Can DVC villas use bell services?

[TCups4Me]

I rented points for a trip this fall for a split stay. Will bell services come get my luggage from my room on the day I switch from BCV to BLT? Will they handle the transfer from there? I'm aware I'll need to tip for the hand-off and the pick-up. I keep reading reports of DVC being treated as the stepchild and I wanted to confirm that I can expect this service rather than assume it.

Thanks!

 

[MinnieGi]

I rented points for a trip this fall for a split stay. Will bell services come get my luggage from my room on the day I switch from BCV to BLT? Will they handle the transfer from there? I'm aware I'll need to tip for the hand-off and the pick-up. I keep reading reports of DVC being treated as the stepchild and I wanted to confirm that I can expect this service rather than assume it.

Thanks!

Yes!! We have done many split stays and used bell services to switch resorts and it has always worked out very well!

 

[erionm]

I rented points for a trip this fall for a split stay. Will bell services come get my luggage from my room on the day I switch from BCV to BLT? Will they handle the transfer from there? I'm aware I'll need to tip for the hand-off and the pick-up. I keep reading reports of DVC being treated as the stepchild and I wanted to confirm that I can expect this service rather than assume it.

Thanks!

In five years of membership, I have never felt like I was treated as a stepchild when using our membership to stay at a DVC Resort.

Bell Services is available to all resort guests regardless of how the reservation was made. Bell Services doesn't know and doesn't care if your reservation was made using cash or DVC points.

They will expect a gratuity when they pickup your luggage and when it's delivered to your room at the new resort.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I keep reading reports of DVC being treated as the stepchild and I wanted to confirm that I can expect this service rather than assume it.

Thanks!

DVC is a timeshare and members pay for everything they get. Not like hotels where all the extras are included in your hotel stay price (even if you think you are getting them for free).

The day you depart your resort, you need to make sure you contact Bell Services with plenty of time for them to respond, at least an hour or more ahead of time.

 

[BillPA]

Also, if you have any food items that need refrigeration or freezing, let bell services know. They will store them, just have them separated and marked as freeze, refrigerate…
Have a great trip.

 

[erionm]

One more thing, they only transfer luggage once, so your luggage will not be available at the new resort until about 4pm.

 

[spiceycat]

you need to bring a backpack with your swimming suites, sunscreen, presprection and ovc drugs - plus anything else you might need that day.

think you can all BS the night before - especially if you are leaving early.

what I do is go over to the new resort that morning - generally before 7:30 - you can go at 6:30am - check in - if the room is ready great go back and pack.

if the room is not ready go back eat breakfast and take a nap or go to the park - don't check out until 11am or when the room is ready - which ever comes first.

 

[bumbershoot]

One more thing, they only transfer luggage once, so your luggage will not be available at the new resort until about 4pm.

Yes. I was reading another post the other day where they weren't told this, and it caused problems b/c they didn't pack swimsuits, etc. You won't get to your stuff until after official checkin time, so take what you need and will want to use before you get your bags.

 

[goofy4tink]

I was one of those that got stuck without any swim suits or clothes until past 6pm. It had to be in the 90's that day....took forever for my bags to get to me. I now keep anything I may need for the day with me.
Or, I'll just take a cab to the new resort, with my bags. That way, as soon as my room is ready, I can have my bags.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The day you depart your resort, you need to make sure you contact Bell Services with plenty of time for them to respond, at least an hour or more ahead of time.

That's what I thought but whenever I've called the night before at BCV just to check, they've told me to just call when I'm ready. Both times, they arrived at my room a few minutes after I called.

 

[Sammie]

4pm delivery is what they strive for, but we have gotten ours later than that.

Also make sure you know exactly how many bags you give them. They lost one of ours on the transfer and tried to convince us we did not have that bag at the beginning.

I would take a photo of the bags before they pick them.

I agree with Goofy4tink, if I did not have my car, I would take a taxi. It would be money well spent.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Remember, too, that your refrigerated food items are not refrigerated while they are being delivered. So if the truck has lots of deliveries to make, your food may be unrefrigerated for a while.

 

[bfrosty]

Yes, we always use them for the past 10yrs.

 

[TCups4Me]

Thanks for all the replies. You have great tips and I love hearing what has worked for you. I'm glad to know bell services is an option for us.

With 2 small kiddos (and no car), I'm on the fence about how to do the transfer. I was leaning towards using bell services but the reports of not getting the luggage until well past 4pm have me second-guessing that. BS sounds so convenient but it might be best for DH to take the bags in a taxi to BLT and I'll take the boys on the bus to MK from BCV or walk through Epcot and take the monorail to meet him at BLT.

The only thing I'm putting on the itinerary for this day is the transfer and meeting my mom at BLT since this is her arrival day for her first-ever trip. The plan is to explore the resort and surrounding area while waiting for our room, then have a relaxing evening in the villa with a home-cooked meal (getting a grocery delivery this day too) while we leisurely unpack and catch up with eachother. Then we'll be ready to hit the MK all rested up in the morning!

Thanks for sharing your experiences as they are really helping me think this through!