AKL, savannah view or not?

[tarcc]

Hello, just want some advice/ general opinions please.
We're looking to stay at AKL next year & although this may sound silly to some i always said that if we stayed at AKL that i would want to pay extra for a savannah view room. Now I've just got a very reasonable quote from virgin holidays from the net but it doesn't include a savannah view room & usually we just don't care about whether we have a good view or not, within reason, so does anyone think i'm mad to want to pay extra for a view & maybe miss out on a good deal & has anyone stayed at AKL with or without the savannah view & do you think its worth the extra or not??

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi you may not want my opinion as I haven't actually stayed there (we were going to this year, but got scared of all the building work!)

Anyway, I am normally the same as you, and don't care about the view - but I will definitely make an exception for the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

We went to look round it during our last trip and although they have the publiic viewing area, I really think the real thrill for me will be sitting out first thing in the morning and last thing at night with my own private space and thoughts - worth the extra in my book - but obviously thats just my own opinion!!!

 

[paulh]

to me the view was great(got upgraded),would sit on balcony watching graffes trapes out in a morrning.the kids loved it first day,but when i woke them second day said they saw them yesterday and rolled over back to sleep
Best overheard conversation at the annimal lookout area at bottom.American wife says to her husband "are those Graffes real or cardboard cutouts"
Paulh

 

[tashasmum]

We stayed at AKL (christmas 06)and paid extra for the savannah view. It was really nice to wake up in a morning and have a coffee whilst watching the animals. There were a few times when we would come back from a park and sit outside watching the animals and because it wasn't the middle of summer there were quite a few to see.
Unless you are going to spend a lot of time in your room watching the animals i really wouldn't bother too much. For us it is really just a place to get our heads down at night but we were both celebrating birthdays so decided to push the boat out anyway.
Not sure whether you would see too many animals during the day if you are there in the middle of summer. It's a great hotel to stay at.

 

[TinkTatoo]

We stayed there at Christmas '06 and got upgraded to a Savannah view and to be honest I wasn't that impressed and would have been disapointed if I'd paid extra for that view. We were overlooking the Sunset Savannah and all we saw the entire 5 days we were there were 2 giraffe way off in the distance and a lone Impala.

I think I'd be tempted to take the great deal and see if you get an upgrade when you are there

 

[Goofyish]

A savannah view certainly adds the icing on the cake when staying at AKL. Seeing animals feed just below your balcony is a great experience (quality of view does depend on room and floor).

But the resort is about so much more than the view from your room. There are viewing locations on all the floors and also there is the Arusha Rock savannah outlook that projects right into the savannah. There are usually CMs on duty to give you information on the animals etc. They are very friendly and love answering questions

The pool is also very nice and you also get Boma and Jiko restaurants as well as the small food court.

The theming alone makes it an experience never to forget, so don't be put off if you can't get a savannah view room

 

[tarcc]

hi, thanks for all your great replies. I'm pretty sure i want to pay the extra to get a savannah view but on the other hand my worry is that the view we get may not be all that great. We also visited AKL last year & wanted to go this year but luckily our travel agent advised against it because of the upcoming construction work. We are a family of animal lovers & as i'm always the 1st up in the morning i can just see myself sat on the balcony having my morning coffee & watching the animals . I think what it will come down to in the end is cost, i'll wait awhile for other travel companies' prices to come out for '09 and take it from there.
Thanks everyone

 

[Little Flower]

I would definately pay the extra for the savanah room. AKL really is an amazing hotel, it honesty does blow you away. I've attached a couple of photos of the view from our balcony - we didn't have a great view at all - there was a large pen in the way and we were on a small corner of the savanah.

These pictures are of Sunset Savanah

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z43/littleflower_01/?action=view&current=DSC00485.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z43/littleflower_01/DSC00485.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z43/littleflower_01/?action=view&current=DSC00484.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z43/littleflower_01/DSC00484.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z43/littleflower_01/?action=view&current=DSC00483.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z43/littleflower_01/DSC00483.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Can you imagine how good the view would have been on one of the bigger more densely populated savanahs???

 

[wickesy]

I've attached a couple of photos of the view from our balcony - we didn't have a great view at all - there was a large pen in the way and we were on a small corner of the savanah.

Can you imagine how good the view would have been on one of the bigger more densely populated savanahs???

If that's "not a great view at all" I've got nothing to worry about for 17 days time!

 

[Little Flower]

If that's "not a great view at all" I've got nothing to worry about for 17 days time!

I Know!!!!!

i have to admit, i was dissapointed when we first got the room and i saw the view as most of it had a pen in the way.

I took the photos after we had been in the room for about five minutes - it was great. I get the impression that even the bad views are still good!

I'm just hoping for Wildebeasts next time!

 

[tarcc]

hey littleflower thanks for the photos that was really great
It seems like most people lean towards having the savannah view & its what i really want anyway.

 

[Little Flower]

hey littleflower thanks for the photos that was really great
It seems like most people lean towards having the savannah view & its what i really want anyway.

It really is beautiful - i can't wait for december so we can go back!!!!

I've got loads of other pictures of the lodge. Feel free to PM me if you want to see them or want to ask any questions.

 

[jns]

is it much more to upgrade

maybe you could wait and see when you get there

there are viewing spot all over the lodge anyhow

 

[UKDEB]

Reading between the lines, you're pretty much sold on having that view, so I'd be inclined to pay the extra. Once the money's paid out, you'll forget how much it cost!

We'd booked an Arusha Savannah view for our stay back in 2001 shortly after it opened. We lucked out and upgraded at check-in for a Concierge room for an extra $20 a night (still with an Arusha view). I'm not sure how it all works now that DVC has taken over that area.

Have you looked into booking separately? It's a long time since I researched packages, but in my experience you really pay over the odds for Disney and Universal hotels when booking a package. You might find that you can get your savannah view for a lot less than you'd pay for a standard view with a package.

 

[Booknut]

We stayed at AKL in Sept 2006 and had a fab room right in the middle with heaps of Wildebeest (which are DH's favourites!). We were lucky because our friend worked concierge there so she nabbed us a very nice room!

Having said this I didn't spend heaps of time on the balcony (mostly because of the lovebugs but that's another story...) and still loved the resort. The pool was fabulous, the restaurants are great and we loved sitting in the big rocking chairs on various balconies at the resort and watching the animals from there as well. The bongos were AMAZING!!!

I'm not an expert on booking with Virgin Holidays never having used them but any time i've priced out a vacation with Virgin its always come back at least 15-20% more expensive than doing it myself. Maybe try someone at Dreams Unlimited (they are a specialist Disney travel service) and see if they can get you a quote for the room you want at a better deal. They can get tickets, dining plan and do the reservations for dining as well. My agent there is Rhonda, she's very helpful, let her know what you want and when you want to go and she'll be able to tell you about any room discounts/requests etc. Let me know if you want her contact details.

 

[SammieG]

well im looking out of my window now.. and can see 3 giraffe, 2 ostrich and a zebra

Its quite exciting

 

[tarcc]

I'm not an expert on booking with Virgin Holidays never having used them but any time i've priced out a vacation with Virgin its always come back at least 15-20% more expensive than doing it myself. Maybe try someone at Dreams Unlimited (they are a specialist Disney travel service) and see if they can get you a quote for the room you want at a better deal. They can get tickets, dining plan and do the reservations for dining as well. My agent there is Rhonda, she's very helpful, let her know what you want and when you want to go and she'll be able to tell you about any room discounts/requests etc. Let me know if you want her contact details. [/QUOTE]


thanks you've all been really helpful . We are seriously considering booking next year independently & yes i pretty am sold on the idea of having the savannah view.

 

[Chilly]

When I go next year I'm going to pay the extra for the view.