Can anyone fill me in on AKV Concierge

[princessesrule4]

or point me to a thread that explains what it includes?

We stay Concierge at the Deluxes - is it going to be similar with food offerings, lounge ,Itinerary planning, etc.?
I've heard there aren't alot of Concierge rooms so I'm wondering how hard it would be to book at the 7 month window!?

Thanks so much for any info!

 

[tjkraz]

We stay Concierge at the Deluxes - is it going to be similar with food offerings, lounge ,Itinerary planning, etc.?

Yup. Pretty much the same thing. DVC has actually taken ownership of the concierge lounge at AKL. Cash guests paying for Concierge accommodations will still use the same lounge, but technically the resort will be compensating DVC for cash guest usage.

I've heard there aren't alot of Concierge rooms so I'm wondering how hard it would be to book at the 7 month window!?

Correct. I think it will be virtually impossible.

There are only 5 units--all lockoff two bedroom villas--that are part of the Concierge room class. Booked separately as a 1B and a Studio, there will still be no more than 10 guests staying concierge per night.

The odds of getting a concierge room on points right NOW are probably as good as they will ever be. As of 12/1, the concierge units will be 5 out of 50 or 60 total villas. By the time the new facility opens (which is not currently slated to have any concierge rooms), there will only be 5 units out of 450 in the concierge class. That's a lot of owners battling for less than 1% of the resort. I can't see rooms often making it to the 7-month window.

 

[princessesrule4]

Thanks for the info!
Is it just me or does it seem strange just to have only 5 villas that are concierge! Are they mabye waiting to see how popular it is and then add more?
It justs seems like a lot of trouble to support a lounge,etc. for only 10 families!

Thanks again for the informative post, tjkraz!

 

[LisaS]

It justs seems like a lot of trouble to support a lounge,etc. for only 10 families!

It's the same lounge that is used by the AKL (hotel) concierge guests. So the 10 DVC families are in addition to the existing number of hotel concierge guests.

 

[princessesrule4]

It's the same lounge that is used by the AKL (hotel) concierge guests. So the 10 DVC families are in addition to the existing number of hotel concierge guests.

Ohhh .. got it! Thanks for the clarification!

 

[tjkraz]

Is it just me or does it seem strange just to have only 5 villas that are concierge! Are they mabye waiting to see how popular it is and then add more?

Since this is DVC's first experiement with concierge, I would expect them to be somewhat cautious. After all, every single DVC room has a kitchen or kitchenette, so there's reason to question whether members would truly value the food service. And DVC members won't need trip planning assistance to any degree that other more casual guests would require.

Still there are other benefits that would appeal to members (like the special DAK tours) and I agree that they won't have nearly enough rooms in that class to support demand.

According to docs posted here there is a clause in the agreement between DVC and the AKL which states that the AKL must sign-off on any expansion of the concierge services offered to DVC members. Lodge management is certainly going to be protective of the quality of the lounge since they are the ones charging about $100 more per night, per room for the concierge add-on. They aren't going to let DVC flood the lounge with members to the point that it would negatively impact the experiences of cash guests.

Some have speculated that DVC may decide to offer some concierge services at the new Kidani Village building under construction. But there are not currently any such plans in place. Even if concierge proves to be a success, DVC may opt to include more expansive facilities in a future resort rather than shoehorning it into a resort that's well beyond the planning and design stages.

 

[DBorges]

Since this is DVC's first experiement with concierge, I would expect them to be somewhat cautious. After all, every single DVC room has a kitchen or kitchenette, so there's reason to question whether members would truly value the food service. And DVC members won't need trip planning assistance to any degree that other more casual guests would require.

Some of us Like this service!!!!!!!! It is great for water or a quick B-fast and the Drinks at night are nice too



Still there are other benefits that would appeal to members (like the special DAK tours) and I agree that they won't have nearly enough rooms in that class to support demand.

True the room need to be increased But I think when the new building is done there will be.

According to docs posted here there is a clause in the agreement between DVC and the AKL which states that the AKL must sign-off on any expansion of the concierge services offered to DVC members. Lodge management is certainly going to be protective of the quality of the lounge since they are the ones charging about $100 more per night, per room for the concierge add-on. They aren't going to let DVC flood the lounge with members to the point that it would negatively impact the experiences of cash guests. A fair balnce I think will be done.

Some have speculated that DVC may decide to offer some concierge services at the new Kidani Village building under construction. But there are not currently any such plans in place. Even if concierge proves to be a success, DVC may opt to include more expansive facilities in a future resort rather than shoehorning it into a resort that's well beyond the planning and design stages.

I agree This is the way too go..

 

[LisaS]

Since this is DVC's first experiment with concierge, I would expect them to be somewhat cautious. After all, every single DVC room has a kitchen or kitchenette, so there's reason to question whether members would truly value the food service. And DVC members won't need trip planning assistance to any degree that other more casual guests would require.

I agree, plus it just made logical sense to start out the way they have. The concierge lounge is on the sixth floor and with DVC taking over the sixth floor, it would have been awkward to have AKL guests up in DVC territory using a lounge that was off limits to the DVC guests on that floor. So it seems to me they either had to move the lounge to the fourth floor or lower (which would mean eliminating even more AKL rooms) or make concierge available to DVC. I think they arrived at a good solution: keep the lounge where it is and make the 6th floor rooms AKV concierge and see how it goes. I prefer the animal viewing from lower floors at AKL and further out along the horseshoe so without the concierge option, I would not want to stay the 6th floor. Making those rooms concierge level makes them more appealing.

Still there are other benefits that would appeal to members (like the special DAK tours) and I agree that they won't have nearly enough rooms in that class to support demand.

That's the real issue for me. I don't really need the planning services or snacks. I want access to the safaris and at this point, concierge is the way to get them. I realize the Sunset Safari is also available to non-concierge guests but it's much cheaper to do it as a concierge guest.

According to docs posted here there is a clause in the agreement between DVC and the AKL which states that the AKL must sign-off on any expansion of the concierge services offered to DVC members. Lodge management is certainly going to be protective of the quality of the lounge since they are the ones charging about $100 more per night, per room for the concierge add-on. They aren't going to let DVC flood the lounge with members to the point that it would negatively impact the experiences of cash guests.

I also wonder if they considered the vacation style of DVC members: less likely to be park commandos, more likely to spend significant time hanging out at the resort, already accustomed to eating "in" some of the time. DVC members "flooding the lounge" may be a very likely scenario!

Some have speculated that DVC may decide to offer some concierge services at the new Kidani Village building under construction. But there are not currently any such plans in place. Even if concierge proves to be a success, DVC may opt to include more expansive facilities in a future resort rather than shoehorning it into a resort that's well beyond the planning and design stages.

And it's still way too early to predict the success of the current offering since nobody has stayed there yet. So far it's been easier than expected to book concierge. Some who expressed interest early on changed their minds when they learned that savanna view is not guaranteed and that even if you do get it, the savanna view from the 6th floor is not the best view in the house. I look at it as sacrificing the view in exchange for access to the safaris. I'm curious about the food offerings, but then again you have to be at the resort during certain hours and I'm not sure yet how that will work for us. I'm very excited about giving it a try, but this could well be something I try to do every few years just for the safaris but not every trip. But then again, I've never stayed concierge before so who knows, maybe I'll get addicted to the free zebra domes!

 

[shazen]

I've never stayed in concierge, so I have a few questions about how AKV concierge will work... :

Does anyone know if the concierge staff can fill a grocery order and have it waiting in the room on your arrival day? Or, if that's not possible, could they accept a grocery delivery and put the refrigerated/frozen items away? I'm not sure what to expect beyond the food and the planning/reservation assistance.

Also, do you think that AKV concierge guests will get turn-down service? I assume that this is done by Mousekeeping... Or maybe they'll surprise us and give concierge level guests daily housekeeping or T&T service! I would like that. :

What do the experts think?

 

[Maria395712]

when can you start a stay in these rooms
maria

 

[LisaS]

when can you start a stay in these rooms
maria

Concierge level opens on Dec 1st.

 

[Maria395712]

thanks
maria

 

[kgc07]

I've never stayed in concierge, so I have a few questions about how AKV concierge will work... :

Does anyone know if the concierge staff can fill a grocery order and have it waiting in the room on your arrival day? Or, if that's not possible, could they accept a grocery delivery and put the refrigerated/frozen items away? I'm not sure what to expect beyond the food and the planning/reservation assistance.

Also, do you think that AKV concierge guests will get turn-down service? I assume that this is done by Mousekeeping... Or maybe they'll surprise us and give concierge level guests daily housekeeping or T&T service! I would like that. :

What do the experts think?

I'm not sure about the groceries, but I think this would be possible.

As far as the mousekeeping/turndown survice. Yes, the DVC conceirge guests will get daily mousekeeping and turn down survice. This was the information I received from the IPO staff.

 

[shazen]

As far as the mousekeeping/turndown survice. Yes, the DVC conceirge guests will get daily mousekeeping and turn down survice. This was the information I received from the IPO staff.

Cool! Between that and the food, it's definitley worth a few extra points. Thanks for the info!