Just back from AKV Concierge - Any questions?

[Squidrific]

I just returned last night from a week long trip to Florida.

We started our stay with our first night in a concierge studio, then moving into a 2 BR the 2nd day. I had requested savannah view and non-handicapped. More importantly though I had requested that we have the studio linked to our 2 BR reservation with the hopes that we wouldn't have to move. I confirmed this with Melissa the week before our visit. I was excited when we were checked into 6209 for our studio and told that we would have it for the length of our stay. 6209 is the non-handicapped studio with savannah view on the concierge level. The room was perfect - no maintenance issues and we were excited to have gotten all of our requests.

However, the next morning when I went to check-in to the other half of our 2BR I was told that we were going to have to move after all and that we were being put in a handicapped 2BR although it did not have a roll-in shower. I would have been ok with that except that it was a pain to repack all of our stuff - call bell services - tip them for holding the baggage and then later when we got to our new room - call them and tip them again for our baggage and unpack. Just a pain but not life shattering. We were moved to room 6205 and 6206. This is a great 2 BR. I didn't mind the bars in the tub nor that the kitchen countertops were a little lower than usual. The room itself had plenty of closet space and a lot of room to move around.

The only problems we encountered were that some of the keys had access to the 6th floor and some didn't work. A problem when one or two of you are out late and then can't get up to the 6th floor. The other problem is that concierge computers have a problem working with the DVC computer system. Our dining plan was not credited to our account immediately and we had to play for our first meal out-of-pocket and then go to the front desk to be reimbursed for it.

As usual, the food offerings at the concierge level were excellent and the new cappucino machine is really nice. The staff was great and lodge was beautiful as always.

Hard to believe that yesterday at this time, I was laying by the pool watching the flamingos and the Bongo and sipping a beverage. Today I am back at my desk in 12 degree weather!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Uhoh. I sure hope we don't have the handicapped room. We did request savanna view, but frankly, I don't really care if we get it this trip. I figure we will have plenty of savanna view stays over the years. I don't really care if our concierge stay is savanna view or not. We check into a standard view studio for Saturday, 3/1 and then switch to concierge 1 bedroom from 3/2-3/6. I'm already a little skeptical about the dark decor. I light light and bright, but I figure the windows should help a lot.

 

[Squidrific]

Uhoh. I sure hope we don't have the handicapped room. We did request savanna view, but frankly, I don't really care if we get it this trip. I figure we will have plenty of savanna view stays over the years. I don't really care if our concierge stay is savanna view or not. We check into a standard view studio for Saturday, 3/1 and then switch to concierge 1 bedroom from 3/2-3/6. I'm already a little skeptical about the dark decor. I light light and bright, but I figure the windows should help a lot.

There is only one room that has the roll-in shower. The other handicapped room still has the spa tub/shower. The windows do help somewhat, but the bedroom is still pretty dark.

Also, forgot that my complaint about the 1 BR is that there is no full-size mirror. The studio has a nice one, but the 1 BR does not.

 

[LisaS]

I'm putting together a list of the HA rooms at AKV. Were both the studio and 1BR HA or was it just the 1BR side?

 

[ktbugsmom]

Squidrific,
I was excited to read your report. I have booked my first AKV reservation and decided to splurge on concierge for our 3 night stay in January (I have the first two nights booked and need to get the 3rd night tomorrow morning - wish me luck!). Then we will switch over to BWV for the last 5 nights.

What were the food offerings available? How were the evening offerings? Do they have just wine, or do they have beer as well? How about morning snacks? I am excited to use the lounge in the early mornings before my DH and DD7 wake up!

Did you try the sunrise safari? I am thinking of booking that because my DD would love it.

Was the second room you got also a savannah view? If not - how is the pool view? My husband is concerned about potentially "no savannah view" - so I am wondering how the pool view is.

Thanks for the report. I am excited and we don't go back for 11 months!!!

 

[rigsby25]

I never paid attention before. Now I might be renting an AKV concierge studio. What makes this different from a regular studio?

 

[LisaS]

I never paid attention before. Now I might be renting an AKV concierge studio. What makes this different from a regular studio?

The room itself will be identical to any other non-Value studio other than that they are on the 6th floor rather than the 5th floor. It's the concierge services that distinguish a Concierge studio from the non-Value studios.

 

[Squidrific]

I'm putting together a list of the HA rooms at AKV. Were both the studio and 1BR HA or was it just the 1BR side?

It was just the 1BR side room 6205. The studio room 6206 was normal.

 

[Squidrific]

Squidrific,
I was excited to read your report. I have booked my first AKV reservation and decided to splurge on concierge for our 3 night stay in January (I have the first two nights booked and need to get the 3rd night tomorrow morning - wish me luck!). Then we will switch over to BWV for the last 5 nights.

What were the food offerings available? How were the evening offerings? Do they have just wine, or do they have beer as well? How about morning snacks? I am excited to use the lounge in the early mornings before my DH and DD7 wake up!

Did you try the sunrise safari? I am thinking of booking that because my DD would love it.

Was the second room you got also a savannah view? If not - how is the pool view? My husband is concerned about potentially "no savannah view" - so I am wondering how the pool view is.

Thanks for the report. I am excited and we don't go back for 11 months!!!

I had booked the sunrise safari, but then canceled after we did the Discovery Excursion tour in October.

Both of our rooms were savannah view - to be honest you don't see very much in concierge savannah. We occasionally saw a giraffe and several ostrichs and the crowned crane, but that was it. The other animals didn't come to this area at all. It was kind of funny though that there is one ostrich who spends most of its time over by the construction fence watching the workers all day and night long.

Breakfast was fresh fruits, cereals, hot cereal such as Oatmeal, several types of pastries and muffins. The chocolate croissants were terrific. Also there are several types of juices - orange, pineapple, mango, apple juice, etc. There are containers of milk and chocolate milk too

Snacks - there were snacks such as goldfish crackers, cookies and pb&J uncrustables. All afternoon there are containers of Evian water, iced tea, lemonade, and the wonderful african smooth.

Afternoon Tea - they have scones, cookies, and wonderful little brownies. Also they have all kinds of tea offerings and the other beverages listed above.

Early evening - they have several types of wines, red and white. Also the mini fridge is full of sodas and beers such as bud light, miller light and an african beer. The appetizers change each night. One night we had wonderful meaty ribs, mulagatawny soup, cheeses, crackers, olives, hummus with pita chips, vegetable offers, another night we had the butternut squash soup and chicken wings and these wonderful bobatie things.

Later evening offers - small bite sized desserts and cordials. Also, several coffee choices.

You really will enjoy concierge. It is so nice to have your room on the same floor as the club itself because several nights the tables were full and we could just take our plates to our rooms and sit on the balcony and enjoy the snacks.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Thank you Squidrific! You just made my day. That sounds PERFECT!

It is definitely worth the extra 10 points for the 3 days (3 nights SV studio vs 3 nights C studio). Heck - a couple glasses of wine per night and some breakfast in the morning will cover the cost of those 10 points! Based on that, maybe I will try to get a 4th day and split our stay 4 nights AKV and 4 nights BWV.

 

[Squidrific]

Thank you Squidrific! You just made my day. That sounds PERFECT!

It is definitely worth the extra 10 points for the 3 days (3 nights SV studio vs 3 nights C studio). Heck - a couple glasses of wine per night and some breakfast in the morning will cover the cost of those 10 points! Based on that, maybe I will try to get a 4th day and split our stay 4 nights AKV and 4 nights BWV.

Actually I think the point difference is really low considering the perks you get. If you do decide to stay an extra night, I highly recommend just taking a day to yourself to enjoy the lodge. That is my biggest regret! We spent a 1/2 day lounging at the pool, but I would have loved to have a whole day there.

Also, I was absolutely astounded to notice that Monday - Friday the construction workers are working 24 hours a day on Kidani. No wonder they are so far ahead of schedule. I never heard any noise whatsoever unless I was on the balcony and even then it was so distant that it was not distracting. Once in our room, though we never heard any noise. Nothing from the hallway or lobby or even from our neighbors next door.

 

[sweetminnie]

Thank you for your wonderful trip report and the information on your concierge stay.
I have a 2 bedroom concierge room booked for my next stay. It looks as though from reading the boards lately that the sunset savanna room is less than desirable. It looks like a small, grassy area surrounded by wide, dirt roads with the background of the ugly construction of the Kidani building. Your mention of not seeing many animals. Would I be wrong to assume that the pool view is the way to go?
Oh, were chocolate covered strawberries in the evening dessert offerings?

 

[wildernessDad]

Did you do any of the safaris? What about the Wildlife Discovery Excursion?

 

[Squidrific]

Did you do any of the safaris? What about the Wildlife Discovery Excursion?

We did that one in October and it was wonderful! In fact, we had signed up for the Sunrise Safari but cancelled after talking to one of the concierge CM's. He said it was exactly the same as the sunrise except that it didn't include the breakfast.

 

[ADP]

Welcome back neighbor! Thanks for the report and information.

 

[rigsby25]

Thanks for letting me know about the concierge.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Squidrific,
Thanks again. I will try to heed your advice and slow down. That is part of the reason for going to AKV for a few days this next trip.

When we stay at BWV - Epcot is always beckoning for us to walk over... so we usually do and we don't rest much. We have stayed at AKL three years ago and we loved the resort and the activities they had all day long - so my plan is to take the first two days and just enjoy the resort and Animal Kingdom park. We can do both at a leisurely pace and not go very far.

Thanks again. I can't wait.

 

[ktbugsmom]

I got day 3 in a concierge studio this morning (for January 9-11) and after reading your overview of the lounge - DH said "Let's go for 4 days in concierge!" So I will call again tomorrow morning. If I get it, great, if not, I can move over to BWV and enjoy my BWV for 5 nights.

Thanks again for the help! I am so darn excited, now I have 11 months to wait. What is this planning obsession?!?

 

[dizfanz]

Both of our rooms were savannah view - to be honest you don't see very much in concierge savannah. We occasionally saw a giraffe and several ostrichs and the crowned crane, but that was it. The other animals didn't come to this area at all.

You are kidding right? We were in 6202, which is the 1br HA concierge savanna view with the roll in shower. We actually like the shower, but we don't have children we would need to bath. As far as animals, every day we watched 3 giraffe, 3-4 zebras, several cattle and elk, 3-4 ostrich and all sorts of birds roam around. It must have been the time you were watching because we were amazed at how many animals we saw. One of the main feeding spots is right below these rooms and you can't get a better view of them.

 

[Squidrific]

You are kidding right? We were in 6202, which is the 1br HA concierge savanna view with the roll in shower. We actually like the shower, but we don't have children we would need to bath. As far as animals, every day we watched 3 giraffe, 3-4 zebras, several cattle and elk, 3-4 ostrich and all sorts of birds roam around. It must have been the time you were watching because we were amazed at how many animals we saw. One of the main feeding spots is right below these rooms and you can't get a better view of them.

No I'm not kidding - there wasn't much animal activity on that side last week. Although we did get to see an Ostrich attack one of the zookeepers and start chasing him around - that was an interesting sight!