Staying at AKL...SV a must??

[SamSam]

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?

We have been staying at AKV since they opened and have never noticed a 'smell'. while out on our balcony.

For the OP, we've been going to WDW for years, so we tend to not spend as much time in the parks as we did in years past, so the Savannah view is very important to us. We spent mornings in our villa and also, spend evenings on our balcony, drinking wine, relaxing and watching whatever animals are around.
If you are going to the parks all day, then a Savannah View is not as important. There are many Savannah Viewing Areas throughout the resort, so unless you are planning to be in your room a great deal, I would say the Savannah View is not that important.

 

[bookwormde]

Values will likely be hard to get at 7 months. everyone should do a SV at least once. For me with the increasing differnece between Standard and Savanna, when I am stay at Kidani, I am planning on doing a standard since there are such nice publc views.

bookwormde

 

[marynvince]

There is something magical & Mystical about being able to wake up in the morning, grab a cup of coffee and sit on your balconey and have breakfast with giraffes and other "wild" animals. Nothing like it. Well worth the points.

 

[ShuisFan584]

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?

We were in a first floor room when we went and we definitely didn't notice any smells.

 

[katmittens]

We have stayed in a studio standard view at Jambo. Great pool view. It was just DH and I. Then in May we stayed in a savannah view 2 bedroom at Jambo. Great view, loved the animals. It was DH, myself, DS and DD both in their 20's. DS loves to take pictures so he loved the animals. I think it is worth it at least once. I would do it again, but I would still stay there if I did not have a savannah view. This Feb. DH and I got a value studio. I am hoping for pool or savannah, which I requested. If it is as cold at last winter we will not be sitting on the balcony.

 

[omalley1118]

We are staying at Kidani for the first time next month. I went for value to save points. And honestly, we are usually sleeping if we are in our rooms. I know SV would be way cool for the kids, but I figure just staying at AKL provides views of the animals.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We are staying at Kidani for the first time next month. I went for value to save points. And honestly, we are usually sleeping if we are in our rooms. I know SV would be way cool for the kids, but I figure just staying at AKL provides views of the animals.

Just be aware that there are no value villas at Kidani. All of the value villas are at Jambo House.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We were in a first floor room when we went and we definitely didn't notice any smells.

Interesting, since there aren't any rooms on the first floor.

The only place I've ever noticed an odor at AKL is back by the Flamingo rookery at jambo.

I vote for savanna view. We have had both savanna and pool view. Unless you are in CL, savanna view makes all the difference. LOVED coming back in the middle of the day and watching the animals play. It's true that they aren't as active or plentiful in the morning, but midday they are all out and about until about sunset. After sunset, you will mostly only see the hoofed animals. I lvoed waking up in the middle of the night and going out to check and finding Ankole cattle right below our balcony!

 

[ShuisFan584]

Interesting, since there aren't any rooms on the first floor.

The only place I've ever noticed an odor at AKL is back by the Flamingo rookery at jambo.

I vote for savanna view. We have had both savanna and pool view. Unless you are in CL, savanna view makes all the difference. LOVED coming back in the middle of the day and watching the animals play. It's true that they aren't as active or plentiful in the morning, but midday they are all out and about until about sunset. After sunset, you will mostly only see the hoofed animals. I lvoed waking up in the middle of the night and going out to check and finding Ankole cattle right below our balcony!

Jambo only has villas on the top floor. But Kidani has villas on all floors. We were on the first floor - the same floor as the lobby. Although I guess I need to clarify that the balcony is not at the same level as the animals.

 

[CruznLexi]

3 weeks till we are home and never had a SV view. We have a small contract. We like to walk to our room and see the animals that way or go to the various overlooks. Have a great picture of it this way.

 

[RDP]

Its got to be an SV view. The SV is to AK, what the MK is to BLT, Epcot to BWV etc. All the resorts have their own extra dimension.

 

[RumpleMom]

So if you don't have a SV room at Kidani, where are the public viewing areas?

 

[LeahA]

No.

1st time there we were in Jambo House/2 bdrm/pool view

2nd time there we were in Kidani/2 bdrm/savanna view

I enjoyed both views, it was nice to be on the savanna, but depending on what savanna you have and your schedule of when your going to be in the room you might be disappointed. If you think that it is going to be 24/7 animals outside your balcony, it is not. We were on the Sunset Savanna, so the only time we saw anything but an ostrich is late afternoon, around 5 ish.

We would wake up in the morning and the kids would open up the blinds to see nothing except the workers picking up poop! LOL! When we finally realized when the animals were there, it was beautiful to see. I would do it once, or if I had extra points to spend, but if I was trying to save points I would'nt hesitate to stay in a different view catagory.

Our next trip so save points, we are in a 1 bdrm/Kidani/standard view!

Have fun whatever you decide!

 

[lmshaggard]

We stayed in June in a standard studio and had a partial savannah view with some animals - we were at AKL - Kidani on the 5th floor. We also had a view of the MK fireworks in the distance from our balcony - very cool!! There are animal viewing areas everywhere at Kidani. I would totally do a standard again! Our friends with us had a savannah view - they were directly across the hall - and while they had more animals, it wasn't that big of a deal - especially with what we saw going to and from our room.

 

[nytimez]

Only smell I've noticed came from my coffee pot.

 

[kimberh]

I have stayed in Standard view Kidani and savanna view Jambo house. I would and will do both again. It just depends on my points. It really does depend on how much time you are spending in the room. The animals are on the savanna for certain hours. We stayed at BWV last stay, went to Bomas and saw more going out to the Savanna by the rockers. Sat there for a hour or so.

 

[Constant]

I agree with those who say you have to do it at least once. It's funny we were planning for next year and DW and I were having the same discussion. For us being close to the Lobby or swimming pool at Kidani is better with small kids. The standard rooms *can't* be to far so we don't need to worry about requests.

So if you don't have a SV room at Kidani, where are the public viewing areas?

Another reason is my DD loves spending time in CH and one of the best features is the balcony running full length so I often take a book or something and sit out there while she plays / colors etc.

The fire pit area at Kidani is also really cool and as someone else has said the CMs are the best really good with the kids.

But the best place we have ever had consistent animal viewing is in Saana at 5pm. Obviously the view from the fire pit would be as good but makes a great dinner show.

 

[MikeyNS]

We've stayed in a SV in Jambo, STD View in Kidani and have a value booked for March. Needless to say I think the STD Views in Kidani to be some of the best point "bang-for-the-buck" on property. We didn't miss the view at all. The community hall in Kidani has a great deck for viewing, and I'm a big people watcher and actually quite enjoy watching the buses come in and out (yah, you could say I'm a little off.. haha). We don't spend a tonne of time out on the balcony anyways. I don't think there's going to be much of a problem reserving standard views for when we go.

Because we don't have a lot of points, the standards and values (if you can get them) seem almost too good to be true, even less than our home resort of SSR. I can't wait to try the values, even if we get the dreaded parking lot view.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

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?

We had no issues with smells of any kind the times we stayed savannah view....Jan 2009 and 2010

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

We love this resort...we have had a savannah view both times and loved it...it is so cool to walk out in your pj's in teh morning and see the animals. It is pretty cool to see the animals right outside your balcony. We like the public viewing areas, too and I can see how that would be enjoyable ...but...when possible, get a savannah view---