Discounted Upgrade From AKL Standard to Savanah View at Check-In?UPDATE 7/14, Pg 2 :)

[robinb]

Has anyone ever received a discounted upgrade at AKL? We have reservations at AKL for a Standard View room at $114. The Savanah View room is $190 and I just can't bring myself to pay $76 more for the better view . I don't expect a free upgrade and I am willing to pay a bit more ... maybe $40-$50 more per night. I yearn for the $149 savanah view rates of last year! But, I will be perfectly happy with a regular standard view or possibly a free upgrade to a pool view .

So, If you received the upgrade, how did you phrase your request?

Thanks!

 

[kdibattista]

I think if you are going to get 10 different responses from 10 different people. We definitely want savannah view so we pay for it... I can't bear the "not knowing" if we will get upgraded or not. Plus, I think you have a little more flexibility getting your desired savannah location. With that said, I have heard of people getting upgraded at n/c, people getting upgraded for less money then they normally would have paid, people only upgrading by paying the normal rate, people not getting upgraded at all (no matter what), etc. I don't think it's something that you can plan for. I know that's not really the response you want but I just don't want to see you disappointed when you checkin... that doesn't make a great start to a vacation. Trust me when I say it's worth $76 more a night. We plan to spend quite a bit of time relaxing on our balcony this year... something we did not do last year!!!

 

[sherry8253]

My response is the same as Kim's. We also reserve and pay for what we want. I, personally, would not want a standard view at the AKL, and therefore would not want to go hopeful of an upgrade that didn't cost as much as if I had just booked it. If you want a savannah view then you need to book it. If you will be happy with a standard view then you can ask when you get there if any savannah view rooms available and how much it will cost. Then you can decide if you want to pay the extra it costs. We loved our savannah view room at the AKL and I would not stay there if I did not book a savannah view room up front.

 

[Tiffany]

Hi,

We also book the min. view we are willing to live with. We will not book a standard view at the AKL. The savanna view is amazing. If you can get a savanna view for less then $200 a night inc. taxes I would take it if it is in your budget as I consider that a great rate. We paid $277 a night inc tax when we stayed at the AKL Concierge this past Feb and it was worth every penny.

 

[bunnyfoo]

The savanah view rooms are pricey, but it is fun to be able to look at the animals from your room. That said ... I still had a standard view booked for my May trip. When I arrived at AKL, the CM offered to upgrade me to savanah view for $66/night (I had a $124/night rate). I told her it was too expensive (I prefer to spend the money on souveniers and other things) ... and then she just gave us the upgrade for free I was really surprised! It was a great treat

Don't worry though, if you don't get the savanah view... there are tons of places around the resort to look at the animals. I got some of my best giraffe pictures at a spot by the swimming pool

Have a great trip no matter what you decide!

 

[bali]

I was in your position -- wanting a view, but not having money to pay for it -- so we booked the standard view. My trip was in May -- regular season, but not peak season. When we arrived, we checked in and simply asked "Do you have any upgrades available?" The CM told us that she had actually already upgraded our room to a savannah view even before we had asked (she was wonderful, by the way!)

The AKL has three times the number of savannah rooms as they do the standard rooms, and it seems like the only reason they won't upgrade you is if all of the savannah rooms are booked (not likely unless you're there in peak season). Do ask about the upgrade at check-in. Chances are you'll get it.

On the off chance that you don't get the upgrade, please realize that the AKL is an AMAZING resort, and with all of their viewing areas and activities, you won't even miss the view. DON'T PAY THE EXTRA MONEY!

 

[robinb]

Just a clarification ...

I did book the minimum view I am willing to live with . If there are no upgrades available, c'est la vie! We will not be disappointed. But, I am of the opinion that it doesn't hurt to ask nicely for an upgrade. I was just wondering how others who were successful went about it. I don't mind paying for an upgrade, just not as much as if I booked the upgraded view to begin with since that is too much for me.

Thanks bali & bunnyfoo ... I hope I have your same good luck!

 

[DisneyFreaks]

We were at AKL last month. We were upgraded there from PO/FQ when they closed. They didn't offer us anything but standard view and when we got there they gave us rooms on the fifth floor with not much in the way of balconies. My DH went down to the front desk and asked the cost of upgrading to pool or savannah but it was way too pricey. {we were paying for 3 rooms} They did offer to move us to different standard view rooms though and put us on the third floor ostrich trail. They were wonderful rooms and we loved them. There are lots of places to view the animals from. If you get a standard view room you are not happy with ask to be changed. They are very nice about it. They even called our room to make sure we were pleased about where they moved us. We fell in love with AKL and are going back next trip splitting our stay with Boardwalk Inn. {always wanted to stay there too}

 

[las3888]

We were upgraded to a pool view last October when we checked in. We worded our request with 'best view possible'. I agree it doesn't hurt to ask nicely, and I too feel like I would rather spend my money on other things than the view - as others have mentioned, there are great places to view the animals all over the place.

Good luck!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Last month I was upgraded for free to a pool view room. I paid for a standard view, and when I checked in (early around noon), the CM said I got a complimentary upgrade! I never had to ask for it. My view was also included part of a savannah - I could see the animals in the savannah by the end of the pool area, so I was thrilled!!!!!!!!

<img src="http://home.att.net/~disneysue/hugsmall3.gif">

 

[dizkidz2]

Just returned last night from AKL and at check-in received an upgrade to a pool view. We were very happy with this, and if we go back we probably would not pay for a savana view. Everywhere you walked around the resort there are animals and viewing alcoves. We don't spend much time in our rooms so why pay for something you could walk down the hall to see. Also some of those savana rooms are way out there. We had friends that were upgraded for free to a savana room and were all the way at the end of a hall and requested to be moved back to their orginal pool view room, because they were too far out.

 

[mat2672]

My family went in april and we were upgraded to pool view, but the room wasnt ready yet. Then when we called to see if it was ready, the woman said it was, we went to the desk only to find out that it wasnt . The CM we had at the desk was very angry at the other CM on the phone who said that the room was ready when it wasnt. He told us that he would put us in a different room, but we were nervous because we thought we lost our upgrade. Turns out that he upgraded us again to savannah view. I would never go out of my way to ask for something that I didnt pay for, but it was definitely a pleasant surprise. You never know.

 

[kathylovesdisneyworl]

Our last visit in May we were upgraded from standard to savannah without requesting it. It was a nice surprise, but it did not have the same type of view as when we booked savannah. I have stayed all three: standard,pool and savannah, depending on the discount codes, and enjoyed all three. My preference of course is savannah, but can't swing it all the time.

 

[sandyneck]

In April the week after Easter we planned a last minute trip to Disney. We were staying at the WL in a woods view room. Before we checked in my husband drove to the AKL and told me to go to the desk and ask if we could change resorts and get a savannah view. I told him he was crazy, but said a prayer and did it anyway. They said no problem, when I asked them how much extra it would be, they said they were giving it to us for the same price! It was awesome. I also believe there are enough chances to see the animals that a standard view is not the end of the world, but I think you have a good chance of an upgrade.

 

[pallamb]

Robin: Is the $190 Savanah view rate still available and if so how can I get it? I can't find any deals. I'm just in the planning stages & have been dreaming about staying there but not sure if I can afford it. Thanks. Patty

 

[disneychrista]

If you want a Savannah Room, you should pay for it. You can always "hope" for an upgrade, but don't expect it because chances for upgrade all depend on bookings.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by pallamb
Robin: Is the $190 Savanah view rate still available and if so how can I get it?

It's the annual passholder rate for 7/4/03-8/23/03. It can be found here: http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html

 

[pallamb]

robinb,
Thanks for telling me to check out mousesavers.com. I booked the Fairytale Vacation and will be staying at AKL w/savannah view. I couldn't have afforded staying there for a whole week without this deal. It's a dream come true. Thanks again! Patty

 

[ducklite]

It's 100% based on availability. If there are rooms available, they will almost always allow you to upgrade for a lower rate.

Anne

 

[robinb]

Here's my update .

We checked into AKL about 10:30 am on July 4th. I politely said "Hi! I know it's really busy today, but I was wondering if there's a possibility of an upgrade. We're willing to wait for a room." I smiled. A lot.

Then ... Yippie! We were upgraded to a savanah view! We were 3 doors from the end of the Kudu Trail facing the Arusha (sp?) savanah. It was a l o n g walk to the lobby, pool and Mara. We joked about our "Two week safari" back to the lobby area, but it wasn't really a complaint. We were just so darn happy . We could have been closer on the coveted Zebra trail, but I wanted a bunk bed. They just finished cleaning the carpet so we had to wait until after 4:30 to get into our room, but it was worth it for the look on my DD's face when she saw the bunk bed! The animals were great, although my DD's favorites, the giraffes, were a little sparse. We usually saw them on the Sunset Savanah (nicknamed the "Vulture Savanah" by some people we met at AKL ).

One interesting thing. I'm a smoozer and chatted with lots of people. Everyone I chatted with at the pool and at the laundry were there on a discount. Everyone also either booked a discounted Savanah view (SOG, PO-FQ) or they were upgraded. Some folks were not as lucky, though. We saw lights on in the Standard View rooms and even saw someone in the dreaded "Bus Stop View" room. Yuck.

So, I would recommend that if you book a Standard or Pool view that you try to check in early, ask nicely for an upgrade, be able to wait and you might get lucky! I think a late check-in for a standard view has a better chance of getting you a parking lot view since all the upgrades had already been given away.