Changing resorts

[Reddog1134]

As you can see from signature, I’m planning to stay at AKV for 2 weeks in October of next year. This will be my first time staying on property. It’s my home resort so I’ll be booking it in little over a month from now. As that 11 month window comes closer, I’ve started to rethink my plans. Now I’m thinking I should change my reservation at AKV to 1 week at the 7 month window and book another resort for the 2nd week.

For those that have changed resorts during a visit, what are your thoughts? Is it a hassle? For those that haven’t switched, why not?

Finally, I know if I simply ask “which resort should I stay in?” I’ll just get responses for every resort stating why it’s your favorite. So I’ll ask “what resort should I stay in that will provide a unique contrast to AKV?”

 

[dianeschlicht]

As you can see from signature, I’m planning to stay at AKV for 2 weeks in October of next year. This will be my first time staying on property. It’s my home resort so I’ll be booking it in little over a month from now. As that 11 month window comes closer, I’ve started to rethink my plans. Now I’m thinking I should change my reservation at AKV to 1 week at the 7 month window and book another resort for the 2nd week.

For those that have changed resorts during a visit, what are your thoughts? Is it a hassle? For those that haven’t switched, why not?

Finally, I know if I simply ask “which resort should I stay in?” I’ll just get responses for every resort stating why it’s your favorite. So I’ll ask “what resort should I stay in that will provide a unique contrast to AKV?”

First of all...Be sure you book at your home resort at the 11 month window. If you want to do 1 week at AKV and a 2nd week at a different resort, you might want to book two seperate reservations at AKV. Maybe book 1 in savanna view for the 1st week and 1 in a different catagory for the second week. Then when the 7 month window rolls around, try to see what's available for that week at other resorts and switch the second reservation.

Don't book all 2 weeks in one ressie though. Doing that will require you to drop the whole thing and start over, and that might mean you will miss out on what you want.

 

[toniosmom]

Yes, definitely book that 2nd week at AKV as well so that you at least have that as a backup. I plan to do something similar -- book at my home resort at 11 months and then attempt to switch at 7 months. So, if I don't get my first choice, I still have the AKV ressie, which I am still happy to have.

I didn't realize that you had to have the 2nd week as a separate ressie for the reasons the PP indicated. Good information to have! I'll have to remember that myself....

 

[backyardponder]

Changing resorts is easy. Take your bags to bell services (or call for them to pick them up) when you check out. Bell services will transport them to your new resort. Go spend the day doing whatever you want to do. Check into your new resort and have bell services deliver the bags to your new room.

 

[melk]

I think if you are staying a week at each resort (AKV & ?), you'll be fine. I think it's a pain to switch resorts after only a few days. By spending a week at AKV, you may then be ready for a change. Personally I would move over to OKW or BWV. Research all your options and see what appeals to you.

 

[prov3v56]

We did this last year. We spent the first 10 days at SSR and another 8 at AKL. Switching resorts was very easy. Bell services picked up our luggage at SSR and transported it to AKL. We went about our day and then checked in to AKL. Our room was not quite ready, but our luggage was already at AKL and bell services let me into the back where they were storing our luggage to get swimsuits for my family. We changed by the pool and enjoyed the afternoon at the pool while waiting for our room.

We loved AKL and can't wait to go back. We have also stayed at BWV and BCV. We really liked both because of there location to Epcot (our favorite park). If you think you will want to spend a lot of time by a pool, BCV is great. They also now serve breakfast at Beaches and Cream which was always quick and good and got us into the park at a reasonable hour.

This summer we will be switching resorts three times over a three week period. I really enjoy getting to use the different amenities at each resort.

One suggestion that really helped us if you plan to do laundry is as you do laundry close to when it is time to switch, fold the clothes and put them into a suitcase. This way when you need to pack, their won't be as much to pack up.

 

[lulu2]

Will Bell Services also move your food? We would have it all packed up in the fridge and also a bag with non-perishables? Any ideas?

 

[SuzanneSLO]

....Don't book all 2 weeks in one ressie though. Doing that will require you to drop the whole thing and start over, and that might mean you will miss out on what you want.

Unless the rules have changed, MS allows you to drop consecutive nights from the beginning or end of your reservation without needing to rebook the other nights. We had 12 nights booked in a BW View room and decided late in the game to see if we could stay AKL concierge for the first 2 nights. When our WL came thru about 4 months out, our BWV reservation was still intact (but missing the first 2 nights as requested).

What you can't do is book 7 nights, then change your reservation to stay the first night, change resorts for the next 3 and then back to your original resort for the last 3 nights. Your first night will need to be rebooked, which might not work well if it is, for example, NYE. -- Suzanne

 

[4Pluto]

Mind you, I never start out with this in mind, but I've switched from paid reservations to DVC reservations and switched from one DVC to another in the course of one week (e.g., CBR to AKV to OKW for 8 days and BC to AKV to GF for 4 days) sometimes because of points and sometimes because of availability. The only time I ever had a problem was moving from POR to SSR; POR bell desk wouldn't transfer the luggage (and you can't take it on buses) so I had to use a cab (with a really ticked off taxi driver considering I was traveling almost across the street). If I had to guess, I think I ran into a uninformed bell desk manager.

I like staying at AKV for a few nights and visiting AK during that time and then moving to something near MK if I'm with the nieces or near Epcot/HS if I'm with friends. And as a "silver lining" you do get clean rooms instead of just towels and trash after 4 nights.

 

[dvcdisney]

We did a split stay this past August. In terms of moving our luggage to the other resort, we had no problem. We called bell services, they came up, tagged it and then told us that our luggage will be at the other resort after 4pm.

However, I would prefer to stay in one place for the whole 14 nights. We stayed 5 nights at AKV Kidani and then moved to BCV for 9 nights. We originally were spending our whole stay at BCV, but our plans changed and we had to go a week earlier, so, unfortunately, BCV wasn't available for the first 5 nights.

As a personal preference, I would prefer not to unpack, then pack, then unpack again during my stay.