AKL savannah and GF lagoon view room locations

[justhat]

Hi everyone! We're leaving on the 27th for 4 nights at AKL and 4 nights at the GF and I want to ask for the best possible views (doesn't everyone!) for both hotels but having never stayed at either I am having trouble deciding on a location.

For AKL I am thinking about 3rd floor, Zebra Trail, Arusha Savannah. We have 2 savannah rooms booked and initially thought we'd request them to be in the same general area (we don't need connecting), though at the same time if they're not, it might be nice to see the views from 2 different rooms. Any ideas for this, including if we should go with 2 separate savannah requests or specific room numbers, trails, or floors? We don't mind being far from each other since we will probably just meet in the lobby before we go out, if we leave together.

For the GF, we'll be there 12/31-1/4 with 2 lagoon view rooms. We'd like a MK view, especially since my mother will be recovering from her last chemo treatment and may not feel up to staying in the parks until 1am on NYE, so if she could see the fireworks from her room that would be great. Here, we'd rather be in one building, just for the convenience of not having to walk outside to get to the other room since it will probably be chilly, especially at night. Any particular buildings, floors, and rooms would be appreciated since this part of the trip is really what my mom has been looking forward to for years--she's always wanted to stay at this hotel, since they first put it up about 15 years ago. Also, is there a building with great lagoon views that is also close to the main building? I don't mind walking but my mom might get tired after a day at the parks and wouldn't want to look forward to a big walk back to her room. Thanks!

 

[padisneylover]

Hi,
I have only been to AKL so here is my thougths on your choice. I think the 3rd floor is a great option and your savanah is also a good choice. I take it your mother may have trouble walking some?? If so and you plan on using BOMA, Jiko, or the food court you might want to ask for a room in the second block of rooms. There is an elevator that goes directly down to the areas close to the pool, snack bar and all restruants which would save some steps. I would also, suggest that if you stay on the 3rd floor that you ask for a room away from the front lobby. It seemed to be very noisy at times in that area when we were there in April.
We stayed on the 4th floor and really perfered being away from the 3rd floor only because every time we went down it seemed noisy in the halls. 3rd floor is the main exit hallway to the buses and the lobby so is used heavily by all people comming and going. We were in a smoking room by choice and that put us in the begining of the 3rd block of rooms I belive. Our room was one door down from a little sitting area with glass looking out on the plain and right next to the elevator to the pool ect. It was very quiet and the only complaint if there was any was it was a long walk to the bus. We never minded it though because there is so many neat things to see along the way and they change daily and from hour to hour depending on where the animals are when you go through.
Have a great time and I know you will love your time at the AKL. It is really hard to pry yourself away to go to the parks since it is so beautiful and offers so many things to see and do right there.

 

[justhat]

Thanks for your info! Does anyone know if our chances will be limited since we won't arrive at AKL until about 7:30pm? I know getting there early will increase our chances since more rooms will be open, but will they hold the rooms they assigned us to? Also, we are switching to the GF on 12/31 so my other question is when should we check-in? I'm afraid that if we don't get into a park early in the day they'll be filled and we won't get in. But if we go to a park early and stay there until 4 or 5 pm and then check-in at the GF, will we still be able to get a MK view room? We don't plan on being in a park at midnight so that's not a big deal if we can't get back into a park after we check-in at the GF. So should we get up early, run to the GF, check-in, the go to a park, or should we just head straight for the parks and then check-in later, around 4 or 5?? We're so confused since we've never been to WDW during the holidays or any other crowded time really so we have no idea what to do. Any help would be appreciated!!!

 

[imbe@aol.com]

Originally posted by justhat
Hi everyone! We're leaving on the 27th for 4 nights at AKL and 4 nights at the GF and I want to ask for the best possible views (doesn't everyone!) for both hotels but having never stayed at either I am having trouble deciding on a location.

For AKL I am thinking about 3rd floor, Zebra Trail, Arusha Savannah. We have 2 savannah rooms booked and initially thought we'd request them to be in the same general area (we don't need connecting), though at the same time if they're not, it might be nice to see the views from 2 different rooms. Any ideas for this, including if we should go with 2 separate savannah requests or specific room numbers, trails, or floors? We don't mind being far from each other since we will probably just meet in the lobby before we go out, if we leave together.

For the GF, we'll be there 12/31-1/4 with 2 lagoon view rooms. We'd like a MK view, especially since my mother will be recovering from her last chemo treatment and may not feel up to staying in the parks until 1am on NYE, so if she could see the fireworks from her room that would be great. Here, we'd rather be in one building, just for the convenience of not having to walk outside to get to the other room since it will probably be chilly, especially at night. Any particular buildings, floors, and rooms would be appreciated since this part of the trip is really what my mom has been looking forward to for years--she's always wanted to stay at this hotel, since they first put it up about 15 years ago. Also, is there a building with great lagoon views that is also close to the main building? I don't mind walking but my mom might get tired after a day at the parks and wouldn't want to look forward to a big walk back to her room. Thanks!

Sorry I can't help with AKL, as when we've stayed there, we've had suites and they're on particular floors. But at the GF ... personally, I think the best MK location is Boca Chica building.

 

[Sharper]

Originally posted by justhat
..I want to ask for the best possible views (doesn't everyone!) for both hotels but having never stayed at either I am having trouble deciding on a location.

For AKL I am thinking about 3rd floor, Zebra Trail, Arusha Savannah.

I came within an inch of faxing this identical room request to AKL, but found that I just couldn't because it is the one mentioned on the board about a zillion times! Sort of like they will assume I have no clue and am making the stereotypical request. I feel like they will roll their eyes and go "Sheesh, don't these people realize that there are plenty of rooms just as good or better than this?"

I decided to just go with the non-smoking and let luck and our early arrival help us get a room that will make us happy. I am trying to pack even as I am surfing the 'net!

 

[SeaSpray]

We stayed in Boca Chica last year in room 8317. We had a wonderful view of everything across the lagoon. If we looked straight ahead from the balcony, and pretended it was 12:00 on a clock, then 10:00 was the Magic Kingdom and the castle, 2:00 was the Polynesian resort, straight ahead slightly to the left we could see the Contemporary, and to the right the very top of the Wilderness Lodge buildings, over the tops of the trees. Not to mention the beautiful view of the lagoon and little islands, themselves. It wasn't the "best" view of the castle in the entire resort but we could see it quite clearly, and watch it change colors all night Also, to be able to see EVERYTHING on the lagoon from our balcony, was great!

 

[justhat]

Okay, so I think I have the MK figured out from your posts, Boca Chica seems to be the building to be in, so we're going to request that one, but for AK I'm still a little confused. As Sharper said, almost everyone asks for the room request I plan to fax them. I know it sounds like everyone else's so that's why I was hoping to have specific room numbers to request. I have always loved zebras so that's why I want to be on the Arusha savannah since I read somewhere it's the only one with zebras. Padisneylover, you said to request the 2nd block of rooms because of the elevator--do you happen to know any room numbers in that area? Thanks, this woul be a great help since we've only been to either of these hotels for a meal and don't know much about the room views.