AKV Concierge Dec 22-28, 2007 1 Bedroom...Lost in Translation

[LIFERBABE]

I can't wait to see pictures. What type of offerings were offered in the evening? Did they have anything kid friendly other than BP&J (cheese or veggies)?

The evening offerings were normally appetizer sized items from Jiko or Boma.

The first night we had ribs and meatballs. The hot items are what change. They also served these really good chicken skewers and the soups and stews were all pretty adventurous, but good. My youngest really liked the squash soup. He said it tasted like pumpkin pie.
We were there for 6 nights and the hot items started to repeat on the 4th night.

The cold items were always the same each night.

There were cold trays of olives, herbed carrot sticks, artichokes and plain celery sticks. The cubed cheeses were a smoked cheddar, brie, and smoked gouda and crackers.

There was always a plate of uncrustables with gummy bears in the center during the evening. My oldest is really picky and most nights he ate the PB&J except the 2 nights they served the ribs and chicken skewers. The ribs were good, but they were a little spicy. Sweet and spicy, but not hot.

Desserts varied each night, but they always served a sugar or chocolate chip cookie.

There was also yogurt served most of the day except in the evening and dessert hours.

Also wanted to add the evening drink offerings,
They had 3 different wines out each night. A Chard, a Merlot and a Shiraz. From South Africa and it was pretty potent.

They also put out bottles of beer. Miller Lite, Mich and Mich Ultra.

Sodas in cans (Coke, Sprite, Pibb, sometimes Fanta definitely dont need a mug here) and chocolate milk and white milk.

Dessert Cordials were Baileys, Cointreau, Kahlua and something else I dont remember.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Since the concierge rooms are right off the lobby...is there a lot of noise?

DH and I always request rooms away from elevators, etc. to cut down on the noise. I'm disappointed that these are not tucked in a hallway.

Normally the lobby was pretty subdued and it was not bothersome.

We were there during the holidays, and they had several activities going on, such as carolers and Santa Claus and Mickey and Minnie taking photos on Christmas eve and Day. Those nights I could hear the noise of the busy lobby from our villa, and stepped out to see what was going on, but I enjoyed watching the activity from above and having a clear view of it all.

I did think some would not like that, but that in itself would not keep us from staying again. The bedroom and living area are away from the lobby and I was never disturbed from sleep or watching TV.

 

[kgc07]

The evening offerings were normally appetizer sized items from Jiko or Boma.

The first night we had ribs and meatballs. The hot items are what change. They also served these really good chicken skewers and the soups and stews were all pretty adventurous, but good. My youngest really liked the squash soup. He said it tasted like pumpkin pie.
We were there for 6 nights and the hot items started to repeat on the 4th night.

The cold items were always the same each night.

There were cold trays of olives, herbed carrot sticks, artichokes and plain celery sticks. The cubed cheeses were a smoked cheddar, brie, and smoked gouda and crackers.

There was always a plate of uncrustables with gummy bears in the center during the evening. My oldest is really picky and most nights he ate the PB&J except the 2 nights they served the ribs and chicken skewers. The ribs were good, but they were a little spicy. Sweet and spicy, but not hot.

Desserts varied each night, but they always served a sugar or chocolate chip cookie.

There was also yogurt served most of the day except in the evening and dessert hours.

Also wanted to add the evening drink offerings,
They had 3 different wines out each night. A Chard, a Merlot and a Shiraz. From South Africa and it was pretty potent.

They also put out bottles of beer. Miller Lite, Mich and Mich Ultra.

Sodas in cans (Coke, Sprite, Pibb, sometimes Fanta definitely dont need a mug here) and chocolate milk and white milk.

Dessert Cordials were Baileys, Cointreau, Kahlua and something else I dont remember.

Thanks so much for listing everything. DS is very picky. While at GF he would only eat the veggies or chesse and crackers they had out. I'm glad to hear they offer something he may eat. How close is the counter service to the lobby?

 

[LIFERBABE]

Thanks so much for listing everything. DS is very picky. While at GF he would only eat the veggies or chesse and crackers they had out. I'm glad to hear they offer something he may eat. How close is the counter service to the lobby?

You're Welcome.

The lobby is on the 3rd Floor and Mara (counter service) as well as Jiko and Boma are on the first level. If you take the first set of elevators off the lobby down to 1, it lets you off right in front of Jiko and Boma. You go out the doors (covered walkway) and Mara is past the lockers, kiddie pool and Arcade. It's all really close together on Level 1.

 

[BCV23]

Sorry to hear your experience wasn't all you hoped it to be.

We have a reservation for an accessible 2 BR concierge in May so sounds like we'll be in 01 and 02. I was warned that the rollin shower would be in the 1 BR part of the unit not the studio. In fact, she told me at least twice which I appreciated. Our DD needs the rollin and she'll be in the studio but we'll cope. If coming over to our bathroom is all she has to deal with, she'll count it a great day!

I will miss the whirlpool however.

Just wanted to say that WDW dining may not have access to the IPO's system, but they should be able to find any reservation under your phone # just like always. And IPO does have access to any reservations you may make by yourself. When we've stayed club level, I make the vast majority of reservations myself but usually ask for an email confirmation from IPO. They've always accommodated that request.

 

[BCV23]

double post

 

[zumbergc]

Where are they building the new animal barn. Which savanah is it in?
I think the old barn was in uzima savanah. Does anyone know what they are doing with it?

So the new kidani building is in the sunset savannah. I'm just wondering where all the construction is? Like if you request zebra trail, would you not see the construction?

TIA

 

[kathy carleton]

Many many thanks for all the info!! We stayed AKL concierge the month after it opened, and then have stayed concierge there on 3 more occasions. BUT... we were always on the 5th floor with a great view of the savannah. I really thank all of you for your information, as we bought in to DVC because of AKV!! A savannah view and a bath tub is really important to me... So, having all this information is great- we can decide what is the most important to us and plan accordingly. I do remember being taken to a 6th floor room many years ago, and was not happy with the savannah view, so we took a deluxe savannah on 5th. Sure wish we could stay on 5th/savannah and use concierge priveleges!! We did not mind taking the elevator up to go to the lounge (which we loved- the food and atmosphere are well worth the extra points, that I can assure you!).

I hope that more reports will come in with additional information. Frankly, I really am not happy to hear that we DVC members got he rooms that no one else wanted!! Also, I know that a great tub is very very important to me, so I need to make that request.

Our trip is planned for Oct 19-25, so we have time to make some changes hopefully....

 

[LIFERBABE]

A savannah view and a bath tub is really important to me... So, having all this information is great- we can decide what is the most important to us and plan accordingly.
....

Hi Kathy, I know someone always has to go first, but I so agree with you! It's all about having the information and deciding what is important.
A tub is even more important to me than the view so I would have not knowingly requested what I did, or better yet, I would have kept my nieces concierge studio I had booked for the same time instead of cancelling it and keeping the 1 bed. The floor plans and the DVC unit description obviously are not correct because both include a whirlpool tub.

We will definitely stay again, but will make some adjustments. Having a nice savannah view and a tub would really be a slice of heaven for me.

 

[Judique]

I guess my confusion is from the construction I saw going on in June of last year I did not see the construction in that area do you have a room number??

And Lisa Have you actualy seen the rooms other then in pictures.

I have stayied in Club level before and it was all zebra trail 6 th floor

I think you mean Zebra trail 5th floor. The 5th is the top floor on the Zebra trail. Before DVC, concierge was Zebra Trail 5th floor overlooking Arusha Rock. I stayed in the same room on Dec 22nd (Savannah View on Zebra Trail overlooking Arusha Rock) which is now a DVC room, which I had stayed in a couple of years ago as AKL concierge. I must say I missed staying in that room without the concierge! We were only there one night before moving to our BWV one bedroom. It would be nice if DVC 'switched' these rooms - used the 5th floor Zebras as concierge studios. They are 'balcony depth' bigger then the 4th floor rooms - you can tell when you are in the room next to the viewing windows and you can see the 4th floor balconies below you.

After staying AKV with flatscreen and granite, I felt my BW villa was in need of an update! We still prefer BWV!

We were checked in by 4:40pm - arrived after 3 and were told no check in until 4pm. There were animals on the savannah until after dark, giraffe, zebra, ankole cattle, antelope, birds. Next morning we checked out about 10:45 and no animals were out - maybe they don't come out early on Sundays? On other visits we've seen them out earlier.

 

[ITGirl50]

Normally the lobby was pretty subdued and it was not bothersome.

We were there during the holidays, and they had several activities going on, such as carolers and Santa Claus and Mickey and Minnie taking photos on Christmas eve and Day. Those nights I could hear the noise of the busy lobby from our villa, and stepped out to see what was going on, but I enjoyed watching the activity from above and having a clear view of it all.

I did think some would not like that, but that in itself would not keep us from staying again. The bedroom and living area are away from the lobby and I was never disturbed from sleep or watching TV.

Thank you for the response. We are going during Christmas week. We were so excited that DVC had concierge but are very disappointed that we can only have rooms that cash customers don't want! It took us a week to decide (after reading this post), but we finally decided we are going to get a 1-bedroom standard view room instead of the studio concierge. We just decided if we want to we can always stay concierge with cash and get a better room. We can't afford to pay cash for a 1-bedroom.

Thank you so much for posting your experience. I would have been VERY disappointed with the size and location of the rooms when we arrived.

 

[dianeschlicht]

So, Liferbabe, what do I need to do when I check in to make sure we AVOID this room? It looks like from some responses on this thread that there are TWO HA rooms in concierge level that are HA and the are both on the savanna view???

 

[alldiz]

Sorry OP for your less than stellar room.....

thankyou so much for posting.....MS is gonna wonder why everyones
1st request is a non HA room

Unfortunately this is the downfall of DVC....there aren't a lot of rooms
to change to if the one you get is unsatisfactory.

I would have been VERY upset as well.....
Kerri

 

[robinb]

So, Liferbabe, what do I need to do when I check in to make sure we AVOID this room? It looks like from some responses on this thread that there are TWO HA rooms in concierge level that are HA and the are both on the savanna view???

I think there is one HA 2-BR, which means that there is one studio and one 1BR. I guess you can make a request of NON handicapped room with Jacuzzi you first and foremost request. I'm still curious is all HA 1BRs don't have a jacuzzi. I think I'll start a new thread and ask.

 

[LIFERBABE]

As far as avoiding 6202, I think that is going to be tough with only 5
1 bedrooms. We checked in fairly early, but it seems our room was preassigned. As we sat in the lounge and waited for our room, I noticed the housekeeper working her way down the hall. Despite being the 2nd to check in, our room was the last to be cleaned (I have no problem with this) so by time we got our villa, all the other villas were issued. So when I went to complain, there was nowhere to move to. So then you have to be prepared to move the next day or stick it out. I dont want to either, so my best bet is just to avoid the 1 bed Concierge units.

I believe all the studios have a tub, and we actually had more storage in our Savannah View studio in July with the storage bench, full wardrobe and recessed connecting door then we had in our Conc. 1 bed.

 

[DBorges]

They block the rooms a few days before you arrive so if you have a request it has been my experince thatif you call them a few days before or even a day before your booked date you can best get the request you ask for ..

I have done this both at Akv and Boardwalk Since I get a 2 brm under the boardwalk sign..
''

Sometimes a squeeky wheel gets the grease ..



AND always remember be carefulk what you wish or ask for you just might get it..

 

[LIFERBABE]

They block the rooms a few days before you arrive so if you have a request it has been my experince thatif you call them a few days before or even a day before your booked date you can best get the request you ask for ..

I have done this both at Akv and Boardwalk Since I get a 2 brm under the boardwalk sign..
''

Sometimes a squeeky wheel gets the grease ..



AND always remember be carefulk what you wish or ask for you just might get it..

This may be, but with only 5 rooms, it is going to be very difficult to do. You have to consider the vacancy rate which is going to be 0. What unit is checking out, or in on your day of arrival. We stayed 6 nights, so those that checked in during that time had zero chance of getting our unit.

It may only be 1 or 2 checkouts per day, not all 5. So your odds have just decreased even further.

The squeaky wheel may get the grease, but if your wheel is on the phone and my wheel is standing in the concierge lounge complaining and demanding another room, what wheel will get greased first?

Someone is going to be placed in this unit. If you book it, expect it.

 

[kimberh]

This is Scary to read all at one time. I have a May Concierge reservation. I have had wonderful views at AKL. I have booked Concierge to book the Safaris'. If the room pans out to be bad, then I will have at least done the Safaris'. I will not spend extra points for a bad view. It does disturb me that DVC charges us all this money to buy AKV using The Conciege selling point, then find out they are putting us in rooms cash customers complain about. Does DVC Thing We Are Stupid and word won't get around??? Are we not spending Cash and a lot of it???