Do you realy see the animals with a savana view?

[lynypixie]

Husband said that the only way he would upgrade to a deluxe, would be to have the animals view.

Upon looking, we saw that it's actualy not that bad with the new special.

But would the 1000$ difference be realy worth it? I mean, animals would be the only thing that could beat the little mermaid for our kids.

 

[jdcthree]

Husband said that the only way he would upgrade to a deluxe, would be to have the animals view.

Upon looking, we saw that it's actualy not that bad with the new special.

But would the 1000$ difference be realy worth it? I mean, animals would be the only thing that could beat the little mermaid for our kids.

You absolutely see animals. If you plan to spend some time in your room it is definitely worth it. We had a few rainy days and on one particular day I sat on the balcony watching zebras during a thunderstorm. It was great!

 

[laura001]

Oh yes, you see the animals....there is nothing like laying on the end of your bed with your balcony doors open, watching the giraffes etc. out on the Savanna! That is my idea of a wonderful holiday!

 

[spiceycat]

depends - that say you can see animals even with a standard view at AKL/AKV - they have big windows all over the place. Now not quite the same as seeing from your room - but hey it is the same animals.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Husband said that the only way he would upgrade to a deluxe, would be to have the animals view.

Upon looking, we saw that it's actualy not that bad with the new special.

But would the 1000$ difference be realy worth it? I mean, animals would be the only thing that could beat the little mermaid for our kids.

You can definitely see the animals! My kids absolutely love sitting on the balcony with the animal identification chart marking off all the ones they see during our stay. It's really amazing!

 

[Sammie]

Understand though that the animals are not going to be standing right outside your balcony 24 hours a day.

They come and go and depending on when you are looking you might see them and then you might not.

I just know that some people have commented before they were disappointed they did not see as many animals as often as they thought.

And there are plenty of viewing areas if you don't get the Savannah view.

 

[Sue M]

We loved our savanna view. I would get excited in the morning to wake up and see what animals would be out. Nice to bring out my coffee and enjoy the view. Also looked forward to returning to see which would be by our balcony.

It is true you can see the savannah from many different view points around the resort, but it's not quite the same as having the svanna view.

 

[sndral]

Yes, if you book a savanna view, your balcony will face one of the savannas where the animal's live. How great your view will be depends somewhat on where your particular room is.
Given how very young your children are, I've read that young children are more drawn to the larger than life themes of the value resorts. AKL is a great resort, and there are great things about it, but for $1000 - have you thought about sticking w/ your current plan and adding a visit to Sanaa @ Kidani for lunch or an early dinner - the restaurant has windows fronting sunset savanna, and then visiting Jambo house and strolling around checking out the resort and grounds and then deciding if next time you want to upgrade to AKL.

 

[nightshaderose]

This is the view we had from the 6th floor last winter. I'm sure lower floors get you slightly closer/better views. The giraffes were nearby frequently, but the ostriches were hanging out all the time. We even got to see one chasing a keeper truck for treats once. There were other animals farther off in the distance, too.

That being said, you don't have to stay there to see the animals. There are public viewing spots all over the resort.

 

[aubriee]

Understand though that the animals are not going to be standing right outside your balcony 24 hours a day.

They come and go and depending on when you are looking you might see them and then you might not.

I just know that some people have commented before they were disappointed they did not see as many animals as often as they thought.

And there are plenty of viewing areas if you don't get the Savannah view.

We actually got lucky during our recent Sept 1st-8th trip. We booked a pool view room and requested Zebra Trail. When we checked in, we had been upgraded to fantastic second floor Savana view, facing the Arusha Savanna. It was the perfect room. If you go straight across the lobby like you are going toward Arusha Rock, then go down the metal stairs to the right, (again like you are going out onto Arusha Rock), then glance to the right you will see a hallway that leads to rooms (just past the round observation area). We were the second room down that hallway (just as you start up that hallway you can see the small slope and we were right at the top of that slope). Anyway we were on the second floor (first floor of rooms, since the Savanna is actually the first floor). Anyway, there were four or five giraffes, two zebras, and an ostrich that stayed just below our window all week. I always thought the animals went into their barns at night, but several nights when I couldn't sleep, I'd step out onto the balcony and was able to see at least two giraffes every single night, just below our balcony. They stayed there all week.

Our room was seconds from the doors that lead out to Arusha Rock and from the back of the lobby if we used that staircase, but just before that hall ended, next to that area that leads out to Arusha Rock, where the two staircases start that lead up to the lobby, there was a short hall that was the lenght of the lobby and went back toward the bar and if you looked over the railing you could see the check in area of Boma, just before you got to the elevators, so we were only a minute or two from the restaurants also. I think the room may have been 2409--anyway is was on the floor closest to the Savanna, second room in the first pod of rooms. I actually felt sorry for people who were on the opposite side of the savanna, because for some reason the giraffes pretty much stayed over on our side of the savanna all week. We never looked out that we didn't see them there. I got a great AP discount for a pool view room, that I would have been perfectly happy with, but got a free upgrade to a perfect savanna view of the Arusha Savanna with a room that was close to everything.

 

[mickeynut1]

We loved our savanna view. I enjoyed the quiet mornings going out onto the balcony with my coffee to watch the animals. It was a perfect way to start the day .

 

[babyrich]

The savannah view was great! Every morning we would wake up and watch the giraffes get fed. The truck would come by and put food up in the tree and the giraffes would follow the truck and start eating when it drove away.

Best way to start the day!

 

[SSR]

I stopped reading at the $1,000 reference...(I'm cheap. )

We stayed Savannah view last year and my wife and I loved the animals. My 7 year old saw them, said "Cool" and then went back to what he was doing. I think the WOW factor for me and my wife stemmed from the fact that we grew up staying in motels with our parents, so the notion of sipping wine and watching animals in a hotel room was cool for us (not $1,000 cool though). For our son, he's been so lucky to see various animals at zoos and other interactive places that it wasn't much of an impression for him (which was interesting).

 

[lynypixie]

The kids loves animals. We had anual passes for the safari zoo here for 3 years and we'd go every two weeks. We didn't get it this year and they have been asking for the zoo all summer long. And still do. We've been telling them that we'll get to see a zoo in Disney World and I think that's what they are waiting for the most.

 

[henderkm]

We stayed at Kidani and saw plenty of animals from our balcony. It was nice getting up in the morning and drinking coffee while watching the giraffes. In the middle of the day the cast members will put food out for the animals.

Watching the sun go down and the animals bed down for the night is also nice.

One thing a cast member told us was to try and get a room on one of the lower floors. He told us sometimes rooms on the top floors could have more obstructed views because of the tops of the trees.

If you plan to spend most of your time at the parks, I wouldn't spend the extra money. If you opted for the standard room, there are viewing areas off the lobby with rocking chairs so you would still get to see the animals. It just wouldn't be from your room.

 

[lynypixie]

We will be spending our days in the park, from rope drop to closing, and we have pre opening ADR everydays.

I'm 95% sure we won't be moving resort, as we could have a moderate for less than our little mermaid room and yet won't take it. We love larger than life theming. The AKL is the only one who could have offered us something else that we'd truly enjoy. I did think about the royal guest room at POR, but I heard very bad things about transportation, and it's too subtle for my kids. We have 3 kids, so it's our only chance to score either rooms. (LM or AKL)

 

[sndral]

Ah yes, the 3 children when the youngest will soon turn you into a family of 5 and thus too large for some resorts delima.
Do consider either a lunch or dinner ADR during daylight hours @ Sanaa in the DVC Kidani building - the kids would probably enjoy eating right next to a window looking out on the savanna - my adult son had a blast last year posturing w/ the crane who spent time staring at us eating our meal, it was quite amusing, every gesture my son made the crane would mimic. There were a lot of zebras on Sunset savanna that I enjoyed seeing as well. We also like Boma and Jiko for dinner in Jambo house, but they don't front on a savanna like Sanaa does.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I booked a standard room at AKL and was upgraded to a savanna room which does happen (did an informal poll about that 50% of disers were upgraded). I was jumping up and down because - yes I could actually see animals when I was lying on my bed - I was on the lowest floor. When I checked in there were several zebra out having a snack - Disney does place food out so that at some time or another you will have a good chance to see some animals. It was very special - however I would definitely book a standard view room at AKL again - the lodge is gorgeous and worth every penny but there are plenty of viewing areas around the hotel from which to see the animals and of course always a chance of an upgrade.

 

[carrie1626]

Understand though that the animals are not going to be standing right outside your balcony 24 hours a day.

They come and go and depending on when you are looking you might see them and then you might not.

I just know that some people have commented before they were disappointed they did not see as many animals as often as they thought.

And there are plenty of viewing areas if you don't get the Savannah view.

TRUE!!
I loved my poolview roomboth visits and I always checked out the savannahs leaving and returning to the resort.

IMO, for $1000 I should be sleeping with them, feeding them and taking one home.