AKL vs Poly Concierge debate

[PINHEAD]

Booked AKL concierge in Feb at AP rate of $250... we stayed at Poly Concierge last year and hoped to get in again on this trip and still trying to switch at ap rate. Any help on which is better would be appreciated.

Poly has the great view of the fireworks and great morning and evening food but was lacking in afternoon snacks, also thought some of the staff were a bit elitist. Monorail is a plus.

Any input on AKL concierge??? How's the food? is it really from boma? At the poly saving on breakfast and a few light meals made it worth the extra $$$...

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by PINHEAD
Booked AKL concierge in Feb at AP rate of $250... we stayed at Poly Concierge last year and hoped to get in again on this trip and still trying to switch at ap rate. Any help on which is better would be appreciated.

Poly has the great view of the fireworks and great morning and evening food but was lacking in afternoon snacks, also thought some of the staff were a bit elitist. Monorail is a plus.

Any input on AKL concierge??? How's the food? is it really from boma? At the poly saving on breakfast and a few light meals made it worth the extra $$$...

Hi we stayed at the AKL Concierge this past Feb 1st through the 6th and we are booked to return this coming Jan 23rd through the 29th.

I would never reconmend that anyone books a concierge room to save on meals. The following is an outline of what is offered in the lounge throughout the day.

Sunrise Offerings 6:30am
Coffee and assorted juices

Adventurous Awakenings 7am to 10:30am
An assortment of fresh fruits, juices, pastries and cereals.

Safari Snacks 11:30am to 3pm
Selection of african snacks and beverages. FYI they mean snacks. If I remember correctly there were goldfish and gummy bears things like that.

Afternoon Tea 3pm to 4:30pm
Imported loose leaf teas, assorted freshly baked scones, cookies and biscuits.

Twilight Offerings 5pm to 7pm
An array of wines, hors d'oeuvres and African speciality appetizers from Jiko and Boma.

Evening Indulgences 8pm to 10pm
A sampling of fine desserts and a variety of premium cordials.

As you can see the food offerings are not ment to replace meals. The only meal that you could save money on in my opinion would be breakfast if you are not the type that likes hot breakfast foods.

We stay concierge for the relaxation and pampering.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the AKL Concierge.

 

[Bojangles]

I certainally think you could save money on meals at AKL concierge especially if you have children. When we stayed there, they usually had chicken fingers and macaroni & cheese out for the kids. The adult appetizers were wonderful. If you don't have a large appetite, you could make a light dinner of them. We usually had a late lunch in the parks and after the afternoon scones/tea, we were usually happy with just a couple of appetizers in the lounge for dinner. Especially since they had desserts/cordials out at 8.

IMHO, the food at Polynesian concierge is nowhere near as good as what they offer at AKL.

 

[Tess]

I would have to respectfully disagree with Bojangles' assessment of the food in concierge at AKL vs Polynesian. We much preferred the evening offerings at Polynesian over those at AKL. While I know our family is in the minority--we didn't like BOMA and hence, don't care for the AKL specialty appetizers. That said, I'm glad we tried the AKL and BOMA.

I know people rave about BOMA, AKL food in general, but none of us--two adults and on that trip 2 teens and one pre-teen--cared for the African cuisine. We found most of the dishes too sweet for our tastes and we aren't overly enamored of curry. Further, the smell of cooking food seasoned with curry, the cloying smell of the AKL--sweet/smokey (as in wood burning)/spicy scent, just wasn't our cup of tea.

AKL is beautiful and we did enjoy meandering around on the first day, but we wouldn't want to spend a full vacation there. I guess we just prefer the floral/tropical scent and atmosphere and the more vegetable/oriental flair of the Polynesian offerings.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by Tess
I guess we just prefer the floral/tropical scent and atmosphere and the more vegetable/oriental flair of the Polynesian offerings.

I didn't find the food in the concierge lounge at Polynesian to be oriental. The offerings were themed each night. Sushi, Italian (pasta/marinara) , Mexican (taco chips/cheese sauce). They did have lo mein and sticky wings one night.

 

[Tess]

I didn't find the food in the concierge lounge at Polynesian to be oriental. The offerings were themed each night. Sushi, Italian (pasta/marinara) , Mexican (taco chips/cheese sauce). They did have lo mein and sticky wings one night.

Sunday Mexican: Taco salad, tortilla chips, cheese, salsa, grilled vegetables, and tropical fruit with caramel dipping sauce.
Monday Asian: Sushi, noodles, shrimp, fruit salsa, and eggrolls.
Tuesday Luau: Sesame chicken pasta with sweet garlic soy, tropical fruits, noodles, and cheese platter.
Wednesday 'Ohana: Vegetable springrolls with sweet chili sauce, apple pasta salad, and tropical fruit.
Thursday Kona: Sticky chicken wings, chicken fajitas with char sui sauce, potato and macaroni salad, and tropical fruits.
Friday Italian: Lasagna, meatballs in sauce, antipasto salad, pasta, and tropical fruits.
Saturday Moroccan: Cous Cous with vegetables, spicy bean dip, pita bread, cucumber and tomato salad, and tropical fruits.



True, there is a bit of "ethnic" variety in the lounge. . .lo mein, sushi, rice, sticky wings, terriyaki seasoned meats, and more fruit and vegetable focus is, in my view a more Polynesian or oriental taste--perhaps "oriental" isn't an apt "ethnic" term for the food--but I was looking for something other than "Polynesian" to describe it for those unfamiliar with the lounge. In the list above, I'm sure you will agree that the Polynesian/Asian/Oriental themes are more predominant over the others.

It's nothing personal Bojangles, I just disagree with your assessment of the food options between AKL and Polynesian. That is, after all, what the poster requested.

 

[lat]

Interesting topic. We loved Poly concierge's food especially when Chef Dick is around. We could tel from the food presentation if he is there that night or not.

However, we would love to stay at AKL concierge once. Everyone has different tastes. We (particularly ME) do not like Boma. I eventually ate off the kids station, will not go back. The food seemed too sweet/exotic for my likings.

 

[sters]

I've never stayed at any concierge (but I can dream!). When I spoke to a CM last year, she seemed to think that the optimal time to do it was when you had teenagers. Their sleeping and eating habits dovetail nicely into the concierge food offerings. I have small children and she was questioning how much they'd really take advantage of the program.

 

[PINHEAD]

Originally posted by sters
I've never stayed at any concierge (but I can dream!). When I spoke to a CM last year, she seemed to think that the optimal time to do it was when you had teenagers. Their sleeping and eating habits dovetail nicely into the concierge food offerings. I have small children and she was questioning how much they'd really take advantage of the program.

Our Kids are 2,4,8 and we stay at DVC - OKW in the summer.. when we stayed at the poly concierge last year we bought light food at the parks and picked at the food at the poly. It was more than enough for us, they had fruit and and the kids food offering was all they eat anyway. It really helped maximize park time.

 

[PINHEAD]

Originally posted by Tess
Sunday Mexican: Taco salad, tortilla chips, cheese, salsa, grilled vegetables, and tropical fruit with caramel dipping sauce.
Monday Asian: Sushi, noodles, shrimp, fruit salsa, and eggrolls.
Tuesday Luau: Sesame chicken pasta with sweet garlic soy, tropical fruits, noodles, and cheese platter.
Wednesday 'Ohana: Vegetable springrolls with sweet chili sauce, apple pasta salad, and tropical fruit.
Thursday Kona: Sticky chicken wings, chicken fajitas with char sui sauce, potato and macaroni salad, and tropical fruits.
Friday Italian: Lasagna, meatballs in sauce, antipasto salad, pasta, and tropical fruits.
Saturday Moroccan: Cous Cous with vegetables, spicy bean dip, pita bread, cucumber and tomato salad, and tropical fruits.



True, there is a bit of "ethnic" variety in the lounge. . .lo mein, sushi, rice, sticky wings, terriyaki seasoned meats, and more fruit and vegetable focus is, in my view a more Polynesian or oriental taste--perhaps "oriental" isn't an apt "ethnic" term for the food--but I was looking for something other than "Polynesian" to describe it for those unfamiliar with the lounge. In the list above, I'm sure you will agree that the Polynesian/Asian/Oriental themes are more predominant over the others.

It's nothing personal Bojangles, I just disagree with your assessment of the food options between AKL and Polynesian. That is, after all, what the poster requested.

WOW... do you have the daily menu for AKL or do you know where to get it from...

 

[PINHEAD]

Originally posted by lat
Interesting topic. We loved Poly concierge's food especially when Chef Dick is around. We could tel from the food presentation if he is there that night or not.

However, we would love to stay at AKL concierge once. Everyone has different tastes. We (particularly ME) do not like Boma. I eventually ate off the kids station, will not go back. The food seemed too sweet/exotic for my likings.

You are right about chef dick, they ran out of food the 2 nights he was not there last year and the kids food at night turns into just PBJ's...

 

[PINHEAD]

Originally posted by Bojangles
I certainally think you could save money on meals at AKL concierge especially if you have children. When we stayed there, they usually had chicken fingers and macaroni & cheese out for the kids. The adult appetizers were wonderful. If you don't have a large appetite, you could make a light dinner of them. We usually had a late lunch in the parks and after the afternoon scones/tea, we were usually happy with just a couple of appetizers in the lounge for dinner. Especially since they had desserts/cordials out at 8.

IMHO, the food at Polynesian concierge is nowhere near as good as what they offer at AKL.

Thanks for the note. we did pretty much the same at the poly last year...

 

[Bojangles]

Actually, that menu from Polynesian varies. We were there for 10 nights in July and it was a little different. I remember them having barbeque/buns, chicken caeser salad, nachos/cheese, sushi, pasta/marinara sauce, spring rolls, sticky wings. There was no Moroccan night. They only had uncrustables at the kids table this year, where in the past they would vary what they put out for them. This trip, they didn't have the cute fruit carvings out like they had in the past. I don't think Chef Dick was there that week. The service was great and they usually put more food out when it ran low.

I remember AKL having more than one hot appetizer choice (usually a variety of meat skewers and one night they had jumbo shrimp) and usually chicken fingers/macaroni and cheese for kids in addition to uncrustables. We never had to buy dinner for them when we were staying there. I can see where you wouldn't be happy with the food there if you didn't like Boma. I think their wine was a better quality than what they served at Polynesian, also.

We enjoyed both resorts. It's a hard decision. Good luck!

 

[JeffreyY]

Hi

We just came back from an AKL concierge stay. A couple of interesting things about the concierge setup at AKL. We had reserved a standard room for Thanksgiving day (as there were no discounts available). We were going to change to a concierge room for the remaining 4 days of our stay at an AP rate. When we checked in, we asked about a paid upgrade to a concierge room (we didn't want to switch rooms, but we didn't want to pay a rack rate of $450 either). After we offered to pay $100 more than the standard room rack rate, the CM checked and said that that was not acceptable. So we decided to stay with the standard room for one nite. The CM then told us that we were being upgraded at no additional charge to a Savannah room for the nite and we would not have to change rooms as this room was also a concierge room (but we would not have any concierge service for the first day). This was a wierd surprise. We were then able to re-check in the next morning and enjoy the concierge breakfast. We can't understand why Disney would not have been better off getting an additional $100 for the concierge upgrade and providing late afternoon and evening snacks to us.
There does not appear to be any specific concierge wing or area (other than a few rooms on the 6th floor). It seems they can take any room on the 5th floor, add a fridge, provide turn down service and say it's a concierge room. Our Savannah room was quite a distance from the concierge lounge.
When we stayed at the Poly concierge last year, we felt more part of the concierge experience. We saw the concierge CM's each time we came back to the room and the whole building had a different feel. Also at the Poly they had a large barrel filled with cans of soda and bottled water available almost all the time. At AKL they had no bottled water and a just a few cans of soda in a small fridge in the afternoon and evening (not early enough to take a can along to the park). The service was very good at both, but we enjoyed the Poly experience better.

Judi

 

[lat]

Yes, I think Poly concierge is the only one with bottle water and soda in that barrel. It is GREAT to have that amenity. Now I am thinking maybe we should still stay at Poly concierge for our April's trip.

I don't know how to post pictures. But I took a picture of Chef Dick's food carvings while we stayed in Tahiti this summer. It was really cute. I was told that in Hawaii, he does even more since they have the kitchen right there. He definitely takes care of the guests there and always make sure the food is plentiful. What a wonderful man!!!!!

Also, I just received a holiday card today with all the CM at Poly concierge since we stayed there in 2003. A nice touch

 

[mep319]

All you have to do it ask...there was never bottled water out at AKL but we asked several times each day...including the mornings b/4 we headed to the parks. The same w/ soda..my DH doesn't drink coffee but wants his morning coke.

As far as food was concerned we were there the last week of October. Many a nite we did not go to dinner b/c of the great offerings. There was grilled Salmon and Chicken almost every nite. And at least 3 nites had shrimp. By the time you ate one or two of them, plus enjoyed some cheese, I'm not sure how anyone would want to eat dinner.

We were on the 5th flr quite a way from the lounge as well. I believe this was b/c we requested the "best" savannah view in concierge. When I spoke to the CM he stated that views from the 6th floor weren't that great. I think I would prefer to have a room on the 6th flr for convience BUT why go to AKL if you can't view animals from your bacolny?? We had stayed in a standard savannah view in 1/03...and the thing that disappointted me most was that the view from the lower...non conceirge...floors are MUCH better than the views from the concierge floors. I'm sure we will return to AKL b/c we love the resort. I loved the access to sunrise safari w/ concierge and would like to try sunset safari as well...but you know I might forgo concierge to have a better view!