DAY 1 – Wednesday 5/25/22
Who: Sue (63), DVC Member
Holli (57), friend

Plan: Drive to AKV, Gideon’s, Concierge Lounge

Actual: Instead of leaving work at noon as planned, I was able to leave by 11:30. To accomplish this I went in at 6:30am, lol – but it was worth it to get certain things done before leaving. For the first time in a long time I wasn’t slowed by
construction, traffic or accidents! I was on Disney property by 1:30 and at 1:31 got the “your room is ready” notification. Of course that would happen since I’m not headed to the room <g>.

I drove straight to Disney Springs and parked in the Orange Garage. I walked quickly over to Gideon’s and was thrilled to see the line was less than half of what I saw last Friday! I joined the queue and the wait couldn’t have been more than 10
minutes. I bought cookies for everyone, and a bag of their “bites” (quarter of a cookie, dipped in chocolate) to bring home. Well, bring most of them home – I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple disappeared here in the next 5 days.

With that done I went back to the garage, got my car and drove to Jambo House. The parking lot was surprisingly busy and I took a spot in the shade pretty far down the row. The shade was on purpose – the extra walking is a fair tradeoff. They no
longer meet you at the entrance, so I went inside and asked bell services if they needed to activate the elevator to the lounge since I haven’t used it to enter my room yet. He wasn’t sure but walked over with me to find out. I tapped my band and
the 6th floor button lit up, so it’s no longer necessary to get help with the elevator on arrival day!

In the lounge they used to have two desks manned by concierge staff but one has been removed. I went straight to my room – the one on the corner right at the lounge. I’ve had this room on most of my visits, and it’s so convenient! The only thing
I don’t like is the connecting door is at the other end of the sofa, so right in the sleeping portion of the room. Hopefully my neighbors will be quiet. It took no time at all to unpack and then I went back out to the lounge to look around.

They no longer do “tea time”, instead making the afternoon stuff cover a longer period and using more pre-packaged snacks along with a more limited variety of baked goods. They also had fresh fruit. I stopped by the concierge desk to get key cards
for the other people listed in my room, so they’ll be able to access the elevator and staircase gate to get up here. The cast member asked if I’d gotten my welcome gift and when I said nothing was in the room the other cast member brought it over.
It’s a white chocolate candy bar with edible images of a rhinocerous, giraffe and zebra. It’s almost too pretty to eat – and not being a fan of white chocolate it’s unlikely I’ll be the one eating it.

I took a few photos to post on facebook then took the laptop out to the lounge. I sat in the side alcove at a table for 2 – the lounge was actually pretty busy. I had a slice of cantaloupe and some grapes while I updated the report and got online.
Cast members pass by to enter the food service area, but so far nobody has asked if I need anything. Frankly I would have expected them to offer wine or something or ask if they can clear my plate.

Finally around 3:30 I made eye contact with one of the many cast members and asked if they still offer sparkling wine. She said “of course we do, would you like some?” very nicely. I said yes and went up to get a strawberry to add. There seem to
be quite a few more cast working servicing the lounge (not the desk portion), and there are no familiar faces thus far. They keep very busy, and seem to work well together. At 4pm on the dot they were pulling the afternoon food back in, then started
setting up the non-food items in preparation for 5pm. One of them came around with a battery operated candle for each table (ambiance, lol).

Just before 4:30 I brought the laptop (and work phone) back to the room. The lounge was still fairly busy so I grabbed my kindle and table and sat at a 2-top table in the lounge itself (not the alcove). Since I’m solo tonight I don’t want to tie up
a table that 4 people could use. One of the ostrich was still hanging around, along with a group of the big eland. I miss the spotting guide to properly identify them, but we all know a spotting guide is a major source of covid spread <g>. That and
throw pillows – I had one at Boardwalk but none here, so I guess they’re safe in Orange county but not Osceola county.

By 5 all the 5-7 offerings were set up, and it was basically the same as before covid. In terms of white wines they used to have chardonnay and chenin blanc. Now they have both of those plus sauvignon blanc and a sweet wine – and something else I don�
��t remember. I got a small glass of the sauvignon blanc (Indaba) and took it to my table. Since I knew I’d be here most of the 2 hours I didn’t rush to get food.

The lounge was busy but I don’t recall ever seeing all of the tables occupied. Instead of having the chef cooking hot stuff now they have the hot stuff already cooked and one of the concierge staff members portions it out. Tonight was the lamb stew
over white rice and pork thing that looks like a rib. This is different from what someone on MouseOwners posted as the nightly lineup, so I guess they change at whim. I got the pork and it was very good – I’ve had it before and didn’t pay
attention to the name thinking it was on the earlier report I’d printed out (it wasn’t).

I spent a good deal of time talking with my friend Michael about something that happened at work today, so it was a while before I got up for anything else. When I did, I got a piece of drunken goat cheese, some Toma cheese, a piece of bresola meat, a
breadstick, flatbread and piece of pita. The bresola was actually very good, and paired well with the cheeses and pita. Later I got another piece of bresola and more toma. The sauvignon blanc was very good too – I poured small glasses since I like
it to be cold.

Around 6:45 I returned to the studio to update the report quickly, then took the camera and headed down to check out the animal viewing areas. From my room my only company was the ostrich. I am loving being here after so much time away!

At the savannah by the pool I saw zebra, giraffe and some cattle. Some were pretty close, and all were doing their usual stuff (eating). From there I went out to Arusha Rock and found more of the same. There were some guests doing the campfire – I’
m not sure but I think they may charge now for the marshmallows, chocolate and graham cracker. I was too full to inquire. Quite a few people were out, all acting appropriately. The sun hadn’t set but it had cooled down to where it was very
comfortable. Again, it reminded me how thrilled I am to be here – it’s such a treat, and I’m fortunate to be here. I hope I have many more trips – concierge is getting really hard to get!

One disappointment – the pool opens at 10am. What the hell???? By 10 am it’s borderline uncomfortable, so why does it open so late? I’ll be sure to include this on my guest satisfaction survey, and I WILL be going down earlier even though it
means I’ll be on a chaise lounge outside of the pool area.

After viewing the animals I went up to the studio – only 1 person was in the lounge. On my way out earlier the person at the desk reminded me desserts were 8-10. I don’t need a reminder, although the 5-7 stuff has greater interest to me. The hour
between 7 & 8 is a time to check out the animals when it’s not broiling hot out there, but we always make it back for dessert.

As reported on Mouse Owners it seems there’s no more nightly turn down service. It’s not the end of the world, but I miss the little chocolate square. These cutbacks have nothing to do with covid and everything to do with Disney charging the same (
or more) but providing less. Since the chocolate was the only thing I really miss, it’s not a deal breaker – especially with all this Gideon’s stuff I haven’t touched yet!

Just after 8 I wandered out to the lounge – all 10 steps away <g>. I didn’t touch the passion fruit tart, took a bite of the plant based carrot cake and it went in the trash, but liked the Kenyan coffee tart and the vanilla cake cones. They had
small chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies, so I ate one of the oatmeal raisin – Disney does these so well.

I took the desserts back to the room and was in for the night. So far my room is quiet – sure hope it stays that way. I got into bed and finished updating the report. Today was a really nice day – everything went perfectly, from no traffic, the
room being ready early, short line at Gideons and there was no doubt that actually being here would be absolutely wonderful. I’ve missed club level and am so thankful to have it for this trip and again next September. It’s getting harder and harder
to get, so I can’t be assured of getting it in the future even though I own points here. I will keep trying, but will most likely stay elsewhere if I can’t get club level.

Tomorrow will be the first of several much-needed lazy days. I do have some work I can do at some point but I don’t know if that will be tomorrow. I left a printout behind, which Holli will bring to me. I plan to enjoy the morning near the pool –
outside the gate before 10 and then inside after 10. It will be so hot I doubt I’ll last beyond the morning. Holli should arrive mid-afternoon, so I’ll have company for the lounge. It looks like they’re not doing the culinary tours yet, as there
was no mention of them on the activities list posted outside. I also haven’t heard the drums down in the lobby, which is something Holli mentioned remembering and looking forward to. I guess the Disney world is not back to normal yet.

Sue/WDW1972

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)