wouldn't it be great if......

[pyrxtc]

AKV's converted the 5th floor of Jambo to concierge so that all of the villa's at Jambo were concierge and Kidani was just the AKV's ?

Maybe if enough of us write to them about making more rooms concierge they will think about it? Maybe if enough of us write, they will think about their own way to add rooms to concierge villa's and make a bunch more of us happy?

I would be glad to be the one who starts the writing brigade for this.

Make all the rooms except for the value/parking lot view cooncierge?

Also a question.... If values will only be at Jambo, then what category will the parking lot views be at Kidani? Will it be Standard/Pool/Savannah ?? Standard would be the parking lot?

 

[BlakeNJ]

I wouldn't want to use the extra points to be honest. I always feel like I don't have enough and couldn't see spending points on something I really don't need. Of course it would be nice and all but I'd rather have the extra nights and bring my own chocolates!

 

[Chuck S]

There can not be more conceirge rooms added to AKV. The point charts are already set. Increasing conceige would mean refiling the maximum number of points available for sale.

 

[jade1]

Could I ask what "concierge " gets you? I hear it a lot but have never understood what it entails. Basically I would vote "never use it" because of AKV's location. But if folks want it-I'm all for it-just what is it?

 

[Chuck S]

Could I ask what "concierge " gets you? I hear it a lot but have never understood what it entails. Basically I would vote "never use it" because of AKV's location. But if folks want it-I'm all for it-just what is it?

Snacks and beverages, daily housekeeping, they will book your Dining Reservations and other activities for you, and (at AKV) the availability to book the Sunrise Safari.

 

[LadyKay]

I (totally) second the motion!

 

[tjkraz]

In addition to the hurdles Chuck mentioned, there are agreements between DVC and the parks & resorts division that the number of members with access to the concierge lounge cannot grow. The information was previously posted here as it's part of the public filings related to AKV.

In a nutshell, DVC controls the concierge lounge now but the agreement stipulates that only the guests staying in the current 5-10 concierge class rooms can access the lounge. AKL still has many concierge rooms to sell on a nightly basis and this is apparently their way of guaranteeing a positive experience for those paying a premium for the concierge add-on. They didn't want DVC granting access to the lounge to more people than it was designed to accommodate.

IMO, the best thing DVC could do is to subsidize more frequent offerings of the Sunrise Safari and make it available to all AKV guests. Members can already pay extra for the daily housekeeping if they want it.

That change would alleviate a lot of the pressure on the concierge room class. Right now many are booking concierge for the safari. If they had another alternative for getting the safari, the concierge rooms would be easier to book for those who really want access to the food & beverage lounge.

 

[jade1]

Snacks and beverages, daily housekeeping, they will book your Dining Reservations and other activities for you, and (at AKV) the availability to book the Sunrise Safari.

That sounds pretty good. Could I ask a little further? The first few we dont care about, but booking dining-what does that mean compared to calling or using the concierge in the lobby etc (is there priority over the 180 days), and the safari-is only available to the 5 rooms or whatever I read earlier? Thanks Chuck.

 

[LisaS]

Also a question.... If values will only be at Jambo, then what category will the parking lot views be at Kidani? Will it be Standard/Pool/Savannah ?? Standard would be the parking lot?

Kidani has only two booking levels: Savanna View and Standard View. Any room that isn't looking at a savanna is considered Standard View so it could be a view of the pool, garden or parking lot (which I assume includes road views).

It's a bit confusing because they use the term "Standard View" to describe both a possible view and a booking level. There are two defined views at AKV, savanna view and standard view (pool, garden or parking lot). There are four booking levels: Concierge, Savanna View, Standard View and Value.

Concierge rooms (Jambo only) have either a savanna view or a standard view (which fortunately includes only pool views)

Savanna View rooms have a savanna view

Standard View rooms have a standard view (pool, garden or parking lot). In Jambo House, all of the Standard View rooms face the pool area. In Kidani, they will face the pool, garden or parking lot/road.

Value rooms (Jambo only) have either a savanna view or a standard view. Those with a standard view face either the pool area or the parking lot. Some of the rooms in the pool area actually have a view of a roof and trees and cannot actually see the pool. Value rooms cost fewer points because they are smaller.

 

[GRUMPY1967]

Kidani has two booking levels: Savanna View and Standard View. Any room that isn't looking at a savanna is considered Standard View so it could be a view of the pool, garden or parking lot (which I assume includes road views).

It's a bit confusing because they use the term "Standard View" to describe both a possible view and a booking level. There are two defined views at AKV, savanna view and standard view (pool, garden or parking lot). There are four booking levels: Concierge, Savanna View, Standard View and Value.

Concierge rooms (Jambo only) have either a savanna view or a standard view (which fortunately includes only pool views)

Savanna View rooms have a savanna view

Standard View rooms have a standard view (pool, garden or parking lot). In Jambo House, all of the Standard View rooms face the pool area. In Kidani, they will face the pool, garden or parking lot/road.

Value rooms (Jambo only) have either a savanna view or a standard view. Those with a standard view face either the pool area or the parking lot. Some of the rooms in the pool area actually have a view of a roof and trees and cannot actually see the pool. Value rooms cost fewer points because they are smaller.

Not to Bust your bubble Lisa But either side of the Conciegre room can see a savanna there is one directly behind the Pool .. Yes there was animals there too..

Now I stayed in both sides this April and saw aanimal from both rooms..

I will give you that your direct view is the pool but the savanna does go behind the pool.

As for is it worth it Yes it is totaly worth the 7 more points per night for the perks ..

Just to have someone else plan your whole stay it is worth it ..

As for increasing the rooms No matter how much we try I am afraid Tim hit the nail on the head it can not so it is written so it is done..

I for one would love to see it happen Even just 20 more rooms I do not want much more then that as the club would not be able to handle all the guest and members

Grump

 

[Chuck S]

That sounds pretty good. Could I ask a little further? The first few we dont care about, but booking dining-what does that mean compared to calling or using the concierge in the lobby etc (is there priority over the 180 days), and the safari-is only available to the 5 rooms or whatever I read earlier? Thanks Chuck.

No priority over the 180+10, but you can fax or call your dining reservation requests to the concierge lounge a few days prior to the window, and they will book them for you at the appropriate time. For hard to book venues, like the castle, this is a good option, but it is still a first come first served basis. And yes, the sunrise safari is only available to concierge level guests. However, the safari does not run daily, 2x a week, I think.

 

[shellybaxter]

I voted no - but not because it wouldn't be special, because I'll not use the concierge level and don't want to pay extra maintenance fees for all those concierge rooms and their daily housekeeping

 

[LisaS]

Not to Bust your bubble Lisa But either side of the Conciegre room can see a savanna there is one directly behind the Pool .. Yes there was animals there too..

Hi Grump! Welcome to the DISboards. Yes, I've heard that you can see animals out on the Uzima Savanna from some pool view rooms. I was talking about how the rooms are classified by DVC. For example, on the public DVC website they state:

Approximately half of the Value Accommodations and Kilimanjaro Club Concierge rooms have a Savanna View. The rest have a Standard View, which includes a view of the pool, garden or parking lot.

So while you can see animals out beyond the pool area, they classify those rooms as having a standard view rather than a savanna view because the primary view is the pool area.

 

[Deb & Bill]

That would make nearly all of Jambo House concierge. Can you just imagine the crowd in the lounge? Right now the number is just about what it was before they converted the fifth floor to DVC. That might make double the number of people trying to get the Sunrise Safari for half the slots.

 

[pyrxtc]

Staying in concierge has helped me get a few reservations that I couldn't get on my own. I just had to ask and it was done. I did the Safari once, but that was staying there before I was a member of DVC and probably won't do it again for a long while. I would have no problem wiht them offereing a safari to DVC members at AKV's if it meant that I could have my concierge room for my stay. I bought the number of points I did with the intention of booking concierge with each stay. I have stayed for a week already in a 2 bed concierge room and will be staying again in October and again in December. The only reason I'm didn't try to book it in January is because I knew at 7 months that I wanted to switch to BCV's for the convenience of the marathon.

When I make my plans for DL, I will be trying to book concierge there as well unless the Villa's are open to book. I would rather spend the extra points and get all the perks than have to buy groceries like I did in January at BWV's.

It makes really feel like I'm on vacation being pampered with turn down and food and someone there for my every need. Vacation is not the same without it.

 

[Dean]

There can not be more conceirge rooms added to AKV. The point charts are already set. Increasing conceige would mean refiling the maximum number of points available for sale.

Technically they could easily change it right now from a points and legal standpoint if they chose. This was exactly the situation where they did change it with BWV (already selling but not all declared). There may be other reasons they can't or won't as noted by others and I doubt they will.

 

[alldiz]

You need a "maybe" option. I'm not dead against it I do want to stay concierge.....but if I owned at AKV....I would want the option of staying in Jambo for low points...not concierge.
Kerri

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

IMO, the best thing DVC could do is to subsidize more frequent offerings of the Sunrise Safari and make it available to all AKV guests. Members can already pay extra for the daily housekeeping if they want it.

That change would alleviate a lot of the pressure on the concierge room class. Right now many are booking concierge for the safari. If they had another alternative for getting the safari, the concierge rooms would be easier to book for those who really want access to the food & beverage lounge.

I think that's a great idea. Giving DVC members staying at AKV on points a chance to book the safari without staying in concierge is a great idea. But, I'm not sure it would work unless they added another day of safaris perhaps just a DVC safari once a week. When we did the Sunrise Safari in April, both buses were sold out (70-something people) and the CM at the concierge desk says its rare that they have more than a handful seats empty in the morning.

 

[jade1]

No priority over the 180+10, but you can fax or call your dining reservation requests to the concierge lounge a few days prior to the window, and they will book them for you at the appropriate time. For hard to book venues, like the castle, this is a good option, but it is still a first come first served basis. And yes, the sunrise safari is only available to concierge level guests. However, the safari does not run daily, 2x a week, I think.

I see, thanks. Sounds like a nice option, likely never stay there but I can see many folks are planning to.

 

[Chuck S]

Technically they could easily change it right now from a points and legal standpoint if they chose. This was exactly the situation where they did change it with BWV (already selling but not all declared). There may be other reasons they can't or won't as noted by others and I doubt they will.

But Jambo House, that the OP asked about, is already declared and fully sold.