No rooms at the Savanna

[lonegungal17]

Can't believe my luck. I've been waiting until 2001 to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge and will be finally be living that dream in about a month for our 5th anniversary. Out of nowhere hubby and I find out we've been over paying a few bills and will be getting back some money. My first thought is we can upgrade to savanna view instead of a standard room. So we got the money today and I called as soon as I got home and they are sold out for our dates. I can't believe it, we can afford it and there is no room left at the lodge. Is there anything else I can do? I'm already planning to call every few days and check and ask at check in if we haven't gotten one by then. We will be checking in around 7am so I think our chances are good something might appear. I've been calling the UK reservation line if it matters as we have free dining booked with them.


Mel

 

[Claire L]

If you have a special offer even if rooms are available you may not be able to upgrade and keep that offer, it depends how the terms of the offer were worded. Give another call and check if you can keep the offer as if you can then at least all the negative calls won't be in vain should a room become available.

Claire

 

[karentan]

have you thought about renting dvc points? we're staying at AKV for 4 nights in september, we're paying the DVC member $352 for a savannah view for 4 nights, rack rate is about $1700

 

[wilma-bride]

have you thought about renting dvc points? we're staying at AKV for 4 nights in september, we're paying the DVC member $352 for a savannah view for 4 nights, rack rate is about $1700

But she's already booked her holiday

 

[anthony2k7]

i think (may be completely wrong!) that disney uk are only treated like all other travel agents in that they get an allocation of rooms. if so it may be that their allocation has no availability even if the hotel isnt really full. in which case it may be worth calling disney in usa?

although after checking the american website, it does appear AKL is pretty much completely full for the next few weeks!!

 

[Macl1uk]

I am not sure who you are calling – the tour operator or the hotel?

I do not wish to worry you, but their standard rooms include rooms overlooking the car park. From memory I was offered room 5007 a poky room with a high window overlooking the car park. I shot back down to reception and was offered another room near the pool but not facing the pool - room 4035 and was told that was a savannah view, I told her that was not the case as I knew the hotel layout from my previous stay. I managed to speak to a manager and pointed out that we were returning guests staying 21 nights not 2 or 3 nights, I managed to get us moved to a room overlooking the sunset savannah, not great but better.

On our third visit this year to Animal Kingdom Lodge we paid for a savannah room and got a good view. The rooms are a lottery, some of the Savannah rooms are a restricted view, because of being on a corner for example.

My suggestion is that you wait to see what you are allocated and then see if a free upgrade is available, if no free upgrade, try offering to pay extra. Guests check out daily, so if on the first day nothing the day you check in try the next day.

If you want to know anything about Animal Kingdom Lodge, I will try and answer your questions, also I have notes on Disney if you want to send me a personal message of your email address.

 

[lonegungal17]

I am not sure who you are calling – the tour operator or the hotel?

I do not wish to worry you, but their standard rooms include rooms overlooking the car park. From memory I was offered room 5007 a poky room with a high window overlooking the car park. I shot back down to reception and was offered another room near the pool but not facing the pool - room 4035 and was told that was a savannah view, I told her that was not the case as I knew the hotel layout from my previous stay. I managed to speak to a manager and pointed out that we were returning guests staying 21 nights not 2 or 3 nights, I managed to get us moved to a room overlooking the sunset savannah, not great but better.

On our third visit this year to Animal Kingdom Lodge we paid for a savannah room and got a good view. The rooms are a lottery, some of the Savannah rooms are a restricted view, because of being on a corner for example.

My suggestion is that you wait to see what you are allocated and then see if a free upgrade is available, if no free upgrade, try offering to pay extra. Guests check out daily, so if on the first day nothing the day you check in try the next day.

If you want to know anything about Animal Kingdom Lodge, I will try and answer your questions, also I have notes on Disney if you want to send me a personal message of your email address.

I've been calling the Uk Disney Tour operator. I know standard rooms will most likely be a car park room, I was hoping to be the lucky few with a partial view of the savannah, since I told Disney of our birthday and anniversary celebrations. I was waiting to see what we were allocated and maybe try to upgrade. I made sure to ask for a 3rd or 4th floor room on the zebra trail to try to up my chances. But in all honestly now that I have the extra money I just wanted to make I would have a savannah view room, it's our 5th anniversary and we never had a honeymoon or a big wedding so this trip is a big deal to us. I'll probably try a few more tries and then give up and go with your plan to see what they give us. With our early check in I think our chances are good for a nice room.

I'd love to see your notes, will pm you.

Mel

 

[UKDEB]

Do the Animal Kingdom Villas appeal to you, or does it have to be the Lodge? It might be worth enquiring about a savannah view studio there and the cost to transfer your booking.

 

[stephensmum]

Sorry you get get a savannah view, will keep my finger crossed that one becomes available or that you get an upgrade.

 

[torsie24]

So I'm not sure how much money you just came into.

But did you ask about Concierge availability?

We're considering AKL CL for our honeymoon as the prices are really quite reasonable if you don't have DDP and consider all the food you get.

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

We will be arriving there two weeks on Monday and am not bothered about a Savannah view as I believe there are plenty of viewing areas, but would have liked a pool view, if they are fully booked guess that's out the question, but TBH we had a car park view at the YC and it was OK in fact even though it was October it was too humid to sit on the balcony anyway so the view didn't matter, in the far distance we could see Wishes so it had its advantages not as bad a view as car park view sounds! Hope you can sort it out so you get what you want but even if you don't you will still have some cash towards something else.

 

[torsie24]

We also have a 'standard' AKL view booked (got it on offer and couldn't justify and extra £700 for a savannah) from what I've heard the AKL car park views aren't too bad at all, as there is a lot of foliage out front, so it'll more likely be a 'one road and many trees view'

I will be asking about upgrade price at check in though, as on the US site its only like and extra $20 a night for savannah. Will have to wait and see though!