AKL- Savannah view- is it worth it?

[Distant]

I'm taking the whole crew to Disney in December. My 3 grown kids, 2 sons-in-law, and 1 2-year-old grandson.
WE are departing 1 week before Christmas. It is the first time staying in the park for 1 of my kids. None of us have stayed at the AKL.

So it's a big deal, and we want it to be great. So we booked the AKL- Savannah view. That is 3 rooms for 6 nights. I can't believe the cost for the package for 7 adults and a 2 year old.

Now I'm having 2nd thoughts about the Savannah view. I think its $100 extra/ night. For 3 rooms, 6 nights that is $1800 extra! here's why...

1) We'll be gone to the parks each day, I assume.
2) We're going in December- the sun goes down at 5.30. Will we be able to see anything??

Thanks for your help!!

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

I'm taking the whole crew to Disney in December. My 3 grown kids, 2 sons-in-law, and 1 2-year-old grandson.
WE are departing 1 week before Christmas. It is the first time staying in the park for 1 of my kids. None of us have stayed at the AKL.

So it's a big deal, and we want it to be great. So we booked the AKL- Savannah view. That is 3 rooms for 6 nights. I can't believe the cost for the package for 7 adults and a 2 year old.

Now I'm having 2nd thoughts about the Savannah view. I think its $100 extra/ night. For 3 rooms, 6 nights that is $1800 extra! here's why...

1) We'll be gone to the parks each day, I assume.
2) We're going in December- the sun goes down at 5.30. Will we be able to see anything??

Thanks for your help!!

If you were just staying in one room, I would say go for it. But I agree - $1800 is a lot of money. I personally don't think it's worth it, but I'm also not the type of person to lounge at the hotel in the middle of the day; I'm out early and back late.

 

[epcotisbest]

For us it was amazing getting up early every morning having coffee and breakfast sitting on the balcony watching zebra and giraffe right there in front of us. I must have taken 1000 pictures. At home, there is a cat that walks by, and the occasional squirrel or two.
It seems to me not getting savanna view, if you can afford it, is kinda like going to the beach but getting a room that faces the parking lot. Now in defense of that, if you have the parking lot view, you can still walk to the other side of the building and the ocean is right there. Same for AKL, plenty of places to view the animals other than from your room. Geez, that is not much help is it?

 

[epcotisbest]

If you were just staying in one room, I would say go for it. But I agree - $1800 is a lot of money. I personally don't think it's worth it, but I'm also not the type of person to lounge at the hotel in the middle of the day; I'm out early and back late.

We spend more time at the resort than at the parks and I guess that makes a big difference too.

 

[righttrack]

There are lots of ways to view the animals. That said, both times we had Savannah view, once we paid for and the other time we had a slightly obstructed standard view that really was on the Savannah. Just where the buildings join, there's a column that disrupted about 20% of the view. So I don't know. I don't think we spend enough time at the resort.

I do note that there are some standard view rooms which seem awful. The lower level rooms right near the bus stops.

 

[lostpro9het]

IMO, yes its a wonderful experience but I would never pay rack rate for it. We first experienced it by renting DVC points for a lot cheaper than booking directly with Disney, like 50% cheaper. We have stayed in a savanna room a few times since then all on DVC points never rack rate and will continue to do so as we are now DVC owners, heading down this Christmas too. We were blown away during Christmas of 2013 when our DD decided she'd rather spend more time at Jambo House than she did at the parks. Between animal watching from the room, animal watching by the pool, and all the activities they had at the resort she was more engaged and engrossed than at the parks! yes we drank the DVC cool-aid and yes we LOVE AKL so take my mostly biased opinion with a grain of salt!

 

[Distant]

Thanks so much. The 2 year old grandson is my holdup. it's hard to put a price on his experiences. (He will almost be 3 then.)
We got the free dining so that's why we are paying rack rates.
Dumb question- Can I assume that once the sun goes down there is no view? Disney being Disney, I wasn't sure if they somehow still provided some entertainment.

 

[lostpro9het]

Thanks so much. The 2 year old grandson is my holdup. it's hard to put a price on his experiences. (He will almost be 3 then.)
We got the free dining so that's why we are paying rack rates.
Dumb question- Can I assume that once the sun goes down there is no view? Disney being Disney, I wasn't sure if they somehow still provided some entertainment.

False!
We saw animals graze throughout the night. Of course, visibility will be lower during the evening. Additionally, there is a complementary night vision experience that they offer during the evenings.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Th

Thanks so much. The 2 year old grandson is my holdup. it's hard to put a price on his experiences. (He will almost be 3 then.)
We got the free dining so that's why we are paying rack rates.
Dumb question- Can I assume that once the sun goes down there is no view? Disney being Disney, I wasn't sure if they somehow still provided some entertainment.

They have night time googles to view animals - very cool. Plus, a camp fire right there. The Christmas decorations are great too.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

All I can say is that experience of looking out at the animals and sitting to watch them is very, very peaceful and enjoyable. But it's a gamble. You may get a high room where seeing is hard, you may get a lower room where you can see better. It may be too cold, it may be too dark, you may be gone too much. Your grandson may be briefly interested, or he may be enthralled. It's a gamble. More likely than not, you'll get good viewing per the design of the experience.

We stayed here for the first time this past November including the day light savings time change. We sat out in the morning and a few times during the day when we returned to the resort to rest and felt like we had plenty of time to observe them. When we did this, we really enjoyed it. Good luck in your decision.

 

[DManRightHere]

I'm taking the whole crew to Disney in December. My 3 grown kids, 2 sons-in-law, and 1 2-year-old grandson.
WE are departing 1 week before Christmas. It is the first time staying in the park for 1 of my kids. None of us have stayed at the AKL.

So it's a big deal, and we want it to be great. So we booked the AKL- Savannah view. That is 3 rooms for 6 nights. I can't believe the cost for the package for 7 adults and a 2 year old.

Now I'm having 2nd thoughts about the Savannah view. I think its $100 extra/ night. For 3 rooms, 6 nights that is $1800 extra! here's why...

1) We'll be gone to the parks each day, I assume.
2) We're going in December- the sun goes down at 5.30. Will we be able to see anything??

Thanks for your help!!

It is awesome to hit the balcony anytime to see the animals. No I wouldn't pay an extra $100 per night. But if you want a fantastic hotel stay, pay it.

There are countless public savannah view balconies along corridors as well.

The room we had was only a chance we'd have savannah view and we did. No idea if 3 bedrooms may be the same.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Now I'm having 2nd thoughts about the Savannah view.

We first stayed there for five nights in 2008 arriving Christmas Day. We booked a Savannah view room and enjoyed waking up each morning and staring in wonderment at the Giraffes, zebras and little antelope type creatures. It was wonderful. We spent all day, everyday in the parks so our only animal experiences were in the mornings. It was expensive, but we thought it well worth it (we only had one room).
We've just got back from our second stay at AKL (August 12-26th). We booked two standard rooms and wanted the atmosphere and luxury of this deluxe resort. We were allocated two rooms on the Zebra Trail each with savannah view !! We actually spent more time in the rooms this trip due to dodging rain showers and illness, and really appreciated our complimentary upgrade.
At the end of the day, you could stay at AKL in a standard room and view the wildlife from the public viewing areas - but then you could save loads more by staying in a value resort and visiting AKL one afternoon !!!
The point I'm trying to make is this - if you're going to AKL then there's little point to pay that sort of money to look at a parking lot. Savour the moment, bite the bullet and go with a Savannah view (or hope you get an upgrade). The photographs that you can get are priceless.

 

[DManRightHere]

Thanks so much. The 2 year old grandson is my holdup. it's hard to put a price on his experiences. (He will almost be 3 then.)
We got the free dining so that's why we are paying rack rates.
Dumb question- Can I assume that once the sun goes down there is no view? Disney being Disney, I wasn't sure if they somehow still provided some entertainment.

Regards to the dumb question (which is not dumb). We could see animals all night, some sleep on the Savannah. I think they may have low lighting so you can still see them.

 

[englanddg]

I just did a trip that had it. Watching the animals was fun. I took a night vision scope and that was a blast as well.

That said...I wouldn't pay much extra for it having done it once. It's a bucket list thing, imho. Do it once, or do it for no major extra cost if done more than once. The novelty wears off quickly.

 

[MissingDisney]

Um, no. Rather, put that $1800 towards another memorable experience with the grandson....or in his college fund.

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

Thanks so much. The 2 year old grandson is my holdup. it's hard to put a price on his experiences. (He will almost be 3 then.)
We got the free dining so that's why we are paying rack rates.
Dumb question- Can I assume that once the sun goes down there is no view? Disney being Disney, I wasn't sure if they somehow still provided some entertainment.

Is it worth the extra cash.... well to me it is a big NO. The whole ocean view, savanna view, garden view is really lost on me when I really do not spend a whole lot of time on my deck at WDW. As others have said there are plenty of spots to look at the animals from the walkways, to the rocking chairs on the overlook decks, to the paths down on the ground level. We are DVC and have stayed many times... however we would never pay extra or use extra points for the savanna view. If there was not such a large difference I would say maybe... but not worth the $$$ IMO.
As far as your grandson...I honestly think he will be absolutely thrilled either way. At that age just seeing the animals is the thrill, doesn't matter if it is from your deck or a deck near the lobby or the window in the hall. I would recommend visiting the Kidani Village pool... it has a wonderful water sprayland for the little ones, while Jambo House does not.
As far as nighttime entertainment... of course they have some activities. Many of the animal stay out on the savanna all night, however some do retreat to the back areas. They offer night vision binoculars some nights for viewing from the overlooks. They also have the Cast Members(from various African countries) give presentations in the library once or twice a week. I found them very informative and interesting... not sure your grandson would though. There are movies by the pool, camp fires with African tales by the CMs. Many other activites, so check the daily activities board... I think they were posted in the hallway opposite the check-in desk(at least at Kidani)

 

[sfeinst]

1800 is a lot to pay considering you can view the animals from different locations than the room. That being said, I loved it. Going out every morning to the balcony while the family got ready was great. Now I didn't pay the 1800. We were actually staying at another resort, but it closed right before our trip for refurbishment, my travel agent got us a just about free upgrade to AKL Savannah.

One thing to consider, I know it is family and you want to be near each other, but you really don't have to be. You could do one room on the Savannah and either give it to your grandson's family or you take it and have your grandson sleep over for 1 or 2 nights.

 

[Distant]

Some great ideas here. I really appreciate the input.
I need to add that even the grown kids would love the animals. But at some point it gets too expensive.
It is hard to know when to say when- especially when you are footing most of the bill for the week!
thanks again!!

 

[MickeyMomV]

I would see if you can get the Savanna View for the 2 year olds room and see if you can get the other 2 rooms across the hall.

My son was 5 when we stayed there with the savanna view and he though it was the coolest thing in the world to wake up and have zebra's and giraffe's outside the slider!!

 

[jenos0524]

I stayed in a Savannah room my last trip in 2002 and the giraffes were right in front of my window. I went in January. I think i use to see the Wart hogs at night, Zabras and Ostriches in the morning and the Giraffes during the day. I would do as anothe poster suggested and only get 1 room of a Savannah view. Everyone can gather together to see them. without paying the full $1800