Split Stay Transfer Day question.

[producergirl]

Hello! We are doing a split stay for the first time this October...4 nights in a cabin, followed by 4 nights at Kidani.

For those of you with split stay experience...what is the best way to spend transfer day? Leave bags with Disney, head to a park, then check in at second hotel later? OR go straight to new hotel, check in and just hang out at the pool etc., and wait for room to be ready?

Since our transfer day naturally falls in the middle, it would be a good day for a break, but since this is our first time at a deluxe and we really only plan one "resort day", I want to enjoy it, not spend time waiting at check in.

Looking for opinions on best way to handle it.

Oh..also...does anyone know if Disney will come pick up bags right from the cabin...we'll have food too.

Thansk!
Joanna

 

[goofy4tink]

I do a lot of split stays. This is how I do it. I hand off my bags first thing in the morning.....before 8am. The bags won't get to you until late afternoon, but it's nice not to have to worry about it. Then, I head to a park for a few days. I would head to AK in your case...nice and close to Kidani. Then, around 2ish I usually head back to the next resort, and get checked in. Usually, if it's DVC, the room isn't ready yet. So...you could just hang at the resort. Maybe use the pool. Just be sure to keep a bag with swim stuff in it.

Or...you could just take a cab in the morning, with your bags. At least you'll have the bags there, at Kidani. Then check in, and possibly go to a park if your room isn't ready. DVC rooms are notoriously slow in being released. So it could be 4 or after before you get into your room. But, by all means, you can use the pool and relax!!! Or head over to Jambo House and grab a bite to eat at Mara!!

 

[Sandi]

I think that, in your situation, I would split up the family. One parent and a kid or two can take a cab to AKL/Kidani with all the luggage and your food items. AKL will store your luggage for you and also refrigerate any food that needs refrigeration. You can check in, recognizing that it's unlikely your room will be ready. They'll text you (or are supposed to) when the room is ready, which, like Goofy4tink said, might not be until 4:00. Then you can meet up with the rest of the family at whatever park you choose.

At the Cabins, you can arrange for a van to come pick you up from your cabin and they will take you and all your stuff to the main check-in building. From there, you can get your cab. (Can you tell I've done this?)

If you choose to have WDW transfer your luggage, that's not a problem, but you won't get it until late in the day and, if you have perishable food items, I'm not sure I'd trust them to get it refrigerated as promptly as I'd like.

 

[elaw]

I think that, in your situation, I would split up the family. One parent and a kid or two can take a cab to AKL/Kidani with all the luggage and your food items. AKL will store your luggage for you and also refrigerate any food that needs refrigeration. You can check in, recognizing that it's unlikely your room will be ready. They'll text you (or are supposed to) when the room is ready, which, like Goofy4tink said, might not be until 4:00. Then you can meet up with the rest of the family at whatever park you choose.

...
If you choose to have WDW transfer your luggage, that's not a problem, but you won't get it until late in the day and, if you have perishable food items, I'm not sure I'd trust them to get it refrigerated as promptly as I'd like.

We've been doing the early morning-cab-transfer ourselves thing lately ... it's worked out great because like the PP stated ... you can check-in early (even if the rooms not ready) and you are basically all set and dont have to mess with checking in later ... just call bell services to bring up your luggage when you return from the park(s)

 

[producergirl]

Thanks for all the input. We usually drive, and I hadn't even thought about the fact that we also have to get our car to the new resort! Since that's most likely the case (unless I find a really cheap flight) it does make sense to drive our own luggage over as early as possible and go ahead and check in.

The stay at AKL is a surprise for the kids...really don't want them to know until the last possible moment. I was originally thinking we could just leave our bags, head to a park and then go to AKL later, but it makes more sense to actually check in first...especially considering the car.

 

[i12bthere2]

You don't need to do check in early, your parking pass and KTTW card will be good until midnight on check out day. You can load your luggage and meander about until late afternoon and then head over to AKL and still surprise them.

 

[Sandi]

Thanks for all the input. We usually drive, and I hadn't even thought about the fact that we also have to get our car to the new resort! Since that's most likely the case (unless I find a really cheap flight) it does make sense to drive our own luggage over as early as possible and go ahead and check in.

The stay at AKL is a surprise for the kids...really don't want them to know until the last possible moment. I was originally thinking we could just leave our bags, head to a park and then go to AKL later, but it makes more sense to actually check in first...especially considering the car.

If you have a car, you're all set. You can park one car at the cabin, so there wouldn't be a need to have the FW van come get you. If you want it to be a true surprise for the kids, you or DH could take the children to a park in the morning and the other parent could pack everything up and get over to Kidani, then meet the family wherever. Then, when you're ready to go back to the resort -- get on an AKL bus and the kids won't know what's up.

 

[producergirl]

If you have a car, you're all set. You can park one car at the cabin, so there wouldn't be a need to have the FW van come get you. If you want it to be a true surprise for the kids, you or DH could take the children to a park in the morning and the other parent could pack everything up and get over to Kidani, then meet the family wherever. Then, when you're ready to go back to the resort -- get on an AKL bus and the kids won't know what's up.

This is a good idea...I may tell them we have to switch "rooms" though...that way they can help with the packing. We love the cabins, but it is gettiing a little tight with the older kids and 1 bathroom, so the 2 bedroom at Kidani will, hopefully, blow them away! I rented points to make it affordable

 

[figment_jii]

While this isn't likely to be a problem at AKL, I vote for checking-in as early as possible. That way you have the most choices of rooms (if there is a problem). One time my family checked-in close to 7 pm (when we arrived after flying into MCO) and when we went to our assigned room, it turned out to be right next to the smoking area. It was awful smelling. So we went back to the front desk and they told us that was the only room left in our category. We would have to wait until the next day to change rooms.