Staying at AKL...SV a must??

[BLTLDZ]

So, we currently have a few nights booked in may of 2011, at our home resort, BLT.

In two weeks, we can switch at the 7 month mark. While we LOVE the BWV, we were thinking of trying AKL.

Savannah view, a must?? We have the points, obviously could save some by going value......Thoughts??

 

[TagsMissy]

We stayed in a standard 2br at Kidani last year and honestly we were in our room so little since we brought along my brother's family that we didn't miss not having a SV room. It all depends on what you guys are up to and whether you are going commando out all the time or spending more time relaxing?

 

[wildernessDad]

If you have the points, I'd say go for it.

 

[Girlie1]

Our first time we booked a savannah view studio and it was so nice to go out there in the morning and relax and have breakfast or evening sit out at dusk if we were in the room. To me it was worth the points. Heading back in April 2011 and have a savannah view studio booked at Kidani.

 

[kjd469]

Yes!!

 

[Raivyn]

Absolutely!! If you have the Savannah view, you will enjoy it. It is nice to be able to view the animals privately with your own table/chairs/room vs. the public spaces. The kids will really love it.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Yes, I won't stay there without the view....

 

[rwcmath]

There are plenty of public places to view the anmials and so some people are happy with the other views. I've booked other than savannah view when I need to save points, but I'm happiest when it's a savannah view. I have a "value" scheduled for next week!

 

[ShuisFan584]

The whole reason I bought at AKV was specifically to be able to sit out on my balcony and watch the animals. I've only stayed there once (going for a second time in less than a month), and it was the best view I've ever had at any resort. We spent so much time just hanging out on our balcony and seeing what animals were out. You just never knew which animals you would see at any given time. So IMO, savanna view is a must. I don't think I'd ever stay at a standard view room in AKV, since it would defeat the whole purpose of staying at AKV.

 

[toniosmom]

Add me to the Savannah View fan club! It's so relaxing to sit on the balcony and watch the animals. Yes, you can see the animals from many other places in the resort, but nothing beats going out there in my robe with my coffee in hand first thing in the morning. Can't do that in the public areas!

 

[cmusschoot]

we stayed in a 1 bdrm standard view last April, traveling with 2 adults (ma and my dad) 2 kids (3 and 5). We were really pleased with our room.

Jambo House, 5th floor (I think) and a beautiful view of the pool with the savannah in the background. Saw a few animals (way back there...)...really was nice.

We spent quite a bit of time in our room as the kids were still napping and were early to bed.

Just loved the whole theme of the hotel and room, didn't miss the animal view...that being said, I have never stayed savannah view...maybe then I would change my mind

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We had a savanna view value 1 bedroom this year and it was lovely. BUT the only time we saw animals was in the late afternoon. There was NOTHING out there in the mornings, so there was no sipping coffee and watching animals. About 4 PM there were more animals than you could count. Once in awhile we would see animals after dark. But early morning? Nope.

So even with a savanna view, it really depends where your room is and what time you are on your balcony.

 

[eporter66]

It depends on how much time you spend in your room. We did not have a SV last year, but there were so many opportunities to see the animals that it was fine. I would get a coffee in the morning and go out and see what animals were about. In the evenings when we got back, we might stop at Jambo and have a look, or just head back to Kidani and do the same.

I am sure it is great to be able to look out your window and see the animals, but I didnt mind saving the points and still seeing them as much as I wanted.

 

[TisBit]

OK, I will be a dissenter on the the SV. We booked a SV for a long weekend trip and honestly I could have done without. The animals were there right outside the balcony and I tried really hard to just enjoy them, but truthfully, after about 5 minutes I have had enough and want to move on to something else. I am not a big sit and watch animals type person, which is one of the reasons we didn't buy at AKV, I would much rather have SSR with lower MF's.

But that is my opinion and you know if you would enjoy having the SV enough to make it worth the points. But, I would not call it a "must have" by any stretch. There are so many wonderful places to see the animals, only if you just want a private balcony to sit for an extended period. I wouldn't count on getting a value room at 7 months though, they are hard to get.

 

[sweetdana]

I booked without and didn't miss anything.. At least I don't think .. I walked by the windows a lot, went and saw them by the pool, but we don't spend much time in our room. We rarely do.

If I was going say Christmas week, or a packed holiday, I would as the busier the parks are the less we go to them.

If you are not going to the parks much, I would splurge.. otherwise, I don't feel we missed anything.

 

[Simba's Mom]

There are plenty of public places to view the anmials and so some people are happy with the other views. I've booked other than savannah view when I need to save points, but I'm happiest when it's a savannah view. I have a "value" scheduled for next week!

And I'm in a value studio the following week.
Boy, you get so many different answers! I'm in the same category as this answer. There are so many beautiful public places to view the animals that I never use the extra points for a savannah view. I had a savannah view part of my first stay-spent 2 nights in standard view, 2 nights in value (got a pool view), then 3 nights in a savannah view to see which was my favorite. Which was my favorite. Let's just say that all subsequent trips I've asked for value.

 

[bobbiwoz]

And I'm in a value studio the following week.
Boy, you get so many different answers! I'm in the same category as this answer. There are so many beautiful public places to view the animals that I never use the extra points for a savannah view. I had a savannah view part of my first stay-spent 2 nights in standard view, 2 nights in value (got a pool view), then 3 nights in a savannah view to see which was my favorite. Which was my favorite. Let's just say that all subsequent trips I've asked for value.

I wonder if this is because you've never gotten the parking lot. I'm with the "need savannah view" people most of the time. In December I did book a standard view at Jambo, because I was going to be alone, I am borrowing all of the points, and there were no "value" rooms left. However, since I booked, I have a DF joining me. It will be the first time this particular DF and I have vacationed together. I wish I had a savannah view for her, but for very different reasons (she won't have a park hopper and it's a short stay) I'm waitlisting for BLT so hopefully she can see MK fireworks from TOTW!

Bobbi

PS. Oh, I forgot to mention that DH and I are staying in a CL studio next week. We want to enjoy the amenities of the lounge. The last time we did that, we had a roof/pool view. Even with that, I sat outside a bit, but in my mind, there's nothing to beat a savannah view.

 

[nytimez]

I wouldn't dream of staying at AKL without a savannah view.

 

[Anal Annie]

We never book "view" rooms anywhere 'cuz we spend so little time in them. We booked a "deluxe savanna view" room way back during AKL's first year. It was our first time taking DS & I thought OH HOW COOL!! Well, we had like 2 animals out there all week. BIG disappointment. Found out the hard way that not all savanna views are equal. We don't have the points to "burn" like that. We had a standard view at Kidani last time & was just fine for the amount of time we were in the room.

 

[nu2dvc]

Great thread....I've been mulling over the Savanna question for an upcoming trip as well...but one question I do have is about the *smell* when you are out on the balcony of a SV room. I had read a threat awhile back discussing the savanna stench and was wondering if anybody had details on this?