[crdjm]

We have a room booked at the moderate Carribean Beach Resort for 5 days mid August. I now find that I can upgrade to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Any/all opinions on this would be greatly appreciated.

Pricing: 5 days at Carribean: ~$750.
5 days in a standard room at Animal Kingdom: $940.
ditto in a pool view room: $1200.
ditto in a savanah view room: $1350.

As it is <$200 to get the standard room, that seems like a deal (given our
overall spend rate at Disney will be about that an hour!). Questions:

1. Is it a deal? ie is the hotel that much better. The appeal of seeing the animals is very high, but is the hotel itself that much better?
2. Is the savanah room worth the additional bump. I understand the view will be great, but given the views from around the hotel/pool, do people think it worth the upgrade?
3. What does 'standard room' really mean. I understand it could look out on a parking lot, but could I get stuck in some smaller room, way off the beaten track?

We'll be seeing the Magic Kingdom, Discovery Cove (yep, swim with the dolphins), Epcot and Seaworld while we are there. If that makes a difference; eg travel to/from the hotel considerations.

Many thanks,
David.

[mickaholic4077]

I'd upgrade to AKL Standard View,and 5 days before the start of your trip,fax the room assigner a very nice letter asking for a complimentary upgrade to a savannah room. who knows,maybe they'll do it!!

[crdjm]

Thanks! Can't hurt but try. Have you (or anyone) actually tried this technique before?

[tinkerbell]

The AKL is an amazing resort, for me , I personally love the CBR, but My DH's favorite is the AKL.
We stayed at the AKL and had a Savanah view last year. It is beautiful. I have to admit though I am one of those people who dont care if my view is of a parking lot *grin* as long as I am in a disney resort, I can be sure a walk in any direction will give me a beautiful view. I did call before our trip last year and ask about an upgrade .. and got a deluxe savanah view.

[MrDisneyfan1]

The rooms on the AKL, even the standard room, are nicer, in my opinion, than the moderates. and a wholeheck of a lot better than the value resort. Right down to the linen, bath towels, and the bed sizes.
Plus, if faxing does'nt work, I always chat it up with the check in person, and ask...it never hurts. My rule of thumb at Disney is ASK, ASK, and ASK again, and you shall receive. (most of the times)
;) Den

[Murph2]

Who do you call to try and get an upgrade at the AKL? We are going in Feb. and have a standard savanah room booked, but it couldn't hurt and try to get a deluxe savanah room.

[Dana]

Welcome to DC! I love the AKL! I coudln't even compare that to the CBR. Stay at AKL!!!! Totally worth every single penny.

[Erin]

AKL is one of my dream resorts! I can't wait to stay there one day - and on that note!


DO IT! Stay at AKL! Just like Dana said! :c)

[WishUponAStar]

Welcome to DC!!!

As many here may already know I am one of the biggest AKL advocates!! It's my absolute FAVORITE WDW resort. I would suggest reading all the rave reviews about it in the "rate and review" section on the front page of Disney Central.

In my opinion, it's probably one of the richest and most exciting resort experiences. All of the cast members there have so much to tell and share and the art and educational value of the resort alone is worth it. Even staying in a standard room you have SO many opportunities to view the animals on the savannahs and the grounds are just BEAUTIFUL. Boma, which is a restaurant there, is also one of my favorites. They have more exotic dishes, favorite standards, and an UNBEATABLE dessert bar.

The gym/spa there is amazing, the pool is peaceful and unique, and in my opinion even the standard rooms are AMAZINGLY decorated and completely comfortable.

I would vote AKL without even thinking twice, ESPECIALLY with that low of an upgrade rate from a moderate.

[queensmama]

My vote is AKL standard room and ask for the free upgrade. We got one last September and the view was amazing. At one point we had 4 giraffes and 3 zebras just hanging right outside our room. The walk was long to our room but after seeing that view it was so worth it.

[EmpressJenny]

Upgrade!!!!!! I stayed savannah view for 7 nights last January and it was FABULOUS!!!!

[ingamba]

There is really no comparison. AKL any day of the week. I would definitely upgrade.

[vet51]

I've stayed at both resorts. We had preferred rooms at CBR in Jan 04 in the Martiniqe Bld, right across from the beach in a corner room. It was about a minutes walk to the pool and resturants. It was nice and relaxing and the resort was beautifully landscaped. We stayed at AKL in Oct 05, in a Shavanah room, there is a regular Shavanah room and a Deluxe Shavanah view room, not sure what the difference is, except the price. Our room was on the Kudu trail but on one of the Savanahs facing the outside of the resort. Request a room facing the inside of the circle, there are more animals there. It seems that (don't get me wrong it was great to wake up to the view every morning) that we mostly had giraffes on that side of the resort.Sometimes some long horned cattle, storks and antlope but mostly Giraffes. We started calling it Disneys Giraffe Resort. The place was really wonderful the sights and the low music playing in the back ground. My only complaint was that it was a little noisey at night. I was awakened on at least 3 of our 6 night stay by children screaming and then parents yelling at them. I would stay there again without question even in a standard room because I enjoy the resort experence as part of my vacation. If your the type of vacationer that only wants a nice place to spend the night because you don't plan on being at the resort too much, go for the room at CRB (ask for a perferred room) and save the money, because it still a great resort to stay at. If you want to be immersed in a resort as part of the trip then spend the extra money, you won't regret it a bit, I didn't.

[bribren]

I think the dining at AKL would cinch it for me. I do like CB for the beaches and the hammocks. The grounds you can get to at CB are nicer too (for strolling around).

[ARIEL]

I have not stayed at AKL and too be honest I don't think I ever will ( unless of course a free vacation comes my way..... ) But I have stayed at CBR and really did not like it.
That said, lots and lots of people have stayed at CBR and thoroughly love the place and go back year after year so It must be doing something right~ its just not my 'cup of tea'.
So my vote would be for AKL.