Chance AKL standard & pray for upgrade?

[legs22]

We are taking our mother to AKL for her 65th birthday and thought it would be really special to get a savannah room.
I have AKL Savannah reserved for 2 nights with AAA discount rate of $316/night including tax. However, I just found out I could get standard view at a FL resident rate of $200/night including tax. How likely are we to get a complimentary upgrade to savannah? Should I chance it? I would hate to get stuck looking at the parking lot. But, if we did the $200/night room, maybe we could stay for 3 nights instead of two nights. Two nights in a room with a great view or three in a parking lot view room with hope for an upgrade?

 

[puffkin]

I would take the FL resident rate and stay the extra night. From these boards, it looks like October is going to be pretty busy, so the chance of an upgrade may not be that great. But, there are plenty of areas to see the animals from all over the resort. I would request a first floor room, that way, there would be dense foliage between your room and the parking lot.

 

[kdibattista]

If you want it... don't chance it... definitely pay for the upgrade. I could not imagine not having a savannah view (part of the whole experience for me) so we booked 2 savannah view rooms as part of the Winter Dreammaker Package. My sister doesn't really care so she booked the standard view.

 

[stitch79]

I agree, if it is that important to you to have a savannah view you should pay for the upgrade so you don't have to worry about it.

 

[kda]

Please be aware that the lowest floor standard view rooms that are closest to the bus stop are literally a few feet from the sidewalk where everyone walks by to get to the bus.

 

[MinnieGi]

I also agree that if you really want the savannah view, pay for it so you're sure to get it.

Now we booked standard view, we were just happy to be able to check out this great hotel and had heard of all the animal viewing areas. We were upgraded to pool view and it was beautiful. There are a lot of animal viewing areas so we did not feel like we missed out and we loved our rate. However if you really have your heart set on savannah view, definetly pay for it so you'll get it.

 

[TDC Nala]

Do not book standard if you are not willing to stay in the standard room. If you decide to book the standard room, ask for an upper floor.

I've booked standard view rooms twice, because it's enough for me just to be staying at the Lodge. I was upgraded once to savannah. The savannah room was all the way at the end of the Kudu Trail and looked out over the "people pen" on the Sunset Savannah. Didn't bother me a bit, there were lots of critters around there during the day and it was a really great value for a savannah view room, but I know people who would have been scandalized by the people pen view... and how does one complain if it's an upgrade??

here's the view...

with critters:

 

[kdibattista]

Ahhh... I always wanted to see what the people pen's looked like!!! Thanks!!!

 

[bunnyfoo]

There's always a chance that you could get upgraded to a savanah view ... but it all depends on the CM at check-in and what rooms they have available

I agree with the other posters ... if you want a savanah view, go ahead and book one That said, there are a lot of places around AKL to look at the animals ... and if you're not planning on spending a lot of time in your room, then you might not want one.

Let us know what you decide!

 

[legs22]

OK, I've seen the "people pen" photo but I don't understand how it's used??

 

[freediverdude]

I would not chance a standard view room, unless you're willing to put up with looking at signs and billboards from the local highway, which you can clearly see from a lot of these rooms. No other Disney resort has a view like that of the outside world, and I certainly won't stay in one of those rooms again. The resort was even booked up, so I was unable to pay the difference and obtain a pool or savannah view. With that said, the rest of the resort certainly is beautiful, and I'm sure the other room types have wonderful views.

 

[tinawv]

If it was me I would book a standard room and stay an extra night. I love being at WDW and the extra night would mean more to me than having a savannah view. But, as the other posters stated you should do whatever means the most to you. There are other locations to view the animals, and you may want to evaluate how much time you would really spend watching the animals.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[TDC Nala]

the "people pens," so I've heard, are for everybody to stand in should it be necessary to evacuate the hotel. Can't have all those humans standing around on the savannah scaring the animals.