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

[Hundredacre]

Hundredacre - I would bet you have never sailed Concierge on the Dream or Fantasy, so are basing your opinions on something you have never experienced. It isn't about the food. Many of us are quite slim and eat lightly to stay that way, and even rarely drink alcohol. That isn't the issue. Neither is showing off. When we are able to sail in a Concierge suite, it is worth it to us to be away from the huge crowds on the newer ships and have a nice, peaceful place to relax and enjoy our vacation. When we are not Concierge, we enjoy our cruise in different ways. From my view it is about right and wrong, about bending if not breaking the rules and policies, and trying to get something for someone who did not pay for it, be it the lounge or character party or whatever. Now for those who say it's okay if the "Disney Cruise Corporation" says it is, I say take the question up the ladder to corporate headquarters and let's see their endorsement of going against their policies, since that is what you are implying. The Concierge hosts are wonderful people who do everything within their power to please their guests. That includes TRYING not to say "no" if at all possible. How many of you who have brought non-Concierge family or friends into the lounge or sun deck were invited to do so by a Concierge host as THEIR idea, WITHOUT you ASKING THEM or giving them a sob story about your poor mother/brother/whomever in a regular cabin who was so sad to not be with you? You are putting them on the spot by even hinting for an invitation. It's just wrong. But it is obvious that no amount of debate is going to change the minds on either "side" of the issue. It is what it is.

I agree with you. I was messing around, because I would never spend on concierge. That being said... people have a right to spend their money the way they want-- thank goodness. But I completely agree with you. I think it is outrageous for people to take other people into concierge who have not paid concierge. I would never ever do something like that. If I pay first class on an airplane, does my brother in economy get to eat with me in first class? No. And I think dcl should seriously enforce that because people are paying unbelievable amounts of money for the privilege of being in concierge.

 

[wombat_5606]

For some reason, Disney seems to pander to the entitled.

 

[KingRichard]

Remember when they had Gates!

We should have one Dis family book Concierge and all of us can go get free drinks(now that we can't bring our own) and the best coffee on the ship. The line out the door for that coffee should get a few upset!

 

[Uncleromulus]

So how many will now be upset when I wear my t-shirt around the ship with the logo:


"I'm in Concierge and you're not"

Worn with my Concierge Police badge of course---

 

[cblack]

Let me share my experience, OP, as you haven't received many first-hand experiences. For our upcoming cruise, we are in concierge (for our third time). With this cruise, our in-laws traveling with us are not in concierge. We had the same concern with making sure our excursions aligned. I emailed shoreside concierge and acknowledged that we knew they couldn't book until 75 days, but if we ended up on different times of the excursion, would we be able to switch. Shoreside emailed back and said there was no reason for them to wait that we should send shoreside the excursions and they would book. Similar to another poster, as long as we were on the excursion, they were added to it.

Many are basically calling this stealing, but in this case, Disney OFFERED it - without me asking, without me making them feel guilty, and even with me telling them we had to wait. They made it sound like a part of the service they offer to concierge guests. It was a nice perk to not have to worry about the whole group being on the same excursion.

 

[Skiton]

OK, for the record:

I did not see anyone here post that they ever actually HAVE brought non-concierge guests into concierge areas, only that it wouldn't ruin their whole vacation if they knew someone ELSE did so. There were also some who have never sailed concierge that indicated they would like to check with the host about whether or not this is OK, but probably by now they are terrified that if they do, Carl from "Up" will materialize in front of them brandishing his cane and bellowing "GET THOSE NON-CONCIERGE KIDS OFF OF MY LAWN!!!"

Booking excursions for linked reservations was presented to me as policy, not a favor. I in no way wheedled, cajoled or begged for that privilege. As I recall I didn't even ask other than to say, "Hey, how does this work?" and shoreside concierge just laid it out for me.

I feel that somewhere around page three there was a disconnect. Somehow, we who are simply rolling our eyes at the indignation of others have morphed into entitled concierge miscreants who invite galloping hoards of non-concierge family and friends to overrun the sundeck and lounge. For myself, I'm just saying that if you want to bring your inside-cabin nephew in for a Fanta some afternoon, I doubt I'll even notice and I definitely won't care.

 

[Expatriat]

To clarify my previous comments - I was not referring to linked excursion reservations, or to guests visiting suites, etc. My comments were only in reference to the shared Concierge amenities of the lounge, sun deck, and special events. Those are the only places where non-Concierge guests would physically be in the spaces that are supposed to be exclusively for Concierge guests ONLY. To bring non-Concierge guests into those areas violates DCL's established policies, even if you get a Concierge host to "allow" you to do so.

 

[jmpurdy]

OK, for the record:

I did not see anyone here post that they ever actually HAVE brought non-concierge guests into concierge areas, only that it wouldn't ruin their whole vacation if they knew someone ELSE did so. There were also some who have never sailed concierge that indicated they would like to check with the host about whether or not this is OK, but probably by now they are terrified that if they do, Carl from "Up" will materialize in front of them brandishing his cane and bellowing "GET THOSE NON-CONCIERGE KIDS OFF OF MY LAWN!!!"

Booking excursions for linked reservations was presented to me as policy, not a favor. I in no way wheedled, cajoled or begged for that privilege. As I recall I didn't even ask other than to say, "Hey, how does this work?" and shoreside concierge just laid it out for me.

I feel that somewhere around page three there was a disconnect. Somehow, we who are simply rolling our eyes at the indignation of others have morphed into entitled concierge miscreants who invite galloping hoards of non-concierge family and friends to overrun the sundeck and lounge. For myself, I'm just saying that if you want to bring your inside-cabin nephew in for a Fanta some afternoon, I doubt I'll even notice and I definitely won't care.

I couldn't agree more with this. The OP simply asked a question and it turned into a moral battlefield. Don't see posts of gluttons hogging the food/drink/lounge at this moment, so the system is working, and I guarantee that some passengers are relatives/friends of concierge. I'm pretty sure most concierge guests don't pay the huge difference in price just to sneak their relatives in the lounge.

 

[Uncleromulus]

OK, for the record:

I did not see anyone here post that they ever actually HAVE brought non-concierge guests into concierge areas, only that it wouldn't ruin their whole vacation if they knew someone ELSE did so. There were also some who have never sailed concierge that indicated they would like to check with the host about whether or not this is OK, but probably by now they are terrified that if they do, Carl from "Up" will materialize in front of them brandishing his cane and bellowing "GET THOSE NON-CONCIERGE KIDS OFF OF MY LAWN!!!"

Booking excursions for linked reservations was presented to me as policy, not a favor. I in no way wheedled, cajoled or begged for that privilege. As I recall I didn't even ask other than to say, "Hey, how does this work?" and shoreside concierge just laid it out for me.

I feel that somewhere around page three there was a disconnect. Somehow, we who are simply rolling our eyes at the indignation of others have morphed into entitled concierge miscreants who invite galloping hoards of non-concierge family and friends to overrun the sundeck and lounge. For myself, I'm just saying that if you want to bring your inside-cabin nephew in for a Fanta some afternoon, I doubt I'll even notice and I definitely won't care.

Well--here's a thought--how about meeting the nephew at Cabanas???

Check out Post #14---

 

[Uncleromulus]

To clarify my previous comments - I was not referring to linked excursion reservations, or to guests visiting suites, etc. My comments were only in reference to the shared Concierge amenities of the lounge, sun deck, and special events. Those are the only places where non-Concierge guests would physically be in the spaces that are supposed to be exclusively for Concierge guests ONLY. To bring non-Concierge guests into those areas violates DCL's established policies, even if you get a Concierge host to "allow" you to do so.

Agree--I recall from somewhere that DCL's own advertising indicates the lounge is EXCLUSIVELY for Concierge guests.

Not Uncle Finster and Aunt Minerva.

 

[jmpurdy]

Agree--I recall from somewhere that DCL's own advertising indicates the lounge is EXCLUSIVELY for Concierge guests.

Not Uncle Finster and Aunt Minerva.

Does it ever get cold up there on your high horse?

 

[Hundredacre]

I couldn't agree more with this. The OP simply asked a question and it turned into a moral battlefield. Don't see posts of gluttons hogging the food/drink/lounge at this moment, so the system is working, and I guarantee that some passengers are relatives/friends of concierge. I'm pretty sure most concierge guests don't pay the huge difference in price just to sneak their relatives in the lounge.

I suspect from what I have read on this thread that that is exactly what a lot of people are doing. Why book everyone in concierge when you can book one cabin in your party in concierge and get almost all the same benefits? Early booking, palo in room dining, private character meet and greet, great coffee etc, etc. And it sounds like dcl has contributed to this problem by bending the rules. Now I know if my husband and I book in concierge (never going to happen but for argument sake) and our kids in an inside somewhere else in the ship, the kids can come hang out with us in concierge and we can all book everything early. Sounds like a deal! You almost wonder if that is why the price of concierge has skyrocketed, that now dcl has built into the price that you will actually have double the people in your cabin using concierge?

 

[Skiton]

Well--here's a thought--how about meeting the nephew at Cabanas???

Check out Post #14---

By all means, when YOU are in the lounge and this happens, feel free to dress down the offending party and then cause an embarrassing scene with the hosts. If it happens when I'M there, I think I'll just say, "Hi, Nephew!" and then continue to enjoy my vacation.

 

[Uncleromulus]

You have failed to read my previous posts--I can do nothing about it on the spot--but later there will be calls and letters.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Does it ever get cold up there on your high horse?

No--but I do understand the word "exclusively".

 

[Uncleromulus]

I suspect from what I have read on this thread that that is exactly what a lot of people are doing. Why book everyone in concierge when you can book one cabin in your party in concierge and get almost all the same benefits? Early booking, palo in room dining, private character meet and greet, great coffee etc, etc. And it sounds like dcl has contributed to this problem by bending the rules. Now I know if my husband and I book in concierge (never going to happen but for argument sake) and our kids in an inside somewhere else in the ship, the kids can come hang out with us in concierge and we can all book everything early. Sounds like a deal! You almost wonder if that is why the price of concierge has skyrocketed, that now dcl has built into the price that you will actually have double the people in your cabin using concierge?

Some are sneaking them in and relying on the good nature of concierge hosts to let it happen.

Reminds me of my days when I was very young and had no sense of propriety when we used to buy one movie ticket and then hold the rear exit doors open to let in friends!!

 

[jlemieu1]

Some are sneaking them in and relying on the good nature of concierge hosts to let it happen.

Reminds me of my days when I was very young and had no sense of propriety when we used to buy one movie ticket and then hold the rear exit doors open to let in friends!!

Not to beat this dead horse any more. But it my case the Concierge staff on Fantasy ask me if the other 2 people traveling with me want to come in the the character meet&greet and 2 happy hours. I didn't ask first. I did ask concierge on-board to book my self and the other 2 on a last minute excursion. Never once were they walked in the lounge without an invitation.

Also I found the concierge character meet&greet to have very low attendance. We had ours slated for 1 hour and Minnie was only for 20 minutes. There were a total of 7 families that showed up. The concierge staff was watching the hallways to try to get more people to come.

 

[aidtrismommy]

OP here, thanks for the information on the first-hand experiences.

 

[jmpurdy]

Not to beat this dead horse any more. But it my case the Concierge staff on Fantasy ask me if the other 2 people traveling with me want to come in the the character meet&greet and 2 happy hours. I didn't ask first. I did ask concierge on-board to book my self and the other 2 on a last minute excursion. Never once were they walked in the lounge without an invitation.

Also I found the concierge character meet&greet to have very low attendance. We had ours slated for 1 hour and Minnie was only for 20 minutes. There were a total of 7 families that showed up. The concierge staff was watching the hallways to try to get more people to come.

Thank you and others who have spoken up that this isn't all about 'sneaking' and trying to work the system to drive up the prices of concierge. Geez, we are adults here.

 

[Baklava]

Agree--I recall from somewhere that DCL's own advertising indicates the lounge is EXCLUSIVELY for Concierge guests.

Not Uncle Finster and Aunt Minerva.

But Disney reserves the right to make exceptions. For example, you can only have 3 FP+ a day except for when a concierge gets you an extra or you get a bit of magic in any of a number of different ways. Currently taking the DVC tour at the Poly instead of SSR is exclusively for current guests of the Poly, except that when we booked our tour they made an exception because it was much more convenient for us. In the past we've been "pixie dusted" into any number of small perks "exclusively for" on group or another.

If the exceptions are causing a problem, people should speak up. If they ran out of wine or cheese puffs or seating or if that non-concierge kid is having a tantrum in the middle of the floor, say something. Until it is actually denying you something you paid for, Disney is allowed to share their stuff for free if they want to.