AKL - lovers savannah view

[spiceycat]

there is a post on the resort board about not getting a good view of the animals when staying in a savannah view.

looks like 1 out of 3 people posting had this problem.

was really surprised by this. though a SV was a guaranteed view of the animals.

so maybe standard view might be more popular than originally though not to mention value.

 

[Inkmahm]

I've stayed at AKL quite a few times. Not all savanna view rooms are equal. Some savannas are better than others and some rooms on each savanna are better than others. As a cash paying guest, I knew where I wanted to be and I didn't want to be. As a DVC member, I think I'll be a less demanding and take my turn with the not so great rooms if I get one.

Even if your room doesn't have the best animals hanging around by it, you can still see all of them from the many location points in the hotel.

 

[Anal Annie]

When we stayed in the lodge several years ago we were way down in a room facing the back side of the Uzima Savanna & although we were supposed to have a Savanna view we did not see many animals from our balcony. We could see a lot thru the windows facing the Arusha Savanna as we were walking back & forth to our room but there was not much going on from our actual room. It was very disappointing. A giraffe here & there & that was about it...that's why I'm not sure if it's worth paying extra cash or points to upgrade to the Savanna view unless you could guarantee you'd be facing the Arusha Savanna...

We just returned from OKW last night...went over to Saratoga & saw the models for AKV yesterday before we left - they're gorgeous! The pictures I've seen posted don't do them justice! Still trying to talk DH into an add-on...originally only wanted enough for a studio every other year...but now that we've seen the one bedroom unit, well... Now THAT would be awesome...but I can't get permission for 50 points let alone 100! Gotta concentrate on baby steps!

 

[dwelty]

Some of the negative reviews of Savannah rooms are from hotel guests who may have had rooms on lower floors. Remember that all AVC rooms are on the 5th or 6th floors. This should help with the view.

 

[BCV23]

Some of the negative reviews of Savannah rooms are from hotel guests who may have had rooms on lower floors. Remember that all AVC rooms are on the 5th or 6th floors. This should help with the view.

I'm not sure about that. I've had rooms on the 3rd floor Uzima and 5th floor Zebra trail. I saw many more animals on Uzima and the angle was better too. 6th floor in particular might be a tad too high for the best view of the animals. But that's OK, I booked club level anyway.

 

[LisaS]

I'm not sure about that. I've had rooms on the 3rd floor Uzima and 5th floor Zebra trail. I saw many more animals on Uzima and the angle was better too. 6th floor in particular might be a tad too high for the best view of the animals. But that's OK, I booked club level anyway.

I agree. The best animal viewing we ever had at AKL was from a 2nd floor room facing the Arusha Savanna, pretty far out along the horseshoe. We were at eye level with the giraffes! Some people like the more expansive view from the higher floors, but I prefer the lower floors so that I can be as close to the animals as possible.

But I agree with the other posters that some savanna views are better than others. The Arusha Savanna is very pretty and I like the mix of animals on that savanna. I don't like being too close to Arusha Rock however because it blocks part of the view (though this may be less of a problem on the higher floors) and because you can hear the voices of the people who congregate there to see the animals.

We have also had a room facing the Sunset Savanna, near one of the "people pens" and while that wasn't the prettiest view, we did have a lot of giraffe traffic going past our balcony at feeding time. It was very quiet in that area at night. Sitting on the balcony with a glass of wine at 10pm, it felt like we were all alone with the giraffes. There was a comical hornbill that we really enjoyed watching every day and a good crowd sleeping around the watering hole every evening. The Sunset Savanna is not as picturesque as the Arusha Savanna, but there was plenty of animal activity near our balcony.

I guess I've been lucky. I've stayed at AKL four times and been very happy with my savanna view on every trip. Some views were better than others, but all were enjoyable.

 

[Dawn16]

I definitely concur with the lower floor sentiments. We've stayed several times with a Savannah View and love the second floor for the close up view of the animals. While we won't have that with AKV in the Lodge, I'm hoping the Kidani rooms will offer the same close up views from the lower floors.

 

[Luv2trav]

We had sunset savannah in 2005 and it was BAD. It was the fartherst room from the pool and view was awful. We tied to switch the Arusha view but we had to wait to move the next day. We were only there 5 days and I didn't want to mess with moving. I LOVED the resort and decided next time we wouldn't waste our money on savannah view and just get pool view to be close to everything. There are so many viewing areas throughout the resort that I didn't need it from our balcony.

 

[wdw1972]

We had sunset savannah in 2005 and it was BAD. It was the fartherst room from the pool and view was awful. We tied to switch the Arusha view but we had to wait to move the next day. We were only there 5 days and I didn't want to mess with moving. I LOVED the resort and decided next time we wouldn't waste our money on savannah view and just get pool view to be close to everything. There are so many viewing areas throughout the resort that I didn't need it from our balcony.

But you see - for me at least, I'm not interested in having to leave my room to go sit somewhere public to see the animals. The appeal is being able to see them as I'm getting dressed, or at the end of the night sitting out there with a glass of wine & wearing something that wouldn't be appropriate for strangers to see me in Plus, I have no interest in having someone's kids running wild around me (as might happen in one of the public viewing areas) - I prefer my peace & quiet to watch the animals. I don't mind walking outside to the viewing areas at times, but I want to have more than just that option. So, I'll book savannah view or concierge (once in a while) and hope I get a good spot.

I also agree the lower floors are better viewing, but since our rooms are all on the 5th & 6th floor - what can you do? Possibly getting a floor or 2 lower isn't worth paying cash for a non dvc room to me!

Are all the 6th floor rooms concierge?? A friend who's stayed up there before the dvc conversion admits the view is better from the 5th floor. However, if I get a savannah view in January during my concierge trip & it's on the 6th floor - I won't mind. When I don't have concierge though, I prefer being on the 5th floor for the better view (wouldn't book anything other than savannah view if not doing concierge).

 

[LisaS]

But you see - for me at least, I'm not interested in having to leave my room to go sit somewhere public to see the animals. The appeal is being able to see them as I'm getting dressed, or at the end of the night sitting out there with a glass of wine & wearing something that wouldn't be appropriate for strangers to see me in

I agree! except for that last part!

Are all the 6th floor rooms concierge?? A friend who's stayed up there before the dvc conversion admits the view is better from the 5th floor. However, if I get a savannah view in January during my concierge trip & it's on the 6th floor - I won't mind. When I don't have concierge though, I prefer being on the 5th floor for the better view (wouldn't book anything other than savannah view if not doing concierge).

Yes, the 6th floor of AKL is being converted to AKV Concierge. So if you book an AKV Concierge villa, you will be on the 6th floor. As far as I know, we won't have the option that AKL concierge guests have had to book concierge but stay on the 5th floor instead to get the better view.

 

[BCV23]

Also there are cameras all over so I wouldn't wear anything that I wasn't comfortable with a security guard seeing! There are warnings to that effect in the rooms. In addition, most balconies can be seen by people on other balconies...or rooms.

I love seeing the animals from the balcony but the overlooks have always been peaceful when I've been on them. Actually usually deserted other than the one by Arusha Rock.