Akl

[DisneyCrazyMomma]

Anyone stayed club/concierge level at AKL? Experiences?

I don't really know what the perks are, besides the food offered there and the slightly bigger rooms. I read something about having help with dining ressies, but I didn't know what that meant. Anyone know?

 

[Sue M]

We stayed CL last August and loved it. Your room is no bigger then the non-CL rooms but they are on the Arusha Savana 4th floor. Lounge is on 5th floor.
The perks, aside from the lounge access and food, is the IPO service. Ininerary planners. Yes, they will make dining, or tour reservations for you. There are also some tours open only to CL guests. We went on the Sunrise Safari, and can highty recommend it. CL guests also get turn down service at night. A small thing, but nice. Especially the chocolate!
You will also get checked in upstairs in the CL. A CM will meet you in front of the lobby and escort you up.

 

[DisneyCrazyMomma]

Thanks! Sounds really nice! When you say they make dining ressies, does that mean they will call for you, or that they can get ressies that maybe I couldn't get? Just curious since we always make our ADRs before we go at 180 days out.

 

[MomofDisneyLoversx3]

You should receive an email from AKL IPO with regards to your trip. This will include info about any dining reservations you would like made. On day 180, you will wake up with an email of all your reservations.

 

[iheartjuppy]

If you don't get an email from the IPO, you can reach out to them directly as well - the contact info is in the Club Level thread. I just posted some links I hope are helpful in this thread: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3095151

We haven't stayed CL at AKL yet but are booked for early next month. We stayed CL at Wilderness Lodge and the rooms are definitely standard rooms there, and I understand them to be the regular standard rooms at AKL as well (Arusha view but regular size) unless you book a deluxe or suite or something.

If you booked Club Level from the get-go, the IPO should get in touch. If you just recently booked it may take a while for them to reach out. If you upgraded a reservation to Club Level, they don't always get pinged to reach out so you may want to call or send an email.

I made my own ADRs but have corresponded with a few of the CMs at the IPO at AKL so far and found each of them to be REALLY responsive, friendly and helpful.

I'll post when we get back with any details I can!

 

[mmmears]

Anyone stayed club/concierge level at AKL? Experiences?

I don't really know what the perks are, besides the food offered there and the slightly bigger rooms. I read something about having help with dining ressies, but I didn't know what that meant. Anyone know?

My family has stayed at AKL CL quite a few times -- we absolutely love it there!

Perks are access to the lounge (really nice one), food and beverages all day, and the IPO office (they will book dining, as well as special things like the Sunrise Safari (only offered to guests staying CL at AKL), Wanyama Safari, or any other on-property activity like fireworks cruises, etc.)

The rooms are not larger than regular rooms (they used to be) but they now all have Arusha Savanna views (they didn't use to). Some of the info on Disney's website is old and outdated (by 4 years or more...).

As for dining reservations, just call the IPO office or email them and tell them what you want. You don't have to worry about counting the 180 days -- they will do that for you! If you are before your 180 days, they can pretty much get you whatever you want. If you are going soon, they can't get you an ADR in a place that's all booked up, but they will try to help you find places where you'd like to eat. The people who work at the AKL IPO office are all really nice and will try to help you plan a great trip.

My family has had really good experience staying CL at AKL (so much so that we pretty much stay there now for at least part of every WDW trip we take).

Hope this helps! Please feel free to PM me if I wasn't clear and you have questions.

 

[Sue M]

Thanks! Sounds really nice! When you say they make dining ressies, does that mean they will call for you, or that they can get ressies that maybe I couldn't get? Just curious since we always make our ADRs before we go at 180 days out.

They will book your ADRs for you, on your 180 day. All you have to do us tell them where you want to eat, and the day, and time frame. They can't get you a reservation that is booked up. They used to be able to, but not anymore.

They will also give you a print out of your reservations when you check in.

 

[brertoad]

We've stayed several times at AKL CL and it's awesome. We've always been on the 6th floor - near the CL lounge area. It's probably my favorite thing because we already have annual passes and are spoiled that way - we get to go to the parks whenever we like. The CL feels more like a vacation to me, because it's not something we get to do often. I don't think DH cares as much as I do, to me, it's a real treat.

They have some great items available for breakfast, it's a continental breakfast; bagels, croissants, fruit, sweets (muffins, cinnamon rolls, other little things), hot oatmeal, cold cereal, milk, coffee, juice, etc.

In the afternoon they have a tea service with some light snacks, little scones and cookies. Tea, Lemonade, "Jungle Juice", Sodas, Coffee.

Evening from 5-7pm they do 2 hot appetizers, wine, beer, crudites, hummus.

From 8-10pm they do desserts and cordials.

We've had a nice room with a decent savannah view each time. The staff is extremely friendly. The first time we ever stayed there, we got an Animal Kingdom Lodge cooler bag! That was awesome. I heard about other people getting one, so I was really happy when we got one in our room.

Hope you get to go and enjoy it

 

[eangel12]

Are CL on the 4th or 6th floor?! I was originally thinking we would stay CL and then saw it was the 6th floor. Our reason for staying at AKL is the SV view. I think 6th floor is too high for good viewing for my 4 year old. The 4th floor would be so much better!! We are taking both grandmom's with us so thought CL would be nice! So many decisions!!

 

[iheartjuppy]

To the best of my knowledge, all "standard" club rooms are on the 4th floor. 5th and 6th floors are DVC club rooms and, I think, some of the suites?

 

[Magic3forme]

we just stayed there last week. Our dvc room was on the 6th floor. we had a view of the pool.

the concierge team made all of our reservations for us.

As for the Concierge team when we got to the resort.. we were not impressed at all.

the only reason we did the CL was to do the sunrise safari... that was awesome!!! Amanda was our guide.... we loved her.

we wouldnt stay there again unless we want to do a safari. our room didnt have hot water for 2/3 days.

 

[Sue M]

To the best of my knowledge, all "standard" club rooms are on the 4th floor. 5th and 6th floors are DVC club rooms and, I think, some of the suites?

This is correct. A long time ago standard rooms were in the same floor as lounge, and were larger rooms, but since have been turned into DVC . Now standard CL rooms are on 4th floor.

 

[iheartjuppy]

we just stayed there last week. Our dvc room was on the 6th floor. we had a view of the pool.

the concierge team made all of our reservations for us.

As for the Concierge team when we got to the resort.. we were not impressed at all.

the only reason we did the CL was to do the sunrise safari... that was awesome!!! Amanda was our guide.... we loved her.

we wouldnt stay there again unless we want to do a safari. our room didnt have hot water for 2/3 days.

The whole resort had no hot water? Or just your room? They didn't move you?

What was the CL staff disappointment?

We are headed down in a few weeks so I'm especially interested in recent experiences!

 

[Magic3forme]

The whole resort had no hot water? Or just your room? They didn't move you?

What was the CL staff disappointment?

We are headed down in a few weeks so I'm especially interested in recent experiences!

Our room did not have hot hot water... i went to another room to take a shower. .. same problem. I dont know how people werent complaining.... it had to be a problem in the building. (it was fine thurs morn, then back to warm on friday.) I asked to be moved, and they said they would take care of the problem. we were compensated for our problem after I talked to management on Friday morning.

I asked the concierge to do something for me twice.. never did it.( and they were easy things to do.) I didnt think they were very friendly or outgoing.. maybe it was just me, but I expected a lot more and wasnt impressed.

and as for the food selections... unless you drink a lot of alcohol it wasnt worth it.

 

[jaykorf001]

Great info. We are making our first trip to DW in June and staying CL AKL. We wanted the Arusha view and the Sunrise Safari. I'm so excited for my 4 year old son. When I booked the standard club was more than an Arusha view but access to the Sunrise Safari and the lounge made it worth the price difference IMO. I read many rave reviews about the Sunrise Safari.

 

[DisneyCrazyMomma]

Thanks for all the great information! Still haven't made a final decision but appreciate it - gave me some new things to think about.