killamanjaro club concierge

[podsnel]

I loved being pampered in concierge...have it booked for September with my DH, my last trip was with my friends. It's nice to have a person making all your ADRs for you, and booking anything else you might want to do, and then sending you an itinerary with it all neatly typed up. They even helped me get a photopass photographer over to France last year for a big DISmeet, and surprised us with Princess Aurora showing up for the pic! Also very nice to have chocolates on your pillow and your bed turned down, as well as the room made up everyday. Not that I need that all the time, but it is special when they do it. Another thing we all enjoyed was since we were in a studio, with limited space, we spent a good deal of time just hanging out in the lounge rather than being crowded in our room. That way we always felt like we were really enjoying the Jambo atmosphere, lots of drums & music, etc, below us in the lobby. Having a free glass of wine or a gran marinier while we did it didn't stink, either!

 

[dclfun]

Just an FYI, there is no longer individual bottled water that you can take but they do have a large glass bottled water for you to pour, and my favorite, the African Smooth drink ( yum!). We've stayed CL since the resort has opened. Before DVC was involved, the food offerings were actually much, much nicer. I'm not sure if it has anything to do really with DVC ( just a timeline) but it's changed quite a bit, and not for the better. We still enjoy staying there- the ambience and the morning breakfast is so worth it. The evening offerings are the same every night with the exception of two tiny appetizers and the desserts are what has changed most drastically. They don't replenish the desserts all night either, but truthfully we were not looking for a huge dessert spread either as after dinner everyone was too full to have another bite. It's nice to be able to grab a bottle of chocolate milk for DGS- much nicer than standing in line at Mara.---Kathy

 

[TLPL]

I think I read somewhere before if you stay at the Club Level you cost for the Wanyama (or Sunset) Safari is much less ($50??) than if you are staying at the non-CL room. Is it still true?

 

[nasmith]

I agree with DCLFun - We too have been staying AKL CL every year since they opened. In fact - that's why we bought DVC points there. However, every year there seems to be more and more "cutbacks". The continental breakfast is nice - but you really will be short changing your vacation experience if you try to make a meal out of their "appetizers" now - they really are just a bite or two. And dessert was the same - with no variety over our weeklong stay. Kind of dull.

Also, keep in mind that the offerings are available only during specific times - the apps are from 5-7pm and the desserts are from 8-10pm.....so if you want to do anything at the parks in the evening, you'll be hard-pressed to get back in order to enjoy everything.

I do like daily housekeeping though

 

[pyrxtc]

yes, the food used to be much better but it has fallen. you used to get appetizers from the restaurants downstairs and soups and stuff but now I have to go buy my soups. It is still a great place to stay and I will continue to book it as often as I can.

 

[es45]

Is the concierge service for dining reservations offered before your stay? I'm wondering how much a benefit this is if you have to wait until you check in. ADRs for some restaurants are impossible to get during your trip.

 

[Inkmahm]

Is the concierge service for dining reservations offered before your stay? I'm wondering how much a benefit this is if you have to wait until you check in. ADRs for some restaurants are impossible to get during your trip.

Yes, the concierge staff will book for you at the 180 day mark. They do a great job of getting everything you want, too.

 

[robinb]

I think it's worth the extra points as long as you are OK with getting a crappy view. Honestly, I am not so sure the pool view is the crappy one . We have had a savanna view twice but last time the animals were far and few between. Even so, we are on the waitlist for CL. I called at the 11-month mark right when MS opened and all studios were already gone!

 

[BLTLDZ]

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.

I have seen this as well, and it really amazes me how people can lack manners.

 

[Disneycouple99]

I think I read somewhere before if you stay at the Club Level you cost for the Wanyama (or Sunset) Safari is much less ($50??) than if you are staying at the non-CL room. Is it still true?

No. The price now is $170 for people aged 10 and up and $75 for children 8 and 9.

 

[dgaston]

We are just 24 days from our arrival at Jambo Club level. It's our second stay in a studio (called at 9 am as soon as the window opened up), and we're repeating both the Sunset and Sunrise safaris. It's the last week of F & G, maybe a shuttle launch on Friday, and I'm surprising DH with 2 nights at the GF.

Can you tell my excitement is beginning to build?

 

[CarrianneB]

I just made reservations for early March at the 10.5 month mark and had no issues getting a CL 2 bedroom lockoff and a CL studio for the princess 5k/half marathon weekend.

 

[wildernessDad]

We've done concierge twice so far.

We loved all of the safaris.

Sunrise safari - well worth it.
Sunset safari - costly, but amazing.
Wildlife discovery excursion - Loved that too!

 

[danielle782001]

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.

Did you/ should you tip the safari guides?

 

[Inkmahm]

Did you/ should you tip the safari guides?

I don't believe they would accept tips if offered.

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

I had positive and negative expierences with our 10 day stay. We really loved the safari's and they were great. Room was good and clean and staff was ok, some great and some just wandering les helpful. Our 2 biggest issues were the lounge was pretty far from us, we had a pretty long trek. And when we did arrive especially early in morning and later in the evening the food was pretty picked over and it was pretty dirty and groos but that wasnt the staff but more of the guests. But I guess it is the staffs job to keep it clean. So loading 2 kids and walking the long walk the first 4 days and having empty tables of food or half cookies and spoiled fruit wasnt enjoyable and telling someone we encountered more of the wandering less helpful staff. But on our last day and night we foound full tables and at night an extra cake or 2 out and it was fresh and delicious. It was kinda like playing 18 holes of golf and playing horrible and its rainy on you for 17 holes than the sun coming out and birdieing the 18th. Just when you have had enough they come thru and wonder if it would have been this nice the whole trip it would have been well worth the points.

 

[kimpossible]

I've requested a savanah view CL studio. Would I be better off just requesting a pool view (since I won't be seing too many animals while on the balcony)? Are the pool view the HA rooms or just the SV?

Thanks for your help. Waitlist just came through with almost a month to go. Wasn't prepared to actually score one of these rooms.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Did you/ should you tip the safari guides?

No, that's what your payment for the safari is for. I also doubt they would be allowed to accept tips.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I've requested a savanah view CL studio. Would I be better off just requesting a pool view (since I won't be seing too many animals while on the balcony)? Are the pool view the HA rooms or just the SV?

Thanks for your help. Waitlist just came through with almost a month to go. Wasn't prepared to actually score one of these rooms.

The HA villas in CL are all on the savanna view side.

 

[LIFERBABE]

The HA villas in CL are all on the savanna view side.

Not to mention, that first studio off the lounge, on the Savannah view side is a real "leaner" savannah view.

When we stay CL, I just take what I get as the choices are so limited and there is not much room for disappointment or correction, because it is always booked.

I have learned to not book the 1 bedroom, which would be the biggest disappointment for me and other than that, wherever they put us is fine.