Jambo, Stacey, and welcome to planDisney where we always have a
wild time! You're within the window to book dining and experiences for your upcoming visit to Walt Disney World Resort, so let's chat about
Starlight Safari. We'll have fun, and I'm not
lion!
My first suggestion is to make sure your Disney Resort Hotel reservation is linked to your account and that you're logged in when
booking experiences. You can check this in the My Plans section online or in your mobile app. Once the system knows you're a resort guest, it will allow you to make reservations for the length of your visit, up to 10 days.
Since guests can begin making those reservations 60 days before arrival, people checking in before you, but overlapping your dates, have been able to book dining and Enchanting Extras since their windows opened. Starlight Safari is a popular experience with limited capacity, so it often fills up quickly. I suspect you aren't able to book at this time because there currently aren't any open spots. But Hakuna Matata! I have some ideas to try.
I was recently in the same situation. I set my alarm and tried to book the safari the second my window opened. Alas, there were no seats. I decided to keep checking, so whenever I had a free moment, I'd hop on my app and
search for spots. One day at a red light, BOOM! Two seats were available! I snagged them, and my husband and I had our after-dark safari adventure.
Another tip is to search for availability for one guest at a time. Seats aren't assigned on the safari vehicles, so there's no need to book them in the same transaction. If you can grab one seat, keep checking for additional openings. If you don't secure all the seats you need, you can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour.
Finally, feel free to call
Tours and Recreation if you feel there's a technical issue with booking experiences. They can see your account details to make sure all your flamingos are in a row.
During my recent stay at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Cast Members distributed night-vision goggles at the resort overlooks for guests to use on select evenings. Feel free to ask at the front desk where and when this might happen during your stay. We also spotted animals in the daytime, so even if you don't take a spin on the Starlight Safari, I bet you'll still see herds of creatures.
Stacey, I'm wishing on some Mufasa-shaped stars that you have a rip-roaring vacation. Please stop by
planDisney anytime.
Magic awaits,
Elaine