"Dine with Animal Specialists... an "Untamed" Lunch at Sanaa"

[Burnt Toast]

Negative. Well, I don't know. I'm assuming when the experience "goes live in the system" that the Sanaa leaders will plug them in so we don't overbook. You could always call the number above to confirm that you have the reservation (I did put them in myself, to be honest) but right now we are doing it off a global spreadsheet with no confirmation numbers until it goes live.

UPDATE: I have not found out what the current plan is for when the lunch is added to the system, but if they add all the manual reservations in and then get confirmation numbers, I'll will do my best to let everyone that I help booked know.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Negative. Well, I don't know. I'm assuming when the experience "goes live in the system" that the Sanaa leaders will plug them in so we don't overbook. You could always call the number above to confirm that you have the reservation (I did put them in myself, to be honest) but right now we are doing it off a global spreadsheet with no confirmation numbers until it goes live.

I called Sanaa a few days ago to confirm, and they never called me back. Since this is something I REALLY want to do, I'm wondering if I ought to wait until August 1 and call (or internet) Disney Dining so I get a confirmation #. Could that possibly screw things up if I already have a reservationbut do one on-line just to be sure?

 

[AKL2008]

Thank you all for the replies! I had already left 6 messages over a week and a half and never heard a response. Called AKL - Kidani directly and was transfered through 8 different people with no success and Jambo house transfered through 6 people with no success.

Think I will give up at this point. Since April 27th when our son passed away nothing has gone right and this is just another. What I thought was a spirit booster since we were not doing the parks this trip has turned into a project attempting to book it with out success.

 

[minniebeth]

Thank you all for the replies! I had already left 6 messages over a week and a half and never heard a response. Called AKL - Kidani directly and was transfered through 8 different people with no success and Jambo house transfered through 6 people with no success.

Think I will give up at this point. Since April 27th when our son passed away nothing has gone right and this is just another. What I thought was a spirit booster since we were not doing the parks this trip has turned into a project attempting to book it with out success.

Please don't give up...we were there a couple of weeks ago and I had read on these boards that there's a wine tasting on Wednesdays at Jiko. We were there IN PERSON at AKL and no one at the concierge or anywhere knew ANYTHING about it! Finally, we just walked around and at the Boma check-in desk, there was the flyer and finally someone that knew something about it. We decided not to do it, but the point is that sometimes it just takes persistence. Sometimes I think the larger resorts have so much going on that (unfortunately) the cast members just aren't kept up too speed on everything. You know about the experience here, just keep at it and hopefully it will fall into place for you. It sounds like such an amazing experience that you shouldn't let it go...

I'm sooo sorry for the loss of your son. I can't imagine how overwhelming it is for you. It's so nice you are taking steps to start to heal. My heart is with you~

 

[snykymom]

Thank you all for the replies! I had already left 6 messages over a week and a half and never heard a response. Called AKL - Kidani directly and was transfered through 8 different people with no success and Jambo house transfered through 6 people with no success.

Think I will give up at this point. Since April 27th when our son passed away nothing has gone right and this is just another. What I thought was a spirit booster since we were not doing the parks this trip has turned into a project attempting to book it with out success.

Try calling the Large Group booking phone number at Jiko (I don't have it at the moment). That's who we booked the wine & cheese tasting with. Or PM Burnt Toast - he may be able to book something for you.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I cannot even imagine.

 

[Burnt Toast]

For those that still want to make a reservation and do not want to wait until August 1st, go ahead and continue to send me your info and I'll make sure you get booked. I will need your name, names of all additional Guests and the ages of any children, dietary allergies/food restriction information, and a contact number/e-mail. I'll make sure that you get booked as I have been authorized by the Sanaa team to do so while the experience is not "in the system" to be booked with normal procedures.

For those that have already sent me PMs and I have responded back to you with a note saying that you are booked, you're booked. No need to call or stress out (it's unbecoming and you'll go gray!). For those that are interested in booking, either provide me the information that I can use to book you or wait until August 1st when it goes live into the system if you don't want to go through me. I've already successfully booked quite a few DISboarders already (20+ parties so far) and dates are filling up, so it's all up to you. If it's important to you to have it booked ASAP then PM me with the appropriate information listed above and I will try my best to assist you or wait until the lunch gets added to the WDW Dine Line and the WDW Online Dining Reservations website on August 1st so you can do it yourself.

Again, the Disney Dine Line has NO information about this event and for those that are calling the hotel, you aren't calling the hotel but you are calling an off-site call center (that services all of WDW) that also has NO information. The only ones that can book this currently is the hotel Concierge staff and you aren't reach them directly or the number I referenced above from the Disney Parks Blog article (who I have no idea where that number goes to honestly).

 

[ssc021796]

Will be sending you a PM on this. Haven't heard back on my voice mail yet.
They must be very busy.

 

[Cafeen]

Hey Burnt,

Now that more than a couple of these have gone off, I'm hoping for at least some sort of resolution regarding the menu and my pickiness (I don't eat shrimp or chicken, though I can eat rice until the cows come home... (and make me some beef )). When I am down there, I will be on DxDDP (which I know won't cover the meal). So, with that said would I
a) be able to order my own entree alongside this meal? Foregoing the included entree?
and
b) be able to use DxDDP credits to purchase that entree? (Skipping the app and dessert that would also be included in a DxDDP meal, but $20 value > $0 value)

If the answer to a is yes, but b is no, that should still be fine. I'd have to decide if I'd be hungry enough to pick something up after. Heck, even if both are no I can swing by Mara no problem (and a walk from Kidani to Jambo may be nice with my camera).

Really, just wondering what to expect on this front.

 

[Simba's Mom]

For those that have already sent me PMs and I have responded back to you with a note saying that you are booked, you're booked. No need to call or stress out (it's unbecoming and you'll go gray!).

Thanks! I won't stress out. But as far as going gray-too late, I'm already there! But only Miss Clairol and my roots know for sure.

 

[Burnt Toast]

thanks! I won't stress out. But as far as going gray-too late, i'm already there! But only miss clairol and my roots know for sure.

lol!!!

 

[TDC Nala]

There was another thread from a mother who wanted to bring really small kids (age 4 and 2 I think) to this event. I know that Dine with an Imagineer, although little kids are allowed, is not recommended for younger children as there isn't much to keep them entertained about the event. What about this animal event for little children? Might they get bored, and possibly disrupt the event for their parents and others?

 

[Sappermont]

Can I use my dining plan credits for this? Is it considered a signature or two point meal? Thank you.

 

[TDC Nala]

Can I use my dining plan credits for this? Is it considered a signature or two point meal? Thank you.

The first post says the dining plan is not accepted.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

There was another thread from a mother who wanted to bring really small kids (age 4 and 2 I think) to this event. I know that Dine with an Imagineer, although little kids are allowed, is not recommended for younger children as there isn't much to keep them entertained about the event. What about this animal event for little children? Might they get bored, and possibly disrupt the event for their parents and others?

That would be me Thank you for asking! We are staying at AKV and would love to try this experience, Our two little ones are great at restaurants (Le Cellier is a fam fav) but- I know we would be seated with 12 people- I just want to make sure it wouldnt bother other diners if there were kids there!

 

[honugirl]

That would be me Thank you for asking! We are staying at AKV and would love to try this experience, Our two little ones are great at restaurants (Le Cellier is a fam fav) but- I know we would be seated with 12 people- I just want to make sure it wouldnt bother other diners if there were kids there!

Truthfully, I would say that it probably would bother me if there were small kids when I go. I realize that kids can be really good in restaurants, but the kids that I'm around most often tend to just blurt out questions or say what's on their mind without realizing that it's not an entirely appropriate time to do that. The way I'm hoping this lunch will go is that it is geared to a more adult level, which may not be interesting for small children. I don't know how engaged they would be in it truthfully.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Truthfully, I would say that it probably would bother me if there were small kids when I go. I realize that kids can be really good in restaurants, but the kids that I'm around most often tend to just blurt out questions or say what's on their mind without realizing that it's not an entirely appropriate time to do that. The way I'm hoping this lunch will go is that it is geared to a more adult level, which may not be interesting for small children. I don't know how engaged they would be in it truthfully.

I totally understand! It may be best to just have a normal lunch at Sanaa with the kids instead of the special lunch with a specialist.

 

[honugirl]

I totally understand! It may be best to just have a normal lunch at Sanaa with the kids instead of the special lunch with a specialist.

Thanks for understanding! I'm sure the kids will enjoy just a regular lunch at Sanaa where they can be more like kids are able to ask questions and really enjoy themselves. I'm sure when they get older this meal will be a great thing for them to experience. I'm really looking forward to it as a science student in college.

Is taking kids to the kids club or using one of the in-room sitters an option so you guys could enjoy this as a couple?

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Thanks for understanding! I'm sure the kids will enjoy just a regular lunch at Sanaa where they can be more like kids are able to ask questions and really enjoy themselves. I'm sure when they get older this meal will be a great thing for them to experience. I'm really looking forward to it as a science student in college.

Is taking kids to the kids club or using one of the in-room sitters an option so you guys could enjoy this as a couple?

Simba's clubhouse (club at AKL for kids) is only open after 5pm I think. But, we are highly considering sending the kids there so we can have an adult dinner at Jiko

 

[TDC Nala]

Simba's clubhouse (club at AKL for kids) is only open after 5pm I think. But, we are highly considering sending the kids there so we can have an adult dinner at Jiko

I hear that kids enjoy Simba's, but Disney children's clubs take kids 3 and older who are potty trained. They won't take a 2 year old. If the youngest is 3 and potty trained during the trip, that's a possibility.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

I hear that kids enjoy Simba's, but Disney children's clubs take kids 3 and older who are potty trained. They won't take a 2 year old. If the youngest is 3 and potty trained during the trip, that's a possibility.

Yes- she will be 3 during the trip- and is already potty trained