Which concierge with young children?

[diselderm]

We're going early December (me, DH, DD 4, and DS 6mo). We'd like to try concierge for the first time, but are not sure which would be best for us. We've been considering a BWI deluxe room vs Lodge concierge at GF. Unfortunately, the theme at Poly is not really for me. The type of decor at BWI and GF is very appealing to us.

We'll mostly be at MK, but also will do EPCOT and MGM, prob not AK.

We're not looking for a meal plan, but the food offerings will be a big deal for us for convenience with DD. Also, we really only want "full" concierge since DH definitely would want beer/wine,etc for the evening. I've read that Sugar Loaf is now offering that, but would want to be sure.

I'm leaning toward GF lodge (have room reserved there) b/c of the monorail and maybe better food offerings, but wonder if we'll miss having a nice big lounge w/a view like at BWI? Thanks for any input.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi, I have stayed at the Poly and the GF concierges & CR. CR is my kids' ABSOLUTE favorite resort and concierge - they have very yummy kid friendly food offerings and they just love the theme of the place. I know you didn't mention that resort, but when we ask my kids where they want to stay - I get a unanymous CR from all 3. I have yet to try BWI - we have a concierge deluxe room booked for our Thanksgiving trip, so I can't tell you about that one yet!

The Poly isn't really me, either. I do have to admit, though that the food offerings at the Poly were a bit better when we were there than the ones at the GF. I have stayed RPC and also Sugar Loaf. The food at the GF is a bit un kid friendly. My kids don't really get too many choices they will eat. My 5 yr old is a PICKY eater, though. She basically lives off Mickey Mac & cheese and chicken fingers at WDW. GF doesn't have the PBJ, candies, and kid friendly choices that the Poly and CR have. The GF food is a bit more upscale and creative. For bfast GF has danish (no donuts like at CR), cold cereal - at CR and Poly it's in mini boxes, at GF it is in large containers that you scoop and serve yourself. The GF serves cold meats and cheeses with bfast. My picky eater actually enjoyed that! The poly had oatmeal, the CR had instant oatmeal that you could add water to. The Poly and CR also had yogurt containers. GF didn't. They just had yogurt as a dip for fruits. Appetizers are another thing - those was the "odd" food selections at the GF. They looked pretty, but some just didn't taste so great. The evening desserts are about the same at all the resorts, in my opinion. RPC and SL do serve the same foods as of a few months ago.

Of the resorts we have stayed, GF is my absolute favorite. I actually am not so crazy about Sugar Loaf for the same reason you are wavering. The lounge is closed in and there is not TV and kid area like in RPC. The Main building concierge has a beautiful lounge and I would definitely do that one over SL if possible. All the resorts are very kid friendly - with the exception of the food selections. (just my opinion ) GF is my fave so far, I will see about BWI soon - it looks promising!

I LOVE being on the monorail and near my favorite park, the MK. We have split stays between S/D and GF for our last few visits. I like the convenience of being near the parks we plan on visiting. This trip we are splitting between BWI and CR (atrium club).

Sorry to ramble -

Happy planning!

Lives4Disney

 

[minijeanie]

With your children young, I would not stay at BWI...too far from MK

I agree that CR has a great concierge, but I found the pool to be a little disappointing.

I was very reluctant at first to do Poly but will tell you food service,beverages, location,location,location hands down beats it all
especially with young children

please don't discount poly,,,you will be happy and if you do, I would go with CR concierge.

 

[diselderm]

Thanks for your replies. I hadn't thought about the CR. The disney website lists availability for Tower room concierge--which floor would that be?

The main concierge in GF isn't available, and I'm not sure we'd be willing to pay that much anyway--although that would take care of the lounge problem. My DD is picky also and sometimes likes things that other kids would not--but you never know!! I'm really surprised they don't have the PBJ's at the GF concierge. I figured they'd all do that. The disney website states that the main and lodge concierge service only differ in that the lodge does not serve wine (but does do the rest such as cordials...). Anyone know if the service is really exactly the same or not?

I agree that the monorail access is going to be key for us, so I think I've been able to rule out the BWI (though it does look so nice).

We've stayed at the Poly for a few days before (regular room during our last trip) and I just don't think either my husband or I feel like going back even though it's probably the best for kids overall. Our last trip which was a land sea vacation was not the best for a variety of reasons, so I think staying there would remind us of that. (It had nothing to do with the Poly however.)

Sorry for going on so long, I'm still not sure what to do!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I think if you love the look of the GF, stay with Sugarloaf. I love this resort so much, and if I ever do a stay with skipping GF I always feel like I'm missing out on my slice of heaven there. It's just so relaxing and magical for us. I think concierge there would be great--lots of kids' activities, too.

 

[MissionMouse]

Between the two you mentioned I would select the GF. Overall, the highest ranked concierge is the PR which you indicated rate low on your list. The AKL also has a highly rate concierge too, but appears would be out of your way since you indicated you have no plans to visit the AK this trip.

We typically prefer the monorail loop too, so I would steer you toward either the CR or GF. The Wilderness Lodge is still trying to make a real lounge and is considered concierge light with arrangements made by the PR concierge staff.

I must admit I would investigate the BWI further if you lean this way, since I have read and seen pictures of this lounge and it did not sound or look all that appealing compared to other options. Then again it really depends on your plans, your expectations and what you are actually wanting from the service, offerings and lounge.

 

[disneyholic family]

It's true that the GF concierges (both the RPC and Sugar Loaf) don't have very kid friendly food....
however the GF also has a very nice food court (the Gasparillo) which not many of the deluxes have....and it's open 24 hours....a great thing if you have a middle of the night chip attack....
i love the GF, so the food selection is less important to me in my choice of concierges...

another great MK resort is the Wilderness Lodge....i love their concierge...the CMs are really nice and the food is plentiful and relatively kid friendly...
some people don't like having to take a boat to the MK, but we found it relaxing and enjoyed it...

as for the CR....we just stayed there in July in the 14th floor concierge....we thought it was awful...our worst concierge experience (and we've stayed at most of them)....i would never ever stay there again.....in fact we checked out of it 3 days early and moved to the WL concierge instead....

my two favorite disney resorts are the GF and the WL.....i've stayed at both of them, both concierge and regular and either way they're great....

 

[Lives4Disney]

another great MK resort is the Wilderness Lodge....i love their concierge...the CMs are really nice and the food is plentiful and relatively kid friendly...
some people don't like having to take a boat to the MK, but we found it relaxing and enjoyed it...

The only thing with the WL, and I heard this from friends that stayed there at the same time we stayed GF RPC, was the transportation was SO SLOW and the buses to leave the MK were far and few between. They wouldn't stay there again. Also, they have young girls and they thought the pool didn't have enough shallow areas and due to the layout it was difficult to keep an eye on them. Just what they told me and their thoughts on WL. They had dreamed of staying there and it wound up a disappointment to them. They were with DVC friends, so they pool hopped to the GF to be with us and they were very happy with the GF pools compared to the WL pool(s).

as for the CR....we just stayed there in July in the 14th floor concierge....we thought it was awful...our worst concierge experience (and we've stayed at most of them)....i would never ever stay there again.....in fact we checked out of it 3 days early and moved to the WL concierge instead...

Wow. We had an awful 14th floor experience also. (from reading these boards, I thought I was the only one that wasn't amazed by it!) We have stayed tower club (light concierge) at the CR for the past 12 years and enjoyed it. (my kids favorite ) Due to our crummy and expensive stay there, I told my kids that I would not go back to the CR until it was rehabed. (so we are trying it after Thanksgiving and for them it will be the highlight of their trip - they love that place - did I already say that?) In the mean time we have done GF several times and LOVE LOVE LOVE that place. The waterfall pool at the GF is lots of fun (great slide) and has a lovely atmosphere, too. The pool at the CR is not much fun & not pretty. If you go to WDW in Dec. maybe it wouldn't even be an issue, though. Pools may not be a deciding factor in Dec. We used to go in Jan, Feb, and early March and only used the CR pool a handful of times in all of our stays. There is also something to be said about the convenience of being able to walk b/f to the MK from the CR. I really like that option when leaving the MK at closing and the lines are hideous for the monorails & boats and buses. We just take our time and mosey out of the MK and on to the CR at our own pace - no rushing to get in line or feeling trapped. And I have to mention the MK view from the CR is just unbelievable.

I agree that you should do GF SL or CR. As far as the lounge thing goes, I did GF RPC with my kids this past August (loved it once again) but because it was with my kids, I did not even get to use the lounge and enjoy that great space much anyway. They wanted to be on the go or in our room playing with their toys! How much would you even use the lounge at SL? Go for it and stay there, especially because the decor and theming of the GF appeals to you. The lounge at SL is very pretty & cozy and we had no trouble finding seating when we stayed there. CR is a completely different experience and feel to the resort. I am sure you will enjoy the SL despite the lounge as you probably really won't be there too much anyway. I THOUGHT SL service included everything that the RPC lounge does. I can't imagine why SL wouldn't serve wine??

Good luck with your choice & happy planning! Don't be too swayed by opinions on this board. That what happened to me and I wound up unhappy and disappointed at the CR 14th and also at the Poly LVC (very different stay than I read about on these boards) Do what YOU want to do!

Lives4Disney

 

[edingerc]

Concierge for kids, this means one of three places for me:
Poly, cause it's the Poly and the best
AKL, cause the concierge rooms have great savanah views
BC, is there a kid that doesn't LOVE Stormalong Bay?

 

[disneyholic family]

Concierge for kids, this means one of three places for me:
Poly, cause it's the Poly and the best
AKL, cause the concierge rooms have great savanah views
BC, is there a kid that doesn't LOVE Stormalong Bay?

good point about Stormalong Bay.....but we prefer the Yacht Club and the Yacht Club concierge to that at the BC...

In the mean time we have done GF several times and LOVE LOVE LOVE that place.

yes GF is by far our favorite as well (WL is our second favorite)....
I adore the GF RPC concierge.....my daughter prefers the Sugar Loaf lodge concierge...
my son and husband don't really care as long as it's concierge......
we all adore everything about the GF....the theme, the service, the extraoridinarily friendly and helpful CMs....the restaurants, private dining (the best on property in my opinion).....oh....and the spa/health club is superb as well....i finally used it for the first time when my daughter and i were at the GF for 10 days in September....wonderful....we really really enjoyed the spa....

so....did i mention how much we love the GF?

 

[diselderm]

Wow, thanks for all the opinions. You've given me different perspectives than what I'd found searching the boards.

That was a good point, Lives4Disney, about how we might not use the lounge much anyway.

It's always good to hear other people's thoughts and then see if you feel happy or disappointed that they like or dislike your choice. I found myself wanting you to say go GF so I think that's what we'll do. Although I will need to check on the wine thing. That's one thing my husband and I would both enjoy in the evenings, so for him it will be a requirement.

WL is not available, but that is a good thought too. We stayed at the Villas there last summer and didn't have a problem w/transportation b/c we used our car.

 

[ead79]

We’ve stayed concierge at both the BWI and the GF (though we were in the main building, I think the food offerings are now very similar). We thoroughly enjoyed our stays at both, so you really can’t go wrong with either resort.

In terms of convenience, we loved having the monorail at the GF. However, BWI is a very short (approx. 5 minutes) walk to Epcot’s back entrance, which is very convenient. They have kid-friendly food items at both concierge lounges. In my personal opinion, the food is a little bit more “gourmet” at the GF than at the BWI, so if you have a picky eater I would consider that. We must have similar taste—those two resorts have my favorite décor too!

 

[TammiMcMan]

Not that I'd hesitate bringing kids anywhere in Disney, but if you're looking for more kid friendly foods, then I'd go with the BC or YC. The lounges are small, but it sounds like you might not be spending much time there anyway. They have sodas, juices, pudding cups, goldfish crackers, gummy worms, uncrustable pb&j sandwiches and a kiddie tv and seating area. Other than a few subtle differences, I thought the YC was similar to GF. My kids loved the pool and it just felt a little more fun. Maybe because you're surrounded by the Boardwalk for entertainment and just lots of choices. You can walk to Epcot in under 10 minutes and the boat to MGM is really convenient. I also thought that getting from the YC over to the MK was much easier than trying to get from the GF to Epcot. The IPO staff that handles the Epcot resorts are wonderful, warm and friendly. It was a pleasure planning my vacation with them. The GF staff has done a good job for us, but they lack a certain Disney feel.

 

[diselderm]

Shoot--I've read lots of your posts, Tammi, and I just knew you'd say GF . But good to get a different view point. Other than the pool, are YC/BC concierge a lot more kid friendly than BWI?

I'm trying to contact someone to get the official word on the wine/beer thing at Sugar Loaf and I'll let you know what they say. I hope we don't look like lushes--we would just enjoy having a glass of wine to relax in the evening.

 

[TammiMcMan]

I haven't stayed BWI, but I've heard nice things about them too. I just don't know what their food offerings are like and looking at the virtual view on another website, I didn't see a kids area setup.

You can check over on the GF FAQ thread and fast forward to the last few pages. StephH just came back from SugarLoaf and she has pictures posted on her website. According to her report, the lodge did serve wine also. Janet2K also has some pictures of the new food offerings.

Tammi

 

[Tikiman]

I would not want to try to talk you into the Polynesian if something else would make you happier but all your descriptions of what you want point at it. With easy access to Epcot and the MK as well as a great pool for kids right outside the door of the concierge building I would say at least consider it. I can totally understand not wanting to go somewhere that might remind you of a not so great trip even if it were not the fault of the resort but it might not even feel the same staying concierge since your location will be different and the entire building was just redone including the rooms. You would not even know you were in the same resort room.

If not I say stay somewhere on the monorail.

Aloha

Steve

 

[diselderm]

We lived on the Texas coast for 9 years, so I don't know if the tropical theme will ever appeal to us that much. But the Poly does otherwise fit the bill. Are there any photos of the newly redone rooms anywhere?

I did hear back from the GF concierge people and they said officially that yes there is beer/wine in Sugar Loaf. I had seen the great recent pictures and read the reports that Tammi mentioned, I just wanted the official line in case it was an unofficial temporary thing. The girl I spoke with seemed very nice, by the way.

 

[Tikiman]

There are photos on these pages of the new rooms and concierge.

http://tikiman2001.homestead.com/poly2_55.html

http://tikiman2001.homestead.com/newroom.html

http://tikiman2001.homestead.com/conciergeservice.html

Aloha

Steve

 

[disneyholic family]

Shoot--I've read lots of your posts, Tammi, and I just knew you'd say GF . But good to get a different view point. Other than the pool, are YC/BC concierge a lot more kid friendly than BWI?

I'm trying to contact someone to get the official word on the wine/beer thing at Sugar Loaf and I'll let you know what they say. I hope we don't look like lushes--we would just enjoy having a glass of wine to relax in the evening.

yes the food offerings at YC and BC are more kid friendly than at the GF....
However, the GF has a food court, which the YC/BC resorts don't have....since the concierge lounges only have food at certain times, we found ourselves using the food court as well (i love the soft ice cream in the GF...yummy)...

as for swimming pools, you can't get any better than stormalong bay at the YC/BC...
having said that, we still love the GF best of all....and i can't even say why....we just do.....
however between the YC and BC, we prefer the YC (for the decor, the concierge lounge, and the concierge CMs)...

 

[Sammie]

Based on the ages of your children I would not recommend the Yacht and Beach club based on the pool only.

SAB is not really geared toward very young children, in fact it can be very upsetting to parents when they realize how spread out it is, and how deep the water is in certain areas.