AKL standard view rooms -- are they worth it???

[san2ting2mom]

I really would like to stay at AKL, but only if we can get a savannah-view room, but honestly, the price difference between a moderate resort and a savannah-view room at the AKL is astonishing. However, the standard-view rooms at the AKL only look out over a parking lot, right? Are those rooms worth the deluxe price? Or are they not even worth it, and it's probably a better "deal" to be in a moderate resort with an upgraded view?

FWIW, seven nights in a moderate resort will run us about $1000-$1100, and it will cost us about $1800 for a standard-view room at AKL and $2200 for savannah-view room. That's a BIG price difference, so just wondering if that's worth it.

Thanks!

Linda

 

[aidansmom]

We just stayed at AKL this past December - poolview room with AP rate $120. Having gotten such a good deal, we enjoyed it and felt that it was worth the money. However, my husband and I also both agreed that, for the money, POR is probably a better deal - AKL is beautiful and it's a really nice experience to stay there, but I think that if you're concerned about the $, you're better off at a moderate with a nice view (actually, IMO, their parking lots are prettier, too!) we've stayed at POR twice and loved it. By the way, I think you're right about the parking lot view, and I don't think you can ever depend on an upgrade. Good luck!

 

[HM]

I've stayed in both a standard AKL room and a Savanna view room. The rooms are identical, so you get the same accomodations.

The standard rooms do face the parking and entrance area, but we had no problem with noise or disturbance from that area. We stayed on the Giraffe trail toward the end on the 4th floor, very near a set of elevators that take you to the pool area and food venues. It was very convenient and not far from the lobby.

The savannah view room was wonderful as far as the view, but we probably spent a total of just under two hours looking out the window or sitting on the balcony for the four days we were there. Our room was on the Zebra trail and also convenient to the lobby and elevators to the pool and food.

I would definitely stay at AKL over a moderate. I do feel it is worth it, even in the standard room. What I love about it, is that I never have to leave the building and walk out into the rain to get food or to go to the bus stop. I love the fact that there great places to eat just an elevator ride away. It is fun to explore the building and look around for animals at various windows and search for artwork in the building. The atmosphere take you away from the ordinary.

One way to save a bit, would be to split your vacation between AKL and a moderate (do the moderate first). We split between AKL and Poly on one of our trips because we wanted to experience both resorts and we felt that a week at the Poly was too much for our budget at the time.

-HM

 

[alecam]

Having stayed in a standard view room at AKL, my answer would be no, not worth it. The standard view room at POFQ had a much prettier view that AKL (we were right over the bus-stop walkway), but I have to admit, there was no noise except for the busses pulling away, which sounded distant. If you can't afford a Savannah view, I would save my money and stay at a moderate.

 

[cavecricket]

im doing standard too. did savana last year...the walk to busses pool ect was way too long! besides you can see the animals from anywhere!

 

[vernon]

AKL offers a lot more than just the savannah views, although they are a nice extra treat. If you are going to spend a lot of time around the resort I think it's possible to justify the extra expense. If you use the excellent pool area it's just a few yards walk to get a savannah view and IMHO you're likely to spend more time around the pool than you would sitting on your balcony. But even so I would say if you're planning a reasonable amount of time away from the resort, in the parks, then it's hard to justify that much extra expense.

Perhaps a workable compromise for you would be to stay 4/5 nights in a moderate and do all your themepark/shopping stuff fromthere and then switch your last 2/3 nights to the AKL and make use of their excellent pool facilities. For just a couple of nights the cost isn't going to seem so bad and it would encourage you to make full use of the time at AKL to enjoy what you're paying the extra for. Like HM, I would do the moderate first, get all the themepark excitement out of the way, then relax in a little bit of luxury and escapism at AKL.

 

[HopperFan]

Trip 1 - Booked AKL standard for $119 and bumped to Savanna - which was wonderful. BUT unless I got a really good rate I would not pay Savanna prices. Trip 2 - Booked AKL Pool View for $160 and would not pay that much for that view again. We never used balcony. If we go back without a great Savanna rate, we will book standard - although I would not take a room over the bus loading zone (especially the first floor with people walking by).

I like VERNON's idea of split stay and the AKL is a wonderful hotel to stay in to just enjoy the hotel. Both trips we planned hotel only days.

ps My math says you would be paying $257 a night for standard view at AKL to which I would say "no way". Go moderate and I would use the saved money to go over one evening to enjoy BOMA and then a whole lot of other good restaurants as well.

 

[kjs1976]

We stayed at AKL with a standard view last May because we got an incredible deal with a code. We paied $154 a night and that was my MAX I would pay and we also splurged because it was my M.Ed. graduation present.

We loved AKL...won't ever be able to afford to go back unless we get a good code deal. I was sooooo happy to have a balcony and didn't care what it overlooked! We enjoyed b-fast out there just about every morning. We also spent some time unwinding out there each night. I don't think a savannah view is worth the money. We had a big lookout window just down from our door so we could see animals whenver we wanted that way. I don't even think if we had kiddos would I go for one of those rooms.

 

[tekmom]

We are staying at AKL, standard view, July 17-24, and because we at least have AAA it is $1319.00 for our stay. It was a $332.00? difference for the week from POFQ standard view, where we were originally booked. This is our first trip and maybe last one for a while, and my daughter loves giraffes, so here we are! I am hoping for a code with a better rate but if I don't get it, I'll be fine. Do you have AAA so you could at least save something on the room rate? Good luck!

 

[heffalump9]

We didn't mind the Std view in 03' (got a super rate), there are plenty of overlooks/observations areas, we just took our coffee with us in the AM and enjoyed the animals before going to the parks. We just love the AKL, because it is more than just animals, it has great CM's, good food (breakfast at the Boma is on our must-do list), Arusha rock story telling time, zero entry pool, wonderful welcoming lobby, big fire place, etc. etc.