Standard View room at AKL - worth it?

[realverdict]

I am unable to get AP rates for my dates in December for WL, but I've been offered the AKL instead. Is it worth staying in the standard view room there because the savannah view is unfortunately beyond my budget. If so, is there any location I could request that wouldn't be too bad?

Thanks for your help

 

[LindaBabe]

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[robinb]

Originally posted by LindaBabe
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Hmmm ... if you have advise for one person, prehaps it might be helpful for others too.

realverdict:

There is a fairly good chance that you will be upgraded to a pool or savanah view room at AKL. Many people are. Even if you are not, it's a great hotel at a fantastic price. We stayed there in July and my DH loved the resort. We too are booked there for December in a Standard View and are crossing our fingers and toes that we'll get upgraded again . If we are not, "oh well". There really are lots of viewing areas sprinkled around the resort. We noticed that they were almost always empty as we made the long trek to our room at the end of the Kudu Trail.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Request Ostrich Trail. We had 3 rooms standard view and they were terrific. Much quieter than Giraffe Trail although it isn't as close to the pool and restaurants. Not really that far of a walk though. We were on the lobby level and it was really nice. We loved AKL and will definitely be staying there next trip too.

 

[halfway there]

Yes, I agree that a standard view room would be worth a stay here. We just returned and although we were upgraded to the Sunset Savannah, I do not think the room we had would have been worth the extra price. As was stated, there are many places to view the animals all over the resort (out the back entrance, around the pool and down every hallway). This place is beautifully themed, the food here is great and the pool area is well landscaped.

The rooms have warnings to keep your drapes closed for privacy due to security cameras anyway so as long as you won't miss sitting on your balcony viewing animals then I would say go for it! You might just get upgraded anyway!!

I would also suggest the Giraffe Trail in order to be close the pool, restaurants and bus station as they are all on that 'side' of the resort. If you are on anything but the lobby level (3rd floor) you will have to go up or down the elevator to cross to the other side. There is a bridge on the 5th floor that goes straight across the lobby. On the 4th floor you have to go around the lobby the long way. I found it a bit confusing to get to where I wanted to go.

 

[mickey'sbud]

We stayed at AKL in July. I debated over whether to spend the extra money for a Savannah view. It would cost us nearly double of the standard rate. I decided we would go w/ the standard and keep our fingers crossed about an upgrade. I requested bunk beds and my kids were really counting on that. When we arrived around 5:30pm we were told that we had an upgrade to a pool view room, but without a bunkbed. Our room was over Boma's roof (some of these rooms are good and some are not), but we had a good view. However, while we were still checking in I asked if we could get a complementary Savannah room even if it was the next day. (I'm in my 40's and I've gotten bold and nice about it, with a smile) He said we could w/ a bunkbed, however he couldn't tell us wh/ room it would be. We decided to change rooms the next day. Now personnally I like the poolview room better. But the kids loved the bunk beds.
Now the point to all this is if I had it to do over again, I'd still book the standard room. I wasn't all that impressed w/ the Savannah room view. We were up Kudu Trail on the first wing NOT facing the buzzards (which I am thankful for). We were on the second floor which was nice because we could see under the trees. Once the kids saw the animals a few times the newness wore off and they enjoyed watching TV from the bunkbeds when we were in the room.
If we had been facing the parking the lot, overall the kids and myself would have been just as happy and DH didn't care either way.
So my suggestion is to save your money, get a standard room, and spend the savings at Boma's. If you want the experience of a Savannah room guaranteed, try splitting your stay between the two (standard and Savannah). Again this would save you money.

 

[JudithM]

We really enjoyed our stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in a standard room . We were on the lobby level in the Ostrich Trail. Our room overlooked the handicapped parking lot, but there was enough vegetation between us & the vehicles.

We found plenty of opportunities to watch the animals form the three general viewing areas. Maybe because we first stopped at the Sunset Overlook, but this is our absolute favorite.

While staying at AKL we took the time to enjoy this resort by taking the lobby tour, attending the nightime storytelling, eating breakfast & dinner at Boma's (we have been back several times since to eat here), chatting with the CMs about their African culture, the animals, etc.

HAVE FUN!