AKV Savanna View - why so available?

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

I was reading some threads on the hardest rooms to book at the 7 month window. Pretty much everyone said “AKV Value and Club”. Meanwhile, I’ve been researching Savanna View rooms for a December stay. Seems like those are pretty easy to find. So I’m wondering…. Why is value so hard to get, but Savanna so easy?

Is it just a value/savings issue? The only reason for us staying at the AKV (for me anyway) is to have a view of the animals from the deck, so I’ve not Considered other rooms. Should I be?

 

[The Jackal]

There are only a few Value and Concierge rooms. I don’t know the exact number but I’m sure it is less then 15 of any one category. There are more Savana View rooms than any other view. They cost more points and a lot people choose to extend their point value and book the standard view rooms first.

 

[JETSDAD]

There are a lot of them and they are the most expensive. The cheapest rooms generally do go quicker. There are 10 lockoff 2BR's for value plus 8 dedicated studios and you're looking at only 5 lockoff 2BR's for club level.

 

[Nabas]

It's as @JETSDAD wrote: Savanna Views are plentiful and expensive.

But also keep in mind that December is probably the most popular month for DVC. (Lower points-per-night for the first 3 weeks, Christmas break for the rest of the month.)

Regarding your question:

The only reason for us staying at the AKV (for me anyway) is to have a view of the animals from the deck, so I’ve not Considered other rooms. Should I be?​

At Kidani Village, nearly all Standard View rooms overlook the parking lot.

At Jambo House, Standard View rooms overlook the pool or the Savanna, but those rooms are tucked in the corners so the Savanna view is not as good.

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

Thanks all! I figured it might just be availability. At Aulani, many of the “Island View” rooms have great (partial) ocean views, for 25% less than the Ocean View category, so those are in demand. Hoping I wasn’t spending a lot of extra points for very little difference.

 

[RoseGold]

Thanks all! I figured it might just be availability. At Aulani, many of the “Island View” rooms have great (partial) ocean views, for 25% less than the Ocean View category, so those are in demand. Hoping I wasn’t spending a lot of extra points for very little difference.

There are some partial savanna view rooms, but not many. If you look at a map of the hotel, you can see why.

It’s popular because it’s cheap. The standard view is a good value for point value, but it would drive my crazy to stay at a hotel this special and not pony up a couple points for the animals!

 

[Imkarlawithak2005]

Savanna view is the only way we will stay at Animal Kingdom. We have done it twice in the past 5 years and the kids love it. its fantastic.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

We try for value a lot just to save points. If we can't get value, we do standard at Jambo because we are guaranteed either a partial savanna view or a pool view (which is also really nice). I have stayed in a savanna-view 2-BR at Kidani once, but now I wouldn't book that because of the chance of getting the Pembe savanna which doesn't have giraffes. If I were to book savanna-view now, I would pick Jambo. There are so many places to sit and enjoy the animals around the resort though, I don't need to spend the extra points to have the view from my room. But I'm a point-miser! Everyone is different.

 

[Brian Noble]

The only reason for us staying at the AKV (for me anyway) is to have a view of the animals from the deck, so I’ve not Considered other rooms. Should I be?

I think this comes down to how you view your points. Do you see them as a scarce resource that has to be managed carefully? If so, then maybe it is worth considering lower-point views. But, if you just view them as "something to use for a nice vacation" and you aren't too worried about them, then you absolutely should book the room you want.

Just because something is hard to get doesn't mean you should necessarily want it.

 

[ColonialMouse]

I love the Savanna view rooms, but you need to be honest. It’s a lot of points to spend for very little time seeing animals unless you’re spending a lot of time in your room sitting on the deck. Even then, the animals are only visible maybe 1/3 of the time.

Don’t get me wrong, I have a week booked in one in June. But let’s be honest that it’s a lot of points for relatively few minutes spent saying “wow, a giraffe.”

Bruce

 

[CaptainAmerica]

There are some partial savanna view rooms, but not many. If you look at a map of the hotel, you can see why.

It’s popular because it’s cheap. The standard view is a good value for point value, but it would drive my crazy to stay at a hotel this special and not pony up a couple points for the animals!

I've stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge as a cash guest five times and gotten a partial Savanna View for the price of a Standard View every time. Maybe I'm just lucky but I'm happy to roll the dice.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Perspective:

There are 5 total 2BR lockoff AKV Club, which means a max of 5 studios + 1 1BRs, or some combo of up to 5 2BR and then a split.

There are 8 dedicated studios and 10 lock-off 2BRs in the AKV Value category, meaning at most you have 18 studios + 10 1BR, with potentially fewer if someone manages to book a 2BR.

Meanwhile, there are a whopping 141 lock-off 2BR Savannah View units between Jambo and Kidani, with another 24 dedicated studios and 113 dedicated 2BR units.

So. There are up to 154 Savannah-view 2BR, or a max of 165 studios, 141 1BR and 113 dedicated 2BR units if booked to their maximum lockoff status.

 

[sipnride]

Here's my take: I want to get the best bang for my buck out of a trip and I don't mind switching rooms. So for me, the idea of booking a week in January or May where I'm in a value on weeknights, and hitting the parks when they're least crowded, then sitting on my balcony looking out over the Savannah all weekend when the value has less value and the parks are a mess, all right around 75 points total? Perfect. Or maybe a resort only trip in September when it's too hot and wet for me to enjoy the theme parks and the price tag they come with, instead treating myself to Club level weekdays SV weekend for 122 points? Luxurious. But I also find a lot of comfort knowing that if I plan far enough ahead, and with enough persistence, I can get a room at a deluxe resort at Christmas or spring break for just 114 points - and still have a chance to see giraffe from my balcony! No other WDW resort provides such an economical option at peak season, and it's definitely a ton more affordable than the 193 req'd for Savannah view.