For those of you who switch resorts mid-trip...

[skuttle]

What do you do the day you switch? Do you go to a park? Downtown Disney? Nothing? What do you do?

DH and I are going to WDW in May and spending 4 nights at POR and then swtiching to AKL for the last 6 nights of our trip. We've never switched resorts so this is all new to us. We are driving to WDW, so we plan on brining our bags over ourselves. The day we switch, we plan on waking up, checking out, then heading straight over the AKL. I'm not sure what time we would be able to get our room at AKL.

Thanks!

 

[Kellyh123]

We were there in June and stayed at POR for 3 nights then switched to AKL for 5 nights. It was really easy we just packed up and called bell services and told them to pick up our bags. We then left and went to a park( we went to MGM that day but you could go to whatever one you chose) around 1 or 2 we headed over to AKL and checked in. Our room was ready we went up to our room called bell services and they brought our bags right up. It was really easy and not inconvenient in the least.

 

[Disney-Kim]

We switch resorts on most trips. We get up and have bell services pick up our bags and tell them where they should be transfered. We then go off to the parks and head to our new resort about 1ish. We have been lucky and our room is usually ready but.......this year we had to wait till 4-5pm for our bags..... but CSR had made a mistake and never transferred the bags for us.

Last year when we stayed at CBR the bell services drove us to the BC as a favor. We gave him a big tip.

 

[paduncan]

we are transfering from Swan to Marriott DD (offsite), I don't expect those hotels since they are non-disney to transfer our luggage. We are planning on checking out of Swan as usual, asking to store our luggage, go to MK, then return early evening to retrieve baggage and head over to Marriott DD, via bus!!Hoping I haven't missed something......

 

[taylor1293]

We switched resorts last week. We spent 4 nights at The Holiday Inn Family Suites and then 5 at the Polynesian. We decide to make the switch day an "off day" for our family. We made no plans and just relaxed by the pool. It was quite relaxing!

Teresa

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've switched resorts twice, both times just left one resort on the bus for a park, at the end of the day got on the bus going back to the other resort. Bell Services transfered my luggage on one trip, kept in the trunk of rental car on the other.

 

[Daisimae]

Last trip we stayed offsite at Wellesley Inn up by US/IOA for 4 nights, then switched to POFQ for 4 nights. The day we switched we had TTC come pick us up at 7am. We checked in to POFQ and had them store our bags since our room was not ready that early. We got on the bus to EPCOT and came back about an hour after the time they told us the room would be ready. When we got in the room, we just called bell services and asked then to bring up the bags. They were very quick.

This trip we will be staying 4 nights at Fairfield Inn at the Marriott Village then moving one night to AKL and then 3 nights at POFQ to start our cruise package. The day we are moving to AKL will be the Blizzard Beach day and DD for the night. That way we will have some time to enjoy the hotel. The day we move to POFQ will be a regular park day, since we can have bell service move the bags for us and use WDW busses.

Daisimae

 

[ead79]

I love to switch resorts mid-trip so I can try out more new resorts more quickly. I usually check-out then go to the 2nd resort and check-in, then we usually go to Downtown Disney for the day. If everyone I'm with has park hoppers then we sometimes go into a park in the evening.

 

[CamColt]

We did this on the last day of our trip, just last week. We packed up the car at ASMO. DH drove tot he Poly and myself, DM, 2 DSs and 2 neices took the character breakfast bus to the Poly. By the time we got there, DH had checked us in. The rooms werent ready so we left the luggage locked in the car. We had a quick breakfast at Capt Cooks, hopped on the monorail, and were to the MK well before 9:00. We stayed there until around noon when we returned to the Poly. Then 1 room was ready(we had connecting rooms) so we got the luggage in then. DM and the girls went to get hair wraps, while DH, DSs, and I grabbed a quick lunch. We then hit the pool. We had planned to stay longer in the pool but it got closed due to a storm. By then the other room was ready so they moved into there and we hung out in our rooms and patios waiting for the pools to reopen. Unfortuantely by the time they did it was time to get ready for dinner at the Kona. We ate there and then headed back to MK to finish off the trip with dessert from the icecream parlor and FITS.

 

[mickey7861]

We usually check out of one hotel and go directly to the other and check in. If the room is ready great, if not we have our keys in hand and just head out to the parks. They give you a # to call periodically and check on your room. When it's ready they just tell you the #, you already have the keys. This summer we checked in to AKL at 11:15 am and our room was ready.

 

[DeeP]

I also switch resorts a lot and I love it because it gives me a chance to experience so many different resorts and it is fun. We have done all different things on the day we switch. Sometimes we check in store the luggage if the room is not ready and then go to a park, sometimes we go to the pool for the day, sometimes we go to DTD, we have also gone to Universal for the day or gone to the outlets etc. I am going to WDW in just a few days and I will be at 1 resort for 15 nights, I have not stayed in just 1 resort for this long in years! I am now starting to second guess my decision about this and I hope I am not sorry. It is too late now to change things. I figure either I will be very sorry and will not do it again or I will truly feel as though I am moving out of my "home" when the day comes to leave! LOL

 

[wdwnutze]

We switched from the BC to the Poly last year. We had a car so we moved our luggage ourselves and checked in at the Poly early(before our PS for breakfast). Our room wasn't ready but we were abe to get our keys and everything. We went to our breakfast and then to MK for a while. Returned about 2 to the Poly and our room was ready. We were even surprised with an upgrade to a lagoon view. I would definately check in before going to a park.

DeeP- We hadn't planned on switching resorts but did so because of a problem. It's never "too late to switch." You can always have the front desk call the resort you want to switch to and see if they have anything available. They really don't mind checking for you.

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

In June of this yr. I switched , first night the AKL, savannah view, 2nd night Poly concierge, LV and the 3rd and 4th nights BWI concierge. Changing was not bad but my family thought I was weird and trying to save money. That wasn't the case, i spent just what i got nad I was happy with it. Next yr. if I can get over the fear of flying again with 9-11 getting here fast I am staying all 5 nights at BWI or at least that is what I am saying now. LOL

 

[skuttle]

THanks everyone! I didn't know we'd be able to get our keys at check-in even if the room isn't ready! That's great!!

 

[mikesmom]

You might want to toss your swimsuits in your backpack. Nice to be able to use the pool if the room is not ready.

 

[skuttle]

I thought about hanging out at the pool, but I'm scared it might take them a lot longer to get our room ready than we want to spend at the pool! I don't want to have to wander around AKL soaking wet! LOL!

 

[Ilove8Trax]

On a mid trip move, i think we just hung out in the morning, packed up and then explored the new resort, and settled into the new one. Going to downtown disney or out to it is always a good relaxing idea too.

I miss Disney

 

[DeeP]

DeeP- We hadn't planned on switching resorts but did so because of a problem. It's never "too late to switch." You can always have the front desk call the resort you want to switch to and see if they have anything available. They really don't mind checking for you.

wdwnutze,
Thanks for the reply but my stay involves using my DVC pts and since I am going in 4 days -Yahoo!!--it really is too late to switch, but thanks.

 

[TinkHappy]

We usually use the "switch" day as a hotel/pool day. By the time we are switching resorts, usually 4/5 days, we are ready for a break. The kids have a great time in the pool and just hanging out and rejuvenating. We have a nice dinner (off site) or DTD and just walk around. The next day we are ready to concur the parks. Whatever you do, HAVE FUN!!!

 

[hookedup]

I just did this last month. We did not have a car but this is how it worked for us. We were staying at CBR and the bell desk picked up our bags at 11ish. We had been told that they would pick up our bags and later during the day they take the luggage for all of the guests switching resorts around to the resorts.
However when the bellman came to our door he said he had a van and was ready to take us over the to the Grand Floridian! We were shocked. And so we all went together with our bags. We were lucky - our room at GF was ready and so we checked right in! It was great. We had planned to go to Downtown Disney for the afternoon to kill some time (we weren't using our Parkhopper pass that day) and I do think the tip about having a swimsuit handy with you is a good one if you were waiting for luggage to show up it would be good to have a backpack with a few items including swimsuit.
Hopefully you will be able to check right into AKL and then you will just continue on with your day! Since you have a car it will be very convenient to go explore if you cant check right in.
Have fun!