OFFICIAL April 2012 DISers! 2 months and counting!

[momtwoboys]

Good to see more April planners! All we have booked right now is the airfare, and its driving me nuts! I am waiting for a discount to come out...still thinking of ASMO. If nothing comes out soon, we have a friend that just asked us if we wanted to book with her points (DVC) that she will not be using. Hmmm so I have been looking over all the DVC studios that we may be interested in. Has anyone ever used points to book a Deluxe hotel? Only asking this because we do not need a 1 br, and the studios only have 1 queen bed, the other is a pullout. Probably no biggie, but the deluxes have 2 actual beds, and it may be an option?? Have a nice weekend april planners

 

[Dan1]

Has anyone ever used points to book a Deluxe hotel? Only asking this because we do not need a 1 br, and the studios only have 1 queen bed, the other is a pullout. Probably no biggie, but the deluxes have 2 actual beds, and it may be an option?? Have a nice weekend april planners

Hi momtwoboys,
Old Key West studios have two queen beds and are pretty roomy.

What you sacrifice there is no couch.

We (DD and I) are staying in studio's in both Boardwalk Villas and Animal Kingdom Lodges next spring knowing that I'll get the pullout. Since we are going for two weeks I can see some down time a morning or an afternoon / evening here and there where we will just relax in the room; hence for us having the couch / sofa was important.

Your two boys might find the sofa bed an 'adventure' and it might let you stay at a resort you might not have otherwise stayed.

I think you'll find mixed reviews about the comfortableness of the sofa beds. One lady indicated her husband is over 6 feet and found them fine for him.

As well, if you do try it and the first night the person (s) using the sofa bed didn't like it you could always ask the CM at the resort to either put in a newer mattress or change rooms; I have read that occurring from others on DIS.

I hope that helps,
Dan

 

[momtwoboys]

That does help! Right now we are looking at either AKL Jambo or Kidani studio ( not sure which would be better?) then Beach club Studio, do you have any insight into the Boardwalk studios? I see all the people that post pics of the horrible views of rooftops at BW and that is scary! We are going for 10 days so I want to make sure we choose a nice place!

 

[Dan1]

That does help! Right now we are looking at either AKL Jambo or Kidani studio ( not sure which would be better?) then Beach club Studio, do you have any insight into the Boardwalk studios? I see all the people that post pics of the horrible views of rooftops at BW and that is scary! We are going for 10 days so I want to make sure we choose a nice place!

Hi momtwoboys (nice handle ),

So far we have only stayed at Old Key West, so what follows are only from my own research here on da DIS and elsewhere.

We are staying at AKL Jambo (I keep wanting to type Jumbo for some reason ) House in a 'value' studio. It is smaller by 30-ish square feet or so yet (A) by far the fewest DVC points of any DVC deluxe resort (B) some 'value' studios include savannah views (doesn't mean you get one...depends on a lot of things from what I can tell) (C) gets us into the AKL primary / largest area of the two resorts there so more to do and see.

All of the other DVC from what I can tell you need to pay more (i.e. more points) to have better views (i.e. not of the parking lot, etc.). Yet, and this is my own take, one has to remember how much non-sleeping time one will actually be in the room. For us, most of the time we'll be there for breakfast and then out and about.....returning in the evening after dinner or perhaps even dinner in the room.

I can see the second week us spending a bit more time in the (AKL) room and resort because we're saving MK for week 2 to take advantage of the close proximity to Epcot and HS week 1.

The other thing is this. With you and your two boys, they are likely into swimming pools. I stayed for work one time at the Beach Club and used the pool with the sandy bottom (forget what it is called). It is a very unique experience and something your lads might really get a kick out of. For us, DD uses a walker and wheel chair, so if we swim it will not be a lot and will likely only be once or twice ..... not sure we would do it in the Beach Club pool.

Personally, if you are not going to spend much day light in the room, then IMO (but it is very personal) room view means nothing and with the money saved you can have some very nice meals or some of the behind the scenes tours for which you have to pay extra.

That's my perspective. I hope you and your family have a, well, magical time what ever you decide.

Dan

 

[momtwoboys]

Thanks! We are waiting hear back from the DVC owner, YES the points are less at AKL! Plus we have stayed there 2x before and LOVED it. My boys loved the pool there, even though our younger ds is not a strong swimmer! The beach club pool looks cool but a bit stressful for us. I am trying to figure out how to add the dining plan on to the DVC ressie. We will be ordering our 6 day base tix through undercovertourist so that will be easy. Boardwalk pool looks creepy according to DS 11 ( he has Asperger's) and can be quite particular on his surroundings! We are used to the Values, or AKL (pool view) he is scared to have a savannah view due to the animals walking by and possibly making shadows by the windows?? We've never stayed on points at AKL though so that is new and a bit confusing.

 

[Dan1]

I am trying to figure out how to add the dining plan on to the DVC ressie. We will be ordering our 6 day base tix through undercovertourist so that will be easy.

For the DP, it is separate from the tickets (we used undercover tourist as well).

Your DVC friend would need to make the payment for the DDP before your arrive on your behalf; you would need to pay your friend. The two DVC people from whom we are renting points for our trip simply said to give them our credit card number.

For our two weeks, the 1st week will not be on the DP while week 2 we might go on the DDP (vs the quick service plan) as we want to do Hoop Dee Doo review (never done it) plus the full service restaurants at AKL which I hear are pricey but well worth it.

Dan

Dan

 

[momtwoboys]

the TS restaurants at AKL are so yummy! We like to do the dining plan, just works out easier not sure why? Yes we would give her our credit card to pay, my DH just e-mailed me from work that she could do that. He is thinking he would like to try Beach club, which scares me..how is the transportation to MK and AKL from there? I know the boat or walkway to DHS and Epcot. One thing we know is that the transportation to any parks from AKL was so easy! So that's my dilemma right now...AKL Jambo house studio OR Beach Club studio. Anyone else that wants to offer their opinion is OK by me! Thanks again Dan, we'll be there right before you I believe

 

[pad406]

Joining in here, booked from April 3rd to April 21st in the Beach Club, can't wait, but unfortunately have to

 

[momtwoboys]

we're booked!!!! AKL Jambo house in a Standard Studio April 11th-20th we will just miss each other Happy Planning

 

[angierae]

I added in the new folks and changed MomTwoBoys' resort.

Meanwhile, I am impatiently waiting for the April 2012 hours to be posted on the "travel agent site" because we have to make our dining reservations in 16 days! This is killing me!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I added in the new folks and changed MomTwoBoys' resort.

Meanwhile, I am impatiently waiting for the April 2012 hours to be posted on the "travel agent site" because we have to make our dining reservations in 16 days! This is killing me!

I don't need to make ADRs until later in October but I've been stalking the TA calendar all day today!

 

[204charity]

We are booked for April 14-21, 2012 - Staying at the Poly!! Can't wait!!!! Watching videos on Youtube and getting all misty-eyed thinking that will be us in just 7 short months!!!!

 

[angierae]

I swear, the drama involved in taking a guest for DD16 on this trip is killing me! First she was going to take her BFF, and then her parents changed their mind about letting her go.

Then she asked her "cousin" (it's actually my brother's ex-wife's daughter from her 2nd marriage) and she was going to go but now she's freaking out about being away from home for a week so she doesn't want to go.

NOW she's asked a male cousin (we're going to get a twin sized aero bed and let the kids take turns sleeping on it, since obviously a 14 year old boy and a 17 year old girl, even cousins, are not going to share a bed) and his mom (who is MY cousin) thinks it's a great idea, but she has to talk to his dad and stuff first.

I swear. Between this and not having the April hours up yet and my ADR's being two weeks away, I am a ball of stress over this darned trip!

(Also going to add 204charity to our list on the front page right after i post this)

 

[DisMomAmy]

April hours are up on the TA site. MSEP every night in April!! Fantasmic every night except 24th & 25th?? Wonder why... that's the week we are there.

 

[HalloweenNut]

April hours are up on the TA site. MSEP every night in April!! Fantasmic every night except 24th & 25th?? Wonder why... that's the week we are there.

Sorry for a nubie question but I searched the forums and found the links to the TA site but get a file not found for April. Is there someplace else I should be looking? Thanks.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Sorry for a nubie question but I searched the forums and found the links to the TA site but get a file not found for April. Is there someplace else I should be looking? Thanks.

Sorry- I should have posted a link:

http://media.disneywebcontent.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_apr.pdf

They changed the site recently so there are probably a lot of links around to the old site.

 

[angierae]

Now that the April hours are out, I spent some time today going over our "wishlist" restaurants and trying to nail down a preliminary schedule. We have DxDP (upgraded from free DDP)

3/31 - arrival day
CS lunch if we get there in time.
Dinner: Ohana around 6. Go to MK after.

4/1 - EP EMH. Arrive for rope drop with the teenagers. Do the "thrill rides" in the morning (DH doesn't like these) and then meet up with DH (he works afternoons, so mornings on vacation are hard for him.) and have lunch at Chefs around 1ish. Split up from the kids so we can explore the countries and meet back together for dinner at Garden Grill around 6 or 7.

4/2 - HS EMH. Arrive for rope drop with the teenagers and do the "thrill rides". Meet up with DH for lunch at Sci-Fi around noon, spend the day at HS and then leave around 5 to head back to the resort to get ready for the 8pm luau.

4/3 - Animal Kingdom rope drop, stick around til about 2, have lunch at Tusker House, then "free day" until an 8pm dinner at Turf Club.

4/4 - MK EMH - breakfast at Crystal Palace, lunch at Tony's, then split up from the kids. DH and I have a "grown ups" dinner at Yachtsman, the kids can pick their own ADR for dinner. Maybe do the carriage ride at POFQ? There's also EMH at HS

4/5 - Lunch with DH at Le Cellier, kids can make an ADR for themselves, meet up around 6 to have dinner somewhere then all go see F! at the later showing.

4/6 - Breakfast - DD wants 1900 Park Fare, I want Kona - may split up kids and adults, may all go to 1900. Maybe spend the day at DTD and have lunch there? Or at a nearby resort? Not real sure. Kids on their own for dinner, DH wants to try Jiko. MK has EMH.

4/7 - Departure day, so sad! Breakfast at Akershus and then off to the airport!

(That's still not even close to all our credits, even if we have lunch on our arrival day, but it's a start, and we only paid $33/per day per person for the upgrade so I'm not going to worry about a few wasted credits. And maybe we'll grab a CS breakfast or two in there.)

 

[204charity]

April hours are up on the TA site. MSEP every night in April!! Fantasmic every night except 24th & 25th?? Wonder why... that's the week we are there.

Oh my. I LITERALLY have NO idea what TA is or MSEP or Fantasmic! Help me.....I'm drowning in Disney-lingo.......

 

[pwdebbie]

Oh my. I LITERALLY have NO idea what TA is or MSEP or Fantasmic! Help me.....I'm drowning in Disney-lingo.......

TA = Travel Agent
MSEP = Main Street Electrical Parade in MK (Magic Kingdom)
Fantasmic = The night time show in DHS (Disney Hollywood Studios)

Don't drown! Let me throw you a lifesaver -- Check out the list of common abbreviations:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1660743 .

Welcome to our world!

 

[Tropigal]

Where did you find April hours? I couldn't get them on WDW site.
I can make ADR's in like 2 weeks so I need to plan our days.

And when will they release Easter dining options? We would love to do a meal on Easter that's at a resort!