Talk to me about AKV Concierge...

[dallasdisneymommy]

Is it worth the extra points? We have 3 kids (they will be 7, 5, and 2 at our next visit) and will be traveling with SIL/BIL and their 2 kids (4 and 1) in early December next year. The snacks and drinks sound great, the daily cleaning is a plus, and Sunrise Safari sounds cool (though it may be too cold and the kids may be too young?), but I'm not sure if those things outweigh the potential for a non-Savannah View room and the extra points required.

Opinions?

 

[BCV23]

I think it's just a personal decision. But I'm guessing the savannah concierge rooms won't have the best savannah views anyway due to the higher floor and especially the fact that the rooms are located at the junction of two wings. I know that when regular AKL concierge rooms were located on both the 5th and 6th floors, the conventional wisdom on the resort board was that 5th provided better views.

However, there are a number of excellent public places to view the savannahs in the lodge.

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are only 5 two bedroom lockoffs for AKV Concierge. So you'll need to book day by day at exactly 11 months out to get those rooms. And if you don't have AKV points, you won't be staying at AKV Concierge.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Is it worth the extra points? We have 3 kids (they will be 7, 5, and 2 at our next visit) and will be traveling with SIL/BIL and their 2 kids (4 and 1) in early December next year. The snacks and drinks sound great, the daily cleaning is a plus, and Sunrise Safari sounds cool (though it may be too cold and the kids may be too young?), but I'm not sure if those things outweigh the potential for a non-Savannah View room and the extra points required.

Opinions?

Do you own AKV, and do you own enough points to book at the 11 month booking window? That is what you will need to do, and day by day booking as well. I think I'd go for the 2 bedroom savanna view this time around with a couple of really little ones who wont be able to take advantage of the real advantages of concierge. I'm not sure if there is an age limit on the sunrise safari or not. I do know there is on the sunset one.

 

[dallasdisneymommy]

We do own AKV, we do have enough points for concierge, and we are planning on booking day by day at exactly 11 months out. I'm just trying to decide what works best for our group. I am thinking like the prior poster -- maybe guaranteed Savannah view on this trip and save Concierge for another trip when the kids are older.

 

[Plutofan]

Hello neighbor. We live in Sachse right near Dallas. We also have a faimliy of 5. We have 3 boys ages 6,7 & 9. We are staying at AKV in July. We have heard so many great things about the sunrise safari that we are splitting our stay between conceirge and savanah so that we can do the sunrise safari. We have done the Grand Gathering safari and that was excellent. Good luck on your decision.

 

[DebbieB]

There are only 5 two bedroom lockoffs for AKV Concierge. So you'll need to book day by day at exactly 11 months out to get those rooms. And if you don't have AKV points, you won't be staying at AKV Concierge.

Not always true. A friend of mine (BCV owner) booked June 27 to July 1 at the 7 month mark, day by day for her 50th birthday celebration, conceirge 1 bedroom.

Speaking of, I saw a map that outlined with colors where the DVC rooms are. I believe the conceirge rooms are above the lobby. I haven't been able to find it again. Anyone have a link?

Edit: I found the thread but it looks like the link to the map is broken.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1651379

 

[dallasdisneymommy]

Hello neighbor. We live in Sachse right near Dallas. We also have a faimliy of 5. We have 3 boys ages 6,7 & 9. We are staying at AKV in July. We have heard so many great things about the sunrise safari that we are splitting our stay between conceirge and savanah so that we can do the sunrise safari. We have done the Grand Gathering safari and that was excellent. Good luck on your decision.

Hello fellow Dallas-ite(ish) Plutofan! Your kids sound like the perfect age to enjoy the Sunrise Savannah! Let me know when you get back if you love it!

 

[LisaS]

Speaking of, I saw a map that outlined with colors where the DVC rooms are. I believe the concierge rooms are above the lobby. I haven't been able to find it again. Anyone have a link?

Edit: I found the thread but it looks like the link to the map is broken.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1651379

Yes the Concierge villas are on the 6th floor on either side of the lobby. Here is the map from that other thread. The Concierge villas are marked in pink, the Standard View are marked in yellow and Value villas in lime green. The Grand Villas are marked with orange "blobs". Everything else is Savanna View.

 

[mopee3]

I am signed up for 3 days at the Concierge villas, 2 bed room Lockoff, in November. I was told you can not be promised the Savanna View but that didn't really matter because we are using the Concierge villas to get in on the Sunset safari. On vacation for some reason I am unable to get up before the sun. So.. maybe the Sunset safari would be a better fit for the young people.
Also it only used 5 extra points per night, lets see, made beds each day, clean towels each day, all for only 5 more points?? HURT ME!!!!!!!

 

[mopee3]

Oh I forgot to mention that the by staying in the Concierge villas, Sunset Safari cost about $160 instead of $210 . So if you timed it right you could go on the Sunset and Sunrise for $210 which just happens to be the same price for just the Sunset Safari. Plus did I mention I would also have access to the Longe, free food, solf drinks, beer, good South African wine, oh HURT ME SOME MORE!!

Monty

 

[dallasdisneymommy]

I'm with you! If it were just me, I'd do Concierge in a heartbeat, but DH wants the kids to have an idyllic "wake up and look at the giraffe striding by your window" kind of experience, so guaranteed Savannah View it is for us. Even if we got the Savannah View in Concierge, the earlier diagram makes it look like those might not be the greatest views.

In a few years, when the kids are older, we are so there!

 

[bunnymkc]

Hi everyone and HAPPY NEW YEARS ALL! Hubby and I just returned from 3 days at AKV CON. We were in a studio and I felt it was a little tight in the shower area of the bathroom, ( guess I am used to OKW BIG BATHROOMS). We had a partial view of the sav and the reason I'm saying that is because we had stayed at AK before and had a great view. we were on the 6th floor and right next to the food. which by the way is great, the maid cleaned every day and really did a good job. all in all would do it again but still am not happy about the bathroom being so small. any questions please ask..marianne

 

[mopee3]

I agree thats why after the 3 days in the "waited upon with peeled grapes" (you know, like the old roman parties) villas we will move to a guaranteed Savannah View for the next week.
But for those three days we will live it up!!

Yee Haw
Moe

 

[DebbieB]

Yes the Concierge villas are on the 6th floor on either side of the lobby. Here is the map from that other thread. The Concierge villas are marked in pink, the Standard View are marked in yellow and Value villas in lime green. The Grand Villas are marked with orange "blobs". Everything else is Savanna View.

Yeah! The maps working now! Where is the conceirge lounge located?

 

[doodle]

Oh I forgot to mention that the by staying in the Concierge villas, Sunset Safari cost about $160 instead of $210 . So if you timed it right you could go on the Sunset and Sunrise for $210 which just happens to be the same price for just the Sunset Safari. Plus did I mention I would also have access to the Longe, free food, solf drinks, beer, good South African wine, oh HURT ME SOME MORE!!

Monty

I hope I am not hijacking this thread, but can you explain about the costs you quote above? How can you do both safaris for $210? Thanks!

 

[mopee3]

Try these links.

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_aklsunset.htm

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_aksunrise.htm

The Sunset Safari link has not been updated but the Sunrise Safari has.
I seem to remember when I signed up for the Sunset that the price was $165 if you stayed as a concierge guest, but $210 if not. One of the really cool things about the Sunset Safari is they take you to Jiko for dinner after it's over.
The Sunrise Safari they take you to breakfast at the Tusker House after the safari ride which is nice.

Another link for ya.

moe

 

[wdwscout]

We are planning to stay at AKLV next January ('09). We are doing the 4 night Cruise from New Year's Eve until Jan 4- arriving at WDW on the 4th.
We wanted to do 4 nights at AKL in a 2br, concierge.
What's very important (maybe most important?) to us is the savannah view, and then the access to the lounge (still pretty important, so we can continue that constant access to food from the cruise ). We will not be there to take advantage of the Sunrise Safari, and are not interested in the Sunset Safari.

So... seeing as there are very limited 2br savannah view concierge villas, and those don't appear to have terrific views (and, as I now understand it, are not even guaranteed), should we not do concierge? Just do a 2br savannah?

We do not have AKL points, so we would be at the mercy of the 7 month window. But, since it's right after the holidays- it should be pretty quiet.... right?

I'm torn. Any suggestions or ideas?

 

[LisaS]

Yeah! The maps working now! Where is the concierge lounge located?

I'm glad you are able to view the map again. See that "mickey" with the number 1 on it on the map? That is just a little to the left of the Concierge lounge's location -- 6th floor, at the main entrance end of the lobby. I found this photo of the AKL lobby on allears. The Concierge Lounge is on the top floor where the large window is in the photo.

 

[mopee3]

So Lisa as I look at your photo, was the photo taken from the main floor of the lodge and is it the 4th floor of the lodge? Which would make the lounge on the 6th?

M