I've finally decided and booked our THREE Resorts!

[Mazzy]

We have a BIG trip coming up in December, due to having to cancel last year because of ill health, and I can't wait!

Our trip last year was for 9 nights, but now we are 'doubling up' we will have 15 nights which will be the longest we have ever stayed at WDW.

Here's the plan

Dec 26 - 6 nights at the Dolphin

Jan 1 - 5 nights at Couryard by Marriott at Downtown Disney (too keep the costs down!)

Jan 6- 4 nights at the Polynesian.

One thing I'm not looking forward to is the packing and unpacking as we have two children, so any tips you might have on moving Resorts would be brilliant!

Just had to share my great news as I'm SO excited, especially about staying at the Polynesian for the first time!

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

I never unpack, I live out of the suitcase. I am going 5 days, 3 hotels and people I know look at me like I have 3 heads. I just take my suitcase from place to place. if I dont do it this way I feel like I am missing out on something. I'll let you know when I get back how it was. Don't forget, I don't have any little kids, I am going with my son and he is 19 so he takes care of his own things. Your plan sounds great to me, what a vacation you are going to have.

 

[susy]

Wow! 15 nights! That would translate into 30 outfits per person for me (I like to have two outfits per day)I would pack for 5 days -10 outfits each and then do laundry twice (every five days). I would plan to do laundry on your rest days (you can plan it right into your schedule). I would do it very early or late in the day, so it doesn't cut into your fun. Since you are staying at the Poly last, at least you won't have to do it there. I stayed at the Courtyard in Nov for $25. I don't know what you booked it for, but hopefully some really good rates will come out for Dec and you will save even more. The rooms are plain, but spacious with all the extra amenities. I know they have a laundry room.

 

[Mazzy]

Wow Gail 5 days and 3 hotels! Where are you staying? It must be great to have a son who looks after himself, I wonder if when my two reach the age of 19 they will still expect me to sort things out for them! I see you have only 1 day to go so have a brilliant trip won't you?

Hi Susy, yes I think I will have to use the laundry this trip, I have always managed to avoid it in the past as our trips at the longest have only been 9 nights but no getting away from it this time! I think the Courtyard is the place to do the laundry as on those days we aren't so 'busy' and then we can enjoy the Polynesian fully!

Unfortunately I won't be able to take advantage of low rates at the Courtyard, as that hotel is booked as part of a package with our travel agent (Virgin Holidays), though it is a pretty good rate. I did get 10 Day World tickets through them at a brilliant price so saved £250 (pounds) total on the tickets, so I guess it all balances out! I am waiting now to see if there are any DC discounts or codes for the Polynesian coming up which would be even better!

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

Mazzy, I am staying one night AKL, the second night Polynesian concierge and the 3rd and 4th night at BWI. I will go back next yr with my annual passes so after this trip i should be able to pick my favorite place. I have gone from out of the park (I have stay at court Yard, it isnt bad at all, clean is the word that comes to mind but my son was 2 then) to the all stars to the deluxes... I figure it this way, before I get old I want to stay in all the hotels in Disney (Like I am not already there, 45 next month) You are going to have a great trip looking at Disney through your childrens eyes.

 

[LuvTigger]

I agree with Gail about the packing. I also live out of the suitcase in split stays (we've split stay twice, first time 3 resorts in 6 days, second time 3 resorts in 9 days). The only thing we take out is toiletries, which we usually have in a smaller toiletry bag.

Also, what we do is use either the Disney laundry bag or a trash bag to pack the "dirty" clothes. Another thing we did that worked well is we packed a small suitcase with all our clothes and things and put that entire suitcase within a larger suitcase, which we used to carry things like souvenirs, or to keep the dirty laundry separate from the clean clothes. That way, we could just throw our souvenirs in the empty bag each night when we came back to the room.

The morning of checkout, all we had to do was throw the dirty laundry bag in the suitcase, put the toiletries in the suitcase, make sure we have whatever we needed for the day in our fannypacks/backpacks, and we were set.

 

[jabrown40]

WOW, what a long trip! I am so jealous, and I thought I was lucky to have nine nights this August. My boys are teenagers (I can't believe they still want to go with me, hubby staying behind this time). We are splitting 3 nights each at BC, GF and HRH. I plan to take two big suitcases, and pack for 1/2 trip at a time. Since it's so hot in August we're talking shorts and tshirts, no need for bulky items. We will have a car, so I plan to leave one case in the trunk. Also plan to have the boys take their backpacks, and of course, I have a toiletries bag. Fortunatly, we are not souvenir hunters! Plan to do a quick load of laundry if needed. Have a great time!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[princess angel]

I find it is much easier if we unpack!
to live out of the suitcase becomes very messy I find!
If we unpack everything, then as clothes get dirty, we put them in one suitcase. when it is time to move, we simply put all the clean clothes in the rest of the luggage. everything is neat and organizd.

I cannot stand living out of the suitcase, it makes everything a mess, rumaging through everytime, plus you need to put the dirty clothes separate.

my best advice is to stay organized throughout the trip. dont let your luggage become a nightmare.
that keeps it easy.
it takes us only 30 - 45 minutes to pack up everything and move. we dont waste much time at all!

hava a great time, sounds like an awesome trip! we'll be there for 14 nights, nov 23 - dec 7th, just miss eachother!

Laura

 

[Mazzy]

Thanks everyone for your advice and tips, I have made notes!

One of the downfalls of going in Dec/Jan means we will have to pack for all weathers, so I guess we will have SOME luggage!

It will all be worth it though!

 

[laurenk]

When we split our stay, I take out all of our clothes for the first resort, and leave the rest in the suitcases. Then on the morning we switch, I wake up and repack the stuff before my family wakes up. The toiletries get thrown in as we are out the door. Don't forget that it can take a while for Disney to get it to the next resort, so plan accordingly for that.

We will be there for 10 days in November, and are splitting between CR, and BWI. I wanted to throw in another resort, but figured my family would kill me. We love to split our stay, because it feels like 2 vacations all in one. Enjoy!!!