Animal Kingdom - is Kilimanjaro Club Concierge worth it?

[iftravel]

Planning my first visit and curious if you think the club conceirge is worth the extra points. Also if you exchange into animal kindom, is there a way to add the kilimanjaro club concierge access? TIA

 

[DanCali]

The concierge club rooms are extremely hard to reserve even as an owner because there are only 5 1BRs and 5 studios available for DVC bookings (officially it's 5 2BR lockoffs, but I doubt they can ever be reserved as a 2BR due to availability). I believe some of the cash hotel rooms can be booked with club access as well, but you can't just upgrade a regular DVC stay to include club access.

We own there and we've gotten the club level studio a couple of times at 11 months but it requires extreme planning in advance, and quite a bit of effort and luck. We're flexible and live close enough to be able to go for a 1-2 night stay and we did get a one-night stay once within 7 months (when I was a new owner and was lurking availability to learn the system), but if those become available they don't last long. Waitlisting can maybe help too. But, generally, these rooms are so hard to book that I wouldn't even advise you to buy at AKV if that's the room category you want to stay in.

Of the 5 1BRs/studio rooms, 3 have (rather mediocre) savanna views and 2 have pool views but the views are assigned randomly. So if you are getting a studio and the alternative is a savanna view then the extra 4-6 points per night are definitely worth it, even if you end up with the pool view. For 1BRs the premium over savanna view is 10-18 points so it starts to get costly. And if the alternative is a value room (also very hard to book) now the club room is more than double the cost so if you value the points at $18-$20, you might be better off getting the value room and splurging on restaurants.

The club level food is good and plentiful, but the actual African food from Sanaa and/or Boma is minimal and comes in very small servings (which you can eat as many as you like). Breakfast is from 7-10:30am, Snacks from 11:30am-4pm, light dinner fare from 5-7pm and deserts from 8-10pm. Alcohol and Mickey ice cream bars/sandwiches are included. Breakfast is probably the best offering...

 

[bnoble]

Also if you exchange into animal kindom, is there a way to add the kilimanjaro club concierge access? TIA

No. The concierge rooms are a booking category, not an a la carte offering. They are never deposited.

 

[iftravel]

The concierge club rooms are extremely hard to reserve even as an owner because there are only 5 1BRs and 5 studios available for DVC bookings (officially it's 5 2BR lockoffs, but I doubt they can ever be reserved as a 2BR due to availability). I believe some of the cash hotel rooms can be booked with club access as well, but you can't just upgrade a regular DVC stay to include club access.

We own there and we've gotten the club level studio a couple of times at 11 months but it requires extreme planning in advance, and quite a bit of effort and luck. We're flexible and live close enough to be able to go for a 1-2 night stay and we did get a one-night stay once within 7 months (when I was a new owner and was lurking availability to learn the system), but if those become available they don't last long. Waitlisting can maybe help too. But, generally, these rooms are so hard to book that I wouldn't even advise you to buy at AKL if that's the room category you want to stay in.

Of the 5 1BRs/studio rooms, 3 have (rather mediocre) savanna views and 2 have pool views but the views are assigned randomly. So if you are getting a studio and the alternative is a savanna view then the extra 4-6 points per night are definitely worth it, even if you end up with the pool view. For 1BRs the premium over savanna view is 10-18 points so it starts to get costly. And if the alternative is a value room (also very hard to book) now the club room is more than double the cost so if you value the points at $18-$20, you might be better off getting the value room and splurging on restaurants.

The club level food is good and plentiful, but the actual African food from Sanaa and/or Boma is minimal and comes in very small servings (which you can eat as many as you like). Breakfast is from 7-10:30am, Snacks from 11:30am-4pm, light dinner fare from 5-7pm and deserts from 8-10pm. Alcohol and Mickey ice cream bars/sandwiches are included. Breakfast is probably the best offering...

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Great information. Thanks for sharing. Guess the club lounge is not that big and thus limited access. If it's just the food that is special, then a night there is probably enough for the whole trip. No matter how good the food is, I don't want to eat it for 7 straight days. lol

 

[ljmiii]

Great information. Thanks for sharing. Guess the club lounge is not that big and thus limited access. If it's just the food that is special, then a night there is probably enough for the whole trip. No matter how good the food is, I don't want to eat it for 7 straight days. lol

Because of the animals, pools, and extensive themeing of the AKL people do stay there just to enjoy the resort. In that context booking Kilimanjaro Club makes sense for a two to three night stay.

That said, even as an owner at AKV I never saw availability for the DVC Club Rooms in the forty or so times I tried. Maybe it was different when AKV first opened, but at this point it seems like those rooms are taken by professionals who stalk every morning and when they get a reservation just walk it to a date that will rent well. Lack of Club room availability was one of the reasons I sold our AKV points.

 

[iftravel]

Because of the animals, pools, and extensive themeing of the AKL people do stay there just to enjoy the resort. In that context booking Kilimanjaro Club makes sense for a two to three night stay.

That said, even as an owner at AKV I never saw availability for the DVC Club Rooms in the forty or so times I tried. Maybe it was different when AKV first opened, but at this point it seems like those rooms are taken by professionals who stalk every morning and when they get a reservation just walk it to a date that will rent well. Lack of Club room availability was one of the reasons I sold our AKV points.

Good point. Would be lucky to get one night - I will check the hotel side booking. Definitely pricier but hope also easier.

 

[elaine]

We never bother with Concierge. It's just a large lounge open to the center atrium area on the 6th floor. The food/drink does not look worth the extra cost. Also, if you do not get a savannah view, there are many lovely places to view animal from public areas, both at Kidani and Jambo. Many times, we just book standard or value now, esp as we're often at the pool or other places. My special place: breakfast at Saana, (officially a "counter service," but brought to your table) in a great setting with animal views. It's rarely crowded.

 

[DanCali]

Great information. Thanks for sharing. Guess the club lounge is not that big and thus limited access. If it's just the food that is special, then a night there is probably enough for the whole trip. No matter how good the food is, I don't want to eat it for 7 straight days. lol

Aside from a small gift at checkin (a small chocolate bar) the food is pretty much the main perk. And to really make "good use" of it you can't spend a full day at the theme parks, especially in the summer when they have longer hours at the parks. Otherwise, you're just paying the premium for the breakfast and maybe you get back in time for desserts. I agree that it's good for 1-3 nights, especially since the first and last day are included. Seven nights is a stretch and would get repetitive, even if you have the points to book it.

 

[iftravel]

Just checked the hotel booking with club access is not that difficult to book though very pricey. DVC has very limited allocation to these.

 

[iftravel]

Aside from a small gift at checkin (a small chocolate bar) the food is pretty much the main perk. And to really make "good use" of it you can't spend a full day at the theme parks, especially in the summer when they have longer hours at the parks. Otherwise, you're just paying the premium for the breakfast and maybe you get back in time for desserts. I agree that it's good for 1-3 nights, especially since the first and last day are included. Seven nights is a stretch and would get repetitive, even if you have the points to book it.

Is that right the first day and last day are included for full days, not just during the stay? Now I have an idea just book an overlapping studio club access for one night if I can and sleep somewhere more comfy…

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

ut at this point it seems like those rooms are taken by professionals who stalk every morning

I'm convinced the bigger operations like DVC rental store are running bots that grab the really in-demand / easy to rent inventory, using points that they own.

 

[noreenkate]

running bots that grab the really in-demand / easy to rent inventory

There used to be a great stalking service that was available to owners for a small monthly fee. It was phenomenal Disney shut them down. I was able to snatch up some pretty great rooms that way-not to rent but for us to use. Yet they leave the dining bot services…

 

[iftravel]

There used to be a great stalking service that was available to owners for a small monthly fee. It was phenomenal Disney shut them down. I was able to snatch up some pretty great rooms that way-not to rent but for us to use. Yet they leave the dining bot services…

We have a free stalking service called sightings…

 

[noreenkate]

We have a free stalking service called sightings…

Wait what is there an alert service that can check rooms by dates, sizes and categories again? where can I sign up?

 

[iftravel]

Wait what is there an alert service that can check rooms by dates, sizes and categories again? where can I sign up?

Forgot I paid $15 for the membership so it’s not free. I was kidding but who knows perhaps Greg has a way to do it just make a wish / request.

 

[noreenkate]

Forgot I paid $15 for the membership so it’s not free. I was kidding but who knows perhaps Greg has a way to do it just make a wish / request.

DVCapp ran specific room searches 24/7 and sent text message alerts all for something like ten dollars a month…lol but I still couldn’t get a AKV value or club

 

[dioxide45]

Wait what is there an alert service that can check rooms by dates, sizes and categories again? where can I sign up?

With SIghtings you rely on the generosity of other Tuggers to do the checking for you.

 

[iftravel]

DVCapp ran specific room searches 24/7 and sent text message alerts all for something like ten dollars a month…lol but I still couldn’t get a AKV value or club

I guess if I religiously check at 7 or 11-month every morning and still cannot get it, might just book at rack rate for one day experience.

 

[DanCali]

Is that right the first day and last day are included for full days, not just during the stay? Now I have an idea just book an overlapping studio club access for one night if I can and sleep somewhere more comfy…

On checkin day you can definitely show up at 7am and have breakfast.

On checkout day, our keys stopped working once we checked out (you need a key to get to the 6th floor) but I suspect they will give you access to that floor at the front desk if you ask for it. Generally, you're supposed to be able to enjoy the amenities that come with your stay (pool etc) for the full day.

 

[elaine]

DVCapp ran specific room searches 24/7 and sent text message alerts all for something like ten dollars a month…lol but I still couldn’t get a AKV value or club

Never used any bots, didn't know about them. But, in the past 5 years, I've gotten AKV value rooms (studios, 1BR, and 2BR) for almost all of my trips at 11 months. Many times, they were gone right at the opening of booking, but later that day and/or over the next 2-3 days they popped up, as people walked and dropped days. I had to log in a few times each day to "catch" them to piece together a trip as they popped up. For a few trips, I also had to waitlisted to fill in a day or so (only WL single days). I've gotten all but 1 day and had to swap to a standard room the last night. After 11 months+5 days, slim chance of getting values for more than a day or two unless random cancellation.

 

[DanCali]

Never used any bots, didn't know about them. But, in the past 5 years, I've gotten AKV value rooms (studios, 1BR, and 2BR) for almost all of my trips at 11 months. Many times, they were gone right at the opening of booking, but later that day and/or over the next 2-3 days they popped up, as people walked and dropped days. I had to log in a few times each day to "catch" them to piece together a trip as they popped up. For a few trips, I also had to waitlisted to fill in a day or so (only WL single days). I've gotten all but 1 day and had to swap to a standard room the last night. After 11 months+5 days, slim chance of getting values for more than a day or two unless random cancellation.

What you said can be applied to club level rooms as well. But value rooms are a bit easier to book than Club. Same issue of high demand and low supply but you have 18 value studios vs 5 club level ones.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

We have a free stalking service called sightings…

That's not the same though, that's users posting it and people grabbing it. I'm talking about bots that literally grab inventory at 08:00:01 the first possible day using a strong internet connection faster than any human possibly can. That is definitely happening.

 

[noreenkate]

That's not the same though, that's users posting it and people grabbing it. I'm talking about bots that literally grab inventory at 08:00:01 the first possible day using a strong internet connection faster than any human possibly can. That is definitely happening.

The technology is definitely there-

I've gotten AKV value rooms (studios, 1BR, and 2BR) for almost all of my trips at 11 months

That’s the thing though it’s really rare if it’s not your home resort. I have gotten VGC stalking at 7 months -Value & Club rooms that’s not even remotely possible for an OKW owner

 

[elaine]

This is why we bought (resale) AKV. Although we might swap at 7 months for another property, we like knowing we have a trip locked in at 11 months at a place that we really like. Getting value rooms is a nice bonus. But, once we have a value room, it's usually too tempting to just stay there. This summer Sun-Fri value studios are 9 points/night!
Back to OP--getting Concierge for 1 night really doesn't seem worth it. AKV is a wonderful resort and I really think getting some snacks and sitting out watching the animals, having a glass of wine around the fireplace in the lobby, or a beverage at the pool would be a good replacement for Concierge. Also, from it's location, you can look down onto lobby--you cannot see any animals. Other than a quick pop in for food/drink, I wouldn't pick spending time there vs other public seating/viewing options and animal enrichment activities.

 

[dioxide45]

That's not the same though, that's users posting it and people grabbing it. I'm talking about bots that literally grab inventory at 08:00:01 the first possible day using a strong internet connection faster than any human possibly can. That is definitely happening.

I'm surprised that more timeshare entities haven't instituted reCAPTCHA.