DVC Concierge at AKL

[ShockMonkey3]

Hello,

This is my first post as a DVC member. I am really a lurker on DIS, and so appreciate all the information I have learned.

Our first stay on points is scheduled for November. We will be in a studio club level at Animal Kingdom on the 10th for one night, followed by 9 nights in a 1bdr at our home resort of Bay Lake.

My question is...do DVC members get different treatment than other guests staying club level at AKL?

Why do I ask? This is my story: I received an email from the IPO last week, sent to me without my contacting them first, which I took as a good sign. The link to complete the planning form was not working, so I called the phone number listed on the message. The prompts at the beginning seperated dvc guests and non dvc guest, and I just got a wierd feeling. I left a message, as the IPO folks were too busy and they called me back just about an hour later. The CM was nice, but I was unable to give her my complete attention when she called, as I was driving at the time. But I did not get a warm fuzzy disney feeling from her. Instead it was, lets get this done with over the phone, as you are only staying with us one night. (she pointed this out and that it was not for my additional nights at BLT) Now, I knew the IPO would not cover my Bay Lake stay, but did intend to confirm that when I spoke with them. I felt like I had to defend myself and I told her i had assumed as much. I then told her I would only need one reservation for HoopDeeDo, which did not work out as she needed my credit card info and I was unable to give that to her as I as driving at the time. I told her I would call back at another time. I was grateful to get off the phone with her, as I just felt uncomfortable at that point.

I do not think she did anything wrong to me and I am not upset with her at all but I do not feel excited about our stay. I have only had one other experience with club level and IPO planning and that was Poly last Dec. They were wonderful and so nice and kind and warm and fuzzy. This felt nothing like that.

So this leads to my question....Do DVC members staying on points at the concierge level at AKL get different treatment than non dvc guests?

 

[MrShiny]

I have stayed on Club Level at AKL as DVC several times now. I do not believe DVC is treated any differently. We always had great service. I had no issues dealing with IPO this time. If I had to guess why the calls are segregated it would be because there is a charge-back between AKL and DVC, so they need to bill back any time spent on DVC guests.

We are going to be at AKL Club Level again in two months. Our IPO CM was great! He did all of our dining reservations and booked us on the Sunrise Safari per our instructions.

With DVC, I only regret we can't get conceirge at more resorts! We used it at the Grand Cal. a few Thanksgiving's ago and it was wonderful (no longer available on pionts since GCV opened).

We enjoy the conceirge level, but it isn't something we'd probably pay for if it were not available on points.

 

[erionm]

So this leads to my question....Do DVC members staying on points at the concierge level at AKL get different treatment than non dvc guests?

No. I've never had any issues with the Concierge staff when staying on points. The DVC Concierge Rooms are on the same floor as the lounge and the hotel concierge rooms are on the 4th floor. That's a plus for DVC.

 

[MrShiny]

One time when we stayed, we did get a room one floor below. Our key still got us into the conceirge level. We did have to call and let them know we needed Mousekeeping though (conceirge gets daily Mousekeeping - other DVC does not).

 

[bobbiwoz]

One time when we stayed, we did get a room one floor below. Our key still got us into the conceirge level. We did have to call and let them know we needed Mousekeeping though (conceirge gets daily Mousekeeping - other DVC does not).

We didn't have to call for housekeeping, but once we also got a room on the floor below the concierge lounge.

I've been very pleased with the Concierge service, both when booking things ahead of time and what they do for you when you are there.

No CL stays ahead, but wish there were!

 

[ShockMonkey3]

Thank you so much for your replies. I am glad to hear you have experienced no differences. I feel reassured.

We really enjoyed our splurge club level stay last fall at the Poly. I am excited to experience the AKL club and lounge, even if it is just for one night.

 

[magicmommy]

We are here right now. Just getting ready to leave the room for a cruise on the Dream. DVC members are not treated any differently than other CL guests. As a matter of fact, some of the hosts are DVC members too.

 

[drusba]

Disney's policy is clear and democratic. It mistreats all guests the same.

 

[DonDon]

We are here right now. Just getting ready to leave the room for a cruise on the Dream. DVC members are not treated any differently than other CL guests. As a matter of fact, some of the hosts are DVC members too.

How are you getting to the port? Using DCL shuttle, or driving a rental? Will be there in Dec... was trying to figuar out the best way to get to the port. Thanks

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) No difference.
2) It is just that some CM's are better than others.
3) They are more proactive.

 

[jacksmom]

Do any DVC CL rooms have Savanna views??

 

[bobbiwoz]

Do any DVC CL rooms have Savanna views??

Yes, 3 2 bedroom lock offs. We were there in April and had a studio CL savannah view.

Here's some animal pictures that I took from that room. They are in the first post.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2703707&highlight=akv+concierge

 

[Plutofan]

We were treated the same when we stayed five years ago.

 

[jacksmom]

Yes, 3 2 bedroom lock offs. We were there in April and had a studio CL savannah view.

Here's some animal pictures that I took from that room. They are in the first post.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2703707&highlight=akv+concierge

Thanks! Told by member services today that none of the CL studios had Savannah views!

 

[quirty30]

Thanks! Told by member services today that none of the CL studios had Savannah views!

None of them have great savannah views, but they do have them.

Back the original topic, our 2nd AKV CL is coming up in a few months, and for both trips, I've had the pleasure of dealing with Don at the IPO. I kind of got the impression that he was exclusive to DVC members staying on CL. Now that doesn't seem to be the case from what I've read. Regardless, he is a pleasure to work with, and I never felt like I was treated any differently than when we stayed CL as cash guests.

 

[RachaelA]

None of them have great savannah views, but they do have them.

Back the original topic, our 2nd AKV CL is coming up in a few months, and for both trips, I've had the pleasure of dealing with Don at the IPO. I kind of got the impression that he was exclusive to DVC members staying on CL. Now that doesn't seem to be the case from what I've read. Regardless, he is a pleasure to work with, and I never felt like I was treated any differently than when we stayed CL as cash guests.

Don works with both. He is AMAZING! We've dealt with him both times we stayed regular CL (non-DVC). I ended up calling and asking for him and just having him call me back when he was available because he is so great to work with.

 

[rhodymom]

Don works with both. He is AMAZING! We've dealt with him both times we stayed regular CL (non-DVC). I ended up calling and asking for him and just having him call me back when he was available because he is so great to work with.

Another Don fan here!! I actually told him that we all rave about him on Disboards and gave him the URL. He seemed tickled.

 

[quirty30]

Don works with both. He is AMAZING! We've dealt with him both times we stayed regular CL (non-DVC). I ended up calling and asking for him and just having him call me back when he was available because he is so great to work with.

Another Don fan here!! I actually told him that we all rave about him on Disboards and gave him the URL. He seemed tickled.

OP - looks like you need to make sure you ask for Don next time you call!

 

[Dean]

Hello,

This is my first post as a DVC member. I am really a lurker on DIS, and so appreciate all the information I have learned.

Our first stay on points is scheduled for November. We will be in a studio club level at Animal Kingdom on the 10th for one night, followed by 9 nights in a 1bdr at our home resort of Bay Lake.

My question is...do DVC members get different treatment than other guests staying club level at AKL?

Why do I ask? This is my story: I received an email from the IPO last week, sent to me without my contacting them first, which I took as a good sign. The link to complete the planning form was not working, so I called the phone number listed on the message. The prompts at the beginning seperated dvc guests and non dvc guest, and I just got a wierd feeling. I left a message, as the IPO folks were too busy and they called me back just about an hour later. The CM was nice, but I was unable to give her my complete attention when she called, as I was driving at the time. But I did not get a warm fuzzy disney feeling from her. Instead it was, lets get this done with over the phone, as you are only staying with us one night. (she pointed this out and that it was not for my additional nights at BLT) Now, I knew the IPO would not cover my Bay Lake stay, but did intend to confirm that when I spoke with them. I felt like I had to defend myself and I told her i had assumed as much. I then told her I would only need one reservation for HoopDeeDo, which did not work out as she needed my credit card info and I was unable to give that to her as I as driving at the time. I told her I would call back at another time. I was grateful to get off the phone with her, as I just felt uncomfortable at that point.

I do not think she did anything wrong to me and I am not upset with her at all but I do not feel excited about our stay. I have only had one other experience with club level and IPO planning and that was Poly last Dec. They were wonderful and so nice and kind and warm and fuzzy. This felt nothing like that.

So this leads to my question....Do DVC members staying on points at the concierge level at AKL get different treatment than non dvc guests?

The concierge desk is right in the lounge so they are often talking to guests on the phone with people sitting there waiting on them or walking up trying to ask questions while they are on the phone with you. On the stays I've had with them they were great including email, phone and in person. It sounds like they commonly have people staying part of the time on CL but wanting the concierge to act for their entire stay, which is an understandable problem. I'm sure it'll be fine.

 

[Vickis3js]

OP - looks like you need to make sure you ask for Don next time you call!

Or Chris!! We were there in March for our first CL stay and he was amazing. For the first part of our stay he was working in the "kitchen" and we would chat every time we saw him. The second half he worked at the desk. He really was the most helpful. I know 2 of the women tended to rub us the wrong way when we were there. One was really short with us when we needed a dining ADR changed. But I think that was her personality. Either way we LOVED CL and didn't feel like we were treated differently by the staff, some of the other guests YES, but never the staff.