Bell service move luggage - DVC to on-site hotel?

[Jsharp13]

I am thinking of doing a split stay (of which I'll have many more questions!). I know if I do a split stay with Disney resorts, bell services will hold/move my luggage. But, I am thinking of renting DVC points for a 2 night stay at one resort, and then switching to another on-site Disney resort that I pay for normally. Will Disney transfer those bags?

Also, any idea WHEN that might happen? I am not positive if we will go to a park on our "transfer" day. Of, if we do, it might be just a morning and we'd want to return somewhere (our new resort I guess!) for the early afternoon. Room might not be ready but maybe we could relax and swim?

Any tips are appreciated for my question or other split stay advice!

 

[LRdismom]

If you mean transferring luggage from one Disney owned hotel to another, then it doesn't matter how you booked or paid, Bell Services will move your luggage. I've heard that they try to do this roughly around 1:00pm, so bring anything you may want immediately in a bag and keep it with you. You are certainly allowed to use the amenities at your new resort on check-in day, regardless of if your room is ready.

 

[Jsharp13]

Yes, thank you! I meant transferring the luggage. I just wasn't sure if that perk applied if I was mixing both DVC and another on-site / standard booking property. Thank you!

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Yes, thank you! I meant transferring the luggage. I just wasn't sure if that perk applied if I was mixing both DVC and another on-site / standard booking property. Thank you!

Disney runs them all. DVC or traditional resort.
We have never gotten our bags at the 2nd resort before 4, 5 in the evening. It's a day long endeavor.
We typically plan a late start day on moving day. Head out at check out, planning to spend 4, 5 hours in the park. That way, our bags are there, or nearly there, when we get to the next hotel.

 

[lanejudy]

Also, any idea WHEN that might happen? I am not positive if we will go to a park on our "transfer" day. Of, if we do, it might be just a morning and we'd want to return somewhere (our new resort I guess!) for the early afternoon. Room might not be ready but maybe we could relax and swim?

If you have Bell Services move the luggage for you, plan that you will not have access to any of it before 4pm/5pm or so. Be sure to pack anything you may want/need during the day in a day bag to keep with you.

Alternatively, you can take an Uber/Lyft or taxi and drop off your luggage at the 2nd resort yourself; Bell Services will hold it until your room is ready. In that situation, you would be able to retrieve anything you may need during the day.

 

[NickDubs34]

Based on my very recent experience (within the past month), this is how it went for us:

Move from AKL to Boardwalk: Left our bags with bell services at around 7:30 am. They didn't arrive at Boardwalk until about 5:30. It didn't matter much as we had to wait for our room longer than anticipated but it did take awhile.

Move from Boardwalk to Swan Reserve: Left our bags at around 8:30 am. They were at Swan Reserve when we got there around 3 pm. Perhaps because it's a shorter move but this was a seamless and easy experience.

For what it's worth, we were told that bags moving from AKL notoriously take longer than other such moves. Perhaps because it's so far out there relative to the other hotels. I can't vouch that that's universally true but it was in our experience.

 

[Her Dotness]

Alternatively, you can take an Uber/Lyft or taxi and drop off your luggage at the 2nd resort yourself; Bell Services will hold it until your room is ready. In that situation, you would be able to retrieve anything you may need during the day.

Since you're uncertain that you will do a park on moving day, I heartily agree with this.

All you need do to get something from your bags is to take your claim check to the bell services desk. A bell CM will accompany you to verify that it's your luggage.

Something to be aware of because you're going from DVC to a regular room is that you must transport any refrigerated items. Bell services will store those properly at your next resort, but Disney will not move them. Another reason why moving things yourself could work better.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Just did a trip stay. Swan to Poly - left bags with Swan bell desk at 11 and was at Poly by the time we checked in around 1:30 or 2ish. Then Poly to BWV DVC point rental. All smooth. Just kept bag of what we needed and made dining and park reservations that kept us busy in the time between checkout and check in. Neve even felt like we didn't have a room.

 

[Jsharp13]

Thank you all for this information and the great tips. This is so helpful. I am still thinking about my itinerary, and hence, what we may plan on that transfer day. If we decide to do a park, then a mid-day break, we may just transfer ourselves so at least our luggage may be at resort #2. But I'm still deciding!
Just for future reference, if I have split stay questions, is this the best forum to post on? What about itinerary questions? Thank you!!

 

[Her Dotness]

We drive to WDW so transfer our own stuff when moving resorts. No waiting around for a bell CM to load up.

DH uses a powerchair so can only move the smaller things. I relay the bigger bags and boxes to the car even though we could ask for a luggage cart. Sometimes, I do that when feeling less keen on that much more walking.

That way, we know everything's with bell services at our new resort in the morning and readily accessed whenever we want some of our things before our room's ready.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

Based on my very recent experience (within the past month), this is how it went for us:

Move from AKL to Boardwalk: Left our bags with bell services at around 7:30 am. They didn't arrive at Boardwalk until about 5:30. It didn't matter much as we had to wait for our room longer than anticipated but it did take awhile.

Move from Boardwalk to Swan Reserve: Left our bags at around 8:30 am. They were at Swan Reserve when we got there around 3 pm. Perhaps because it's a shorter move but this was a seamless and easy experience.

For what it's worth, we were told that bags moving from AKL notoriously take longer than other such moves. Perhaps because it's so far out there relative to the other hotels. I can't vouch that that's universally true but it was in our experience.

On topic, yes they will take it for you and transfer it over.

Off topic, how was the change from AKL to Boardwalk? Completely different experiences, and I was considering doing the same. Don't want to be disappointed at BW though ( even though they have alot of things to do on the boardwalk )

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Thank you all for this information and the great tips. This is so helpful. I am still thinking about my itinerary, and hence, what we may plan on that transfer day. If we decide to do a park, then a mid-day break, we may just transfer ourselves so at least our luggage may be at resort #2. But I'm still deciding!
Just for future reference, if I have split stay questions, is this the best forum to post on? What about itinerary questions? Thank you!!

Here's what I do when where to post stuff
Resort related, such as luggage transfer, yes to here
Trip related such as park timing, what to ride when etc. Theme Park Board.
Food related, such as what to plan to eat when, Restaurant board
How to go from point A to point B, Transportation board

 

[thanxfornoticin]

For what it's worth, we were told that bags moving from AKL notoriously take longer than other such moves. Perhaps because it's so far out there relative to the other hotels. I can't vouch that that's universally true but it was in our experience.

We've done split stays where we had bell move our bags from AKL, and it really depends more on how many groups are transferring bags to a new resort from AKL, and when they get the chance to transport them. AKL isn't "so far out there" when it comes to moving from resort to resort, but it is a larger resort with more guests than some resorts. We've done AKL to BC several times, and got bags at different times, ranging from 3PM to 5PM. We've also done BC to GF, which is a similar physical distance as AKL-BC, and they got there around 4:30PM. The transfer process is great to have and a nice perk for guests, but they only transfer the bags once per day. And if it involves a lot of stops on the way, some will get their bags later.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Based on my very recent experience (within the past month), this is how it went for us:

Move from AKL to Boardwalk: Left our bags with bell services at around 7:30 am. They didn't arrive at Boardwalk until about 5:30. It didn't matter much as we had to wait for our room longer than anticipated but it did take awhile.

Move from Boardwalk to Swan Reserve: Left our bags at around 8:30 am. They were at Swan Reserve when we got there around 3 pm. Perhaps because it's a shorter move but this was a seamless and easy experience.

For what it's worth, we were told that bags moving from AKL notoriously take longer than other such moves. Perhaps because it's so far out there relative to the other hotels. I can't vouch that that's universally true but it was in our experience.

Moves are sort of done on a schedule. It's not the distance from AKL (if you look at a map of entire property you'll see it's NOT remote at all, not really. MK is what's removed from everything else.

There's a process Disney uses for luggage transportation, with a time assigned to each resort for pick up and drop off. If you get a knowledgeable BS CM they can even tell you what the pick up time for that resort is, or at least a short window of time they expect the pick up/drop off to be.

 

[NickDubs34]

On topic, yes they will take it for you and transfer it over.

Off topic, how was the change from AKL to Boardwalk? Completely different experiences, and I was considering doing the same. Don't want to be disappointed at BW though ( even though they have alot of things to do on the boardwalk )

So, it was actually a bit jarring. We had two savannah view rooms at AKL and they were perfect. Third floor, right in front of a water feature. At one point, I looked out and counted 24 animals within roughly 40 yards of our balcony. It was magical. And the resort itself is gorgeous, of course, with great food. We did three nights there and only went to AK as far as parks to try to maximize time there.

I still love the Boardwalk too but we did a 1BR villa there and we had to wait much longer than expected to get a room. I hoped it was going to get us the room we requested which would be on a high floor with a pool/ToT view. We did not. You still can't beat the location and I still very much enjoyed it but it was a bit of a come down from what we had at AKL.

If I could do it over again, the only thing I'd change is I'd do it in reverse order. AKL on the back end and Boardwalk on the front. (It was 3 at AKL, 7 at BW and 1 at SR, for the record).

 

[NickDubs34]

We've done split stays where we had bell move our bags from AKL, and it really depends more on how many groups are transferring bags to a new resort from AKL, and when they get the chance to transport them. AKL isn't "so far out there" when it comes to moving from resort to resort, but it is a larger resort with more guests than some resorts. We've done AKL to BC several times, and got bags at different times, ranging from 3PM to 5PM. We've also done BC to GF, which is a similar physical distance as AKL-BC, and they got there around 4:30PM. The transfer process is great to have and a nice perk for guests, but they only transfer the bags once per day. And if it involves a lot of stops on the way, some will get their bags later.

Yeah, I was just passing along what the bellman at BW said. He said AKL was notorious for not being on schedule. Don't know if he was right but that's what he said. Regardless, our experience getting bags took much longer in that scenario than it did from the much shorter move (BW to SR).