If you've done split stay is one option better than other?

[Wendybird55]

We have a split stay this August - 2 nights AKV Kidani and followed by 5 nights BWV. On our last day at AKV we have Boma breakfast at 8am.

My initial thought was to get up early - call bell services and arrange for them to move luggage from AKV to BWV (I am assuming they can do that), have breakfast, then head out to a park (either Epcot or DHS). Then in afternoon go back to BWV and check in hoping luggage will be there and a room ready. We check into BWV 8/23 and have tickets to Villains event that evening so we want to rest in afternoon so DS can stay up for event.

BUT...I was thinking and now my thought is it might be better and easier to check out AKV and have bell services take and hold luggage. Then have breakfast at Boma and after breakfast get luggage and take cab to BWV and check in then. Chances are room won't be ready, but they will have luggage and can text us when room is ready..then head out from BWV to EPCOT or DHS until room is ready. Or if by a miracle they have a room available that early at BWV we can go to room settle in and possibly hang out at pool and head out to DHS later in afternoon for some park time and event.

Any thoughts on which is better and easier plan? What did you do when you switched resorts during a split stay?

Thanks...

 

[DWillowBay]

We did a very similar split stay last fall. Based on our experience, I would suggest moving the luggage with you for BWV to hold if your room is not ready. Although, yes, Bellservices will move your luggage for you, they may not get it to you until the late afternoon. We moved our own luggage and our second hotel held it for us, texted us when the room was ready and then put our luggage in the room. No muss, no fuss! Magical!

 

[JoeA]

We always so split stay and never had a problem with transfers. For us it's just easier and we have more park time.

I would speak with bell services when you check in and ask what time they usually do the transfer. I believe they have fairly predictable schedules, unlike ME from the airport.

 

[JoeA]

And I wouldn't rely on getting a text. I have NEVER had that system work out of for me.

 

[rn448698]

I would just take the luggage over to BWV myself, unless you have an absolute ton of luggage that would not make it possible. One less thing to worry about...

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I do not want to be a downer AT ALL. But my stomach is rumbling a bit about reading your plan. There have been countless stories here of guest rooms not being available until well after 5:00pm. What if that happens to you on the day you want your child to rest up for the party that night? It just sounds like a big risk to have that be your moving day. Especially in August, when it is such a busy time at DW. If you can't get into your room until very late, your child may not get the rest you are planning on. Heck, YOU may not get the rest you are planning on, LOL!! (This Mama usually takes a mid-day nap on park days)

We LOVE split stays and have gone to a water park on our move day. We eat breakfast, throw on our suits, give our luggage to bell services on our way out, stay at the water park from 10-5, take the bus from the water park back to our new resort where our luggage and room are ready and waiting. Absolutely LOOOOOOVE doing that!

I'm wishing you all the best!

Edited to add: Bell Services has told me they usually move all luggage by 1:00pm but many splitters here have said their luggage hasn't been delivered to their new resort until later. We haven't had that problem, but I have read of people encountering issues, even lost luggage. Yikes!

 

[eeyorepixie]

I have done this several times and I am doing TWO transfers for my next trip.

Here is the thing, it is so easy to give your stuff to bell services go to the park check in later in the day with your suitcases magically there. You are in Disney to enjoy Disney, do not make extra work for yourself. If you were planning on staying in the park all day, what do you gain doing option B? Nothing, but losing time that you could be in a park.
I am doing this POR to AKV to AOA

 

[lovesdumbo]

I would not plan on getting into your room before 4pm.

 

[jm106]

We did a split and loved it. We got up early and had bell serviced take bags to move to AKL. We headed to DHS until 1 or so but had our swim suits with us. We then figured we would head to AKL and swim, have lunch and kill time. Our room was ready and our bags were in the room in under 10 min. Can you move on a different day so you dont have that pressing need to get into room just in case? I had great luck but we were able to be completely flexible

 

[Marthasor]

We've done splits and always have bell services move our luggage, however, given your situation, I think I would choose the second option and bring the luggage to BWV and check-in in the morning before you head to the park. Given that you are either going to DHS or EP (so close to BWV), you really aren't going to miss a tremendous amount of park time by stopping at BWV first. Plus, you might get lucky and your room will be ready! We go to WDW often and I have only once had to wait past 3 pm to get our room and that was because they were trying to honor a specific request I had. Even then, we got the room around 3:30 pm.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We've done a number of split stays.

Two things for us: we usually have a car (though sometimes not) and we usually have some refrigerated foods.

We used the luggage service and it is great, but for us, there was a solid chunk of time when we did not have access to our items.

This free service is awesome!..It's more my own lack of organization (in one case) and our desire to change plans. One time I accidentally forgot to grab an item I kind of needed from our luggage. The second time, we changed plans due to a pop up storm. We survived, I just didn't love not it. Most days we go to the park all day no problem...just those two days it was mildly inconvenient.

The third split stay, we HAD to go to the second hotel early to access our package entitlements (park tickets, meal plan). I considered a taxi, then how helpful a car would be for our entire stay. The cost was well worthwhile. Sometimes you can get a great deal.

We've mostly been getting cars ever since. It's just all round the easiest way to do a split, IMO. If the first (or second) stay is short, we leave some luggage in the trunk!

 

[twirly123]

We did a split stay last month, staying in GF then Beach Club. We were told at the GF if we had the luggage with them for 8 it would be at the BC by 1 - and it was. As others have said, i think there are fairly set times for luggage transfers but to count on it taking about 4 hours.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I have only once had to wait past 3 pm to get our room and that was because they were trying to honor a specific request I had. Even then, we got the room around 3:30 pm.

DVC check in is 4pm. Last Aug I did a split between AKV & BWV. We had a rental car & transferred the luggage ourselves. We checked in before heading to Epcot. We couldn't get into either room until just after 4.

 

[JZCubed]

We have Bell Services move our luggage. I recall that they are obligated to have it moved to new hotel by either 1pm or 2pm. You can do this before you have officially checked-out.

But since check-out is at 11am, utilize that time to your advantage and start your day later than rope drop. On the day we switch hotels, we dine Character breakfast in or near our hotel. We have commit ourselves to a leisurely morning that does not include rope drop.

This seemingly shortens the period of time that is necessary before a check-in as late as 5pm.

Besides, with FP+, this is far easier than ever.

Then, eat dinner near your 'new' hotel to avoid the need to rush after check-in.

 

[lovin'fl]

We have a split stay coming up in Aug. Many folks suggested to me that we check out (of SSR) and then go over to (BWV) and check in before heading to a park...for FP+ to not be messed up. We will have a car so it is easier for us. Here is my plan:
Friday 8/15-
1- get up, load car and check out of SSR
2- drive to BWV and check in (between 9:30-10:30)...leaving things in car (or dropping with Bell Services???)
3- go to HS for 12:15 lunch and then FP+
4- back to BWV, get stuff and in room around 5:30 pm
5- dinner in Epcot at 7:45

 

[digiMom]

Hi! You're split stay sounds like fun! My family is doing a DVC split stay (first time renting points) around the same time as you. 3 nights BWV/2 VWL/3 AKV. I talked with the person we rented from and he totally recommended having bell services move the bags each time. In your case, though, it might be a good idea to put what you need for the rest/event in a bag you keep with you so you for sure have them. There's lockers available at the park if you don't want to drag it around with you. You should be able to be in your room no later than 4 or so. I believe the event starts at 8. As others have said, though, a taxi probably won't be too inconvenient in the epcot area. If it makes a big difference with worrying and stress for you it may be worth it.

 

[SkiddsKids]

We split our stays on most trips because we like to stay 10+ days and are DVC members. We send the luggage along with Bell Services and head out to the parks then check-in in the afternoon. Like previous poster stated; do not rely on text regarding room readiness.

 

[goofy4tink]

We have Bell Services move our luggage. I recall that they are obligated to have it moved to new hotel by either 1pm or 2pm. You can do this before you have officially checked-out.

But since check-out is at 11am, utilize that time to your advantage and start your day later than rope drop. On the day we switch hotels, we dine Character breakfast in or near our hotel. We have commit ourselves to a leisurely morning that does not include rope drop.

This seemingly shortens the period of time that is necessary before a check-in as late as 5pm.

Besides, with FP+, this is far easier than ever.

Then, eat dinner near your 'new' hotel to avoid the need to rush after check-in.

Not true. I have never, ever had my luggage arrive at my new resort until 5pm, at the earliest. In fact, one time, when moving from
BCVs to POR, I handed my luggage off to Bell Services at BC by 7:30am, then headed to a park. It was hot and crowded so dd and I went to POR to get checked in around 1. We were told a room was in fact ready, but if we wanted to wait, we could get a room in bldg 14! So, we made the choice to wait. By 2:30, our room was ready....but we had no bags. At 4:30 I called Luggage Assistance, at POR, and asked if it was there. Nope, not yet. Told me to call back later...round 5. I did. Nothing. Finally, they called over to BC....seems my luggage was still there! They were 'busy' that day and hadn't had a chance to move the bags yet! but they would do that right away. At 6, nothing. POR called again....oh, sorry, we got busy. Finally at 6:45, I got a call from Luggage Assistance that my bags were there and they were bringing them right over to the room. When I tried to tip the CM, he adamantly refused it...said he was not taking a tip for such bad service! It was great service on his part though.

I just moved from BWV to POR a week ago. I took a cab...left BWV by 8 and was all checked in at POR by 8:30 and on my way to DHS. However, yet again the text system failed me. I waited and waited to get one...I was told it wouldn't be too long. Well.....finally at 3:00 we decided to take our chances and leave the park and head back to POR. Seems our room had been ready for hours!!!

I will say that I've been lucky about 50% of the time in getting into my villa room before 4pm. I've never had to wait past 4pm...which is nice. I would take a cab over to BWV first thing in the morning...you may get lucky if it's not a busy time. But at least you'll have your luggage there, available to you. You can always return to BW mid-afternoon, check on the status of your room. If it isn't ready, change into bathing suits and hang at the pool and relax for a bit...get some rest before heading out for the night.

 

[babydoll65]

Everyone's experiences are different. Our last trip we did a split stay. (Por/pofq) our luggage was picked up at 7am and when we arrived back that night(6pm) our luggage had not been moved at all. It took alot to get it over to us that I almost went over myself with the luggage cart and get it. If I do a split stay again I may do what your suggesting and get a taxi.

 

[Wendybird55]

Thanks for all the input...I posted a reply last night, but looks like it didn't make it to the boards...

I agree that it's a crap shoot as to when your room will be ready...we usually fly in early and many times over the past years checked in by or before 11am got a room or went to get an early lunch and then by the time we were finished checked with desk and our room was ready...I know the text system is far from reliable.

Right now I'm leaning towards cabbing it over...at least I know my luggage is at the resort when my room is ready. It sounds like bell services is very reliable, but there is always the one time something gets lost or delayed.
Also it may be helpful if we're there in person in the morning to check in for we may get one of the first rooms available or at least get an idea of when they might become available. When I do online check in I always check first available room for early check in as top priority.

As far as the event, we are not planning to wear special costumes as we will be going to MNSSHP within 4 weeks. We are going to get Villain t-shirts and wear those so we can put on our shorts and villain t-shirts in morning and not worry about having to change. Then once at BWV if we don't have a room we can head towards WS or DHS or maybe go play a game of mini golf at Fantasia then head back to see if room is ready. We have a 4:55 ADR at Mama Melrose on the 23rd...figure have a nice dinner then head out and party with the Villains. Still debating if we should keep it or just do CS...if we can get in room early I'd keep it, if not maybe cancel it and do CS, but I'm not sure if I cancel an ADR the morning of I'll still be charged the $10 per person fee. Does anyone know?

OH...one more question...will I have to set up new charge services to Magic Band when we arrive at BWV or will it continue to charge to the credit card we gave a AKV?

Thanks for input...this will be our first split stay..and maybe the first of many others...