Yesterday I booked a concierge studio for next April - DW wants to go on the sunrise safari. This morning, DW was looking around for info on the Concierge services and read some confusing posts over on All-ears.
"We chose the concierge level just to try it out.... Our room was a pretty good walk from the elevator and hallway was always very warm. I did not mind the walk since you have opportunities to see animals along the way."
Umm, the 6th floor of Jambo is pretty small, how far can the elevators be?
"Concierge lounge: Was only okay. Having stayed on the executive/concierge level of a few hotels, this one fell short. We only paid an upgrade fee of about 250 dollars so that was a plus. I might add the lounge was usually not busy so not sure why there were so many issues....Rooms: The lounge was not too far from our room but far enough. We were only in the first block of rooms from the lobby but on the other side. I could NOT imagine the hike for those on the far end of the rooms. "
Again, what kind of proximity are these people expecting?
"History: We have visited WDW several times over the last few years, and normally stay on the Club level of the Polynesian. However, we have also stayed at the Boardwalk and the Grand Floridian - all very nice resorts. I booked this particular trip about 9 months ago, and couldn't get a Club level room at the Polynesian. The Animal Kingdom Lodge was available - so voila! That is how we ended up at the AKL...Room: Room #4221 is a little bit of a hike - but not as bad as other rooms, so we didn't complain."
Wait a minnit.... 4221 is the fourth floor! Now these distance comments are starting to make sense. But how does someone book a concierge room on the 4th floor? Is "club level" something different for cash customers?
"We stayed from 2/13/10 to 2/19/10. We booked a suite, and upon our arrival were given a room on the 1st floor near the hot tub w/o a savannah view. This was not acceptable and we asked to be moved. Nothing was available due to extended stays from snow storms/cruise line overflow so they found us a room in Kidani Village for one night. The next day we moved into a 2nd floor suite for the remainder of our stay. This room was much better and we were on the Sunset savannah.
The room was decent, turn down service was good, but concierge level rooms are not on the same floor as the Kilimanjaro Club and it can be quite a hike and many floors away. A previous review mentioned this, but I am going to stress that no one staying concierge is going to be on concierge level (unless maybe you can be DVC and concierge). This resort is geared to DVC. DVC get the 5th and 6th floors of this hotel. Concierge service is just not as good at this hotel as other Disney resorts, at least from our experience (we've stayed at the Grand Floridian and the Yacht Club)."
OK, this points to my above questions? Is there a cash "alternative concierge / club level" minus some of the perks (like proximity)? More importantly, as a DVC member did I get the 6th floor / Kilamanjaro Club?
"We chose the concierge level just to try it out.... Our room was a pretty good walk from the elevator and hallway was always very warm. I did not mind the walk since you have opportunities to see animals along the way."
Umm, the 6th floor of Jambo is pretty small, how far can the elevators be?
"Concierge lounge: Was only okay. Having stayed on the executive/concierge level of a few hotels, this one fell short. We only paid an upgrade fee of about 250 dollars so that was a plus. I might add the lounge was usually not busy so not sure why there were so many issues....Rooms: The lounge was not too far from our room but far enough. We were only in the first block of rooms from the lobby but on the other side. I could NOT imagine the hike for those on the far end of the rooms. "
Again, what kind of proximity are these people expecting?
"History: We have visited WDW several times over the last few years, and normally stay on the Club level of the Polynesian. However, we have also stayed at the Boardwalk and the Grand Floridian - all very nice resorts. I booked this particular trip about 9 months ago, and couldn't get a Club level room at the Polynesian. The Animal Kingdom Lodge was available - so voila! That is how we ended up at the AKL...Room: Room #4221 is a little bit of a hike - but not as bad as other rooms, so we didn't complain."
Wait a minnit.... 4221 is the fourth floor! Now these distance comments are starting to make sense. But how does someone book a concierge room on the 4th floor? Is "club level" something different for cash customers?
"We stayed from 2/13/10 to 2/19/10. We booked a suite, and upon our arrival were given a room on the 1st floor near the hot tub w/o a savannah view. This was not acceptable and we asked to be moved. Nothing was available due to extended stays from snow storms/cruise line overflow so they found us a room in Kidani Village for one night. The next day we moved into a 2nd floor suite for the remainder of our stay. This room was much better and we were on the Sunset savannah.
The room was decent, turn down service was good, but concierge level rooms are not on the same floor as the Kilimanjaro Club and it can be quite a hike and many floors away. A previous review mentioned this, but I am going to stress that no one staying concierge is going to be on concierge level (unless maybe you can be DVC and concierge). This resort is geared to DVC. DVC get the 5th and 6th floors of this hotel. Concierge service is just not as good at this hotel as other Disney resorts, at least from our experience (we've stayed at the Grand Floridian and the Yacht Club)."
OK, this points to my above questions? Is there a cash "alternative concierge / club level" minus some of the perks (like proximity)? More importantly, as a DVC member did I get the 6th floor / Kilamanjaro Club?
Bill
