Please share opinions on AKL standard room About This Page:

[meagansmom1023]

For those that have booked AKL standard rooms please share your opinion.

I have read that some have gotten some unexpected upgrades to Savanna views and that would be great but I am thinking...not to expect that.

[pntsmom99]

Hi,
I have gotten a standard room in the past, at the Wilderness Lodge, and when we went to the room it over looked a machanic shed. I called the front desk and said this was not acceptable, and that I wanted to change rooms. We paid like $80.00 for an upgrade, and wound up in a great room overlooking the pool.

This year we are going to the AKL, which we've stayed in before, but this year all I could book was a standard room...we are in the same boat, hoping for that magical upgrade...even if we have to pay for it.

[meagansmom1023]

A free upgrade would be great but I wouldn't expect one. Just wondering what the standard view is. I have preffered room at POP and if the same holds true in October with the Aug/Sept discounts I may be able to afford it!!! Just want to know if I would or wouldn't be disappointed in a standard view. I think the resort itself would be worth it.

[J603]

When I had stayed there, I had booked a standard room, but got upgraded to pool view. The bonus was, we could see part of the savannah and even the sun-rise. It was the best!

[jenntyl]

I also booked a standard room when I went in 2004 and upon arrival was upgraded to a savannah view. Of course it helped that the person checking us in was from PA before he moved to FL. From what I heard there is more of a likelihood of getting upgraded when the resort is not at capacity and there are available rooms. That was the case when we went, but I am not sure if it is this year. It seems AKL is becoming more desirable, as when I tried to book a room for July there were none available. Generally the deluxe resorts are less crowded at Disney but AKL seems to be gaining more in popularity. Maybe you will get lucky because I know they do not have many standard view rooms in AKL. Good luck!

[Flik]

We have stayed at AKL 2x. The first time we booked at savanna view -- it was FABULOUS. The 2nd time, we booked a standard. Initially we were given a pool view -- but the room smelled soooo terrible from a previous guest smoking in there, that we had to be moved. Once moved, we ended up with a parking lot view.
Sooo... make sure you can live with the standard view. For us, we were disappointed with the standard view. We should have just booked it to begin with. It is just soo magical to step out onto your balcony each AM and see giraffes eating nearby. Certainly not the same kinda feel/magic in looking out your balcony to see a Dodge Neon parked nearby. LOL.

[chezp]

We booked a standard room through the DVC, as it was all that was available for our stay. We were overlooking the main pool and it was a really nice view, much better than I expected.

[meagansmom1023]

I am just dreaming ...but maybe the discount will come through

[HiddenMickey]

I've booked standard twice. The first time we were upgraded to Savannah, but not the second.

Our standard room looked exactly the same inside. We had a room on the Girafee trail way down toward the end near the bus stops on the fourth floor. We could sort of hear the buses, but the ceiling fan and air conditioning really drowned it out. We looked over vegetation and the driveway (but you didn't see much of it). I would definitely recommend staying in that area. We had an elevator and stairs nearby that took us down to the pool area and a short walk to the buses and eateries.

[Happymommy]

Not to be a pessimist, but I wouldn't count on an upgrade right now. Many of the savannah views are facing construction right now, so I would assume the hotel is having a hard time getting all of those who paid for Savannah in an area without a construction view. I'd prefer a pool view to a construction/savannah view---I've read where people haven't seen one animal throughout their entire vacation when in the sunset savannah. We were lucky we were given Zebra Trail. Our CM said that they are trying very hard not to put those who paid for savannahs in the sunset savannah right now, but I would think that takes up alot of their rooms. I'm sure an upgrade is still possible, but the construction is something to think about.

AKL is a beautiful resort no matter what your view is. And if you don't have a savannah, there are so many spots to look out as you walk the hallways.

[MrsM]

We've booked standard rooms at the AKL twice - both times I asked if any kind of upgrade was available (even if we had to pay extra for it) but both times they said they were full and no pool or savanna view rooms were available.

We had two different rooms, but they were both on the fifth floor in the same area of the hotel and both looked out over the parking lot. One was waaaay at the end of the hall so it was over the end of the walkway to the bus stop and one was closer to the elevator and the balcony was partially covered by the thatched roof of the building.

[graygables]

I just got back from a "savanna" view DVC value studio that overlooked the construction not only at Kidani, but also housed the bright orange "cherry pickers" they were using to touch up the outside of the Jambo House (they were lined up against the Jambo House perimeter of the Sunset Savanna). While it was less than perfect, the room was still fantastic and there were still plenty of opportunities to view the animals on the other savannas. I loved being on the 5th floor in the front of the resort, as we headed to and from our room we were greeted with the GORGEOUS overlook of the lobby. Breathtaking.

Unless I am planning to spend some serious time sitting on my balcony, I really wouldn't concern myself with the view and I would just take advantage of the rest of the beautiful resort.

[mousestruck]

We have always booked a standard room at AKL, as that is most affordable for our family. We were upgraded three out of four times (without asking!), twice to savannah view and once to pool view. The standard view overlooked the parking lot, but the resort is so gorgeous that it didn't overshadow the wonder of staying there. That being said, the savannah view rooms are truly magical. Last November, we were on the sunset savannah with the construction. Although it distracted from the view, we still saw plenty of animals. In fact, that was the first time we saw warthogs and they were hysterical. They entertained us all week!

In my opinion, I would stick with a standard room if that's what you can comfortably afford and enjoy everything the resort has to offer. I'm sure the lodge won't disappoint you!