(EDITED)Odd ? about AKL concierge (UPDATED AT END)

[Cuddlemama]

We're going to be staying at AKL in concierge from Sept. 18-25th.

We're travelling with our two kids (ages 3 and 18 mths). Also along for the trip, but staying at AKL in a standard view room are hubby's parents. They're not really Disney people (actually, fairly anti-Disney) and are really only coming on this vacation to help with the babies.

Here's the strange question. It's primarily about protocol.

Normally, the inlaws will be joining us in our room for breakfast. We'll be having a combination of stuff from the concierge lounge and breakfast items from Mara.

On Saturday, however, hubby and I are sneaking off in the early hours for the Sunrise Safari. MIL and FIL will be staying at the hotel with the kids and meeting us several hours later at Animal Kingdom. Do you think it would be trouble if they took the kids to the lounge for breakfast? Emily will have her resort pass w/concierge key.

It would really make things so much easier for us if they were allowed to take the kids into the lounge when they're in charge of them while hubby and I do our own thing.

So, is this a total no-no, or is it something that will really never be noticed in the grand scheme of things.

Thanks for the opinions,

Leigh

 

[floridafam]

I don't think you are going to get the response you may be hoping for.

I will leave that to others.

I would like to make a suggestion though. I would get them a concierge room. I assume you are using the FT package. I can't imagine anything more that would change their minds about being "anti Disney" than the concierge experience at the AKL. I really think that they would LOVE it. Are you going to feel odd going to the lounge all the time when they can't go with you?

They could enjoy the lounge, the food offerings, the friendly staff, etc. They could also spend more time with you.

This is just a suggestion.

I can almost guarantee you they will be AWED if they are able to be close to you on the concierge floor and enjoy everything the AKL Concierge has to offer.

Plus, with the FT package, AKL Concierge is a great deal.

 

[Cuddlemama]

Actually, I'm not really looking for any particular answer. Just the honest one, I guess.

I'd love to have been able to afford concierge for the inlaws, but it really just couldn't be squeezed out of the budget.

They decided to come along at the last minute and we had to completely reconfigure things to even squeeze 2 more airfares and a standard view fairytale package out of our vacation dollars.

They also don't like even the idea of concierge. They're 60something Asian workaholics who have informed us that they can turn down their own beds, thank you very much... They also don't really snack between meals, and question our reasoning for having the concierge for ourselves, even.

I just thought it would be easier for them to deal with two toddlers in the relatively small area of the lounge as opposed to breakfasting at the Mara with them. But, if breakfast at the Mara is what is called for, then that's what it shall be! Hubby just thought that since they were substituting as parents for us that day, they may be able to feed the kids up there. You know, since if we take them up for breakfast it will be 2 adults and 2 kids, or if we leave and Gran and Grandpa take them, it's still 2 adults and 2 kids eating breakfast.

Ok, thats enough blabbing on my part. I'm just excited about the trip, but banned from discussing it around here these days.

~Leigh

 

[floridafam]

I usually am a "follow the rules" type of person and questions like this have been asked on these boards before.

I just don't know the answer to this one.

Have you e-mailed the concierge at AKL and asked them since they will be babysitting your children while you are on the Safari and your children have access to the lounge.

I do think this is slightly different than if you were trying to sneak someone into the lounge.

I would e-mail the concierge and see what they have to say.

Have you received your information packet yet?

 

[jk1]

Since you can fit 5 persons plus a child under 3 in a Concierge room, technically you could add your in-laws to your room and pay the $50 in additional adult charges. Since you are asking only about one morning, I think if you email your AKL Concierge planner, they will tell you it'll be ok for your in-laws to bring the kids to the Lounge that morning for breakfast.

Have fun - AKL Concierge is the best! And the Sunrise Safari is awesome!

 

[jel0511]

I just wanted you to know, that there aren't any trays provided at the AKL concierge to bring items back to your room. Our room was a HIKE from the lounge and when DS was sick one day, I sent DH up to the lounge to bring breakfast back. He asked two different CM's if he could have a tray or something to carry the food back to the room, since DS was sick. He was told, that there aren't trays provided, you are to enjoy your meal in the lounge. Since our room was a hike, it took DH 3 trips, and approx 25 minutes to get all the food back from the lounge. A trip to the Mara would have been faster, since they do have trays!!! I also agree that sending your in-laws up the lounge is considered a no-no. The concierge staff is VERY good at getting to know faces, and they knew us after two days, so they'd recognize someone who wasn't supposed to be there.

 

[Cuddlemama]

Thanks for the imput guys. I guess the only way to know what to do is to actually ask a CM at concierge.

JK, are you pretty certain you can fit 5 people and a child under 3 in 1 deluxe concierge room? If we could do that, it would actually be the perfect thing for us.

What type of bed configuration would that be? I would have loved to do that, but I thought the lady at Dreams Unlimited told us there were no rooms at AKL that held more than 4 people and a baby, excluding the 2 room suite.

~Leigh

 

[jel0511]

The only concierge rooms that hold 5 people have a queen bed, day bed and bunk beds. Really not conducive for two couples and two kids. It is possible that the AKL has reached it capacity for 5 people rooms, since they are the bunk rooms. A friend of mine was trying to get into AKL concierge, and couldn't because they had reached their capacity of booking parties of 5 for her dates, but a party of 4 would have been o.k. When we stayed there (party of 4), I had requested bunk beds, and the concierge CM told me that they were required by law to give those to parties of 5 first, if there were any remaining, we could have one. Here is a picture of the room layout:

 

[floridafam]

You have the option of a 1br suite but that is not available with the FT package.

You could add up what the 1 br suite would cost you and add up what both packages are costing you and see what the difference is. Of course, you won't get the great tickets that come with the FT package.

We were going to do the FT package in concierge and reserve a standard room FT package for MIL but it was cheaper to just get a 1br suite with no discount. 1br suites sleep 6.

Anyway, I believe the occupancy limits for the concierge rooms are up to 4 people plus one child under 3. Would you all just stay in the concierge room if this would work for you?

I have always received a prompt response from AKL concierge so I imagine they would get back to you fairly quickly if you wanted to ask them about your situation.

 

[BethA]

We recently stayed at AKL concierge. Some friends were traveling with us and not concierge. they came up to see the lounge when we checked in and the CM tactfully reminded us that they could not use the lounge during their stay. The comments about the tray thing is very valid. We had a long hike to our room on 2 of our visits and never took anything back-just easier to relax in the lounge. It's a tough situationa and I wouldn't want to be the one to tell you what to do. Have a great trip. You'll love it there!!

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by jel0511
When we stayed there (party of 4), I had requested bunk beds, and the concierge CM told me that they were required by law to give those to parties of 5 first, if there were any remaining, we could have one.

That happened to us too. We couldn't get the bunk beds either.

I think that the room would be pretty cramped with 6 people (4 being adults). Even the concierge rooms at AKL are rather small.

Technically, you could let them stay in their standard room and pay the extra $50/night fee for them to also be added to your room so they could get the concierge service.

 

[>>^..^<<]

The morning we did the sunrise safari the food was pretty well all out before we departed - in fact it was soooo tempting to have a cheese danish - but I restrained myself and just had a coffee although my DD had a muffin.

If your parents are not booked concierge they are not permitted up there even just to visit (or babysit.)

Why not just drop some food off for your kids at the room before you depart and they can have it when they wake up? Another option - the day before grab some mini cereal boxes and take them to your room - the next morning your parents would only have to get milk.

Is it not going to be ackward leaving your parents all the time to go up to the lounge when they are not allowed? wouldn't it be nice to eat breakfast together or have a dessert in the evening?

I hope you all have a great time no matter which way you plan it - it is a beautiful resort and the sunrise safari is excellent.

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[Wolfelaw]

I think you should just check with the concierge people -- I would be completely shocked if they had a problem with your little old parents taking your kids to the lounge one morning, when you won't be there, and when they are guests in the hotel. It's not like they're going to eat all the food, right? Obviously, if every single person in concierge had extra family members over for breakfast, there would be a problem, hence the rules -- but some times there are special circumstances and I'll bet you get the thumbs up. So check and let us all know!

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by Cuddlemama

JK, are you pretty certain you can fit 5 people and a child under 3 in 1 deluxe concierge room? If we could do that, it would actually be the perfect thing for us.

you can also do that. there would be a $25/each night charge for the 2 extra adults. There would just be a queen bed, bunk beds and daybed. If you don't mind being a little cramped, then everyone could get concierge service and you won't have to pay for the other room.

 

[macs4us]

I have stayed concierge level at all three DL hotels, and we have had guests to our suites and in the lounge (when we grabbed sodas to go) each time. We talked to the staff ahead of time, and they said it was no problem. My advice would be to contact AKL staff and explain your situation. Your kids are staying as concierge level guests, and they need to be supervised - no biggie. If your inlaws are uncomfortable with the idea, do as others have suggested and pick up something the day before or right before you leave in the morning.

Hope you have a great trip!!!

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

I don't care how ant-disney they are, they should be excited just to be there seeing disney through their grandkids eyes. have them pay for themselves to upgrade to concierge. You are a btter person then me, I would have to tell DH them going isn't myidea of a magical vacation.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Originally posted by Gail T AGAIN
I would have to tell DH them going isn't myidea of a magical vacation.

LOL.. my inlaws aren't "magical" either.... well maybe in a black magic scary kinda way

>>^..^<<

 

[lizzie64]

You all read my horror stories about travelling with my SMother in law.

I did want to point out that my MIL is also Anti Disney. I thought concierge at AKL would blow her away and she was just not impressed by that stuff. While I went on and on about the service and the convenience, she was like "I don't see what is so special".

So if your in laws are like this, I would definitely not spend the extra $$ to upgrade them to concierge, or even have them pay for it themselves. They just will not appreciate it. They sound so much like my MIL.

I would definitely contact the staff and remind them that they are babysitting so you can do the sunrise safari. I really don't think they'll have a problem with that.

Good luck and have fun. The safari was amazing. (she did agree on that). My kids also loved it and they are 4 and 2.

 

[Cuddlemama]

Thanks so much for all the opinions and suggestions, everyone!

We got it sorted out this morning. We decided to go with a deluxe concierge room that sleeps 5 and the baby. We had asked for that when we made our reservations and there were none available during the time we would be there but, I bugged and begged and pleaded with our agent at Dreams Unlimited last night and she kept an eye out for us and one opened up this morning!

So we're all sharing one room, but we all have concierge priviledges.

Honestly, I hope I didn't make my inlaws out to be hard to please or anything because they're great and we get along very well. They're just not vacation people. They've really never had the time or opportunity for something like this before and can't imagine WHY anyone would spend so much money on a vacation.

The situation with 1 queen, bunks and the daybed (and pack n play) in our room will be fine for us. Grandma and Grandpa don't share a room usually anyway, so they'll be ok with sleeping seperately and we always sleep with at least one kid, even at home, so we'll probably put the 3 year old in the pack n play (she's still tiny) and sleep with the baby.

I really appreciate the fact that everyone approached my question sincerely and kindly and actually tried to help me find answers! I was afraid I'd get a royal roasting, if you know what I mean!

Ok, off to plan some more character meals with the money we're saving by only having 1 room!

~Leigh

 

[>>^..^<<]

LOL.. glad it all worked out


Soooooooooo... who gets the top bunk?

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