AKV Club Level View

[coastalhh]

I have read that Club Level is not Savannah view? Is that true? For that amount of points I would hope it is also Savannah.

Is there a site I can see pictures of the views from the club level rooms?

 

[erionm]

AKV Concierge Level is priced for the amenities, not the view.

There are 5 2-bedroom lock-offs that make up the DVC portion of AKV Concierge Level (all on the 6th floor of Jambo House). Three face an alcove of the Sunset Savanna, the other two face the Uzima Pool.

 

[disneynutz]

AKV Concierge Level is priced for the amenities, not the view.

There are 5 2-bedroom lock-offs that make up the DVC portion of AKV Concierge Level (all on the 6th floor of Jambo House). Three face an alcove of the Sunset Savanna, the other two face the Uzima Pool.

"face the pool" may paint a overly positive picture. It's more of a view of a roof with a pool in the distance partially obscured.

IMO they made the rooms DVC because they didn't want to upset their cash guests.

Bill

 

[drusba]

As noted there are only 5 2BR lockoffs (possible total of ten rooms, 5 studios and 5 1BRs). Of the three with savanna view, one is handicap accessible, and you cannot request savanna view (it is luck of the draw). Those rooms with savanna view have mediocre views in comparison to majority of regular savanna view rooms and there is actually an overhang over the balcony that limits view. In other words, if you want club level services and access to the lounge, try for club level, but if you want savanna view, go woith the savanna view rooms.

Also be aware that unless you are an AKV owner who can reserve exactly 11 months out, your chances of getting club level are low, and studios and 2BRs can actually disappear before the owner's 11 month window opens -- example: it is Nov 17, 2014 and thus you are 11 months out from Oct 17, 2015 and as an AKV owner you can attempt to reserve today at AKV up to seven nights beginning Oct 17, 2015; however, studios and 2BR club levels are already gone for Oct 17 and Oct 18, meaning you have no further chance today to reserve a trip beginning Oct 17 and those whose 11 month window opens tomorrow for a trip beginning Oct 18 are already blocked out

 

[DebbieB]

"face the pool" may paint a overly positive picture. It's more of a view of a roof with a pool in the distance partially obscured.

IMO they made the rooms DVC because they didn't want to upset their cash guests.

Bill

Actually, the cash guests got a bad deal. It used to be club level was floors 5 & 6, the larger size rooms. They turned those larger size rooms over to DVC and the club guests got moved to the regular size rooms on the 4th floor. So club guests are now 2 floors from the lounge and smaller rooms. But they all have Arusha Savanna views.

 

[coastalhh]

Interesting. We are trying to find a AKv contract. If we ever get one I doubt I will use club very often. Normal trip would be savannah view. Extra trip do cheap points value. Maybe a club level for a weekend sometime.. But I see much more value in every other category.

 

[jodiey]

As noted there are only 5 2BR lockoffs (possible total of ten rooms, 5 studios and 5 1BRs). Of the three with savanna view, one is handicap accessible, and you cannot request savanna view (it is luck of the draw). Those rooms with savanna view have mediocre views in comparison to majority of regular savanna view rooms and there is actually an overhang over the balcony that limits view. In other words, if you want club level services and access to the lounge, try for club level, but if you want savanna view, go woith the savanna view rooms. Also be aware that unless you are an AKV owner who can reserve exactly 11 months out, your chances of getting club level are low, and studios and 2BRs can actually disappear before the owner's 11 month window opens -- example: it is Nov 17, 2014 and thus you are 11 months out from Oct 17, 2015 and as an AKV owner you can attempt to reserve today at AKV up to seven nights beginning Oct 17, 2015; however, studios and 2BR club levels are already gone for Oct 17 and Oct 18, meaning you have no further chance today to reserve a trip beginning Oct 17 and those whose 11 month window opens tomorrow for a trip beginning Oct 18 are already blocked out

So you pay all that money to have AKV your home resort and you can't even get in at the time you want?? I'm thinking more and more DVC is not for me!

 

[erionm]

So you pay all that money to have AKV your home resort and you can't even get in at the time you want?? I'm thinking more and more DVC is not for me!

drusba is referring to difficulties in booking AKV Club Level only which is made up of 5 2-bedroom lock-offs. The Value Villas at AKV (Jambo House only) can also be difficult to book at less than 11 months. These two categories are a very small percentage of the available rooms at AKV.

The other Villas in AKV (Standard & Savanna View) are much easier to book.

 

[cwdefouw]

We had a savannah view club room a couple of years ago and the view was just OK, (high up and partially blocked by the overhanging roof). We had a savannah view value room last month, and I thought the view was about the same, although the value room was one floor lower, the club room had a longer vista to open savannah, with Kidani far in the distance. The value room was a looking directly across to a another Jambo wing with lots of trees blocking the view. We saw less animals from the value room although that could easily be due to different feeding patterns and not because the view was worse.

As previously stated, club stays are certainly not booked for the view, as you cannot even book a guaranteed savannah view club room, it is just luck of the draw, just as it is with the savannah view value rooms. If you book club level and do get a savannah view, you will see animals, just from higher up, from a balcony partially blocked by the overhanging roof.

 

[coastalhh]

I guess people love the food. But as much as I am at the parks I would miss most of it anyway. and paying roughly 18.3 points more per night more for a Club 2 Bedroom compared to a Standard 2 bedroom with same view is not worth it all all for me. That's 115.29 in fees per night more to still not have a view. If it was at Boardwalk, VWL or something I could understand but to me AKV is ALL ABOUT THE ANIMALS!

It is the only hotel I can afford (and maybe the only period?) where you can see all types of wild Savannah animals outside your window as you have morning coffee, stop back in the room to relax etc..

I wouldn't mind a value or standard view for cheaper points as I could go to the viewing area..but if I am PAYING MORE for LESS VIEW it just doesn't work for me.

Buy 115 in snacks for your family per day and have your own concierge club in your Savannah view room

 

[erionm]

As I posted earlier, Concierge Level is about the amenities/services available, not the view. In addition to the lounge and food, you also get daily housekeeping, turn down service in the evening, newspaper on weekdays, access to the Itinerary Planning Office (IPO) that will make all of your reservations (dining, tours, etc) for you.

 

[rseeb]

I have stayed in a 1br handicapped room on the 6th floor. i did not request but all 1br were filled by the time we arrived. The view was a Savanna view and it was great since we got to see animals in the am and again in the pm. Yes since the number of rooms is limited it does fill up at the 11 month window, but if you own there it is worth doing at least once. You are pampered and I think the limited number of rooms definitely is a factor in the great service you receive on the club level.

 

[LisaS]

Another reason people have booked Club Level in the past was to book the Sunrise Safari. Other than for a few months this year when it was open to all DVC guests at AKV, it is normally available only to Club Level guests. At that time they also offered a significant discount on the Wanyama Safari (the AKL safari and dinner) to Club Level guests.

We booked Club Level just so we could experience those two safaris. We had a pretty good idea what the view would be like from those 6th floor rooms but figured we could live with it for one stay. And we knew that while we were on the evening safari we would have the best savanna view you can get. It was worth the tradeoff to stay there that one time.

We stayed in a studio so the extra cost wasn't that bad. We normally stay in a 1BR but I wouldn't book a 1BR Club Level due to both the cost and the 20% chance of getting the HA 1BR. It has a roll-in shower instead of a tub and the whirlpool tub is one of the reasons we book a 1BR.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have been on the club floor twice and going again in March. We usually stay three days out of the 10 days we will be at Disney world. I bought more animal kingdom points on the secondary market specifically to ge the club level. As another poster noted, it is almost impossible after your 11 month window. There is no savannah view but I love how they take care of you, the food and drinks all day, the great coffees, the cocktails at night, the appetizers, the desserts at night, the newspapers, and more.to me it is a luxury time and I love it. We don't go to parks much any more so we just hang out at pool and then to great restaurants for dinner. The worst thing about the AK is the distance from everything else. We rarely have a car while we are there and if we are not going to downtown Disney I'll just take a cab to a hotel like contemporary for the California Grill.

 

[SnowWhite2]

We just returned from AKV Concierge a few days ago. It was our second stay. It was better than the first one, but I'm still not sold on it.

Pre-planning dept couldn't make any of the reservations I wanted. Calling them and providing a CC is more work than making the ressie myself on line. We did get walked up to the concierge level this time and they actually did acknowledge our presence.

The food was a repeat day after day except for a few items around dinner time. They were spicy and I can't eat spicy food so it was a non-event for me.

There was no bottled water available. Water was only available in the beverage dispenser.

Our 1 bd was a modified HA suite. It didn't have the island in the kitchen, the stove was a drop in, the dishwasher was two drawer dishwashers and the sink didn't have a cabinet underneath. The bathroom did have a whirlpool tub/shower combo but it wasn't as high as a regular tub/shower combo. There were many handrails in the bathroom but no towel bars. All of the towels were on the handrails. If we needed to use the handrails and went to grab them, we would have fallen since we would have grabbed a towel. That was one of the oddest things in this room.

We did have a savanna view, but as previously mentioned, was partially blocked by the roof overhang. We didn't see many animals out there.

It was nice as we were celebrating our anniversary, but I don't think we would do it again.

 

[Lady V]

I stayed one night in a club level studio a couple weeks ago. The night opened up about 2 weeks prior so I booked it just to try it because I own at SSR and knew I'd never get to book it otherwise with DVC. I did enjoy the refreshments and I liked being escorted up on the elevator. It was also nice being greeted at the top and offered an African mimosa to enjoy while checking in. My room was a pool/roof view. I thought it was ok for one night but for a long trip would rather have Savannah view. I am glad I was able to try it and am hoping to stay club level in other resorts in the future.

 

[MouseOfCards]

I guess people love the food. But as much as I am at the parks I would miss most of it anyway. and paying roughly 18.3 points more per night more for a Club 2 Bedroom compared to a Standard 2 bedroom with same view is not worth it all all for me. That's 115.29 in fees per night more to still not have a view. If it was at Boardwalk, VWL or something I could understand but to me AKV is ALL ABOUT THE ANIMALS!

Buy 115 in snacks for your family per day and have your own concierge club in your Savannah view room

That's a great point. Whenever we considered AKV club, we always compared it to Savannah view, but you're probably right in comparing it more to a standard. Thanks!

 

[MouseOfCards]

Yes since the number of rooms is limited it does fill up at the 11 month window, but if you own there it is worth doing at least once. You are pampered and I think the limited number of rooms definitely is a factor in the great service you receive on the club level.

Another reason people have booked Club Level in the past was to book the Sunrise Safari. Other than for a few months this year when it was open to all DVC guests at AKV, it is normally available only to Club Level guests.

And we knew that while we were on the evening safari we would have the best savanna view you can get. It was worth the tradeoff to stay there that one time.

We stayed in a studio so the extra cost wasn't that bad. We normally stay in a 1BR but I wouldn't book a 1BR Club Level due to both the cost and the 20% chance of getting the HA 1BR. It has a roll-in shower instead of a tub and the whirlpool tub is one of the reasons we book a 1BR.

There is no savannah view but I love how they take care of you, the food and drinks all day, the great coffees, the cocktails at night, the appetizers, the desserts at night, the newspapers, and more.to me it is a luxury time and I love it. We don't go to parks much any more so we just hang out at pool and then to great restaurants for dinner.

I thought it was ok for one night but for a long trip would rather have Savannah view. I am glad I was able to try it and am hoping to stay club level in other resorts in the future.

Thanks for the helpful comments!