AKV Jambo Concierge?

[InTheBubble]

So, I was thinking it would be awesome to try the concierge at Jambo house since we are on DVC points (we wouldn't pay out-of-pocket for any other concierge). However, others in our party don't think it would be worth it since we've heard the rooms are smaller than Kidani Village rooms. Can anyone give us an opinion on whether AK concierge is worth the points?

 

[Iggipolka]

Totally worth it. See my trip report for details.
We've stayed Concierge at Jambo three times and absolutely love it. The room size is just fine for us and we stay in a 1 bedroom(used to be two adults, now two adults and 1 infant). We love the food in the lounge as well as the assistance from the lounge staff in making ADR's, tour reservations and the other special things we've done like the specialty cruises.

We're staying Concierge level at Jambo again March 2010 before our cruise and can't wait!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You need to make that reservation as soon as MS opens 11 months out. There are only five two bedroom lock offs on the sixth floor and that comprises all of the DVC Concierge rooms. Three have a savanna view, two are pool view.

These rooms are converted AKL rooms so they are all lockoffs. There isn't the extra bathroom you have in Kidani Village. In the one and two bedrooms (basically a one bedroom and studio connected) there is no separate shower, only the tub/shower combination like in the studio bathroom.

 

[LisaS]

The main reason we booked a Concierge stay was so that we could try the Sunrise Safari which is only available to AKL/AKV Concierge guests. It was $55/adult when we did it (I think it has gone up a bit since then) and includes breakfast. It was a great experience.

We ended up enjoying the other Concierge amenities more than I expected including just hanging out in the lounge, especially since we had booked a studio that trip. It was like having a large, shared living room overlooking the beautiful AKL lobby. The food offerings in the evening were great even though as vegetarians there were only a few things we could eat. The desserts were wonderful as were the cookies in the afternoon, though I wasn't too happy when I stepped on the scale when I got home from that trip!

The only downside is the view from those rooms. We did get a savanna view, but you are up so high that the tree tops block part of the view, especially if you are in the room furthest from the lounge. There were times when there were animals close to our room but we couldn't see them through the trees. As a result, we didn't spend nearly as much time on the balcony as we usually do. I'm glad we tried it and we will probably try to book it again some day, especially on a trip where we plan to hang out at the resort.

 

[Tink6666]

Totally worth it. See my trip report for details.
We've stayed Concierge at Jambo three times and absolutely love it. The room size is just fine for us and we stay in a 1 bedroom(used to be two adults, now two adults and 1 infant). We love the food in the lounge as well as the assistance from the lounge staff in making ADR's, tour reservations and the other special things we've done like the specialty cruises.

We're staying Concierge level at Jambo again March 2010 before our cruise and can't wait!

We are staying only 1 night concierge level since that was all I could get...my questions is have you done the sunrise safari? This is the main reason we wanted to get in to the conceirge level and we will be doing the sunrise safari in August. I am hoping that it will be worth it. I don't know that we will really get much else out of the concierge since it is only that one night. Is the lounge always open and stocked with food and drink?

Thanks

 

[jekjones1558]

The main reason we booked a Concierge stay was so that we could try the Sunrise Safari which is only available to AKL/AKV Concierge guests. It was $55/adult when we did it (I think it has gone up a bit since then) and includes breakfast. It was a great experience.

We ended up enjoying the other Concierge amenities more than I expected including just hanging out in the lounge, especially since we had booked a studio that trip. It was like having a large, shared living room overlooking the beautiful AKL lobby. The food offerings in the evening were great even though as vegetarians there were only a few things we could eat. The desserts were wonderful as were the cookies in the afternoon, though I wasn't too happy when I stepped on the scale when I got home from that trip!

The only downside is the view from those rooms. We did get a savanna view, but you are up so high that the tree tops block part of the view, especially if you are in the room furthest from the lounge. There were times when there were animals close to our room but we couldn't see them through the trees. As a result, we didn't spend nearly as much time on the balcony as we usually do. I'm glad we tried it and we will probably try to book it again some day, especially on a trip where we plan to hang out at the resort.

Lisa,
I just booked (at 7 months!) a 1 bedroom AKV concierge for one night in February just to do the Sunrise Safari. We will be at BWV for the week and will keep our room there but just use the AKV room to qualify for the safari. Do I book the safari myself or will the concierge handle it? AllEars says it can be booked 180 days out and on another page it says 90 days out. Do you know for sure how it works? TIA

 

[LisaS]

Do I book the safari myself or will the concierge handle it? AllEars says it can be booked 180 days out and on another page it says 90 days out. Do you know for sure how it works? TIA

You book it through AKL/AKV Concierge. Back when AKV first opened you could call 180 days ahead to book the safaris but I think it's 90 days now, just like booking an ADR. Maybe someone who has booked it more recently can confirm that.

You can try calling them or you can send them an email. I don't have the number handy but their email address is animal.kingdom.lodge.itinerary.planning@disneyworld.com

 

[jekjones1558]

You book it through AKL/AKV Concierge. Back when AKV first opened you could call 180 days ahead to book the safaris but I think it's 90 days now, just like booking an ADR. Maybe someone who has booked it more recently can confirm that.

You can try calling them or you can send them an email. I don't have the number handy but their email address is animal.kingdom.lodge.itinerary.planning@disneyworld.com

Thanks, Lisa. You always have the best info. I just sent an e-mail.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yes, it is now 90 days for booking the safari's. We had a concierge room in May and were all set for the 180 day booking. I think it was about a week before we would have been able to that the change was made and then we had to wait another 3 months!

Unless something goes amiss AKV concierge will be contacting you a short time before your booking period starts to see if there are any reservations you would like them to make for you.

 

[punkin712]

Unless something goes amiss AKV concierge will be contacting you a short time before your booking period starts to see if there are any reservations you would like them to make for you.

We are booked for AKV Concierge from 8/28 - 9/1 and haven't heard from them yet about reservations, etc. This is our first time staying in concierge - would they normally contact us by phone, email or snail mail?

 

[LisaS]

We are booked for AKV Concierge from 8/28 - 9/1 and haven't heard from them yet about reservations, etc. This is our first time staying in concierge - would they normally contact us by phone, email or snail mail?

I wasn't contacted. I got in touch with them myself a few days before my ADR and safari booking window opened. They had trouble finding my reservation in their system even though I did tell them it was a DVC reservation.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We are booked for AKV Concierge from 8/28 - 9/1 and haven't heard from them yet about reservations, etc. This is our first time staying in concierge - would they normally contact us by phone, email or snail mail?

They called us and then emailed after I spoke with them providing all the info on the safari's and other things they could help with. You should email them at the contact Lisa provided above if you would like to do a safari or have them try and get some other reservations. I actually didn't use them for dining but we did book both the sunrise and sunset safari's.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This is a funny coincidence but I just received an email from concierge for our 3 night stay in a studio in Nov! We are 120 days out so they sent an email with links to all kinds of information for planning.

 

[Iggipolka]

I always have to call or email concierge myself to initiate any reservations. Once I've contacted them, they are very responsive.

 

[pyrxtc]

I, too, have always had to intiate the communication with them. This will be my 4th ro 5th concierge stay... Can't remember!

 

[disney4metoo]

Totally worth it. See my trip report for details.
We've stayed Concierge at Jambo three times and absolutely love it. The room size is just fine for us and we stay in a 1 bedroom(used to be two adults, now two adults and 1 infant). We love the food in the lounge as well as the assistance from the lounge staff in making ADR's, tour reservations and the other special things we've done like the specialty cruises.

We're staying Concierge level at Jambo again March 2010 before our cruise and can't wait!

Congratulations on your new addition to your family! I just read your trip report and loved it!

I have a question for you,since you split your stay between a one bedroom and one bedroom concierge, would you do that again? Or would you just stay in CL the entire time? Do you think the pool view is a safer request vs SV for CL. Your pool view seemed pretty nice!

I am planing for a vacation for next summer, and trying to decided split stay one bedroom SV Kidani/ one bedroom CL or CL the whole stay! Thanks!

 

[Iggipolka]

If we could have, we would have stayed on CL the whole time. We only moved because there wasn't a CL room available. The pool view was ok, but we prefer to watch animals other than human animals.

 

[disney4metoo]

If we could have, we would have stayed on CL the whole time. We only moved because there wasn't a CL room available.

Thank you! Did you enjoy your pool view?

 

[InTheBubble]

Thanks everyone for all the great information. We will have to try concierge in the near future!

 

[Tink6666]

On the other thread it was talking about getting "gifts, Cards and balloons" from the CL CM's when you checked in, does this apply to DVC as well? Do we also get turn down service? My kids really miss the little towel animals they used to get when we stayed at the WL and AKL in the past. We are new to DVC and have stayed only once on points so far. Thanks for answering my lame questions.