AKL SAvannah View Worth the Price?

[SuperTink]

We have a short trip--5 days--so we will spending most of our time at the parks.

However, we do make a mid afternoon trip back to the hotel every day, and my kids enjoy hanging out on the grounds, in the pool, even if it is for just a few hours.

With that in mind, do you think it is worth it to book a Savannah View Room? I think I might kick myself if we don't happen to get a great view of some animals, and I know that's never guaranteed. Anything else about these rooms that is worth the difference in price?

TIA

 

[Allensfan]

I do think it is worth the price. The thought of paying to stay there and having a view of the parking lots does little for me.

The main reason for selecting AKL is the charm and magic of the animals...might as well get to see them. If the animals are not as important to you, I would consider a different hotel.

We also got a room with a bunkbed and it was pretty cool. Good luck choosing!

 

[munchie22]

I was a bit disappointed in the room size at AKL - for the price and star level it is really not much bigger than a motel room. BUT, after saying that, I definately thought it worth the extra price for the savannah view. It is true you can see animals from many different places around the resort, but to wake up in the middle of the night and just look beyond the curtain was very exciting. We also got to watch feedings a few times just because we happened to look out the window at the right time - especially early morning or late at night. Disney also makes sure the animals move around so you don't always see the same animals in the same positions every day.

We had bunk beds as well which was fun for the kids.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

We had a savannah view last December but it was a complimentary upgrade from the standard view I had booked. And we loved it even more because of that. But since you're going to be spending most of your time in the parks, I wouldn't spend the money for a savannah view. There are so many places to sit (or stand) and watch the animals around the resort that you won't miss out by not having a savannah view.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I'm toying with that idea right now. We stayed at AKL in '04. My Aunt and Uncle took us on the trip, after they won the lottery . We had a savannah view and loved it. My kids were a lot younger then, and although they liked the animals, it was amusing to travel all that way only to have my 18 month old dd look out the window and say "dog" to all the exotic animals

Fast forward to now. We're planning a trip for next January. We've stayed at values the last two times that we went (no rich relatives paid for those). This time, we wanted a little more, so I let the kids look and choose. They loved AKL, so we decide to splurge. One of the selling points was the bunk beds, but to guarantee those, it's an upgrade. Now, I'm feeling like we may as well go all out and get the bunk beds with the savannah view. The kids may not care, but I'm thinking we'll be disappointed having been spoiled once before.

So, all in all, I think it is worth the upgrade for the view. It was really amazing, and such a unique experience. Especially now that my kids are older, I know they will love the view! So, I think we're going to do a split stay to make this somewhat affordable for the four days we will stay at AKL.

You will love AKL!

 

[SuperTink]

Thank you, I'm sold!

 

[talmandi]

We just returned from four nights in AKL (looooved it!). I booked a standard room, but ended up with a savanah view without asking for an upgrade. It was cool to see giraffes eating an afternoon snack from our room, BUT there are a ton of public viewing areas around this surprisingly compact resort.

We probably watched the animals more from those public areas because, if our three year old wanted to see the zebras, we'd walk 2 or 3 minutes to the spot where you could see the zebras. Also, the public areas are much better for photographs than the top-down vantage point of a 4th floor balcony.

To me, paying for the room views of the animals would not be worth the extra expense. It's not like you're going to see an Animal Planet-like scene of a leopard stalking prey. They are interesting, but you'll likely get your fill of watching the kudu graze from main porch on your way to dinner.

 

[Toot Sweet]

It's not worth it to me. I don't spend enough time in the room to pay attention to the view at ANY resort. But that's just me.

Enjoy your trip, whatever you decide!

BTW: I'm leaving tomorrow morning for AKV!!

 

[Joshua_me]

Personally, I think it's very much worth the extra money for the Savannah view... We were there almost two years ago now and absolutely loved relaxing on the balcony at dusk, enjoying an 'adult beverage' and watching the animals go by....

But, we're two adults that go at least once or twice a year, so seeing everything at every park is not so much a priority for us. You have to decide what is right for you. As said above, though, it's hard to have a view of the parking lot when you know what you are missing on the opposite side of the building. Some of the views from the 'giraffe trail' building are pretty bad. Pool view on one side which is OK, but a view of the roof and the entrance to the hotel on the other. NOT worth the price, IMHO.

If the AKL was located, say, where the Poly is I doubt we'd stay anywhere else. But it's remote location from most everything except AK is another consideration. Legthy bus rides can get a little tiresome after awhile.

 

[conmama]

Our first trip was in 2005. Our boys were 11 and 8. Since we'd waited for a WDW trip for so long, we thought we'd splurge and do AKL and a savanah view. The boys barely looked out the window, "yeah, cool", then back inside the room. We always took a break in the afternoon and spent it at the pool...LOVE that Pool! There are animals you can see from there. I don't think they hardly looked out at the savanah view at all.

It was okay, not what i was anticipating. Now worth the extra money to us at all. I think we spent $100 more a night for that. What we COULD have done with that extra $500........

 

[GovieMom]

Just for the experience of waking in the morning to see giraffes and zebras grazing in the mist ... priceless! I was one who was very hesitant to spend the extra bucks for a savannah view room, and wouldn't tell DH how much more it was. But oh my gosh, it was so wonderful and exotic. Sometimes we hated leaving the room to go to the parks because we enjoyed the view so much. It is so, so worth it!

 

[wer14631]

Stayed at AKL many times. For us, the Savannah view was nice but not amazingly so. (As previously stated, anything you can see from your balcony can also be seen from the many public viewing areas). We find the pool view to be the best option. Pool is beautiful, and always something going on outside your room (whereas Savannah animal viewing can be hit or miss). Pool view is only slightly more expensive than standard (parking lot) view, and considerably less expensive than Savannah view. Finally, the pool view will guarantee a nice central location (close to lobby, shop, restaurants, bus stops and (of course) the pool). Some of the Savannah view rooms can be quite a hike down the hall.