How long to check bags for transfer to another resort?

[joanchris]

Hoping this makes sense. I know it takes several hours for them to get to us, but what is the process and how long shoud it take to get them on their way from AoA? I've never done a split stay before, but I know we bring our bags to the desk/bell services for transfer to BLT. We have a tight schedule on the day we check out of AoA and into BLT. Would there typically be a line for this before 7 am? We have to be at MK for 8 am for a tour.

I can see two options
1. Bring our luggage from Little Mermaid room to lobby for transfer to BLT, guessing a 10 min walk plus 10 min to settle that, then wait for a bus to MK. This would have us leaving our room by 7 at the latest, probably sooner, since we really can't be late.
2. Uber (have two free rides) directly from LM area, saving that 10 min walk and 10 min in the lobby, directly to BLT, check in there (time saved earlier would likely be lost here), then walk to MK. Still have us leaving by 7, but maybe more in control of our timing.

We've done online check in (this is a week and a half from now), but how long should we expect to wait at BLT to check our bags in to wait for our room to be ready later? What is the process if we've already done online check in and we know our room won't be ready until later?

 

[rlovew]

I can't tell you about what timing you need at AOA but don't expect to be able to get your bags at BLT until after 4pm.

If you decide to go directly to BLT and leave your bags it will be faster if you leave them at the CR most of the time and from either place they will deliver bags to you later in the day (when you are in your room).

 

[kayteekt]

I've seen where people transfer their stuff the day before. I think it would be more inconvenient, esp thinking about toiletries...but in your case may be less stressful since your morning is busy.

 

[Pigletpal40]

We call Bell services the night before, pack a small backpack with a change of clothes, bathing suits etc., and head straight to the new resort early (6:30-7). For us, VWL to check in, and head to MK. Bell services will get the bags left in your room ( if they don't get them before you leave) and bring them to Bell Services (at the new resort) to store for the day. When you're back from the parks and have your new room, call Bell Services and they'll bring up your luggage.
Even though it is frowned upon, we have gotten on a bus at the All Stars with rolling suitcases to MK and got on the boat to VWL to check in early.
You could also take an early cab with all your luggage. That would take up quite a bit of your time, which is why we use Bell Services, which is what they do. Hope this helps.

 

[joanchris]

We call Bell services the night before, pack a small backpack with a change of clothes, bathing suits etc., and head straight to the new resort early (6:30-7). For us, VWL to check in, and head to MK. Bell services will get the bags left in your room ( if they don't get them before you leave) and bring them to Bell Services (at the new resort) to store for the day.

I thought this only was for moderate and deluxe resorts, so that AoA, being a value, we couldn't do it this way....Am I wrong?
That would be great if it worked like this!

 

[Pigletpal40]

I thought this only was for moderate and deluxe resorts, so that AoA, being a value, we couldn't do it this way....Am I wrong?
That would be great if it worked like this!

We always come in from the airport and spend a day or two at ASM or Sports (I won't abbreviate). We will then move to VWL on Sunday morning and give Bell Services a call either the night before or that morning and head right to MK and take the boat to the lodge for check in. Our bags have always been at Bell Services in the lodge when we got back from the parks. Worst case, you can bring your luggage to Bell Services at AOA
before heading to your new resort. Most likely a room will not be ready until later in the day, so even if you bring your luggage, they will be put in storage at the resort your checking into.
Unless there has been a change in the past year, we've mostly used Bell Service to transfer our luggage from the All Stars to the Lodge.

 

[jvattes]

We made a rookie split-stay error on our last trip and called bell services 30 minutes before we would have liked the to come and get our bags at ASSp. It was SWAMPED that day and we waited much longer, and had to call a second time and tell a little white lie about an ADR we had to get to, before they picked them up. The entire resort was a zoo that morning, though. I would bring them to the counter myself next time, or call much much earlier. Night before if possible!

 

[gap2368]

I went from all start sport to animal kingdom and I had my bags in my room in 45 minutes but Disney paid for me to move resorts because of some really bad things at all stars. But if you are goi g from one hotel Tia other I would say 4 to 5 hours

 

[joanchris]

Thanks for the great advice...So when I call bell services, do I tell them what time we need to leave so they get our luggage before then, or do we leave the room with the luggage ready to go?
Thinking we'll take along a small bag to maybe put in a locker at MK, my daughter has an appointment with a photographer at 430 for her Senior portrait and we won't want to be without her things in case the bags are delayed....decisions decisions.

 

[gap2368]

Thanks for the great advice...So when I call bell services, do I tell them what time we need to leave so they get our luggage before then, or do we leave the room with the luggage ready to go?
Thinking we'll take along a small bag to maybe put in a locker at MK, my daughter has an appointment with a photographer at 430 for her Senior portrait and we won't want to be without her things in case the bags are delayed....decisions decisions.

They will be at your room 5-10 minutes after you call if they are really busy 15 but most I the time they are at my room really fast.

 

[Accident]

We've done online check in (this is a week and a half from now), but how long should we expect to wait at BLT to check our bags in to wait for our room to be ready later? What is the process if we've already done online check in and we know our room won't be ready until later?

I once hit bag check as both a cruise bus and magic express came in at the same time and it took awhile for someone to be available to store my bags... I also wasn't pushy as I had the time to spare so I waited on the side before trying to get their attention.

There is a third option which is let disney transfer your bags to the next room, the catch 22 on this is it's like magical express and you may not see those bags until later in the evening and if you happen to want or need them, you can't get to them. your other plans where you check the bags is the most reliable...

To also add to your options 1 and 2. if you add more time to stop at the front desk and have them mark you as checked out, you *MIGHT* be able to get your new room right away if having the room earlier might help your schedule for a afternoon break or anything.

 

[jvattes]

They will be at your room 5-10 minutes after you call if they are really busy 15 but most I the time they are at my room really fast.

Unless it's a day like mine and it's well over 30 minutes.

Just call as early as you can and give them a timeframe. That's my best advice.

 

[pixie36]

We are doing a split stay AOA and then onto AKL I did the online check-in so do we have to go to AKL to actually check-in or will they just text me with room assignment?

 

[Mainemama]

Just so you know the process with the resort bag transfer. Once you leave the bags (or bell services pick them up), they are at your resort until a van picks them up. The van makes multiple stops in a cycle. When we switched resorts, we were able to ask and find out where the van was, and that gave us a good estimate on arrival time (the van had a relatively predictable route). For us, we had our bags in our new resort at 2:00, after taking them to bell services at 8:30.

 

[jvattes]

We are doing a split stay AOA and then onto AKL I did the online check-in so do we have to go to AKL to actually check-in or will they just text me with room assignment?

Gee can you believe that I can't remember what we did?
I'm pretty sure we went straight to our AKL room after arriving from a post-breakfast monorail resort tour that morning

 

[bumbershoot]

We are doing a split stay AOA and then onto AKL I did the online check-in so do we have to go to AKL to actually check-in or will they just text me with room assignment?

Maybe they'll text it, maybe they won't.


Op I would do the second option. You're going to bay lake, you're heading to MK. Just get uber and take it yourself. One person can go to the front desk (we did checkin process at contemporary by the way) while the other checks bags at the Bell stand (again we did this at Cintemporary) then walk over to MK.

 

[hoffman1]

I've seen where people transfer their stuff the day before. I think it would be more inconvenient, esp thinking about toiletries...but in your case may be less stressful since your morning is busy.

I did not realize this was an option. Does anyone have personal experience with them picking up your bags the day before?
We will be transferring from AKL Kidani to CSR. It would be great for us if they could pick up our bags the day before. We could just keep a carry on type of bag with the essentials and store it in our family member's van.