AKL upgrades...???

[LovinPooh]

I have read alot even in Unofficial Guide, that AKL often gives upgrades to savannah view. From what I have read it seems that people who book standard get the upgrade. Not that I really care, I am happy with the pool view I have booked. But has anyone ever gotten or heard of a pool view getting upgraded, or is it mostly standard bookings?
Just curious if i screwed myself out of that little bit of pixie dust by booking a pool view lol. I am just happy to be staying there

 

[Sue M]

Don't know, but we booked a pool view at AKL too, and we'll be there next month, so I'll let you know
We booked 6 nights pool view & 6 nights CL! I'll be happy with the pool view, but would be happy to get upgraded too pixie dust:

On the other hand, if I booked standard view and didn't get upgraded, I wouldn't be happy with the standard view. So I always book what I'll be happy with, and anything else will be

 

[WDWaddictsx4]

you're pretty much at the mercy of the cast member when you check in. there are a lot of ifs. if you ask, is it's available, if the cast member is cool. the fact still remains, it can't hurt to ask. the worst they can do is say no and you'll be stuck staying in an amazing resort. even if you lose you win. go to jiko. it's AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CanadianPaco]

On the other hand, if I booked standard view and didn't get upgraded, I wouldn't be happy with the standard view. So I always book what I'll be happy with, and anything else will be

That's how I see it. I figure upgrades are more rare that we think even though it seems to be in every other post. I figure it's better to book what you want than risk not getting an upgrade.

 

[Missyrose]

you're pretty much at the mercy of the cast member when you check in. there are a lot of ifs. if you ask, is it's available, if the cast member is cool. the fact still remains, it can't hurt to ask. the worst they can do is say no and you'll be stuck staying in an amazing resort. even if you lose you win. go to jiko. it's AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!

If you ask about an upgrade, the CM will likely quote you the price of the upgrade. If you will truly be happy in pool view then let it Ride and wait to see if there's pixie dust. Otherwise, book the savanna view if that's where you want to be.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

We got upgraded last April. We booked a standard view as I truly didn't care what I was looking at. I was just happy to be staying at AKL! However, we got a surprise when we got to our room. It had a sweeping view of the savannah. The CM didn't even tell us we got upgraded at check-in. We woke up to giraffes every morning. While it was neat to see, I've gotta admit, I wouldn't pay for it. But here's some Pixie Dust to you on an upgrade!

 

[raven69david]

I have read alot even in Unofficial Guide, that AKL often gives upgrades to savannah view. From what I have read it seems that people who book standard get the upgrade. Not that I really care, I am happy with the pool view I have booked. But has anyone ever gotten or heard of a pool view getting upgraded, or is it mostly standard bookings?
Just curious if i screwed myself out of that little bit of pixie dust by booking a pool view lol. I am just happy to be staying there

We've been staying at AKL since 2004 when we first discovered this resort. I've booked standard view-room and have gotten a Savannah view room upgrade 100% of the time during Value season. We've gotten this at least 10 times, although I've stopped counting since we go so often. While they are never guaranteed, we've had great luck getting a free upgrade. We've always booked standard view, but have never stayed in a standard view room. Just because you booked pool view, does not mean that you won't get upgraded to savannah view, if at all. Regardless of what happens, you'll be at one of their premier resorts and you'll be at The Most Magical Place on Earth and/or Where Dreams Come True.

This was the view from our "standard view room" we had last month:

 

[LovinPooh]

I truly am happy with a pool view, it was only a little more $...but definetly wouldnt turn away a savannah lol. I just couldnt see the sense in spending the $800. I will gamble, but keep my fingers crossed for pixie dust all the way there lol
Thanks for all the input... amazing view raven69david!
Have an amazing trip Sue M. Cant wait to hear all about it
This is tops on my bucket list for resorts at WDW. Yeah, i have a resort bucket list lol. I truly cant wait to pull into this place...seems surreal!!
Thanks again!

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I think a pool view will be wonderful! It is a fantastic resort!! I had a little pixie dust when I booked a standard view - got a great savannah view - I did a DIS poll on this and it seems like 50% of the people were upgraded from standard view but I think there might have been a pool view room in the mix there too so I wouldn't rule it out.

Here's wishing some pixie dust for you - but the good thing about a pool view is it will be lovely view with lots of great ambiance - - enjoy your trip! It is a great resort!

 

[Mousemom]

We have stayed at AKL 4 times. We book a standard and have never cared if we got an upgrade. We have been upgraded 2x to a savannah view and it was a great and fun surprise when we checked in. We were upgraded to a pool veiw once too and actually liked this room best of any we stayed in. This year with the discount offered we booked a pool view for not too much more money. We will be happy with a pool view but will see what happens at check in. We mainly like to be close to food court and pool as those are two things we use a lot. We love AKL and are excited to be spending another five days there soon.

 

[Michaelasmommy]

We were there June 18-June 23 of this year. We booked a pool view and were upgraded to the savanna view. We were surprised and thrilled. We didn't ask for the upgrade.

 

[JennyDrake]

I had a pool view my first time there and I really liked being that close to Mara, the CS.

 

[Burnt Toast]

Comp./free upgrades are really done based on needs the business, like if Standards are oversold (due to online booking companies) and people have to be upgraded. ... and please, don't ask the clerk for a comp./free upgrade because frankly it's really rude. Pro-tip: ask if any paid upgrades are available and go from there.

NEVER expect an upgrade... and also, a lot of the Standard view rooms have partial savanna views (obstructed) and are booked as Standards. You can see if one of those are available, but again, it is based on availability. A lot of people make the mistake (which is probably what the Unofficial Guide has done) and have received a partial savanna view room and thought that was an upgrade. It's all part of the same booking category. The photo above is one of those partial savanna view rooms (near a boma, 2nd floor, facing barn)... however, for animal viewing that area she is in is one of the better places for it!

Bottom line, if you want a certain view or type of room, book your room as such. Don't get your hopes up by setting yourself up believing that you'll get an upgrade and then wind up not getting one.

 

[disney_me]

My husband and I were thinking the same thing. We booked the "standard room" and my husband called today to see if we could upgrade our room. We were told to wait until we get there ( checking in on Aug. 20 ) and if they have rooms to upgrade us in they will at no extra cost. I could care less on what view we get I'm just so greatfull we are staying in a wonderful resort!...... This is our 1st time staying onsite.

 

[Maleficent53]

Comp./free upgrades are really done based on needs the business, like if Standards are oversold (due to online booking companies) and people have to be upgraded. ... and please, don't ask the clerk for a comp./free upgrade because frankly it's really rude. Pro-tip: ask if any paid upgrades are available and go from there.

NEVER expect an upgrade... and also, a lot of the Standard view rooms have partial savanna views (obstructed) and are booked as Standards. You can see if one of those are available, but again, it is based on availability. A lot of people make the mistake (which is probably what the Unofficial Guide has done) and have received a partial savanna view room and thought that was an upgrade. It's all part of the same booking category. The photo above is one of those partial savanna view rooms (near a boma, 2nd floor, facing barn)... however, for animal viewing that area she is in is one of the better places for it!

Bottom line, if you want a certain view or type of room, book your room as such. Don't get your hopes up by setting yourself up believing that you'll get an upgrade and then wind up not getting one.

This is so true. Agents get really tired of every person expecting something more than what they paid for. I work at an airport, and I can assure you, if we are going to upgrade someone, it is not going to be the person who came up and asked....it will be the person nicely dressed, waiting patiently in the gate area who gets the pixie dust!

 

[DebbieB]

What happens is if they have alot of savanna rooms open and they aren't selling, they will intentionally overbook standard because it's easier to sell, then upgrade some people to savanna. They also sometimes do the same thing with OKW and SSR. If rooms aren't selling, they will overbook the values (which they have no problem filling) and then offer upgrades.

 

[Sue M]

We were there June 18-June 23 of this year. We booked a pool view and were upgraded to the savanna view. We were surprised and thrilled. We didn't ask for the upgrade.

that's great!

 

[brertoad]

On our last trip to AKL we had booked a pool view, upon arriving at the room, our view was totally obstructed by plants, we couldn't see any of the pool. We've stayed at Jambo house before with a pool view and really loved it. I had called the front desk, after a lot of waiting on hold, they told me they could upgrade to a Savannah View (because no other pool views were available). My biggest disappointment is that we had to walk all the way to the furthest reach of zebra trail, it was a long long haul. It was so far it kind of ruined the trip for me, we ended up staying in the room rather than going to EMH at HS one night because of the dreaded walk; we could see Kidani Village out our window and Sanaa. Next time we get "comped" or upgraded I'm going down to the desk to look at a map rather than letting them send up keys for any room. If you do get an upgrade, check the map to make sure it is what you want.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I have stayed at the AKL a few times and had a variety of experiences with upgrades. In August 2002, we booked a standard view and received an upgrade to a beautiful pool view for free. That might have been my favorite room ever!

The next visit, in December 2008, we booked Standard View again, and we received a pretty drab view of the road. The balcony was not nearly as pleasurable without the pool view, so the next morning, I asked the cast member if there were any other Standard View rooms that we could have. We received a much better room with lots of foliage outside (still standard view) and it made the balcony much more pleasurable. Plus, we were closer to the lobby and amenitites--it was so far to walk from our other room.

During that same visit, near the end of my stay, I went back to the front desk and asked if I could PAY for an upgrade to Savannah View for our last couple of nights. The cast member immediately made a point of letting me know it would cost more money. I said, "Yes, I understand." (I had asked him if I could PAY to do it.) He checked the computer and told me the price. It sounded reasonable to me, so he took my credit card and I assumed that he charged it.

We loved the new room. But the odd thing is that the AKL never did run the additional charge. It has been four years, and I have never been billed for that upgrade. For a long time, I looked for it to come through. But it never did.

I wonder if it was a mistake, or if he just decided to be kind. My intuition tells me it was the latter. At the time, I felt like he was testing me when he reiterated that there would be an additional charge. And maybe, when I was still excited and more than willing to pay the extra cost, he decided to sprinkle me with Pixie Dust? I will never know, but it was a wonderful experience.

I must say, though, that we have been back a couple of times since that visit, and my favorite rooms have been pool view. The December Savannah View was great, but when we went back in August 2010, the Savannah View balconies were too hot to enjoy.

My favorite request of all is to ask to be near the lobby. That enhances my stay more than any other room feature!

 

[Minnesota!]

This is so true. Agents get really tired of every person expecting something more than what they paid for. I work at an airport, and I can assure you, if we are going to upgrade someone, it is not going to be the person who came up and asked....it will be the person nicely dressed, waiting patiently in the gate area who gets the pixie dust!

I never ever ask for ANYTHING. I instead smile and wait patiently. I figure I will be chosen over the loud mouth whiner anyday! And it has happened that way for me!

We paid for standard view at AKL next month. I really do NOT care where we are...even if we are in one of those rooms whose balconies overlook the pathway to the busses. But if they want to upgrade me....not going to turn that down!!