Gotta be the worst AKL water view room !!!!!

[dawne577]

This was my second time booking a deluxe resort(Dolphin, July 2003 thru DIS travel for $150 a night). Standard room assigned looked out over loading dock. Oh well, I wasn't spending alot of time in the room but.... Booked water view room at AKL - payed $300 a night - got room 2442. IF I stood on my tiptoes and craned my neck I could see over the roof of the first floor, between the trees and spot portions of the kiddie pool. There was a table and chair on the balcony but if you sat the ledge was 4 ft. tall so what was the point. The sad thing was that we were looking forward to spending more time in the room but didn't relax or eat out on the balcony like I planned because of the view. Any suggestions on how you would deal with this would be appreciated. I'm thinking maybe now that I'm home I should email them and let them know that I was disappointed.
P.S. After a few days, we move over to POP Century and for $59 a day we get room 3413/3414 connecting in the 50's building which is at the very end - faces Hourglass Lake(yes, and some uncompleted buildings but no machinery or noise - New Years weekend). We step out onto the walkway and can see the Epcot fireworks or all the ducks on the lake but I'm not in the room because this is when I planned on doing all the parks !!!!

 

[floridafam]

I would have said something upon arrival in the room or gone down to the front desk. I'm certain they would have done everything they could to move you to a different room. I would have told them exactly what you said here. That you were planning on spending a lot of time in the room and if they could possibly get you a better view.

I don't think there is much they can do now that you are home.

At least you know for next time.

Did you like AKL in general?

 

[SnackyStacky]

It couldn't hurt to E-Mail them, but I really wouldn't expect too much. That's a situation you probably should have addressed while you were there because that's when they probably could have rectified the problem.

 

[daannzzz]

For the amount of money you paid you should have had a much better view. You really should have dealt with it at that time but it is water under the bridge. I would write a detailed letter to the manager of the resort and send a copy to guest relaltions as well. Write exactly what you said here, particularly about the Pop Century part. Perhaps they will remove that room from the water view list and it will help someone in the future.

 

[Daisy64]

Did you say anything once you saw the crappy view?

We had a similar problem at WL last year. We had paid for a courtyard view and I had requested a view of water ( realizing they can't always appease).
When we finaly got into our room the guy helping us with our luggage realized the dissapointment in my face when he pulled the drapes back to show us the view. We had a view of trees, literally right smack dab in front of us. I voiced my opinion and he immediatly asked if we would like another room if available..YES I said. Within 15minutes he was escorting us to another room on other side of courtyard with beautiful view of pool, gyser and lake!

This time we are heading to Pop and I'd love to be able to see the Epcot fireworks at night. Was this a preferred view?

Daisy

 

[dawne577]

I didn't go down to guest services after we arrived because I knew that everyone wanted to relax. I realize that would have probably solved the problem but it also would have upset me, caused a delay in everyone settling in and taken at least an hour away from what little time we had there. I am slightly crazed when it comes to Disney - it seems the disease is getting worse as I age. You see, I worked a 10 hr. day on NYE and then jumped into the packed car (luggage and family) and drove straight thru to Orlando(17 hrs.). Also, I go to Disney to escape the everyday garbage that we all have to deal with. I'm not one that is big on complaining - I don't like being difficult or demanding(even if it is justified). I feel that this escapism from everyday life that Disney has created is part of the "magic" that everyone talks about and is truly contagious - hence the severity of my Disney Disease.
As for the question about our rooms at POP being preferred - go figure they were not.
I have our March self made land/sea trip already planned but am thinking that I should FAX ahead room requests. What do you think? Also, considering a trip in October - do all you experts feel that a Deluxe resort is worth the money?

 

[4greatboys]

I would have said something about it. Now if you paid for a standard room then nothing to complain about. But since you paid for a water view then you should be able to see water--without injury to your body, lol.
I do like AKL and when we stayed last Dec the room we checked into was not cleaned. Called the front desk, told them we were leaving-wouldnt be back til late so they had plenty of time to clean it. Well when we got back at 1am a rain coat had been picked up off the floor and that was it. Well then I was mad. Called the front desk and they sent somone up then to clean the room--as in change our sheets mainly. But I would stay there again, I dont think that is something that happens all the time.
Over all we have had good experiences at all the resorts, value, moderate and deluxe.

 

[dgaston]

I had a pool view room at AKL in October. My primary request was bunk beds because my DS15 and DD20 were with DH and I and that just works better. So I had hoped for a savanna upgrade, but had read good reports on pool view rooms and knew there were no guarantees. We did get bunk beds, but on the first floor at the end of the hall down by the fitness center. My family loved the room, DS could hop the patio rail and go right into the pool. Our "pool" view was mostly of a beautifully sculpted fake Disney boulder!! You could see a bit of the pool at one end of the boulder.

I did not request a room change because of the bunk beds, but it was disappointing to me (not to the family--they thought the room was great).

My kids spent a lot of time with CMs and the night vision goggles and we watched animals from the public areas, but it wasn't what I thought AKL would be like.

 

[MinnieGi]

I think we were in that room for one night. Was 2442 next to the elevator shaft? If it was we were also put in that room. Now we had only reserved a standard view with an AP rate so when we were upgraded to pool view I was very excited until I saw our view. It had the high solid wall and was tucked in the corner. But since we had been upgraded I didn't feel right to complain. Well that night my DH could not sleep b/c he could hear the elevator shafts operating all night. So early next morning he called the front desk and told them the problem and we were given a choice of rooms. Our new room was on the fourth floor with an awesome view of the pool. And to boot our new room had an extra dresser that the old one did not!! They were very accomadating.

Although I certainly think you can e-mail them, I think you should of addressed the problem then. I think they will be surprised by your e-mail and wonder why you didn't request a change of view in the first place.

 

[Grumpy37]

We had a similar situation except our "savannah view" was more like a tree view with a pool to our right. Even on tip toes you weren't likely to see the savannah, let alone any animals. It was a "big deal" when we asked to be moved, wound up being checked out and waited hours to be moved to a decent room (our fault for hanging around, I guess). We saw watusis (we're from the midwest so seeing cattle isn't unique for us), and off in the distance we saw a few giraffes that I got pics of from a distance with a good zoom lens. And one zebra on one morning.

We had ourselves so convinced AKL was going to be a magical stay, our expectations must've been too high because DS5 was even more disappointed than we were. AKL gets lots of glowing reviews, so I can only guess we were unlucky? The non-animal part of the resort was nice, the themeing was great, we loved Boma, but the whole Animal part of AKL was weak, in our opinion. And the buses to anywhere take forever (bring a rental car, you'll be happier).

FWIW, the Grand Floridian was all we could've hoped for and more. Worth every penny.

BTW, the extra dresser at AKL only comes in those rooms without an inside door for the adjoining room next door.

Edits for typos (can't spell today).

 

[tnkrbell]

I have had views that I have paid for and were not happy so I called the front desk and they changed us right away! I would suggest next time to do thast just give the m a call!!

 

[BuzzMe]

Last week we had a terrific bellman at the Boardwalk who called the front desk twice for us and dragged our luggage to three different rooms until he saw that we were happy with the room.
On our last stay at the Swan we had paid for a waterview but couldn't see anything through all the trees and another terrific bellman called and moved us to a great room with a balcony! I've always found the resorts to be very helpful in trying to accomodate us.