AKL Standard Pool View Location

[Crazy Kanga]

We have booked standard pool view, but my kids would much rather have animals right outside our balcony. I have read on these boards that there are many viewing locations around the resort, but I am thinking of biting the bullet and asking for an upgrade. What do ya'll think?

 

[dgaston]

In October 03 we had a pool view. While I secretly hoped for an upgrade to savanna, that's what we could afford. I also needed bunk beds for my teen son and daughter. We ended up in the last room on the first floor by the health club. Our patio was surrounded by bushes, but DS spent a lot of time hopping the rail to the path. We didn't have much of a pool view, more like a view of a Disney Boulder, some flower plantings and a little pool view.

My family loved the room! I was so-so on it. My kids spent a whole night with the CMs and the night vision goggles. We looked at lots of animals from the various public viewing areas, and saw lots and lots of animals. But different from the Disney commercials it wasn't on opening our balcony drapes.

I don't know if this will help you. Yes we saw a lot of animals, and I suspect sometime when there is a great code at a time we can go, I will book a savanna view. But it's going to have to be a great code! LOL

 

[CarolA]

AKL is the only resort I will pay for a view on. Yes, lots of people post they get upgraded, but the truth is that people don't always post when they get what they paid for so what you see is not always reflective of the truth.

I love AKL and only stay when I can afford the view!

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by Crazy Kanga
We have booked standard pool view, but my kids would much rather have animals right outside our balcony. I have read on these boards that there are many viewing locations around the resort, but I am thinking of biting the bullet and asking for an upgrade. What do ya'll think?

Hi,

We love the AKL but I would advise that you only book the view that you can afford. There are several areas to view the animals throughout the resort and even if you do have a savanna view room the animals are NOT always right outside of your room. Some people pay more then they can afford for a savanna view room and then get disapointed when there is not a zebra, etc. right outside of their room every time they are out on their balcony.

The best times to see the animals are early morning and late afternoon.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

I guess we will just have to hope they aren't to busy and offer a free upgrade, because it just isn't in our budget to pay any more. If they don't, we will just have to make the best of it. I am sure we will love it no matter what. After all...we will be at the most magical place on earth.

 

[HopperFan]

We were upgraded from standard to a wonderful savanna view our first visit. Queen bed and bunks.

Was so afraid if I booked standard next trip I would actually get it, and so I paid extra for pool view - just couldn't do savanna $. Well, we got our pool view, and I was very disappointed. We never used the balcony.

I think I would go back to standard again (except for rooms down by bus loading). Unless it was a great deal on savanna, I wouldn't pay the extra. So many places to view the animals all over. And it is a big hotel, and certainly not enough animals to be outside everyone's room.

I hear lots of folks book standard and get upgrades to savanna, and hear some get bumped up to deluxe with the same view, but I wonder if anyone ever gotten bumped from pool view to savanna view ????

 

[Jessica Grimes]

My congratulations to you on picking the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It's our favorite place to stay. We're going in November. I usually book the cheapest room they have available. Right now I'm using a AAA discount. I do not think your stay will be any less wonderful by not staying in a Savanah View Room. True it's the best room at the lodge, but their are so may places to view the animals. I think sometimes you get a better view at Akusha Rock than anywhere else. We are hoping for an upgrade to a Savanah View Room. If not, we will ask to change our reservation for the last two nights to Savanah View. The last time we stayed we asked for this and only payed an additional $15. The truth of the matter is there's not much point to having a Savanah View room if you're going to be in the parks all day. You can upgrade your room for your last nights there.

 

[looo33]

What is the difference between a pool view and a deluxe pool view room? We tried to get a savannah view but they were all booked so we have a deluxe pool view.

 

[Bstanley]

Kanga,

No worries! They always upgrade folks from Alabama at AKL (well - us anyway .

I believe that AKL has a policy to upgrade people whenever possible - so it will basically be a matter of how busy they are when your trip is scheduled. When are you going?

We were there in early Dec one year (no crowds at all) and were upgraded from Standard to Savannah, and the next year during Spring Break we were upgraded from Standard to Pool.


looo33,

A Standard room at AKL is basically identical to a room at the WL. It's smaller than the rooms at the other Deluxes.

A Deluxe room at AKL is basically identical to a room at YC/BC and is only slightly smaller than the Polynesian or Contemporary (you probably wouldn't notice).


Have fun!

 

[classicpooh]

Hi! We were @ the AKL last week and loved it.

We booked a standard view room and got exactly what we paid for. We also requested bunk beds and did not get them... I was told that there were none available. I was also told that I could check out the next morning and get a bunk bed room, but I did not want the hassel. During this discussion, I asked about an upgrade and was offered one - for the price difference. I did not want to pay more, so we kept our room.

We were near the bus loading, never heard a thing from the outside (never used the balcony either, but then again there was that Hurricaine) and loved the location. We had a short walk to the bus stop which was very welcome after a long day @ the parks and a short walk to the pool, lobby etc. We utilized the animal viewing area.

We were happy with everything about our stay, including our room. Just don't be disappointed if you are not upgraded (even if you ask) and if your requests are not met.

 

[KristiKelly]

The view is worth the extra cost. We stayed in 2002, our kids were 2 & 4 at the time, they loved eating their cereal on the balcony watching the giraffes. It was nice to put them to bed & we would sit out on the balcony for a while & watch the animals. Although we were on the far end of (what I call) the horseshoe, we could here people at the pool until 10 or 11 at night (don't remember what time it closed then). DH & I both said that we were glad that we paid for the sav. view, it seems the pool could be pretty loud.