Concierge/Club Level Information- Part IV, July 2012

[karmacats]

LOL, please do!! I would be so interested. We are signed up for the Sunrise Safari and I cannot wait.

I will, I promise! I'm about to leave for 2 weeks of vacation (New England to see family, not Disney this time) after a very stressful few weeks at work, but maybe I'll work on it while I'm away at the in-laws'.

DH & I have a Sunrise Safari reservation for November. Wondering if this is our best option. Which did you prefer? Not a complete review but maybe a 1st 2nd 3rd ranking?

I would LOVE to get up close to some animals but also want LOTS of pictures of animals.

Thanks

I'd say Wanyama (Sunset) was first, followed by Sunrise, then Night Vision.

The only reason Night Vision is last is because it was a lot shorter than the other two, and because I'm apparently incompetent with night vision goggles - I couldn't see a thing! Luckily you get close enough to the animals on the Sunset Savanna that you don't need the goggles, but you do need them for Pembe. Also, you can't really take pictures b/c you can't use a flash.

Wanyama beat Sunrise for me because I liked being on the AKL grounds during Wanyama better than the Kilimanjaro Safari route during Sunrise, just because I've been on KS a million times and also have done the Wild Africa Trek - the jeep portion of the WAT was very similar to the jeep portion on Sunrise. Also, the breakfast on Sunrise was a decent buffet, but the dinner at Jiko after Wanyama was delicious and definitely a step up from a buffet breakfast. Two things I really liked about Sunrise that Wanyama didn't have - we got to drive through the backstage areas of DAK for about 10-15 min before the sunrise safari, and our guides stayed in the restaurant during breakfast so we could ask them questions and talk to them.

You will get really good and close pix on both Wanyama and Sunrise safaris.

I hope that helps. All 3 safaris were fun, and each different from the other, and I'd do them all again. When we go back in Oct, we're doing the "dine with an animal specialist" lunch at sanaa on our anniversary.

So, someone correct me, because I may have my info wrong. The only safari that is CL exclusive is the Sunrise Safari and it is ONLY for AKL-CL guests. Is this correct? For some reason, I thought that CL guests at other resorts could book it.

yes, Sunrise is CL-exclusive, the others are for any AKL guests. I'm 99% sure you have to be at AKL CL to do Sunrise, and can't do it if you're staying CL elsewhere. I think there used to be an animal tour for CL guests elsewhere but it was discontinued. If someone knows otherwise, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[baggirl]

You can use the lounge until midnight of your check out day (if it's open that late, LOL).

That's what I thought I remembered reading! Great. Would we have a problem using the pool that afternoon?

 

[mickeynut1]

Would we have a problem using the pool that afternoon?

Not at all. You can use all of the resort's amenities until midnight of your check out day .

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I know this sounds really petty but I dont want to walk into our room and see a rollaway tucked in the corner. I want it to look as pretty as the pictures in the BC thread
Plus there are 5 of us, and my kids are 9, 12, and 15 so the less stuff we have and more seating in the room the better. OF course the idea of a full balcony is nice too. Maybe I'll just see what we get and go from there.

I don't think it sounds petty. Yes I did request a daybed both with CRO and IPO. Also I requested a full balcony. It's just a crap shoot, especially during busy times. Checking in early might help.

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[jimim]

Hi everyone. We r staying club level in the upcoming April at akl. I was trying to find the age min for the sunset safari. The one that u go to jiko afterwards. We r really looking forward to this trip. I personally really liked when we stayed cl at WL a few years back and akl is our home base for dvc so we r really excited. Between WL and akl I don't know what's better!

Thanks!

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[MagicPrincess]

We have had varying results with this. I don't believe the evening turndown folks know how many people are staying in the room. So we started a little habit of our own to mess up the daybed and try to make it look like someone would be sleeping there on our first day so they will turn it down that first night. Typically once they turn it down the first night they will continue to turn it down the rest of the stay. It helps because our son has stuffed animals which make it look more used. Also, if you happen to be around your room for the 5:00-7:00 PM appetizers you might be able to track down the turndown person in the flesh and tell them that someone will be using the daybed that night and to please turn it down, but we've only had about a 50/50 result with that working. Those daybeds are a pain in the you know what to try and turn down yourself, plus we typically request an extra blanket too (the daybeds are always in direct flow of the A/C vent).

A note, or putting the extra pillows and blanket is a good idea. They are a pain to pull out and put together!

 

[MagicPrincess]

Hi everyone! What kinds if desserts do they have in the clubs? I am pondering Wishes Dessert party but wondering if the desserts in club level pretty much the same. Thanks.

The Grand Floridian had beautiful pastries every evening! Tarts, little pastries, mini eclairs, cupcakes...I cannot even describe some of them they were so good!

 

[baggirl]

Not at all. You can use all of the resort's amenities until midnight of your check out day .

Yay! Thank you!!

 

[Scott MC]

I know this sounds really petty but I dont want to walk into our room and see a rollaway tucked in the corner. I want it to look as pretty as the pictures in the BC thread
Plus there are 5 of us, and my kids are 9, 12, and 15 so the less stuff we have and more seating in the room the better. OF course the idea of a full balcony is nice too. Maybe I'll just see what we get and go from there.

It's not petty...I couldn't agree more. It's funny, on other trips, I'm not nearly as picky, but at WDW, especially at a deluxe resort, I like the room looking nice at all times! The rollaway would drive. me. insane.

Hi everyone. We r staying club level in the upcoming April at akl. I was trying to find the age min for the sunset safari. The one that u go to jiko afterwards. We r really looking forward to this trip. I personally really liked when we stayed cl at WL a few years back and akl is our home base for dvc so we r really excited. Between WL and akl I don't know what's better!

Thanks!

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From the Disney website...
"Guests must be 8 years and older to participate in the Wanyama Safari and Dinner."


More info here...

 

[jimim]

It's not petty...I couldn't agree more. It's funny, on other trips, I'm not nearly as picky, but at WDW, especially at a deluxe resort, I like the room looking nice at all times! The rollaway would drive. me. insane.

From the Disney website...
"Guests must be 8 years and older to participate in the Wanyama Safari and Dinner."

More info here...

Thanks Scott. Oh well. I got to get my patents to go with us in April then! Lol. Or there's always next trip.
Thanks!

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[mickeynut1]

Yay! Thank you!!

You're welcome .

 

[baggirl]

Does anyone have, or could you please point me in the direction of the current list of offerings at the Yacht Club Club Level? Thanks!!

 

[epsmith921]

Staying club level in a couple months and renting a stroller from Orlando strollers. Stroller should be there before we are of course.

Do we still need to head to bell services or can I ask the club level/bell services CM's to have it moved there or to our room?

Traveling with a toddler and thus trying to minimize stops at different desks, etc.

 

[baggirl]

Staying club level in a couple months and renting a stroller from Orlando strollers. Stroller should be there before we are of course.

Do we still need to head to bell services or can I ask the club level/bell services CM's to have it moved there or to our room?

Traveling with a toddler and thus trying to minimize stops at different desks, etc.

This is a great idea! I have the same question! I put "concierge" on my orlando stroller rental request, not bell services. So I was wondering if it would be w/ the CL CMs. If we can email the pre-planning services team to just put it in our room and possibly even leave it w/ them for return, that would be ideal....Anyone know?? Thanks!

 

[gjl]

Removed

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Does anyone have, or could you please point me in the direction of the current list of offerings at the Yacht Club Club Level? Thanks!!

We just stayed at YC CL in a GV room in May Check the link in my signature for pictures and reports!

 

[baggirl]

We just stayed at YC CL in a GV room in May Check the link in my signature for pictures and reports!

I have totally devoured your thread already! LOL Poly CL puts out a whole list of what they are serving. Just looking to see if the YC has the same kind of list.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I have totally devoured your thread already! LOL Poly CL puts out a whole list of what they are serving. Just looking to see if the YC has the same kind of list.

I don't think their menu is set in stone. I know we had the same two hot things back to back nights and another night only one hot item. Also this time we never hit lobster salad the whole 8 days which was disappointing. But we definitely had chicken skewers, pot stickers, mini egg rolls, bacon wrapped scallops, and those little triangle puffs. Nothing to get excited about really for the hot items. My favorites were the salads. They had a good caprese salad 2 or 3 nights that week, and ahi tuna one night. I thought the salads seemed fresher and better tasting than the warmed up Costco appetizers. I'm not a fan of those small fried things.

 

[baggirl]

I don't think their menu is set in stone. I know we had the same two hot things back to back nights and another night only one hot item. Also this time we never hit lobster salad the whole 8 days which was disappointing. But we definitely had chicken skewers, pot stickers, mini egg rolls, bacon wrapped scallops, and those little triangle puffs. Nothing to get excited about really for the hot items. My favorites were the salads. They had a good caprese salad 2 or 3 nights that week, and ahi tuna one night. I thought the salads seemed fresher and better tasting than the warmed up Costco appetizers. I'm not a fan of those small fried things.

Sounds great! Thanks so much!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Holy cow! I was just pricing out CL at the GF for spring break 2014 and a garden view room in sugarloaf is $963 a night. Yikes!!

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