Savannah View Worth it at Animal Kingdom Lodge?

[Mogie]

Hey everyone,

Thinking of booking my next trip to WDW at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Is the Savannah View worth the extra money?

We are not going to spend muchh time in the room. But I imagine that Room Service Breakfast on the balcony might be fun. And maybe some night time viewing before bed.

I'm thinking about doing something special and splitting the trip at the AKL and then the rest of the trip at our tried and true Dolphin.

Thanks!

[DVC2004]

It;s def worth it. It's the highlight of the resort. I would suggest as you are thinking- maybe do one or 2 nights there for the splurge and spend the rest at Dolphin. We did it before and it was an amazing site to see. That's a big reason to selcet that resort.

[minnie04]

We stayed there too. It's worth the extra money. Some people think it wasnt that big of a deal, but my kids loved it

[DebK]

Yes!

[darthmacho]

I hope so, it's on my WDW bucket list! How many places outside of Africa, can you wake up, stroll out onto your deck, and see live giraffes, zebra, and wildebeests? Probably none. Seems worth it to me! I can't wait to read your trip report!

[buzznwoodysmom]

We've stayed at AKL twice, once without a Savannah view and once with a Savannah view. Without a doubt we won't be staying at AKL again without the Savannah view. We weren't in the room that often, but when we were we loved sitting out on the balcony watching the animals. My 9 year old son is an animal lover and anytime we were in the room he was out on that balcony. He's claimed AKL his favorite resort in all of WDW. When asking him if he'd stay there without the view, he says "No, if I can't see the animals from my room then we just as well stay at my other favorite resort, WL". To us the view made all the difference in our stay.

[cajunprincess]

Yes!!!! It is sooooo worth it! We loved sitting outside on our balcony and seeing all the animals. It was amazing. BE AWARE.....you can not bring balloons to your room!!!! We saw some major breakdowns over this. Just some F.Y.I.

[conan617]

Just returned from the World and we had a Savannah view room. TOTALLY WORTH IT! There was a Patterson't Eland that bedded down right below our balcony every day (the kids named him Joe he was there so often) and giraffes, zebras, antelope.....FANTASTIC! Your not in the room very often, but being 20 feet from a giraffe...WORTH IT. You won't regret it! Watch for my trip report...Coming soon - just finishing up the details but there is a section on the Lodge and the View!

[faline]

We've stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge several times - only one of those trips was without a Savannah view.

I would say that most of the time, the Savannah view room is worthwhile. Why most? Two years ago, we stayed on a Savannah that we had not previously visited and the lack of animals on that Savannah was rather astounding to me. Most recently, we stayed in a Savannah DVC room and we had many animal sightings but, then again, we were placed in the same area where we had previously had good sighting experinces.

Being in a non-Savannah view room is not a real problem as there are many spots where you can see the animals. There are a number of balconies that are sparsely used where you can enjoy viewing the animals without having the view from your room.

[Mousemates]

yes...in my opinion without the savannah view a room at the AKL becomes a room at the wilderness lodge (not a bad thing, since we LOVE the WL). But the WL has a much better location and transportation options at the same price.

So I would either spend the extra money for the view at the AKL, or do a room at the WL and spend an evening at the AKL enjoying the animals after dining at either Boma or Jikos.

[sixshot19]

Absolutely worth it.

[MinnieMommie]

Yes I highly recommend. Even though you may not be in the room all that much the time you will spend on the balcony viewing the animals will be so worth it. We have done this as a split stay and it worked out perfectly for us. We usually plan AKL as a 2 night stay and then move on to another resort. Sounds like a good plan AKL and then Dolphin but I would go for the savannah view.

[pox24]

My DW and I spent a long week end at the Jambo House last month. We were right on the main savannah behind the hotel and it was great. Room service for breakfast each morning watching giraffe's and zebra's outside the room. Its well worth the extra. We are DVC and had the 5th floor. It was our 4th time there and it never gets old.

[sonamae80]

I love hearing this! We're headed to stay at AKL next Tuesday and we have a room with a Savannah view! My DD is 5 and she is going to flip when she can walk out on the balcony and see giraffe's, zebras, etc! I can't wait!

[c&d]

Watching all the animals from your room is definitely worth it.

One of our favorite memories of AKL was watching the CM's trying to get some small animals into the shelter. I can't remember what they were but they were about the size of chickens. We were on the Zebra wing and they were trying to get them into the shelter for the night. It was in January so they couldn't be left on the savannah overnight. It was very much like "herding cats." They would get 2 inside and try to get the 3rd one in and while they were doing that 1 of the others would run. It went on for almost 15 minutes. Even the CM's trying to get them in started laughing.

[Dave H]

Absolutely worth it. Waking up to giraffes having breakfast outside your window is an experience not to be missed.

[Stickey]

It is definitely worth the additional expense. I recommend the Arusha savannah if you would like to see the zebras from your balcony.

[Jennifer_and_Chris]

I totally would stay at AKL Savannah view. Since we have only stayed with a AKL view and are going to be there again in a few days, I may be biased. But, my parents had a room with a "bus stop" view right across the hall from us last year. They kept coming into our room to sit on the balcony.

Everytime we were in our room - no matter how short that time - we were outside on the balcony. My kids would say hello/goodbye/goodnight to the animals everytime we came in or left the room.

[Mousemates]

Absolutely worth it. Waking up to giraffes having breakfast outside your window is an experience not to be missed.

[mrmcgiv]

We stayed at AKL Aug 2010 for 5 nights. We were at Arushka savanna and we saw very few animals. From my experience it is not worth it, but maybe that was the exception.