Animal Kingdom Lodge Pool View

[Gdad]

Just made reservations for AKL in February - Got a pool view but now am wondering if I should have sprung for the savana view. Can you see any animals from the pool view rooms? Any tips on this resort would be appreciated as this is our first time at this one. Thanks.

 

[plutospup]

You may see some animals if you're in a Giraffe Trail pool view room...but don't count on it.

I loved our pool view AKL room (Zebra Trail). The big advantage is it was close to The Mara, Jiko, pool, and hottubs. At the end of our hallway was a great porch area for animal viewing. DD & I would check it out everyday, and everytime we would be coming/going to our room. What I think is one of the big advantages of a pool view room is that it somewhat forces you to check out the "public" viewing areas. This way you can see the animals on all of the savannahs, and not lull yourself into just checking out the animals from your "savannah view" room.

Most importantly...take time to enjoy "the Lodge". There are many activities, and things to see. Enjoy!

 

[nalabell]

Well I will tell you that I think it's worth the extra $ for the animal view. Our kids had a great time looking at the animals and getting to know how each animal moved at different parts of the day and night. We even had nesting cranes just in front of our balcony. The room view gave us a great opportunity to really watch the animals and how they interact, it's very different than just going to a zoo and seeing an animal for a minute or two then moving on. One of the best things about our trip was watching the cranes defend their nest from all the animals. We also spent a lot of time waching the animals from the public views and participated in many of the lobby activities during the evening. The bottom line is I think it's worth to get away from the pool view and get something you will never have anywhere else, unless you go to Africa. Either way AKL is a really great hotel and a lot of fun.

 

[Cass]

If a pool view suits your budget then that is the one to go with. you can see the animals from the public viewing areas and have a wonderful stay. The pool is a very pretty view.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

We have a pool view as well! This is also our first time at this resort and I see we are going at the same time. We might be neighbors! I'm thinking we will love the pool view (as long as we aren't looking at only a tree!). And we can still go see the animals whenever we want.

 

[LoriKay]

I guess that all of us with pool view rooms at AKL for that time frame must be on the DIS!! It's not my first stay at AKL but it's my first time without a savannah view. I think it will be fine and I'm looking forward to seeing the animals from the public viewing areas.

 

[NannyPooh]

We stayed at the AKL for the first time last October, with a deluxe pool view room! We loved it! They tried to upgrade us to a Savannah view upon check-in, but I actually turned it down! I knew that our boys wouldn't really care about watching the animals from the balcony, and we had plenty of time and opportunity to watch the animals from the public areas. The pool view is definitely a lively one! Lots of trees in the area, and something always going on at the pool!
We loved this resort - only downer was that it is just so out of the way! The staff was wonderful, even having about 20 of them sign a birthday card for my DS7 (something that wasn't even acknowledged at the POFQ!). Restaurants were good, and the hotel and grounds were beautiful! I loved the art work there! I have been to Africa a couple of times, and thought that Disney did just an amazing job with the hotel!
Whichever room you have, just enjoy the property! If you are in a pool-view room, you certainly will not miss out on animal viewing - there are lots of places to enjoy the animals!

 

[DisneyWisher]

We had booked a standard room and after reading on here that most were upgraded to Savannah I was excited. Well we were upgraded to Pool View, I thought ok not so bad there are still places to see the animals from. We LOVED our room. It was 1456 on the first floor. When you walked outside our door you turn left, walk 5-10 ft turn left again, walk about 25-30, walk through the doors and there was the pool, Mara's, and video arcade(also inside by the room was the laundry area and Club's Den). It was perfect for us. Now if you like a balcony this is not a great room, outside the patio are shrubs and trees no view at all, but there isn't a view into the room either. At night we would go behind the lobby to see the animals with the night googles. Don't forget to do that, its amazing!

Only thing we didn't like about AKL was the buses, long waits and a few times you have to stop at BB.

 

[Gdad]

We have a pool view as well! This is also our first time at this resort and I see we are going at the same time. We might be neighbors!

Cool- maybe we will see you there!

 

[WAHMto5]

I had the same hard choice to make even up to checking in, I was thinking to up~grade. We ended up staying with our pool view and soo happy we did. We all enjoyed the pool view and there are SOOOO many places to view the animals, most of the time right out your room door. For us, I don't think it would have been worth the $$ money, we spend most of the days at the parks and the night to dinner and the pool. The pool view was very nice, here is our view out our balcony:

 

[Blueyed Girl]

I guess that all of us with pool view rooms at AKL for that time frame must be on the DIS!! It's not my first stay at AKL but it's my first time without a savannah view. I think it will be fine and I'm looking forward to seeing the animals from the public viewing areas.

Cool- maybe we will see you there!

UH-OH!! DIS Party by the pool!

 

[Blueyed Girl]

I had the same hard choice to make even up to checking in, I was thinking to up~grade. We ended up staying with our pool view and soo happy we did. We all enjoyed the pool view and there are SOOOO many places to view the animals, most of the time right out your room door. For us, I don't think it would have been worth the $$ money, we spend most of the days at the parks and the night to dinner and the pool. The pool view was very nice, here is our view out our balcony:

Nice view! Was this a recent trip? Do you remember what building you were in or your room number?
TIA!