Going to BWV from VWL.....ducklite or any other pros...HELP! :)

[niks81]

Hey everyone

Ok, for starters, this is the first Disney vacation I have planned myself so bear with me

We are staying at WDW for a total of 8 nights....the first two nights we are staying at VWL and the last 6 at BWV. On the day of checkout at VWL do I just give bell services my luggage and have them transport all of it to BWV? I have never done this before....has anyone ever had problems? We will be bringing our laptop, cell phones, video cameras etc. and I am afraid that something could get lost or stolen. Also, what is the best way to get from VWL to BWV to check in?? I was thinking bus to Epcot and then walk from there since the park won't be open yet.

Also, I will be having a netgrocers package sent to the BWV. I've heard there is a charge for this....can anyone clarify? Can anyone offer any advice for this one?

Sorry for the LONG post and all the questions. I'm just trying to get familiar with what we should be doing!!! * Oh and yes, I am using a towncar service....no rental car

Thanks!

 

[wdwnut]

hi: am i correct in assuming you won't have a rental car? we always let bell services do the switching of luggage for us, but we usually keep a carry-on each in the rental car (kind of like insurance-if you have it, you won't need to use it). your idea of walking through epcot sounds good, although it is a bit of a hike from the entrance to the international gateway to the bw. sorry i can't help you out with the netgrocer question. have a great trip!

 

[ducklite]

With a laptop there is NO way I would let Disney's bell services move my belongings.

In 1998 my laptop was damaged when I checked it with bell services at the BC. I now pack it into the suitcase and cushion it all around with clothes so if it gets dropped it will greatly lessen the risk of damage. (Luckily the damage was to the casing and was inexpensively repaired with no data lost. I didn't find the damage until a day after I got home.)

In 2000 during a move from the GF to the BW, my bags were "misplaced" by the GF. No one knew where they were for several hours.

Along the same lines, in January of 2002, I had a limited edition collectible watch sent from MGM to the GF. It never arrived. The other items I purchased did arrive, and were shattered to smithereens.

Soooo......my point is, that they handle bags and packages like you or I would handle firewood. They just chuck it around with little to no regard for it. I will never again so package delivery for anything breakable, LE, or valuable, and I'll never let them move my bags again.

Also, if you will be getting any perishables, you have to worry about taht as well. The way that WDW does the luggage transfers is they start at one resort (I believe the GF might be the first) at about 1:00pm, and stop at each of the others picking up and dropping off, and make a couple circles around until they have all been picked up and delivered. So your perishables will be sitting in the baggage room for an hour or so, then be in the back of the truck for up to another three hours before they arrive.

I would suggest instead that you have bell services call a cab for you. They have cabs that are minivans, so they can easily take you and all of your bags. It will cost about $10-15, but will be worth it to know all of your stuff gtes safely to where it's going. If your room is ready at the BW, they will let you right in. Otherwise they will keep your perishables in a fridge in the luggage room until you can get into the room.

Although you can't be 100% sure that nothing untoward will happen to your "stuff", it's a lot less likely. First, you check the bags with the bellman. So they can't balme it on another resort. There is a much higher standard of accountability this way.

Anne

 

[CarolMN]

First of all, I agree with ducklite that using a cab is the best way to move yourself and your luggage between resorts.

.... what is the best way to get from VWL to BWV to check in?? I was thinking bus to Epcot and then walk from there since the park won't be open yet.

I would also like to point out that you cannot walk through EPCOT to get to the Boardwalk if the park isn't open. Of course, if you check out after EPCOT opens, that isn't an issue. You will have to use a day of admission to walk through EPCOT to the Boardwalk, but if you were planning to visit a park that day anyway, it won't matter.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[niks81]

Ducklite & Carol MN:

Great advice! thanks so much! Yes, we will definitely do a taxi because it's only $15 or so. Worth it to make sure I get everything back!! Plus, it will be all together easier to just arrive at the BW and take a boat to Epcot instead of trying to do Disney Transportation. I shouldn't have any perishables in my luggage from VWL, however I will be having a package sent to the BWV by mail from Netgrocers so our villa has food in it. I've never done that before and am hoping that goes ok.

I guess that taking a cab will really solve both the luggage and checking in problems. Thanks (also thanks to wdwnut) !