Help me understand resort hopping please

[Liz]

Even though we've been to WDW many times, we always like to choose one resort and make it "home" for the duration of our stay. This time, due to my mom joining us for part of the trip, we are switching from WL to Pop. I know its not a good idea to go from a deluxe to a value but we'll need two rooms when she's with us and two rooms at WL is not an option! Its barely an option for one!

So let me know if I have this right.

When we check out of WL we call Bell Services and they come get our luggage (or do we just leave it in the room and tell Bell Services on the way out that its there and needs to be moved to Pop?)

We'll go to Pop and check in. I assume our rooms won't be ready. Will they give us our room keys even if the room isn't ready? This is the most confusing part. My husband and I are actually leaving WDW for about 6 hrs. to drive to Jacksonville to get my mom then back to WDW. We are planning to leave our two kids at WDW. I know they will be fine as they have grown up going to WDW and know it very well but it still scares me. DS will be 20 at the time and DD 18.

I want to make sure they can get in the room at Pop when its ready. How will they know when they can get in the room? And will they be able to get that info since the room is in my name? Their names are obviously on the reservation.

Thanks! Appreciate any info that might help me figure this out!

 

[ccigliano]

Have you considered renting points from a DVC owner to stay at the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge the entire time. The studio rooms are spacious and when your mom comes you can either upgrade to the 1 bedroom with the money you'll save from renting points or buy your son an aerobed for the last couple of days. You can rent a studio Sunday thru Thursday for 12 points/night or $120/night since most DVC'rs will rent for $10/pt. On Friday and Sat a villa will cost 24 pts / night or around $240 per night. The villas is very spacious and has a queen bed with a queen pull out, refrigerator, microwave, coffeepot and toaster. For nights in the 1 bedroom, if you were to swictch just double the points. The prices are inclusive of taxes and the Magical Express. You can also add on the meal plan if you'd like. OK - as far as hopping - we did it to go from Saratoga Springs to the Wilderness Lodge Villas. Bell services picked up our luggage at 9AM from Saratoga - we went to the parks and returned around 4PM to the Villas. Our room was ready and the luggage was already in our room. It was easy and your kids should be able to check in whenever the room is ready.
Good Luck!!

 

[allaboard]

We did resort hopping this past summer and it went smoothly. When we were ready to leave our room at POR, we called Bell Services and asked for them to get our luggage to take to another resort. They came and tagged it for the POLY and took it away. Later, when we checked in to POLY our room was not ready. What they are doing now is giving you your room keys already coded with the room. They do not tell you the room number if it's not ready yet though. They have phones throughout the lobby where you can go call a number to see if your room is ready. What we have done is to go back up to the desk when we think the room is ready and ask in person. Your young adult children should be able to do that since they will have a "key to the kingdom" and you've already checked in. It should work. Good luck and have a nice time!

 

[Wendy1953]

Resort hopping:
Let them know when you check in at WL that you will be going over to POP on whatever day it is that you are changing hotels. Then on the day of departure from WL, call bell services, they'll come up and tag your luggage and take it from you and give you receipts for each bag. They'll transport it to POP for you, and when your room is ready, they'll bring it to the room even if you are not there. (We tipped the bellhop who picked up our luggage, and then when we checked in at the second hotel left a tip with bell services for the bellhop who would be delivering our luggage to our room.) Make sure your kids have everything they will need for the day (luggage not guaranteed to arrive before 5:00 pm) so this way they can go to the parks, swim, and do whatever it is they have planned.

If your room isn't ready when you check in at POP, they'll give you a number to call so that you can check periodically during the day to see when your room is ready. You can give the kids the # and have them call, the room will definitely be ready by 3:00 pm(check-in time).

Kids alone in WDW:
My DD was on an internship in Disney, there all by herself when she was 19, and not familiar with the grounds, but did just fine. So I wouldn't worry about your kids, they'll be fine, as long as they stick around Disney grounds!

 

[Trekker]

the room will definitely be ready by 3:00 pm(check-in time).

As weird as it sounds I have personally experienced not having my room available until well after 3:00 pm - like 4:30 pm I have no idea how Disney gets away with it - they say checkin at 3:00 pm but also say rooms may not be ready until later.

Has anyone else ever experienced the room not being ready until way past checkin time?

 

[Sammie]

Actually your confirmation says "after" 3pm and after 4pm for DVC.

We have gotten our rooms sometimes between 2 and 3 but almost always it is later. We have moved several times but never was our luggage in our room, we were told we had to call for it after we were in the room. Obviously others experience with that part has been different.

 

[Sammie]

Have you considered renting points from a DVC owner to stay at the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge the entire time. The studio rooms are spacious and when your mom comes you can either upgrade to the 1 bedroom with the money you'll save from renting points or buy your son an aerobed for the last couple of days. You can rent a studio Sunday thru Thursday for 12 points/night or $120/night since most DVC'rs will rent for $10/pt. On Friday and Sat a villa will cost 24 pts / night or around $240 per night. The villas is very spacious and has a queen bed with a queen pull out, refrigerator, microwave, coffeepot and toaster. For nights in the 1 bedroom, if you were to swictch just double the points. The prices are inclusive of taxes and the Magical Express. You can also add on the meal plan if you'd like. OK - as far as hopping - we did it to go from Saratoga Springs to the Wilderness Lodge Villas. Bell services picked up our luggage at 9AM from Saratoga - we went to the parks and returned around 4PM to the Villas. Our room was ready and the luggage was already in our room. It was easy and your kids should be able to check in whenever the room is ready.
Good Luck!!

Occupany for a studio and one bedroom is 4, so they would need to rent a 2 bedroom for 5 adults. Which will be more than 2 rooms at Pop.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Have you considered renting points from a DVC owner to stay at the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge the entire time. .... The villas is very spacious and has a queen bed with a queen pull out, refrigerator, microwave, coffeepot and toaster. ...

Studios do not have a queen sleeper sofa. It's double sized. A studio would be very crowded for four adults.
And a one bedroom would not be enough room for five adults. You'd definitely need a two bedroom.

 

[luvchip]

How does ME work if you move resorts mid-stay? As long as you have your transportation voucher are you all set?