Conc. but more than GF Lodge Conc. Polly is probably out as we would want a lagoon view and the quote was more than it would be to stay GF Main Bldg. Conc.

So is the 14th floor Contemp. better than GF Lodge? 14th floor is full service how does that compare to the GF Lodge Conc?

14th floor has a build in advantage in that you are just an elevator ride away from the monorail while the GF Lodge Conc is in another building correct???

 

[wdw47]

how soon after you make your concierge reservations should you wait to contact the concierge desk our vacation is over a year away ty

 

[TammiMcMan]

Disneydave you are not going to get a lagoon view with the GF lodge concierge. It's located in the Sugar Loaf building, but the way it's situated on the property, you'll only have a choice of marina or garden view. If you're lucky, you might be able to glimpse the MK fireworks if you lean out over your balcony. This is also considered limited concierge service. You won't have wine or beer offered with the evening serving and you will not receive the late night cordials or the 8-10pm desserts. They typically serve a deluxe continental breakfast, light lunch offering, afternoon tea, evening with one or two hot items. I thought the assortment of food was very good, but it does lean more on the gourmet side. They do have items for the kids like mini hotdogs during the evening. One difference between the GF main building concierge and the Poly is you don't pay a higher price based on your view.

wdw47 contacting concierge is really based on what your needs are. Most priority seatings and recreation are booked at 90 days out, however Hoop De Doo, the Poly Luau and a few other things can be booked much further out. Depending on where you're staying, the pre-planning department will send you out a questionnaire along with some resort and park information. Not all of them do this however. If you have an idea of what your needs are, they can put your requests into their computer system as a pending item and book it for you when the time is right.

Tammi

 

[travlnman1]

Well, my countdown says "SURPRISE FOR THE KIDS".
As you all know, anticipating a trip to Disney is just as much fun so we told them as a Christmas present.
We decided on Beach Club Concierge- garden view.

Are all concierge rooms at the BC on the same floor?
Anything we should request in advance such as room location?

Thanks for any input!

 

[Goofy's Muse]

We stayed BC CL last August and loved it! Do take advantage of the pre-planning services provided by the Epcot resorts IPO Office. They are absolutely wonderful!

As for rooms, I believe all the concierge rooms are on the 5th floor. We too booked garden view, and requested our preference for a garden view on the lagoon side of the BC (some have disappointed in having roof-top views on the other side of the building). We also requested a full balcony as some BC balconies are walk-out only. Requests are just that but are certainly worth mentioning! In the end, we were "pixie dusted" with the most fabulous full balcony, lagoon view upgrade -- nothing to count on but certainly wonderful when it occurs! Enjoy your stay!

 

[samnbilly]

Well, I tried to convince my DH last night to take a short visit to WDW for Easter break. He looked at me like I was an alien lifeform. What? I don't see any problem. Those AP's are burning a hole in my pocket the size of the Grand Canyon. I even called for prices. Whew, steep during peak. I even inquired about *gasp** *Non-concierge* I don't think it went over well. Well, I'll keep working on my plans. I think for my next visit, it might have to be the GF again. I was good-I TRIED the BC. It was very nice. I just think that the GF is my favorite. I'm trying. One of these days I am going to break away from my little cocoon. Hope everyone is well.I sprained my ankle. What a pain-literally.

 

[minniesota]

samnbilly - I know just what you mean - those AP's can be dangerous. I have plans for GF in Feb and again in May, both non-concierge stays unless I upgrade as we get closer. It will be fine. Any stay at the GF is a fabulous one! Good luck convincing DH. My next 2 trips are with each of the kids - I'm giving DH a breather!

 

[Goofy's Muse]

I agree that the GF was grand... we took "potluck" -- garden view, non CL and were amazed at just how nice "the basics" were.

We did pass through the Sugar Loaf building just to check out the main floor. It was afternoon snack time and it looked mighty nice, but the kids were OK with "look but don't touch". I was surprised no key entry was required for that building. Was that a fluke or is that typical?