Has anyone stayed club level at ALV

[Lindsay's4littles]

Has anyone stayed club level at AKV? Tell me about it? Is it worth the extra points? We are a family of 7 so we are always in a 2 bedroom! I want to know if borrowing points would be worth it? We have stayed club level once at the grand Floridian in the main building and we loved it but I don't know how AKV differs.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There are 5 lock-off 2BR units at Club Level DVC, total, for a max possible 10 units. They very often book before the 11 month window opens. For most AKV owners, getting any time there is a matter of luck.

 

[alisonslp]

We enjoyed it for a couple of nights in a split stay to experience it, but I personally wouldn't use the points for longer than that. The view is not very good in terms of being at AKL. We enjoyed the food layout and the drinks. We had 7 in a 2 bdrm and stayed those two days completely at the resort so we got good value from the food.

 

[com_op_2000]

We have done two two night stays in studios and had to cancel another stay at the last minute due to illness.
We will do it again just have to find an opening at 7 months that works.
When we go again we will hope to book two night at CL, then transfer to a standard studio within AKL for the last night. We will still have access to the CL lounge until mid-night of checkout of CL the room. We have done this both previous CLs stays.

 

[Best Aunt]

If you want to see animals out the window, don't do it. As PP mentioned, there are 5 two-bedroom units. I believe 3 face the pool and 2 face the savannah, but it's the very end of the savannah and animals don't wander down there much. Also, you're up on the top floor so even if an animal does wander over there, you're too high to get a great view.

If you are doing it for the food in the lounge, make sure you are clear on the hours. What time do you normally leave the hotel in the morning? What time do you arrive back at night? Will the lounge be open when you are there?

If you are doing it for the food in the lounge, be clear on the types of food they serve. Will your family eat/drink it?

One of the "perks" was supposed to be that a cast member would take you up there to check in, and you could avoid the front desk. But when they took me up, the cast member was on the phone helping a guest. I waited, and waited and waited... Yes, I was sitting down, but it would have been faster at the front desk.

Club Level in general used to have other perks, but I'm not sure if they still do. They used to make dining resies for you, among other things. But there were changes to Club Level and I don't know what they will and won't do now.

I stayed AKV Club Level back when staying Club Level was required if you wanted to do the Sunrise Safari. I loved the Sunrise Safari, so it was worth it for me. However, they discontinued the Sunrise Safari. At the time, you needed to be staying at AKL/AKV to do the Sunset Safari and the Night Safari, so I did those as well on that trip. No regrets, but I wouldn't do it again.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We enjoy a few nights at AKV CL every year. Our next stay will be at the end of April! Generally, we stay 2-3 nights.

 

[starry_solo]

I stayed 3 nights this past May. There were only two of us in the studios. Points wise, I'm not sure it was worth it (it was an extra $70-100 per night and I don't think we would have spent that much eating), but it was nice. We had a good time.

 

[pangyal]

We are actually here now!

I know that I am a total anomaly, but I LOVE Club Level, to the point that I've gotten totally spoiled and won't stay at AKV without it (yes, I know how snooty that sounds, and I apologize!) despite the poor room views. The unlimited drinks are great, but the main feature is the extra space to spread out and not have to spend points on a larger room if it's just the three of us (we usually book one bedrooms for more than two people). We make meals of the breakfasts and dinners, so it's just lunch we have to worry about during the day, when we are going to be at a park or at the pool anyway.

We don't book it for the whole trip, as we also love split stays (again, I fully recognize that this is not a commonly shared preference ) but it's nice to save money on food and room category that we can use to splurge on dining for the other part of the trip.

 

[Lindsay's4littles]

We are actually here now!

I know that I am a total anomaly, but I LOVE Club Level, to the point that I've gotten totally spoiled and won't stay at AKV without it (yes, I know how snooty that sounds, and I apologize!) despite the poor room views. The unlimited drinks are great, but the main feature is the extra space to spread out and not have to spend points on a larger room if it's just the three of us (we usually book one bedrooms for more than two people). We make meals of the breakfasts and dinners, so it's just lunch we have to worry about during the day, when we are going to be at a park or at the pool anyway.

We don't book it for the whole trip, as we also love split stays (again, I fully recognize that this is not a commonly shared preference ) but it's nice to save money on food and room category that we can use to splurge on dining for the other part of the trip.

thank you and I think I would also love club level. What are some of the breakfast foods they offer?

 

[alisonslp]

thank you and I think I would also love club level. What are some of the breakfast foods they offer?

pastries, breads, fruit, a hot quinoa, oatmeal, muffins, bagels.

 

[gr8tdame]

We stayed 8 nights at club level in May in a studio.
We just ate breakfast there and had some drinks late at night.
The breakfast is great...my ds either had a bagel with cream cheese and pastrami salmon or oatmeal with fresh berries. I had raisin bran with fresh berries and coffee each morning as did dh.
I believe they have DVC club level at AKL because the villas on the 6th floor are value sized villas with no views and they would have a hard time filling them otherwise.
We met several couples that we had drinks with each evening and chatted until the wee hours which was great.
Some mornings at breakfast it was very busy... some people loaded up trays of food to take back to their rooms and would empty the foid platters.
One morning a woman ( who I named the Giraffe)elbowed me and almost knocked me over to get to the breakfast buffet.
My husband went to the lounge Twice during appetizer time to have some cheese and a beer. i never did. In the evenings they had a dessert selection and cordials.

I much prefer having a villa on the 5th floor with a savannah view. Staying at AKL I want to see animals.

 

[Alyson A]

Thank you for asking the question and for all the comments. We are booked at AKL Savannah view Studio the first week of March but have the Club Level waitlisted knowing the likelihood of us getting CL is very slim. It is actually the first time I am not concerned about a waitlist because I know we'll enjoy the resort either way! I have not stayed at AKL in about two years (typically stay at BWV) but we are surprising our 13 year old son with a little getaway and I just love seeing the animals. I can't wait to just relax. Only doing AK this trip so we have time to enjoy the resort and walk between Jambo and Kidani to enjoy the pools (weather permitting), etc. But, boy, I sure do love the idea of visiting the Club Lounge and all of the neat treats to eat! We'll roll the dice and see what happens. Thanks again for everyone chiming in!

 

[disneynutz]

Own there, done CL, won't do it again. For what you get it isn't worth the money. Poor views, mixed service, missed turned down service, a line to see the concierge CM's, some food samples I don't care for, people not on their best behavior due to food blindness. Beverages were nice but not always restocked. For the extra cost I can buy the food I like and have cases of soda delivered to my room.

Everyone should try it at least once and decide for themselves.

Bill

 

[alisonslp]

Own there, done CL, won't do it again. For what you get it isn't worth the money. Poor views, mixed service, missed turned down service, a line to see the concierge CM's, some food samples I don't care for, people not on their best behavior due to food blindness. Beverages were nice but not always restocked. For the extra cost I can buy the food I like and have cases of soda delivered to my room.

Everyone should try it at least once and decide for themselves.

Bill

I forgot about this. It was one thing we didn't like about CL. We kept the do not disturb on the door the whole time. We don't like other people in our rooms, even for turn down service

 

[mousestruck]

We stayed 8 nights at club level in May in a studio.
We just ate breakfast there and had some drinks late at night.
The breakfast is great...my ds either had a bagel with cream cheese and pastrami salmon or oatmeal with fresh berries. I had raisin bran with fresh berries and coffee each morning as did dh.
I believe they have DVC club level at AKL because the villas on the 6th floor are value sized villas with no views and they would have a hard time filling them otherwise.
We met several couples that we had drinks with each evening and chatted until the wee hours which was great.
Some mornings at breakfast it was very busy... some people loaded up trays of food to take back to their rooms and would empty the foid platters.
One morning a woman ( who I named the Giraffe)elbowed me and almost knocked me over to get to the breakfast buffet.
My husband went to the lounge Twice during appetizer time to have some cheese and a beer. i never did. In the evenings they had a dessert selection and cordials.

I much prefer having a villa on the 5th floor with a savannah view. Staying at AKL I want to see animals.

I did not realize the studios are value sized. Learned something new!

On one of our trips we complained because there was scaffolding right outside our window, so they put us on the fifth floor with club access. At first we were disappointed, but it turned out to be awesome. Not as convenient, but we had a great view and all the perks!

 

[gr8tdame]

Own there, done CL, won't do it again. For what you get it isn't worth the money. Poor views, mixed service, missed turned down service, a line to see the concierge CM's, some food samples I don't care for, people not on their best behavior due to food blindness. Beverages were nice but not always restocked. For the extra cost I can buy the food I like and have cases of soda delivered to my room.

Everyone should try it at least once and decide for themselves.

Bill

Bill, you are right. We never had turn down service. When we arrived the front desk called upstairs to have someone take us up and was told they were too busy. The front desk CM had to leave his post and take us up.
We arrived and were told our room number at that was it.
No directions, no welcome drink etc.
I found the cm's at BWV are always top notch and welcoming....not so at AKL club level.

I did not realize the studios are value sized. Learned something new!

On one of our trips we complained because there was scaffolding right outside our window, so they put us on the fifth floor with club access. At first we were disappointed, but it turned out to be awesome. Not as convenient, but we had a great view and all the perks!

They are value sized...the bed is almost against the one wall..so you have to get out sideways. I thought it was just our villa but the maid showed me the others and confirmed that they were smaller than the deluxe villas.

 

[starry_solo]

I stayed 3 nights in a studio this past May on the sixth floor. It was the last studio along the walkway. For the money (points wise - rented), I don't think it was worth it. We were just doing resort days for the first few days of our trip.

Food was ok. But I'm sure we could have spent less eating out.

 

[gr8tdame]

I stayed 3 nights in a studio this past May on the sixth floor. It was the last studio along the walkway. For the money (points wise - rented), I don't think it was worth it. We were just doing resort days for the first few days of our trip.

Food was ok. But I'm sure we could have spent less eating out.

Hopefully it was not on the pool side next to the engine room?

 

[Deb & Bill]

These villas on the sixth floor used to be the old smoking rooms way back when the lodge first opened and permitted smoking in some of the rooms. Since they are on the same floor as the lounge, and DVC was getting stuck with them, they had to be reserved as concierge villas. Otherwise, DVC guests would have to use a rope ladder to get to an elevator on the fifth floor.

 

[starry_solo]

Hopefully it was not on the pool side next to the engine room?

Fortunately not, at least I don't think so. Lol. We looked outside our balcony and had a partial Savannah view. Saw an ostrich wander by and a roan antelope.