"Abusing" Club Level privileges

[Fargoman2]

Just completed a fine stay at the Dolphin. But I must say I was first amused and then annoyed by the abuse of CL privileges. A woman who our family tabbed "Cookie Lady" must have acquired a bakery's-worth of goodies in her room before her stay was completed. Every afternoon after enjoying already generous portions of all available food and beverages, she would leave CL with a plate stacked high with HUGE cookies and beverages--as did at least one of her grandson? nephew's?

Now I understand that it's more than fine to bring back a plate of goodies for someone who couldn't make it to the CL area or to bring a little something back "for the road", but this was an obvious case of "milking" the perks of CL priviliges to extreme limits. Besides, her excessive cookie collecting left others who came later wondering "Hey, what happened to all the chocolate cookies?"

I can only hope that "Cookie Lady" represents a small percentage of CL guests. I know I should just mind my own business and not cast aspersions on others but it just sort of bugged me that someone would take advantage of a business in such a way.

Has anyone else observed similar behavior in CL? Am I in the minority for thinking there is anything wrong with "maxmizing" one's CL benefits?

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

WE were at concierge at the BWI and one lady kept taking all of the chocolate covered strawberries during our stay. Each one in the family woudl pile them all on their plates every night and no one else ever got any.

 

[trbrophy]

Well, while I agree that clearing a table of items isn't very cool, they have paid for the right to eat the food. I believe that if a particular item is depleted or gone you only need to ask the conceirge (sp?) team to replentish it.

 

[ducklite]

I'm wondering if that wasn't teh same lady and family as we ran into at the AKL the first time we stayed there...and possibly the GF on our visit there as well.

In the case of the AKL, they were taking the food back to the room to share with other guests who were traveling with them but not staying concierge. And no, there were no more cookies after they cleaned them out.

Anne

 

[Threehearts]

I have found the same thing, Anne. After multiple stays at Poly Conc. I've noticed that many times there just wasn't any more of a selection. I have asked on several occasions if the CMs could replenish an item and there wasn't any left in the kitchen. Best policy- get to the offerings early and remind the piggly-wigglies that the Concierge lounge closed their buffet years ago(wink). Threehearts

 

[PghDisney]

Unfortunately it only takes one like that to ruin things for everyone else. It is a shame that everyone has to adjust their behavior (come early) because one or two families are determined to squeeze an extra $20 worth of food out of what they paid for, but nothing to be done about it except to know that it is a possibiility, and if it happens be determined to not allow it to destroy the atmosphere that almost all really had come to concierge for. Hopefully that particular lady that seems to have been following Anne around will be at poly, AKL or somehwere OTHER than GF when I go in a week and a half, but this board really really has helped, as if she or her kin show up I am prepared for it and will let it slide right off of me, where if I had not been aware of the possibility it may have ruined part of the trip. Good luck to all.

 

[johnsonet]

I hesitate to even get STARTED on this topic b/c it is such a source of irritation to me. We were recently at the Hard Rock Hotel at Club Level and this abuse was rampant. And I DO consider it abuse - of the amenities. The argument of "they paid for it" is just lame! It is flat-out rude to take plates of cookies, BOTTLES of wine, etc. These types look like LOOTERS with what they take away and it really does ruin it for other guests and for the staff. It is so aggressive and tactless.

 

[the disney queen]

I think that the outrage should be directed towards the concierge staff NOT keeping the cookies/strawberries/"insert whatever food you prefer" filled, regardless of how much anyone takes. We've stayed concierge level at the Polynesian. Yes, we did "learn" that we needed to get there early in order to have a better selection of offerings. But, when I pay anywhere from $100 to $150 more per night for the "privilege" of utilizing the concierge lounge and the food they provide, I darn well expect the staff to make SURE the food is there...all throughout the hours they designate it to be available. It shouldn't matter if one guest takes a whole plate of anything back to their room...at the prices they charge, they can certainly afford more cookies!

 

[jgates]

Absolutely priceless! We had a party of 3 and I felt guilty about taking back 2 cans of soda (normally I didn't even drink one down there so they didn't lose out on me!) and one cookie for bedtime in case my blood sugar got low!

 

[PghDisney]

I do not think that people were talking of what you describe jgates, just the more egregious examples . . . taking a few bottles of wine to the room, a family filling plates with chocolate covered strawberries to the point that none were there for anyone else, the entire week that one person was there . . . cookies piled to the ceiling on plates and taken to the room to be shared with non-concierge guests, we have all read the examples here. . . from what I read most on the other hand do what you described, taking a drink with them to the parks, a cookie or two, and I doubt that any would find wrong with that. It is like the supreme court justice once said of pornography . . .describing it is difficult but he knows it when he sees it . . . inconsideration is like that too, and what you described was not, what others have told tales of definately is . . .

 

[peg2001]

But, when I pay anywhere from $100 to $150 more per night for the "privilege" of utilizing the concierge lounge and the food they provide, I darn well expect the staff to make SURE the food is there...all throughout the hours they designate it to be available. [/B]

I've never stayed Club Level or concierge so please take my question to be ignorance and not snide:

Why not just use the $100 to $150 per night to buy some amazing and yummy snacks rather than staying concierge and hoping that there will be some snacks left for you?

Peggy

 

[johnsonet]

Well, exactly... the $100+ per night is not a FOOD BILL. You're paying to feel "special" and to have extra amenities, such as a "concierge" to help with reservations, check-in, other requests. They don't say, "Upgrade to concierge so that you have unlimited food". Some people just abuse priveleges in all aspects of life - it's unpleasant but true. It really can ruin the mood of the lounge in my opinion. Concierge should be a little more refined, luxurious level of hospitality and from what I've experienced it's more like a free-for-all for a lot of people who feel entitled to more and more and more. I hope something can be done to alleviate some of the abuses. And I feel SORRY for the concierge staff.

 

[Schmeck]

Why don't people point the cookie-nabbers out to the concierge staff? Or confront them themselves - as in "Could you please leave a few crumbs for the rest of us?"

Schmeck

 

[DrTomorrow]

Welcome, the disney queen, to the DIS! Glad you found us - hope your time here is a pleasant one!

That said, I disagree with your suggestion to direct outrage at the Concierge staff. True, they have an obligation to provide a reasonable amount of food, beverage, snacks, etc during posted hours. The key word, though, tdq, is 'Reasonable'. Let's take this to the extreme - if I'm staying at Concierge, and I spend all day with a hand-truck, carting every bit of food and drink back to my room as soon as it is put out, I think we can agree that this is not acceptable behaviour for a Concierge guest . So now that we're agreed that there is a limit as to what a Concierge guest can reasonably take, let's discuss that limit. The Concierge Service is NOT a meal, and NOT a buffet, and certainly NOT a bulk warehouse - it is hors d'ouvres and a glass of wine, cookies and milk, a bottle of water for the parks. If you're going to take something to your room, fine - but don't make it ten times as much as your group could eat in the lounge; hoarding is not appropriate. Honestly, if you paid for an open bar at a party, would you expect your guests to be carting off cases of vodka?

 

[Fargoman2]

Amen!

When I go to our local buffet, I do not fill bags with extra chicken and fill containers with potato salad and ice cream to take home because "I"ve paid for that privilege."

 

[ducklite]

As absurd as it might sound, I've sat here giggling with all the descriptions you all have been using. And the handtruck was the topper

Anne

 

[johnsonet]

ROFLMAO!!

but fargoman2 - some people DO! THAT'S the problem.

Also, the liquor example is exactly right. "Well, I brought them a wedding gift, I darn-well am going to get my MONEY'S WORTH!!!"

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi - I am here at the Hard Rock club level and I have not seen any hording of food, however, I have seen a lot of wasting of food

(ie) Mom and Dad's 6 year old and 8 year old go to get their breakfasts - they each pick 3 chocolate donuts, a bowl of frosted flakes and milk.

Mom and Dad make them eat the cereal first and then they have one bite of one donut and are full. Mom and Dad don't want the donuts so they dump them in the trash on the way out.

I think people just get excited and they see all the food and go a little crazy.

I did notice a staff member stationed herself by the alcoholic drinks last night and was handing them to people instread of the self serve I saw the night before.

I also noticed a lady with plates pilled high with fruit & muffins getting on the elevator with us.. I assumed she was going to the pool to have breakfast but she left at the 4th floor. Maybe her room is there but she has club privlidges.. who knows.

>>^..^<<

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

You know, this is just a prime example of what I call the De-Evolution of our world. It's the people who take blatant advantage of a situation - and I'm not just talking about cookies and strawberries, but so many things on so many levels - that make me grimace on a daily basis. It's gotten to the point where I'm actually working on a book called Rude, Crude & Socially Unacceptable (Subtitle: Where are we, why is it so warm, and what's with this handbasket?)

Personally, I'm tired of feeling taken advantage of by the folks out there indulging in this self-absorbed behavior. Worse, I fear that more and more people are developing the attitude of, "Well, you've got to be just like them if you want to survive in this world." It's a never-ending cycle.

Yes, it's one thing to want to get your money's worth. It's another thing to be taking advantage by - as many of these people do - deciding that you're going to get the money's worth of everyone in your group, including those not paying for the priviledge of staying in the concierge level rooms. I have no doubt that their attitude would be, "Hey, a Disney trip costs a lot... we deserve to take anything we can get with!" I'm sure they also feel perfectly within their rights to steal towels and anything else not bolted down.

The thing that really gets me about people like this is that they will be the first to complain about rising costs, or receiving less bang for the buck, never bothering for one moment to pat themselves on the back for being responsible.

Sorry, just felt the need to vent.
Glad it's a therapy day!

Richard

 

[nicurnc]

This IS a very funny thread!

Recently I have been to different affairs that have an open bar for say an hour, and there are always people that never seem to leave the bar. They just want to keep getting drinks while they're free. Or they stand there looking at their watch so they can run to the bar and get lots of drinks before the free time is over.

While I think that people who could use a wheelbarrow to cart of goodies lack good taste or common sense, I don't think the concierge staff should have to confront them. That's just as tacky to point out someone's shortcomings as a guest.
I side with the poster that stated the offerings should be replenished, even if a few guests empty plates full of stuff into their handbags. Hopefully the staff knows which guests tend to be heavy eaters, and could try to estimate accordingly.
It sounds pretty lame to say to a guest, "sorry, another guest took everything we had right before you came". I am a guest as well and don't want to worry about the problems another guest might be causing. JMO

Loretta