Are the NON-Savanna view rooms worth it at AKL?

[Princess_Au]

I need some honest opinions please ...

We have never stayed at AKL and it looks just so beautiful. For our trip in September, our budget could do a pool view, but not a Savanna view room. Is it worth staying at AKL if you are not staying in a Savanna view room? Does it take a long time to get to the parks (AK excluded)? TIA!

 

[Sue M]

We did a split stay, all at AKL last summer, for 6 nights we had a pool view, then 6 nights savanna view room.
The pool area is very pretty, and we did enjoy our pool view. So, yes, I'd say its worth it.

 

[bnk1120]

Just stayed at AKL for the first time last month. Booked a standard studio. Had a great pool view room. There are many balconies around the resort to view animals. We did not feel we were missing out by not having a savannah room.

Cannot comment on buses as we had a car.

 

[bocaj1431]

Just stayed at AKL for the first time last month. Booked a standard studio. Had a great pool view room. There are many balconies around the resort to view animals. We did not feel we were missing out by not having a savannah room.

Cannot comment on buses as we had a car.

How did you get a pool view? Are you talking about jambo or kidani?

 

[tinkerpea]

We did 3 wks at AKL,

And have done standard room and savannah view! Your no in your room enough to warrant the extra cost unless you can readily afford it,
There are loads of viewing areas around the resort, plus every night is story telling by a huge camp fire for the kids and you can then wonder around outside close to the animals.

The whole resort is so beautiful & there is so much to do, plus you could get lucky and get upgraded ( we did) we booked 2 rooms for 21 nights non savannah view and both were upgraded to the Arusha savannah while it was amazing after a few days we just didn't have the time to appreciate it!

 

[magicbob]

Depends on whether or not you plan to spend a lot of time at the resort. We spent lots of time watching animals from our balcony. For me, I could not see myself staying at AKL and NOT having a savannah view.

If you don't plan to spend much time at the resort, you could consider a standard view, but the views of the parking lot are pretty ugly, so unless you don't care at all about your view, I would go with pool view at a minimum.

As others have said, you can still view the animals from the public viewing areas, but I think going out onto the balcony in the morning (and/or evening) and sitting watching animals outside your room is much more magical. If you don't plan to sit and watch the animals anyway, then savannah view is probably not a priority.

 

[mickeynut1]

I need some honest opinions please ...

We have never stayed at AKL and it looks just so beautiful. For our trip in September, our budget could do a pool view, but not a Savanna view room. Is it worth staying at AKL if you are not staying in a Savanna view room? Does it take a long time to get to the parks (AK excluded)? TIA!

We've stayed both pool and savanna view and we liked the pool view just as much as the savanna view. Having a savanna view and being able to view animals from your balcony is nice, but for us, it's not a must as there are plenty of great viewing areas around the resort. We also loved our pool view for the convenience as our room was located very close to the lobby, gift shop, restaurants, and the elevator to go down to the pool and Mara. As far as transportation, everyone's opinion is different, but we didn't find the buses to bad at all. We thought the buses were great and it was nice that they only went to AKL and Kidani and didn't share with any other resort. AKL is kind of out of the way, but it didn't take more than about 5 extra minutes to get to the parks compared to other resorts. I would book a pool view room and give AKL a try as it's a beautiful resort. Good luck.

 

[pigletto]

We also had a pool view when we had a standard studio at AKL and I can honestly say it did not bother us in the least. There are many viewing areas to visit the animals and we would do it again.

 

[HM]

I've stayed in both a Savannah (upgraded) and a Standard room. The rooms are exactly alike, just different views. I really didn't miss sitting out on the balcony to watch the animals on that second trip. It was a short vacation and we didn't spend that much time in the room. We did take peeks at various viewing areas while we were there to see the animals and we could see some when we were at the pool. I think staying at AKL is worth it, whatever you can afford. It's a beautiful resort and we had great bus service there. The longest trip is to MK which takes about 20 minutes after getting on the bus.

 

[danceintherain]

We did a Pool View room at AKL for our Honeymoon, and it was definitely worth it.
Granted, we only spent around $150/night, because of the discount we got. If we had to pay rack rate (or close to it) I doubt it would have been worth it.

 

[Nancyg56]

Savannah view is nice but I would not choose another resort if it was not on my budget. The resort is lovely and there are plenty of areas to view the animals. I know folks always suggest the Savannah view, and I admit I really love it, but don't let that discourage you. Stay in your budget and choose Pool View.You will not be missing out

 

[tbia]

We stayed at Jambo in July 2011. First day, we waited and waited and waited to get on a bus....oh, some came, but there were all full.

Finally realized that outbound, they go to Kidani first and they were filling up.

A short walk to that bus terminal was a good time investment for the rest of the trip.

 

[LillsnJills]

We stayed at Jambo in July 2011. First day, we waited and waited and waited to get on a bus....oh, some came, but there were all full.

Finally realized that outbound, they go to Kidani first and they were filling up.

A short walk to that bus terminal was a good time investment for the rest of the trip.

We had the same issue when we went last September. A few times we got lucky and caught the shuttle that run from Jambo to Kidani.

 

[bocaj1431]

Hi! Everyone keeps mentioning the pool view. Can someone who has had a pool view PLEASE explain

a) Is pool view only offered to jambo or is it also offered to kidani?
b) If it is offered to Kidani, can I get that view, if I have a 2brm non-lock off?
c) Is the pool room a request you need to make through DVC?

I have asked this question many times and haven't had any answers yet, Please help. I need to be near the pool for my son who has autism.

 

[jwfla422]

Depends on whether or not you plan to spend a lot of time at the resort. We spent lots of time watching animals from our balcony. For me, I could not see myself staying at AKL and NOT having a savannah view.

If you don't plan to spend much time at the resort, you could consider a standard view, but the views of the parking lot are pretty ugly, so unless you don't care at all about your view, I would go with pool view at a minimum.

As others have said, you can still view the animals from the public viewing areas, but I think going out onto the balcony in the morning (and/or evening) and sitting watching animals outside your room is much more magical. If you don't plan to sit and watch the animals anyway, then savannah view is probably not a priority.

We had a standard view and we we're ok with the parking lot view until someone's car alarm went off below our room...ALL NIGHT!!! It was awful, we didn't get to sleep until 4:30 that morning-(I think their battery finally died)!

Was so annoyed, called the front desk and it seemed that when they would have security check on it, it would stop for a minute or 2 (it was the older kind of alarm where you think it shut off but then would start up again)......it was so frustrating...I am not a great sleeper so that just killed that night's sleep)...that would make me very leery about a parking lot view anywhere now. (other guests also complained about it and even with an ID page in the window it took forever to get the issue resolved).

 

[LeahA]

1st visit-Pool view room/Jambo House-loved the view

2nd visit-Savanna view room/Kidani-loved the view, but there are not animals outside your balcony 24/7

3rd visit-Parking Lot/Kidani-we were high up so when we were on our balcony did not see parking lot so wetlands and gazebo area. Kidani's main lot is under the building. There is a little lot for valet and such, was not bothered by noise.

We were happy with all 3 views! Savanna was nice but would spend the extra money to have that view every visit!

 

[morgy827]

Booked standard room last time and got upgraded to Savannah and loved it, however I would not have paid the price difference. If we were to stay again I would definitely go pool view. AT least you still get a view of something besides the parking lot and it doesn;t cost an arm and a leg to do so.

 

[kimysbug]

We are staying in a standard room, are there balconies in all the rooms?

 

[Alabama Minnie]

We were disappointed with our standard room (rooftop-view) at AKL. We will not be staying there again unless we do the savannah view. Although there were other "viewing-areas" at the hotel we will not be paying to stay there again if we cannot see the animals from our balcony. If not, we will just see the animals on the safari at Animal Kingdom.

We really liked the atmosphere and transportation options at Wilderness Lodge ALOT more and would choose it over AKL.

Also, alot of people say on here that they get "free upgrades" to savannah view at AKL but we were not that lucky (August visit). My advice is to book the view you really want there.

 

[KristinV02]

I just had to voice my opinion on this. We just got back home from a lovely first stay at AKL - Jambo House last night. We had rented DVC points and stayed in a Savanna View on Kudu Trail. The view was amazing! We had every animal on the "animal list" posted in the room right outside our room the entire stay. They ate, drank, and slept right in front of our room location.

I noticed a lot of people saying that if you do not plan to spend a lot of time in your room, then a standard would be fine; however, I have to say that while I *used* to have that thought process, I now believe that if I stay at AKL, it will be in a Savanna View. When I would wake up in the morning to the view of the animals (and just the view in general), and come in from a long day at the parks to enjoy seeing them eat and sleep right outside my window, it truly is magical and worth it!

This resort is amazing! The Savanna View room is absolutely worth it!! Even if you won't be in your room for long during the day, the morning sunrises and evening sunsets really are more than words can describe. Look into renting points if paying rack rate is out of budget. This is the only way we were able to afford it!