AKL Savanna view, Worth the extra points??

[dwelty]

I would like to start off this thread by first stating that I am a big Animal Kingdom Fan, I own points there as well. My wife and I fell in love with the lodge because of the wonderful lobby, dining locations (We are big BOMA fans) and we love the pool area. However what really pushed us into buying was the Kidani Village Models. The highly themed decor and floorplan is perfect for our family of 5. There is one aspect of the Animal Kingdom Lodge that I do not look on with satisfaction, this is the highly praised "Savanna View". I personally have found this view to be a little dissapointing and here is why:

Growing up with Disney (First Disneyland, and then WDW) I am used to being immersed in theme, being able to suspend belief while on Disney Property. For example, When you are in Disneyland, you cannot see the outside world , even though it contains a metro area of over 9 million people. Walt knew even back then that it was important to build a barrier between fantasy and reality.
I get the same feeling when at Walt Disneyworld, with the exception of the Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna. The original plan for the lodge was to evoke a feeling of a hunting lodge in the wilds of Africa. You are supposed to be able to suspend belief while you are on AKL property. I am able to do this as long as I don't look out onto the savanna. When I look out a SV villa window, I do see animals, but I also see great expanses of chain link fence with barbed wire. To me, the view is more of a zoo, with sectioned off animal pens, and modern looking animal care buildings. I know that there is a reason for this, I just wonder if Disney could have done a better job of hiding these features. For instance why did they not build a berm to hide these buildings? The fence could have been on the far side of the berm hidden from guests. I also know that there has to be emergency exit routes for guests, and I think these could have been hidden better, using above ground exit tunnels covered with a berm, or with a clever use of rock work. I am sure cost was a factor of this, but I think it would have been money well spent, and might have increased occupancy rates at this resort which have always been a problem for Disney.

Am I way off base on this? Does anyone feel the same as I do? Is this an example of "The Emperior's New Clothes" Where we have been conditioned to overlook these shortcomings because the general Disney fan populous raves about the Savanna?

I think I will stick with a Kidani Standard view in the future, It's quite a bargan considering what you get for the amount of points spent. What do you all think?

[bwv dreamin]

I would like to start off this thread by first stating that I am a big Animal Kingdom Fan, I own points there as well. My wife and I fell in love with the lodge because of the wonderful lobby, dining locations (We are big BOMA fans) and we love the pool area. However what really pushed us into buying was the Kidani Village Models. The highly themed decor and floorplan is perfect for our family of 5. There is one aspect of the Animal Kingdom Lodge that I do not look on with satisfaction, this is the highly praised "Savanna View". I personally have found this view to be a little dissapointing and here is why:

Growing up with Disney (First Disneyland, and then WDW) I am used to being immersed in theme, being able to suspend belief while on Disney Property. For example, When you are in Disneyland, you cannot see the outside world , even though it contains a metro area of over 9 million people. Walt knew even back then that it was important to build a barrier between fantasy and reality.
I get the same feeling when at Walt Disneyworld, with the exception of the Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna. The original plan for the lodge was to evoke a feeling of a hunting lodge in the wilds of Africa. You are supposed to be able to suspend belief while you are on AKL property. I am able to do this as long as I don't look out onto the savanna. When I look out a SV villa window, I do see animals, but I also see great expanses of chain link fence with barbed wire. To me, the view is more of a zoo, with sectioned off animal pens, and modern looking animal care buildings. I know that there is a reason for this, I just wonder if Disney could have done a better job of hiding these features. For instance why did they not build a berm to hide these buildings? The fence could have been on the far side of the berm hidden from guests. I also know that there has to be emergency exit routes for guests, and I think these could have been hidden better, using above ground exit tunnels covered with a berm, or with a clever use of rock work. I am sure cost was a factor of this, but I think it would have been money well spent, and might have increased occupancy rates at this resort which have always been a problem for Disney.

Am I way off base on this? Does anyone feel the same as I do? Is this an example of "The Emperior's New Clothes" Where we have been conditioned to overlook these shortcomings because the general Disney fan populous raves about the Savanna?

I think I will stick with a Kidani Standard view in the future, It's quite a bargan considering what you get for the amount of points spent. What do you all think?
I have also heard that the standard views for both Jambo and Kidani are the best "value" and have great views (I think they are of the pool). Just passing along what I've read, still trying to get over to AKL for the first time!:goodvibes:

[BlueNGold]

Still waiting for our first stay... But is it the case that some of the "off stage" areas are intended to be hidden by foliage? Foliage that hasn't grown in yet? The Lodge isn't that old, compared to the life of a tree.

Just speculating...

[Colorado Belle]

When I stayed in a room at the lodge, long before DVC, we paid extra for savannah view. Sigh. We had a view of the 'people' cage, where if there was a problem, Disney believes that people would actually allow themselves to be put in a fenced in 'cage' as opposed to leaving by the front doors. Anyhow, that soured me on 'savannah' view.

When Kidani is finished, I'll have to reevaluate, but for me, if I stay at AKV, I think I'll book the least expensive view OR go concierge.

[dwelty]

When I stayed in a room at the lodge, long before DVC, we paid extra for savannah view. Sigh. We had a view of the 'people' cage, where if there was a problem, Disney believes that people would actually allow themselves to be put in a fenced in 'cage' as opposed to leaving by the front doors. Anyhow, that soured me on 'savannah' view.

Exactly my point!

[TimK]

When I stayed in a room at the lodge, long before DVC, we paid extra for savannah view. Sigh. We had a view of the 'people' cage, where if there was a problem, Disney believes that people would actually allow themselves to be put in a fenced in 'cage' as opposed to leaving by the front doors. Anyhow, that soured me on 'savannah' view.

We had the same view. :( Not only was the 'cage' unattractive, we never got any animals in our section of the savanna. The public viewing areas are very nice, but I felt like a sucker for paying extra for the view given what we received.

I didn't do much research before that trip, hoping that I could trust the front desk CMs to give us a good view. When checking-in, I made it a point to tell the CM that having a good view was my primary goal (more important than close proximity to lobby, or anything else), and he suggested we were given a good location.

I'm not the complaining type, but before a future stay I would certainly do more research and be a little more...selective about the room that I would accept if paying for a Savanna view.

[DBorges]

I love this resort I stay at one level there club the 7 points I pay over the level of a savanna view is worth all the perks you get.

As for the 10 total rooms there none of them do not have a view of a savanna the pool view has a savanna behind it.

[nono]

Dave,

If you like it so much, and there's so little supply, why don't you stop promoting it constantly? You may be out of luck for a stay soon if you keep extolling its virtues! :confused24:

[DBorges]

Dave,

If you like it so much, and there's so little supply, why don't you stop promoting it constantly? You may be out of luck for a stay soon if you keep extolling its virtues! :confused24:

Nono

It is simple no one likes to spend there point to use it. And with the new building opening I think there will be all the more room for me :)..

Besides If I promote it there will be more dvc members getting the beer and food instead of normal guest ..

Dave

[idratherbeinwdw]

Dave stayed at AKL concierge? Gee I never noticed him mentioning that before. :rolleyes::D:tongue:

[DBorges]

Dave stayed at AKL concierge? Gee I never noticed him mentioning that before. :rolleyes::D:tongue:

Yaa I never stayed there or anywhere else on disney property ..

Disney where the hell is that??

[jen]

I thought Kidani wouldn't have concierge????

[Eeyore77]

I have stayed on the Clud level at AKV 3 times now and I think that it was well wort the points. I mean yeah the view was not that great, but the food fest that they have was. You could eat there all day and save yourself a ton. I loved it and the people up there were great. We have another stay booked there in March and I can't wait.:yahoo: