Dvc @ AKL help

[Julesinwisco]

This is the first time we're renting dvc points-- planning on 4 nights late January 2018-- I'm so torn as to standard view or savanna view for the extra $200. Our son will be 3.5 and he loves animals, I'm sure our trip will include some downtime in our room as we will also have a 10 month old. Are there requests I can make that better my odds of getting a savanna view? Is it a slow enough time of year the odds are in my favor? Love Disney but I hate that every time you start vacation planning you start to think ohh that's only a few dollars more, oh, lets just add park hopper this time-- all those extras add up quick :/ I really wish I could book standard and opt to upgrade if we got a cruddy view, but my understanding is you can't play that way with DVC.... I'd even be ok with a pool view or partial savanna view I just don't want to look at a loading bay or parking lot.

Thoughts? Assiatsnce, please....

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you want a Savannah view book it. DVC runs at 95% or higher occupancy year round, regardless of park crowds.

You cannot upgrade at the desk on a DVC rental. While there are some downgraded Standard rooms with animal views, if it is really important you need to book it, rather than hope for a request.

 

[pdude81]

Kids will love the savannah view, and you will love the look on your kids faces when they see those animals. With all the money you are going to pay for this vacation, I would choose the animals. If you are going to stay at AKV every year then it might not matter to you, but if this is not a common occurance I'd strongly suggest a savannah room.

 

[Geomom]

I would spend the extra for the savannah view. There are no upgrades with DVC, so if you book standard view it will be parking lot/road or pool view. If you're going to have kids napping in the room, it is wonderful to be able to sit out on the balcony watching the animals while your kids sleep.

As far as park tix--I would not bother with Park Hoppers, especially with young kids. You can still only do FP+ for 1 of the parks you go to for the day.

 

[mousestruck]

DVC reservations are not upgraded unless there is a maintenance or inventory problem, so book what you'll be happy with. In my opinion, the $200 is well worth the savanna view. It is so awesome to watch the animals from your balcony!!!

 

[brooke789]

We had standard view at AKL (Jambo) last year. It was great! We actually could see the animal pen. So, every morning there was a group of animal coming in for their vet check and the same every evening. It was great. We constantly had a variety of animals right out of window. The kids also wanted to go up and down the halls and check all of the overlooks to see what was on the other trails.

We had a great experience and would book standard again.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

We had standard view at AKL (Jambo) last year. It was great! We actually could see the animal pen. So, every morning there was a group of animal coming in for their vet check and the same every evening. It was great. We constantly had a variety of animals right out of window. The kids also wanted to go up and down the halls and check all of the overlooks to see what was on the other trails.

We had a great experience and would book standard again.

However, there is no guarantee of getting one of the downgraded rooms with animal pen view, and if OP would be unhappy with a non-animal/non-pool view, she needs to book savannah. The downgrades are a minority of the Standards.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The standard views at Jambo face towards the pool or are poor savannah views that are located at the locations of the people pens. Only Kidani has standard view that faces towards the parking lot.

Now - some of those standard view rooms that face towards the pool will also have roof from restaurant areas etc or may have a lot of trees blocking pool view but if you want to chance it for one of the reclassified savannah views by sticking with the Standard view category then Jambo will be the building that at least won't have you looking at the parking lot.

 

[Julesinwisco]

Thank you ALL so much for your input! Every time I think oh I'll just book the savanna view room I come across some testimony of someone having booked a standard and having an "ammmmmmazing view of the savanna" -- I've even seen a few people rave about these room views being better than the time they booked savanna view. At the end of the day though, I suppose the people who booked standard and got parking lot views don't walk around gloating about their views now do they?? Over four nights it works out to $50 a night for the guaranteed view so I think we'll just go ahead and book it-- as geomom pointed out, it would be really nice to be able to sit on the balcony and watch the animals while the kiddos have some down time. We visit Disney often, but this will be one of those slower paced trips with more resort time... As much as I love gambling AND saving money I think the answer is clear.

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[pdude81]

Also depending on whether it's jambo or kidani, research what room request you might want to attach to your stay. Lower floor, near pool, near lobby, etc. Might not get what you're looking for but it can't hurt to ask

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thank you ALL so much for your input! Every time I think oh I'll just book the savanna view room I come across some testimony of someone having booked a standard and having an "ammmmmmazing view of the savanna" -- I've even seen a few people rave about these room views being better than the time they booked savanna view. At the end of the day though, I suppose the people who booked standard and got parking lot views don't walk around gloating about their views now do they?? Over four nights it works out to $50 a night for the guaranteed view so I think we'll just go ahead and book it-- as geomom pointed out, it would be really nice to be able to sit on the balcony and watch the animals while the kiddos have some down time. We visit Disney often, but this will be one of those slower paced trips with more resort time... As much as I love gambling AND saving money I think the answer is clear.

Thanks again everyone!!

And when it's an unexpected view of animals for standard view it's much more ammmmmmmazing than when the people booked these rooms savannah view and found that there were big round pens right there and the animals further out. Booking the savannah view to start sounds like the good choice IMO.

 

[kniquy]

For my family needing to get a 2BR our next trip i couldn't spare the points to get a savanah and i knew we would be up and at the parks most of the day so we opted for a standard.

The real worth will come from how much time you spend in your room. So if you figure out what scenario you are it might help see if it is worth the $200. It may not sound like much but if you are budgeting it can make a big difference. Or you choose a standard and stay and extra night! More time is worth more than the view.
-If you are going to be up early and at the parks all day, then probably not worth it.
-If your plan is still getting up to hit the parks at rope drop, but getting back to the room after dinner and putting your son to bed at 7:00, probably not worth it.
-If you are planning afternoon breaks so the little one can nap at the resort then probably worth it. Which this sounds like you are planning on doing.

Even if you do not get the savanah view there are still plenty of areas to view the animals.

 

[Dean]

This is the first time we're renting dvc points-- planning on 4 nights late January 2018-- I'm so torn as to standard view or savanna view for the extra $200. Our son will be 3.5 and he loves animals, I'm sure our trip will include some downtime in our room as we will also have a 10 month old. Are there requests I can make that better my odds of getting a savanna view? Is it a slow enough time of year the odds are in my favor? Love Disney but I hate that every time you start vacation planning you start to think ohh that's only a few dollars more, oh, lets just add park hopper this time-- all those extras add up quick :/ I really wish I could book standard and opt to upgrade if we got a cruddy view, but my understanding is you can't play that way with DVC.... I'd even be ok with a pool view or partial savanna view I just don't want to look at a loading bay or parking lot.

Thoughts? Assiatsnce, please....

In this situation I'd do the Savannah view.