AKV night before or night after for safari?

[jekjones1558]

We got lucky and snagged an AKV 1 bedroom at 7 months for a Wednesday night so we could do the Sunrise Safari on Thursday morning. Is that correct or should I have tried to book Thursday? When I called the concierge desk, the CM said either Wednesday or Thursday is okay but that doesn't sound right to me. Anyone know for sure?

 

[LisaS]

I think you are OK either way. The usual recommendation is to do what you did: make a reservation that includes the night before the safari (Wed or Sat night). I've also read reports where people checking in on a Thu or Sun were allowed to sign up for a safari taking place on the morning of their check-in day. The only issue with your situation is that you have to be out of the room by 11am on your safari day. You will either have to get your stuff out of your room and into storage with Bell Services before your safari or head back to the room right after the breakfast. If you decide on the second option, just head out of the park right after the breakfast and take the regular Disney bus back to AKV. You should be able to get back to your room by 10:30-10:45, just in time to check out of your room.

ETA: Just wanted to clarify: They provide a special bus to take you from AKL/AKV to AK for your safari but you are on your own to get back to the resort. So you need to factor in the usual wait time for a bus back to AKL/AKV when deciding when you need to finish breakfast and start heading back if you decide to leave your things in the room that morning.

 

[jekjones1558]

Thanks, Lisa. It turns out that I can also get a studio for Thursday, which would be only about half the points of the 1 bedroom on Wednesday. Since we already have a 2 bedroom for the 4 of us at BWV for the week, it would be nice not to use as many points for the double-booked night. I'm debating about whether we would rather hurry to check out or hurry to check-in. I thought I might be able to just check-in for the Thursday room after the safari, but I guess not. It sounds like I would need to check in at the regular desk by 6:30 on Thursday but that it would be fast, with most of the paperwork done ahead? It's silly to be making such a big deal out of this. I should be just celebrating big time that we were able to even get a room! I am thinking we might even add either the regular or deluxe dining plan for the one night. We don't want to have it for a whole week but one night would be great (and we could use the credits over 2 days).

 

[SuzanneSLO]

. . . . I am thinking we might even add either the regular or deluxe dining plan for the one night. We don't want to have it for a whole week but one night would be great (and we could use the credits over 2 days).

If you get the dining plan, remember that you will also have the very generous and tasty brunch included with the Safari, as well as the lounge snacks. Maybe that would mean that staying Thur night would be better, as by Friday you will be ready to have another nice meal. -- Suzanne

 

[jekjones1558]

If you get the dining plan, remember that you will also have the very generous and tasty brunch included with the Safari, as well as the lounge snacks. Maybe that would mean that staying Thur night would be better, as by Friday you will be ready to have another nice meal. -- Suzanne

Very good point, Suzanne! I forgot about the brunch! We do try not to eat more than 1 big meal a day at WDW as weight gain is always a problem for us.

 

[Tink6666]

We are doing the Sunrise Safari on the 2nd of August and were told that we had to check out after the safari, since you have to be a "Concierge guest" to participate, meaning if we check out before we leave we are no longer eligible. I will be checking on this when we are there, it would be nice to actually not have to come back to check out since we are doing a split stay with AKV being the first night. We can get up a little early, have bell services take our luggage to SSR and enjoy the day at AK!

 

[Tozzie]

We are doing the Sunrise Safari on the 2nd of August and were told that we had to check out after the safari, since you have to be a "Concierge guest" to participate, meaning if we check out before we leave we are no longer eligible. I will be checking on this when we are there, it would be nice to actually not have to come back to check out since we are doing a split stay with AKV being the first night. We can get up a little early, have bell services take our luggage to SSR and enjoy the day at AK!

Use express checkout and you will automatically be checked out of your room at 11 am have bell service take your bags whenever you wish and no one will be the wiser.

 

[Tink6666]

Use express checkout and you will automatically be checked out of your room at 11 am have bell service take your bags whenever you wish and no one will be the wiser.

Thank you ! Then if I can do online check in at SSR we will be set for the day!!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

We are doing the Sunrise Safari on the 2nd of August and were told that we had to check out after the safari, since you have to be a "Concierge guest" to participate, meaning if we check out before we leave we are no longer eligible. I will be checking on this when we are there, it would be nice to actually not have to come back to check out since we are doing a split stay with AKV being the first night. We can get up a little early, have bell services take our luggage to SSR and enjoy the day at AK!

We checked out of our AKV CL room in May at the very same time as we checked in for the Sunrise Safari. The Safari actually ended up on a spearate bill as a result. We took our luggage out to our rental car prior to leaving the AKV for the Safari. We stayed at AK for a few hours after the brunch, caught the bus back to AKV, hung out in the empty lounge to cool off and re-hydrate, then headed over to BWV to check in about 2 pm. We had to wait until about 3:30 to check in there to a non-handicapped room.

I can't see that you will have any problem -- Suzanne