Opinions

Concierge Services-Disney Style
By Pam Forrester - January 26, 2002

Concierge services at any hotel offer additional services and access to a knowledgeable and attentive staff. Concierge services at Disney resorts are no exception, and we have found the Disney concierge CM's to be wonderful. Our stays at the concierge level have always been especially magical-even for a Disney vacation. Concierge services are not 'Dollarless' and can be double the rates (if not more) of a regular room, but it is a luxury with benefits. At this point, concierge rooms are offered at all the Disney deluxe resorts.

The Benefits: You have access to the concierge staff, before you even set foot on WDW property. They can help plan your trip by securing dinner show tickets, arranging priority seating, and making recreation reservations. They can also help with any other pre-arrival arrangements you may want to make (ordering flowers or gifts for the room etc) . Be sure to mention if you are celebrating a special event-the concierge staff is full of surprises. The staff is also at your disposal once you arrive and can help obtain even difficult PS arrangements on short notice. Concierge rooms also offer additional amenities including robes to use during your stay, triple sheeted beds, additional toiletries, turn down services and more. Concierge guests are also offered a separate check-in area-usually at or near the lounge. One of the largest benefits of staying in a concierge room is access to the lounge and the continental breakfasts, afternoon snacks, before dinner appetizers and evening drinks and desserts that are served. A variety of food and drinks are served throughout the dayñand the menu and times vary according to the resort. Most of the lounges are very comfortable and in addition to tables with chairs, include comfortable couches and chairs, and a large screen TV with DVD or VCR.

Polynesian: I have to admit this is our favorite. The concierge rooms are all located in the Hawaii building. There are two types of room 'views' in the Hawaii building water view and garden view. If you splurge and get a waterview room at the Polynesian, you will have a wonderful view of the castle. The rooms include a small refrigerator. The lounge is also located in the Hawaii building. It is wonderful-two floors with walls of windows so you can enjoy the wonderful view looking over the lake toward the Castle. The lounge is an excellent spot to view the MK fireworks, especially with the dessert and drinks available. The second floor of the lounge is filled with comfortable spots to sit and enjoy a book from the bookcases that surround you. The staff are wonderful, and the food and drinks are very convenient. Continental breakfast, afternoon snacks evening appetizers and desserts and cordials are served in the lounge. You are encouraged to take drinks and water bottles with you to your room or to the parks. We are addicted to the cookies served in the afternoon-they are very good.

Grand Floridian: The GF has two concierge levels the Sugar Loaf and Royal Palm concierge. Sugar Loaf concierge is located in the Sugar Loaf Key building, and the lounge is on the first floor of the building. Continental breakfast, midday snacks, before dinner appetizers and desserts in the evening. There is no alcohol served in the Sugar Loaf Concierge. The Royal Palm concierge rooms are located in the main building, and the lounge is on the fourth floor of the building. continental breakfast, midday snacks, afternoon tea, before dinner snacks with wine and desserts with wine and cordials in the evening. When I say desserts, I mean chocolate covered strawberries, individual cheesecakes, and many other tasty treats. One thing to note about the GF concierge rooms is that there are many different room configurations, and also many different prices.

Contemporary: The Contemporary also has two levels of concierge service Tower Concierge and Tower Club. Tower club (12th floor) is "concierge light" while concierge on the 14th floor is full service. The Tower club concierge serves only continental breakfast, and afternoon cookies and drinks in a lounge area located as you . The concierge staff is not on duty after 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. The main concierge (14th floor) floor has a continental breakfast with more choices, appetizers in the evening (Sometimes prepared at the California Grill!!) as well as wine and cordials in the evening. The staff is available in the evening.

Wilderness Lodge: Rooms located on the 7th floor have access to a 'lounge' that overlooks the lobby-one of the nicest lobbies in all of WDW (IMHO). Continental breakfast, afternoon snacks, before dinner appetizers and desserts and drinks are served. You can request a view (woodsview, pool view etc.) Requests can not be guaranteed.

Beach Club and Yacht Club: The concierge lounges are located on the fifth floor of each resort. Continental breakfast afternoon snacks, appetizers before dinner and desserts wine and cordials in the evening. The food here is usually quite good and they seem to have a lot of variety in the food that they offer. Also worthwhile to note the rooms at the Beach club do not all have balconies, if this is something that is important to you remember to request this when making your reservation.

Animal Kingdom: Concierge Rooms are located on the fifth and sixth floor of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Continental breakfast, afternoon snacks and tea, before dinner appetizers, and desserts and drinks are served in the lounge. The big draw for concierge guests at the Animal Kingdom is the sunrise safari. Only available to concierge guests, this spectacular safari is said to offer one of the best opportunities for animal viewing. Also it is followed by breakfast . (there is an extra charge for the safari) Another plus for families with children is the craft activities for children held in the afternoon. One other thing to note about concierge rooms at the AKL-some of the rooms are not savanna view but pool view rooms. You can request a savanna view, but this is not guaranteed.

Boardwalk Inn: Known as the 'Innkeepers Club' the concierge rooms and lounge are located on the fourth floor of the Boardwalk Inn. The lounge serves a continental breakfast afternoon snacks, evening appetizers, and desserts and drinks in the evening (great desserts). The lounge also has a nice balcony, and is a very comfortable and inviting room. Lots of star sightings here-probably due to the really nice suites located on the concierge floors.

In closing, people often ask if concierge 'worth' the extra cost. This is a question that is difficult to answer. Concierge services are designed as an extra level of service. They were never designed as a money saving alternative. Although the meals and snack are nice, with the exception of the continental breakfast, they were not designed to replace an entire meal. The biggest draw for my family is the convenience, and the extra services. It is hard to put a price on convenience, and even more difficult to put a price on the extra care, and attention provided by the concierge CM's. We stay at the concierge level when we are looking for extra relaxation, or extra pampering, or just that extra something special.