For the most part, we really enjoyed AKL CL. IPO got us all the reservations we wanted, and had a lovely chat with an IPO CM named Don who has apparently been there a long time and knows everything there is to know about Disney. We had one slight hiccup when IPO didn't book our tomorrowland terrace dessert party, but they got it straightened out and we were able to go on the night we wanted.
The staff in the lounge was great. Bell services lost my raincoat and Melissa spent an hour with us ordering a new one and having it rush shipped to the resort so I'd have it for most of the week. They definitely remembered us from day to day - they'd ask us things like how our dinner reservation at XYZ restaurant was two night ago, etc, so clearly they were on top of things. When they found out DH is allergic to nuts they would walk with us to the food section when the new selections came out to tell him what to avoid. They also offered to get him some special nut-free appetizers and desserts but he told them not to worry about it, because there was plenty he could still have. I'm the type of person who loves b&b's with friendly owners who like to chat, so for me, the lounge staff was a little bit like that.
We loved the view from the lounge, too. Thought we'd be upset there was no animal view, but the view of the lobby was beautiful, and we didn't miss the animals because we could see them from our room. Since you've stayed CL before you know what the food selection was like. I was mostly happy with it, though I wish they had some food later - the lounge was accessible at all hours, but they took away all the food at 10, even the drinks in the fridge.
The room was fine - we've stayed SV before and didn't notice much difference, other than the DVD player in the CL room. I wish there were CL rooms further down the hall, as I don't like being so close to arusha rock - I kind of felt like i was on display when i was on my balcony (look! the elusive relaxing tourist! we don't see many of those around here - quick, get a picture!). When we stay non-CL savannah room we ask for the third or fourth pod of rooms; our CL room was in the second. I will say the soundproofing between the rooms was excellent - we know we had neighbors because we could hear them on the balcony, but didn't hear a peep in the room the entire week, even with a connecting door. It was my 40th birthday, and I got a great birthday package with the usual button, a beaded figurine from the gift shop, and some chocolates with the lodge screenprinted on them.
We did have a slight issue with our turndown service, which we reported to the lounge and also on our post-stay survey. The first three nights we got turndown with chocolates and a pretty cool art card. The next two nights we didn't get turn down at all. Not a big deal, but we mentioned it to the CM in the lounge when we were talking to him about something else, and he called mousekeeping to make sure it got done that night. Get back to the room, no turndown, and a message from mousekeeping saying if we want turndown we have to remove the "do not disturb" sign from the door. Well, that sign wasn't on the door, so I was pretty sure the call was a CYA move from the person who didn't do our turndown. So, the next day I again reported it to the lounge, mostly because I was mad about the phone call - I'm fine with an oversight, not so fine with lying. The CM again called mousekeeping, and credited us $20 a night for the three nights we didn't get mousekeeping (which was totally unnecessary, and I told him so, but he did it anyway). That night, which was our last, we came back to find what we jokingly called "throwdown service" - blankets not turned down, and no art card, but chocolates thrown all over the bed area - under the bed, on the night table, etc. That was really our only issue with any of the CL perks, though - everything else was wonderful.
All in all, we enjoyed ourselves so much, we booked the Oct trip as a bounceback before we left in April. It's like a horrible, wonderful, horrible addiction...
I mentioned CL on the cruise to DH, and after looking at some reviews and some pix online of the extended balcony category V rooms, he realized one of those was still available on deck 12 for the cruise we wanted, and booked it! So, now we'll go from AKL CL to CL on the Dream with an extended balcony.
My $$ disney trips have become $$$$$$$$$$$ trips! 
. We are taking our first DCL cruise in December (although not CL), but we have stayed CL at a few Disney resorts and although we don't stay CL every time, it is nice every one in a while 
. As much as I'd love to try it, that's just a little too much for me 
. I might see if an upgrade is possible at check in, but either way, I know we'll have a great cruise 
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. We were originally going in July but changed to December and I couldn't be more excited. We've been to WDW twice during the holidays, so I'm very excited to see the Dream all decorated for Christmas 
. Good luck with your DH, although I think once you show him pics and everything there is to do on a cruise he won't have any trouble agreeing to go on one 
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. I have heard Don's name mentioned in a lot of posts as being absolutely amazing!!! AKL CL is on my list of club levels to try, so one of these days we'll make it there 
), but I made myself REALLY think about it as $1,000 is alot of money for 3 nights. I still think about it as CL is still available for our cruise, but I'm thinking of asking at check in if it's available and what the cost is. If it's something doable, I may bite the bullet and go for it, but otherwise, I'm sticking with our deluxe family veranda cabin 
