killamanjaro club concierge

[ANIMO]

looking into booking a stay at akl concierge club any one have any input positive or negative. is it worth the extra points. is the buffet enough to skip a meal. thanks in advance

 

[Inkmahm]

I believe it is worth the extra points. We are booking a week in concierge next March.

As far as food being enough to skip a meal, that is not the intent of the food offerings in concierge. That being said, I have seen people make a meal of it by taking multiple servings of the food, leaving little for others after them.

 

[ead79]

We stayed on points in a 1 BR in the Kilimanjaro Club in December 2008. It was a nice, pampering experience. I personally wouldn't want to do it all the time due to the high point cost, but it's definitely nice for the occasional splurge.

The food offerings are really meant to be appetizer sized portions, not meal replacements. At breakfast you can easily make a continental breakfast of bagles, muffins, fresh fruit, yogurt, etc. so that's the only meal I think the concierge offerings would replace.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The concierge food is not meant to replace your meals. It's only meant to complement your stay. Now while we have stayed there I have noticed people being real hogs about taking plates full of stuff back to their rooms. That only means fewer people get to taste the offerings.

We think it is well worth the extra points for the special safari offerings etc.

 

[honeymo78]

We spent a week in a 1 br in October. The planning services and safari tour were great. As others have said, with the exception of breakfast, you really couldn't and shouldn't make a meal from the offerings in the lounge. It was nice for afternoon snacks or appetizer before dinner, as well as later evening snacks/dessert. This isn't something we plan on booking all the time. We'll definitely do it again in the next few years so that my mom and brother can join us and take advantage of the safari.

 

[pyrxtc]

it is definitely worth it in MHO. I have stayed there multiple times and keep going back. We actually bought enough points to stay club level every time and have been able to book it every time I wanted it.

When they had soup in the evening, that was enough for a meal since one bowl/cup of soup would fill me. now that they have changed their offerings to pretty boring stuff and put little out at a time, it's almost impossible. I have never seen them run out of food as long as it was during that serving time. If the plate is there, you can ask one of the people that out it out (or knock on the door behind the food) and ask if they have more. I have never been told no.

My trip next January is a club level stay. I am not planning any parks for that long weekend (well... maybe we'll hit Epcot once...) and a lot of time will be spent in the room or eating in Boma and trying Jiko and snacking on the offerings upstairs. Their breakfast offerings is more than enough to be considered a full breakfast. yeah, no hot eggs or waffles or pancakes but I don't do that for breakfast at home either.

 

[ANIMO]

thank you for your replies, my husband actually posted the question. he was just kidding about the replacing a meal!!! However that aside and lets not get our ears all twisted. If they serve apps at a certain time and somebody eats or 'hogs" why don't they put more out???
I am wondering if the sunrise safari is worth the money?

 

[dianeschlicht]

thank you for your replies, my husband actually posted the question. he was just kidding about the replacing a meal!!! However that aside and lets not get our ears all twisted. If they serve apps at a certain time and somebody eats or 'hogs" why don't they put more out???
I am wondering if the sunrise safari is worth the money?

They DO put more out, and this last trip, we noticed they were a little quicker to do that. We actually noticed they put smaller portions out at a time (except at breakfast), and then refilled more frequently than they did our earlier trips to CL.

Yes, the Sunrise safari is WELL worth the cost! We had the animal curator on our truck, and he was the best docent I've ever encountered on any tour. We also loved the Sunset (Wanyama) safari, and we got a significant discount on that from CL, but I think they have evened out those costs a bit more now.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you want to stay at AKV CL, you'll need to own AKV points and make that reservation at 11 months out when MS opens on your 11 month out day. There are only five two bedroom lockoff villas (or any combination of studios, one bedrooms and two bedroom as long as you don't exceed that number of five). Three have a limited savanna view, two have a pool view. They are not dedicated, so the second bedroom will have a single queen sized bed and a double sleeper sofa.

But the Sunrise Safari is loads of fun. It's much longer than the regular safari and you get a great "African themed" breakfast at the conclusion of your safari.

So if you want access to the lounge and access to the Sunrise Safari, you'll want to try to get AKV CL. If you want a great view, get a Savanna view non-CL.

 

[ANIMO]

The 11 month window is the only way to go?? is that because as you stated the rooms are limited?
thanks all and sorry to those who thought we would swoop in and eat all the food! forgot how sensitive the dvcers are

 

[DebbieB]

The 11 month window is the only way to go?? is that because as you stated the rooms are limited?
thanks all and sorry to those who thought we would swoop in and eat all the food! forgot how sensitive the dvcers are

Usually. But a friend got a 1 bedroom at 7 months in June 2008 for a group of friends, including myself. The highlight was definitely the Sunrise Safari.

The same lounge is used by the regular AKL club rooms, so you don't know if DVCers are the vultures for food. I did witness that. A couple of teens from a family stood at the table and filled up their plates when the evening food was brought out, leaving little for anyone else waiting. You really had to stand right at the serving table to get anything. Breakfast was more orderly.

 

[Coach81]

The concierge food is not meant to replace your meals. It's only meant to complement your stay. Now while we have stayed there I have noticed people being real hogs about taking plates full of stuff back to their rooms. That only means fewer people get to taste the offerings.

We think it is well worth the extra points for the special safari offerings etc.

They don't refill the food once it's gone?

 

[DebbieB]

They don't refill the food once it's gone?

They do but there's a wait in between. My experience was it was gone as fast as it was brought out in the evening. Then you had to wait for the next plate.

 

[magicmommy]

We are headed to AKV CL on Sunday!!! This will be our third CL DVC stay at AKV. For DH and I it is worth it for the Sunrise Safari which we will be doing for the third. While it is unfortunate that some folks may abuse the food I find there are rude people everywhere and I try not to let it ruin my vacation! The staff do the best they can to replenish in a timely fashion.

 

[thepops]

CL is definately worth it. The breakfast and the snacks are very nice. The sunrise safari was wonderful. My DW was a little concerned with the price (but it was just the two of us, and she was thinking it was going to be like the safari in the park.) But afterwards she said it was the best part of the trip. We actually waitlisted for it (for the begining of Dec ) last year and got it, so it is possible. As a fellow LIer (or ex-LIer) I'll throw some pixie dust your way that you get in.

 

[Starshine]

We were lucky enough to get a CL studio at 7 months last May, but from what I hear it's tough to book. The sunrise safari was WELL worth it, we loved it!

 

[dianeschlicht]

thanks all and sorry to those who thought we would swoop in and eat all the food! forgot how sensitive the dvcers are

Don't get your knickers in a twist. No one said you were going to swoop in and eat all the food, and we are not sensitive about it, just reporting what we have witnessed some folks do. It was meant more as a warning that you might not find the offernings there when you want them. Carrry on.

 

[ANIMO]

Thanks for the dust!!!!!

 

[ANIMO]

Again, just kidding!!!!! but then again you know how us New Yorkers are we may just swoop in and take it all,
My philosophy you can't control the actions of others just how you react to them!
sarcasm just doesn't play well in writing

 

[Mini Sorcerer's Mom]

WORTH EVERY POINT!!!!! Here is why:

1) Breakfast
2) Bottled water and sodas
3) Appetizers and desserts (the "offerings" help you save on your dinner bill becuase you only need to order an entree.')
4) Daily maid service
5) Turn down service with chocolates on your pillows and lovely african art cards with beautiful proverbs, one of which is on my dresser mirror and I read it every time I am feeling blue and it lifts my spirits.
6) Beer, wine and liquors. Makes a lovely evening to bring a glass of wine back to your room and drink it on the balcony while watching the animals.
7) Wonderful concierges service that can help you with all dining/activities.
8) Sunrise safari!!!!!

As I mentioned, this is one of the best perks DVC offers! If you were paying cash on a rack rate, the concierges would be a few hundred dollars extra. This is WELL worth the points.