Why Does Disney Charge So Much For Concierge

[AndyMcV]

Hi Gang

In 2003 we stayed at the Swan on a concierge/club level floor. We got a really good rate for our room including the club level priviledges. In fact I think it cost us $20 more a night for the concierge level. It was really handy my DW and DS4 would wake up early grab a quick breakfast and head out for the day. We'd come back and night for a snack or whatever.

When I look at the price difference at a Disney resort between a room with concierge and one without I'm astounded by the price difference - $100-$150 per night. I guess I don't understand as I've never had concierge at a Disney resort however how can it cost that much for a little extra food/drink? Is it more just a prestige thing where you can say you staying with concierge priviledges? Don't get me wrong as I'd pay for this service if it's worth it. However if I had to pay $150 extra a night to get what we had at the Swan the answer would be no way.

What have I missed?

A.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I have wondered the same thing myself. From what I have read, it seems that some people like having concierge take care of dining arrangements ahead of time for them so they don't have to wait on the phone to make their own priority seatings. I can't justify spending so much more money for this perk and the food and drinks you get. It may be a prestige thing for some people.

 

[LindaR]

Just my opinion.......I would not pay to stay concierge at WDW. When my daughter and I vacation, we usually stay on concierge level (these are non-disney vacations) and find that it is worth the little extra that we pay.

If the cost wasn't soooo excessive, if the "service" was consistently high (not hit and miss) then it might be worth a little more. I think too many people stay concierge at WDW who have never stayed concierge at any other hotel and do not know how to act (they take all the food servings and are loud and obnoxious).

I have only stayed at a "deluxe" on WDW property once and probably will not do it again. I was not impressed.

JUST MY OPINION!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rkmassa]

I have always thought the same thing. Why would anyone pay that much? I keep thinking of all the things I could spend the extra money on. I would think ordering room service would be cheaper in some places. My Travel Agent made all of our PS reservations and helped with suggestions on tours, etc. All this was free. I hear so many hit and miss reports on the service and food. Some really expensive snacks and drinks I think. I guess we all spend our money in different ways. This way won't be one for me.

 

[lark]

I think the answer to why disney charges so much is probably pretty easy. They charge what they are able to get. Since concierge seems to be tough to get when codes come out, either they are deliberately keeping these rooms empty to avoid underselling themselves or demand is high at even the high prices, which seems more likely to me.

As for why people pay it, it's tough to say. For some of the resorts, concierge comes with enhanced views or top floors, so some may view it as a way to help ensure a certain view while also getting some snacks. Other people get to vacation infrequently and when they do like to find ways to make it seem more special. WDW is a crowded place with tens of thousands of other people doing exactly what you're doing at any given moment. I think some people like to feel as though they are getting a little more pampering than the others, and fundamentally I think it is that, and not just the snacks, that WDW is selling. Finally, there are, I am led to understand, a certain number of people for whom a few hundred dollars a night is just not a significant amount of money. (Wouldn't that be nice?) Some of those people need to be made to feel that they are getting the best option that is available to them, and thus will pay for any enhanced anything, so long as you give it a special name.

 

[Bojangles]

We have had some wonderful concierge stays. It was great not having to worry about breakfast and having drinks and snacks available in the lounge. Very convenient when you have younger children. The past couple of years, the service has really gone downhill so I doubt I would pay the extra money next time.

 

[swilphil]

I don't get it either. For $100 per night couldn't you just order room service and get so much more for your money? If I had that much extra to spend, I would upgrade to a suite instead of concierage. My in-laws stayed in a 1 bedroom Exec. Suite at the Swan that was fabulous. If you ever get a chance, give it a try. I think the Swan/Dolphin is the best deal at WDW with their great discounts and the deluxe accomadations and service.

The Swan/Dolphin also has a concierage desk in the lobby that will get PS's for any guests, not just Club Level. We used them several times.

 

[webray]

We can't figure out why disney charges so much either.

We did find the concierge to be worth it at AKL. The Boardwalk was ok, but Grand Floridian was horrible.

I think as the years go by, disney offers less and less no matter what level of room you are staying at. You are paying to be on property and that is pretty much it.

 

[hmmchowell]

I read a tip in my 2004 Passporter that you could pay about $30 a day room service and get continental breakfast in the morning and snacks in the evening and they're delivered to your room and everything. That's about all I'd use concierge for anyway. $30 is a lot cheaper than $100 to $150.

 

[sugermouse]

Because they can!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Webray, why was the GF horrible? I have never stayed there and just this week made reservations for the RPC over Thanksgiving. I was thrilled to get the main building! Uh oh. I am really looking forward to it. Maybe I should look to change? Please let me know.... I am paying full price because it was so last minute. I have an AP and an email code to use, but they aren't available so I feel like I am paying way too much, but my family is excited about it so we are doing it.

I did stay Poly LVC in August and that - to me - was disappointing. The CMs were less than helpful, unknowledgable, and just overall not friendly AT ALL.

Usually we stay CR tower club - light concierge - it is about $40/50 more/night and we are happy with the CMs, the nice breakfrast spread, and the afternoon snack breaks. For us the tower club cost is worth it - not excepting the fabulous view from the 12th floor.

We stayed Swan CL also and I agree. I wouldn't pay more than $40 extra for it. The only thing we felt we got for the $ was breakfast. No robes in the room, unpredictable turn down, less than enough chocolates on the pillows (there were 5 of us) They would give 1 or 2!! I have 3 kids!!!

 

[turnlisa]

I think it depends on the perks that you take advantage of. We stayed at the Poly LVC last year and found that for us, it didn't seem too outrageous. The view is spectacular -- probably the biggest thing for us. The breakfasts were really convenient and saved us about $30 a day. There are also snacks at lunch, dinner and after dinner desserts. This probably saved us another $20 just because we didn't have to buy soft drinks, munchies, etc. I think the turn-down service is awesome and definitely makes you feel pampered. This year I used them to make reservations for CRT, Fantasmic Dinner Pkg, and the Tea Party for my two DSs. Without them, I know I wouldn't have gotten CRT or the Tea Party. It depends on how you look at it and if you can afford it. For us, it is a wonderful thing that we can enjoy once a year without having to worry about little things.

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Originally posted by turnlisa
I think it depends on the perks that you take advantage of...

I agree with turnlisa... I'm still rather new to the DIS but this topic seems to come up from time to time. Perhaps people stay concierge for the prestige or because money's no object, but for the most part, I doubt it. That certainly wasn't true in my own case.

I think it comes down to the value you place on the perks that come with concierge and where you want to put your vacation dollars. For my money, it was worth it this past summer to have the pre-planning assistance with making (and changing and changing) PSs and arranging some treats for our family, etc. Some people delight in doing those things for themselves -- I found it convenient to have help with this from the BC IPO staff. For a family of 5, it was also convenient to have the occasional breakfast, snack break, or dessert treat in the lounge. On the other hand, I chose not to put my money into a car rental, boat rental, dinner shows... that sort of thing. Just wasn't my priority this time around...

That said, I think I would make my own decision on a trip-by-trip basis. We have an upcoming "surprise trip" for a long weekend in December and did not choose to do concierge this time. Different resort, different priorities. Next summer, though... we'll try concierge again... and resort hopping, too, I hope!

 

[lark]

I think the RPC is kind of one of those special circumstances that I noted above. Staying there is the only way to stay in the main building. So you're paying not just for the snacks and service, but also for a guaranteed room in the main building. There's no other way to do it.

 

[dejr_8]

We stayed WL concierge for the first time May 2003 and then again Dec 2003 and we have it booked for this Dec as well. In that time period, we have stayed at four other non-concierge Disney hotels (Poly, CBR, ASMu, POFQ). In our opinion a concierge level stay is so much more relaxing than a non-concierge stay.

With a 5 yo and a 2 yo, the convenience of concierge breakfast just can not be over-estimated. It is so much easier to run out to the food table, get food for everyone, take it back to the room and relax while everyone gets ready. You are still relaxed when it is time to go to the parks

Contrast that with getting the kids ready, taking them to the food court, eating while the kids are fidgeting (sp?). You are already tense/spent by the time you go to the park.

And then getting the snack/dinner meal is a great way to get the kids back up to speed before going to dinner elsewhere or heading back to the parks for illumenations, wishes, fantasmic, etc.

On a dollar for dollar basis it is not worth it. On an intangibles basis it is very worth it.

We first tried concierge by upgrading at check-in for only $50 a night. If available give it a try and see if you like it.

 

[anita46]

Let's see;

Check-in downstairs:
a 1/2 hour to hour wait. A desk clerk that MAY be knowledge about the rooms and Disney. Keep checking on the kids who are trying to explore. Stress Stress Stress.
Check in at concierge:
Sit down in a relaxing lounge with an experienced CM, send the kids to the lounge for snacks and a Disney movie.

Breakfast:
Standard
Order room service...wait 30 minutes.
OR
Get everybody up...get everbody up...get everybody up...then into the bathroom, then dressed, then to breakfast, even with PS you could still wait 10 to 15 minutes. Then to eat, at least 30 minutes before you're out the door and if your kids are over 11 you are paying adult prices for their breakfast. $$
Concierge:
You get up, take your shower, get dressed, go down to the lounge for coffee, take it back to the room, get the kids up, dressed and sent down the hall for breakfast at their own pace. LESS STRESS and save $50 (at least) on breakfast

Snack/POP/Water with 4 (kids over 11) of us in a room can easily exceed $50 a day and some days we never buy a meal.

Prestige is not what we get from concierge, besides who knows but you and the staff where you're staying? No it makes our vacation FUN and STRESS FREE

There's more but I'm getting stressed thinking about it

I think if it was just the two of us we would not use concierge, but with pre-teens and teens we break even with standard price rooms. It is so worth it to us.

 

[Bracho]

I think they charge what the market will bear.

I stay on the concierge level because I enjoy the services, the money part isn't important, when I'm on vacation and I have a problem or I need something special, the concierge has always come through.

 

[storybookmum]

Booking CL for 2 nights at the AKL was worth it for these reasons:

We are already spending a PILE of money to be at AKL with a savannah view, so $85 a night more didn't seem that much scarier.

There are five of us, so we can also make up $85 a night in breakfast alone.

At AKL, only CL guests are entitled to the Sunrise and Sunset Safaris. I wish it were included in the CL price, but the Safaris sounded amazing, so we're doing a sunrise one.

I already had almost all my PS arrangements, so that wasn't a huge draw for me, but when I needed a couple more, and a couple of modifications, they took care of it right away for me with an email.

Two of the people in our family have dietary restrictions, and IPO at AKL is right on top of that, ensuring that the restaurants are notified, that there are appropriate snacks held for us in the lounge, and that the breakfast on the safari will be safe. I know that we can arrange those things ourselves, but it does ease some of our concern.

It's our first family vacation in four years, and we wanted to splurge. We're members at the zoo near our home and love the animals, so we wanted to combine the whole animal experience with the pampering and convenience of CL. For five nights we are at POR Riverside. Our last two nights will be (I hope and expect!) a really knock-your-socks-off surprise for our girls.

Because my DSD is older, if we get the kids to sleep early enough, then DH and I have the luxury of going to the lounge ALONE for a date, which is utterly unheard of in our nutsy life. Frankly, I'd pay $85 a night for that date (and this way, we don't need the sitter that the kids don't know, because we'll be so close).

Lastly, my DSD will be turning 13 the day after we leave Disney, and it's part of her birthday celebration. IPO is aware that it's her birthday, and I know that they usually leave a cake in the room. It's not a guaranteed perk, I guess, but it'll be nice if it happens.

Our reasons....or at least our rationalisations. Sometimes, I still catch my breath at the astronomical price....but once every four years? I can cope with it, in the long run. (and no, I couldn't spread the money out and go more often; this is the first chance we've all had to go together, and even now, it's not really all of us; DSS is in his senior year of high school and won't be coming.)

Kris

 

[disneyholic family]

this is economics 101...
they charge so much for concierge because they can...
it's the first thing you learn in economics, you charge what the market will bear.....it's called "tapping the demand curve"..

(i guess i didn't waste all those years getting a PhD in economics for nothing.... )

by the way, we only stay concierge.....it's worth every obscene penny of it to us.....but those last two words are the key..."to us"...it wouldn't necessarily be worth it to another person.....but that shouldn't matter to disney...as long as they can fill the rooms at that price that's all they care about....and if they have too many people wanting those rooms, then they're not charging enough and it's time to make it even more obscenely expensive....that's how it works.....

 

[Tiffany]

Why? Becasue they can. Basic economics to me. They are going to charge as much as they can until they reach the point of diminishing returns. I do not think there are that many people paying rack rate (at least not on these boards ) but Disney knows the price point that will fill the rooms and still make them money. We will stay AKL Concierge for $277 a night inc taxes with an AP rate without thinking twice but for more than that I am not sure. The last two years the price has been $277 a night for the winter value season with an AP rate. If the rate goes up this year then I will have to make a choice but I will not hold that against Disney as that is what they are in business for. As a stock holder it is there job to make as much money as possible for their stockholders.

I tend to look at things or a pure business point of view so that is where this is coming from.