ADR Question plus a few others

[WanderlustNZ]

Hi everyone,

I wasn't sure what area of the boards to post these questions, so please forgive me if this isn't quite the best place.

I have just rented two separate lots of DVC points for a stay beginning late Sep next year. My family and I have a BWV studio (Boardwalk view) booked for the first 5 nights of our stay and an AKV studio (Jambo house Standard view) for the next 6 nights. I have logged in to the Disney World website and added both of my bookings. It says that ADRs can be made from the 1st April (April Fools).

My first question is this. On the 1st April, will I be able to make 10 days worth of ADR bookings or just 5 days due to the split booking?

My second question is, does anyone know if there is a way online to link my bookings to a Disney cruise booking? I'm booked to be on the Fantasy prior to arriving at BWV and I'd like to book my cruise transfers through Disney. The problem is that Disney's Cruise website won't let me book transfers to anywhere other the airport as it doesn't realise that I'll be going to WDW afterwards. Is there a way of making the two systems talk to each other without me needing to make any expensive phone calls to the States? I'll phone if I need to (it's not the end of the world), I just thought there might be something I can do online that I'm missing.

Lastly, if anybody has any helpful hints for things my family should be doing, requesting, or looking out for, while we're at the BWV or AKV, please let me know. I'm so very excited about this stay - it'll probably be a once in a lifetime trip for my family, that I want to make it as special as possible. I should add that I will be traveling with my husband and my son (who will be celebrating his 6th birthday on our last full day at the AKV).

Thanks so much in advance

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi everyone,

I wasn't sure what area of the boards to post these questions, so please forgive me if this isn't quite the best place.

I have just rented two separate lots of DVC points for a stay beginning late Sep next year. My family and I have a BWV studio (Boardwalk view) booked for the first 5 nights of our stay and an AKV studio (Jambo house Standard view) for the next 6 nights. I have logged in to the Disney World website and added both of my bookings. It says that ADRs can be made from the 1st April (April Fools).

My first question is this. On the 1st April, will I be able to make 10 days worth of ADR bookings or just 5 days due to the split booking?

My second question is, does anyone know if there is a way online to link my bookings to a Disney cruise booking? I'm booked to be on the Fantasy prior to arriving at BWV and I'd like to book my cruise transfers through Disney. The problem is that Disney's Cruise website won't let me book transfers to anywhere other the airport as it doesn't realise that I'll be going to WDW afterwards. Is there a way of making the two systems talk to each other without me needing to make any expensive phone calls to the States? I'll phone if I need to (it's not the end of the world), I just thought there might be something I can do online that I'm missing.

Lastly, if anybody has any helpful hints for things my family should be doing, requesting, or looking out for, while we're at the BWV or AKV, please let me know. I'm so very excited about this stay - it'll probably be a once in a lifetime trip for my family, that I want to make it as special as possible. I should add that I will be traveling with my husband and my son (who will be celebrating his 6th birthday on our last full day at the AKV).

Thanks so much in advance

Your two DVC reservations are separate. So you'll be able to make ADRs for the first stay at 180 days out (including all the days of that stay). Then when you are 180 days out from the first day of your second stay, you can make those dining reservations.

I don't know anything about cruise transfers. You might try posting that on the Cruise Board.

 

[DVCTigger]

You can actually add your port-WDW transfer while on the ship. We did this one time when we were going to rent a car back to WDW, but while on the cruise decided to just use the Disney transfer. Just go to guest services during the cruise to add the transfer. You may even be able to add it when checking in.

We love AKL, one thing your son may really enjoy is the night vision goggles to view the animals on the Savannah. They also have cookie decorating at Boma during the day. Just look closely at your activities guide for fun things to do there!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Thank you both for your helpful advice

 

[BCV23]

It has been my experience that when the window opens up, you can indeed make reservations for 10 days regardless of the split stay. Happy planning.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

It has been my experience that when the window opens up, you can indeed make reservations for 10 days regardless of the split stay. Happy planning.

Thanks. I hope this is the case as it'll give me a better chance of getting all the bookings I want in the second half of my stay.

 

[thepops]

For the boardwalk portion of your trip, be sure to take time to watch the different boardwalk performers. Also the back entrance to Epcot from there is very nice (and quick).
For Jambo, be sure to head out to the far side of the pool. There is a nice animal viewing area there. The pool over at Kidani is very nice also.

 

[ToddyLu]

Wow!! What a great trip. There is a lot to do at AKL--Jambo has things for kids to do like floor tracings of some of the inlaid tiles on the lobby floor. Kidani is a quick walk...at night there is a drum cafe that starts about 7:30, where all the kids get their own drum and the African CMs lead them in playing music. There is a nice community hall there and lots of activities, some may require a small fee. One of my favorite free activities is listening to the CMs talk about their homeland after the drum cafe. They have to do presentations as part of their program. You can also watch a movie out by the pool some nights. I popped my own popcorn in the villa and took it down with me. The pool bar may close around 8 p.m. I am not sure about using the refillable mug station at the pools--I think those close when the bar does, but you can get drinks in the resort. Movie starts about 8 p.m.

When you check in they will be able to give you a list of activities for that day.

There is a shuttle back and forth between the two resorts--a minivan--just let the valet know and it will be a quick wait or you can just walk it.

Jambo is the second bus stop to the parks--so you may have to stand--since Kidani folks will already be on board. Jambo is first stop on DTD bus...so you can take the DTD bus to Kidani as an easy transfer also and just get off when it stops there.

Mara can be a little hard to find at Jambo. You go down the stairs to Boma and exit to the outside through the glass doors...follow the covered walkway to your left to find Mara. It took us 20 minutes to find it our first time and we had a rocket scientist in our group.

Try the Lava Smoothie (non-alcohol) drink at the Pool bar--AWESOME!!

**( when I wrote this I did not know you were from New Zealand so it may help you or someone else) If you live in the UK...the only time we ate a Rose and Crown in England at EPCOT several years ago we sat next to a 6 year old, his mom and grandad. He had not eaten much all week because of the rich American food. Mom ordered him the fish and chips dinner and he ate every single bite. The first real meal he had in the week they had been in the States. So you may want to book an ADR there, if you have a picky eater. It was a joy watching him enjoy food from home.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Thank you so much to both of you for the useful tips.

ToddyLu, what great info about the AKV
That drum cafe sounds great. Will have to try and check it out.

Also, out of interest, do the water park buses pick up from Jambo or Kidani first?

Thanks again.