Kilamanjaro Club concierge on DVC points

[aeirvin3]

I wondered if anyone can give me details of staying on points in a Kilamanjaro Club room at Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas (AKLV).

Daily maid service and evening turndown? Yes?

Access to club lounge- What is really included there?

What can/will the concierge staff really do? Can they secure "hard to get" reservations at late notice?

Any sort of club level in-room gifts?

Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I wondered if anyone can give me details of staying on points in a Kilamanjaro Club room at Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas (AKLV).

Daily maid service and evening turndown? Yes?

Access to club lounge- What is really included there?

What can/will the concierge staff really do? Can they secure "hard to get" reservations at late notice?

Any sort of club level in-room gifts?

Thanks!

There are five two bedroom lockoff villas on the sixth floor. Three have a partial savanna view (blocked partially by the roof overhang) and two have a pool view. You don't book these villas if you want a good savanna view. They go quickly at eleven months out, but sometimes you can pick them up a day at a time.

You get daily full cleaning and turn down service. You get chocolates at night with turndown service.

You also have access to the concierge lounge (on the same floor) which provides snack type foods a couple times of day (mostly morning and evening) and beverages.

Hard to get dining reservations may still not be obtained, even by the staff there. But they might be able to try to get those for you. You can also book the Sunrise Safari when you stay on this floor.

 

[disneynutz]

I was told by the staff there that they book with the same privileges that we do.

The views are not worth the expense.

I would stay there for a couple of nights just to say we did it.

Bill

 

[LisaS]

Yes to daily maid service and evening turndown. The lounge has a continental breakfast every day (fruit, cereal, pastries, juice, coffee), snacks in the middle of the day (lemonade, cookies, potato chips) and appetizers, dessert, wine and beer in the evening. For the evening goodies you have to be there at exactly the right time. When we were there, the guests were taking everything as it came out of the kitchen.

As mentioned, the views aren't the greatest. You will either be looking at an alcove of the Sunset Savanna (not as many animals come into that area except when food is put out for them) or looking over the restaurant roofs towards the pool area.

For me, the main reason to book Club Level is for the opportunity to book the Sunrise Safari, something that is only available to Club Level guests. We booked CL one time just for the safari and enjoyed our stay, but now prefer to purchase our own wine and snacks and book Savanna View at Kidani.

The Concierge staff can make your ADRs for you but I don't think they can get hard to get reservations, especially at the last minute, other than perhaps at AKL itself. They will help do some of the work in planning your stay but staying in a Club Level room doesn't give you VIP status -- you still need to submit your list of ADR requests as far in advance as possible. For example, when I couldn't get a decent dining time at Boma three or four months out, I asked the AKV CL staff for help and they were able to get me in at 6:30, but again that was months in advance.

We didn't get any in-room gifts but they did supply a little bottle of suntan relief gel, something you do not normally get on a DVC stay.

 

[CocosMeme]

We are booked in September for a club level 1 bedroom. Can't wait! I am planning to book the sunrise safari (which is the reason I booked the room). We have taken the sunset safari and loved it. We have a 1 bedroom lake view at VGF for the 1st 3 days and then move to AKV. I am not a huge fan of split stays (only done 1) but we wanted to stay at VGF at least once. Our original intent was just to go for the Night of Joy concerts, but as usual it mushroomed into a 6 day visit to our "happy place".

 

[aeirvin3]

We are booked in September for a club level 1 bedroom. Can't wait! I am planning to book the sunrise safari (which is the reason I booked the room). We have taken the sunset safari and loved it. We have a 1 bedroom lake view at VGF for the 1st 3 days and then move to AKV. I am not a huge fan of split stays (only done 1) but we wanted to stay at VGF at least once. Our original intent was just to go for the Night of Joy concerts, but as usual it mushroomed into a 6 day visit to our "happy place".

We are booked for September as well. Ours is a split stay too-too funny! We are going to Vero then to WDW. I was surprised to be able to get in at AKL club level this late.

I'd heard there were club gifts in the rooms. Does anyone know about that?

Also, when can the safari be booked? Assuming 180 days out?

 

[AlohaAnnie]

We are booked in the deluxe studio CL on points for 3/28 - 4/5, 42 days!!

We booked the Sunrise Safari in November around Thanksgiving and there were still spots open. I believe it is at 180 days like ADRs. I would book my own ADRs, I have heard some not being able to get what they want. The IPO office doesn't open until 9am when you have an advantage of booking online at 6am.

Sunrise Safari is pre-pay, everything I read said it wasn't but when I booked it you have to pay at that time.


.

 

[CocosMeme]

Thanks for the tips Annie - I was wondering about booking the safari. I will do it at the 180 mark. I don't know which I am more excited about, the safari or the VGF villa. Now I just have to pray for NO hurricane!

 

[NicoleLarson]

We are booked for September as well. Ours is a split stay too-too funny! We are going to Vero then to WDW. I was surprised to be able to get in at AKL club level this late.

I'd heard there were club gifts in the rooms. Does anyone know about that?

Also, when can the safari be booked? Assuming 180 days out?

Yes, we had a really nice soft cooler. Also some chocolates-in addition to the turn down ones. Although it was my birthday, I think we got extra chocolates for that. I really loved the food and the staff is absolutely fabulous! So good in fact we decided to buy points here just to stay CL.