Luggage suggestions if driving

[Melani]

We drive 9 hours in a pick-up, so we have lots of space.
Now that we are DVC we can bring alot more food.

I have 2 issues:
1) Not looking like the Clampets when we arrive
2) fitting a cooler in a studio

My DH saw a man unloading everything onto his own cart & wants that. Only I didn't see it, but now I got to buy it.

On top of that, I like to pack all the clothes in hanging bags - but the hangers sometimes fall through & the clothes end up at the bottom of the bag.

I keep trying new things, but there's always a glitch.
Any suggestions?

 

[Chuck S]

We drive 9 hours in a pick-up, so we have lots of space.
Now that we are DVC we can bring alot more food.

I have 2 issues:
1) Not looking like the Clampets when we arrive
2) fitting a cooler in a studio

My DH saw a man unloading everything onto his own cart & wants that. Only I didn't see it, but now I got to buy it.

On top of that, I like to pack all the clothes in hanging bags - but the hangers sometimes fall through & the clothes end up at the bottom of the bag.

I keep trying new things, but there's always a glitch.
Any suggestions?

As far as the cooler, I guess it would depend upon the resort. Assuming you empty the cooler into the refrigerator when you arrive, OKW should have plenty of room to stash a cooler between a bed and a wall.

 

[twinklebug]

You'll never look like the clampets with those two cuties in your sig in tow. Just make sure each as the BIGGEST mickey and/or Pooh bear you can find waving out the back of the truck (providing the weather is good)

Where are you staying?

The studios at Kidani are plenty large for storing extras. There was the walkway between rooms (right next to the kitchenette) which I used for our luggage, a 3' wide closet with a pedestal safe you could toss an empty cooler on top of without issue and the bathroom there is just as huge as the one in the OKW studios. Not quite as large as those in the 1 bedroom units which need their own zip codes, but still big.

 

[Melani]

http://www.landsend.com/pp/Lighthouse3compartmentCarTote~194002_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::BLA&CM_MERCH=IDX_00005__0000000304&origin=index

http://www.mountainsmith.com/products.asp?productId=245&categoryId=7&subCategoryId=4&subCategory2Id=0

I was thinking of these for the vitals, I mean groceries. I thought it would look better than the giant rubbermaid box I took last time. Plus it should make putting the food away quicker & fold up when empty. But they're pricey.

I'm worried because this time we're staying at BLT & if I remeber the model right, their closet it small.

 

[Chuck S]

Wow, that is really a nice cooler!

 

[liznboys]

Those are very nice coolers/totes!

We also drive (8-8.5 hrs) and I just put our non-perishable stuff in grocery/Target bags. And then we have one smallish softsided cooler for a small amount of perishable stuff. Then, we do a grocery run down there for the majority of the perishables and a few more non-perishables. We went to the new super Target down there last month and loved that.

I just fold our clothes up and use regular rolling suitcases.

 

[mecllap]

I have 2 issues:
1) Not looking like the Clampets when we arrive
2) fitting a cooler in a studio

My DH saw a man unloading everything onto his own cart & wants that. Only I didn't see it, but now I got to buy it.

On top of that, I like to pack all the clothes in hanging bags - but the hangers sometimes fall through & the clothes end up at the bottom of the bag.

I keep trying new things, but there's always a glitch.
Any suggestions?

I can see where you might worry about appearances at the BWV, but, it's your vacation -- so don't (just do what you need to do, as long as it doesn't negatively impact other people) -- everyone there has seen the same thing, or done it, or seen much worse. I usually take way too much food, then I have to haul it back. I stay long enough that a couple of runs to Walmart (or Publix from AKV) works out fine -- going to rely on that more. And I have a small car (I would really overpack if I still had a truck).

You could also put the cooler back in the truck (seems unlikely that someone would swipe it? but I guess that's a risk these days).

If you find out more about the option of taking your own cart, please let me know -- I'm on the look-out for something like that. My main difficulty at SSR in June was that they do not have any luggage carts (not that they were just being used by someone else and I had to wait -- used to that) -- but they only offer bell services. That is apparently the case at all the DVCs -- no onsite luggage carts.

We're checking out the Beach ATV carts (Toys R Us had them this summer) to see if that will work -- but I think it may be too bulky, and may work better for beach stuff than luggage and groceries, altho they do hold a cooler. Neither of the hand-truck/dollies I currently have will work.

Have you tried a huge safety pin from a craft store to help with your hanging bag issue? Or made a loop and used hook and loop tape around the hangers at the top?

 

[Melani]

You could also put the cooler back in the truck (seems unlikely that someone would swipe it? but I guess that's a risk these days).

I had planned too, but I brought more than the fridge would hold. I think I'm going to buy a new smaller cooler (one with out our name scrawled all over it in black marker)

If you find out more about the option of taking your own cart, please let me know -- I'm on the look-out for something like that. My main difficulty at SSR in June was that they do not have any luggage carts (not that they were just being used by someone else and I had to wait -- used to that) -- but they only offer bell services. That is apparently the case at all the DVCs -- no onsite luggage carts.

We had our things transferred from BWV to SSR through bell service in May. At SSR I thought my DH was going to flip when the porter put the bags in the truck instead of taking them to our room & then wanted a tip!

Or made a loop and used hook and loop tape around the hangers at the top?

I think I try that. The rubber band idea only made it hard to get apart.

 

[mlacreta]

I'd be curious if someone finds a cart/carrier for luggage. We were slightly annoyed on our last trip 3 years ago when checking out of the BCV because we did need to get all our luggage to the bus (we're talking family of 6 each with 2 bags, carry ons, and a carseat and stroller) and I asked the desk to borrow a cart and they told me no we couldn't bell services would have to do it due to liability. being the end of our trip and not expecting this we were clear out of cash and had nothing to tip with. ofcorse the manager insisted there was no need to tip but i felt guilty having someoneelse handle all our stuff and not have something for them. (you can imagine all the images of luggage cart catastrophys running thru my head!lol!) it would be great to have something we could check with the luggage to help this time. we are switching resorts twice and all that tipping will add up quick!!! Does anyone know what you do normally tip bell services for moving bags? Although we are staying at the THV at SSR I guess we would need bell services there.

 

[Lost in Neverland]

I'd be curious if someone finds a cart/carrier for luggage. We were slightly annoyed on our last trip 3 years ago when checking out of the BCV because we did need to get all our luggage to the bus (we're talking family of 6 each with 2 bags, carry ons, and a carseat and stroller) and I asked the desk to borrow a cart and they told me no we couldn't bell services would have to do it due to liability. being the end of our trip and not expecting this we were clear out of cash and had nothing to tip with. ofcorse the manager insisted there was no need to tip but i felt guilty having someoneelse handle all our stuff and not have something for them. (you can imagine all the images of luggage cart catastrophys running thru my head!lol!) it would be great to have something we could check with the luggage to help this time. we are switching resorts twice and all that tipping will add up quick!!! Does anyone know what you do normally tip bell services for moving bags? Although we are staying at the THV at SSR I guess we would need bell services there.

Our family ALWAYS looks like the Clampetts moving in as well as out .We are moving to BLT after 2 days at OKW and from what I am told $2-3 per bag is sufficient.

 

[ladycop67]

We bought our own cart from habor freight, they come in different sizes. We did this at Christmas and a lot of people asked us where we got the cart.

 

[billybobblockhead]

DW and I were just talking about this a few minutes ago. We thought about purchasing one of those electric coolers for when we stay in a studio; that way we can us it there where the fridge is a tad smaller. Does anyone have a one of the electric coolers, and if so do you find them practical??

 

[Chuck S]

DW and I were just talking about this a few minutes ago. We thought about purchasing one of those electric coolers for when we stay in a studio; that way we can us it there where the fridge is a tad smaller. Does anyone have a one of the electric coolers, and if so do you find them practical??

If you're talking about the coolers that plug into a cigarette lighter outlet, I have a small one. It will keep things "cool" but not "cold", it works best for sodas and beverages in aluminum cans. Plastic water bottles, not so much. And be sure the items are COLD before you put them into the cooler.

 

[Melani]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HVVSDU/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=304485901&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000A8MGFO&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1FXZ444GSENSH210Z0E0

Here's an affordable hand truck that might work. I can't believe it got 184 reviews though.

 

[mlacreta]

Our family ALWAYS looks like the Clampetts moving in as well as out .We are moving to BLT after 2 days at OKW and from what I am told $2-3 per bag is sufficient.

That's what I was afraid of...at $2/bag that could easily add $75/$100 to our trip! We will have atleast 7 bags and we have a split stay at AKV although we are hoping to stay in the same villa....we'll see if that works out..then we switch to THV (where even if we get a cart we will have to use bell services to get out luggage there to and from the treehouse and for the last two nights we are at BCV! do you tip both when they pick up the bags and bring them to your room? that would give us a possible 8 times using bell sevices and needing to tip and that's not even including the airport which hopefully we can handle on our own...

 

[Chuck S]

That's what I was afraid of...at $2/bag that could easily add $75/$100 to our trip! We will have atleast 7 bags and we have a split stay at AKV although we are hoping to stay in the same villa....we'll see if that works out..then we switch to THV (where even if we get a cart we will have to use bell services to get out luggage there to and from the treehouse and for the last two nights we are at BCV! do you tip both when they pick up the bags and bring them to your room? that would give us a possible 8 times using bell sevices and needing to tip and that's not even including the airport which hopefully we can handle on our own...

Yes, both ways. It is no less work to pick-up the bags as it is delivering them. So basically, whenever your bags are toted.

 

[Goofygirl17]

I don't have any suggestions but I wanted to say that I always joke that people think the Clampetts are arriving when we pull in in our extra cab Dodge ram Especially when I climb into the back to undo the cargo straps that are holding everything down!

We have a Coleman cooler/refrigerator. I think it keeps things pretty cold- as long as they start out that way. I have also added ice when it's really hot outside. We have an adapter so it can be used inside but haven't done that yet.

Goofygirl

 

[mecllap]

We are going to give the beach cart from Toys R Us a try -- it's called a Wonder Wheeler. It doesn't hold a really big cooler, but it will hold the small/med ones we use (it will hold a grocery store styrofoam cooler). My daughter is tall and she fell in love with it when she put it together (very easy, just snapping in the wheels), because the handle is high enough for her. It folds up like a stroller and is light enough for me to handle, and I like the bag for all our loose stuff.

My sister has a plug-in large cooler in her car (that she can also plug in inside) and she really likes it for car trips, and when she makes lengthy grocery trips.

 

[katmittens]

We usually stay at OKW and we have a cooler. It is like a cube. We always bring in our own luggage and cooler. Oh boy usually up three flights of stairs. DH, DS and DD usually carry luggage. I do the first trip up, but then that is it for me. I have rhemutoid arthritis, so alot of steps can sometimes be bad. They carry everthing up while I start the unpacking.
This trip we will be at VWL and we will do the same. Everyone takes a few things on the first trip. The walk to the villas will be longer but no steps since there are elevators. We usually have some videos, games, our own pillows and these things usually come up as we come back from the parks on our first night. Overall it is not too bad. I would't mind tipping bell services, but not sure how to tip for the extras like pillows, boxes of food, etc. Pieces of luggage you can figure so much per bag, but how much extra do you give for all the other items.

 

[Lost in Neverland]

mlacreta
If you are staying in the same resort I would only tip on pick up or delivery. But if you are completely changing resorts then the luggage passes between two entirely different sets of bell services. One thought is if you take your luggage to the bell services at the resort in which you are leaving rather than them coming to the room to get it then I am not so sure I would tip them.But I would definitely tip the CM that brought it to my room at the new resort.