I usually move to different resorts on most trips as different family members like different properties, so to make everyone happy, we move. We have gotten pretty efficient at this. For example, we pack for the first resort, and second resort so that we don't have to spend too much time packing and unpacking while on vacation, and plan our groceries and laundry accordingly. We call it "house camping" and have adapted some of our camping gear for
DVC use. ( For example, buying Coffee in the filters (Maxwell House), putting peanut butter in tubes, for easier storage, Freezing juice boxes and having a collapsible cooler (we fly and bring certain staples with us). I have never asked bell services to put things in the freezer or frige for us as I usually can fit all that we need in a collapsible cooler, which has frozen water bottles and juice to keep it cool. To move from one resort to the next, when you check out of your room, call Bell Services and tell them that you are transferring to another property. They will pick up your things, and then a transfer truck comes and picks up your stuff and sometime during the day it makes it to the new resort, Bell Services can tell you when it will be picked up. I usually put one bag in a locker either at the current resort or the resort that I am checking into so that I have access to swimming suits and the like.(Lockers at the resorts are cheaper than the parks) I have also had to visit my luggage at Bell Services to get something out before I was able to check into the new room. They have been good about this. They give you a claim ticket for each piece of luggage, so just have your claim ticket. Depending on how much stuff you have, and what the census of the resort is I have actually been able to check into my new resort before I have checked out of my old one, and taken my stuff over on Disney transportation. This is when we are traveling light. No more babies, kids are teenagers (boys) so not so much stuff. I usually pick up food at my favorite Disney food places so I've learned not to bring too much along. I usually get things at the bakeries at Norway and France in Epcot, which we look forward to so I just bring breakfast cereal, peanut butter, cheese, some fruit, juice boxes, cream cheese spread and deli meats, a small bottle of Mayo, and a few small condiments and tightly packed heads of romaine lettuce and frozen cookie dough from the supermarket (the kids bake it). I buy eggs and milk and plan not to move either milk or eggs. I'm on vacation, so I live by the motto, simplify. I have not worked out a solution to having good bananas at the end of the trip so I budget to buy some at Disney. I know this sounds complex, but with practice we have gotten goood at it. If you bring something on a trip and don't use it, don't bring it next time.
Words of advice.. always check to see what Bell services has written down for the transfer destination of your luggage. Wilderness Lodge can easily become Fort Wilderness, and once I said Beach Club (at least I thought I did) and Board Walk got written down and my luggage went to Board Walk and I was at Beach Club. Bell Services was good about getting it, but if I would have checked the whole thing would not have happened.
Always tip Bell Services.
Except for not having a room for a few hours, transfer is pretty painless if you plan. You can't count on getting into a room early so plan your day accordingly. You must be in the room to get your luggage. If you make meal reservations, make sure they fit into your tranfer plans. You may not get your luggage right at 4 pm, so don't plan a dining reservation when you need to be in the room to get the luggage.
Tinkerbell Jean
