AKL...standard or pool view?? Upgrade??

[cambra]

Ok...many of you have offered such wonderful advice..now another question...I cannot afford right off the bat to pay for a Savannah view...so my choice is....

Do I pay for a standard view and hope for an upgrade to pool or savannah?

Or, do I pay for a pool view...and be happy with that (as I am sure the view is nice) or hope they will upgrade us to savannah view?

I really don't want to face a parking lot...but I also am aware that if I pay standard, I can justifiably get what I pay for....

Thanks!!!

 

[jenjersnap]

Well, last December we couldn't get anything but a standard at the general room-only price (it was a relatively last minute trip) so we booked it with crossed fingers and we were upgraded to savannah room, to my eternal relief for our animal-loving 4-yr-old DS and pixie-dusted gratitude.

This December, I couldn't convince my DH to pay for a savannah view (he's a bit of a Scrooge with money), but we did decide to go with poolview. I just can't chance a parking lot view but a poolview is acceptable. Also, an upgrade from poolview to savannah is only up ONE category whereas an upgrade from standard is two. I figure it might be slightly more likely to land a savannah upgrade from poolview, though I do not expect the pixie dust to fly this trip, for some reason.

As you probably know, standard makes up only 10% of AKL rooms and poolview is another 10%. It seems that they are routinely oversold. If you can bear the thought of ending up with the parking lot view as your worst case scenario, I would chance it for the considerable savings. If, like us, you have kids or you yourself would be crushed facing the wrong way at AKL, upgrade!

Good luck.

 

[cambra]

Hi Jennifer.....I am a "Jennifer" too!

Anyway...I appreciate the advice...I have been waiting ...so thanks for taking the time to give your input!

We have two little boys and one will turn 7 while we are there...so I would hope they would upgrade us...but Idon't want to be a snob about it and expect to be upgraded while paying standard prices....

I may just pay the extra $100 for the pool view...that's $100 total...not per nite...I guess that way, we are guaranteed NOT to see bumpers or trash cans as others have put it!!

 

[Tiffany]

Ok...many of you have offered such wonderful advice..now another question...I cannot afford right off the bat to pay for a Savannah view...so my choice is....

Do I pay for a standard view and hope for an upgrade to pool or savannah?

Or, do I pay for a pool view...and be happy with that (as I am sure the view is nice) or hope they will upgrade us to savannah view?

I really don't want to face a parking lot...but I also am aware that if I pay standard, I can justifiably get what I pay for....

Thanks!!!

I would recommend that you book pool view based on what you wrote above. If a pool view room fits into your budget then book that as the views are nice, we have stayed in pool view rooms twice, and it does not appear that it will be an issue money wise.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Book what you will be satisfied with. If you never stay there again, will the standard view satisfy you?

If the resort is pretty much booked, you have little chance of getting a free upgrade.

 

[DiscussDisney]

We booked a pool view and were upgraded to a wonderful savannah view. We would of been happy with the pool view (it is a very nice view), but the upgrade was a pleasant surprise. Although we loved our savannah view, we would not pay extra for it in the future.

 

[cambra]

Will they feel more sorry for us if we have a standard view and therefore upgrade us to savannah? LOL

I am thinking if we have a pool view, they won't "feel" as badly. But I also think that if we have a pool view, we are the next step up to savannah...and if standard, then the next step up is a pool view....

Is that how the system works? I don't want to seem like I want something for nothing....I know it must sound that way...but we can't afford to pay for the Savannah view right off the bat, especially since I have read that even some Savannah views aren't all that great!

Thanks for replies!

 

[jenjersnap]

Well, I gotta say that any expectation of an upgrade due to PITY on the part of CMs is completely unreasonable. What about other families who are booked standard? Do they all deserve to be upgraded then or is your family more special somehow? If you get upgraded, think of it as your lucky day. Honestly, it sounds more and more from your posts that you will be bothered if you do not end up with a savannah room and, unless you book savannah, I don't think you can expect it.

Since we're indulging in random "system" theories without basis in fact: why wouldn't AKL CMs be more likely to upgrade those who booked poolview than standard view since they have paid more for their room? Or people who pay rack rate rather than get a discount should be more likely to get an upgrade! The possibilities are endless and I don't think anyone knows why or how to get an upgrade because there isn't a system in place, too many other factors in play.

I am not being critical of you - as I said above, we hope for an upgrade too - just giving you another point of view. I would not over-think it. Just book the highest category you can afford and RELAX - AKL is wonderful.

 

[shady]

I cant find where I read this, but AKL is the one resort that you should ALWAYS stick with the stardards. The reason is that there are so few of them, the likelihood of an upgrade is almost certain.

Also, if there isnt a free upgrade offered, you can always ask at check in what the cost would be to do so. And it might be cheaper than it would be otherwise.

 

[justcantwait]

And were upgraded to pool view. This was just last week, so it wasn't extremely crowded. Pool view was nice. If you can afford it, go with that, and still hope for the upgrade to savannah view. Even if you don't get the upgrade, there are so many nice places to view the animals. I found that we were more likely to want to see the animals as we were coming and going from the resort, rather than after we had settled into the room, or when we were getting ready to leave in the morning. Next time we go, it will be with the kids (ages 7 and 3) (this last trip wasn't ), so we will try to save up for savannah view for them. But, if we can only afford pool view, I'm sure they'll LOVE that too. I agree with the other posters who say book what you can afford, and what you'll be happy with, and hope for a good dose of pixie dust!

 

[kimmar067]

First of all, let me ask: What time of year will you be staying at AKL?? This is important, because, depending upon the time of year, could improve or decrease your hopes and chances of getting an upgrade. Second, do you expect to PAY for that upgrade? (a nominal fee, of course) I figure it THIS way: if you book standard, and there ARE pool/savannah view rooms available , AND, they are otherwise being unoccupied by other guests, chances are, they will offer you an upgrade at a slight fee, which would probably be less than if you booked a pool/savannah room in the first place. However, that being said, chances of available rooms go DOWN if you are going during a busy season, so, just book with what view you are willing to "settle for" and at what price....

(PS ~ don't forget to check out my "Jambo! The UN-official...." thread for plenty of pix and advice!)

 

[cambra]

Thank you all for wonderful suggestions! I certainly didn't mean to sound ungrateful or "snobby" about receiving upgrades....don't want to step on anyones' toes!! I am new here and am in no position to make enemies!!

I have read soooo many of your insightful posts that tell "us" about how and when and why you received certain upgrades for different resorts and I was only curious (as a brand new visitor to the Resorts) how this actually worked!

Thank you for your wonderful descriptions and pictures! We can't wait! I know we will love it where ever we are!!

 

[coachyo]

Most everyone here is telling you the same thing. Book what you can afford and then hope for the Pixie Dust. Don't let it be a bummer or anything else. We stayed poolview and really enjoyed it and our location. I think the savana view may be a bit overrated as there are so many locations to see from. IMHO
Good luck and have a great time, you'll be at DW!!!!!!!!

YO

 

[Jen D]

Thanks for this thread. I have also wondered this... I was going to book a pool view because the price difference between that and standard view is negligible but it is a good view... but I also had some weird notion that plain old standards were more likely to be upgraded to savannah view... I'm somewhat convinced otherwise now after reading this thread. In any case, I think if I book pool I won't miss the upgrade too much if I don't get it, whereas if I'm looking at minivans and dumpsters all week... Better book pool view.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

This may be tacky, but lets say you get offered a free or very cheap upgrade to Savannah view, do you then whip out a list of where you would like the upgrade to be ? I mean do you then say, "That is so wonderful!!! Can we please have Zebra trail or Arusha rock? Can we have bunkbeds?" I only ask because according to many of you AKL veterans, the views and or rrooms from some locations are vastly better than others. Pleas No flames. Just curious!

 

[dixiedizfan]

Cambra, since you're now looking at the Poly, you might as well go ahead and pay for the deluxe savannah view at AKL. Would probably be the same money and this way you'd get what you want!

 

[kimmar067]

This may be tacky, but lets say you get offered a free or very cheap upgrade to Savannah view, do you then whip out a list of where you would like the upgrade to be ? I mean do you then say, "That is so wonderful!!! Can we please have Zebra trail or Arusha rock? Can we have bunkbeds?" I only ask because according to many of you AKL veterans, the views and or rrooms from some locations are vastly better than others. Please. No flames. Just curious!

.....we stayed concierge for the first part of our vaca, planning on a split stay, and moving over to Ft W. However, once we checked in, there was NO WAY my DH and kids wanted to check OUT. So, we wound up staying at AKL. But, I just didn't have the funds for a full stay in concierge, so I asked for a std room, even though I knew it was going to be a bit dissappointing (dlx savannah view to pkg lot view!) They offered me a savannah room at a great reduced rate. However, it was WA-A-A-A-AY out on one end of the "arms" of the AKL building, with a LOT of walking involved. I did not even open my mouth or complain, because, although the walk to and from our room was a long one, it had a great view and it was quiet...also, I couldn't pass up on the great price!

 

[wer14631]

Our family experience with AKL upgrades: We have booked pool view on 5 seperate occasions and have never been offered an "upgrade" to Savannah view. However on the one occasion that a family member booked standard view, they were upgraded.

Also, I agree with a previous poster that the Savannah view is a tad over-rated. There are many areas in the lodge to view the animals from and, for a majority of the day, they are just not that active. Further, the pool view guarantees that you will be close to the lobby, resturants and bus stops. Some of the Savannah view rooms are a looong hike from the main areas.

Just my opinion.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I'd book the pool view. That way you'll be happy not looking at the parking lot. And maybe, if you are lucky, you'll get bumped up from there; but don't expect the upgrade because it most likely won't happen.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Our family experience with AKL upgrades: We have booked pool view on 5 seperate occasions and have never been offered an "upgrade" to Savannah view. However on the one occasion that a family member booked standard view, they were upgraded.

Also, I agree with a previous poster that the Savannah view is a tad over-rated. There are many areas in the lodge to view the animals from and, for a majority of the day, they are just not that active. Further, the pool view guarantees that you will be close to the lobby, resturants and bus stops. Some of the Savannah view rooms are a looong hike from the main areas.

Just my opinion.

Have you ever stayed in a Savannah view room? It kind of sounds like you haven't. That said, there is nothing neater that getting up in the morning, early, going out on the balcony in your PJs and watching the animals. It's quiet and kind of wonderful.