I was wondering if there was anyone out there who knew the answers to my couple of questions, as I don't seem to be able to find the answers. We are going to book at Animal Kingdom Lodge as my son LOVES animals. He is so excited already about waking up in the mornings and seeing giraffes outside his bedroom window so we have to have a savannah view room,but we also want to do the sunset safari available for concierge guests only, so would like concierge also (only problem is that concierge rooms are not guaranteed savannah view, only a possibility).

My two questions are,

1. Are the savannah view rooms that are booked as savannah view rooms ever used as concierge - club level rooms?

2. If the rooms that are booked as savannah view rooms can be used as concierge - club level rooms, is it possible that I book and pay for a savannah view room and when we arrive the the lodge and I check in and I have my savannah view room, is it possible for me to PAY and upgrade and keep my savannah view room and have it as a concierge room and not be moved to a different room?

Thank you very much

Were still researching our trip as well , so I don't have any answers for you ... sorry.

But I am wondering about the "animal view" rooms ... the picture on their website of the couple sitting on their balcony with giraffes walking by looks SO cool !

Is a room with a view like that actually what you get there in the majority of their view rooms ?

About how much $$ does that room go for a night ?

Don't feel that you need to be facing the central savannah to see critters. There are great viewing rooms available all around the resort. I had a terrific room on the upper west side facing west. At times I had giraffes eating within a dozen feet from my balcony - totally cool!

I stayed at AKL in early December, 2006. I didn't book a savannah room, but got a free upgrade to a savannah room on the second floor when I checked in. Although it was cool, I personally wouldn't worry about having a savannah room. There are so many great places at DAK to view animals, it's no big deal. However, if you really want a savannah room, I think the second floor is the only way to go. (AKL has no first floor rooms. The first floor is all utility areas.)

As for the concierge level, as I see it, you're paying a very stiff premium for some snacks in the lounge and the opportunity to pay another stiff premium for the sunrise safari. There are concierge rooms with a savannah view, but they're up high. Viewing the animals from the second floor would be better, IMO.

Thus, if doing the sunrise safari isn't super critical, you could save much dough by booking a non-savannah room or booking a savannah room and requesting the second floor. (Sorry, getting a free upgrade isn't likely. I just got lucky during low season.)

We received a complimentary upgrade from a regular room to a savannah room when we visited AKL in 05 and it was great. My husband and I sat and watched the animals all day while our son watched television. Go figure. Anyway, I wonder if you could kind of take your chances by sticking with the room you've booked and requesting a free upgrade to a concierge when you arrive. It might just work.(I've gotten upgraded at the GF twice and the AKL once.) Also, I don't know how many people you are traveling with, but if you check the Disney webpage, you can book the safari if you are traveling as part of a large group.