by Should you spend the money on a savanna view room at Animal Kingdom Lodge ? We weigh the pros and cons to help you decide.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the best resorts on property. From delicious restaurants to gorgeous architecture, this resort hotel is one of our favorites.
However, the most iconic part about AK Lodge are its savanna view rooms. These rooms face an African plain filled with wildlife like giraffes, zebra, and even warthogs. The ability to stand on your hotel balcony and watch these animals is awesome, but it comes with a big price tag. In fact, you could pay hundreds more for these rooms.
We’ve stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge multiple times and always have a great experience. We love restaurants like Jiko, Boma, and Mara. The pool is great, too, especially for kids. AK Lodge is a deluxe resort, meaning it has several amenities like the closeness to a theme park, valet parking, club rooms, etc. We also find that the service in deluxe resorts is much better than moderates and values.
If you’re comparing prices, you’ll notice about a 20% difference between savanna rooms and standard rooms. So, you could spend $150 or more per night just to see the savanna from your window.
Futhermore, standard rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge can be a lot less expensive than other deluxe resorts. We’ve also seen discounts where value rooms at AK Lodge are cheaper than moderate resorts. So, if you’re finding yourself in this position, it’s well worth the money.
Why You May Want a Standard View Room
Animal Kingdom’s biggest fault is that it’s far away from the theme parks. All other deluxe resorts are within walking distance or a ferry or Skyway ride to a park. However, AK Lodge requires a bus to all theme parks, including Animal Kingdom.
So, when considering an upgrade to a savanna facing room, you should ask: would I stay at this resort otherwise? Do I like AK Lodge without the animals? In other words, what benefits does AK Lodge have for you?
While the rooms are fairly similar, no matter your view, they aren’t the best. Most of them feel a little small and the bathrooms are nothing special. The studio rooms are similar to those of Beach Club and Boardwalk Inn, and they don’t offer much more than a lightly themed sleeping space.
If you’re okay with a simple room, but want the deluxe property with beautiful pools, lush surroundings, top-notch service, and excellent restaurants, the standard room is for you. You can also see the savannas from all over the property, not just the rooms. In fact, most of the lobbies have communal balconies for guests to sit and watch the animals.
With that said, if you’d rather pay the difference, go for it. Savanna View rooms are totally unforgettable moments for your vacation. However, they aren’t totally necessary if you’d rather spend the money on experiences. Then again, the experience of having a giraffe outside your window may be worth the money to you.
We dive into every Disney Resort hotel in our Walt Disney World Guidebook – check it out here!
Posts Related to Savanna View at Animal Kingdom
To get updates from our blog sent directly to your e-mail, subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter here!
Follow us on Instagram for even more Disney tips: www.instagram.com/magicguides
