3 Resorts, 4 nights....TIPS?

[andrencau]

We have (last minute for us) put together a Disney trip for our family. My daughter is having a national convention at Swan for 3 days. We were originally going to stay just the 2 nights at Boardwalk. Then we added another night at BLT (points) and then another night at Caribbean (cheap). We are frequent visitors over the last 10 years and have 7 nights booked in October from last October. We have all the park stuff worked out, but we have never resort hopped like this before. So I am looking for tips, ideas, experiences to kind of know what to expect for and plan for over those 3 nights.

 

[loves to dive]

If you are not driving, expect to spend part of the day without your stuff as it takes a while for it to be transferred to the next resort. We do split stays all the time but we drive so don't have that problem. We tend to get up early, even on vacation (or I do) so we check out of resort #1, I just call and tell them we are checking out, and into resort #2 by around 8:30. We just leave our bags with bell services and head to whatever park we are doing that day so being without our stuff is no big deal. We pack two different suitcases, which works well if you are driving but if you are flying, try packing cubes for each leg of the trip. We've had pretty good luck with the checking into resort #2 early in that we tell them we would rather have a room than a location and normally get the text that our room is ready around noon or so. We don't always go back to the room when we get that text, just depends on what we are doing.

 

[Marionnette]

We have (last minute for us) put together a Disney trip for our family. My daughter is having a national convention at Swan for 3 days. We were originally going to stay just the 2 nights at Boardwalk. Then we added another night at BLT (points) and then another night at Caribbean (cheap). We are frequent visitors over the last 10 years and have 7 nights booked in October from last October. We have all the park stuff worked out, but we have never resort hopped like this before. So I am looking for tips, ideas, experiences to kind of know what to expect for and plan for over those 3 nights.

You will be "homeless" on the days that you are changing resorts. As you're probably aware, DVC resort villa official check in is 4 PM or later. You can actually check in any time after 6 AM but the villa most likely will not be ready until later in the day.

Do not send anything that you will need during the day/early evening via bell services (i.e. bathing suits, medications). Luggage transfers between resorts will arrive at some point in the late afternoon and you will need to call to have it delivered to your room. It took over an hour for Poly bell services to deliver our bags last Dec. You can also go to bell services to retrieve your bags yourself.

Packing cubes are your best friends. No digging through your bag to find clothes. Just pack outfits together in a cube. Don't bother unpacking when you get your bags. You'll be packing again in the morning for the 11 AM check out deadline.

Physically check out before leaving your resort. This will close out your folio and alerts the Disney computers that you are no longer staying there. It will permit the next resort to check you in more easily.

Factor in the additional time needed to do check out and luggage transfer.

 

[bumbershoot]

My daughter is having a national convention at Swan for 3 days.

Make sure she has everything she needs with her every day. You don't want to end up with something she needs in a bag being transferred by bell services.

 

[Babsy]

Wow! that's a lot of moving for a short trip! Use packing cubes and unpack as little as possible. Stay as organized as you can.

I would request late check outs. If you get one you can go to the parks for the morning and check out at lunch time (usually 12 - 1:00 pm).

This is one of the times when I would grab a cab/uber (if you don't have a car) and bring my stuff to the next resort and check in (early if you don't get a late check out time). Then go about the rest of my day. You most likely won't have your room right away, but you will know that Bell Services has your stuff where you can access it if needed. Personally, I wouldn't want to spend the better part of 2 out of 4 days without access to my things.

As PP suggested, actually check out of the previous night's resort. Then check in to your new resort upon arrival. I would also make 'early check in' my only request if you are hoping for that. Book preferred, if possible, at CBR.

Good luck!!

 

[megs1313]

If you will have a car, you can pack suitcases for each night. That's what I've done. We put all of our stuff in suitcase A for our first stay at resort A. Then, suitcase B is for resort B, etc. that way, you're not lugging/opening all suitcases all evenings. This requires that you have a separate toiletry bag, so that essentially you're only moving one suitcase plus one toiletry bag from place to place.

If you don't have a car, it's more complicated.

 

[Mopedmom1]

I second or third the packing cubes, a total life saver!

Instead of separate toiletry bags, I purchased from Amazon a Hanging Bra Organizer and keep everything in there. In essence a GIANT toiletry bag! Just fold it up and slip into a large bag and put into your suitcase. I use a zippered bag that a blanket I purchased came in. In transit of course some things will slip out. If it's contained in the bag it will only take seconds to place in the proper cubby when you get to your next destination. Just hang it off the shower curtain or bring an over the door hanger.

Our next trip is a AKL/FWC/YC split spread over 13 days. We fly from the West Coast so will have two large bags and two carry-on size bags. I will probably Uber to the next location with two carry-ons holding our essentials for the day to check with Bell Services and have the remaining bags sent via Luggage Transfer. With that much luggage I am not counting on it fitting in the average Uber vehicle.