Animal Acclimation Affects New Sunset Savanna View

[dianeschlicht]

The way that I read the originial post is that this will only affect those that are booked into the finished Kidani Village savanna view rooms. The AKL has totally different savannas and that is where the concierge rooms are.

I doubt that. The Sunset savanna is kind of cut in half right now as they are doing the construction on Kidani. I know it is currently very small. I'm glad to see they are relocating those animals during the remainder of the construction. I have always been amazed that they left the animals on that savanna so long as it was. There are plenty of places to see animals on the other savannas, even if you don't have them outside your room.

We have a CC stay next week with a savanna view request, but since it is just that--a request--, I doubt we will get any point benefit from this announcement. Maybe I'll just have to hope for a pool view and not worry about it. We'll always have the chance to get a Savanna view WITH animals in the future, and I'd rather they think of the animal's welfare in this case.

 

[JaxFLBear]

Where on the DVC site did you see this?

Claire

In the news section.

 

[jjohnson]

So are you saying the 1 bedroom savannah view that I have booked in April will have no animals outside my balcony?

 

[pilferk]

So are you saying the 1 bedroom savannah view that I have booked in April will have no animals outside my balcony?

MAY not have, yes. At least, that's the way I read it.

IF you happen to be assigned to a Sunset Savannah view room (and you'll know 30 days in advance), you will have no animals. That's the gist I get when I read it. I'm looking at the alternate interpretations in this thread, but.....I think they're trying to read too much into the statement.

 

[jjohnson]

I am not happy. I'm using weekend points to stay there

 

[jjohnson]

I just got off the phone with MS. They told me this is only in effect from 1/09-4/09.

 

[Inkmahm]

MAY not have, yes. At least, that's the way I read it.

IF you happen to be assigned to a Sunset Savannah view room (and you'll know 30 days in advance), you will have no animals. That's the gist I get when I read it. I'm looking at the alternate interpretations in this thread, but.....I think they're trying to read too much into the statement.

I will be there in about 2 1/2 weeks. I have a two bedroom savannah view room reserved and I'm taking my mom, sister and 3 nieces with us specifically to stay in a room where they can see animals FROM THE ROOM. They've heard me brag about AKL for YEARS and now I'm bringing them home to see for themselves why I love the place so much. It's less than 30 days away and I've gotten NO notification of being assigned to Sunset Savannah. I doubt anyone has since they just announced it. Maybe that means the animals will still be there for at least the next 30 days?

 

[Inkmahm]

I just got off the phone with MS. They told me this is only in effect from 1/09-4/09.

Thank God! It will change my plans though for our March 09 trip which would have been all at AKV. Now I'll probably pick one of our other DVC homes for that trip.

 

[jjohnson]

I'm still questioning myself because it's so unusual to get any news so far in advance. Although.. it is about 11 months out so they would be able to advise anyone making a new booking.

 

[pilferk]

I just got off the phone with MS. They told me this is only in effect from 1/09-4/09.

Yup, we called and they told us the same thing AFTER I posted.

If that's, indeed, the case they need to get someone to change the News Release on the DVC site because they're causing a panic!

 

[wildernessDad]

Yup, we called and they told us the same thing AFTER I posted.

If that's, indeed, the case they need to get someone to change the News Release on the DVC site because they're causing a panic!

It's nice to see the confirmation and I totally agree that they need to specify that fact in their website news.

My probability of seeing animals from my room is still at 60% for this May.

 

[ead79]

Whew! That's great news for our December 2008 concierge stay. I know a savannah view room is not a guarantee by any means, but at least this way I've still got a shot at getting it, plus the alternative pool view is pretty as well. Somehow the thought of looking at an empty savannah seemed like a bit of a bummer.

 

[themilesfamily]

Thank you to those folks who took the time to call and confirm dates. It's great news that Disney is planning far enough in advance to advise those booking during that time period

 

[Simba's Mom]

We have a CC stay next week with a savanna view request, but since it is just that--a request--, I doubt we will get any point benefit from this announcement. Maybe I'll just have to hope for a pool view and not worry about it. We'll always have the chance to get a Savanna view WITH animals in the future, and I'd rather they think of the animal's welfare in this case.

dianeschlicht, pretty please, would you give us a report of whether or not you see any animals next week? That's added to my other pretty pleases-will you give us a report of how the concierge safari(s) are and how Jiko's dinner is afterwards?

 

[LisaS]

I just got off the phone with MS. They told me this is only in effect from 1/09-4/09.

That makes a lot more sense. I couldn't see why they needed to keep the animals out of the Sunset Savanna for the next 13 months. The only reason for that would be if they are replanting it and want time for the trees to get established before the giraffes start eating them! But even then, a year seems excessive.

And I agree with JPS439 that perhaps we've just learned that the final phase of Kidani is expected to be completed by April 2009! And the downside is, for those who are among the first to stay in Kidani (when phase 1 opens late this year/early next year) that there will be no animals on the savanna.

 

[AKV707]

It's a relief to hear the clarification. If my savanna view request for my 1 BR value in July comes through, we will see animals!

 

[ranthony]

We were planning our first trip home in mid-March next year. I was concerned about the pool area at Kidani not being open but now I'm worried that there will be no animals on the savannah either!

Are there 1 BRs in Jambo with views of the other savannahs and will they accomodate 5?

 

[pilferk]

We were planning our first trip home in mid-March next year. I was concerned about the pool area at Kidani not being open but now I'm worried that there will be no animals on the savannah either!

Are there 1 BRs in Jambo with views of the other savannahs and will they accomodate 5?

Yes, there are 1BR's in Jambo that overlook the Arusha and Uzima (the other 2) savannas.

MOST of them will accomodate 5. The only ones that will not are the value 1BR's...and, come to think of it..I think ALL of the value 1BR's that have a savanna view MIGHT overlook the sunset savanna. LisaS would know better than I, though,on that front.

So all hope for you is not lost. But it sounds like they're going to give the "savanna priority" based on booking date, so book as early as possible to give yourself the best chance of getting the view you want.

 

[LisaS]

MOST of them will accomodate 5. The only ones that will not are the value 1BR's...and, come to think of it..I think ALL of the value 1BR's that have a savanna view MIGHT overlook the sunset savanna.

You are correct -- all of the Value 1BRs with a savanna view face the Sunset Savanna.

 

[ranthony]

Yes, there are 1BR's in Jambo that overlook the Arusha and Uzima (the other 2) savannas.

MOST of them will accomodate 5. The only ones that will not are the value 1BR's...and, come to think of it..I think ALL of the value 1BR's that have a savanna view MIGHT overlook the sunset savanna. LisaS would know better than I, though,on that front.

So all hope for you is not lost. But it sounds like they're going to give the "savanna priority" based on booking date, so book as early as possible to give yourself the best chance of getting the view you want

So now, I guess this means I had better book day by day and request Arusha or Uzima savanna.

I'm so glad I learned of this with plenty of time to spare!