What no mini-bar? BC concierge let down

[Haganfam5]

Hi, first I would like to say that I am new here....Well, not realy, I have been reading everyones posts for over 2 years and never joined....IDK why....but anyway Hello...

Now to my HUGE complaint. We were finally able to afford a deluxe room thanks to the 4/3 offer, so, we booked Beach Club Resort and sprung for the concierge level for May 2009 (personally, I wanted GF but I was out-voted by 4 due to the pool ). My DH was very excited when he heard that there was a "mini-bar" in the room. (It was in the room description when we booked online. ) Also to just note there was an "optional" fridge. I contacted the first CM by chat online and upon furthur research I have learned that they do not have "mini-bars" at all in the rooms just a mini-fridge and if I want any kind of drinks in the room concierge will stock the mini-fridge and charge us for what we use . I called to continue my search and was told that Disney will not honor the "mini-bar" in the desciption at all because it should not be there and that it would be forwarded to the technical department .

Now, we are not big drinkers at all and I was not expecting much other than some soda, juice boxes for the kids and a couple of mini-bar bottles of baileys. I am so shocked to find out that I will have to go to the concierge and request drinks or take them from the lounge and bring them back to our room. I am also very blown away that Disney is making such a big deal about a little thing....well, it was in the room description as well as the printout that I have. I am even furthur surprised that when I mentioned that I was going to lower my res. to a standard non-club room the CM on the phone said, okay, let me do that for you.....WHAT? Over some soda and juice boxes that were supposed to be in my room anyway?

Has anyone else had an experience like this? I did not change my reservation but I am going back and forth about this. Should I keep my prinout and wait until I check in to complain? I can't believe they are being so RUDE and so cheap. That is very un-disney-like!

 

[dclfun]

I've never had a problem getting sodas, juice boxes, milk, or beer from the stocked fridge/locker at AKL concierge. The beer isn't out all day and you have to ask for it unless it's during the evening offerings but anything else is free for the taking. I guess it's not a problem for us to take from the lounge and then stock our own mini-fridge or just get what we need when passing through. I wouldn't let this ruin your trip-I guess it's easier for them to stock one central location than to stock each individual guest room. This way they can make sure the supply doesn't run out and each guest can have what they want.---Kathy

 

[Haganfam5]

Thanks, I guess I am looking from some support from those like you who have stayed "club level" before. This is a first for us and with the bigger than usual price tag I want to make sure that it's worth it.

I have been hearing some not so pleasent things about the BC club level. If anyone has stayed recently, I would appreciate your opinion on the service. I know the lounge is small and they close at certain hours but I am hoping that the beginning of May won't be so bad

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When my family and I have stayed Club Level at the Contemporary and Polynesian we have never had any problems taking cans of soda, bottles of beer, apple juice bottles and etc back to our room to put away in the mini fridge. So I am sure the Club Level lounge at the Beach Club will have soda cans out for you to take and you can ask for anything else that they don't have out.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Mini-bars have been a thing of the past for a few years now (and you were always charged for what you drank or ate, regardless of being in concierge). And unfortunately, if we all had a dime for every single piece of incorrect info on the WDW website, we would never have to pay for a trip.

You can certainly bring the print out with you, but a CM would probably be the first one to also point out the fine print on your confirmation. I don't have one handy, but if I remember correctly, they cover all their legal bases very well and have a disclaimer about maybe not even getting a room in the resort you booked .

On a personal note, I prefer the empty fridge and we've never been turned down by the club level lounge staff when we've asked for some drink items to bring back to our room. If you want it pre-stocked prior to arrival, then the policy is to charge, but chances are, it will be complimentary for all non-alcoholic beverages (for guests on the club level).

The CM you spoke with probably could have handled the customer service part of their job better, but honestly, there are only a handful of deluxe rooms at the BC and most likely there's a waiting list. If you end up cancelling, they won't have any problem listing the room and having another guest reserve it. It's your decision, but if you want true concierge service, you may want to look at other hotel chains besides Disney. They don't even refer it to as concierge anymore, it's club level.

 

[Steffiesunshine]

I if I want any kind of drinks in the room concierge will stock the mini-fridge and charge us for what we use . ....I am even furthur surprised that when I mentioned that I was going to lower my res. to a standard non-club room the CM on the phone said, okay, let me do that for you.....WHAT? Over some soda and juice boxes that were supposed to be in my room anyway?

I have to say I have stayed in many hotels with actual "mini-bars" in the room, and they are never FREE. Disney told you they would stock it for you if you wished, but you would be charged, which is customary no matter where you stay. Even at all inclusives, liquor is never free. So I believe by offering to stock it for you, they were being accommodating to you.

As for the CM who agreed to your request to change your reservation to non-club level, they aren't there to argue with you and aren't in the position to make you promises or compromise with you to get you to keep a reservation. Some CMs don't even know much about the resorts themselves. Like another poster said, they have waiting lists for club level rooms, so your "threat" to change to a non-club level room wasn't going to get you far.

I would bring it to the attention of the concierge when you check in, but Disney again does have Terms of Agreements on their reservations and they don't have to guarantee even to put you in the resort you booked, let alone give you a stocked mini-bar. Club Level makes all of what you are looking for available to the guests, so you won't have a problem taking some sodas and water back to your room to put in your own fridge.

 

[maccagerl]

Now to my HUGE complaint. ... I have learned that they do not have "mini-bars" at all in the rooms just a mini-fridge and if I want any kind of drinks in the room concierge will stock the mini-fridge and charge us for what we use .
Now, we are not big drinkers at all and I was not expecting much other than some soda, juice boxes for the kids and a couple of mini-bar bottles of baileys. I am so shocked to find out that I will have to go to the concierge and request drinks or take them from the lounge and bring them back to our room. I am also very blown away that Disney is making such a big deal about a little thing... I am even furthur surprised that when I mentioned that I was going to lower my res. to a standard non-club room the CM on the phone said, okay, let me do that for you.....WHAT? Over some soda and juice boxes that were supposed to be in my room anyway?

I can't believe they are being so RUDE and so cheap. That is very un-disney-like!

Wow. You're not big drinkers and only want a few sodas and juices, yet this is a "HUGE" complaint?
And you think Disney is "making such a big deal about a little thing"?
And you think it's rude that when you asked to be downgraded to a standard room, the CM complied with your request?
Sounds more like you are the one over-reacting and making the big deal.
Relax, and don't let a few juice boxes come between you and a great vacation!

 

[thompsonsstation2dis]

Wow. You're not big drinkers and only want a few sodas and juices, yet this is a "HUGE" complaint?
And you think Disney is "making such a big deal about a little thing"?
And you think it's rude that when you asked to be downgraded to a standard room, the CM complied with your request?
Sounds more like you are the one over-reacting and making the big deal.
Relax, and don't let a few juice boxes come between you and a great vacation!

Well said!

 

[TammiMcMan]

After re-reading the post, I'm thinking that maybe the OP was thinking that all the contents of the mini-bar in a concierge room were "included" in the price of the room. That's never been the case. First of all, they used to be in all the deluxe resort rooms and were pre-stocked with candy, drinks, refillable mugs, cameras, Mickey rain ponchos, etc. Housekeeping would check it daily and note anything that was removed. The cost of the items would be added to your room bill. Mini-bars in concierge rooms were treated exactly the same (you paid for what you took). So, if they are asking for the now empty fridge to be stocked, then it stands to reason there would be a charge.

 

[Lynne M]

Well, there haven't been any minibars in Disney hotel rooms for years. And when they were there, they were never free.

I think you misunderstood what club/concierge level is. Among other services, it means you have access to a lounge, where you go to get continental breakfast, snacks, and appetizers at various times during the day. You also go there to get drinks. You may eat and drink in the lounge, or bring reasonable amounts of food and drink to your room if you wish. There is no charge for any of this, it's included in the price of your club level room.

It does not mean that you get a free, stocked minibar in the room, or that the concierge staff brings you drinks from the lounge. You seemed to think it was appalling that you had to go to the lounge to get your drinks.....sorry, that's how club level works.

I'm sorry that you were upset, but Disney was being anything but cheap. All you had to do to get all the free drinks, breakfast and snacks you could possibly want, was take a short walk to the lounge.

 

[DebbieB]

I travel alot for work and any hotel that has a mini-bar charges inflated prices for the items. I usually just look at the price list for laughs. A candy bar for $2.50. They probably removed them because they were not being used and they have the job of taking inventory everyday. Now they just stock those who want to use it. There's no way they would stock it and you could help yourself to all of it for free, even in conceirge. People would dump the contents into their suitcases and take it all home.

 

[thesupersmartguy]

If the Mini-Bar is important to you, keep your printout, and show it to the manager at check in. Otherwise, the CL lounge has drinks of many varieties, so just go down there and get a few and put them in your fridge. I'm sure the CL CM's will give you whatever you need to fill the fridge up at no cost to you. Something I have noticed about Mini-Bars in general is they are super inflated such as $2.00 for a small candy bar or a Sprite for $3.50.

Hope this helps.

 

[Pakey]

OP, with your high expectations, I'm not sure you are going to be happy with club level at WDW, mini bar or not. If you have ever stayed Club level at another location other than WDW, you will probably be sorely disappointed. The Club room at BC is pretty small. Continental breakfast items and cold cereal will be offered in morning. Snacks at lunch/early pm will consist of veggies with ranch dressing, crackers, etc. Evening will have a hot item, pb&j sandwiches, crackers/cheese. Drinks will include sodas, beer (if you ask) and wine, not great wine either (of course if you are not big drinkers, you may not notice the wine anyway). The food doesn't change alot from day to day. I don't recall juice boxes; there were large containers of juice and you poured into individual glasses, same with the wine. There are no candy bars, Bailey's bottles, etc.

Club is not open 24-7. They have set hours and I know BC has been very strict about those hours when we have stayed Club Level there.

Either way I hope you enjoy your stay. Your kids will love the pool; lets hope they are on time with the refurbishment and it's reopened in May (I'll be there too).

 

[jrt1176]

I always assumed the concierge level lounges had complimentary drinks for you to drink in the lounge...

Taking them back to the room seems like taking advantage to me.

Maybe its a common thing at Disney, but I have never seen it in the hotels in NYC, etc. Sure you could ask for a soda or two maybe, but I would think its frowned upon to bring 4-5 back with you.

Just like the people who come for the appetizers and try to make a meal out of them!

 

[MrsNesbitt]

I have always felt ok about taking a glass a wine back to my room. At the AKL it is nice to sip a glass on the balcony while watching the animals

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

OP, with your high expectations, I'm not sure you are going to be happy with club level at WDW, mini bar or not.

My thoughts exactly. Seems the OP has some inaccurate information from somewhere and I would hate for her to be disappointed when she arrives to see what Concierge Level really gets you.

 

[mmmears]

Back when there were still mini-bars in the deluxe rooms, even though we stayed club level, the items in the mini-bar were not free. You had to pay for them (ridiculous prices). Disney did us all (or I guess most of us) a favor and emptied out the fridges so we could put our own stuff in them. No hotel we've ever stayed at has free mini-bar drinks in their concierge rooms.

The lounges are very nice and it's not difficult to go there to get a snack or a drink. And, you can buy things at the BC Marketplace and stock your refrigerator if you prefer.

 

[Seahunt]

One time a few years ago when we stayed at GF RPC, we had a $30+ unknown charge on our bill one day - when I questioned it, I was told it was for purchases from the mini bar in the room. Since we had never taken anything out of there (and had not even opened the door to see what was in there!) I contested the charge and they reversed it.

Later we wondered if it was the people who stayed in the room the night before us who got items out of there without paying somehow, or maybe the maids had a little parrr-tay in the room

Edited to add: Now if we are offered a minibar key when we check in at any hotel we just refuse it and have them note it. BTW it's not just hotels - our friend ate a tiny little bag of cashews out of his minibar in his Mariner of the Seas cruise stateroom and those cost him about $10 on his sail & sign bill at the end of the cruise.

Also wanted to add just as another example of minibar $$$ here's an old copy of the YC minibar price list so you can see costs (you can tell it's old by the $8 charge for the refillable mug, it's now $12+, so all the other costs would go up too by now). :

These are the prices of items from the in-room mini-bar at the Yacht Club.

Soft drinks Price each $
Coke 1.25
Diet Coke 1.25
Sprite 1.25
Ginger Ale 1.25
Orange Minute Maid 1.25
Tonic Water 1.25
Iced Tea 1.25
Apple Juice 1.55
Orange Blend 1.55
Fruitopia 1.55
Milk 1.55
Vittel Water 1.95
Powerade 1.95

Souvenir cup - complimentary soft drink and coffee refills at Y&B Resort 8.65

Liquor
Absolut 4.25
Bacardi 4.25
Jim Beam 4.25
Tanqueray 4.25
Beer & Wine
Domestic 3.55
Imported 4.25
Chardonnay 3.65
White Zinfandel 3.65
Pantry Snacks
Cereal 1.25
Gummi Bears 1.45
Nacho Combos 1.45
Ritz Bits 1.45
Famous Amos 1.45
Snackwells Bars 1.45
Rice Krispie Treat 1.45
Chex Mix 1.45
Resse's Cups 1.45
Butterfinger B.B.'s 1.45
Snickers 0.99
M&M 1.45
Flips Chocolate 1.95
Jelly Beans 1.95
Pez Dispenser 2.35
Oreos 3.25
Pringles 3.45
Cashews 7.75
Honey Roasted Peanuts 7.75

Can Cooler 2.25
Kodak Camera (Disposable) 16.00

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

We have always stayed CL at Disney and never once has the mini-bar been free when they had them. They haven't had them for a couple of years now. When our son was little he used to take some of the items from the mini bar and we were charged for them. Any resort or hotel that we have ever stayed at, the mini-bar was never free. Besides, I love the fact that the fridge is empty. Leaves room for the things that we want.

OP Sorry but I think there is some over-reacting going on here and you sound like you might not be happy at CL no matter which resort you stay at. Let it go as life is too short. Have a great vacation with your family.

 

[RMulieri]

Wow. You're not big drinkers and only want a few sodas and juices, yet this is a "HUGE" complaint?
And you think Disney is "making such a big deal about a little thing"?
And you think it's rude that when you asked to be downgraded to a standard room, the CM complied with your request?
Sounds more like you are the one over-reacting and making the big deal.
Relax, and don't let a few juice boxes come between you and a great vacation!