What services would it take to get you to stay on the Concierge level?

[durangojim]

And no fair saying a free upgrade. We're talking about what Disney could do to entice people to stay on the concierge level for the same price they currently charge. I've stayed on a concierge level once at the BC. It was nice, but made me realize there is no way I'd pay to stay there.
The one thing that would make me stay there is this:

Being able to arrive on my trip with no ADRs and just telling the concierge that I wanted to go to a restaurant the day of or the next day. If I could do that and not have to plan the whole trip to accommodate dining reservations, it would be worth it to stay there to me.

 

[disneyrcks]

I hear stuff like this all the time, and I don't understand it. I've stayed at Deluxe Resorts in the real world, and they're not so much better. They might be fancier, but I don't care about that. Deluxe Resorts at Disney are all about location, theme, room size and the food. I've yet to stay in a resort as well themed as Wilderness Lodge, as relaxing as the Polynesian, or with rooms as nice as the Grand Floridian.

But in the real world theme does not matter. Also they often have free breakfast and really nice linens. However, you cannot compare a luxury hotel in the "real world" with theme because there is no comparison.

 

[disneyrcks]

Sorry duplicate post

 

[I-4Warrior]

i Stay On The COncierge Level Because Of Free Food & Drinks Better Service And Bigger Rooms ( Beach Club )

Those are some reasons we stay concierge at AKL.

 

[captainkidd]

Those are some reasons we stay concierge at AKL.

Get a refillable mug for $14 for your entire trip, and pack some goldfish, gummy bears and chocolate chip cookies. You'll get the same experience.

 

[DrummerAlly]

I really can not see anything that they could add to concierge for it to be worth what they charge for it. Concierge service seems to start around $200 per night and I can not think of a single thing that they could offer that would justify me shelling out that much extra per night.

I just ran a quick check and concierge level at AKL is $115 more per night. I'm not sure what it is at all the others.

We were upgraded to concierge level at the Yacht Club during our honeymoon (extra $155/night) and I will say that I think its close to worth the money. We've decided on our next trip that we are going to skip the DDP and instead book Concierge Level at the AKL. Here's Why:

With two people in a room, the extra cost per person is very high. Let's say you are a family of two adults and two children. Breakfast is more than adequate at club level. I would estimate that the cost of the same breakfast from the quick service location at the same resort would run about $40.

It's nice to sit back at the resort and grab a beer for mom and dad while the kids are at the pool.... estimated value around $10. Add in another $15 worth of family snacks and drinks during the day and you're at $65 for food. Not at added cost... but getting close.

Someone else mentioned that you can bring gummy bears and goldfish for snacks and match the experience. If this is true, concierge level at the Yacht Club is very different to concierge level at the Wilderness Lodge. During the day we had some of the most amazing home made potato chips I've ever had, fresh fruit and vegetables, and mini appetizers. The night time offerings had a huge selection of excellent appetizer like food - maybe enough to make a dinner of if you already had a large lunch. The desserts and cordials were out of this world amazing.

The service we had was very good. No, they didn't do anything above and beyond but we didn't ask them to either. For example, my husband forgot to pack socks on that trip. We mentioned this to the concierge CMs and they got on the phone, called down to the gift shop, and had the gift shop pull mens socks and set them aside for us. Yes, they could have had them charged to our room and brought up for us. I am positive that if I had asked them to do this, they would have.

So in summary, in my imaginary best case scenario I think you can recoup a little more than half of the cost of concierge level. For the other half you are paying for a more relaxing experience. We didn't have to walk from our room to the BC Quick Service (which is quite a walk). Instead we walked 20 feet and enjoyed quiet breakfasts and snacks on the balcony. If we were thirsty or hungry, a quick (quiet!) snack was just outside the door. When we wanted water bottles to take the the park - there they were.

What would Disney have to do to get me to book concierge level for every trip at their current costs? They would have to provide full buffet dinner in the way that they provide breakfast right now.

 

[durangojim]

I just ran a quick check and concierge level at AKL is $115 more per night. I'm not sure what it is at all the others.

We were upgraded to concierge level at the Yacht Club during our honeymoon (extra $155/night) and I will say that I think its close to worth the money. We've decided on our next trip that we are going to skip the DDP and instead book Concierge Level at the AKL. Here's Why:

With two people in a room, the extra cost per person is very high. Let's say you are a family of two adults and two children. Breakfast is more than adequate at club level. I would estimate that the cost of the same breakfast from the quick service location at the same resort would run about $40.

It's nice to sit back at the resort and grab a beer for mom and dad while the kids are at the pool.... estimated value around $10. Add in another $15 worth of family snacks and drinks during the day and you're at $65 for food. Not at added cost... but getting close.

Someone else mentioned that you can bring gummy bears and goldfish for snacks and match the experience. If this is true, concierge level at the Yacht Club is very different to concierge level at the Wilderness Lodge. During the day we had some of the most amazing home made potato chips I've ever had, fresh fruit and vegetables, and mini appetizers. The night time offerings had a huge selection of excellent appetizer like food - maybe enough to make a dinner of if you already had a large lunch. The desserts and cordials were out of this world amazing.

The service we had was very good. No, they didn't do anything above and beyond but we didn't ask them to either. For example, my husband forgot to pack socks on that trip. We mentioned this to the concierge CMs and they got on the phone, called down to the gift shop, and had the gift shop pull mens socks and set them aside for us. Yes, they could have had them charged to our room and brought up for us. I am positive that if I had asked them to do this, they would have.

So in summary, in my imaginary best case scenario I think you can recoup a little more than half of the cost of concierge level. For the other half you are paying for a more relaxing experience. We didn't have to walk from our room to the BC Quick Service (which is quite a walk). Instead we walked 20 feet and enjoyed quiet breakfasts and snacks on the balcony. If we were thirsty or hungry, a quick (quiet!) snack was just outside the door. When we wanted water bottles to take the the park - there they were.

What would Disney have to do to get me to book concierge level for every trip at their current costs? They would have to provide full buffet dinner in the way that they provide breakfast right now.

All good points. Conversely I'd say that a guest is missing out on diversity of drinks and snacks, and might feel forced to eat at the concierge loung "to get their money's worth".

Also, as for the poster who spoke about how well concierges are trained and that they can make anything happen, they may be well trained, but as others have said they can't make anything happen with regards to restaurant reservations. When my wife and I have stayed in Chicago, there's a fondue restaurant we love. Most times we make our own reservations, but on a spur of the moment trip we didn't. Wait times are usually around 3 hours on Saturday nights. Our concierge got us a table at exactly the time we wanted and we were seated as soon as we arrived at the restaurant, bypassing the dozens of people waiting. If "concierges" at Disney could do that, then it might be worth the price, but anyone who says they can is fooling themselves.

 

[CaptainShortty]

First off, you make some really valid points, and I'm glad someone addressed the "chubby 20-something with a $15 haircut" comment.

I do have a question, though. Are you saying that Concierge CM's DO have the ability to get you in to a completely booked restaurant? If I walk up to the concierge one morning and say I'd like to eat dinner at Le Cellier that night at 7:30, they can make that happen, even if the restaurant is booked solid?

Because, if you're staying at a 5 star hotel here in NY, the concierge can do that for you, even if the hotel is booked. That's what people are saying. A real concierge can get you whatever you want or need.

Ok, I understand where you're coming from in that respect. As far as I know, the only advantage CMs have is that cancelled reservations are reloaded into their computers before the computers of the general public. So it's more likely for them to grab the reservation then you on a computer or phone. They also have back office phone numbers and things to call the restaurants to see if there are reservations which they won't always do. But no, if it's booked they can't change that. Like someone said, it would be impossible for the relationship between (for example) NY 5 star hotels and restaurants to exist.

That being said, I would still consider them a Concierge because they do do what a Concierge does. They CAN book your tickets, make your dining reservations, get you that souvenir you couldn't find in the parks, etc. which is at the base of it all what a Concierge does. I think people that are new to the World def. benefit from it more because they have more to learn.

I do agree with all of you that the club level concierge is not up to the standard of other club level concierges...but I think in general they do what is required of a Concierge function so the title still should stand. But I understand the point you're coming from.

 

[tikiman]

Read above. Concierge has no pull at the restaurants. If your concierge got a reservation for you - thats because you could have gotten on-line and done it yourself through the reservation system or calling. As someone else said, if they magically get an impossible reservation for you (i.e. Le Cellier, CA Grille, or 'Ohana last minute) its because they checked continuously throughout the day for a cancellation or maybe have a personal contact at a certain restaurant. But this is not the norm...

Not entirely true. I have sat with club level CMs and discussed what they can and can’t do and I watched one get in and make a reservation that would not show up as available if you were to go in yourself or even have front desk concierge try and make you a reservation. I asked why other club level CMs said this could not be done and they told me that they were not trained well. There is so much rotation of staff that they don’t all know the tricks but those that have been doing it a while do and this one did know the tricks. It is possible but most of the time the person you are working with may not even know how to do it.

 

[menamechris]

Not entirely true. I have sat with club level CMs and discussed what they can and can’t do and I watched one get in and make a reservation that would not show up as available if you were to go in yourself or even have front desk concierge try and make you a reservation. I asked why other club level CMs said this could not be done and they told me that they were not trained well. There is so much rotation of staff that they don’t all know the tricks but those that have been doing it a while do and this one did know the tricks. It is possible but most of the time the person you are working with may not even know how to do it.

You basically validated most of our points. Some concierge CM's may have "tricks" or "in's" at certain places - but the fact of the matter is that I have no way of knowing if I am getting that spectacular CM when I book concierge at a hotel at WDW. The training is spotty at best, and I am basically flipping a coin on whether they will know how to do their job or not, and perform the services expected of a concierge professional. This would not be acceptable in most prestigious hotels.

 

[Michael Hall]

Have special transportation to and from the parks so we dont wait in long lines.

 

[tikiman]

You basically validated most of our points. Some concierge CM's may have "tricks" or "in's" at certain places - but the fact of the matter is that I have no way of knowing if I am getting that spectacular CM when I book concierge at a hotel at WDW. The training is spotty at best, and I am basically flipping a coin on whether they will know how to do their job or not, and perform the services expected of a concierge professional. This would not be acceptable in most prestigious hotels.

Very good point.

 

[Uncle Lupe]

Special guest "escorts".

 

[R W B]

So if a Disney Concierge could get you a table at any time at the restaurant you wanted 90% of the people in this thread would stay on the concierge level???? I mean concierges in big entertainment cities like NYC, Vegas, New Orleans, Miami can get you alot more then just a table at your favorite restaurant, but there is a reason for that, its all about the money and who is paying off who in the big cities. You all dont think big city concierges get what they can get because they are nice guys huh?

I mean if Disney Concierges accepted tips and if the turn over of CMs in general wasnt so often the same thing could happen at WDW too.