How many have gotten an upgrade from standard to savannah view at AKL??

[FantasiaMagic]

This past august I was at Kidani (DVC AKL) and we booked a studio and thats what we got. I was really hoping they would upgrade to a savannah for some reason, but that was not the case this time. I guess it really depends on how busy the resort is and if too many people books studios/standard rooms. At the AKL there are beautiful public viewing areas to see the animals by the pool. It is a great place to get many photos!

 

[MaMudduck]

I'm going in 30 days, and I'm so excited. Every year we gone to WDW we have gone over to AKL either for dinner,or Simba's Club or just to watch the animals but this is the first time staying there. This trip was so generously given to us everything included, so I wasn't about to complain that it was a standard room booked but I'm still praying that we'll get a savanna view room upgrade.
Questions: is there a better chance of getting an upgrade when we've requested a King bed vs. the regular? And what about checking in online vs. in person? and also does time of day matter, yes I know officially check-in is at 4:00pm but we'll be arriving about 11:30 am and not racing off to the parks . So what do you think: we'll just have to wait until a standard is ready or will they upgrade to whatever as soon as that's available? oh and also, should I just ask at check-in about an upgrade or how does everyone else do it?
Sorry to hijack with so many questions. Thanks in advance

 

[dansdad]

Free upgrades are mostly given when it benefits the resort. Like if there is a maintanance issue and they have to take some standard rooms out of inventory and all they have left is an upgrade. Or if the resort is underbooked, they will consolidate rooms so all the occupied rooms are in one location.

There's nothing you can do to up your chances for an upgrade.

If you ask about an upgrade, they will tell you what the price difference is and ask if you would like to upgrade.

The best thing to do is book what you can afford and then hope for some

 

[aubriee]

Free upgrades are mostly given when it benefits the resort. Like if there is a maintanance issue and they have to take some standard rooms out of inventory and all they have left is an upgrade. Or if the resort is underbooked, they will consolidate rooms so all the occupied rooms are in one location.

There's nothing you can do to up your chances for an upgrade.

If you ask about an upgrade, they will tell you what the price difference is and ask if you would like to upgrade.

The best thing to do is book what you can afford and then hope for some

I agree! I'm taking my mom down there for her 79th birthday. We arrive this Saturday and booked a pool view room. I'd love to be upgraded to a Savanna view, but know everyone else who booked a standard or pool view will be hoping for the same upgrade. We can't all get them, so I booked what I knew we'd be happy with. If we happen to get lucky with an upgrade, I'd be thrilled, but will also be thrilled with our pool view room if we don't get an upgrade. Just two more days and we'll be at WDW. How can we not be thrilled?

 

[HM]

Standard room August 2001 was upgraded to Savannah. (very unbusy time)
Standard room December 2001 was not. (packed)

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

We went to AKL for DD's 4th birthday and got bumped up. We had no idea until we went up and looked out the balcony doors to animals! Good luck!

 

[ciera321]

We've stayed twice at AKL. Both times we booked standard and both times were upgraded to savannah. Once was my 50th BD.

 

[FLCyndi]

A couple years ago during the summer we were ugraded from standard to savannah view.

I had originally booked the view room and DH talked me into downgrading to standard. When I checked in the CM said "savannah view"? I explained I had changed reservation to standard view-she then said we were ugraded for no extra charge.

 

[Haley]

I have like 2 years ago- standard to savannah.

It wasn't a great savannah view but I wouldn't complain- it was at the far end of the hotel and if I remember right was over some gate/pen for the warthogs. I remember seeing the workers herd them back in at night- it was pretty interesting.

 

[mommyrosa2]

We booked pool view back in November, 2010 & received an upgrade to Savannah view. The parks/resorts were not busy at that time and we were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary although not sure if that had anything to do with it. I will say that while we enjoyed the Savannah view and appreciated the upgrade, I wouldn't pay for that view as I didn't think it was worth the extra money given that you can view the animals from a lot of places within the resort...JMHO.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I was upgraded - loved the pixie dust. I also wanted to know how frequently people on the DIS were upgraded at AKL - the informal poll came out to be 50% of the time people were upgraded. Not a bad statistic in my mind! LOL - also worked in Disney's favor for me - I am now looking at purchasing DVC!

AKL is a wonderful resort!

 

[aubriee]

I agree! I'm taking my mom down there for her 79th birthday. We arrive this Saturday and booked a pool view room. I'd love to be upgraded to a Savanna view, but know everyone else who booked a standard or pool view will be hoping for the same upgrade. We can't all get them, so I booked what I knew we'd be happy with. If we happen to get lucky with an upgrade, I'd be thrilled, but will also be thrilled with our pool view room if we don't get an upgrade. Just two more days and we'll be at WDW. How can we not be thrilled?

Well, add me to the list of people that got upgraded. We just got back from AKL late last night. When we checked in Sept 1st, I mentioned that I had booked a pool view room using the AP discount and had requested 'nice view on Zebra trail' and asked if we got it. The CM looked at the screen and said that as a matter of fact I had a savanna view on the Arusha savanna. I was thrilled and told him I had booked a pool view and would have been happy with that. He laughed, looked at my elderly mom, and said we got it because of her. He then laughed and said no, the room had been assigned prior to our arrival and he actually didn't know why we got the free upgrade, but to enjoy it. We were in room 2409, which was a perfect location. If you walked out the lobby and took the stairs to the right like you were going out onto the Arusha savanna, there is a hallway off the right, just before you go out onto the observation deck or outside to the savanna. We were just two steps down that hallway, from where you go out to Arusha rock. We were just steps from the Arusha savanna and lobby. There is a short hallway back there that goes back towards the elevators and overlooks Boma. It's right over the Boma restrooms on the same level as the lounge, so we were also very close to the restaurants and pool.

 

[MaMudduck]

That's so awesome for you aubriee, what a special birthday trip for you mom!
Hoping the pixie dust stays around until I check-in, in less the 3 weeks!

 

[raven69david]

I've gotten one every time I've stayed at AKL and that's over a dozen times. I've always booked a standard view room, but have never stayed in a standard-view room. All the upgrades have been received during Value season as I've never gone during a non-value season. The closest was the first week in June after we opened up AoA in May and did a split stay at AKL. Booked standard view then and got a free upgrade to Savannah view room.

 

[Deb & Bill]

With the conversion of the fifth and sixth floors to DVC villas leaves fewer rooms for free upgrades. I think that is why DVC got those two floors to convert to villas. Low booking at AKL.

DVC villas reserved on points seldom if ever get upgrades. If you are booked in the last available villa of your type and it is taken out for maintenance, they might upgrade you, especially if you are only staying a few nights.

 

[loveshak22]

I just booked a trip to AKL for January and booked the savannah room (Arusha view) and it is just so expensive. I was even thinking of switching to another hotel - WL or even POFQ. But...now I'm thinking that maybe we'll switch to AKL standard room and just hope for the best since it's low season (after marathon). We just won't be in the room that much but I love the thought of sitting on the balcony and watching animals when we are in the room you know!

oooooo - tough choices!!

 

[loveshak22]

What if we book a standard room and get there and don't get an upgrade then can we pay for the upgrade? I'm assuming so?

 

[reiella]

What if we book a standard room and get there and don't get an upgrade then can we pay for the upgrade? I'm assuming so?

If there is a room available, yes. Something else to consider, there are nice viewing areas around the resort, so it may not even be necessary for you to upgrade to have access to a nice relaxing view.

 

[loveshak22]

If there is a room available, yes. Something else to consider, there are nice viewing areas around the resort, so it may not even be necessary for you to upgrade to have access to a nice relaxing view.

I've read that there are a lot of common viewing areas so that might be the fall back if we don't get a free upgrade...but I love the thought of just waking up and opening our balcony doors and hanging out watching animals right there!

 

[DBLGRR]

May 2010 booked pool view and no upgrade. June 2011 booked standard for 8 nights and got upgraded to Savannah. I love AKL.