Savannah view or Club level AKV?

[peaches0313]

We are planning to stay our first time at AKL this upcoming November/ December. We could either choose a Savannah view studio to see the animals. Or, for not that many more points, could do a club level studio. Obviously the perks of club level would be nice with the free drinks/ snacks, but I heard the view is worse of the animals as its higher up. Is it really that much worse? We have girls ages 4 and 6... thoughts on which to book? Has anyone stayed in both room types? Thanks!

 

[drusba]

My guess is you are not going to have a choice since club level rooms usually fill 11 months out. Moreover for the time you apparently want, late Nov to early Dec, the highest DVC demand time of the year, you should reserve now if you can even for savanna view if it is open, to assure getting a room. If you have to wait for the 7 month window, you may have trouble even getting savanna view; in fact you may have trouble for the time of year you want getting anything other than SSR at 7 month out.

As to choice otherwise. If you want club level services including the lounge, then get club level. If you want savanna view, you better get savanna view because of the five 2BR lock-offs (studio and 1BR combined) that are club level, two are pool view, and of the three that are savanna view one is an HA unit. You cannot request view with club level and it is luck of the draw, and those savanna view rooms do not have good savanna views, including because they are at the very end of the savanna and have overhangs partially blocking views from the balcony.

 

[peaches0313]

ok, thanks. We are in the middle of purchasing dvc at AKV but I don't think it will close for another month. So, when i am able to book, I suppose i will just have to book what i can get at that time

 

[drusba]

If you can reserve by sometime in April before 7 months out, you will likely be OK for savanna view, although you may be limited to Kidani. The club level rooms are already gone for last week of Nov and first two weeks of Dec except for a few days for the 1BR. In fact, the club level studios and 2BRs are mostly gone through January 27 and we are currently 11 months out from January 25, i.e., they are disappearing even before 11 months out.

Be aware that is common for club level year round and if you are purchasing AKV with the expectation of usually getting club level, you may want to reconsider the purchase because even AKV owners have difficulty getting club level at 11 months out.

 

[peaches0313]

Ok, that's helpful. That's what i was thinking too-- that I need to try to book in April sometime before the 7 month date. No, no expectation at all of club level (we have never stayed club level in fact)-- just saw that it happened to be the exact amount of points that were banked that we have to use. But, didn't occur to me to think about availability. Thinking maybe mid-November. Hoping for savannah view-something!

 

[Minniesgal]

I'm an AKV owners and the times we go club is almost always open at 11 months. I have booked it twice and cancelled for a Savannah view. I just can't get past the fact we could end up with a poor view or a HA room.

Also our first stay was a 2 bedroom at Kidani. Those rooms are gorgeous so many bathrooms and so much space I now find it hard to choose Jambo as the 1 and 2 bedrooms are lovely but not as lovely. So we always end up with a Kidani Savannah view.

 

[Sharon526]

Yea, I looked 7 months out for July and August and club level was all sold out. Good luck!