AKL Concierge!

[Frances999]

We are staying in savannah view concierge this August and it will be our first Disney concierge experience!

What's the AKL concierge like? Do you check in at a separate desk/on the concierge floor? What's the lounge like and what are the hours? What foods/beverages are provided in the lounge and when? Are there any other benefits for staying concierge (except The Sunrise Safari)?

Thanks so much if you have any advice or comments or answers to share!

If anyone has a link to some photo's of AKL rooms/concierge lounge it would be appreciated.

Thanks again!

 

[stinkerbelle]

oh you are going to love it!

when you pull up to Valet services, just tell them you are a concierge guest and they will get someone to come help you. a bell man will take you to the concierge guest located in the lobby and then you'll be taken up to your room.

the whole process lasts like 5 minutes!

my favorite thing about the lounge is the cappucciono (sp?) machine - they'll show you how to work it - it's great.

there are many offerings up at the lounge - I couldn't begin to mention them all - but there is a ton to choose from. the desserts at night are wonderful! try the zebra dome!

for breakfast - we were always able to be "full" after leaving here - oatmeals/cold cereal/fruit/muffins/juice/smoothies...plenty to fuel our bellys!

call now and try to book the sunrise safari...it's offered to concierge guests only and takes you on an early safari through AK. If you want to splurge - take the sunSET safari...a 100% completely different experience...you go down on the savannahs at AKL! DH and I have done both - and will do both again in the future!

the CM's there are wonderful and VERY knowledgeable...Tanya and Don are two of our favorites!

if you have any more questions - let me know!

 

[Frances999]

Originally posted by stinkerbelle
my favorite thing about the lounge is the cappucciono (sp?) machine - they'll show you how to work it - it's great.

there are many offerings up at the lounge - I couldn't begin to mention them all - but there is a ton to choose from. the desserts at night are wonderful! try the zebra dome!

for breakfast - we were always able to be "full" after leaving here - oatmeals/cold cereal/fruit/muffins/juice/smoothies...plenty to fuel our bellys!

Thanks so much! This is just what I was looking for! The cappucino machine sounds wonderful! There is nothing I like better! It sounds fantastic, thanks for your description.

Originally posted by stinkerbelle
call now and try to book the sunrise safari...it's offered to concierge guests only and takes you on an early safari through AK. If you want to splurge - take the sunSET safari...a 100% completely different experience...you go down on the savannahs at AKL! DH and I have done both - and will do both again in the future!

the CM's there are wonderful and VERY knowledgeable...Tanya and Don are two of our favorites!

if you have any more questions - let me know!

Wow, I never heard of the sunset safari! Wow! What is it, How much does it cost? When is it on?
I'll look out for Tanya and Don!

Thanks again, it sounds wonderful

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by Frances999

Wow, I never heard of the sunset safari! Wow! What is it, How much does it cost? When is it on?

It cost $150 per person - but it includes dinner at Jiko - well worth every penny.

You DO have to be over 16 though for this...so if you have little ones, you can't take them with you. (there is SOME behind the scenes stuff)

Here is a link to some pictures my DH took while on our safari in January. (I'm not sure of the days they are running it anymore - we did it on a Monday I believe - it's limited to 8 people only!)
http://users.adelphia.net/~jareddewey/sunsetsafari.html

and here is a link with other comments on it
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=550677

I HIGHLY reccommend it...

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I agree with everything stinkerbelle said, you are gonna LOVE AKL CL!!!! They have some of the best cm's on property, and the lounge is gorgeous!!

One suggestion I would offer, let IPO make all your PS's, plans for you. DD and I noticed that the PS's made for us through IPO got us to our table with a maximum wait time of 2-3 minutes, and this was during Easter week! They note on their screen that you are a concierge guest, and it really seems to help get a better table, quicker. Their address is wdw.aklodge.concierge@disney.com.

Have a great time!

 

[Frances999]

Stinkerbelle,

Thanks for the beautiful photographs and description. It looks fantastic and will be a great evening 'treat' for me and DH. Do you know what the kids club hours are at AKL?

k&a&c'smom,
Thanks for the info! I'll be sure to email them with our PS requests. Thanks again.

 

[Disney Fool]

I don't know if they still do it, but on Fridays, the Concierge Lounge would have a cooking lesson AND they gave out samples of whatever they made. When I was there, it was a chicken dish made on a grill (yup, they pulled out a stainless steel grill) and there was a yogurt marinade that made the chicken so tender and juicy. Yum. They had recipes pre-printed. Oh, boy, you are going to love the AKL Concierge. I'm planning a stay there in August, and I would upgrade if I could. I found the staff to be the nicest and most pleasant group of workers on Disney property. It was a real pleasure to talk to them. They really enjoyed their jobs. I hope their enthusiasm for the AKL never wears off. Are you getting excited?

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by Frances999
Stinkerbelle,

Thanks for the beautiful photographs and description. It looks fantastic and will be a great evening 'treat' for me and DH. Do you know what the kids club hours are at AKL?

I don't have kids (yet!) but here's a link to something about childcare at allearsnet.com - the kids club at AKL is called Simba's Den or something like that.

http://allearsnet.com/pl/childfaq.htm

You'll most likely be done with the safari around 7/7:30...depending on how long you stretch your meal out. (oh - and if you have any allergies - let them know ahead of time...we had a gentleman with peanut allergies with us - as you sit 'family style' with everyone from the safari during dinner - and they made him special plates) It was really a great experience! it was nice to talk to some other people about their disney experiences!

your kids would love the sunrise one though - definetly try to do that - book soon!

 

[Frances999]

Disney Fool,
That sounds fantastic! I'm so thrilled to read all the reports about how friendly and enthusiastic the AKL concierge staff are. I'm just a tad excited

Stinkerbelle,
Thanks once again. You're a whole host of AKL knowledge! I checked the link you gave me and apparently the Simbas Den opens at 4.30pm. What time does the sunset safari start?

We'll definitely do both as I'm sure the children will just adore the sunrise safari! There's no minimum age at all on this one, right?

I'll be calling tomorrow to make my reservations! Is it best to give them our PS's over the phone or email them to them?

Thanks again.

 

[Frances999]

Oh, one more question! Does the concierge lounge overlook the savannah?

Thanks a million.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

RE: your PS question, I always email, just easier for me, but many people call. If you get the machine, leave your number and they will call right back.

They were still doing the cooking demonstration when we were there in April, it was a lot of fun!

The lounge overlooks the gorgeous lobby, but not the savannas, strangely enough. But it is still a great lounge, very roomy with nice overstuffed sofas and tables with chairs to eat at. A big screen TV for the kids to watch Disney, what else?!

 

[stinkerbelle]

hmmm...that's odd...the clubhouse doesn't open until 4:30?
well - we went in the "winter" (January) and our tour started at 4...MAYBE it's get's pushed back a bit later in the summer to accommodate the sunset?

didn't think about that...sorry!

and no - no minimum age for the sunrise safarie - VERY little backstage stuff...and it will spoil no magic!

 

[Frances999]

Thanks again. When I call up tomorrow I'll enquire about the opening times for Simba's clubhouse. Like you said, they probably do push it back or forth so it's inline with the sunset time.

Thanks!

 

[parrothead365]

I'm glad you started this thread I just snagged a couple of nights in July (23rd-25th) at the AKL. That will be our first Concierge experience also. I logged on to post a thread and found you had it covered already. Stinkerbelle thanks for the great info.

 

[BambiTamby]

Originally posted by stinkerbelle
hmmm...that's odd...the clubhouse doesn't open until 4:30?
well - we went in the "winter" (January) and our tour started at 4...MAYBE it's get's pushed back a bit later in the summer to accommodate the sunset?

didn't think about that...sorry!

and no - no minimum age for the sunrise safarie - VERY little backstage stuff...and it will spoil no magic!

Yup! They'll open Simba's at 3:45 for the kids of the Wanyama Safari guests!



you may also want to check out the concierge bug thread for more info and pics.

Worth every penny....ITA with Stinkerbelle!

 

[SuperDuperBounce]

I didn't see anyone mention room preferences. Get a fifth floor savanah view room rather than a sixth floor room. Part of the AKL experience is getting up in the morning and watching the animals and sitting on your balconey at night doing the same with coffee, tea, or your favorite beverage. The savanahs are "moonlit" so you can do the same after dark.

The sixth floor rooms are too high up and don't have a good savanah view. (Actually, the fifth floor is also too high up for prime animal viewing - you're above the tree tops. I'd almost rather do with a third floor room except they don't allow five persons.)

 

[amycishere]

I am staying AKL Concierge for my birthday trip and I am VERY excited!! I have the Sunrise Safari booked and now you all have me thinking of the Sunset one its $160 a person now though! I am thinking Jiko would be too African for me so is it worth that much just for the animals? We already paying over $1000 for the room...uuuggghhh, why so much?

 

[AKLforever]

Ok, I need help understanding something. I never even heard of the Concierge thing, and have no clue what it is, even after reading this, lol. What I mean is, how does it work? Do you get that Concierge Lounge all to your self?
I have some idea, but really just want to know how it works, and what you get. I keep reading how people love it, but no one really says Exactly how it works. Like whats included and so on. Please, pretend I have NO clue what so ever, and include everything from the start. Im so lost, lol
--->

 

[TammiMcMan]

Ok, I need help understanding something. I never even heard of the Concierge thing, and have no clue what it is, even after reading this, lol. What I mean is, how does it work? Do you get that Concierge Lounge all to your self?

You might find this article helpful, http://allearsnet.com/acc/concierge.htm .

 

[catherines_mama]

Here is a tidbit I just learned today from Don when we were emailing about my DDs 7th bday trip.

There is something at AKL for kids where they learn about the animals, make crafts etc. He's getting DD signed up for it the day we arrive.

I JUST started planning .. but I can already tell you that the AKL conceirge staff is wonderful!! Don even offered to shop for me and have bday gifts waiting in the room at checkin!