AKL- Anyone prefer PV over SV?

[Kanga1]

We are looking at staying at AKL for our next trip and I'm having a hard time with which view to book. My brain is telling me to book SV because that is the best and how can you stay at AKL and NOT have a SV!? However, my heart is telling me to book a PV because, to me the view is much prettier than looking out over the savannah. Let alone the fact that it is cheaper and closer to the pool, lobby, and bus stop...which are very important to us.

Anyone else prefer pool view over savannah?

 

[jaykorf001]

We are looking at staying at AKL for our next trip and I'm having a hard time with which view to book. My brain is telling me to book SV because that is the best and how can you stay at AKL and NOT have a SV!? However, my heart is telling me to book a PV because, to me the view is much prettier than looking out over the savannah. Let alone the fact that it is cheaper and closer to the pool, lobby, and bus stop...which are very important to us.

Anyone else prefer pool view over savannah?

We had a savanna view and loved it. I'd get up in the middle of the night and the first thing I'd see is a giraffe standing outside. However, it is true that the pool views are more lush, cheaper, and people on the boards seem to love them. But for me I could get this kind of view at another hotel. We happen to love animals. Our view was all about the animals and not noteworthy otherwise if that makes a difference.

 

[anjalee6]

We book PV most of the time. We really like it. It's convenient to the bus stops, pool of course, restaurants, lobby. We don't spend tons of time in our room so for us, it makes more sense to save money. When we want to see the animals, it is a very short walk to one of the savanna viewing areas. The whole resort is so pretty that we never feel like we are missing out. We have done savanna views and they are very nice, but we don't miss them when we stay PV.

 

[llqool]

Pool view is not necessarily closer to everything -- our first stay at AKL, we had a pool view, and it was just above the Mara on the Zebra trail. It was actually further along the trail than the savannah room we had on our next stay.

It can also be noisy. And I really don't remember it being that scenic. In fact, it has kind of disappeared from my memory. When I think of AKL, the ONLY views from a balcony that I recall are those of the savannah.

I don't really think I'd pay extra for the pool again (in fact, that pool view was an unexpected upgrade they gave us that time). We are currently booked in a standard view room for late August, but I think i've pretty much convinced myself to spring again for the savannah upgrade. The savannah is what makes AKL unique.

And you can always ask for a room close to the lobby. I know it's only a request, but they have always been very accommodating.

 

[paradesintherain]

I loved our pool view room at AKL. I've never had a savannah view, but there's so many opportunities to see the savannahs while walking through the resort I never felt deprived.

 

[paradesintherain]

Here's our view. I don't remember it being noisy at all, but our room was pretty far from the lobby, which was ok. I think if I did it again I'd want to make sure to request a room on the highest floor because some of the trees have gotten really tall and there probably wouldn't be much of a view on lower floors.

 

[Kanga1]

Here's our view. I don't remember it being noisy at all, but our room was pretty far from the lobby, which was ok. I think if I did it again I'd want to make sure to request a room on the highest floor because some of the trees have gotten really tall and there probably wouldn't be much of a view on lower floors.

Thanks for the pic! Do you recall what trail you were on?

 

[paradesintherain]

Looking at the map I think it must have been Zebra trail between rooms 4451-4486. I remember for sure it was the fourth floor and based on how the pool is in the view I think that has to be correct.

 

[llqool]

Here's our view. I don't remember it being noisy at all, but our room was pretty far from the lobby, which was ok. I think if I did it again I'd want to make sure to request a room on the highest floor because some of the trees have gotten really tall and there probably wouldn't be much of a view on lower floors.

Yes, that's a good point. We were on a lower floor.

Also, although there are plenty of places to see the animals, depending on where you are, you might have to go out of your way a bit. None of the restaurants face a savannah. The pool is not on the savannah. The lobby is grand and faces out on Arusha rock, but the rock obscures the savannah. If you had a pool view on the Giraffe Trail, you would be far from the animals. If you are on the zebra trail, you *can* catch glimpses between the building sections.

 

[Kathy Z]

We have stayed SV twice and PV once. I love animals so of course I prefer the SV rooms but they do come at a premium cost. That's why we tried PV. We were in room #4418 on the Zebra Trail in the block of rooms closest to the lobby etc. Although we were there in February there was still a lot of noise from the pool, especially during the afternoon. For us, that was only a problem on arrival day when DH would have liked a short nap. Otherwise we were in the parks during the day. Here is the view from our room:

 

[TxRabbit]

We stayed PV and LOVED it! DS was in Kindergarten and thank goodness DH could still carry him...he would always fall asleep on the bus. There is a handy dandy door that goes directly into the Giraffe arm very close to the bus stop. You use your room key to enter and bam, there you are. I think we had to go up one flight of stairs to get to our lobby level room? LOVED that easy walk at the end of the day.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

We have stayed at AKL 3 times. Twice we stayed in a PV room and LOVED it. This past trip we booked a PV room and were upgraded to a SV room.

While we enjoyed the SV room, after experiencing the resort from both views - we all agreed we would never pay the significant cost difference for a SV. In fact we much prefer the location of the PV. We find them to be more centrally located and more convenient to the Mara, pool and lobby. AKL is very high on our list for next years May trip - if we stay there we will definitely be booking a pool view.

~ In May 2012 our pool view was on the second floor near the pool slide. It was super quiet. Even with the nightly movie going on, we never heard a thing.

 

[Minnesota!]

We have only stayed at AKL once (thus far!). We booked a standard room and either we were upgraded or our room was a "good standard". We looked out over the savannah. Not sure which one - we were on the zebra trail all the way down on the last out cropped wing (2541-2566). We had animals all over the place. However...it was TOOOOO quiet. We love hearing the noise of the resort. Being out on the balcony I really felt like I couldn't talk w/o disturbing anyone around me. So, I am glad I didn't pay for Savannah view b/c I don't think it's worth it - FOR ME!

We are staying there in 36 day (whose counting??) and we have paid for a pool view. i want the NOISE and the VIBE and the ELECTRICITY of the resort!

Hoping for a high floor. Not so much so I can see the pool. but so I can see ANYTHING thru the trees. Just got back from San Diego and we had a 3rd floor room but a palm tree RIGHT in front of our deck. It was very claustrophobic...couldn't really see around it at all..

 

[Cappy81]

We were very happy with our pool view room. We were on 4th floor, Zebra Trail.

 

[mickeynut1]

We are looking at staying at AKL for our next trip and I'm having a hard time with which view to book. My brain is telling me to book SV because that is the best and how can you stay at AKL and NOT have a SV!? However, my heart is telling me to book a PV because, to me the view is much prettier than looking out over the savannah. Let alone the fact that it is cheaper and closer to the pool, lobby, and bus stop...which are very important to us.

Anyone else prefer pool view over savannah?

We've stayed in both and while the savanna view was nice, we loved the pool view just as much and wouldn't hesitate to book pool view again. We had a pretty view and our room was close to the lobby, pool, and Mara.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

In june, We spent a week on 3rd floor , giraffe trail. We were directly above Jiko.. I had a lovely view of the stream, pool and trees. It was perfect. lobby level so walk right to the lobby.. 3010.. I posted pictures on the AKL thread

I couldn't justify the SV for a week.. But, I will have one when I go back for one night in 17 days!!

 

[Haley]

I have a pool view booked for Dec.

I've stayed there with a savannah view and standard view and one got a comp upgrade from standard to savannah.

I don't want to pay the extra for savannah this time so I figured we'd try pool view.

 

[HopperFan]

First trip we had Savanna and loved it. Even in pouring rain we could watch the animals. Wasn't close to main hub but that was fine.

Second trip couldn't swing Savanna but worried about Standard so we booked Pool View. I was so disappointed. This was our view from our balcony. And many of the rooms across the way were hanging beach towels on the railings. We could lean out and look to the right and see a spot of pool between the trees but we were also looking at our neighbors. It was close to everything but part of paying the extra is a balcony - and we never used it. Besides the view, it was so loud with folks coming and going to pool, and those eating outside Mara.

So to me all Pool View means is interior resort rooms not looking at a Savanna. Including Roof View rooms.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

We have only paid for SV once. We find that there are so many places to view the animals from that we would rather save $$ or be closer to the bus stop/etc than get the SV. I will also say that this is my favorite resort to stay at and we do spend time watching the animals.