They call this a pool view???

[cdrn1]

Just back from 5 nights at AKL. We were disappointed at check-in to find out that the pool-view rooms we reserved were on the first floor. Our only request was for connecting rooms so that we could help our DD with the baby since her DH could not go. The CM said she thought they were connecting (which we KNOW is not a guarantee, only a request!) and we figured someone has to have the first floor rooms so off we went to our rooms. When we opened the door we were very dismayed to find that there was dense vegetation all the way up to our balcony, and all we could see of our pool-view was bushes and the talking heads of all the people walking by. Not what we envisioned. Plus, the rooms were not connecting. So, I called the front desk to request a different spot so that we could actually see the pool, as I had reserved and paid for. I was told that while we may not consider the rooms pool-view, they DID, and that anyway, what I had paid for was access to the pool, not the view. (Doesn't everyone have access to the pool???) I reminded her that the room was poolVIEW (politely of course) and that I had NO view and I thought this should be a standard view. Her reply was that she would be glad to move me to a standard view!!!! I kept my cool and reiterated that I had made these reservations many months ago and that I would like what I had reserved and paid for. She offered to upgrade us (for a price of course) to Savannah and the rooms would not be available until the next day and that they would be 4 to 7 doors apart from each other. We did end up with an upgrade to Savannah with connecting at no extra charge but would have preferred pool view. It seems that people who make requests end up getting them, so I guess they give what's left over to people who don't make requests. Next time I will definitely request what I want. It turned out okay, but people should not have to work so hard to get what they reserved and paid for in the first place. After all, a reservation means that they reserve a spot for you!

 

[buckeye]

YIKES! I don't like the sounds of how they talked to you. We have the same thing requested for spring break (connecting, pool-view), but I wouldn't know what else to request. I guess we'll just wait and see what we get...

I'm glad you ended up in connecting rooms!

 

[jarestel]

If you paid for a pool view and could only see bushes from your room, I would definitely follow up on this with e-mails and letters to the resort. Why on earth would they call it a pool-view category and charge accordingly if you can't see the pool? Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[floridafam]

The CM was incorrect. You were paying for a pool view not access to the pool. That's the strangest thing.

Everything else was just a request-smoking, non-smoking, high floor/low floor, etc.

Did you speak to a manager?

It sounds like everything worked out in the end but I am glad you stood your ground.

 

[robinb]

We did end up with an upgrade to Savannah with connecting at no extra charge but would have preferred pool view.

Too bad the front desk gave you a hard time. I'm glad that things worked out for you, even though you didn't end up with the view your wanted (and paid for). I'm curious, what time did you check in?

 

[cdrn1]

We checked in around noon on Thursday, and would have happily waited until official check-in time but I was told that "no one" was checking out so nothing was going to open up.

 

[robinb]

Hmmm ... sounds like a lazy CM to me. We're checking in early in the morning after a late check-in at ASSp. I hope we have better luck.

 

[CheshireVal]

I've read complaints about this in the Unofficial Guide. They say that what Disney considers a Pool View or Water View doesn't mean you can glance out your window and see water. Sometimes you have to lean over your balcony and peer way over to the right or left....

 

[HopperFan]

We've stayed twice at AKL and had wonderful check in service. First trip we were standard view and they offered us an upgrade to Savanna view with our choice of bunk beds. Next trip we had pool view and I requested we be as high as possible (did not want first floor) and he gave us 4th floor. BUT, while we could see parts of the pool we looked right down on all of the roofs of the restaurants. We felt it was not worth the money. I think pool view means your balcony faces the direction of the pool, so maybe they should be called pool-side rooms......

ps We have always had good experiences with our rooms being located where we paid/requested them except at CBR. They actually put us in a standard handicapped room when we paid in advance rack rate for water view. Was an hour argument to get what we paid for and it really was a clear cut issue. Especially since there were 4 plus an infant and they tried to put us in a room with one bed.

 

[currycook]

Thanks for the information. I am glad that you worked it out with them even if it was a bit of a hassle.

 

[Maleficent13]

I stayed at a hotel in Melbourne this past June, and they had two classes of rooms: ocean view and ocean front. Ocean view meant if you contorted yourself in someway from your balcony, you could catch a glimpse of water. Ocean front meant you walked out on your balcony and all you saw was miles of ocean. They were priced accordingly. Perhaps it would behoove WDW to adopt a similar stategy.

 

[Jet888]

I've read complaints about this in the Unofficial Guide. They say that what Disney considers a Pool View or Water View doesn't mean you can glance out your window and see water. Sometimes you have to lean over your balcony and peer way over to the right or left....

That was our situation at Dixie Landings. We paid for a water view and our room was no where near a pool, lake or even a puddle. I called the front desk and our room was switched and still no water view. Although if the sun shined just right and the wind blew the branches just so, you could see something glistening in the distance- we assumed water. I didn't bother to call the front desk again but I've always felt that it wasn't quite right.

 

[Antonia]

What hotels consider pool view and what the average vacationer considers pool view is often very different. At the RPR at Universal, you can get pool view, but very often your view is blocked by large palm trees planted right up at the building. The landscaping is great from the outside, but looking out you can barely see the pool. This past summer I did get very acquanted with the palm tree right outside out 4th floor window! What a tall tree!

 

[10drum]

Quote:

"We did end up with an upgrade to Savannah with connecting at no extra charge "

Wow! It seems like the cast member bent over backwards for you, I think most of them will, if they can.

If there had been connecting rooms with a better view of the pool, they could've put you in them and upgraded other guests(who would've had the pool view) to the savanah view rooms. I'm sure the other guest would've appreciated the upgrade.

 

[cdrn1]

Quote:
If there had been connecting rooms with a better view of the pool, they could've put you in them and upgraded other guests(who would've had the pool view) to the savanah view rooms. I'm sure the other guest would've appreciated the upgrade.

And WE appreciated the upgrade as well. It was a vast improvement over the bushes. We still would have appreciated the view of the pool more; that is why we reserved pool-view. I knew that there were pool-view rooms with limited views and that would have been fine. I just didn't realize there were pool-view rooms with absolutely no view of the pool. As far as the CM "bending over backward" for us, she really did not in the beginning, told us there was nothing she could do and was even somewhat snotty until I asked her for her name again, at which point she did begin to offer some solutions. I am grateful that we were moved.

 

[pooh6890]

Let's cut to the chase. Pool view means just that....Pool View. If you can't see the pool, it's not a Pool view. It's like requesting a Savannah view and not being able to see any savannah. You had every right to complain. I am glad you got upgraded to a better room.

 

[rach98n]

We will be at AKL in Feb and have reserved pool view w/connecting rooms (which should be guaranteed since we have 3 kids and 2 adults). I have not made any requests yet, but it sounds like I should request not to be on ground floor. Anything more specific I should ask for? 3rd floor?? I don't want to be too particular or fussy, but I do want to have some sort of view.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Hippychickali]

How often do people actually spend time in their rooms to be concerned about the view? I guess it's a matter of personal preference. I would never pay extra so I could see the pool . . . the savanah maybe but that's more like an attraction than a view. Maybe someone can explain this to me.

Ali

 

[Sammie]

We will be at AKL in Feb and have reserved pool view w/connecting rooms (which should be guaranteed since we have 3 kids and 2 adults). I have not made any requests yet, but it sounds like I should request not to be on ground floor. Anything more specific I should ask for? 3rd floor?? I don't want to be too particular or fussy, but I do want to have some sort of view.

Thanks in advance!

As long as you have 2 adults they won't guarantee the connecting rooms as one adult could stay in each room. The only way they will guarantee is if you have only one adult with multiple kids.

If you really need or want connecting that should be your request. Sometimes you have to decide what is more important that or a view. It might not be possible to give you both. Maybe connecting, upper floor.

It will depend on what is empty on the day you check in.

 

[cdrn1]

How often do people actually spend time in their rooms to be concerned about the view? I guess it's a matter of personal preference. I would never pay extra so I could see the pool . . . the savanah maybe but that's more like an attraction than a view. Maybe someone can explain this to me.

Ali

This trip we were travelling with a baby so we knew that we would be spending more time in the room. We had a pool-view last time we stayed at AKL and it was so nice to sit out on the balcony and look at that beautiful area with the soft music playing...the AKL pool is not just any pool! That is why I paid extra. Hope that explains it, and it really is a matter of personal preference.