AKL Concierge

[betterlatethannever]

Just got back from staying AKL Concierge.


IMO, AKL has the best treatment of concierge guests when you first arrive (and I've stayed in all but GF). You check in with the guard, drive up, valet welcomes you by name, bell services takes you to your room. You can then freshen up before going to the concierge desk and officially checking in. I know most of the resorts handle it in a similar way but there seems to be a little more Disney magical touch at the AKL.

Before leaving, I was reading some threads about how the concierge experience was changing in various resorts. So, I was a little more aware of this when we got to the AKL.

Anyway, when we get to our room, I am reading the concierge offerings throughout the day and for 5-7PM, it is listed wine and cheese selections. That caught my eye. So I asked during check in, and they said it was still the same hot food offerings as usual and it was (but I'm still thinking that the paperwork is in place to change it ).

The only change to the food offerings was at breakfast where there is no more hot cereal (or packets to make hot cereal). Also the cold cereal is in bulk containers (not individual boxes), as was mentioned regarding other resorts.

While talking with the concierge CMs, they mentioned that concierge was lightly booked (the lounge was never full, even during the 5-7 period), but the rest of the resort was at 90+%. We discussed WDW marketing (or lack thereof) to get people to stay concierge.

Last year, there was a food preparation demonstration up in the lounge while we were there. According to the CM, there hasn’t been any scheduled because of the low count.

One big factor IMO for the low count is the AP discounts over the last few years have been a fixed $ amount vs. a %. The fixed amount is still a good percentage off if staying at a standard or savannah room but only about half as much relative to concierge. So it is harder and harder for many to justify concierge.

Anyway, it was our fourth stay at the AKL concierge and it is still maintaining its quality.

Ed

 

[TLinden16]

Sounds like you had a nice stay, Ed! Thanks for posting!

Karen

 

[LoopyLoo]

Glad you had a good time.
we will be staying AKL Concierge in June, we had a nightmare booking, as we are from the UK the concierge rooms do not show up on the UK disney world website, and when i rang to request a concierge room was told because i was using the UK website I could not book concierge
To cut a long story short i contacted disney customer relations asking why they did not want my money, I reecived a call within 24 hours and was booked concierge, it took over 2 weeks for the booking change to be reflected in the website.
So I was pleased to see your report it looks as though all the hassle was worth it.

 

[Harambe]

Wonderful to hear your positive comments on AKL. We are staying concierge for the first time, and I'm hoping it is worth it or DH will never let me live it down! LOL!

Could you elaborate about the breakfast offerings? I was hoping we could grab a muffin or bagel and coffee/juice before we head out to the parks.

 

[Joan1]

Thanks for the info. We are staying on the concierge level at AKL for the first time this summer and was looking for current information.

Can you tell us what the evening offers were? Just curious

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Glad you had a great experience!

 

[TammiMcMan]

Glad you had such nice treatment Ed. As you mentioned not experiencing the GF yet, they have a similar check in for their concierge guests. We have been met at the Port Cochere by a concierge greeter and escorted upstairs. Sometimes we've been seated at the concierge desk for check-in, but other times it's been in the lounge and twice we did all our paperwork in the comfort of our room.

It will be interesting to see what comes of any concierge lounge changes. The freshly made hot oatmeal has been gone for 7 or 8 months now and I think the individual bottled water has been gone for almost a year. They did add cans of soda though. I know after a few recent threads reporting cut backs and changes, that many DIS'ers were opting to drop their concierge level.

It's actually funny to hear that the occupancy levels are much lower, I've been waitlisted twice within the past 16 months for concierge rooms and last Memorial Day, they were completely sold out. Maybe the DIS boards do have a far reaching effect.

Did you have an opportunity to do either of the safari's that AKL concierge offers?

Tammi

 

[BCV23]

I wonder if it is just AKL's concierge that has lower occupancy. When we at the Polynesian a couple of weeks ago, I was told that their concierge usually runs at 100%.

It has always seemed to me that AKL concierge is priced so much higher than a standard room there. That may affect occupancy there. I imagine most people first pick the resort that appeals most and then make decisions on room level.

I also can say there are no new cutbacks at the Polynesian. Individual water bottles haven't been available since sometime in the fall and I guess oatmeal is gone but otherwise all is well. Desserts have been expanded in variety.

Glad to know your stay was so nice, Ed. Which is your favorite concierge if you have one? Do you have a favorite resort in general?

 

[johnsonet]

I'm happy to hear your report!
I love AKL as well and will be staying there on the Concierge level for the third time in late July for a week. I cannot wait!
IMO, charging more will help keep concierge level what I believe it is meant to be - an exclusive and special level of accomodations and not a "food plan" for families who think they are beating the system If I have to pay more to stay there, so be it~

 

[BCV23]

Not to hijack Ed's thread but you mention prices going up, Liz. Did that happen for 2006? I know prices are out but haven't looked at them.

I agree that staying concierge at WDW is special but I don't find it exclusive at all. Anyone who wants to pay can stay concierge.

 

[Angel16]

Thank you Ed for sharing your thoughts.

I love, love, love AKL I have stayed concierge in the past there and will be returning this September for a week. It is so relaxing and the staff treat their guests extreamly well.

I am also interested did you do any safari's?

 

[YCFAN]

Deluxe rooms including concierge went up about $15/night for 2006. I really liked hearing about the greeting!! I love it when a vacation starts out feeling "special."

 

[johnsonet]

BCV23 All I did was throw in my 2 cents re. the OP's comments:

...While talking with the concierge CMs, they mentioned that concierge was lightly booked ...One big factor IMO for the low count is the AP discounts over the last few years have been a fixed $ amount vs. a %. The fixed amount is still a good percentage off if staying at a standard or savannah room but only about half as much relative to concierge. So it is harder and harder for many to justify concierge.

Also - I simply stated that what I believe concierge service is meant to be is "an exclusive and special level of accomodations" - nothing more. My "food plan" comment may have been b*tchy, but you probably read these boards as much as I do and know exactly what I'm referring to. As you said, ANYONE who wants to pay can stay concierge. Just like at any other hotel in the world... The word exclusive is often thrown about to make guests feel special and want to pay for extra special service. Disney's website describes the AKL Concierge level as follows:
" Concierge-level Guests also receive these special amenities:
Comfy robes available in your room
Turndown service
Staff available prior to and during your visit for reservations and vacation planning
Access to the exclusive Kilimanjaro Club featuring Continental breakfast, snacks and evening wine and cheese reception
Ability to participate in the Sunrise Safari Breakfast Adventure — an exclusive early-morning tour of Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park — offered only to a limited number of Concierge-level Guests for an additional fee
Ability to participate in the Wildlife Discovery Excursion — an exclusive guided tour of Kilimanjaro Safaris® at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park — offered only to a limited number of Concierge-level Guests for an additional fee"

 

[BCV23]

Liz, I agree that the word exclusive is used to make people feel special. It just seems silly to me when it is available to anyone willing to pay. I wasn't trying to quibble with you but rather with the general snootiness sometimes expressed on the DIS about concierge. Not by you or anyone else on this thread!!! Sorry if my response came off wrong. And yes, I read these boards way too much!

Actually, I do think there are hotels that only assign VIPs and frequent guests to the concierge floors. You can probably buy your way on to those floors but not with published rates like WDW hotels.

YCFAN, thanks for your answer. I did now look up some of the rates. Looking at regular season for concierge at AKL, there is no price increase. There is a $45 price increase for both garden and lagoon view concierge at the Polynesian. I'm going to have to print the info out to better compare.....or maybe get a life!

I'm also eager to hear if Ed tried the AKL safaris or the general concierge one. Haven't seen much about that one at all.

 

[#1hockeymom]

I am so happy to hear another good report from AKL's concierge! I do think they should go with NATAFUDPLAN with their natazu line! I am toying with the idea to add a few concierge days in our July trip since I switched us to AKL (didn't want to hear any crying from MYSELF if I didn't book it!). I know DS will be dying to go visit his resting/talking/sharing grounds!

 

[betterlatethannever]

To answer a few questions.

We didn't do any of the special safaris this trip. We have done the sunrise safari twice (2002,2003) and the Wayama (Sunset) Safari last year.

They were definitely worth the money. Riding through the AKL savannahs getting so close to the animals was awesome.

Breakfast offerings were
bagels (plain, onion, garlic, sesame, and everything)
croisants
danish (different ones each day), muffins (choc, chip, banana nut, and a few others)
Fresh cut mellons (pineapple, watermelon, honeydew, cantalope), grapes, bananas, and often a bowl of strawberries.
Bowl of fruit(apples, grapefruit, oranges)
Yogurt
Dry cereals (corn flakes, fruit loops, raisin bran, ?)
milk (whole, 1%, skim)
chocolate milk
orange juice, mango juice, pineapple juice (bulk)
apple juice, grape juice in single serve containers
coffee, tea, and the espresso machine.

You could ask for bread to make toast, but it was not out on the spread.

The evening offerings were

chicken nuggets
skewered beef, pork, salmon, chicken (two or three per day)
ribs (one day)
wraps (veggie)
flat breads(some days)
corn relish salad (or similar)
cheese plate (4-5 kinds) soft and cut
hummus dips and assorted crackers
peanut butter/ jelly sandwiches
red/white wines
pop in cans
tea, lemonade, smoothie (bulk)

Ed