We stayed pool view a week ago and enjoyed it very much. I am doing it again in December. The pros are a very convenient room location, a beautiful view (see my review a couple of pages back), a lower price than savanna view, and no parking lot in sight, guaranteed. No savanna in sight either, but the pool area is green and lush, and you can see the animals from many places around the resort. The main con, which was not major for us, was that the pool courtyard could be noisy at times. This made using the balcony less enjoyable while that was going on. There is a daily pool party from 3:00 to 4:00, during time which they play very loud music. We found that closing the slider dampened the sound level in the room by about 90%, but we could still hear a very muffled bass beat. It didn't bother us, we were able to nap right through it. However, if any members of your party are very sensitive to sound and like naps, you may want to plan that around the pool party. At all other times the slider completely blocked out the courtyard noise. Some nights after the pool closed, I enjoyed reading a book on the balcony, but one night there was a group of teenagers carousing and shouting around the courtyard, so I went inside where it was quieter. Again, not a big deal to me, but YMMV. I know if my balcony had been closed in or faced the roadways, I would not have used it at all.
I have seen gorgeous standard views too, which look like a tremendous value! But you also run the real risk of getting the dreaded parking lot or service area view. Of course you can ask to be moved, but it may take a day or not be possible at all. I swore off "standard view room assignment roulette" two years ago, when paying rack rate for a villa at the Poly (late booking for F&W, no discounts available), my first room looked squarely at the parking lot and nothing else. Maybe one palm tree off to the side. We asked very nicely and were eventually moved, but I decided "never again," and now always book a level up.
In any event, you will be at the AKL which is so tranquil and beautiful that you can't go wrong! Hope you have a wonderful trip!
