Savannah View worth $500 more for the week?

[pixie08]

Ok so we are booked 6 nights in aug @ AKL..we origanilly decided moderate but w/ myw we thought AKL or Wl standard was in our budget. Last night my Bf tells me he thinks we should upgrade to savannah view because that's what AKL is all about!!

So I know savannah view is great but is it worth the extra $500 for 6 nights or is the money better spent in other ways???

 

[zagafi]

Well, where else can you wake up seeing zebras, giraffe, ankole cattle, etc? IMHO, it's worth it.

 

[joliesmom]

I was just at AKL in January, and was fortunate enough to have the front desk upgrade our room without charge, but, after having experienced it, I would absolutely pay for the upgrade. Every morning my DH had coffee on the balcony with my DD (3.5) , and they both had cheesy grins on their faces as they watched the animals come to drink at the watering hole. Pay the money, it's worth it.

 

[ac_roo]

I think approximately 90% of the rooms are savannah view...so it might be possible with a little pixie dust you would be upgraded without paying for it.

We stayed savannah view...and I think it depends on your schedule. If you are going to have quite a bit of down time...then well worth the cost...otherwise, I'm not sure. I know that others think differently, but if you're going to be at the parks a lot...then I would spend my money elsewhere.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Yes! Yes! Yes! At AKL view is everything. It is so relaxing to SLOWLY start your day with coffee on your own balcony, watching the animals eat their breakfast.

 

[pixie08]

We will be planning at least one resort day and 1 or 2 late mornings (depending on emh)!!!

I think approximately 90% of the rooms are savannah view...so it might be possible with a little pixie dust you would be upgraded without paying for it.

I have heard of being upgraded...but I am going in aug and I know this is a busy time so I am pretty sure an upgrade is not going to happen!!

Thanx for your responses!!! I am 95% convinced

 

[snowmouse]

We just stayed at both WL and AKL for the first time a couple of weeks ago. We had a couple of days on each end of a cruise. We found WL quite disappointing, but a last minute decision to upgrade at AKL knocked our socks off!! I really wasn't expecting to be so impressed to be waking with the animals, but it was really indescribable. You must do it.

 

[Sazzo'sMommy]

It is amazing to have a Savannah view room!

I would wake up in the middle of the night just to go out and sit on the balcony to watch the zebra or wildebeast sleep!

 

[Tiffany]

Ok so we are booked 6 nights in aug @ AKL..we origanilly decided moderate but w/ myw we thought AKL or Wl standard was in our budget. Last night my Bf tells me he thinks we should upgrade to savannah view because that's what AKL is all about!!

So I know savannah view is great but is it worth the extra $500 for 6 nights or is the money better spent in other ways???

This is a matter of personal choice but my opinion is if your vacation budget can absorb the additional $500 then go for the savanna view as it is truely an amazing experiance. The the additional $500 is going to break the budget then stay with the standard view room.

 

[lmhall2000]

Just me...we did get a free upgrade to Savannah...but I would never pay $500 for it...we are park people...the minute we wake up it's all about getting on the first bus out to the parks...we may have spent 15 minutes total looking out the balcony and half the time it was just a few beasts out there...once or twice we saw a giraffe. You can get that same view from the lobby.

If it were me, I'd chance it for a free upgrade and use the $500 to buy a picture from their gift shop of the Lion King or something related to remember your trip by. We buy a sericel each visit and it always reminds the kids of each trip. They have some great gift items in the shop there that would be great keepsakes...so many people spend that much on gadgets, plastic toys, that might last 6 months...why not use the money for a keepable keepsake!

Tara

 

[Skroops]

I'd rather bring home something from the $500! It is a lot of money. I have never experienced the Savannah, much less the AKL, so keep that in mind when I express my opinion. I think that people in general are over thinking the view. You can see the animals from other hotel views, right? Maybe at breakfast? When you are out on your balcony at the Savannah, you are far from alone, will you enjoy everyone else out on their balconies? How long will you enjoy the view? Think about that and then divide that into $per view. Is it worth it?
Bring home something you will enjoy for years! Some artwork?
Either way, enjoy your vacation!

 

[gizfish]

We stayed at AKL last year in a Savannah view, and while it is true that you can go out and look at the animals from the lobby, and there are viewing areas around the hotel, I would not bother staying at AKL unless I had the Savannah view. You just can't beat hot and cold running giraffes right outside your own room. If you plan on spending any time at all at the resort, do it right and get the view.

 

[shines4]

We have stayed at AKL twice. The first time we were upgraded from standard view to pool view and had a wonderful stay. This past Christmas we were upgraded from standard to Savanah View!!!!! I must say the view was incredible. This was the perfect trip for this view because we spent three nights there and only went to the parks one day. If we had planned on going to the parks every day all day then it would not have been as exciting. If you have some time to hang around the resort on your wonderful balcony then I say go for it. My kids wanted to stay in the room and see what the animals were doing. We have stayed at several resorts and this is by far our favorite Disney property.

 

[Selket]

We were there Aug '03 and they upgraded us to savannah view for free from a standard view.

You certaininly cannot depend on being upgraded and should pay for it if you KNOW you must have it. But I'm wondering if you aren't offered a free upgrade when you check in if you could then ask to get a savannah room and pay the difference right then? Would it still cost you the same? (might depend on whether you are traveling using a discount code if there is one for Aug.). The other option is booking the 1st half of your stay in standard and the last 2 days in savannah. At least you know you'd get savannah view eventually and maybe they'd be more likely to upgrade you for the whole week?

Just some thoughts!

 

[jenjenmouse]

that's so weird! I just asked the same question and when I went back to the forum your question was on top. Well, all the answers helped me. I hope my sisters agree! Upgrade here we come.

 

[Gymbomom]

We were there Aug '03 and they upgraded us to savannah view for free from a standard view.

You certaininly cannot depend on being upgraded and should pay for it if you KNOW you must have it. But I'm wondering if you aren't offered a free upgrade when you check in if you could then ask to get a savannah room and pay the difference right then? Would it still cost you the same? (might depend on whether you are traveling using a discount code if there is one for Aug.). The other option is booking the 1st half of your stay in standard and the last 2 days in savannah. At least you know you'd get savannah view eventually and maybe they'd be more likely to upgrade you for the whole week?

Just some thoughts!

I wondered the SAME thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, say I book standard (for this coming January) and I didn't get upgrade (mind you hopefully with AP rate), could I then ask for an AP upgrade and pay for it?

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Hi there

Is it worth it? Yes! Having said that if the extra $500 is really going to make an impact on your budget - then perhaps the water/pool view? That's kind of a compromise. I know lots of people don't mind booking the standard views but they look to me like they would mostly be parking lot views and I would NOT enjoy that. DH and I like sitting on the balcony of whatever room we are in at the end of the day and I don't want the ambiance of a parking lot. A few standard rooms at the AKL are in front of the bus stop. I haven't read a review of anyone who has stayed in one of those but it seems like it would be noisy.

We saw lots of animals but I realize that could vary:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ladytrampscampandangel/detail?.dir=b1a9&.dnm=b01b.jpg

Good luck with your decision

 

[EsmeraldaX]

As much as I'd love to wake up and see zebras from my balcony, I know that I'd be alot happier spending the $$ in other ways.

 

[Fokus17]

Im going to disagree with most people, but i think it is not worth it at all. There are not that many animals on the savanahhs. They may never even come close to your room. You can see them at many points from the resort. We have all been to the zoo, we have all seen animals, seeing them from your room is no different. Spend the money on something fun!!!

 

[rachael95]

If the money is not going to greatly impact you, I'd pay for the Savannah room. We had Savannah when we went and it was wonderful. It is not like being in the zoo, it is like you're living with the animals.

If we go back to AKL (and I dearly want to) we will definitely pay for the upgrade.

As others have said, it's very relaxing to sit and watch the animals. And considering how many pictures I took of them from my balcony, that is one of my favorite memories of my first trip to Disney. Sitting on the balcony was also pretty much the only quiet time we had the entire trip. It was the one place you could go where you could get fresh air and be guaranteed that it would be quiet. If other people were on their balconies, they too, would only talk in whispers.