AKL savannah vs. pool view

[musicmom3]

Help! I am driving myself nuts. I went from standard to pool to savannah view(thanks to BDP code) for our upcoming Feb. trip, and now am thinking of saving a few much needed bucks by going back to pool view. I requested the Arusha Savannah on Zebra trail but I know that a request is just a request. I would appreciate the input of those AKL experts--I know you're out there! Am I nuts to spend extra money for a savannah view?

 

[blanq]

I have only stayed at AKL once and was upgraded at check in from a standard to pool view. I know that alot of DISer's feel that it is not worth staying at AKL unless you have a savannah view, but I disagree with that. We loved AKL, loved our nice and quiet pool view room, and enjoyed viewing the animals from the public savannahs. We did not feel slighted in the least, not did we feel we got less of an experience due to lack of our own balcony overlooking one of the savannahs. There is a big difference in price, between a pool view and savannah view, and I personally would rather use that money on something else while at WDW. Also, keep in mind, depending on when you will be visiting, you probably have a good shot at an upgrade from pool view to savannah view at check in anyway.

 

[rach98n]

We will be there in Feb also and have upgraded from Standard to Pool view. I was tempted to go for Savannah, but according to several people, the pool view is very nice and you can go see the animals whenever you want anyway. One thing to consider now is...would they still put a BDP code on a room switch since that code has now expired??? I have no idea!

I'm just hoping for a nice pool view!

 

[candleonwater]

I will tell you, I wasn't wild about the AKL at all, but if I were to stay there again, I wouldn't stay in any room but a savannah view. There was nothing like looking out the window and seeing a giraffe looking right in our room! or waking up at night to see large animals sleeping right outside!

 

[pumpkinboy]

OK, so up front let me reassure you that any view at AKL is gonna be fine; it is a wonderful resort and if I could only get a Standard view, that would still be great. That being said, IMO the savannah view is sooooo worth it. My children, DW and I love to look out of our room and see the animals. I am taking my parents and niece with us in April, and will be starting our trip at AKL for the WOW! factor, which AKL has in spades, with savannah view. Pool view is nice too, but for us, it's savannah all the way.

 

[rlduvall]

Recently went through the same dilemma as you. We stuck with the pool view because I had read so many negative things about some of the Savannah views. I thought I'd rather not pay that rate and get a bad view. Boy, was that the right thing to do. Pool view was awesome. We were on the 5th floor all the way to the end. Some people would hate that, but we loved it because we had a great view of the pool (which is very lush and beautiful) and a good view of the side savannah. I would save my dollars for other things. Also, out on the balcony, the pool was loud (actually I thought it made it seem vacationy), but when you shut the door, you heard nothing.

 

[Clare]

We had reserved a standard room & were upgraded to a pool view room during our stay. I did not feel that a Savannah room was necessary to enjoy/appreciate the AKL because there are many, many places throughout the resort to see the animals besides the guest rooms.

We don't spend a lot of time in our room, so it was no big deal to us to see the animals form other locations. We really enjoyed sitting in the rocking chairs just outside the lobby (near Arusha Rock) and watching the animals.

Also.....while the pool view room was nice, I would not have paid extra for it. Standard would have been just fine with us.

Whatever you decide, I think you will really enjoy AKL. It is a beautiful resort.

 

[mudogs]

I'm not sure you can still get the rate with the code but call and ask. I had the same feelings you are having for our upcoming April trip. I started with a standard view then called and switched to a savannah view. I got a rate of around $229 and now the same room is going for $412. Of course I had to share with my husband how much money I am saving!

 

[musicmom3]

Thanks for all the feedback. I am going to check the feasibility of switching back to pool view using the BDP discount. If switching is not allowed, it is a moot point and I can stop my nuttiness! If switching IS allowed, I will probably obsess a little more!

 

[Peter Pirate]

Any room at AKL is great but I'd never pay extra for a pool view. They are (IMO) totally usesless. Half of them are obstructed views from the pool altogether.

Very often the upgrade from std. to pool WILL take place and even if it doesn't I'd be fine by knowing the money I'd saved by staying in a std. room.

My point: Savannah if at all possible, if not save, save, save and take the std.

 

[Schmeck]

I really hated our pool view - it smelled "pooly", it was noisy most of the time, and our view was somewhat blocked by vegetation. I'd only stay at AKL with a savannah view from now on.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

First of all...AKL is a phenomenal resort. I dare say it is neck and neck with my beloved WL, and there are actually things I like better about AKL.

I had a pool view reserved in Nov and we got a complimentary upgrade to a savannah view...which very may well happen to you, too!

But believe it or not, if I had to do it all over again...i would just keep the pool view! I was not thrilled with the savannah view at all. We had a great room...geez, now it is escaping me but it was at the very end of the third floor with an inner savannah view. After seeing a zebra or girrafe walk by, it kind lost it's novelty.

When we were sitting at the pool I kept looking up at the pool view rooms and wishing I had one of those. I really like the courtyard (pool) view at the WL, too.