AKL: switching from Concierge to savannah view. Tell me it'll be ok! (LONG)

[Aisling]

I'm seriously thinking of changing our AKL concierge ressie to the regular savannah view, and my kids are mad at me!

While I can afford it, I just can't seem to be able to justify spending the extra money. It seems like a waste of money.
I'm going with DS12 and DS18. DH may or may not join us.

I figured out the pros and cons of concierge, and this is what I've come up with:

Pro: access to "free" drinks and snacks all day long.
Con: We always make a grocery stop with the limo on the way to WDW, and for less than $25, we have enough soda, bottled water, and snacks for the whole time we're there. Even if we do concierge, my kids don't want to give up the grocery stop. Having both doesn't make sense to me.

Pro: concierge planners make all your PSs for you.
Con: I LOVE making my own PSs, and have basically done it all already.

Pro: A CM meets you at the entrance and escorts you to the lounge where you check it.
Con: There are so many bell-people waiting there to escort people in and handle the bags, that I don't feel the need to pay $200 more a night to have someone waiting for me with my name on a clipboard. But my kids think it's cool.

Pro: The lounge is open from early morning to late at night.
Con: I have special breakfasts planned for most of our mornings, from the Storybook Princess Breakfast, to Boma buffet, to room service. And the same thing goes for our evening meals, I have a list of restaurants I'm looking forward to trying. I know the lounge is not meant to be a meal, but why would I want to have a bagel or whatever if I'm going to a wonderful restaurant? I don't want to feel obligated to go back to AKL just to take advantage of the lounge food offerings. We'll be out most of the days for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Pro: the food offerings come from Boma and Jiko, I've read.
Con: My kids are not exotic food eaters, and from the lounge menus I've read, they wouldn't appreciate much of the delicious food offered at concierge level. And for $200 extra a night, they better eat more than gummie bears and tarts!

Pro: you get to walk across the rope bridge and you get to have a golden key card.
Con: oh well, there's nothing I can do to make my kids feel better about not having a golden key card!

Pro: the concierge rooms are larger.
Con: we never had a deluxe-size room before, and it was just fine.

Pro: The birds-eye view of the savannah.
Con: there's no guarantee you'll get a savannah view (although chances are excellent, I've read). Also, I've been hearing about the trend of concierge guests asking for lower level rooms, for the eye to eye view of the animals from the balcony. I think we'd like the lower view, too.

Pro: the convenience of having the lounge to hang out in and have a drink.
Con: I've read that the lounge often has a line at the table to get food, which is a turn-off for me. And that people often come in in the morning in jammies. Please don't flame me, but I don't want to have my glass of juice sitting next to a guy in his white concierge robe.
Also, there are a couple (or a few?) lovely lounge areas at AKL to go for a drink and to take in the atmosphere. Why would I want to sit in the concierge lounge when I can explore all the other sitting/drinking areas of AKL?


Forgive me for going on and on, but I'm really trying to convince myself that we'll still have a wonderful, special, magic-filled time in a regular savannah view with out concierge, and we'll still experience the luxury of AKL. And have $1500 more money in my pocket! I guess I'a lready convinced, but I would love to have someone agree with me!

Thanks for your patience!

 

[dandave]

I loved my stay at AKL concierge, but I'm sure that I would love a regular savannah room, too! It's my favorite resort.

All of the reasons that you came up with sound very reasonable to me. $1500 is a great deal to spend, if you have any doubts about it at all. Maybe you could tell the kids to come up with $750 a piece, or deal with it.

You'll have a great time in a savannah room, I'm sure!!

 

[susy]

Well, anybody can walk across the bridge. It's on the fifth floor...

 

[AlisonB]

Isn't there a special trip/safari type thing that only the concierge guests can do? Would that be an issue for you? If not - then cancel and save the $$$!

 

[Condorman]

We did the same thing as you, Aisling. At first it was concierge all the way. Then I came to my senses. I know there are die-hard fans of the Kilimanjaro Club. We've done it once in the past and we loved it. But then I realized I would rather be eating at Boma or Jiko instead of sampling their foods in the lounge. We'd be at the parks or other resorts enjoying great lunches and snacks and still feel guilty about not eating the pretzels two miles away. And just remember: the animals don't get up any earlier or smile any wider for your pictures when you're staying concierge.

If you can save $1500, that's the limo, airfare and a couple of great meals right there. Have a great time!

Repeat after me: No pretzel is worth $1500.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Why don't you make one night of your stay Concierge? You could still stay in your same room if you didn't want to move. You would actually have access to the lounge for 2 days.

Lori

 

[Dana49]

It sounds to me like you've already made your decision. Go with your feelings. Everything will be just fine.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by susy
Well, anybody can walk across the bridge. It's on the fifth floor...

What is on the fifth floor? The Concierge lounge is on the key access only 6th floor of the AKL.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by pirateofthecarolinas
Why don't you make one night of your stay Concierge? You could still stay in your same room if you didn't want to move. You would actually have access to the lounge for 2 days.

Lori

Are you 100% sure that they will not have her switch rooms? If she has two nights booked in a concerige room and the rest of her stay booked in a standard savanna view room or lower they just might make her switch rooms as if they do not they are basiclly giving her a free upgrade. At a min. from a standard savanna view room to a deluxe savanna view room. I would not count on not having to switch rooms.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by Aisling
I'm seriously thinking of changing our AKL concierge ressie to the regular savannah view, and my kids are mad at me!

While I can afford it, I just can't seem to be able to justify spending the extra money. It seems like a waste of money.

Hi,

I think this opening answered the question for you. If you are trying to justify the expense of concierge service then I would say do not stay concierge and go with a standard savanna view room or if you want the extra room a deluxe savanna view room.

My belief is that concierge service cannot be justified because you can do everything that they offer either on your own or for less money as you noted in the rest of your post.

I think you will have a great time with or with out concierge service.

 

[PartyOf5]

We recently returned from AKL concierge. We went with this as it was the only thing available to us (for a party of 5) when we were booking. Our entire family (including the three children) all agreed that if we go back, we are going to a lower floor and skipping concierge. Tell your kids that my kids said so!

Just to clarify a couple things:

When checking in for concierge, it's actually the bellman that brings you up to your room with your luggage. He/she gives you a tour along the way which is nice but then again, it's very easy to figure things out. Once you are in the room, you can check in at your convenience at the concierge desk which is located in the lounge. Not that this will influence your decision.

Second, the bridge you are talking about is on the 5th floor. All guests in the resort have access to this, not just concierge. The only restriction is the 6th floor.

So, I say downgrade to a regular savannah room, enjoy the better view and walk across the bridge as many times as you want!

 

[PartyOf5]

We recently returned from AKL concierge. We went with this as it was the only thing available to us (for a party of 5) when we were booking. Our entire family (including the three children) all agreed that if we go back, we are going to a lower floor and skipping concierge. Tell your kids that my kids said so!

Just to clarify a couple things:

When checking in for concierge, it's actually the bellman that brings you up to your room with your luggage. He/she gives you a tour along the way which is nice but then again, it's very easy to figure things out. Once you are in the room, you can check in at your convenience at the concierge desk which is located in the lounge. Not that this will influence your decision.

Second, the bridge you are talking about is on the 5th floor. All guests in the resort have access to this, not just concierge. The only restriction is the 6th floor.

So, I say downgrade to a regular savannah room, enjoy the better view and walk across the bridge as many times as you want!

Enjoy!

 

[dandave]

Susy, I was thinking that the rope bridge was on the 5th floor, but I wasn't sure. My memory is fading, and I have no idea where I packed up my pictures. I'll find them in a few years and wonder "where the heck was that"...

I agree with Tiffany about the AKL probably requiring a change of rooms, if swithing from concierge to a regular savannah view room. The concierge rooms are deluxes or suites. The regular savannah rooms are not deluxes.

 

[mep319]

Just to let you know...I've stayed concierge and standard savannah view and I thought the views from the 2nd and 3rd flr non concierge rooms (savannah view) were MUCH better than the views from the 5th and 6th floor. I actually think I may not stay concierge next time so I can have a better view. (for what ever reason you can no longer request 2 or 3rd flr while in concierge). While I did enjoy concierge I thought we spent much more time at the resort and in the lounge then we normally do and less time in the parks. I did think the Sunrise savannah was worth its weight in gold but I may just decide to do a nite or two to get that privelge in the future.

 

[pixiechick]

Originally posted by dandave

I agree with Tiffany about the AKL probably requiring a change of rooms, if swithing from concierge to a regular savannah view room. The concierge rooms are deluxes or suites. The regular savannah rooms are not deluxes.

IIRC, not all deluxe rooms are concierge. We were on the 5th floor and had to use the elevator to go up and access the lounge. Our room was quite a distance from the lounge and I don't believe most guests in our vacinity were staying concierge. I believe Lori is correct about not having to change rooms. Check with CRO, and/or AKL to double check. As we all know, policies change on a daily basis!

 

[dandave]

Pixiechick, First off, I have no clue what "IIRC" means...
Secondly I never said that all deluxe rooms at AKL are concierge. I said that all concierge rooms at AKL are deluxe or suites.

 

[snwarf]

Originally posted by dandave
Pixiechick, First off, I have no clue what "IIRC" means...
.

Me either, but I did a google search "if I recall correctly"

 

[dandave]

snwarf, Thank you ever so much!! I had to look up "ITA" the other day! (I totally agree... )

 

[pixiechick]

Originally posted by dandave
Secondly I never said that all deluxe rooms at AKL are concierge. I said that all concierge rooms at AKL are deluxe or suites.

Dandave:
never said that you did... My point was that you can reserve a deluxe room without the concierge "add-on". If the OP needs space, they can reserve the larger room size without the additional cost of concierge. Only trying to help...

As far as abbreviations...guess I'm showing my age, I've been using the internet way to long!

 

[dandave]

I see what you're saying, Pixiechick.
Since the OP was talking about a "regular" Savannah room, however, I'd hate to give her the impresssion that it would be probable to book a concierge savannah room (deluxe), then switch over to a regular savannah room (standard) without the possibility of having to change rooms.
Being allowed to stay in the same room would mean an upgrade from regular savannah to deluxe savannah, after switching from concierge.
We stayed on the 5th floor while in concierge, as well.