Useful Concierge Information

[vbarry]

Hi everyone! I sent my ADR list for Xmas this morning to IPO.

I did ask to rent a cabana for 2 days, book a firewooks cruise and some other things for my girls. When do they let you know about getting the cabana and fireworks cruise- is that not until 90 days before the trip?

 

[momatater]

Hi everyone! I sent my ADR list for Xmas this morning to IPO.

I did ask to rent a cabana for 2 days, book a firewooks cruise and some other things for my girls. When do they let you know about getting the cabana and fireworks cruise- is that not until 90 days before the trip?

That is correct...90 days out. I am waiting to hear if they were able to get an Illuminations cruise for us for our upcoming trip...should be very soon. Got my fingers crossed. Good luck to you as well!

 

[Avojeo]

The Safari is wonderful! The last time we did it, the animals were so active and came up to the truck for a close up look at us! Oh, and the black rhinos were sparring right in front of us. One even lifted the other ones back legs straight up in the air...it was incrediable and my kids were in awww! Our guide said in all the yrs she worked there, she had never seen that kind of "show" before. We also got lucky that our guide sat at the breakfast table with us and we chatted with her about her job and her love for animals.

I'm excited for you just thinking about it! Have a truely magical trip!!

We are very excited about it as well!!! Tell me what is the timeframe on the safari ride. We check out this day and I am wondering if I need to do this prior to leaving for the safari ride. Thank you so much for the info, you have so helpful!!

 

[BCV23]

We are very excited about it as well!!! Tell me what is the timeframe on the safari ride. We check out this day and I am wondering if I need to do this prior to leaving for the safari ride. Thank you so much for the info, you have so helpful!!

I think it would be better to check out first. More relaxing anyway. When we did the Sunrise Safari, we actually entered the park right at 8am and exited the safari at 9. Then there's the walk to Pizzafari and the great buffet. I think it would be tough to catch a bus back to AKL and be out by 11am.

You do check in earlier for the safari. Lounge checkin with admission etc. is between 6:30 and 7 am. Juices and coffee are out. Around 7:15 everyone heads down to the lobby to checkin with the guides, etc, and then we were probably boarding the buses including security check by 7:40 or 7:45.

 

[Avojeo]

I think it would be better to check out first. More relaxing anyway. When we did the Sunrise Safari, we actually entered the park right at 8am and exited the safari at 9. Then there's the walk to Pizzafari and the great buffet. I think it would be tough to catch a bus back to AKL and be out by 11am.

You do check in earlier for the safari. Lounge checkin with admission etc. is between 6:30 and 7 am. Juices and coffee are out. Around 7:15 everyone heads down to the lobby to checkin with the guides, etc, and then we were probably boarding the buses including security check by 7:40 or 7:45.

Thank you!! That is what I figure but wanted to make sure that I needed to check out before I left. Thanks again for all the useful info. It sure makes the vacation go ALOT smoothier if you know ahead of time what you need to get done.

 

[BCV23]

Thank you!! That is what I figure but wanted to make sure that I needed to check out before I left. Thanks again for all the useful info. It sure makes the vacation go ALOT smoothier if you know ahead of time what you need to get done.

You're welcome. So you'll be in a concierge villa? Oh, we love those! and the view from the lounge is so beautiful! Congratulations on scoring that reservation!

 

[momatater]

We are very excited about it as well!!! Tell me what is the timeframe on the safari ride. We check out this day and I am wondering if I need to do this prior to leaving for the safari ride. Thank you so much for the info, you have so helpful!!

You are welcome. I see that BVC23 has already answered you're questions about timing. I agree it would be better to check out prior too the Safari, or you could ask for a late checkout? Just a thought.

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

We are thinking of staying club level at the WL in December and I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with club level there. How is the old faithful club..are there places to sit, relax looking out the windows and have a cup of tea? The only club level experience we have ever had at WDW was last year at the GF....it was wonderful!! I am just wondering if WL is just as good. Thanks.

 

[ang38]

There isn't a lounge to sit in but there are tables by the window overlooking the pool & overlooking the lobby. There are comfy couches and chairs here and there around the perimeter of that floor. We enjoyed our club level stay there last month. Just make a note that the food section closes between courses so if you want something besides coffee or tea during that time you have to ask for it.

We are thinking of staying club level at the WL in December and I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with club level there. How is the old faithful club..are there places to sit, relax looking out the windows and have a cup of tea? The only club level experience we have ever had at WDW was last year at the GF....it was wonderful!! I am just wondering if WL is just as good. Thanks.

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

Thank you. Was it worth the extra $$ and did you have a standard or deluxe room....if you don't mind my asking.

 

[ang38]

I don't mind at all~ We booked a standard club level room and were upgraded to the honeymoon suite before we arrived! We were celebrating our 25th anniversary.Was it worth the $$? Hmm..that was the first of our 4 resort stay 3 of which were club level. We enjoyed the lounge. We ate breakfast every morning had the wine and cheese in the late afternoon, the dinner offerings and the desserts and cordials. We spent a lot of time at the resort so we were there for most of the offerings. Compaired to the CR and the AKL club level offerings it fell below what they offered but it was our first stay so we enjoyed it. It saved us a lot of time sitting in resteraunts waiting to be served, saved us the $25 a day for snacks we would have spent, or the money for a glass of wine or a few glasses of Bailey's at night. It's all relative to what you are going to be doing, how much time you plan on spending there, if you will take advantage of all the offerings they offer. We loved it and if the money is there in the future, wouldn't hesitate to do it again. I hope I helped and didn't confuse you further. Let me add this, when we were at the YC in the middle of our trip w/o club level, we really missed it!

Thank you. Was it worth the extra $$ and did you have a standard or deluxe room....if you don't mind my asking.

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

Thanks very much! We booked standard club level for our trip...with two teens, it will come in handy for tea & pastries in am while they are still sleeping and snacks for them in the afternoon. There was only an $80 difference so for us it was worth it too.

 

[Seahunt]

We are thinking of staying club level at the WL in December and I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with club level there. How is the old faithful club..are there places to sit, relax looking out the windows and have a cup of tea? The only club level experience we have ever had at WDW was last year at the GF....it was wonderful!! I am just wondering if WL is just as good. Thanks.

Here's some WL CL info I previously posted that you might like to look at

Here's some photos (others and my own), and then some info I previously posted from when we stayed there:

WL Old Faithful Club Hours:
Club Desk 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Coffee 6:30 AM - 7:00 AM
Continental Breakfast 7:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Refreshments 11:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wine and Cheese Selections 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Cordials and Desserts 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

What was offered when we were there (I'm sure I've forgotten some items, but it will give you an idea):

*Breakfasts offered different cereals, sliced fruits, danish, 2 kinds of muffins, croissants, bagels, etc. (toaster was there for toasting) whole fruit, yogurt, OJ/cranberry/apple juice, teas, milk, chocolate milk, coffee machines for cappucinos, lattes, mocha, etc. always available when lounge was open- Fruit was always out (bananas, apples, oranges etc)

*Refreshments included mixed nuts, goldfish crackers, gummy bears, chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, etc. Ice tea/Lemonade, etc.

(Large bottle waters were always out by ice bucket for all services)

*Wine and cheese - good crackers, tray of cheese cubes (hot pepper/swiss/cheddar/wedge of blue cheese or similiar) veggie plate with dip, wonderful thick sliced bread (I think it was a sourdough, I usually had to have two slices with butter as I love homemade bread! Just ask my hips ) sometimes with a spread in a bowl next to the basket (one day tomato basil, the next babah ganoush), peanut butter and jelly uncrustables, and on the other side in two le Creuset casseroles/dutch ovens (warning - heavy lids! Kids shouldn't try to lift them) one day of our stay was Minestone (really exceptionally YUMMY!) and the other pan had pork and cabbage, the next day one pan had clam chowder, other pan had beef and bisquits, and the next day one pan had chicken broth with veggies, the other pan had paella. Wines were Merlot (14 Hands), White Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, sorry I don't remember all the beers but Bass Ale and Miller Lite were there in the cooler with Coke and Diet Coke, Sprite, juice boxes and other drinks

*Cordials and desserts - Kahlua, Grand Marnier, etc. Small dessert bites like brownies, magic bars, cookies

My picture shows the cooler before they stocked it up

Ice Tea/ lemonade/juice, bottled water - ice bucket, glasses, to go cups with lids

Coffee, hot tea service

Seating looking out toward pool below in distance (and geyser!)

Plenty of seating (kids area with TV at end of this w/kids programming always on) NOT as narrow as it looks in my picture

Opposite side has couch to watch plasma TV

Plasma TV and more seating

Looking down at Christmas tree in lobby

Our room balcony

Daytime view from balcony

MK Fireworks view from balcony

Our room number was #7052.

HTH!

 

[ang38]

Only an $80 difference is fantastic! That's what it would cost for all of you to have a few cookies and milk a day! The first night we were there it was too late for the lounge to be open so we stopped in at RF for a snack. We had a few cookies, a muffin, 2 chocolate milks and a coffee and it came to $25! This was for 2 people! So for $80 anything after the cookies and milk is free. Go for it and have a great time~

Thanks very much! We booked standard club level for our trip...with two teens, it will come in handy for tea & pastries in am while they are still sleeping and snacks for them in the afternoon. There was only an $80 difference so for us it was worth it too.

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

Ang38..thanks for your good wishes. I can't wait to see WDW at Christmas.

Seahunt...Wow! Thanks for the great pictures. The view from your room was really nice...hopefully we have a view just as nice.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

Has anyone had experience with the waitlist for the AKL Sunrise Safari?

We are now waitlisted for the Sun Aug 10th Sunrise Safari at AKL. One good thing is we are at the top of the waitlist per our IPO contact. We are a party of four.

I knew I should have sent my IPO form in sooner!!!

Please send Pixie Dust that we clear the Safari waitlist!

 

[thesupersmartguy]

Thank's all, We will be at the YC Club Level in August. This info really helps.

 

[NJBILL]

We have room only reservations for Aug 2009 at CR and Poly club level. I have not yet received any commuication from their respective club level representatives. I know its far out,but whe we stayed at AKL club a few years back, I received a "welcome" e-mail with the contact information etc..
Just too early??
Thanks.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

you wont get anything from them for awhile.

 

[ang38]

Did you make the reservations yourself or through a travel agent? If not yourself then they won't even know about you.Do what I did and send them a note stating when you are coming and how you are looking forward to it.You should get a response immediately.

We have room only reservations for Aug 2009 at CR and Poly club level. I have not yet received any commuication from their respective club level representatives. I know its far out,but whe we stayed at AKL club a few years back, I received a "welcome" e-mail with the contact information etc..
Just too early??
Thanks.