Just Back AKV Concierge

[Rambler5678]

Just wanted to let everyone know we had a great trip. We stayed in studio 6406. It had a GREAT view of the pool and a little part of a savanna. I will write a trip report later but if anyone has any questions please let me know.

 

[DisneyDreamingAubrey]

Glad yo hear everything went well. Is the main pool open now? Did you feel there was a lot of "under construction feel?"

 

[Rambler5678]

We had a view of the main pool. Yes it was open and we went swiming one afternoon. The weather was wonderful the highs were about 82 and lows in 60's. We did not see the construction of the new villas other than the top of a crane when getting our van.The only noise we heard was from the gardeners triming scrubs etc. The concierge staff did say the rooms facing the construction area were a little bit noisey during the day. Our room also looked out over the roof of Boma but it was below us and did not affect the view. The only problem was if you were outside on the balcony the wonderful smells made you hungry lol. We also did the sunrise safari and would HIGHLY recommend it.

 

[tomandrobin]

Looking forward to read yout trip report. We have two AKV concierge level trips in 2008 and we are really, really looking forward to them.

 

[kgc07]

Can you give me an idea of the evening food offerings? We love going to the lounge in the evening for a snack and are excited to see what AK has to offer.

 

[Rambler5678]

We were on the DDP so I only saw what they had out one night. They had BBQ ribs, a soap, and one other hot dish that I can not remember what it was. They also had cheese, veg., dips, and fresh fruit. We ate breakfast there every morning and it was basicly a deluxe con. breakfast. They did have fresh fruit, hot oatmeal and a african pourage. The afternoon offerings were chips, and cookies. I did not see the hot tea they had on the menu but they did put out pastries from 3-5. The above night offerings were from 5-8. The had cordials out from 8-10 with about 4 different dessert liquirs and zebra domes and some other yummy pastries. The thing we liked most about the lounge was it had a tv playing cartoons and games for the childern to play. It deffently helped keep our three year old and the other kids busy. The staff also keeped the food and drink items replentished.

 

[Rambler5678]

Well first let me say I am not a writer but since I gained so much information from reading others trip reports I feel I owe everyone to share information about our trip.

We live about 4 hrs north of WDW and we arrived at AKL at 10:30 am. I had written Don at the AKL IPO. That we planned to arive around 11 check in and than head to EPCOT. We knew our room would not be ready but wanted to store our luggage and do the paperwork etc. We had valet staff unload our luggage and told them we were staying AKV concierge. They told us to go inside and talk to bellservices inside the lobby. They said if our room was ready they would have our room key and if not escort us up to the 6 floor to check in with the concierge desk. Will we went in told him our names he looked it up and than said he had to go talk to someone about our room. My wife and I just looked at each other just knowing something was wrong. Will in 5 mins. he comes back pushing a cart with our luggage on it and tells us our room is READY. We almost faint right there on the spot. Will you have to have a special key to go up to the 6 floor. His key will not work and we try like 3 different elevators. He finally pulls out one of our keys and it works. He takes us down to our room and of course we look at what view we recieved. It was a lovly view of the main pool and we could also see the watering hole at one of the savannas. We saw animals several times from our balcony.He shows how every thing works and asks us to check in with the concierge staff when we had time. Getting a room at 10;30 am was like gaining a extra day so we deff. were very happy. We go check in with the concierge staff and they explain everything to us and get a cc for any room charges etc. We than head over to EPCOT and dont get back until 10 pm. Will our room key would not let us go to the 6 floor on the elevator and concierge closes at 10 pm. So we had to go to the front desk and a lovly english lady not only rekeyed our cards but personally went and rode the elevator with us to make sure everything works. Sounds like a perfect first day doesnt it. WELLLLLLLLLL not all was perfect we were to find out. We read on disboards that if you gave the concierge staff a cc # and a list they could go shopping at the gift shop and place the items in your room as surprices for your kids. We request several items and they emailed us back they had brought the items and everything was a go.We even talked to the concierge staff about this at checkin and they assured us everything was a go. Well as we told everyone earier we have a three year old princess and we had spent 8 hrs at EPCOT. We had been telling her if she was good Mickey might notice and give her a surprice. She tried very hard to be good lol and was very excited. Well when we got back to our room mouse keeping had turned down our bed and left choclates on our pillow etc. but noooooooo surprice. Well our three year old freaked out. She started to cry etc and the whole family got upset. did not know what to do except call the front desk since concierge was closed. They connected me to a manager and I told him about the suprices not being left and my three year old was in tears. He said to give him a few mins and he look in to it. H calls back about 10 mins. later and says he was so sorry but concierge had not givin moue keeping the suprices to put in the room. He had though located our pre-brought surprices and said that due to there error he would personal bring up her surprice and a little extra. Will he comes up and tells our little one Minnie had noticed our she been a good girl that day and had sent her a gift. We had brought her a princess autograph book thru the concierge. He gives her that and than pulls out a Minnie Doll in a safari outfit and a personaly signed picture of Minnie to her. Well she was smiling from ear to ear and bouncing and giggling my wife and I were almst in tears of the specail magic that the manager provided. It will be a memory we want soon forget. My little girl kissed her picture and slept with her Minnie doll that night. Well this is all for day one. More later and the rest of the trip.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Thanks for all the great info about the lounge. Could you tell me more about the safari? What time did you have to be at the lounge to leave to get to the park? And, by the time you were done with the breakfast, what time did the whole thing finish up?

 

[Rambler5678]

I will tell more about the safari later in my trip report but you had to check in at the Concierge desk on the 6 floor at 6:30 am. The staff scaned your park tickets and gives you your badges and paperwork etc. You can have coffee and juice while you wait. At 7 am everyone goes down to the lobby where you meet the animal keepers who will take you on the safari. Everyone loads up onto two buses and you are taken in the back way of AK. You than walk in and load up on the same trucks that the ride uses. We were finished with the Safari and walking to Pizziri at 9:10 am to recieve the included breakfast. It finshed about 45 mins later. Than you were free to explore AK on your own. You had to ride the Disney bus located outside the entrance of AK to get back to AKL when you finished visiting AK.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Thanks again for the info, Rambler!

 

[LisaS]

Is the main pool open now?

The only part of AKV that is open is on the 5th and 6th floors of the Lodge building ("Jambo House") so the pool that Rambler5678 is referring to is the AKL pool. The new AKV pool at Kidani Village will not be open for another year or so.