We are concierge....my other family is not...

[JoieNsk]

You keep saying that we pay a higher price for concierge or concierge + oceanview. Then you say well, I will let my daughter drink as much soda that is put in the refrigerator like it wasn't worth the money since if she isn't in concierge and not allowed in the lounge. Well, I travel solo, I pay what two would have paid for my room. Most of the time, I pay double for being solo, so what. I chose the place I go, I pay for what perks I get with my room and I agree to those terms. You are trying to explain that because you don't drink that your daughter, if she isn't in concierge should have your drinks in the lounge. Well, I hate to break it to you but your daughter if she isn't concierge can get free coke from the 24 hour beverage station just like the other cruisers, but apparently that's not good enough for you. If you want concierge perks for your family you have to pay for it like I pay for the non existent passenger in my room.

Thank you. I got that point, as I explained before. I got all the info I needed. And I will make my own decisions.

 

[Bear3412]

Oh My, How can this thread thrive? This should have been solved within the first few posts.

Everything has been discussed, therefore, this thread is now closed.

This Thread is now CLOSED.








I

 

[tracylkj]

I LOVE this!!!! Good point and it made me smile. After reading this whole thread and not commenting to date, I am finally giving in.

We have not (and likely will not) booked concierge even though we could afford it as we are not "underprivileged".

Of all the perks listed, I cannot see us actually utilizing them in a manner that would get full return of our investment.
1. We certainly don't need more food choices as the Cabanas, dining rooms and places by the pool are sufficient.
2. The cocktails in the lounge sound enticing, but I don't drink enough and my husband drinks, but not to the extent that this would be a benefit to just buying one if he wants it. $6.00 beer every now and then on a 7 night cruise does not justify the cost.
3. We don't want a cabana as we come and go from Castaway Cay and like to actually stay on board. Unless I have booked an excursion, of course. Then we get off, float around in the water, snorkel for a bit, do the excursion and go back on board.
4. I don't need someone to book and plan my excursions for me. We are now able to do so on our own in plenty of time to get what we want. And if we don't get what we want, we just don't do it that time around. Takes a lot of pressure off if you are not stressing about that.
5. We generally get really good PAT times depending on how far ahead we book the cruise and how soon our online checkin starts. This upcoiing cruise next week was a VGT booking and kind of last minute change to our original 4 night cruise plan. As a result our PAT time is now 11:45 AM as opposed to 11:00 AM from this past September. No big deal about getting onboard ahead of other people. We all have a common goal of starting our vacation as early as possible...not going to stress out that someone else got to start theirs 45 minutes before I did.
6. The ONLY thing I wish we did have would be the ability to drop off our carryons in our cabin before heading to lunch. That seems pretty awesome. But all that does for us is make us travel lighter in regards to carry ons. If it cannot fit in one or two bags for 4 people, then it gets packed.

I don't feel that I should get the benefits of something I didn't pay for. Even if Disney hosts are telling me its okay to have a cocktail with my friends/family who are sailing in this luxury, I would not feel comfortable doing so. For me the biggest perk of sailing is to be with my family on board a beautiful ship and as cut off from the day to day grind as possible. That is the best thing about cruising for us. The rest is a bonus.

Happy Cruising everyone! Enjoy the moment wherever you are and whatever you paid for.

I'm with you!

We sailed concierge our first Disney Cruise in 2014, wow were we spoiled. We're actually paying more to be on the 9th deck in February than we did to stay in concierge due to the HUGE increase in price!

I would never feel comfortable going in the lounge to have a drink or sit on the sundeck having not paid for it...that's just me. I would feel guilty and I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself.

I can't wait until our cruise...I'm sure going to miss those fabulous concierge perks so I'll be referring to your list!

 

[phinz]

Oh My, How can this thread thrive? This should have been solved within the first few posts.

Everything has been discussed, therefore, this thread is now closed.

This Thread is now CLOSED.








I

Apparently it isn't.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Apparently it isn't.

I don't think Bear has the power to actually close a thread. I believe he was hoping that, by calling it thus, it would be.

 

[phinz]

I don't think Bear has the power to actually close a thread. I believe he was hoping that, by calling it thus, it would be.

I'm well aware of that.

 

[smadath]

I've read many complaints about mdr servers repeatedly giving "speeches" about receiving perfect scores on the survey Disney provides at the end of the cruise.

Out of curiosity, are the Concierge staff also included on the survey? If so, of course they'd say yes to any request. Their position/pay may depend on it!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've read many complaints about mdr servers repeatedly giving "speeches" about receiving perfect scores on the survey Disney provides at the end of the cruise.

Out of curiosity, are the Concierge staff also included on the survey? If so, of course they'd say yes to any request. Their position/pay may depend on it!

On the comment "card" the only crew mentioned for rating are:
Staff at Guest Services
Stateroom host/ess
Dining service team
Cabanas staff
Bar server
Palo server
Remy server
Youth counselors
Port Adventures staff
Onboard merchandise staff
Spa & Salon staff
Photography staff

That being said, I don't know if Concierge guests receive a special comment card (or another one).

 

[phinz]

We have never received a special Concierge comment card.

 

[Hundredacre]

I'm well aware of that.

View attachment 176214

Who is that guy?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Who is that guy?

Captain Obvious. From the Hotels.com commercials.

 

[Hundredacre]

Captain Obvious. From the Hotels.com commercials.

Thanks. I hate missing out on a joke!

 

[tinkerone]

Captain Obvious. From the Hotels.com commercials.

He's almost as creepy as the Trivago guy......almost.

 

[Hundredacre]

He's almost as creepy as the Trivago guy......almost.

I had to Google that (guess I'm really out of the loop.) Commercials are just awful. I know the Dos Equis guy. But that's about it.

 

[phinz]

I know the Dos Equis guy. But that's about it.

And he's no longer their spokesman.

 

[Alicenwonderment]

I get what you are saying and as someone who has spent over 30 years in the hospitality industry, including F and B and Operations Manager positions for Disney, I hate, hate, hate telling people no.

I read the scenario you presented and while at the very surface I want to say what they did was right, it's the snow ball effect that scares me. Once DCL extends 1 concierge benefit to a non-concierge guest, just to be nice, it's a slippery slope to then continue to have to say yes to all requests.

I agree with worrying about the snowball effect. I have never been on a cruise but did work in merchandise in the MK park. At that time our store was one of a very few that sewed the names on the Mickey ears. Some people would ask us to use nick names etc but we had to refuse because where is the line crossed between appropriate and inappropriate names on hats? If one store or cast member does not follow the rules then it makes everyone else's job harder to do.

As for the Disney Magic at what point does it not become magic because everyone is expecting it? I had the ability in my job to comp merchandise in certain situations. Once I found a lost child and was able to let child go up to a cart a choose a stuffed animal because I was hoping to calm the child down. If people knew cast members could do that I'm sure others would figure out a way for their child to get something for free. For the record I'm not sure if cast members can still do that. I worked years ago.

When I read that this thread was closed I was like ummm but I want to respond to the thread. I just read through pages of opinions and I want to have my chance too. Now I can leave the boards for a while. lol I kept saying I'd do that after I finished reading the comments for this post. lol

 

[emilyann415]

OMG....I should just let this go.....I know I should just let this go but honest to God it's like talking to my 9 year old when I say, "Life's not fair kiddo". You say it's not about the little sandwiches or the hooch at the bar....that you don't like it that you paid more for something and they get the same thing for nothing. Do you raise the same stink when someone gets a free upgrade to a better room? I've paid for a verandah and been with family members that paid for a oceanview and got moved to a verandah. When they received the call asking them if it was okay to upgrade them, should they have said no because they didn't pay the same amount as the next person? I did not loose it because I paid more for it. What about people that take advantage of upgrading at the port. They don't pay the same. You could argue that they are taking their chances that they won't have any upgrades available but one could also argue this family is taking that risk too. Perhaps they won't be able to grant what they ask for, perhaps they will. And who really cares? I've cruised in concierge 3 times. The only day the lounge was ever full was on the first day coming onto the ship....that's it. I've never had to wait for a thing so I can't imagine they would be impacting your cruise in that regard. And if it did become a problem, then concierge would start saying "no". Then there are the people who say it's against the rules. Have any of you ever ordered a Mickey Bar from room service? It's not on the room service menu? I just wish we could live in a society where people could just live their own flipping life and not worry about someone else getting something they didn't deserve. I hear about people who get Pixie Dusted and sometimes I am a little jealous that we weren't so lucky but I never feel mad or angry because someone got something I didn't. What a sad life, IMO, to constantly have in the back of your mind that there are people getting something that they aren't "entitled" to. It must be exhausting to worry so.
And I'll edit to add.....to the OP, just ask your concierge staff and be thankful for the requests they can grant and be understanding at the things they aren't able to do for whatever reason. And don't worry too much about others.....in my experience there aren't many looking over their shoulder waiting to pounce on you for doing something they deem wrong. Have a great vacation. I remember when we stayed in the Roy and it was amazing. You will have a GREAT time!!!!!!!!

 

[Hundredacre]

OMG....I should just let this go.....I know I should just let this go but honest to God it's like talking to my 9 year old when I say, "Life's not fair kiddo". You say it's not about the little sandwiches or the hooch at the bar....that you don't like it that you paid more for something and they get the same thing for nothing. Do you raise the same stink when someone gets a free upgrade to a better room? I've paid for a verandah and been with family members that paid for a oceanview and got moved to a verandah. When they received the call asking them if it was okay to upgrade them, should they have said no because they didn't pay the same amount as the next person? I did not loose it because I paid more for it. What about people that take advantage of upgrading at the port. They don't pay the same. You could argue that they are taking their chances that they won't have any upgrades available but one could also argue this family is taking that risk too. Perhaps they won't be able to grant what they ask for, perhaps they will. And who really cares? I've cruised in concierge 3 times. The only day the lounge was ever full was on the first day coming onto the ship....that's it. I've never had to wait for a thing so I can't imagine they would be impacting your cruise in that regard. And if it did become a problem, then concierge would start saying "no". Then there are the people who say it's against the rules. Have any of you ever ordered a Mickey Bar from room service? It's not on the room service menu? I just wish we could live in a society where people could just live their own flipping life and not worry about someone else getting something they didn't deserve. I hear about people who get Pixie Dusted and sometimes I am a little jealous that we weren't so lucky but I never feel mad or angry because someone got something I didn't. What a sad life, IMO, to constantly have in the back of your mind that there are people getting something that they aren't "entitled" to. It must be exhausting to worry so.
And I'll edit to add.....to the OP, just ask your concierge staff and be thankful for the requests they can grant and be understanding at the things they aren't able to do for whatever reason. And don't worry too much about others.....in my experience there aren't many looking over their shoulder waiting to pounce on you for doing something they deem wrong. Have a great vacation. I remember when we stayed in the Roy and it was amazing. You will have a GREAT time!!!!!!!!

Because the point of the concierge lounge is that it feels empty and private! ! That's the entire point. The last time I was on the Wonder I saw a concierge event where there were lots of people jammed into the outlook cafe. I said to myself I cannot believe those people are paying the premium they are paying to be jammed into a room for an hour. It did not look premium or luxurious to me at all. If additional people are using the lounge it will and does take away from people who have paid an insane amount of money to be away from the masses. It's not the same as a room upgrade or other perks that do not affect others. I would never go concierge, but I respect the rights of those who do. Why don't you?

 

[ASchwa]

OMG....I should just let this go.....I know I should just let this go but honest to God it's like talking to my 9 year old when I say, "Life's not fair kiddo". You say it's not about the little sandwiches or the hooch at the bar....that you don't like it that you paid more for something and they get the same thing for nothing. Do you raise the same stink when someone gets a free upgrade to a better room? I've paid for a verandah and been with family members that paid for a oceanview and got moved to a verandah. When they received the call asking them if it was okay to upgrade them, should they have said no because they didn't pay the same amount as the next person? I did not loose it because I paid more for it. What about people that take advantage of upgrading at the port. They don't pay the same. You could argue that they are taking their chances that they won't have any upgrades available but one could also argue this family is taking that risk too. Perhaps they won't be able to grant what they ask for, perhaps they will. And who really cares? I've cruised in concierge 3 times. The only day the lounge was ever full was on the first day coming onto the ship....that's it. I've never had to wait for a thing so I can't imagine they would be impacting your cruise in that regard. And if it did become a problem, then concierge would start saying "no". Then there are the people who say it's against the rules. Have any of you ever ordered a Mickey Bar from room service? It's not on the room service menu? I just wish we could live in a society where people could just live their own flipping life and not worry about someone else getting something they didn't deserve. I hear about people who get Pixie Dusted and sometimes I am a little jealous that we weren't so lucky but I never feel mad or angry because someone got something I didn't. What a sad life, IMO, to constantly have in the back of your mind that there are people getting something that they aren't "entitled" to. It must be exhausting to worry so.
And I'll edit to add.....to the OP, just ask your concierge staff and be thankful for the requests they can grand and be understanding at the things they aren't able to do for whatever reason. And don't worry too much about others.....in my experience there aren't many looking over their shoulder waiting to pounce on you for doing something they deem wrong. Have a great vacation. I remember when we stayed in the Roy and it was amazing. You will have a GREAT time!!!!!!!!

What ticked me off with the OP is how she kept saying I paid more over and over and expected that if she didn't use some of the perks that go with concierge that her family, who wasn't in concierge, use it. I couldn't care less if someone is in concierge or not, or order Mickey bars if it is on the room service or MDR menu or not. If someone's trip has a pixie dust moment I am ok with it, even if I didn't. I am leaving for my cruise soon, I am flying first class. A perk of the class is free alcohol drinks and a seat that can turn into a bed. If I don't drink or sleep does that mean I can give my perks to someone else who is in coach? I would expect that I couldn't give my allotment of drinks to someone else, as for the seat, I wouldn't give that up. I enjoyed my two other Disney cruises, I expect to enjoy the one coming up. I don't look over my shoulder to see who is getting something I am not.

 

[phinz]

A perk of the class is free alcohol drinks and a seat that can turn into a bed.

We just did Business Class on Delta from Atlanta to Seattle and back. Oh how heavenly. I did plenty of lying down and drank my fair share of free Woodford while watching free movies and eating my free in-flight meal. I won't travel across the country any other way.

And no, I'm not sharing with anybody who isn't in Business Class with me.