A little inconvenience to save $$ - Help please

[Dori's Twin]

Hi everyone, I'm back planning another trip with multiple families!

My problem: We need 2 rooms and stay at the Beach Club (BC). We're arriving very late on our first day (12/11) so we will not be entering any parks. I do this because I take my one son out of school and we want as many full days as possible. We'll start touring 12/12 and will have 5-1/2 days to tour.

Am I crazy to book a Value resort for our first night and then move to the BC very early the next morning?

I know it's a little bit of a hassle getting up early and taking a taxi to the Beach Club, but it really saves a lot of money. I haven't found any discounts to apply during our stay. If I had, I wouldn't be doing this.

My DD is upset about this because her boyfriend and family will already be at the BC and we'll have to meet up with them after the transfer from the Value resort to the BC to start our day of touring. I don't see this as a problem but perhaps I'm missing something. I think DD is being ureasonable but maybe she's right.

I figure I'll save $570 for a little bit of inconvenience.

I would welcome any suggestions or thoughts.
Thanks!
DT

 

[bonybroad]

Ok, I'm putting on my mean mother hat...
If your daughter is that upset about it, tell HER to pay the $500+ extra dollars to be with BF a few hours earlier!
You are just sleeping at that time - it won't make that much difference.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

We are arriving in the evening and staying at Pop the night before moving over to AKV. I am just going to pack so that it is easy to remove what we need for the first day. We will go to the parks first thing in the morning and have Bell Services take our stuff over. After lunch sometime we will go to AKV for a break, check in, make sure our luggage arrived etc. It is not that difficult and it saves a ton of $$!

Did you book a package where your tickets are bundled with your room? If so then you will need to head over to BC first thing so that you can get your room key/ tickets for the parks. Just plan to meet the other family in the lobby and plan to be already checked in. I don't see how it makes any difference. You are right to want to save that much money for one night!

 

[glitterkittyy]

Stick to your guns, mom. I don't think it'll be that inconvenient if you save that much money. I think you're pretty smart to figure out a way to save that much!

 

[d1gitman]

i think your planning makes $en$e and i would stick to my guns on this. DD can get over a few hrs. away from DBF. besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

 

[Crystal824]

I have done this before and it is a pain. At least it was for us because we didn't have a car and had to wait ages for a taxi. Then the taxi took forever. Even though we got up early it was after 12:00 by the time we got to the first park after the drive and check-in, etc. It just depends on what is important to you...using the time or saving the money. $500.00 is alot of money to save. If you have your own car or a rental, I'm sure it would be easier.

 

[tjmw2727]

I think its a great idea and have done this twice in the past myself Value to AKL and Value to Dolphin.

WDW will even move your bags for you so you don't have to take a cab from the value to the BC to check in and bring your bags. Just check out of the value - leave your bags with bell services to be transferred to BC and head out to the parks to meet up with the other family. Later in the day when you return to the BC your bags will be waiting and you can can just check into the BC - usually after 4pm.

TJ

 

[asmit4]

Wake up early, pack up, have the front desk call you a cab and be on your way! 570 bucks? WOW...what a savings!

Your daughter is not paying for the trip, so IMO- she has NO say whatsoever in this matter. You are the parent

 

[Dan Murphy]

......I figure I'll save $570 for a little bit of inconvenience......

It would be a very easy decision for me.

 

[jack hannah bananah]

We change resorts often and don't find it that difficult. I don't know about POP but I know we have changed resorts and the bell services move our luggage for us. We have also moved it ourselves by cab - just as easy.
To me this is a no brainer.

 

[sandy2330]

For that kind of money I would do it.

 

[Dori's Twin]

Thanks guys for the replies. I didn't think I was crazy but it helps to know there are some out there that do the same thing.

I have a question about the best way to purchase park tickets.

I like BuzzandAriel's strategy of just heading to the park from the value resort and having the luggage sent to the other hotel. But this means I can't bundle the tickets with the hotel reservation. How does this work? I've always bundled the package so not sure how this works.

Thanks everyone.
DT

 

[mefordis]

I think you could have two reservations:

Reservation 1 for the value resort and buy tickets at the resort when you check in. Use them the next day.

Reservation 2 for the BC resort with park tickets bundled for the remaining days.

This way you get your park tickets for the next day at the value resort and can go right to the park that morning.

Thanks guys for the replies. I didn't think I was crazy but it helps to know there are some out there that do the same thing.

I have a question about the best way to purchase park tickets.

I like BuzzandAriel's strategy of just heading to the park from the value resort and having the luggage sent to the other hotel. But this means I can't bundle the tickets with the hotel reservation. How does this work? I've always bundled the package so not sure how this works.

Thanks everyone.
DT

 

[bobcat]

In order to have your tickets seperate you can either purchase them at your value resort when you arrive, or you can get them ahead of time through a ticket broker. Then your hotel reservations would be seperate.

We've moved hotels several times and it really is pretty painless. Just let bell services know the night before and they will pick up your luggage in your room and transfer it to the BC. You can just check into the BC at your convenience and bell services will deliver your bags to your room.

 

[Dori's Twin]

Sounds like a plan!
Thanks everyone for the help.

Dori

 

[Wendybird55]

I odn't want to open another can of worms, but here is another thought.

How late are you arriving? In the evening?
One time when I went to Disney we arrived in the evening.
To save money and effort, I booked a room in the airport hotle that night (very nice hotel).

It was very easy, we got our luggage, had some dinner - there's decent restaurants in the airport and then had a good night sleep. The next morning we got up went straight to the shuttle busses (Mears - no ME at that time) and went straight to Disney to start our day well rested and early. It was great and minimal hassles. Plus it saved alot of money.

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks guys for the replies. I didn't think I was crazy but it helps to know there are some out there that do the same thing.

I have a question about the best way to purchase park tickets.

I like BuzzandAriel's strategy of just heading to the park from the value resort and having the luggage sent to the other hotel. But this means I can't bundle the tickets with the hotel reservation. How does this work? I've always bundled the package so not sure how this works.

Thanks everyone.
DT

Just book your room and tickets separately - your not saving money but doing a package (bundle?) anyway. Just book room only 1 night at a value, and then the remaining days at the BC.

For tickets I use undercovertourist - they usually have the best prices on tickets.

TJ

 

[Lucky4me]

I'd go one step farther and book two 3* priceline hotel rooms at the airport for $50 each and arrange Magical express for the next morning to your resort.
That's an even bigger savings.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Thanks guys for the replies. I didn't think I was crazy but it helps to know there are some out there that do the same thing.

I have a question about the best way to purchase park tickets.

I like BuzzandAriel's strategy of just heading to the park from the value resort and having the luggage sent to the other hotel. But this means I can't bundle the tickets with the hotel reservation. How does this work? I've always bundled the package so not sure how this works.

Thanks everyone.
DT

Okay, here's the problem. You'll need to have the full stay's park tickets attatched to your first room reservation (or get them off site). Buying one day tickets and then four day tickets makes no sense. The price of the first day is by far the most expensive. Price out double tickets and you'll see what I mean.

If you do that, you won't be able to get the dining plan for the remaining stay. So you'd really be better off having your tickets attatched toteh second reservation and then you could get DDP.

Another idea is to make the value day the one at the tail end of your stay. Then you'll be able to use dining credits through midnight of your last full day, and keep using your current tickets.(if you choose DDP.)

Having said that, I don't think EVERYONE has to do the check-in at the BC, just one adult with ID. Since the new resort you are moving to is BC, then it only takes a few minutes to get to either Epcot of HS on that first full day. If you use DDP, then you'd only have to worry about breakfast that first morning - IF you wanted to eat before entering the parks.

It's not that expensive to take a taxi over to BC in the am if you don't have a car. If you've got a car, it's no problem at all.

You'll want to pack so that you only need to open one suitcase that first day/night.

I don't know about your family, but in ours, I often send DH to get coffee in the am, since it takes him less time to get ready. If he showers first, then he can be out the door almost before I'm out of the shower. Use the luggage service to transfer the luggage. then you'd just have to coordinate a way to meet up with him at the front gate.

The other thing in your favor, should you decide to all taxi over to BC together, is that most folks aim to get to a park for 9am. That means they aim to have their food court breakfast at about 8:15-8:30. If you plan on tranferring resorts, and you aim to have breakfast at say, 7:30am, you'll find the food court empty. Getting breakfast will be faster than waiting in the peak lines.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

I think they have answered your question already but here's my reply.

You do a room only for both reservations. Buy your tickets ahead of time or when you arrive at Pop. Then your 5 day tickets will carry over and they will load them onto your room key at BC. The only time this doesn't work is if you are planning on using the dining plan. If that is the case then you will need to check in at BC before doing anything else that morning and get your park tickets and dining plan for the rest of the trip. If you don't have the dining plan then it is really easy, just meet DBF's family at the park gates. No taxi needed. We have done split stays before and we have never found it to be too much of a hassle.