Concierge Level Here We Come! - Index added

[Donald is #1]

Hi everyone! This trip report will be covering a few firsts: my first concierge level stay, my first stay at AKV, and my first Sunrise Safari.

A bit of background first: Last May a stayed at SSR and AKL so that I could check out both resorts to help in my decision as to which DVC resort to buy into. I started my stay at SSR and then finished off at AKL. Well as soon as I walked into the AKL savanna view room, my decision was made. AKV it was! So I bought into AKV during that trip. Since then my sisters and I used my developer's points to stay at OKW, but this trip would be my first AKV stay. Now, AKV actually has 10 concierge level (CL) rooms and when you are staying at CL, you can actually take the sunrise safari. So I was very excited when I was able to book a CL studio for this trip.

Originally, this was going to be a solo trip, but when I was telling one of my friends about it, she was very interested. So she decided to come with me.

So who are the players?

Me, Donald Is #1, WDW fan, Disboard fanatic, 40+, this would be my 8th trip plus I have 2 more trips planned for this year.

Marge, also a WDW Fan but probably a bigger Sea World fan. I am not sure how many times that she has been to WDW, but it is multiple also. She and I have been friends since we were in high school.

We planned this trip as a long weekend: Thursday 5/15 until Tuesday 5/20.


Index:

More Background
The Night Before
Day 1- A very hectic start
Day 1 - Cont. (AKL)
Day 1 - Cont. (Epcot, AKL, MK)
Day 2 - CL Breakfast, MGM
AKL Activity Schedule
Day 2 - Cont. (AKL)
AKL Sunset Savannah
AKL Uzima Savannah
Day 2 - Cont. (AKL, DTD)
Day 3 - MK
Day 3 - Cont. (MK)
Day 3 -Cont. (AKV/AKL evening)
Daisy Update
Day 4 - Sunrise Safari
Day 4 - Sunrise Safari (cont.)
Day 4 - Sunrise Safari (cont.)
Day 4 - Sunrise Safari (cont.)
Day 4 - Sunrise Safari (cont.)
Day 4 - AK
Day 4 - MK
Day 5 - EPCOT
Day 5 - DHS
Day 5 - DHS (cont.)
Day 5 - The trip home
Thoughts on concierge

 

[Donald is #1]

Let's see, first I will post a photo.

This picture was taken during the buffet breakfast for our sunrise safari. I am on the left and Marge is on the right.

Let's see, my first trip to WDW was with Marge and her sister the year after I graduated from college. They had been as kids but I had never been. We stayed off-site and ran ourselves ragged trying to see everything. At that time, only MK and EPCOT were open. In addition to MK and EPCOT, we also went to Sea World, Bush Gardens and Kennedy Space Center.

My last vacation with Marge was in 2005 when we went to Rome for about 5 days. We had a great time and walked all over the place! This was the first trip to Rome for both of us and we crammed as much as we could in those days.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[swwake]

I'm in!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Can't wait to hear all about it! I'm determined to be a DVCer one of these days myself!

 

[Donald is #1]

Can't wait to hear all about it!

I'm in!

Can't wait to hear all about it! I'm determined to be a DVCer one of these days myself!

Welcome everyone!

Princess Power, did you find this yet?

 

[Donald is #1]

Well, this trip started on a Thursday, so I worked all day on Wednesday. However, I did actually leave work on time for a change!

Well I live about 30 minutes closer to the airport than Marge. So our plan was that she was going to drive up after work and then stay over at my place. So my evening was supposed to go like: leave work by 5 so that I could be home before 5:30, meet with the cat sitter, wait for Marge and then head to dinner.

What actually happened:
1) Leave work at 5 -> by some miracle this happened!
2) Meet with cat sitter between 5:30 & 6. Check! I was debating about whether to give her the key with the garage door opener attached or the key with the mail box key (I thought) attached. I ended up giving her the second option. Remember this -> it will be important later.
3) About 6:30 or so, Marge calls. She hasn't even packed yet! So she won't be here until 9:30 or so.
4) OK, I guess that I will make dinner at home.
5) Play on the DIS for a while

6) Marge arrives at about 9:30.
7) I find out that Marge hasn't checked in for our SW flight yet. We check her in. (Our flight was at 7 AM.) I had about A-34; she had B-55!

Finally about 11 we headed up stairs and I set my alarm clocks.

 

[Princesswanabee]

I'm in and can't wait to hear more...

 

[Donald is #1]

I'm in and can't wait to hear more...

Welcome!

 

[Donald is #1]

Well, as I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I set 2 alarm clocks. The first one is next to my bed and the second one is across the room. The one across the room, has an analog dial and doesn't always seem to go off. I use it as by backup in case I sleep through my alarm. The one near my bed is a basic radio and is the one that normally goes off first. Well our plan had been to get up at 4 and be out of the house at about 4:30. So, I set the alarms clocks and as I'm setting the clock radio, I'm thinking " I need to make sure that I don't set it for 4 PM". Well, I go to bed and the next thing that I know, I wake up and it is 4:35!!! What happened to the alarms! Anyway, I quickly call over to Marge in the next room and tell her that we have over slept! I quickly get ready and look at the clocks. Despite thinking about it the night before, I set it for 4:00 PM!!!! Now the second clock was set properly but just didn't go off!

Well, I am downstairs in only about 10 minutes (thankfully, I had taken my shower the night before and set my clothes out). I quickly feed the cat, move the car out of the garage and start loading it up. Now for some reason the previous night, Marge had put the chain across the front door and for whatever reason, I left it on. (This will be extremely important!)

Anyways, I sit down and wait for Marge to finish getting ready. We remember to leave the alarm off and instead of leaving out the front door, we go out through the garage. We were probably on the road about 5-5:05. I only live about 20 minutes from the airport so we were there about 5:30. We parked the car in one of the parking lots and waited for the shuttle. It was there in a few minutes and we loaded our stuff up. Of course, we parked at the beginning of the route instead of the end! Since we were late, we probably should have parked at the end of the parking shuttle route.

Well, we get to the airport and there is a line at the SW counter, but it moves quickly and we are able to check our bags. Next we headed up to the food court and got bagels for breakfast. By now it was about 6. Once we eat breakfast, we head to security and the lines weren't that bad. However, we get to the gate just 5 minutes before boarding the plane. (I am someone who prefers to be at the airport early and reading at the gate instead of worrying about making the flight.

Well my number was much lower than Marge. So I was on the plane a long time before her. I went towards the back figuring that there was a better chance of a seat being open near me when she got on. Luckily the plane wasn't full and she was able to sit in the window seat with me in the aisle and no-one in between us. Marge was able to sleep most of the way down while I read magazines.

Now our luck started turning. We actually landed early! The plane was scheduled to land at about 10. But we landed about 15 minutes early! When we got to baggage claim, our bags were some of the first ones off. So we had our bags about the time the plane was originally scheduled to land!

We quickly headed out to the curb and waited for the shuttle to Hertz. Marge got a great deal on our rental car through Priceline ($89 for the 6 days). So we got to Hertz and she waited in line while I sat outside enjoying the warmth with our bags. When she got to the counter, she found out that her reservation was for Simply Wheelz so all she had to do was go to a kiosk. So finally we for the car, a Mazda 6 and we were off the WDW!

 

[Princess Power]

I made it!!!! I'm reading stuff already that you didn't tell me on the phone! I can just imagine what is going to happen back at home while you are gone. Can't wait to read more.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Sounds like an amazing trip. You've got quite a few of my "dreams" all wrapped up in one trip! Now I get to live vicariously through you!

• buying DVC
• staying concierge
• staying AKL
• sunrise safari

I wake up and it is 4:35!!! What happened to the alarms!

Oh no! My worst nightmare.

Now for some reason the previous night, Marge had put the chain across the front door and for whatever reason, I left it on. (This will be extremely important!)

Uh-oh...

we were off the WDW!

D'oh... don't leave me hanging...

 

[VanniGirl]

Great start - looking forward to reading more!

Having cats I know the pet-sitter drill...

After a few shall we say mis-haps - she now has all keys to my home

 

[themilesfamily]

Hello! I'm on jumping on board -- we're staying at AKV Conc. & doing the Sunrise Safari in a few months and can't wait to hear your take on it, see some pics, etc.

 

[Donald is #1]

I made it!!!! I'm reading stuff already that you didn't tell me on the phone! I can just imagine what is going to happen back at home while you are gone. Can't wait to read more.

Welcome! You are probably guessing right!

Sounds like an amazing trip. You've got quite a few of my "dreams" all wrapped up in one trip! Now I get to live vicariously through you!

• buying DVC
• staying concierge
• staying AKL
• sunrise safari

Welcome! Be careful, it sneaks up on you quietly and quickly! 18 months ago, I went along with the sister, Princess Power, and her family for my first trip to WDW since 2000. Then I was quickly plotting my first solo trip. Before that solo trip, I started investigating DVC and bought on that trip. So in 18 months I went from my first trip to WDW in 6 years to buying into DVC and taking 3 trips in one year!

Great start - looking forward to reading more!

Having cats I know the pet-sitter drill...

After a few shall we say mis-haps - she now has all keys to my home

Welcome! Yep... I think that on my next trip, she will have every possible key/door opener for my house.

Hello! I'm on jumping on board -- we're staying at AKV Conc. & doing the Sunrise Safari in a few months and can't wait to hear your take on it, see some pics, etc.

Welcome! Feel free to ask any questions! Though I'll tell you, I am definitely spoiled now!

 

[ChelleinNC]

So, I set the alarms clocks and as I'm setting the clock radio, I'm thinking " I need to make sure that I don't set it for 4 PM". Well, I go to bed and the next thing that I know, I wake up and it is 4:35!!!

For the record, I'm not laughing at you, but with you!

Welcome to the "been there done that club"

 

[Princess Power]

When "Donald is #1" (my sister) and I went to Disney last October, I was in charge of arranging the transportation to the airport. Luckily two days before the trip I looked at our airport transportation reservations again because I screwed up and the van was going to be picking us up at 6:30 p.m. instead of a.m.

I callled the van service right away and thankfully they were able to adjust it. I didn't tell my sisters until that morning as the van was pulling up. I don't know what I would have done if it was not caught.

 

[John's Mom]

I was interested in your TR when I saw Concierge, but when I saw AKV, I knew I had to check it out. AKL is my favorite resort. We are going back in December, along with a stay at The Poly.

Have you been on the AKL Lite Thread on the Community Boards?

 

[Donald is #1]

For the record, I'm not laughing at you, but with you!

Welcome to the "been there done that club"

I totally understood!

I was interested in your TR when I saw Concierge, but when I saw AKV, I knew I had to check it out. AKL is my favorite resort. We are going back in December, along with a stay at The Poly.

Have you been on the AKL Lite Thread on the Community Boards?

Welcome! No, I have not checked out that thread. I am usually on the AKL/AKV thread over in resorts and the AKV Owners/Lovers thread on the DVC boards. I will have to check it out.

 

[Donald is #1]

Let's see, where did I leave us? We were in the car and driving to WDW. Even though the drive is easy, we had my Garmin set up. I just love knowing expected arrival time and how far the next turn is.

We arrived at AKL/AKV without any issues and decided to use the valet parking since it is free for DVC members. As soon as we parked at the entrance to the hotel, one of the bell-hops meet us and gathered our luggage. Our room wasn't ready yet (it was about 11:30) so we left our luggage with bell services. I kept my camera bag and Marge kept her carry-ons with her. Since we were at CL, we didn't check in at the main lobby. Instead they brought us up to the concierge lounge. Once we got there, they had us sit at one of the tables while we waited for the CM to be free. While we were waiting, we wandered over near the food and found that they had warm cookies! So we each had a cookie while we were waiting. Once it was our turn, the CM went over all of the info in out packet including the activity list for the resort and then took my cell phone number. They also gave me the number to call to see if the room was ready.

Now that we were checked in, we decided to head down to Mara's for lunch. Even though it was just about noon, it wasn't very crowded. I had the roasted chicken (1/2 a chicken) with the couscous and stewed vegetables and Marge had a salad. We were able to find a table outside since it was a bit cool inside and we sat down to a relaxing lunch. The roasted chicken was excellent! However, Marge said that her salad was only OK. She liked the dressing but thought the salad was a bit wilted. A

After lunch, we walked around the resort. Our first stop was the Uzima savannah and the tommies were close to the viewing area. Also while we were there, one of the giraffes decided that he/she wanted to come closer! Here are some of the pictures that I took at the Uzima Savannah.

We then continued on walking by the pool, then to the Arusha Savannah and finally to the Sunset Savannah. I'll post by next set of pictures as soon as I upload them.