Just back AKLV...thoughts on Savannah view 2BR.....

[kerry_mf]

How is this situation different from what is stated on the dvcmember.com website about sunset savanna not having animals (from Jan 15, 2009-Apr 15, 2009) and savanna view rooms will be credited the difference between standard and savanna?

 

[AKV707]

How is this situation different from what is stated on the dvcmember.com website about sunset savanna not having animals (from Jan 15, 2009-Apr 15, 2009) and savanna view rooms will be credited the difference between standard and savanna?

But that isn't until January 15. The Sunset Savanna is still considered to be open. I have read some reports that there are animals on the Sunset Savanna. Since I have an 11 night value stay coming up very soon, and might get a savanna view, will I see any animals?

 

[kimberh]

How is this situation different from what is stated on the dvcmember.com website about sunset savanna not having animals (from Jan 15, 2009-Apr 15, 2009) and savanna view rooms will be credited the difference between standard and savanna?

I was there the first week of May, we saw two zebra's, one little bird, nothing close. This was for the whole 5 days. It was the worse Savanna view we have ever had! Construction everywhere. Had to be careful opening the drapes, men would be outside. We were Concierge... on the 6th floor. I was credited back nothing, must have been the two zebra's.

 

[MiaSRN62]

dis-happy : Hasn't MS made this clear to everyone booking? If not, I'd be upset, but if so I'd have to say that we as members were fore-warned and therefore shouldn't have anything to complain about.

No, this was not made clear to me. From what I'm reading here on this thread, I figured there would be "some", but not as bad as I'm now getting the feeling it will be. I have 3 nights booked in a one bedroom SV. MS never said a word about anything that I'm reading here. Now I am nervous.

 

[philatiger]

We stayed at AKV, savannah view last February. We overlooked the main savannah, while friends in concierge faced the construction. I was happy with my view, the only thing I wanted to point out is this: when I booked my room MS was very clear that construction would be going on, and I agreed that I was booking knowing that the view and noise could impact our trip. Hasn't MS made this clear to everyone booking? If not, I'd be upset, but if so I'd have to say that we as members were fore-warned and therefore shouldn't have anything to complain about. I'd still take a construction room at AKV over a room at SSR (one of our other choices), really enjoyed the Lodge, the pool, the animal sighting areas, and Boma.

When I made our reservation for October for a 1BR svannah view I was told about the possibility of hearing construction. However, when I booked the 2BR savannah room view for January a month later I wasn't. They seem to be inconsistent with this message. We will take our chances and hope for the best. I think I will let member services know about the inconsistency.

 

[lmb]

We stayed in a value savannah in may for 2 nights and saw a giraffe here and there and some cattle. Not much but since we weren't using more points for the savannah we were thrilled nonetheless. This is our second stay in a savannah studio. My kids are 1 and 3 and really love the savannah view. They are less concerned about how many animals are out there than I am!

 

[AKV707]

We stayed in a value savannah in may for 2 nights and saw a giraffe here and there and some cattle. Not much but since we weren't using more points for the savannah we were thrilled nonetheless. This is our second stay in a savannah studio. My kids are 1 and 3 and really love the savannah view. They are less concerned about how many animals are out there than I am!

DW and I will be in a 1 br value in July with a savanna request. How distracting was the Kidani construction?

 

[KirstenB]

We were in 5572/4 (lockoff) on the Zebra Trail away from the construction. It was fantastic! Beautiful sunrises every morning and just about all the variety of animals outside our balcony. We had heard about the construction and were a bit worried. I don't know if it was because we arrived early that we got that side or just lucky. I would think that the AKLV mgmt would do something for you to make up for the construction noise and impact on the savanah.

We just returned yesterday. We were in 5573/5 also Zebra trail. This was a terrific 2 br location. We had a nice view of the savannah. As you look across the savannah, the rooms on the opposite side of us would be impacted by construction. I could see construction cranes rising above that side, behind the buildings. I don't think Zebra trail was impacted at all. This was our first stay here, and we were in awe of how beautiful the resort was. It was the best trip we've had in years.!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Does someone have a map that shows where the zebra trail is ? I am not very familiar with this resort at all and trying to figure out what to request to minimize our chances of hearing/seeing construction.
To think.....I HAD a standard one bedroom and requested to be upgraded to savanah. It came througn and now I'm wishing I still had a standard according to some of the posts here. Is there a special savanah "view" I should request ?
Thanks

 

[lmb]

The construction view from the sunset savannah value studio that we had was very bad. Buildings, cranes, fences in the savannah, dirt, men painting your balcony.... but for the value room it's a freebee so who's complaining.I'd just never book a true savannah room until after everything is complete next may. Just my own personal opinion.

 

[kimberh]

The construction view from the sunset savannah value studio that we had was very bad. Buildings, cranes, fences in the savannah, dirt, men painting your balcony.... but for the value room it's a freebee so who's complaining.I'd just never book a true savannah room until after everything is complete next may. Just my own personal opinion.

This was my very same view from Concierge. If, I was warned from MS last July 07, that there was a possibility it was going to have construction views, I do not remember, or the excitement of booking Concierge overwhelmed me! If, this had been Value, I guess It would have understood, I just wonder what they are charging Cash paying Concierge guests? I wish there had been a point adjustment.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

We were there the 1st week of May also and yes were so lucky to get Sunset Savannah. The cattle were the only brave ones to come onto the Savannah. The noise was awful. I loved the room, but I won't pay for a Savannah view again until the construction is complete. I didn't let it ruin our trip, it was just very disappointing for my giraffe loving daughter.

 

[rinkwide]

...I just wonder what they are charging Cash paying Concierge guests?..

Smart guests will take full advantage of the complimentary drinks in the concierge lounge and then they'll see lots of animals -- elephants mostly, in varying shades of pink, dancing and blowing bubbles and stuff...

 

[justloveit]

Smart guests will take full advantage of the complimentary drinks in the concierge lounge and then they'll see lots of animals -- elephants mostly, in varying shades of pink, dancing and blowing bubbles and stuff...

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

OP-Sorry you had such a bad experience. Honestly, I can't wait for this construction to be over! We are spending Christmas at AKV and I'm praying that the bulk of the construction will be done and we won't have any worries-but I am going to put in a request to be on the opposite side just in case.

 

[evsmama]

We have a reservation next week for Standard/ Econo view & I'm waitlisting for SV. I'm seriously wondering if it's worth it given all the comments. Particularly if I get a construction view. If the SV does come through, will MS be able to tell me exactly where it is, i.e. SV/ construction?

 

[amblackmon]

We stayed in 5372 and we had a great view of the construction! If our boys had been with us, they would have loved it. Unfortunately we were on an anniversary trip and the construction noise was not really what we expected. (If you listened cafrefully, you could hear what the workers were yelling at each other!) The animals weren't bothered by the noise, though. Since we were only at the AKL for a few days we didn't mind too much. If we had been with the children for a long stay we would have been very disappointed. It just wasn't relaxing to sit on the balcony or to have the door to the room open. We will be back, though. I believe we will wait until the construction is finished for our next adventure.

Michelle

 

[DVC Jen]

Smart guests will take full advantage of the complimentary drinks in the concierge lounge and then they'll see lots of animals -- elephants mostly, in varying shades of pink, dancing and blowing bubbles and stuff...

maybe if they offered those drinks to all of the folks who end up with a sunset savannah view there would be less complaining. I sure wouldn't complain if I got to see lots of colorful elephants.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I will be at AKL concierge in a few weeks. I was not warned when I booked the room about any construction 7 months ago. My opinion? Let concierge guests have the best view rooms, even if they are not right next to the lounge. I have been at other hotels, and been given concierge priveledges even if my room was on another floor. Most hotels treat the concierge guests extra special like that.

But, this will not happen, so I guess we will deal with it. The concierge lounge should have been built with a killer view of the animals, too, IMHO.

 

[Chester's Mum]

We just had the sunset savannah too & I completely agree that the villas should no longer qualify as savannah view. The only animals brave enough to wander over to us were the cattle.

You were lucky , we were there for 4 nights, and saw 1 ostrich, 1 morning. lol, I guess the jokes on us. Room 5212 in case anyone is interested.

I was warned about the construction, which really didn't bother me. What bothered me was the lack of animals, I wasn't warned that the animals were afraid to come to that side. I mean, it's called savannah view, but we don't book it to see savannah grass, we book it to see savannah animals.