calling AKL experts for room help!

[disneylaura55]

ok i think we are going to splurge for our february trip and stay at a deluxe for the first time
my husband and 3 boys all want AKL -- so i guess they win! i think we will do savannah room -- just wondering if anyone had a room pick? or a good floor/area that i could request...because i know NOTHING about good rooms here! thanks!!!

 

[disneyworldaddict]

I don't know of a good room to advise you of, but we had a savannah room and it was perfect, I think they all are. The only thing I can say is that we didn't have much dresser space, so be prepared for that. We hung most our clothes and they will provide extra hangers. The room was beautiful and we enjoyed hanging out on the balcony watching the animals graze. It was a truly unique experience.

 

[figment_jii]

Which savanna view? There is the Arusha savanna view and the savanna view...the Arusha savanna view looks out onto the savanna in the middle of the resort (the one that the main public viewing area looks out onto). The savanna view looks onto either Uzima or Sunset savanna.

I stayed in a regular room with the Arusha savanna view. The room was pretty tight, but manageable. There was one dresser (3 or 4 drawers, I can't remember) and a closet. My family tends to leave out clothes in the suitcase, so the dresser was big enough to store our miscellaneous stuff. The view was amazing; just step out onto the balcony and watch the animals at any time of day.

 

[disneylaura55]

i dont know if we should do savannah or arusha?? this is why i need help i guess the arusha is better....?.....it is more expensive

 

[figment_jii]

i dont know if we should do savannah or arusha?? this is why i need help i guess the arusha is better....?.....it is more expensive

I loved the Arusha view, but from what I could tell when wandering around AKL, all of the savannas had a fair number of animals out. I don't think you'd go wrong with any of the savannas. Arusha was the most requested (probably because it is the one at the center of the lodge). It's more contained, so the animals are more likely to be readily visible (not always and some rooms might have a more constrained view, especially closest to the lobby where the Red Rock viewing area gets in the way).

I'm not sure accurate this is anymore, but this is from Allears.net:

Each savanna has its own unique look and feel. Not all savannas have all the animals. For instance, ostriches can only be found on the Sunset savanna, zebras are only located on the Arusha savanna, kudu are only found on the Uzima savanna. Giraffes are the only animal found on all three savannas.

I think zebra are now on both the Arusha and Sunset (at least they were March). I saw giraffes on Arusha and Sunset as well, but not on Uzima.

 

[sndral]

They have changed which animals are located where through time. Last time I stayed on Uzima savannah, there were giraffes there, but that was 2 or 3 years ago. Last December I had lunch at Sanaa and there were definitely several zebras on Sunset savannah. I personally would not pay extra to stay on Arusha savannah. Uzima savannah view on Zebra trail is convenient because that's the side of the resort where the pool and Mara, the quick service restaurant, are. Sunset savannah is the largest savannah acreage wise and half the rooms on Kudu trail and half on Ostrich trail face that savannah. If I wanted Sunset savannah view I'd ask for Kudu trail, fairly far out - knowing that I'd have a hike to and from the room anytime I went anywhere.
Here's the link to the map.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/aklmap.htm
The savannahs aren't labeled on the map, but the one in the middle is Arusha, the one to the left is Sunset and the one to the right, beyond the pool area, is Uzima.

 

[figment_jii]

On the map, the Sunset Savanna is to the side with the Marbou Stork picture, the Arusha savanna is in the middle of the sideways 'C', and Uzima savanna is on the side where it says "Welcome Friends of Wildlife".

I did the Wanyama Safari last March (it was amazing) and posted a review. The first part has photos of the animals we saw on the various savannas. (Note that the giraffes were not out due to the cold weather.)
http://www.fdkginsight.comwww.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3085906

 

[rwdavis2]

If you can swing the cost then definitely Savannah view. It's pretty amazing. One of the most fun things was the late after feeding near the resort. The pigs make a made dash after the food cart as it drives in. Not to be missed.

Our favorite Deluxe used to be Wilderness Lodge but after a split stay from WL to AKL it's now AKL. We did Club level which was very nice but not really worth the cost.

Something to consider: I did a check of room prices on Travelocity and they were about $40 cheaper than Disney but that was just a standard view this coming November. But it may be worth a look.

 

[disneyworldaddict]

I don't remember which savannah section we were, but there was at least 2 giraffes and an occasional zebra.

 

[Mousemommy1]

You mentioned husband, yourself and 3 boys....is one of the boys under 3, because otherwise you will need two rooms....capacity at AKL is 4.

 

[mickeynut1]

ok i think we are going to splurge for our february trip and stay at a deluxe for the first time
my husband and 3 boys all want AKL -- so i guess they win! i think we will do savannah room -- just wondering if anyone had a room pick? or a good floor/area that i could request...because i know NOTHING about good rooms here! thanks!!!

You are going to love AKL!!! The resort is beautiful and you really can't beat walking out onto your balcony and seeing animals roaming around the savanna (although we have also stayed pool view, which we loved just as much ). Happy planning .