AK lodge Concierge-level anyone stayed

[Van Helsing]

Anyone stayed here using DVC points ? We're thinking maybe a few nights

 

[Beachangel]

I have several times, but not on points.

 

[Van Helsing]

Whats i like - views - rooms - that sort of thing

Thanks

 

[JimB.]

VH -

Have you priced this out on points?? How many??

The concierge level is the 6th floor of the main lodge (it's called the "Kilomanjaro Club" I think. Has views of the savannahs.

Not much other info.

 

[Van Helsing]

59 points Sun -Thur JimB

 

[JimC]

Great place to stay. Make sure you call concierge staff 90 days out and reserve the sunrise safari and/or the sunset safari. Both are very unique experiences.

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_akl.htm

 

[WDWguru]

We just returned and used points for a few days at AKL Concierge for our 10th anniversary. Our sole purpose of staying there was to do the sunrise and sunset safaris offered only to AKL concierge guests.

You get the usual concierge service, which includes a keyed lounge (actually the entire 6th floor is keyed) with snacks and beverages available all day. The staff there will make priority seating or any other arrangements you need. They even made PSs for days after we were moving to BWV for us! You also get checked in by bell services right at your car or in your room, get your keys right there and they walk you up. NO waiting in the line at the desk, which was nice. Many of the concierge rooms are on the 5th floor at AKL, and be aware that some of the concierge rooms are NOT savannah view (I believe these are all smoking rooms). We've stayed at AKL before and had a comparable room to what we've had, but with a free mini fridge. Supposedly you get robes (according to the literature) but we didn't. Don't know if that's changed or if they just forgot. It wasn't a big deal, so we didn't ask.

To us it was well worth the points for this one trip just to experience the special safaris (be aware there is an extra charge for them). To our surprise, we much preferred the sunset safari. It is a smaller group and limited to adults only. There were only four of us on our tour. You go out in an open-top van on the AKL savannah with two keepers for nearly two hours and see lots of animals up close and personal. Afterward, your group has a fabulous dinner at Jiko that is a kind of sampler highlight menu for each course. The chefs come out and bring the dishes, then explain them all to you. It comes with wine pairings as well, but if you don't drink they will make arrangements.

The sunrise safari was neat, but not something I'd do again. We had a large group with lots of young children. We filled two of the regular safari vehicles and had two guides. You meet up in the concierge lounge at 7 am, get on buses and go over to AKL, entering backstage. You then load into the safari vehicles at the regular loading area of Kilimanjaro Safari. You go through the safari with a guide and driver, stopping for photos and discussions as you go. They also don't do the usual poacher storyline. I was a bit disappointed that more animals weren't out. The elephants weren't even out of their backstage enclosure when we went through. It was nice to stop and get photos, but not the experience we hoped.
After the safari (about 30-45 minutes) you enter Tusker House in the park for a private breakfast buffet. The food was very good.

Is it worth the points? Well, it depends on your view but to us it was worth it to do this just once. We probably wouldn't pay the cash to book the room and we wanted to do the safaris. We would definitely do the sunset one again, but probably not the sunrise. For a one-time experience, it was definitely worth it.

 

[Van Helsing]

Thanks folks - i like the idea of the sunset safari

 

[pmcpmc]

You have reallly interested us in trying it out.

 

[Van Helsing]

You have reallly interested us in trying it out.

Good ohh lol - i hope to try it out too.

 

[CapeCodFam]

Hi,

I saw your post regarding the 59 points for Sun-Thurs. It sounded great! But, when I checked my points charts, the points would be much higher than we would spend at DVC.

Am I reading the charts wrong? Looks like Concierge is 59 points a night from Sun-Thurs during Peak Season. That's 240 points. (Please tell me I'm wrong!)

Thank you

 

[Pa@okw95]

That sounds about right. Points as a general rule do not go to far when their is concierge service also.

 

[Van Helsing]

Points as a general rule do not go to far when their is concierge service also.

Your telling me - but we thought we should try something different for a few nights.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

We stayed at AKL concierge using points in March. It was wonderful! Yes, it was a heck of a lot of points. The points were in holding and we had to use 'em or lose 'em.

We had a savannah view room on the 5th floor. Every request I had ask for was met to the letter. The concierge staff was great.

The sunset safari maybe the best thing we have ever done at WDW. There were just 4 of us. It was like a personalized tour with a private guide. The dinner afterwards at Jiko was out of this world.

They say to use your points to make you happy. Well, this certainly did!

 

[Van Helsing]

Just booked 2nts Animal Kingdom Lodge Concierge

Thanks everyone

 

[goldilocks_63]

Are they only on the weekends when the points are high?

Goldi

 

[Van Helsing]

No we booked Mid-week

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

VH: Will there be a full moon?

 

[Van Helsing]

Full moon - ohh no i better packed my Vampire bag