New here and booking first trip home :)

[CDNTech]

I've been lurking on these boards for almost two years now and finally joined. Thanks to all the wonderful info here, we've planned and enjoyed two very successful trips to Disneyland with our boys. During our last trip (October '07) we bought into AKL with 200pts.

I booked us into a 2br Savannah View for the first week of Feb'09 and then a Studio for the second week. We are hoping to switch that studio for a studio at BCV once our 7 month window comes available. So, I'll be going day by day starting July 9th.

We are bringing friends for the first week and will be staying on (just us four) for the second week. Am I allowed to book DDP just for the second week of our stay? The ressies are currently set up as two separate bookings, so I think I can do DDP just for the second week?

Our boys will be just shy of 7 and 4 yo at the time of the trip... what are some of the places we should check out to eat? Do we need ADR's for them?

Also does anyone know if I can drop the boys off at the kids club (babysitting) if our youngest is still 3? He will be 4 at the beginning of May... so just 3 months shy of 4 years old for the trip and they state the kids must be 4 years old.

Thanks so much!

Jen, CDN Certified CRS Tech
Dwayne (dh), Aiden (DS1), Mikkel (DS2)

Disneyland Feb'07, Oct'07
First Trip Home AKL Feb'09

 

[melk]

Congratulations!!

I think you can book DDP for the second week, because you are changing to a new reservation/resort.

As far as places to eat, my kids at those ages loved the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue (if your budget allows--or I think it is 2 credits on the DDP). Then you can always check out the campfire at Fort Wilderness afterwards, which is fun for kids. If they like characters, I would suggest a character meal. They might like Chef Mickeys, or the Crystal Palace. I would suggest ADR's for these places (HDDR, a must). Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge is fun for families, and my kids love Sci-Fi Diner at MGM.

I can't help you with the babysitting question, we've never used it. But there is a service where you can get a sitter to come to your room (Fairy Godmothers, I think???). Maybe someone else can give you more info.

Have fun!!

 

[CDNTech]

Thanks! Character meals are a must... both boys adore them.

We thought the kids club would be a great treat for them... get them out of the room for awhile and we could sneak away for some adult time out. They went to a kids club this past winter when we went skiing and both adored it, so we were looking for something fun like that again. If they can't take our youngest, then it's not the end of the world... we really like taking family trips and there will be plenty of time in years to come to do stuff on our own and let the boys go to the kids club then.

What is good that is close to BCV? I know there will be some nights where we just don't want a long bus ride close to bed time.

 

[melk]

What is good that is close to BCV? I know there will be some nights where we just don't want a long bus ride close to bed time.

Well, we stayed at the Boardwalk last summer which is a quick walk from the Beach Club. We went to the ESPN club on the boardwalk, if your boys like sports they would enjoy it. Boardwalk bakery is good, too, we would get things to go in the morning. Also near you is Beaches and Cream, informal, good for burgers, and of course, ice cream!

 

[dressthechild]

I know you mentioned evening meals, but I want to put a good word in for the character breakfast at Cape May Cafe at BCV. We go there often and its an easy way to see the characters.

 

[Pakey]

You cannot use the kids' clubs if a child is under 4, even if the child is only a few months shy of 4. We will be going in Jan and our grandson will be a few months short of 4. We plan on using the Fairy Godmothers in-room babysitting service for our one adults night out.

A nice adult only acivity in the BC area is Jellyrolls, the Dueling Piano bar across the lagoon at the Boardwalk. However, since it is not Disney owned, they do allow cigarette smoking there.

 

[CDNTech]

You cannot use the kids' clubs if a child is under 4, even if the child is only a few months shy of 4. We will be going in Jan and our grandson will be a few months short of 4. We plan on using the Fairy Godmothers in-room babysitting service for our one adults night out.

A nice adult only acivity in the BC area is Jellyrolls, the Dueling Piano bar across the lagoon at the Boardwalk. However, since it is not Disney owned, they do allow cigarette smoking there.

Too bad. Oh well... we'll be back again in Jan'10 and they'll be old enough then.

I don't think we'll get to see Jellyrolls either. Cigarette smoke causes my asthma to go crazy, and that's not fun on vacation.

 

[RevBob]

Our boys will be just shy of 7 and 4 yo at the time of the trip... what are some of the places we should check out to eat? Do we need ADR's for them?

I would strongly suggest making ADR's. Although with the changes in the DDP, it is easier to make last minute reservations and walk ups, I still would not take that chance.

 

[CDNTech]

I would strongly suggest making ADR's. Although with the changes in the DDP, it is easier to make last minute reservations and walk ups, I still would not take that chance.

What are the changes?

I'm the type of person that likes to have a loose plan... which park we're going to and at least dinner reservations made. If we are doing a character breakfast then I want those reserved too... basically, I want to have at least one sit down meal per day reserved.

Okay... who am I kidding? I like to have the whole trip planned! I do try and have room for flexibility though... with 5 kids under 7 (on this trip + two late teens) we don't have a choice but to be flexible.

 

[RevBob]

What are the changes?

The basic changes on the basic DDP for 2008 from the previous year was, a decrease in price of $1.00 and the appetizer and tip is no longer included. (Who knows what change might take place in the DDP for future years.) You might check the threads on the Disney Restaurants forum for more info.