AKL experts? Help, please!

[huskies90]

dont bother paying extra for savanah room. It is cute the first night or day...but soon after.....it's just more of a "hey look, theres that giraff" kind of thing.

Just book standard and hope for the free upgrade, but do not be upset if you dont get it....it's not worth the extra $60 a night.

I agree with this one. We booked a standard room and got upgraded to a pool view room. It was a beautiful view with the "courtyard" trees around the pool and the main lobby in the background. The views on the savannah were kinda blah with the exception, of course, of the animals. But the animals are visible all over the place and after while our family was like "hey look a zebra" and walked on. I am glad I didn't splurge on the savannah view...

 

[soccer mom]

My family would agree with Leota that Savannah View is a must. We couldn't tear ourselves away from the balcony and we were there for 11 days the first time we went. It just depends on what you like. We have more pictures from the balcony of AKL than from all of our trip combined! Of course, my husband was going to major in animal behavior instead of psychology until I didn't think I wanted to raise kids on some deserted island living off grant money while he journaled the migration of birds! That probably has something to do with our love of animals!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

At home DH has to go to work at 3 AM every day. DS is usually up at 6 AM on weekends - during the week I have to drag him out of bed around 6:45. Go figure. Anyway, we are always up pretty early at WDW so early morning noise is fine. I think being by the pool would drive me up a tree. There are always people in the pools, and it seems like they are always loud. Or sound just carries since there is concrete around the pools. Anyway, no pool view is FINE!

Salmoneous -
Standard room with dove viewing, please. I think the TA would hang up on me! There is still plenty of grief coming her way as I try to decide what options we want on our tickets. I watched the planning DVD today and now I am back on the fence about water parks. The TA should be thankful that I at least know what the options are! She doesn't have to explain anything to me, she just has to change things every time I change my mind!

I am getting more and more excited about AKL! I don't think DH has much chance of talking me out of it. I hope the AKL "Great Hotels" comes on again soon. When we were planning our first WDW trip in January DH wasn't excited until he watched something on the Travel Channel about the 4 parks at WDW. When I got home from work that day and confirmed that we were going to visit all 4 parks he was thrilled! I am hoping to manage the same sort of effect with AKL. It isn't scheduled to come on this month, but we have until August!

 

[LJP]

Just my 2 pence ( cents) worth. We just got home a few hours ago - am really struggling to keep awake - now almost 6pm UK time and we're flagging, but i couldn't wait to get on the site!! DH and i split our 8 day stay between AKL, Poly and Dolphin. I had booked standard view at AKL as there was such a big price difference - this was to be our 3rd visit there and we thought we could deal with not having a savannah view, but i made DH promise that we would upgrade if necessary. Don't know what i was worried about - we were on Giraffe Trail, 5th floor room 5031 - our room looked west so got the sun all day, it was so quiet and peaceful right at the end of the corridor, and was high enough up that you just seemed to be surrounded by trees and not staring at the parking lot. No noise from outside either. We also felt that with the darker nights, by the time we got in from the parks we were closing the curtains and would then go get some wine and chill out by the "fireplace " and look at the Christmas Tree. Sheer heaven and truly is our favourite resort.

 

[gppnj]

I've stayed at AKL twice. (The first time was just a few days after it opened; there was a very, very sweet introductory room rate in effect.) Both times, I got a savannah view room, but neither time was I on the main savannah. The view from the first room was perfectly fine. However, the view from the second room stunk. (In retrospect, I regret that I didn't complain.) The view out the window was of a maintenance bay, and you could only see savannah if you looked out and to the side. Disney should not have this room listed as a savannah view room. If should be listed as a standard view, and then someone who gets the room will be pleasantly surprised at being able to see a little savannah.

Anyway, the next time I book at AKL, I'm not sure what I should ask for. Saying, "I want a savannah view room where you can actually see savannah" sounds strange, but that's essentially what I would want.

Ironically, I just posted on the DVC board saying how some people are too obsessed with the views from their rooms. However, in this case, I am paying a good bit of money extra specifically for the view, so I don't feel that concern about the view is unwarranted.

 

[cottontail]

Hi LJP:

We are heading down next week to akl. Can you see the animals at night on the savannah, or did you do most of your viewing in the daylight hours?

Deb.

 

[LJP]

Hi Deb,

Gosh i can't believe that i'm still awake - seem to have got my 2nd wind, have been up now for about 32 hours. Oh hum. We did most of our viewing during the day - the temperatures were very pleasant most days and there seemed to be a fair view animals out and about. At night the Arusha rock viewing area closes about 11pm i think, but there is night viewing at the pool area, although we didn't do this. I just feel for the time spent in our room, we didn't miss out on anything - maybe during summer time and longer days it would be different. It really is a special place and lounging by the pool listening to African music is magical. We also celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary at Bomas and we received a lovely card and an edible " card" with cookies and chocs - scrummy.
Have a fantastic time - i hope you have a wonderful trip.

Lynn

 

[eeyore81]

Hi Again,
We viewed the animals both at night and in the day. It was so nice to wake up in the morning and go out on the balcony and watch the animals and then come home at night and spend some time out there too seeing the animals. It really is a fantasic place. Reading this thread is making me second guess my decision to stay at the GF. We leave in 10 days and I know we will have a blast, but we will miss our animals.