The DVC board official Animal Kingdom Villas discussion thread

[BCV23]

If they don't have a two category point system, couldn't you just pay an extra cash fee for access to concierge services? It might be possible to restrict access with a key system, no??? So your room key would show whether you had concierge access or not, and you would have to show or use it bwefore you went into the concierge lounge???

The lounge has no doors and is open to anyone on the 6th floor although that is very few rooms. The keys are coded to provide elevator access only to guests on the 6th or those on the 5th who are staying club level.

It seems not very Disneylike check ids and is not in keeping with the ambiance of club level IMHO.

BTW, it is probably somewhere on this long thread but the AKL club level CMs have been told their lounge will be relocated but not the new location.

 

[MrShiny]

Do you think all DVC rooms in the AKL will have concierge access?. The lounge couldn't possibly serve all the rooms....it is far too small.

The official announcement doesn't mention concierge service. I think all we have is some one's guide thinking so. And that person could have been confused because the current club level lounge will be part of the DVC levels.

I wouldn't think those in the new building would (and not necessarily those in the old building.

But it figures that AKL will still have concierge (it seems to be popular, and I would think that it's very profitable), and that by proximity the DVC rooms in the current structure will have it too. I can't see why they wouldn't just have one point value for a DVC concierge room and another for a standard one.

 

[keishashadow]

spicey - thanks.

Perhaps they'd offer "concierge light" ala the CR (w/some of the percs but, not all).

Honestly can say I'd only be interested in the perc of booking the safari. Do wonder if it's honored if they'd offer more availability to book, would think it'd be quite popular w/members. From what I've read on other threads it's tuff to currently book it.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

Some of this confusion comes from somewhere it was said that DVC would be taking over the space that is now the concierge lounge on 6 to make a DVC lounge. I don't think this means it has to be a concierge lounge, necessarily. But as someone pointed out above, it is open to the 6th floor and who ever was using the 6th floor, be it DVC or AKL guests, would use the lounge, one would assume.

Throw in someone's guide saying there will be DVC concierge, then there's confusion for sure!

Seriously, how many points levels can there be? concierge, non concierge, savanna view, non savanna view.. ??? good grief .. makes my head spin ....

 

[Dean]

That makes a bit more sense but not enought to convince me that it was the true reason for excluding AKL.

It is still my guess that DVC and an enhanced pool were in the plans all along.

That would not have been enough of a reason. I don't think DVC looks at the PH as a major marketing tool as much as some members think they do. I doubt they would have done it that way for that reason, they would just have waited and announced the bad with the Villas like they did with BCV. DVC's official statements early on were in line with my posts.

 

[lisareniff]

Personally I'm not sure why they would offer a concierge service to DVC. I look at concierge as offering a few three aspects in addition to the actual lounge area... 1- Arrange ADRs and other activities 2- snacks and drinks through out the day 3- extra help or special service. I would assume that they would have a common room for the DVC units but why the concierge service? I would think that most DVCers are repeat vistors and can make their own ADR at a drop of a hat. We will be in villas with kitchens, will we really need food? (unless they are all studios) Now maybe the extra help or special services, such as the safari, would be nice or helping arrange a special event. So I'm a little confused about this..

 

[Dean]

Personally I'm not sure why they would offer a concierge service to DVC. I look at concierge as offering a few three aspects in addition to the actual lounge area... 1- Arrange ADRs and other activities 2- snacks and drinks through out the day 3- extra help or special service. I would assume that they would have a common room for the DVC units but why the concierge service? I would think that most DVCers are repeat vistors and can make their own ADR at a drop of a hat. We will be in villas with kitchens, will we really need food? (unless they are all studios) Now maybe the extra help or special services, such as the safari, would be nice or helping arrange a special event. So I'm a little confused about this..

The only reason I would think they would offer concierge would be if they loaded it up with studios or they just put in a minikitchen even for the larger units as some other hotel conversions have done including Marriott.

 

[LisaS]

Personally I'm not sure why they would offer a concierge service to DVC. I look at concierge as offering a few three aspects in addition to the actual lounge area... 1- Arrange ADRs and other activities 2- snacks and drinks through out the day 3- extra help or special service. I would assume that they would have a common room for the DVC units but why the concierge service? I would think that most DVCers are repeat vistors and can make their own ADR at a drop of a hat. We will be in villas with kitchens, will we really need food? (unless they are all studios) Now maybe the extra help or special services, such as the safari, would be nice or helping arrange a special event. So I'm a little confused about this..

I just assumed it would be to allow some of those staying DVC to participate in the sunrise and sunset safaris. This is the only reason I would even consider staying concierge at AKL and if I did, it would only be for the one night prior to the sunrise safari. I just can't justify the expense for snacks and drinks for DH and I. But I would like to do the sunrise safari some time.

 

[Sammie]

I have not been able to get anyone to confirm the concierge rumor. So I guess that one is wait and see. I do know for sure the AKL concierge is moving from its present location to another area of the resort.

 

[DVCLiz]

The lounge has no doors and is open to anyone on the 6th floor although that is very few rooms. The keys are coded to provide elevator access only to guests on the 6th or those on the 5th who are staying club level.

It seems not very Disneylike check ids and is not in keeping with the ambiance of club level IMHO.

BTW, it is probably somewhere on this long thread but the AKL club level CMs have been told their lounge will be relocated but not the new location.

They could easily adapt access by having a cast member stationed in the lounge to check for special ID. Even concierge in its current form has keyed access - it's just at the elevator point instead of the lounge point.

Disney requires ID, passes, or tickets for everything on their property that guests pay for, so I don't think the "Disneylike" aspect of concierge is very different. Especially if they are relocating the lounge, they could easily adapt the entrance to make it easier to check for legitimate guests.

 

[BethA]

We personally miss staying on concierge levels since we bought DVC and would pay the extra points. I wonder when we will know for sure if it is being offered to DVC, or if the lounge will just be an open area with couches.

 

[misunderstood]

I was excited about the new Animal Kingdom resort until recently. I was talking with an individual who told me that in the new Animal Kingdom Villas there will be an almost 200 sq. ft. difference between some of the 2 bedroom homes but that Disney is not making this public. Has anyone else heard anything like this?

 

[dianeschlicht]

I believe this is due to the ones being built in the existing buildings being unable to conform to the units that will be in the new dedicated building. If you go to the AKV thread it talks about how many think that will mean different point structures for the different villa footprints.

 

[jdg345]

I believe this is due to the ones being built in the existing buildings being unable to conform to the units that will be in the new dedicated building. If you go to the AKV thread it talks about how many think that will mean different point structures for the different villa footprints.

And that might be where the whole concierge rumor started ... perhaps to offset the smaller rooms?

 

[BCV23]

They could easily adapt access by having a cast member stationed in the lounge to check for special ID. Even concierge in its current form has keyed access - it's just at the elevator point instead of the lounge point.

Disney requires ID, passes, or tickets for everything on their property that guests pay for, so I don't think the "Disneylike" aspect of concierge is very different. Especially if they are relocating the lounge, they could easily adapt the entrance to make it easier to check for legitimate guests.

The extra cost associated with having a CM check ids would make club level even more expensive. It is already rather expensive. Seems very unlikely to me.

Far more importantly, it is an unwelcoming thing to do....the opposite of what a club lounge should be. Keyed access is impersonal, a CM checking ids is personal indeed.

We've stayed club level at several resorts at WDW and my DH has stayed at many more since he is always upgraded to that level when he stays at Marriotts. We've also stayed club level at some Hyatts and at the Grand Wailea. At none of these hotels does anyone question your right to be there athough some do have books to sign in.

As to your second point, they are moving the concierge lounge precisely because DVC will have a presence at AKL. Why move it at all if DVC will have access?

It is fun to discuss it but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[BCV23]

That would not have been enough of a reason. I don't think DVC looks at the PH as a major marketing tool as much as some members think they do. I doubt they would have done it that way for that reason, they would just have waited and announced the bad with the Villas like they did with BCV. DVC's official statements early on were in line with my posts.

PH to SAB only ended with the opening of BCV? I had forgotten that.

I wouldn't think PH would be that much of a draw either but it still continues to be listed.

Earlier you asked when PH for all WDW guests came to an end. I don't know the year but as I recall it was as the first of the moderates opened.

Lisa, I agree with your logic.

 

[spiceycat]

Earlier you asked when PH for all WDW guests came to an end. I don't know the year but as I recall it was as the first of the moderates opened.

it was later - I think it ended when All Star music, might have been Movie - but I really think Music was opened.

they didn't do it until All Stars Sports. this hotel did not go over like Disney though it would. so they allowed pool hopping to attract people to it. but it ended quick less than a year (okay might have been 2years). the problem was the unofficial guides kept saying it was okay.

now FW campground pool hopping to WL was never written (to my knowledge) - the campers just did it. (some still do)

 

[Inkmahm]

I just assumed it would be to allow some of those staying DVC to participate in the sunrise and sunset safaris. This is the only reason I would even consider staying concierge at AKL and if I did, it would only be for the one night prior to the sunrise safari. I just can't justify the expense for snacks and drinks for DH and I. But I would like to do the sunrise safari some time.

That's exactly what DH and I are doing in December. We're staying concierge for one night before we leave for a Disney cruise after the sunrise safari the next morning. I'd neve stay concierge if it wasn't required to book the sunrise safari.

 

[BCV23]

it was later - I think it ended when All Star music, might have been Movie - but I really think Music was opened.

they didn't do it until All Stars Sports. this hotel did not go over like Disney though it would. so they allowed pool hopping to attract people to it. but it ended quick less than a year (okay might have been 2years). the problem was the unofficial guides kept saying it was okay.

now FW campground pool hopping to WL was never written (to my knowledge) - the campers just did it. (some still do)

Pat, it looks as if the ban on PH for all resort guests may have been a gradual thing.

I found a '94 edition of Birnbaum. The abbreviations are mine: "The pools at the Y&BC, PO and DL are open to guests of those hotels only." p.207

From that I suspect I am remembering when PH to Y&BC was first prohibited as the moderates opened rather than a total ban on PH. Your memory sounds like an exception to the PH ban to encourage visits to the All Stars if I'm understanding you correctly.

I used to have Birnbaums from almost every year. In an ill-inspired moment I tossed most a few years before I started DISsing. This one survived somehow and I do have an edition from the very first year Birnbaum was published. I'll check my well organized sitting room/library to see if I can discover more hints about the ban on PH. It is an important issue afterall.

 

[BCV23]

That's exactly what DH and I are doing in December. We're staying concierge for one night before we leave for a Disney cruise after the sunrise safari the next morning. I'd neve stay concierge if it wasn't required to book the sunrise safari.

Three of us stayed club level at AKL last April for that reason too. We are too cheap to spend weekend points at DVC so we stayed Thurs.-Sat. nights at AKL and then switched to BCV. My husband raves about the Sunrise Safari and wants to stay there again sometime just to do it.