Poly-concierge-just booked for 3/1-have questions

[mickey-nut]

Hi Everyone!

We just booked a mini vacation at the Poly Garden View concierge. We have never stayed concierge before and was wondering what to expect. Besides the food what else should we expect? Will they contact me for our PS or do I still make them on my own? Will they do anything special for a 5 year olds b-day? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[madalex]

Since the trip is so close, you may not want to wait for them to contact you (which they should do). Instead, I would call them and they can they make any arrangements you want to make for you. If you ask, they will also fax or e-mail your intinerary once the arrangements are made (I always like having this just as security to know it has been done; the itinerary will include the confirmation number for each PS so that this can be looked up on the WDW computers in case there is a problem once you get there).

Let them know about the birthday and I am sure they will do something special. For example, last year we traveled to WDW with a family that had never been there before. We told the concierge at the Yacht Club about this and when we arrived, there were "welcome gifts" in both family's rooms of autographed pictures to the kids and chocolates - it was very nice.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[johnvree]

Besides the food itself, let me summarize some of the other benefits:

1. Package delivery to your room (as opposed to the resort front desk).

2. Private check-in. Make sure you tell the bellhop you are staying in the concierge building. They will take you directly to the building where you'll be checked in by the concierge staff. This is a nice touch; this is a Godsend when busy times.

3. You get one of the best longhouses in the resort. The Hawaii is centrally located by both pools, the marina, the TTC and the GCH.

4. The lounge is like having a family room on your hotel room. The lounge is a great place to escape on a rainy/too hot day or to retreat after a long day in the park. They have a large screen tv, books, games and food and drink.

5. Then there's the food, which is sounds like you already know about. The food is much much better than the typical "continental breakfast" you get at a hotel. The quality and variety, throughout the day, are very good. A corollary benefit to the food service is the convenience it provides. In the morning, it will save you a good 45 minutes. You can simply grab some chow and either eat it in the lounge or take it back to your room. No traveling to a restaurant, getting seated, getting served and paying. If you retreat to the resort for an afternoon break, same thing. Lunch is a snap.

6. Finally, there is an undefined, almost unofficial benefit you get by being a concierge guest. The concierge will go out of their way to make your trip special. If you have a special request, they will typically make it happen. Whether it's a last minute PS or a special occasion, the conceirge will go out of their way to get it done.

Hope this helps. We are staying in the Poly concierge building in May. Have a great trip.

 

[madalex]

Originally posted by johnvree

4. The lounge is like having a family room on your hotel room. The lounge is a great place to escape on a rainy/too hot day or to retreat after a long day in the park. They have a large screen tv, books, games and food and drink.

5. Then there's the food, which is sounds like you already know about. The food is much much better than the typical "continental breakfast" you get at a hotel. The quality and variety, throughout the day, are very good. A corollary benefit to the food service is the convenience it provides. In the morning, it will save you a good 45 minutes. You can simply grab some chow and either eat it in the lounge or take it back to your room. No traveling to a restaurant, getting seated, getting served and paying. If you retreat to the resort for an afternoon break, same thing. Lunch is a snap.

[/B]

I heartily second both these comments. Never stayed at Poly concierge, but at both AKL and Yacht Club concierge, the lounge is a great place just too hang out if your room gets too confining, to use to distract the kids with a movie or to read the paper (I can keep up with The Wall Street Journal on vacation because they have it in the lounge).

As to food, it is a huge convenience! Except if we have a character breakfast, we never eat breakfast anywhere other than the lounge because they put out such a great morning spread. It is especially helpful for me to take the kids to the lounge to eat while my wife gets ready in the morning. Then, when we are done, we take some food down to her and everyone is happy!

Don't use the lounges quite as much for lunch (have not found the amount and types of food put out then are quite as enticing as that for breakfast), but it is great to have it there to grab a snack or a drink during the day.