VAKL - Concierge Villas? About This Page:

[zacksmom_1993]

I haven't been able to find confirmation on a few questions about the "concierge" villas at the AKL, that I was hoping y'all could answer for me!

-If you stay in the villas on points are you still entitled to do the Sunrise Safari?
-Do you have to stay a minimum number of nights (either in the villa or a booked room) to be eligible for the safari? (I thought I'd heard rumors of a new three-day minimum stay requirement.)
-Have people been able to book concierge villas at the 7-month window, or have these ended up being AKL-owner only accomodations? I'm looking at the 1-bedroom suites, but could do 2-bedroom as well.

I may call Member Services if this isn't common knowledge, but I thought I'd come to my favorite know-it-alls (meant in the best possible way) first!

[goofysdtr]

From what I understand,

#1 Yes, they are entitled to do the safari

#2 I haven't heard anything about a minimum stay, but it could be something I just haven't heard about yet.

#3 I think people have gotten the concierge rooms at 7 months, but as they get more members, that will become increasingly difficult.

Hope this helps!

[Jillybean]

Karen,

I have absolutely no idea of the answer to any of your questions, but we hope to book AKL concierge also for our June trip. I'm considering it a long shot, so I have plan b, c, d and e!

Jill

[tjkraz]

Originally Posted by goofysdtr

From what I understand,

#1 Yes, they are entitled to do the safari

#2 I haven't heard anything about a minimum stay, but it could be something I just haven't heard about yet.

#3 I think people have gotten the concierge rooms at 7 months, but as they get more members, that will become increasingly difficult.

Hope this helps!

I agree with those answers. As for #3, I suspect any recent bookings by non-owners were a result of dozens of dates opening up all at once when DVC first started taking reservations. There are only five units in the concierge category and no plans to grow it. When the resort is fully open, the Concierge rooms will represent barely 1% of all built at AKV (5 rooms out of 450+). I suspect many days they will all be booked before noon on the first day of the 11 month window.

[CarolinesMom]

#1- Yes, you can book the Safari
#2- I have not heard about the minimum stay
#3- Until Kidani Village opens, there are currently on 5 2br lockoff units for conceirge. They go really quickly.

[tjkraz]

Originally Posted by CarolinesMom

#3- Until Kidani Village opens, there are currently on 5 2br lockoff units for conceirge. They go really quickly.

There are no plans to build additional concierge-class rooms in Kidani Village, so the booking situation is unlikely to improve. The resort will have 5 units total.

[lorilovestigger]

Are the rooms listed on the DVC site concierge level or not? All it says is "studio-savannah view"....... Can DVC members book the sunrise safari if not staying in concierge level??

Thanks!

[tjkraz]

Originally Posted by lorilovestigger

Are the rooms listed on the DVC site concierge level or not? All it says is "studio-savannah view".......

You'd have to be more specific about what you are looking at.

There are only 5 lockoff two bedroom units in the Concierge category. What that means is that each 5 of the units can be booked as either a two bedroom or separately as a one bedroom and a studio. If the first 2 people calling for a given day book two bedroom villas and the next 3 callers ask for studios, then for that given day they will be configured as 2 two bedrooms, 3 studios and 3 one bedrooms (total of 8 parties.)

Another day they could all be booked as two bedrooms, meaning only 5 parties will be in those units. Or they could all be booked separately as 5 studios and 5 one bedroom villas (10 total parties.)

As for the view, of the 5 units, 3 of them have a view of the savanna and 2 of them a view of the pool. You cannot guarantee what view you will have at the time of booking. You can request savanna or pool view, but you won't know until arrival whether you will get it. I assume most people will request the savanna view, which means that 40% of guests booking the Concierge category will be disappointed.

Can DVC members book the sunrise safari if not staying in concierge level??

There has been no announcement that the safaris are being opened up to all DVC members, so the answer would appear to be "no."

[zacksmom_1993]

Thanks for all of the replies everybody! We're staying Sunday - Friday at WLV, but then I wanted to book AKL concierge for Friday - Monday. If I can't get it through DVC, I'll just pay out of pocket for that and save my points for another trip! Or else, I'll just put myself and three teenage boys up with Jill and fam for three nights. They wouldn't mind, right?

[mickeycrazy]

I just got off the phone w/member services and they got us a studio concierge room for June (our 1st trip home!) and mentioned that we needed to book the sunrise safari so I know you can book that when staying on points.

[Jillybean]

Originally Posted by zacksmom_1993

Or else, I'll just put myself and three teenage boys up with Jill and fam for three nights. They wouldn't mind, right?

As long you as bring the blender, we're on!

Jill

[ArielsMomto2]

Does anyone know if there are age restrictions on the sunrise safari?

[buttercup1]

As far as age restrictions, I was told it was 8 years old.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by mickeycrazy

I just got off the phone w/member services and they got us a studio concierge room for June (our 1st trip home!) and mentioned that we needed to book the sunrise safari so I know you can book that when staying on points.

Congratulations on getting that booked!

[zacksmom_1993]

I don't think there are age restrictions on the safari. In December 2006, I booked for a 5-year-old, and I'm positive that Eileen's (caldercup) nephew went. And, he's a toddler.