AKV Savanna View or Lack There Of

[alldiz]

I do understand the concerns and don't necessarily disagree with them. However, my general timeshare background and experience tells me not to take view representations too literally. Ocean Front may mean you could see the ocean if the dunes were lower and there was no vegetation in place.

Geez.....that would be dissapointing to be looking at dunes.....when you reserve and ocean view

Honestly....I thought they were NOT charging for Savannah view....I honestly would be OUTRAGED that AKL guests do not PAY for sunset savannah....but DVC guests do
That is beyond pathetic...and unacceptable...IMO
Kerri

 

[hakepb]

Does DVC wind up with too many ramifications if they take out SS view rooms?
Legally there are, at least, maximum point charts (recorded with the state) so reducing an entire section to lower points may not hurt that legal qualification. The other factor is points available. DVC has sold all Jambo points and must be able to provide accomodations for the owners of all those points. If rooms start costing fewer points, then owners get longer stays, and may result in some owners getting no availability that they could book on DVC.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Do we have an idea about when the visable construction will be finished? I know that Kidani isn't opening until next spring, but we have a Savannah view booked 1 - 8 December (I have requested Arusha, but not guaranteed of course!!). Do we think that by December most of the construction will have moved inside a finished building? I know that they are moving the animals from Sunset in January. What does this mean? I'm starting to freak out now too!!!!!!

 

[Monorail Purple&Gold]

Until construction is done, we're booking standard or value views. Not in response to this thread...that was always our plan.

 

[Dean]

[/B]

Geez.....that would be dissapointing to be looking at dunes.....when you reserve and ocean view:

Remember I said Ocean Front. Ocean view or ocean side would be even further down the ladder. Just let it serve as a warning if exchanging, esp for private exchanges.

 

[snowbunny]

I haven't made any room requests, was that a mistake, especially as we will be arriving late in the evening?

It really makes no difference - a request is just a request. I requested Arusha, arrived at 6:00 pm and was given Sunset.

In Debbie B's photo, the top part (where you see the cranes) is directly below my room.

 

[Anjelica]

I do understand the concerns and don't necessarily disagree with them. However, my general timeshare background and experience tells me not to take view representations too literally. Ocean Front may mean you could see the ocean if the dunes were lower and there was no vegetation in place.

While I agree in theory when it comes to Disney I think people have come to expect that what they advertise is what you will actually get. This is especially true when the "regular" savannah views truly have savannah views and MS books rooms for folks in that category.

 

[Dean]

While I agree in theory when it comes to Disney I think people have come to expect that what they advertise is what you will actually get. This is especially true when the "regular" savannah views truly have savannah views and MS books rooms for folks in that category.

While I understand the premise and I don't totally disagree, to me it's not really much different than if the pool is close, Savannah is closed for cleaning, or even a full Park is closed for a private event. In none of those events would they have an obligation to let you know in my eye, I know others will disagree. At AKV there has always been a disparity between different savannah views. It's much like getting a "preferred" unit at BWV and having a view of vegetation outside your window and nothing else. And I definitely think the expectations should be different to a degree for a timeshare vs a cash reservation.

DVC has "sold" those units as a specific type with the points to match. And if they charge less points overall, the additional units those extra points will reserve must come from somewhere. Legally DVC can't simply charge less points and they likely don't own enough points themselves to absorb such a modification even with declared but unsold inventory at AKV and you couldn't legally spread such a change over the entire membership. Could/should they have taken such into account and sold less initially, possibly. I also wonder how easy/costly it would be to reprogram the DVC computer system to do this, I'm betting it would be a major issue. Likely it's a much easier issue for the resort itself and possibly for CRO as well.

 

[El&Asmom]

This is why we will likely never stay at Jumbo since all of the rooms are on the 5th and 6th floors. We stayed at AKL for our first Disney visit 3 years ago. We were on the third floor, and said that we would never want to be higher. The trees would obstruct a good view of the entire savannah. The main reason for us to stay at AKV would be to see animals outside our balcony. If we couldn't see any, it wouldn't be worth it.

We stayed at AKV in December for two nights. We didn't have a problem with construction because we were on the opposite side from where Kidani is being built, but I did have a problem with our view. Since we were on the 5th floor, it seemed like we were above the tree canopy and couldn't see the animals through all the leaves. Has anyone else had this problem? The only animals we could see were the ones directly beneath our balcony. For me, the view wasn't worth the extra time it took to get anywhere. I'd much rather be closer to the parks since we really couldn't see animals anyway.

 

[dianeschlicht]

[/B]

Geez.....that would be dissapointing to be looking at dunes.....when you reserve and ocean view

Honestly....I thought they were NOT charging for Savannah view....I honestly would be OUTRAGED that AKL guests do not PAY for sunset savannah....but DVC guests do
That is beyond pathetic...and unacceptable...IMO
Kerri

You misread Dean's post....It said "ocean front", not ocean view. Ocean front means that it is facing the ocean, but it specifically does NOT say it is a view of the ocean.

 

[kmurawski]

In June we stayed in room 5229 on the Arusha Savannah. It was an absolutely wonderful view. I made no requests for rooms until we arrived. Upon check-in I requested that our room just not be on the Sunset Savannah. We did have to wait until 4:00 to get into our room but it was worth the wait!

 

[Dean]

You misread Dean's post....It said "ocean front", not ocean view. Ocean front means that it is facing the ocean, but it specifically does NOT say it is a view of the ocean.

The order of unit views/demand that I have encountered are (from most to least desirable and using Beach resorts as an example).

1. Ocean Front usually means a direct line to the ocean but not always an actual view.
2. Ocean View - similar to OF except not a direct line. Usually it means you and stand on the balcony and see the ocean if you look around the buildings, pst the huts, through the foliage, etc.
3. Ocean Side - sometimes it is used interchangeably with ocean view, sometimes it means you can't see the ocean but almost can.
4. Mountain/Island/Pool/Garden view usually used fairly interchangeably and is used for most everything else.

 

[Simba's Mom]

While I understand the premise and I don't totally disagree, to me it's not really much different than if the pool is close, Savannah is closed for cleaning, or even a full Park is closed for a private event. In none of those events would they have an obligation to let you know in my eye, I know others will disagree. At AKV there has always been a disparity between different savannah views. It's much like getting a "preferred" unit at BWV and having a view of vegetation outside your window and nothing else. And I definitely think the expectations should be different to a degree for a timeshare vs a cash reservation.

DVC has "sold" those units as a specific type with the points to match. And if they charge less points overall, the additional units those extra points will reserve must come from somewhere. Legally DVC can't simply charge less points and they likely don't own enough points themselves to absorb such a modification even with declared but unsold inventory at AKV and you couldn't legally spread such a change over the entire membership. Could/should they have taken such into account and sold less initially, possibly. I also wonder how easy/costly it would be to reprogram the DVC computer system to do this, I'm betting it would be a major issue. Likely it's a much easier issue for the resort itself and possibly for CRO as well.

So are you saying that these specific rooms were "sold" as savannah view, and therefore can't be called anything else temporarily? If so, I understand-I don't like it, but I understand. What I really don't like is that AKL can call this view something else temporarily (standard view), while the construction is going on, but DVC supposedly can't.

 

[starbox]

So are you saying that these specific rooms were "sold" as savannah view, and therefore can't be called anything else temporarily? If so, I understand-I don't like it, but I understand. What I really don't like is that AKL can call this view something else temporarily (standard view), while the construction is going on, but DVC supposedly can't.

Actually - DVC stated that they will only charge standard view points for the room during the months that the animals are removed from the sunset savanna - so it's possible to do.

Personally, I think all sunset savanna rooms should be charged value points at this point in the construction and until the savanna is restored and Kidani is attractive. That's JMHO - but concierge and savanna view rooms are EXPENSIVE.

Honestly, I think DVC has done a good job with the views and point break down - after a year of ownership we added on specifically so that we'd have enough points to always request premium views - we found that OVIR, Boardwalk View BWVs and Savanna View rooms were completely worth the additional points to our family. Some people really need one-bedrooms - but all I really need is a balcony with a view . The current issues with sunset savanna are temporary - they will be very nice views come late spring.

 

[Dean]

So are you saying that these specific rooms were "sold" as savannah view, and therefore can't be called anything else temporarily? If so, I understand-I don't like it, but I understand. What I really don't like is that AKL can call this view something else temporarily (standard view), while the construction is going on, but DVC supposedly can't.

Basically yes. They would have to have X amount of savannah views at a given time. All the lodge has to do is cut the cost, DVC can't simply cut the points as they have to go somewhere else. They have some flexibility in the points they own and the declared but unsold inventory. One difference in the time when the animals are gone is it's all the same and I hear DVC has accounted for those points.

 

[lisareniff]

.... Some people really need one-bedrooms - but all I really need is a balcony with a view . ....

Or there are those of us that need both!!

 

[BriarRose59]

We got back a few days ago from AKV room 5325. I had reserved a 1 bdrm savanna view room around 9 months ago. When we check in at 5:30 pm on Monday, June 23, they tried to give me a room on the sunset savanna facing the construction. I asked if there was another room available with a better view. She did some checking and we were moved to 5325. I really liked the room, but I think the view would have been better from a lower floor. We saw animals at most times of the day. I spent a lot of time on the balcony since my college-age daughter was with us and she needed to come in almost daily to work on her on-line college courses. Also, there is no wireless internet in the rooms at AKL/V at this time. We were, however, able to get free wired internet since we were DVC members.

 

[ahill004]

Ok - I am getting a bit worried. We are booked at AKV in a value studio room. The CM who booked me couldn't tell me what the view would be for the room. After reading how terrible the views are and knowing that the value studio rooms are SMALLER than standard view AKL room should I change my reservation to a standard room? (There are 4 of us - DH, me, and DD2 and DD4).

 

[carmie3377]

I'm getting worried now too. I have wanted to stay at AKL ever since we discovered WDW in 2004. Also, this is MIL's first trip and she is really looking forward to staying here. We will be checking in early (around 7:30am) so I guess that will help my chances of getting a good room?? I will also call and request the Arusha Savannah.

Another thing I am worried about is that we will be heading to the parks for a full day once we check in. I'm sure our room won't be ready when we check in so I won't actually get a chance to check out the view until we arrive back in our room late and I'm sure it will be dark by then. By the next day, it will be too late to request a room change, correct? I guess my best bet would be to return to the resort midday to check out the view. What a pain that will be as we will be at MK that day. Oh well, if I want a view I guess that's what I'll have to do. However, for the points I'm using, I shouldn't have to.