AKLV - Concierge & Safari - Not Great

[DisneyBB]

I thought I would share my thoughts on our recent trip. The first three nights were at AKL Concierge, mainly so we could do the the safari tour. Well concierge was really great, the food was nice and the lounge was pleasent. Not enough soft chairs to relax in, more for eating etc. We were lucky to get a safari view, which was a great dissappointment! Very scruffy and you could see lots of building work. I would prefer the pool view until they finish building. We did the safari and found it interesting but not worth the money IMHO. It was the safari ride with a bit more detail about the animals. I expected a bit more behind the scenes tour. The breakfast was nothing special, tyical breakfast food. They made a big deal about not eating until the chef has talked about the food. He came out and basically said here are the eggs and here is the bacon! (nothing wrong with the food, but I was expecting more interesting choices).

For the price they are charging, I would not do the tour again. I would stay in concierge, but not bother asking for a safari view. We had a huge 1 bedroom, would really only need a studio as we didn't use the kitchen at all. I think they would have been better making them all studios.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I thought I would share my thoughts on our recent trip. The first three nights were at AKL Concierge, mainly so we could do the the safari tour. Well concierge was really great, the food was nice and the lounge was pleasent. Not enough soft chairs to relax in, more for eating etc. We were lucky to get a safari view, which was a great dissappointment! Very scruffy and you could see lots of building work. I would prefer the pool view until they finish building. We did the safari and found it interesting but not worth the money IMHO. It was the safari ride with a bit more detail about the animals. I expected a bit more behind the scenes tour. The breakfast was nothing special, tyical breakfast food. They made a big deal about not eating until the chef has talked about the food. He came out and basically said here are the eggs and here is the bacon! (nothing wrong with the food, but I was expecting more interesting choices).

For the price they are charging, I would not do the tour again. I would stay in concierge, but not bother asking for a safari view. We had a huge 1 bedroom, would really only need a studio as we didn't use the kitchen at all. I think they would have been better making them all studios.

Thanks for your report! I was just replying on another thread how many felt if the cost was worth it. From a previous description, I too thought this might kinda be a glorified safari ride. I really want to try concierge, thanks for your report on the view. Studio was what I would also ressie whenever I go. You just confirmed alot of what I thought. Thanks again!

 

[pyrxtc]

I stayed Savannah (not safari) Concierge last December and really enjoyed overlooking the animals. We also did the Safari and I thought it was wonderful. You get to ask all the questions you don't have time for on the regular ride and you also get to stop for photo's and the breakfast after was great. It wasn't just bacon and eggs. there was African food in with all of it, special juices. Very tasty! Although I normally wouldn't use the kitchen much either, I love the space you get with the 1 bedroom. A lot of us would be very unhappy with all studio's.

I'm sorry you didn't like it so much but that means it will be easier for me to book it.

 

[disrailfan]

That is unfortunate. DW and I did both the Sunset and Sunrise Safari a couple of years ago and we loved.

The Sunset Safari was so cool that it was just the two of us and our guides. It truly was a nice experience even though the cost was $150 per person. It did include a full meal in Jiko afterwards so I feel that it was well worth it.

The Sunrise Safari had two Disney Bus Loads of us so it took several ride vehicles to get us all. During the trip into the backstage area we were taken past all of the barns and explained to us what they were and how they were managed. We then went on an extended safari where we were brought very close to the animals. (Though not as close as we got to the animals at the Sunset Safari at the lodge). Breakfast was with all sorts of African style breakfast dishes. This was though before the Tusker House changed to the current buffett style that it has. At the time they actually had a good chef and really good food. I suspect that the Breakfast offerings for this have changed since they converted it.

Sorry to hear that you had a not so good experience on this tour. We have always liked it and planned to take DD on it next year when we stay Concierge at AKV next fall. Now we are having second thoughts.

 

[DisneyBB]

I think the breakfast food offerings for the safari ride has changed. The juices were just orange etc. Nothing special in the food, it was very good quality, but not what I was expecting. Maybe I expected to much from the overall experience. The SV would be good if the building work was finished as it spoilt the feeling of being in Africa.

We would stay in AKVC again, but not do the safari. I have done other tours with Disney and felt you can get better value for your money. (Keys to kingdom being one of my fav!)

Each to their own, as said above it makes it easier for other people to book.

 

[Inkmahm]

I think the breakfast food offerings for the safari ride has changed. The juices were just orange etc. Nothing special in the food, it was very good quality, but not what I was expecting. Maybe I expected to much from the overall experience. The SV would be good if the building work was finished as it spoilt the feeling of being in Africa.

We would stay in AKVC again, but not do the safari. I have done other tours with Disney and felt you can get better value for your money. (Keys to kingdom being one of my fav!)

Each to their own, as said above it makes it easier for other people to book.

Sorry you didn't like it.

We did the sunrise safari in Dec 06 and the afternoon safari in Dec 07 and loved both of them. We're doing the sunrise safari again in April.

I doubt the food has changed THAT much at breakfast. I just ate at Tusker House in December after the change to the buffet style and it is definitely African style food. I've heard it described as being similar to Boma although I've never eaten there, I only go to Jikos because we love Jikos so much. It's our favorite restaurant in all of Disney. But again, I can't imagine that the breakfast has changed to be nothing but "bacon and eggs." Perhaps you just didn't try the other dishes?

 

[DisneyBB]

Sorry, no there was more dishes, but all of which would be available at any breakfast buffet. I said that the chef basically pointed to the bacon and eggs etc. The tour leader made out that he would like to describe the different foods available. As I said the food was very good qaulity and plenty of it. We enjoyed the food, but was dissappointed in the kind of dishes available.

 

[JimMIA]

The breakfast was nothing special, tyical breakfast food. They made a big deal about not eating until the chef has talked about the food. He came out and basically said here are the eggs and here is the bacon!

Well, as they say in the hospitality industry..."Presentation is EVERYTHING!!!!!"