Dvc concierge??? What does that mean?

[MrsBlovesDisney]

I am familiar with the concierge levels at the Resorts, but I have noticed reservations being made for IE: AKV "concierge" 1 bedroom. What does that mean? Better view? Better perks? Also, are there particular DVC's that offer concierge, or do they all offer it? Thx!!

 

[queenie82]

I'm not an expert nor have I stayed at these places but from reading unofficial guides and the like concierge doesn't guarantee a better view than say a magic kingdom view or savannah view (depending on the resort)
The main 'perk' is the food as far as I can tell and the ability to book the safari (you pay extra for) at AK.

 

[disneynutz]

I am familiar with the concierge levels at the Resorts, but I have noticed reservations being made for IE: AKV "concierge" 1 bedroom. What does that mean? Better view? Better perks? Also, are there particular DVC's that offer concierge, or do they all offer it? Thx!!

AKV Jambo House is the only DVC Resort to offer concierge. The rooms have a poor view but you get concierge service, just like any other resort or hotel. Nightly turn down service, Concierge Lounge, and access to an AK VIP tour.

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

AKV Jambo House is the only DVC Resort to offer concierge. The rooms have a poor view but you get concierge service, just like any other resort or hotel. Nightly turn down service, Concierge Lounge, and access to an AK VIP tour.

Thanks Disneynut! Now I understand!! I was looking at the point charts and didn't notice a listing for Concierge level (until I just checked out AKV)!!

 

[LisaS]

AKV Concierge consists of only five 2BR lockoffs so there are at most 10 rooms if all of those 2BRs are "locked off" and rented as 1BRs and studios. That makes AKV Concierge a challenge to book, even right at the 11-month window for some times of the year. Three of the 2BR L/Os face the Sunset Savanna and two face the pool area. You can request a particular view but it is not guaranteed. The savanna view is not that great -- the rooms are in a little alcove of the Sunset Savanna so you see only part of the savanna, and you are up so high that the tree tops block part of the view. But the other perks (assistance making ADRs, ability to book the Sunrise Safari, checking in upstairs in the lounge instead of waiting in line, snacks and drinks in the lounge, etc.) are certainly nice. It's just too bad that you have to sacrifice the view in order to get them.

 

[RLRDA]

But the other perks (assistance making ADRs, ability to book the Sunrise Safari, checking in upstairs in the lounge instead of waiting in line, snacks and drinks in the lounge, etc.) are certainly nice. It's just too bad that you have to sacrifice the view in order to get them.

It just so happens that our August trip overlaps the start of Free Dining (we arrive 8/15 and FD starts the 16th I think) and the ADR assistance paid off - big time. Instead of being on the phone for 1&1/2+ hours I received an e-mail a few hours after our 90-day window opened telling us we were all set and we got everything we wanted within the time frames we requested. We were able to book the Sunrise Safari for the morning after we arrive.

We did request the savanna view but realize it's not the greatest. I'm thrilled that we were able to even get the reservation in the first place (who knows if we'll ever be able to get it again) - so the lack of the view is the trade-off.

 

[LisaS]

It just so happens that our August trip overlaps the start of Free Dining (we arrive 8/15 and FD starts the 16th I think) and the ADR assistance paid off - big time. Instead of being on the phone for 1&1/2+ hours I received an e-mail a few hours after our 90-day window opened telling us we were all set and we got everything we wanted within the time frames we requested.

Sounds like you picked a good time to do a concierge stay! I can't imagine trying to book ADRs during free dining.

We were able to book the Sunrise Safari for the morning after we arrive.

We did request the savanna view but realize it's not the greatest. I'm thrilled that we were able to even get the reservation in the first place (who knows if we'll ever be able to get it again) - so the lack of the view is the trade-off.

We felt the same way about our Concierge stay. We knew the view wouldn't be as good as we were used to when we stayed at AKL in the past so we were prepared for that. We booked both the Sunrise Safari and the Wanyama Safari for that trip and we figured that during those tours we would have the best animal views you can get and that helped make up for what we couldn't see from the balcony. It's also possible that the animal viewing will be better now that the Kidani construction in that area is complete and the expanded Sunset Savanna is fully open. I hope you get a savanna view so you can tell us if things have improved.

Overall, we really enjoyed our concierge stay and would like to do it again some time.

 

[Skylarr29]

Does anyone have any photos of the one bedroom concierge? Is it the same as the one bedroom in Kidani (with the king bed and awesome bathroom) or is it smaller/different layout? TIA!

 

[LisaS]

Does anyone have any photos of the one bedroom concierge? Is it the same as the one bedroom in Kidani (with the king bed and awesome bathroom) or is it smaller/different layout? TIA!

All of AKV's Concierge rooms are in Jambo House so the 1BRs have the Jambo House layout which is different from the layout of the Kidani 1BRs. Jambo House 1BRs are smaller than the Kidani 1BRs. They have only one bathroom which is located across a small hallway from the master bedroom. That allows any guests sleeping in the living area to access the bathroom but also means that you cannot move between the master BR and master bath in privacy. The bathroom has a combined whirlpool tub and shower rather than the usual separate tub and shower stall.

Here are the floor plans for all of the concierge rooms. The rooms on the left face the Sunset Savanna, the rooms on the right face the pool. The Concierge lounge would be at the bottom, the large windows that overlook the Arusha Savanna would be at the top.

The first two 1BRs from the bottom on the left are both HA rooms and while both show the combination whirlpool tub/shower, the 1BR closest to the lounge actually has a roll-in shower and no tub.

 

[Skylarr29]

All of AKV's Concierge rooms are in Jambo House so the 1BRs have the Jambo House layout which is different from the layout of the Kidani 1BRs. Jambo House 1BRs are smaller than the Kidani 1BRs. They have only one bathroom which is located across a small hallway from the master bedroom. That allows any guests sleeping in the living area to access the bathroom but also means that you cannot move between the master BR and master bath in privacy. The bathroom has a combined whirlpool tub and shower rather than the usual separate tub and shower stall.

Here are the floor plans for all of the concierge rooms. The rooms on the left face the Sunset Savanna, the rooms on the right face the pool. The Concierge lounge would be at the bottom, the large windows that overlook the Arusha Savanna would be at the top.

The first two 1BRs from the bottom on the left are both HA rooms and while both show the combination whirlpool tub/shower, the 1BR closest to the lounge actually has a roll-in shower and no tub.

Thank you very much! I think we will stick with Kidani!

 

[jerseygal]

What is best Concierge Studio to request?

Don't want to be "on top" of the lounge for lounge noise..

Prettiest view room for Concierge Studio????????????

Thanks a bunch!!!!!!

 

[SFLTIGGER]

So there are no concierge Grand Villas? Now that makes Grand Villa at AK an even harder choice.

 

[LisaS]

So there are no concierge Grand Villas? Now that makes Grand Villa at AK an even harder choice.

Correct. The GVs are on the 5th floor and GV guests do not get concierge lounge privileges.

 

[dianeschlicht]

What is best Concierge Studio to request?

Don't want to be "on top" of the lounge for lounge noise..

Prettiest view room for Concierge Studio????????????

Thanks a bunch!!!!!!

I'm not sure I understand your "on top of the lounge" question. All the concierge AKV rooms surround the main lobby on the 6th floor. The concierge lounge is at the end on the 6th floor, so nobody can be above them.

All concierge rooms will be under the thatched roof and will either face the pool or the Sunset savanna.

 

[LisaS]

Don't want to be "on top" of the lounge for lounge noise..

As Diane said, the AKV Concierge rooms run along either side of the AKL lobby. I never found the lounge to be noisy even when full of guests. I think any noise coming from the lounge would pale in comparison to the noise from the lobby which you will hear from any of the Concierge rooms. We could hear the lobby music even with our door closed and there were often kids screaming down in the lobby even after 11pm so if you are a light sleeper, be prepared!

If you are concerned about foot traffic past your door then the rooms furthest from the lounge will be quieter. But then again, with so few rooms along either side, there won't be many people walking by your room even if you are right next to the lounge.

 

[DebbieB]

What is best Concierge Studio to request?

Don't want to be "on top" of the lounge for lounge noise..

Prettiest view room for Concierge Studio????????????

Thanks a bunch!!!!!!

3 are savannah view (corner of the Sunset Savannah and not the best savannah view) and 2 are pool view. If a good savannah view is important to you, I would not choose concierge. We requested savannah view and got pool view. The next morning we asked again if a savannah view was available and we did get moved to the handicapped 1 bedroom. Didn't notice noise from the lounge.

I think the biggest "perk" of concierge is being able to book the Sunrise Safari. It was awesome.

 

[LisaS]

I think the biggest "perk" of concierge is being able to book the Sunrise Safari. It was awesome.

And the biggest downside is weight gain! We usually lose weight or break even on our WDW trips because of all the walking we do. The one exception was our AKV Concierge stay. I think it had something to do with those white chocolate macadamia nut cookies they put out in the afternoon.

 

[dianeschlicht]

As Diane said, the AKV Concierge rooms run along either side of the AKL lobby. I never found the lounge to be noisy even when full of guests. I think any noise coming from the lounge would pale in comparison to the noise from the lobby which you will hear from any of the Concierge rooms. We could hear the lobby music even with our door closed and there were often kids screaming down in the lobby even after 11pm so if you are a light sleeper, be prepared!

If you are concerned about foot traffic past your door then the rooms furthest from the lounge will be quieter. But then again, with so few rooms along either side, there won't be many people walking by your room even if you are right next to the lounge.

I agree. We really didn't have much noise EXCEPT from the kids running around at all hours. My biggest annoyance was the ones who were running around playing pirate and using the rope bridge on the 5th floor AND the lobby below to "shoot" thier guns during their pirate raid at 6:30 am. Not sure where the parents were at that hour, but I'm quite sure they were sleeping. These kids were pretty young too. They were running across the bridge, yelling, shooting, and using the stairs to "attack" the ones who were down in the lobby. It was a lot of noise from a very few small people for so early in the morning.

 

[jerseygal]

Parents Sleeping? Mine are older now, but when they were younger I would never for safety reasons let them roam hotels unattended..Blink and they come be gone in a second!

I'm shocked at the amount of people who let younger children roam hotels unattended and unsupervised..In my mind, thats a dangerous game to play..
Too many strangers roaming hotels, thats for sure............

Thanks for input on Concierge....Food presentation pics looks very nice that I've seen...