Is an AKL upgrade an automatic?

[Michael623]

From what I've read on the boards nobody actually ends up in a standard view room since half the savanah rooms are empty most of the time. I have a standard view room 2/6-2/11 with an AP rate of $109. The booking agent told me that the place will probably 2/3 empty when I'm there. Do you think I'll get an upgrade or have I spent too much time in Fantasy Land???

 

[gepetto]

A lot of people "end up" in standard rooms. They just don't come back and post "yippee, I paid for a standard room and got one".

 

[sherry8253]

My theory is if you want a savannah view, reserve it. We were there the first week in December and loved our savannah view. I would never go to the AKL without booking a savannah view. The resort was not full when we were there. We talked to some people in the food court and they had reserved a standard and hoped for a savannah but they were given the standard they reserved when they checked in. When they asked for an upgrade at check in, they were told that there were savannah rooms available but there would be a charge to upgrade. If everyone who books a standard room is automatically given a savannah room then I don't think that would be very fair to people like us who pay extra for the nicer room.

 

[tjmw2727]

We booked savanna view last Feb and loved it! Then on a short trip last June after visiting relatives we got a good rate on a standard so we took it. We were not offered an upgrade and had a wonderful stay - this place is great. There are many great places to view the animals and the resort is a real treat, for our two nights a standard was perfect. Should we return for a longer stay we will probably book the savanna view.

TJ

 

[Gillian]

I think the resort is becoming more popular and you can't count on anything! What is the price difference to upgrade now to savannah? When I checked in with a standard, AP rate, they offered me $60/night to upgrade. I declined & was put in a room near the pool. It might still have been considered standard view, because you couldn't really see the pool from there. Great location though, very convenient to Mara for mug refills

 

[chrissyk]

We stayed at the AKL Nov. 15th and 16th. We had booked a standard view, but I am pretty sure that we ended up with a Savannah view because we could see animals right off our balcony, and they were pretty close to us, too! Also, we had a view of a "people holding pen" and we could see the trucks as they came around to feed the animals. We didn't ask for an upgrade, but I think we got one anyways. All we asked for was a room in a quiet area, since I am a light sleeper. Maybe upgrades are more common during less-crowded times of the year?

 

[adisneynut]

we had booked concierge and we were given a 2 bedroom suite. We just couldn't beleive our room. I even had to call down to the front desk and make 100% sure we were where we were in the right room.

 

[susy]

I think many factors come into play.

We were there Labor Day Weekend that the resort was full (we were told by CM's).

We had a standard room booked for $119- before all of this $109 business!

I did fax a room request 5 days before . I mentioned that this was our first stay in a deluxe and how excited we were, especially since we were also celebrating my b- day (which we did Cindy's for!). My room requests were NS, bunk beds and a room close to the food court and pool, since we would be spending a lot of time the resort (which we did!).


At check in- we arrived around 4:30pm on the Friday- we were upgraded to deluxe pool view! Savannah would have been nice, but we really enjoyed the convenience of being a few feet from the elevator that went down to the lobby. We were on the fifth floor, two rooms before the suspension bridge. I really liked opening our door to he lobby. One of those gorgeous chandeliers hung right outside our room. Even at 5am, I opened our door and that wonderful music was playing. Being close to the food court, buses, and pool was nice. It made the resort seem so small , but we didn't have that "small" feeling in our deluxe room!!!! It was big for just the three of us (DH, myself, and 4yo DS). It was quite spacious. We did have bunk beds, a queen bed, and a day bed.

We did over look the pool and the roof of Boma was right beneath us. A few times we waved and signaled to each other from the balcony to the pool.

We had dinner at Jiko, breakfast and dinner at Boma, lunch at Mara, used Simba's cubhouse and took buses to all four parks and DTD- no problems. All this was during Labor day Weekend.

I think we might have gotten that particular room, because it may be the one that is "booked" the least. They probably use it for concierge when they have to, but since it was on the fifth floor and faced the pool, that would make it the least desirable concierge room location (does that make sense?)

Anyway, my mom will be there with her DH Jan 18-20 for $109.

I will help her fax a nice room request and perhaps they will get an upgrade, since it is not a busy time.

I think that if you MUST have the savannah room, book it!

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by Michael623
From what I've read on the boards nobody actually ends up in a standard view room since half the savanah rooms are empty most of the time. I have a standard view room 2/6-2/11 with an AP rate of $109. The booking agent told me that the place will probably 2/3 empty when I'm there. Do you think I'll get an upgrade or have I spent too much time in Fantasy Land???

No an upgrade is not automatic. People do "end up" in standard view rooms. My reconmendation is to book the view you will be happy with. If you really want a savanna view room I would suggest that is the view you book. If you do not care if you "end up" in a standard view room then pay for that view and take your chances. No matter which view you end up with the resort is great and I am sure you will have a great trip. We will be at the AKL for the third time from Feb 1st through the 6th in a Concierge room.

 

[2hansons]

We decided to go 'whole hog' and just upgrade to concierge. We also have heard that many times standard is upgraded, but we didn't want to take a chance and miss the experience. After all, when will most of us ever get to the REAL AFRICA!

 

[BambiTamby]

Originally posted by 2hansons.....

We decided to go 'whole hog' and just upgrade to concierge.

Good for you~!

We stayed at the AKL concierge twice in its inaugural year!
First in July 2001; loved it so much, went back for a repeat in Dec 2001.

The Sunrise Safari is awesome!
And that espresso/cappucino/latte machine is FABULOUS!!!!!!

Have a wonderful stay there!