AKL-Parking lot view worth the extra $$$?

[cadburysmom]

Hi, We're thinking of upgrading from CSR to AKL but can only afford the parking lot view. Is it worth it if we're not getting a savannah view or should we just stay at CSR. Also, are we able to sign up for safaris if we aren't in a concierge room?

Thanks for your help!

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by cadburysmom
Hi, We're thinking of upgrading from CSR to AKL but can only afford the parking lot view. Is it worth it if we're not getting a savannah view or should we just stay at CSR. Also, are we able to sign up for safaris if we aren't in a concierge room?

Thanks for your help!

The room sizes are about the same, the question to ask yourself is, will you use the other amenities?

Kids club on site, health club, a "food court" a buffet, and a full service (and expensive) restaurant, story telling around the firepit, a mini-spa, etc. are all available at the AKL. But if you won't be around the resort to enjoy these, as well as watching the animals, you'd be better off staying at the CSR.

One other thing to consider is the bedding. At the AKL it's two queens or a queen and a bunkbed v. two doubles at the CSR.

The safari's are only available to those staying concierge level.

Anne

 

[zurgswife]

I would...the other thing is from what I've heard WL and AKL have the best chance of being upgraded from a std view....we were just at WL and were upgraded......

I just wish I had gone with AKL...WL was nice but even with just a standard room I think I would have enjoyed AKL more....but hey live and learn...

 

[mickey7861]

We've stayed at AKL 5 times over the past 3 years and always book a standard room. We have been upgraded each time, 3 times to savannah view and twice to pool view. We have never asked for the upgrade they have always just been offered. The resort has so many nice "look out" areas to see the animals that I would never pay for the savannah view , we don't spend that much time in the room. I have stayed at CSR a few times also and while we like CSR it doesn't compare to AKL. We are staying part of our trip at AKL again this August, we booked a standard view for $114 AP rate.

 

[rpink58]

Also even though you would have a parking lot view , you could always go the the areas they have for viewing the savannahs.

 

[freediverdude]

I guess this is just my opinion, as I guess others don't seem to mind this, but I would never take a chance on getting a standard view room at the AKL again. My room, and it looked like most of the other rooms that would be standard as well, did overlook the parking lot, but that wasn't what bothered me. I've had parking lot views at other Disney resorts, and that's fine. What bothered me was the billboards you could see from the new businesses popping up nearby on 192. And not just if you squinted and tried to make it out in the distance either. I mean big signs that you can see clearly and can't miss. Every time I stood way back by the sinks in the bathroom, not just on the balcony, that 7-11 sign was staring at me, even through the sheer drapes! Plus a Citgo gas sign, and a couple others. I had to actually close the heavy drapes so I wouldn't see it every time I glanced in the direction of the balcony. To me, this is unacceptable, even on an AP rate of $114 or whatever it was. I would rather stay at any of the moderates or values than be in that room again. I've never had a glimpse at the outside world like that even from an All-Star room, and I won't ever be in a Disney resort room that has that view again. But, I guess it's how a view like that would affect you, whether you would care or not. I don't care about a parking lot and some trees, but I certainly don't want a 7-11 sign outside my deluxe resort balcony. Getting off the soapbox now....

 

[cadburysmom]

Thanks for all your helpful input .....I'm just so horrible about making decisions and need all the help I can get

 

[DisneyFreaks]

We stayed in the standard view rooms last year and they were not bad. We didn't spend much time in the rooms anyway and the area we were in didn't have bad views at all. We were on the third floor so we had alot of trees and bushes in between our balconies and the cars. We were in ostrich trail. From the higher floors you may be able to see the signs on the highway one of the previous posters was mentioning so I would request a lower floor. In the front of the lodge where the standard view rooms are located the lowest floor is third floor which is also lobby level so it is easy to get anywhere you want to go and the balconies aren't sitting right on the ground. In my opinion AKL is so gorgeous it doesn't matter where your room is. It truly is a resort you wouldn't want to miss.

 

[KayakDaddy]

We stayed at the AKL this May after multiple stay's in moderate resorts. This was our first stay at a Deluxe resort, and I don't know that we'll be going back to moderates. It was a much more satisfying experience, and I would highly recommend it. The moderates are nice, but they’re more like highly themed hotels. The AKL is a true resort. We liked it so much, that were going back to try the WL next week! I just hope it can live up the AKL.

In case it matters, we reserved and paid for a standard view room at the discount code rate, but received a free upgrade to Savannah without asking. We loved the room, but I don’t think our experience would have been too diminished if we didn’t get the upgrade.

I would recommend making the change. If you are only going to be there for a few days, the monetary difference will be negligible. If your stay is going to be longer, why not split your visit between the two resorts? Then you can have the best of both worlds, and post a trip report comparing and contrasting them for the rest of us!

 

[Peter Pirate]

freediverdude, you know there are very, very few rooms that could ever see the outside world from AKL, right? Also, the landscaping is growing and I'm sure that most if not all concerns in this regard will be overgrown shortly.

I know this doesn't take the bad taste out of your mouth, but it isn't fair to characterize all std. rooms as having this view (although the parking lot really isn't too lovely, either).

We use the std. rate often and I'd say we've been upgraded 3 0f the 5 times...When we want a guarantee we go for the 'full monty' so to speak, but on trips when park hopping is the paramount issue we'll take the std room and just be happy being at the beuatiful AKL!

Oh, I truly believe you have a better shot at getting an upgrade at the AKL if you don't ask (at least initially)...After getting your assignment and seeing that it is a std. room it never hurts to try though.

 

[airhead]

I would definitely stay standard again if that was what was in the budget,no hesitations!!!

 

[Lovetherodent]

I got back from a 7 night stay in the AKL, standard view, just last week. Like you, we debated on the spending the extra money (just under $300) on AKL or going to the CSR. The CSR would've had a better pool. However, we went AKL. Here was our reasoning:

1. Dh and I are getting rounder as we age and wanted a queen bed rather than a double. The kids got bunkbeds, which they loved.

2. It's much quieter than a moderate. This is important to Dh.

3. The pool is large enough never to feel crowded (although the kids let me know the slide is a dud).

4. Buses do not have to make multiple stops around the resort. You get on, you go right to your park. Believe it or not, this makes a real time difference. Also, as AKL is a smaller resort than a moderate, buses are at capacity only for the EMH park in the morning (others were never full) and right after park closing.

5. We listened to the story teller, visited some of the educational displays, and walked out to the savannah lookouts from time to time. The kids made African rag dolls, and we ate at Boma.


We don't spend a lot of time in the room. Even on a non-park day, we'll go somewhere, so spending an additional $75 a night to see animals out the window just wasn't worth the money. And out "parking lot view" was of the entrance, and some landscaping. We really had to strain to see cars in the parking lot.

Oh, as for those upgrades people around here seem to be awarded so regularly? I've been to WDW 4 times, 2 paying rack rates, and have never been offered one, even for a fee. I'd say don't book in hopes that you'll get one as you may not.

 

[Lewisc]

Less than 10% of the rooms in AKL are standard view. AKL seems to be the exception that makes the rule, upgrades (unless the hotel is almost sold out) seem to be very common.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

im almost 99 per cent sure we will going near the end of aug, i got a good price for AKL reg view. my dh is dying to stay here, me to but my dream would be the POLY. we usually just stay at the all stars. it seems that when we are at the hotel dd and friend like most of the food at the food courts,. im just wondering about the AKL. we did stop by last summer , had a quick snack in Mara or whatever the fast place is. Im just wondering if they have all the breakfast choices (rather than 10 dollars for a muffin...lol.) like AStars. and you could get like CHicken parm with pasta, steak and cheese subs, kids size meals, etc you know all the basic stuff. thats the only think that concerns me a little. i know that none of us will starve...h ah a , and i know it will cost but i dont know if we should maybe try CBR with the food court and Rest. or just bite the bullet?????????sorry this is long, thanks alot for your opinions.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Originally posted by Lovetherodent
[Oh, as for those upgrades people around here seem to be awarded so regularly? I've been to WDW 4 times, 2 paying rack rates, and have never been offered one, even for a fee. I'd say don't book in hopes that you'll get one as you may not. [/B]

Same here. Next trip will be our eighth and we have never been offered an upgrade. We always book the view that we want to be sure of getting it. The reason we were in standard view at AKL was due to PO/FQ closing and we had to relocate. We were paying for three rooms so savannah view was too costly and pool view was unavailable. I was a bit worried about standard view but we were pleasantly surprised. I definitely would stay standard again if it was the only way I could stay at AKL.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by Lewisc
Less than 10% of the rooms in AKL are standard view.

Where did you hear that?

 

[harlock_jds]

for me it's a no brainier, I quickly upgraded my room from a deluxe room at POFQ to a standard at AKL. The amenities at AKL are better, the restaurant are 2 of the restaurants I really want to check out at Disney, and even without a savanna room I can still spend a good chunk of time animal watching. Plus the rooms are larger and much nicer looking and I'll likely have a patio. Not to mention with the discount it's cheaper than what I was planning to spend at POFQ

plus I might luck into a savanna view room, I wish I could afford the extra money to go ahead and book one but it's just out of my budget

"Where did you hear that?"


just by looking at the map of the resort it's easy to see that a VERY small number of the rooms would have a standard view. I don't know if it's 10% but it's likely in that ballpark

 

[ciera321]

We stayed at AKL June 02, had a standard view reservation and were upgraded to savannah view. I would book standard view again without hesitation. Like the other posters said, there are so many places to look at the animals, and there's no guarentee that the animals will be hanging around outside your window either. I've read posts that people have been disappointed that they paid for a savannah view and saw very few animals. We love AKL and would certainly stay there again!! Have a great trip!!

 

[MinnieGi]

We had the same dilemma a year and a half ago. It was a last minute trip and we were going to do a mod, in fact I had CBR reserved. Then I noticed that it was not that much of a difference in price to upgrade to an AKL standard view room. So we did it - and had an incredible trip. We became big AKL fans and look forward to staying there again.

We were upgraded to a pool view room which was just a beautiful view. It was fun to walk around to all the animal viewing areas at the resort. Not all the same animals are on each savannah so to see them all you have to walk around to the different areas.

Reasons why we loved AKL over a moderate:

-All under one roof - not spread out like the mods.

-Queen beds

-Interior hallways - don't have to walk in the rain to get to the restaurant or store.

-One stop transportation. We had some of the quickest bus times to the parks staying at AKL. One bus stop and no sharing of buses with another resort makes a big difference in time.

-Two great sit-down restaurants plus a food court.

-Loved the zero-entry pool - it was really great for DD who was just 2 1/2 at the time.

-AKL has quite a few resort activities for adults and children going on everyday.

 

[freediverdude]

Peter Pirate,
Yes, I know that most of the rooms at AKL are savannah view. But I was warning of what might be a probability if you reserve a standard view room and get a standard view room. I stayed on the 4th floor, and it looked like any rooms on that floor that faced the parking lot, as well as any rooms on the floor or two above me would definitely have that view, as they all faced out that way. There wasn't just one sign in one certain place that only a handful of rooms could see. These signs were spread out all over the field of vision. There was one big billboard way off to the left, the 7-11 and Citgo signs in the middle straight-on, and another billboard off to the right. Maybe if the person requested a 3rd floor room and got it, they might not be able to see that I don't know, but that's only 1 floor out of all the floors facing the parking lot, so chances are you're going to get stuck with the billboard view, in my opinion. Also, some of the 3rd floor rooms had a cement wall "balcony", if you want to call it that, that "overlooked" the walkway to the bus stops, and you definitely wouldn't want to get one of those rooms either, as you basically have a wall that you could barely peep over and not a view LOL. I'm not saying that the rest of the resort isn't beautiful, because it is. But I'm saying that even at the All-Stars they don't make you look out your window at a 7-11 sign. And those trees would probably have to grow a good 20 feet to cover up some of that stuff, if they are the kind to grow 20 more feet, which would be years down the road. That isn't acceptable.