Would you take chances with a standard view room?

[christianweecare]

When making your ressies at the WL or AKL for instance, would you take your chances with booking a standard view room and hope for an upgrade--or--would you bite the bullet and go ahead and book your upgraded preference? In another words, woods or courtyard or savannah view. We always visit in slow season around the first part of December. Would you chance it? I'm inclined to go ahead and book the upgrade and watch for AP rates. Opinions, please!

 

[BrianD]

My rule of thumb is never book anything that I might be the slightest bit disappointed with. My advice would be...
WL = Woods View
AKL = Savannah View

From what I understand the standard rooms at WL/AKL are not like garden view rooms at say the Poly, GF, BW, or YC/BC where you could end up with a pretty garden view or a parking lot. At WL/AKL if you book a standard room you're pretty well guaranteed a parking lot / service area / roof top view.

 

[TDC Nala]

The view from my room is of very little importance to me. I'm not in the room enough for it to make a difference, not even at AKL. I usually book a standard view anywhere out of cost considerations.

If you consider the view important enough to be an integral component of your enjoyment of the trip, then don't count on an upgrade. Chances are you won't get it. Book what you really want and pay for it if necessary.

 

[dvcmommy]

I agree completely. If it's important to you, book the view you want. Otherwise, you may end up being disappointed if you do not receive the upgrade. And who wants to be disappointed at DisneyWorld?

Join my brand new Disney Resort Yahoo group!!

 

[jaysue]

You may want to consider length of daylight hours - i.e. if you are not in the room during the shorter daylight hours why pay up for a better view perhaps?

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=867&obj=sun&month=12&year=2003&day=1

For example December 15th/2003 Orlando:

December 15, 2003 7:10 AM 5:31 PM (Sunrise 7:10, Sunset 5:31 or 10hrs 20 minutes of daylight)

Just a different way to think about it

Thanks
Jason

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I wouldn't personally ever pay for standard at AKL. That's one place where the extra view is definitly worth the money. At WL, I usually get a Woods view- I don't think standard would be bad though, if you arent the sort that spends a lot of time in your balcony.

 

[bridgettesmom]

Honestly, I cannot say that I would not stay at AKL if I could not afford savannah view.However,as long as I can,I will stay in savannah,if things get tough or if my priorities change,I would rather do AKL standard than no AKL at all.

 

[goofy4tink]

We've booked woods view at WL for Aug. I was going to just take my chances, but decided to bite the bullet so to speak. Maybe I'll be offered the concierge upgrade. If not, that's okay too. After staying in moderate resorts, I wanted a balcony with a nice view for a change. Now, if those good rates would just come out!!

 

[Thmacs]

I booked AKL standard December 2001 and that is what I recievd at check-in. I was not dissappointed because that was what I was paying for. You can never count on an upgrade, and it is very hard to predict how full or empty a resort might be at a particular time. I too would never give up the opportunity to stay at AKL . It is a lovely resort with great amenities. Our standard room was on the Zebra trail 2nd floor over the path to the buses. All we saw on our balcony was the tops of trees. And Jason is right about the daylight. If it was light out we were most likely not in our room. THe first time we went to WDW with our family was in 1999. I knew nothing and we spent like $150/noc at CS. Now we live in FL and are able to take advantage of some great discounts and stay at resorts I would never have asked the price of 5 years ago. In my opinion a standard room at AKL beats any room at any moderate, so if I can pay $129 for AKL it is a steal, even if all I can see is the tops of trees form my balcony.

 

[Bob NC]

Are you going to be out of the room at the crack of dawn, touring all day, and coming back after dark?

It all depends upon your park touring plans, really.

We usually get to parks at opening and stay out in the parks late.

However, when we stayed at the AKL we followed a more relaxing schedule and spent a lot of time on our balcony enjoying the view.

After staying at the AKL, we would not book there again without a savannah view. There are always caveats though....If a code comes out that offered the AKL standard rooms at a comparable price as the moderates, you might be hard pressed to not take advantage of a deluxe resort near a moderate price.

One thing I would never do is book one level of room hoping for an upgrade to a higher level of room. It all depends on your plans for touring the parks and how much time you'll be enjoying the resort.

 

[barbeml]

I always book standard views. We really don't even think about views from rooms--we're not there much and when we are it is usually dark! Our "standard" views at PO-FQ and Poly have been just lovely. Some people really seem to consider views important, but I can't see spending more. The "scenery" at the parks is what I'm there for.

 

[cinmell]

Originally posted by BrianD
My rule of thumb is never book anything that I might be the slightest bit disappointed with.

Same here. We book what we want because we don't want to be disappointed. We do spend a good amount of time in the room because we like to go at our own pace, take time to relax, sit by the pool etc. I would book what you really want so you won't be let down.

Enjoy!

 

[sherrycurl]

I book the view that I want and then watch for codes to upgrade hotels or views. That way if I do not get a better deal I have the room that I want. I also do not care about the view at certain resorts, but others like the AKL I am staying there for the view of the animals. I guess the only real answer is, What are you looking for in your resort? Answer that and then do not settle for less hoping for more. Have a great vacation.



Sherry

 

[TDC Nala]

At AKL, the savannahs are lit at night with artificial moonlight. They're beautiful. It wouldn't matter if it was dark, you'd still have the view there.

Standard AKL rooms with discounts are a great value over moderates, though. I think AKL beats the socks off of any moderate.

I book WDW resorts often and am usually at PI until about 1:30 AM, so a room view is the least of my considerations!

 

[HookedonMagic]

I agree with the other posters...if a particular view is important, book it. You don't want to spend even a moment of your precious vacation time disappointed that you didn't get the upgrade you had counted on. Upgrades really seem to be random...you can always fax ahead and always ask at check-in, but you just never know.

That being said, let me share two personal experiences with Disney Resort views. Two years ago we booked a garden view at the Grand Floridian because the rate was too good to pass up. We determined to enjoy our room no matter the view because, afterall, we were at Disney, and what's a view, any way?! Upon arrival, we were informed that we had received a complimentary upgrade to lagoon view, which, of course, we were thrilled with. It set the tone for a really special week at Disney! We love to feel like we're getting a "deal", we loved watching the electrical water pageant from our balcony and we loved hearing the haunted mansion, music and train in our room. We went home very happy.

Last year, we booked at the Wilderness Lodge, and because we were hooked, we booked a water view room (the most expensive category, and we were even told by CRO we'd have a view of the geyser...yippee!) We reasoned the extra money would be worth it because we had so enjoyed the view the year before and we didn't want to risk looking at nothing all week. Well, when we anxiously entered our room to check out the view, we were very disappointed. Our only view was of scaffolding and workmen, who remained outside our window daily for the duration of our trip. Whenever we were in our room, we had to keep the curtains closed...the rooms are small and dark as it is, so it was really a bummer. It was terrible to pay for more and receive less...(the resort was sold-out so the problem was never resolved...technically, we were in a water view room...we just couldn't see any water!)

Anyway, sorry to be so long-winded...lesson learned for us...we'd rather get a great deal, and IF an upgrade MAGICALLY appears, wonderful...if not, we're happy with the great deal and hey, we're there for the parks anyway. You're the only one who can determine whether the view is the make it/break it for your vacation! Good luck and have a great trip!

P.S. We live here now, so no more view problems for us. We had breakfast at the AKL a few weeks ago, and I agree with the poster that said the view choice is important there. The animals are amazing and I know I would love to sit on my balcony and watch them. The resort is beautiful (and breakfast at Boma's is GREAT.) Enjoy!

 

[Beachangel]

Nope, don't take chances....book the view you want!

 

[Disney Doll]

View would make no difference to me at the WL. At the AKL, book a savannah view.

 

[Ratpack]

I always book a standard and hope for upgrades. When I am at Disney, I could care less about the view. If I am in the room, I am either asleep or in the shower or getting dressed. In all my on site stays, I have probably spent a total of 15 minutes on the balcony. Of course that being said, Each time I have been to the Wl, I have been upgraded to Courtyard from Std. Going for #3 this summer.

 

[kdibattista]

If you really want it, book it. We did not want to take a chance of not being upgraded so we paid full price for the savannah view - doing the same thing this year. Plus, it gives you more room to get other requests met.

 

[susy]

I would book a standard view at the AS and mods, but not for deluxe (unless it is a garden view, not something ugly). At the As and mod, there is no balcony, so to keep your window open is kind of a pain because of people walking by and looking in.

At WL I have a woods view booked for Thanksgiving. I want to see "woods" when at WL. At AKL I would book the savannah and hope for a code. Don't forget that AKL also has a pool view, which we enjoyed VERY much on our trip there. We were also steps away from the elevator (were on the 5th floor overlooking the lobby), buses, pool, and Mara. Location made up for the view.