Help picking best room at AKL!!

[loveshak22]

My DH and I are going to AKL at the end of January and I've been doing lots of research on the best area to stay at the AKL. Since we haven't taken a vacation in awhile I've paid for the upgrade to an Arusha view room. We have a decent amount of downtime in our schedule and would like a room with a balcony that lets us see lots of animals (especially for the price we are paying).

From what I've reserached it seems like most people prefer being on the 3rd or 4th floor because it gives a more expansive view of the park. However, I've read mixed opinions on whether to stay closer to the lobby or further out (like in the very last buildings) on the Zebra or Kudu trail. I know it's a long walk but if the views are worth it then I'm willing to make the walk.

I know you can't request specific rooms but I currently have requested a king bed, 3rd or 4th floor, at the end of the zebra trail. Who knows if I'll get that but if staying closer to the lobby lets us see more animals then I want to change my request.

If you've been to AKL, please help!

Thanks!!

 

[loveshak22]

No opinions out there yet???

I think I'm putting too much pressure on myself to find the perfect location at AKL to request....

 

[John's Mom]

3rd or 4th floor on the Zebra Trail would be my choice. The pool and restaurants are on that side of the Lodge. If you stay in a room close to the lobby, it limits your view of the savanna. I prefer half way down the trail.

Kathy

 

[loveshak22]

3rd or 4th floor on the Zebra Trail would be my choice. The pool and restaurants are on that side of the Lodge. If you stay in a room close to the lobby, it limits your view of the savanna. I prefer half way down the trail.

Kathy

Thank you!!! I requested a king bed on the 3rd or 4th floor at the end of the Zebra trail. Then I read there were a lot of feeding spots near the lobby so thought there might be more animal activity there. It sounds like 1/2 way down might be the best option.

 

[Tink415]

No opinions out there yet???

I think I'm putting too much pressure on myself to find the perfect location at AKL to request....

We had a room close to the lobby once and mostly saw big white birds, don't remember their name! I don't like being at the end of the hallways so if I make a request that's usually it.

 

[nemofans]

Have you looked at the cost to upgrade to CL since you are already paying for Arusha view? It is $15 per night to add club level. That would easily save you money just on breakfast alone & then still get the snacks/appetizers/drinks too. CL rooms are on 4th floor arusha view.

 

[loveshak22]

Have you looked at the cost to upgrade to CL since you are already paying for Arusha view? It is $15 per night to add club level. That would easily save you money just on breakfast alone & then still get the snacks/appetizers/drinks too. CL rooms are on 4th floor arusha view.

I hadn't even thought of that. I reserved an Arusha view room with deluxe dining because we have 3 ADRs at signature restaurants and it seemed worth the upgrade (assuming WDW offers FD for the end of January). If we don't do the deluxe DDP and downgrade to the DDP then the CL room would be $200 less than our current reservation. If we keep the deluxe DDP then the cost would be about $200 more than our current reservation.

Something to think about...although the description of the CL rooms doesn't say it's an Arusha view. From the WDW site:

Standard Room, Kilimanjaro Club rooms offer a view of a one of the savannahs at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

 

[reiella]

I hadn't even thought of that. I reserved an Arusha view room with deluxe dining because we have 3 ADRs at signature restaurants and it seemed worth the upgrade (assuming WDW offers FD for the end of January). If we don't do the deluxe DDP and downgrade to the DDP then the CL room would be $200 less than our current reservation. If we keep the deluxe DDP then the cost would be about $200 more than our current reservation.

Something to think about...although the description of the CL rooms doesn't say it's an Arusha view. From the WDW site:

Standard Room, Kilimanjaro Club rooms offer a view of a one of the savannahs at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

K-Club rooms are Arusha, from the resort maps you can get that verified. But definitely call and ask reservations to make sure .

 

[John's Mom]

The club level rooms are usually close to the lobby.

 

[nemofans]

The CL are definitely arusha view only. I have one booked for next month. AKL experts here & the CM that booked my trip all have said it's arusha view too. The description makes it confusing on the view by saying standard room. That just means it's not a DVC room, but a regular, standard size AKL room.

 

[OhThePain]

I hadn't even thought of that. I reserved an Arusha view room with deluxe dining because we have 3 ADRs at signature restaurants and it seemed worth the upgrade (assuming WDW offers FD for the end of January). If we don't do the deluxe DDP and downgrade to the DDP then the CL room would be $200 less than our current reservation. If we keep the deluxe DDP then the cost would be about $200 more than our current reservation.

Something to think about...although the description of the CL rooms doesn't say it's an Arusha view. From the WDW site:

Standard Room, Kilimanjaro Club rooms offer a view of a one of the savannahs at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

IMO, if you decide to go CL, I would drop the DDP all together. The DDP and DxDP are a lot of food, to us at least (and I'm a big guy). Between breakfast, afternoon tea (we are mid-day breakers to freshen up for dinner so made it to tea just about every day durring out stay) and the evening offerings available in the lounge (which was available by the time we were set to head out for the evening), we were able to get by with a few light lunches or snacks while in the parks durring the day plus our nightly ADR (most of which were Signatures). Not feeling obligated to have an appitizer or dessert was nice. We never felt uncomfy from overeating. Even with at least 1 ADR a day (and sometimes 2), it worked out cheaper to pay for meals OOP than to use any of the dining plans.

Also, if you decide to stay CL, you MUST experience the Sunrise Safari (only available to AKL-CL guests, costs about $65 for adults). You get to ride KS in AK before the park opens, going much slower and stopping for longer periods of time to hear about and see all the animals. After the safari, which takes about 80 minutes or so (opposed to the 18 that the actual ride is) you have a nice breakfast buffet at Pizzafari. It's a nice perk for staying CL at AKL. There is also the Wanyama Safari available to all AKL guests which runs about $190 per person, but to us was the all around best experience we have had in Disney.

 

[nemofans]

Yeah, I agree. We are not doing dining plan at all b/c we will get breakfast, snacks/drinks, & appetizers as well as desserts thru CL. We do have the sunrise safari booked too! It will be a very early morning for us withe time difference, but we'll deal with it.
AKL is one of the only deluxes to have such a low cost to upgrade to CL that it's worth it, especially if you're paying extra for arusha view already.

 

[loveshak22]

Thanks for the tips on the CL upgrade...definitely need to do some thinking about that. We don't really plan on coming back to the hotel mid-afternoon but with breakfast and the morning safari, that sounds pretty cool!

With the CL rooms can you stay further out on one of the trails or are they all closer to the lobby? Do you have rooms you like on the CL level?

 

[nemofans]

You can request a room further down the hall. I requested a room near the mid elevators on zebra trail that go down to the pool & Mara. That way we are not too close to the lobby, but not too far either.

 

[OhThePain]

Thanks for the tips on the CL upgrade...definitely need to do some thinking about that. We don't really plan on coming back to the hotel mid-afternoon but with breakfast and the morning safari, that sounds pretty cool!

With the CL rooms can you stay further out on one of the trails or are they all closer to the lobby? Do you have rooms you like on the CL level?

Since you mentioned that you have a decent amount of downtime in your schedule and at least 3 Signature ADRs, you may end up in the lounge in the afternoon and evening more than you think and with the relatively small extra cost for the perks and service, IMO it's a no-brainer.

Our CL room was just past the mid-way elevator on the Zebra Trail and had a great view. We were right by a pretty popular watering hole amongst the animals and often saw many just hanging out there all day and night. There was also a nice viewing area right outside that mid-way elevator on the second floor that had a couple of rocking chairs and a pretty awesome set of fixed viewing binoculars that you could see clear accross the savanna, even at night.