Looking to hear from AKL recent guests

[leahjade]

A poster on another board said the construction was really bad right now and they didn't get to see any animals. How was your experience?

 

[wdwgirl03]

We were there from May 14-19. We were in one of the DVC villas and our view from the room was not very good (since that is where a lot of the construction is going on). So from our room I think we saw maybe 2 animals all week. We were able to see plenty of animals though when we went out to the viewing locations around the resort.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

I am going to move this over to resorts for you

 

[720L]

We were there in April and barely noticed the construction. We had a pool view room, but did go out to the savannah viewing areas and saw animals.

 

[tiger4me2]

We were there May 13th thru the 19th Club level & had a savannah view on the zebra trail. Didn't hear any noise except for next door and saw a lot of animals.

 

[The Hill Family]

We were there May 12 - May 17. We were in a savannah view room on Kudu Trail and we had a nice view of the savannah and the construction at the Villas. The room was a free upgrade (we booked a standard) and while I might have been slightly disappointed if we had paid for a savannah view room, it wasn't terrible. Sure, there was something slightly less magical about having the backdrop of the otherwise peaceful and serene savannah hindered by a massive crane and concrete shells of large buildings, but we thoroughly enjoyed our stay (and the baby zebra who visited with us every afternoon). There was not excessive noise and like I mentioned, we truly enjoyed our stay.

We're headed back to AKL in November/December and staying in a 2 BR villa. I won't be terribly saddened if we aren't on Kudu Trail this time - - but either way we'll deal with it.

 

[mom2aredhead]

We were there 5/15 - 5/22 on the Kudu trail overlooking the Sunset Savannah. This is the area that pretty much overlooks the new building under construction. We saw a handful of animals out on that savannah during the course of the week, but not nearly as many as we have in the past. There was no construction "noise" that I could hear from inside the room, but you could hear the humming of the machines when the balcony door was open.

We did, however, see plenty of animals in other viewing areas and on other savannah's. And since I had reserved a standard view room that was supposed to overlook the parking lot and bus stop, I was perfectly content where I was...it didn't matter to me that we had to go down the hall to see the animals. However, if I had PAID for a Savannah view and that was my view, I probably would have been a little disappointed...but it wouldn't have ruined my vacation!

Reserving a pool view room will pretty much guarantee you will be away from the construction since it is on the opposite side of the resort...and it is only a little bit more $$ than a standard view room. The restaurants are over on that side as well, so if you're in a pool view room, you really won't even need to go over to the "construction side" and you shouldn't be affected AT ALL.

Lat month was our 4th stay at AKL, and even with the construction next door, it was still fabulous. If you have any other specific questions, I'd be happy to help!

 

[dclfun]

We were there May 25th-June 1st. It was a split stay, the first part being in a one bedroom DVC villa overlooking the Arusha Savannah and the second we booked a standard room ( added a couple of days too late to use our DVC points). We also got a free savannah upgrade to the Kudu Trail, 3rd floor, overlooking the construction.

We heard no noise either time and truthfully while we have stayed at AKLodge many times , I have never seen so many animals out as I did this time. During our time on Kudu trail we did see less but the baby zebra made up for it and we also hadn't paid for savannah so it sure beat the parking lot.
---Kathy

 

[dclfun]

I also wanted to add that for those who paid for SV, I'm pretty sure those rooms won't be the ones overlooking construction on Kudu Trail. Those are given as needed as upgrades since who would complain about location if you didn't pay for SV to start with?---Kathy

 

[Turtlegirl]

Kathy, I was thinking the same thing...they're not going to put you on the Sunset Savannah/Kudu Trail if you've booked a savannah view-why would they when there's other savannah views without construction? Rather, they're giving those room as upgrades. So I'm not going to stress that we're going to get that savannah as we've booked savannah view! Laura

 

[dclfun]

Laura- get ready for a real treat! During the portion of our stay when we HAD booked SV and got Arusha savannah we saw so many giraffe, zebra, etc.- it was just an incredible experience. At night there were Ankole cattle underneath our balcony so close that you could hear them chewing. It was an amazing experience. We spent alot of time gasping, ooohing and awwwing.---Kathy

 

[smola09's mom]

Does anyone ow what kind of view we are likely to get from a DVC studio room? We are only staying one night then off to BCV.

Thanks!

 

[TheresaNY]

Add us on to the view request list.......we are staying Club level standard view......TIA !

 

[John's Mom]

Add us on to the view request list.......we are staying Club level standard view......TIA !

If you are staying Club Level, then you are in a standard room with an Arusha Savannah view.

 

[BCV23]

Does anyone ow what kind of view we are likely to get from a DVC studio room? We are only staying one night then off to BCV.



Thanks!

Did you book Savannah view? If so, you could be facing any of the savannahs as there are studios on all of them. I think I would request Uzima or Arusha (sp?) savannah.

But there are all standard and value studios. Different booking category.

 

[TheresaNY]

If you are staying Club Level, then you are in a standard room with an Arusha Savannah view.

Thanks for the reply......but I don't know where that is. Is it any good ? I looked at the map and I see Zebra Trail, etc, and Arusha Rock - but not Arusha Savannah view. That couldn't just mean anywhere looking out back, could it ?? Where is the construction?

 

[John's Mom]

Thanks for the reply......but I don't know where that is. Is it any good ? I looked at the map and I see Zebra Trail, etc, and Arusha Rock - but not Arusha Savannah view. That couldn't just mean anywhere looking out back, could it ?? Where is the construction?

Arusha Savannah is the main savannah in the middle where Arusha Rock is located. Zebra Trail is on one side and Kudu Trail is on the other side. You could have a room on either trail facing the Arusha Savannah.

We have always stayed in a room on the Arusha Savannah--great view with plenty of animals.

The construction is next to the Sunset Savannah.

 

[SammieG]

we overlooked the sunset savannah in April when we were there. There was lots of consruction in the distance but it wasnt a problem at all.

we saw lots and lots of animals.. zebras, giraffes, ostriches and some kind of long horned cow type thing.. (forget the name).... and the baby zebra was just adorable