I'm going back! and in style!

[Cyrano]

It sounds so special

 

[lucy_love_]

we stayed at akl for 2 weeks last year and it was very nice. it smelt amazing!

have a fab time.

love

lucy

 

[Clare D]

Hi David
We stayed at the AKL early October and our first impression was not good! After being kept waiting for 20 minutes at the recption we finally were given our room cards and with a small child in tow made our way to our room. When we got there the first thing I noticed was the bed turned back. I thought it was a bit strange and the realised as I looked around the room at the dirty glasses and half full pop bottle that this room hadn't been cleaned. We called the front desk and was told that somebody would call us back as initially I thought we had been checked into somebodies room. After no call my DH went down to the front desk to compalin. The room we were moved to didn't give us much of a view of the Savanah as the previous room but what we did get was giraffes regularly outside our room. Overall I though the hotel was wonderful and on our first night with no PS we got a table at JIKO'S which was superb. I'm sure you will both have a great time, at the end of the day you and your DB get to spend time with each other and that will make it even more special.

 

[Supercod]

Staying at AKL right now, this is my room.

This is my views from it, we are in Sunset Suvanna and been no shortage of animals day and night.

And here is 1 of my 3 giraffes.

Boma breakfast is the best I have ever had, been once and going in 20 mins and will be doing it on the last day as well, yum yum

 

[jonkatony]

Spent two weeks there in August 05. We loved this place, the lobby is amazing. You will love this place, its all good.

 

[Miffy2003]

Clarke! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday! Fantastic photos

 

[DavidUK]

hey thanks guys - those photos are amazing, can't wait now!!
anyone stayed concierge? is it worth the extra??

David

 

[Frances999]

Sounds like a great trip you have planned!

anyone stayed concierge? is it worth the extra??

David

We stayed concierge at the AKL in August 2004. I can't compare it with a standard room at AKL, as we have never stayed in one. However, concierge was a wonderful experience.

You get dedicated check-in, pre-trip itinerary planning, access to the Sunrise and Sunset Safaris (concierge guests only), staff on hand for assistance and access to the Kilimanjaro Club concierge lounge which serves complimentary drinks and food throughout the day (including a continental breakfast).

All of the concierge rooms are of the deluxe category. However, there is no guarantee of a Savannah view - you can only put in a request (a few concierge rooms are pool view instead). I believe most requests are honoured.

Have fun planning!

 

[UKDEB]

hey thanks guys - those photos are amazing, can't wait now!!
anyone stayed concierge? is it worth the extra??

David

It depends on how much extra. We'd booked a deluxe savannah view and I'd requested a king room, but we ended up with 2 queens and a bunk - not really what I had in mind for just the two of us and a bit silly because I gather, for those who do want them, those rooms are difficult to get. I went back to reception to ask if we could be moved to a king room, but there weren't any available. I asked if there were any in concierge and was told we could upgrade for $20 a night. Well, it would have been churlish not to!

The food and beverage offerings were excellent as were the concierge staff (although, in fact, all the CMs there were great). We were only there for 2 nights and weren't really able to make the most of it - the first evening we were jet-lagged, and we had a PS at Jiko on the second. Even if we'd been there for longer, I think the opportunities to benefit from the free stuff are limited due to the resort's location - you can't really pop back midday for an iced tea!

The other thing to bear in mind is that the Sunrise and Sunset Safaris only operate on certain days. Our 2 days didn't fall right, so we weren't able to take advantage, although I would have loved to.

 

[disneyholic family]

we timed our visit to the AKL concierge so that we could go on the Sunrise safari...
all 4 of us felt the safari was well worth the effort..

also the AKL concierge lounge is one of the nicest at WDW in terms of the lounge itself and the food offerings...

the check in is also nicely done at the AKL (each resort concierge has its only check in system)....at the AKL, if you come during the hours that the concierge lounge is open, the bellboy takes you straight to your room, handing you your welcome packet with your name on it)....he tells you that you can walk over to the concierge lounge at your liesure to check in....
that's quite nice....
but we found the check in process there to be particularly slow.....there was only one CM on duty when we walked over to check in.....since it's in the lounge, you can have a drink while you're waiting..

at the GF concierge the check in is run differently.....we drove from the airport...at the gate we had to give our name....no doubt we were on his list as concierge and he called ahead because when we got to the unload area, there was already a special person from the concierge staff waiting to greet us (hello XXXX, I'm Joshua from the Concierge, welcome to the GF.....).....it was very nice...
the bellboy took our luggage, the valet took our car and the special concierge CM escorted us to the concierge floor for check in....you definitely feel special.....and there were 3 CMs on duty at check in, so things went very quickly....and as everywhere at WDW, the CMs in concierge are wonderful....

however to answer your question as to whether concierge service is worth it.....no, concierge service probably isn't worth it in terms of dollars and cents.......but it is nice if you like to splurge on vacation.......and also, at the AKL if you stay concierge you can go on the sunrise safari, which we very much enjoyed.....

 

[Supercod]

hey thanks guys - those photos are amazing, can't wait now!!
anyone stayed concierge? is it worth the extra??

Thanks, and as for concierge I would have booked that if it was available but due to the time of year "Thanks Giving" they where all gone. One of the things you can book as an extra if you stay concierge is a "private" safari and dinner package thing, looks good.. they take you around the different areas of the hotel in one of these. I say book it if you can afford it, otherwise a deluxe savannah view room is the next best way to go. By the way some people got standard savannah to deluxe savannah view upgrades for free, well that was yesterday when I was waiting next to the check-in desk I overheard 2 different families getting this, nice of them to do, but then the hotel been a lot more empty the last couple of days.