I think i'm almost the perfect person to respond to your query!
On our last trip we tried concierge - at AKL no less - for the first time. We've done DDP a few times now. Our situation was that I had booked during
free dining, and later got cheap air to go a day early. The savings covered - almost - a night at AKL concierge.
For us DDP was a better deal.
On the one hand, it was REALLY COOL having acess to the lounge. It was also great fun being able to get a beverage - includig adult ones - each time we came from our room. Since our stay was specifically before the rest of our package - we did not have park tickets that day - so we spent the whole time - mostly - at the resort.
I was a tad disappointed in the food offerings. The breakfast offerings were the best. they had oatmeal, some fresh fruit, hot beverages, yogurt, LOVE the lemonade and mango smoothie on tap.
The afternoon offerigs were just okay. They had the smallest chicken wings I've ever seen. the cocolate chip cookies were just okay, not the Toll House onesI was envisioning. Mostly the cookies and treats are the same ones they offer in Boma and the food court. (you can buy them a la carte in the fridge case). They did offer my favorite soup, but I had already scored some in the Mara during lunch. By the time it was served at teh concierge lounge, it was really thick and almost gloppy. The afternoon beer was nice, as was the coffee, lemonade, cooler of other drinks. Overal, it kind of felt like lots of carbohydrates. I realize concerige isn't supposed to be real meals, and I cna have that kind of breakfast some days, but also like eggs some days.Forthe price, the concierge, I felt, should offer some eggs. (I mean if Hampton Inns can offer eggs). Compared to other places that offer free breakfast witha stay, the offerings at AKL were a bit weak.
But the other downside of concierge is that you can only get the food they offer if you are at the resort. We normally go all day, so we wouldn't be there to take advantage of it. If you are the kind of folks who make afternoon trips to the resort then you'd get more out of it. AKL is certianly a great place to ahng out.
It was also kind of cool that they offer coridals late at night, but how mcu cordials can you drink. It was also kind of cool to see teh Africna wimes, but agin, how much can you drink? and how much of your WDW trip do you want to spend in one spot?
It was also cool to see some of the same folks mutiple times. WE even got to talk to a few folks, so that was kind of nice. I can see how it would be a plus for kids to make friends with other kids.
The rooms are not on the same floor as the lounge, so you do lose some time getting back and forth. Still, the lounge location is really cool, and it's nice to have a quiet spot and feel a little like royalty. I also loved our room, and the turn down service. the staff on the lounge was just okay. Some folks were very helpful. The guy who checked us in was very ill informed though, IMO. One ofthe first things he told me was that my bill wasn't payed. I had to argue with him- and as far as I understand - more or less - when you book only one night at WDW- you pretty much HAVE to pay your entire bill at booking. So maybe we just didn't hit it off right. But literally, I really had to argue with him before he was willing to call and verify that I had payed my bill in full already. Saying it nicely wasn't enough. It was kind of crazy. It seems to me if I said I had paid, the first time, that should have been enough for him to place a call to whomever he called.
I've stayed at most places on WDW and knew what to expect...but our second resort was Pop! We made a joke of it. It was a bit of a contrast to say the least. Still, on DDP you have much flexibility in where you choose to dine. The snack credits and QS credits are pretty flexible. It does require some thinking to plan best usage of DDP credits. Like at each QS meal you have to pick a dessert, and the QS dessert offerings aren't always that great.
I'm not saying we wouldn't do concierge ever again, it did feel a bit royal, but it also requires a certain type of planning to make good use of it. conversely, gettingthe most of DDP takes time. It does take a bit oftime to do all the TS meals on DDP. If yo like a fst pace, or like to go back to your resort avery afternoon, then maybe it's not for you either.
You can then just go for CS and some TS if you'd like to. The children can have appetisers in the evening and then if they're still hungry (but doubtful from what you've said lol) you could pop down to the Mara and get some other items.
