Need help with AKL room request!

[Tinkaroo]

This is my first time to put anything special on my room request - usually I'm perfectly happy with non-smoking and a king bed if I can get it!

But, being that it's DH's 30th b-day, I'd like to do the best I can. We're booked into a standard view at AKL (which I would be fine with - we decided not to go with the savannah view as it wasn't worth the extra $$ to us).

However, I do know that people get upgraded sometimes from standard to a savannah view. My question - is it best to just leave any view requests off your room request with CRO, so you might have a better chance of getting upgraded? Or, would it be better to just go ahead and request that our standard view not be near the bus stop, and take our chances from there?

Any AKL experts able to offer any help? TIA!

 

[jl3614]

The approach you suggest is what we did - our only request was non-smoking. We hoped by giving them maximum flexibility with us, they would give us an upgrade. I don't know if this was the reason or not, but we did get upgraded from standard to savanna. Our savanna view was not the best - all the way at the very end of Kudo trail looking out onto Sunset savanna (rm 3380). Our room looked out over one of the infamous "people-pens". It (the view) wasn't too bad, we saw several animals - including giraffe every morning. It was real quiet being at the end of the hall.

If you do happen to be assigned a room overlooking the bus stop there is enough vegetation you will probably not have a problem. But if you find you really dislike the view, you can asked to be moved. The bus stop rooms are convenient to the food court, other restuarants and the pool. The other trail with standard rooms is in the opposite direction so would not be as appealing to people with small children or anyone who dislikes walking.

Mention the 30th birthday, maybe that will get you consideration for an upgrade. Good luck.

 

[Tinkaroo]

Thanks for the recommendation. I also don't want to be one of those people with a list of like 6 things they want/need in a room! I feel we're fairly easy, but I'm also not afraid to say that I don't like the room if I really do feel it's unacceptable.

I do have the 30th b-day listed on our ressie - it's actually the day we check in - and it's AKL's 4th anniversary too! Don't you think that would be worth something?!

Also, what is a "people pen"? I've seen mention of this, but never an exact description of what people are talking about.

 

[MickiMouth]

We also requested just non-smoking and got upgraded without asking from standard to savannah. It was before I found the DIS and I thought the CM made a mistake with our room assignment.

 

[jl3614]

Each savanna has two or three pens ( they look like corrals) extending off the building into the animal area. They are circular areas maybe 30-50 ft in diameter ??? The pen is basically stockade fencing 8 - 10 ft tall.

I was told here on the DIS boards the purpose is to hold the guests if the hotel needs to be evacuated. I have no idea what would cause them to be necessary. They are not covered, so could not be used for bad weather. In case of a bomb threat or major fire I would much rather go to the parking lot - it is further away and much safer, unless they wouldn't allow you to leave and forced you into the pens. I guess they would come into play if the trail your room was on had a fire and you could not get to the lobby - this would be your means of escape. But if it was a large fire I would certainly think the "pens" are too close to the building. I know if a fire got close, I'd be kicking down the pen walls and would be out in the savanna with the animals.

From our third floor room they were easy to look over or around.

Maybe some one else can describe them or explain the purpose better than I did.