Success with upgrades at AKL?

[pkpope]

my boyfriend and I are staying at AKL next weekend and I currently have a standard room booked. However, I have had some really great professional news this week and would like to treat us to a room with a nicer view- potentially even a savannah view. Has anyone asked for an upgrade at check-in there and had success? It will be a disney marathon weekend so I’m concerned that the resort will be too packed for us to be able to get upgraded.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you want to upgrade, try to do that now. If there's no availability now, there is unlikely to be any when you arrive.

 

[Lynne M]

If there's a savannah view available, they'll let you upgrade to it. Expect to pay rack rate.

 

[Shanti]

my boyfriend and I are staying at AKL next weekend and I currently have a standard room booked. However, I have had some really great professional news this week and would like to treat us to a room with a nicer view- potentially even a savannah view. Has anyone asked for an upgrade at check-in there and had success? It will be a disney marathon weekend so I’m concerned that the resort will be too packed for us to be able to get upgraded.

There are standard rooms on the Kudu trail with great animal views. We had one during our stay last year, and had animals outside our balcony 24/7. Giraffes were not an unusual sight. These rooms are standard because they don't offer sweeping savannah views. Ours had a watering hole several yards away, and we partially faced another side of the building rather than a broad savannah, but there were always animals close by. It was a lovely view.

During online check-in, we selected "near paddock". I don't know if that's still listed as an option, but if not, call in and have a request for the Kudu Trail noted on your reservation.

 

[Jetta8300]

my boyfriend and I are staying at AKL next weekend and I currently have a standard room booked. However, I have had some really great professional news this week and would like to treat us to a room with a nicer view- potentially even a savannah view. Has anyone asked for an upgrade at check-in there and had success? It will be a disney marathon weekend so I’m concerned that the resort will be too packed for us to be able to get upgraded.

We were upgraded to a "partial savannah view" although I don't see how it was partial when there were animals right by our room the entire time. We went during very SLOW season though, and I actually just asked if there were bunk beds rooms available. She said they happened to have more bunk bed rooms and one was a partial savannah view, so we got this upgrade. I would definitely not count on it though. I honestly think if I would have just asked for "an upgrade" they may have said no. It was not the arusha savannah, but still a nice surprise.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

You can request an obstructed savanna view room. I made "Kudu Trail View" my only request and we had an amazing view. The "obstruction" was a fenced in area below our balcony. The animals were still very visible and would sometimes get quite close to our room (creepy at night!)

 

[DISNEY1975]

WOW....you all were lucky! I had a Savannah View room 12 years ago and did not see ONE animal the entire time..well..some birds, but that was it. Granted we were only in the room early morning and after dark, but still....

To the OP, Save the $ on the View and maybe have a nice meal or tour or something special.

 

[Sue M]

Great advice given here. I’d call reservations and have noted a request for Kudu trail partial savanna view.

 

[Haley R]

We also had a standard room. Our only request was king bed which we had to wait one night for. After we moved into that room we had amazing views of animals! Lots of zebras, giraffes, birds, gazelle. It wasn’t an upgrade, just a “partial” view. Although like a PP mentioned, I’m not sure why it’s partial when we had animals outside pretty close to all the time.

 

[patty57]

To the OP, Save the $ on the View and maybe have a nice meal or tour or something special.

I agree with this. Jiko is one of our favorites. There are some new(ish) tours at AK that might be fun as well. I booked Caring for Giants for my nieces and me for our May trip.

 

[SharonZ]

I'm confused as to why you don't change the reservation now?

 

[Fldisneyfamily4321]

If it’s not SUPER important to you and you don’t want the extra cost just ask at check in if they can give you a savanna view ... on the times I have stayed and couldn’t originally get the savanna view I have asked and ALWAYS got put in one .. with no extra charge .. once even to CL ! ( although I’m sure that one is rare ) but if it’s not a must it doesn’t hurt to ask at check in .

 

[pkpope]

I'm confused as to why you don't change the reservation now?

I got it through a friend who is a cast member so I’m not sure how it works. I’m looking to just sort of request at check in for as good of a view as we can get.

 

[Amelia :)]

We had a standard room and saw so many animals! I would go to your standard room first and check out what view you have. If you’re happy with it you could spend the money elsewhere.