Need Some Advice for all of You Split-Stay Vets

[tinacaplan]

I am respectfully requesting some direction on this matter, as I'd love to save myself a call to Disney directly.

We are staying our first night Art of Animation so my son can experience a Cars room, even if just for a month. We're then moving to the Beach Club the next day. Our plan is to go the Animal Kingdom during the day, preferably as early as possible.

I think I have three options:

1. Bring our luggage to bell services at AoA and they'll somehow transport it to the Beach Club. This is standard procedure for a split stay, right?

2. Take a taxi with our luggage to the Beach Club. This has the advantage of us being able to check into the Beach Club early and having them text us when our room is ready, as opposed to guessing when it will be ready.

3. When I got my DME info, I also luggage stickers for the Beach Club. Can I just route our bags to go to the BC? We won't need our checked baggage until we're at the Beach Club. I have no idea if this is possible, but it seems to be the easiest for us, although I'm not sure if its possible.

Thanks!

 

[Indians24]

With #3, are you asking if you can have your checked bags sent from your flight to the BC and have them held overnight? If so, I'm not sure that it's possible. Even if so I'd be kind of wary of having unlocked bags out of my sight for so long. I do know that when you leave AoA you can just drop of your bags with the bell service, and they will be sent to the BC later that day. If you wanted to check in the hotel but avoid a taxi fare you could just drop off your bags, take a bus to HS, and then the boat to BC.

 

[tinacaplan]

With #3, are you asking if you can have your checked bags sent from your flight to the BC and have them held overnight? If so, I'm not sure that it's possible. Even if so I'd be kind of wary of having unlocked bags out of my sight for so long. I do know that when you leave AoA you can just drop of your bags with the bell service, and they will be sent to the BC later that day. If you wanted to check in the hotel but avoid a taxi fare you could just drop off your bags, take a bus to HS, and then the boat to BC.

Yeah, I didn't think option three would be possible and you raise a good point about leaving the bags. My husband is fairly convinced that bell services will do its job and we have nothing to worry about. I'm just worried that we won't get our bags until that night, or something.

 

[Missyrose]

Yeah, I didn't think option three would be possible and you raise a good point about leaving the bags. My husband is fairly convinced that bell services will do its job and we have nothing to worry about. I'm just worried that we won't get our bags until that night, or something.

If you have bell services move the luggage, I think their guarantee is you'll get it at the new resort after 3 or 4.

 

[DJSMOM]

I have done 2 split stays so not sure if that makes me a vet or not.

Our first split stay was POP to Poly. Our first was Kidani to Contemporary. Both times, we had bell services move our luggage and had no issues. I kicked around the idea of taking a cab on the second trip but decided against it. Not sure who you will traveling with but my deciding factor was my kids. My DH took kids to a park, I took one of our small carry-ons with me on the bus/monorail and left it with bell services and checked us in. The small carry on had small toiletries and stuff we may need if it took a while for luggage. Both times our room was ready so I ended up just leaving small bag in room. I met up withfam and went back to room at our leisure. Just keep in mind that DME will leave bags in room if you are not there. Bell services will not. Someone must be in the room.

This upcoming trip we are doing the same as you...staying at AoA one night before moving to Kidani.

Having DME take yor bags to your second resort is not an option. You need to physically check in for your own transport to the resort for your bags. I wouldn't even try it, I'd be afraid my bags would be left at MCO or get lost in the shuffle.

If not having your bags until later in the day at your second resort is not a problem, let bell services move them..


HTH!

 

[Marthasor]

We did a BC/VWL split stay last year and used option #1. It was very easy. We simply called bell services on the morning of our move (yes, bring your bags to bell services at AoA), they took our bags and tagged them to be taken over to VWL. We then spent the day at EP and headed over to VWL around 4 pm. Took the bus from EP to VWL, checked in and then let bell services know we had arrived. They delivered our luggage directly to our room around 5 pm. It was so easy and went so smoothly. We didn't miss a beat!

 

[Sue M]

We always do option #2 :good vibes I prefer taking my luggage, and early check in.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

If your second stay is the 'package', then you need to go to the reosrt to start using your entitlements- moer or less. So if you have park tickets or meals that way.

You leave off one more option - one I have used many times- transport ONE bag ourself and let luggae services handle the rest.

Whether you transport yoru bags to let Disney do it - it will go to the same place - bell services at the new resort. Once thre, they put your bags in a secure area and all yor bags are tagged.

If you are in the parks, I'm not sure why it would matter that much when your room is ready. Just assume it will be ready around 4pm. You can use the online check in if you wish,and tell them when you plan to arrive.

The only other sticky in the mix is if you have any food/meds that need to be kept cold. Bell services can stow them in a fridge for you , but I would not trust the transport to be super quick.

I don't think the third one is an option. You cold ask, but I don't think they will do that. You CAN however ship items directly to the resort. If you are looking at paying a baggage fee, then shipping may well be easier and less expensive. the luggage you bring on the plane could be a bag inside a suitcase. You can also ship items back home from the resort.

 

[iloveeeyore]

We have done one split stay and we are doing another in 3 weeks.

The last time, we were going to AKL Club level for our second stay, and we KNEW we would have a great room with a savanna view. In that situation, we had bell services move our luggage and we went out and enjoyed our day at DTD, carrying a small carry-on IN CASE we got to AKL and wanted to use the pool and shower before our room was ready.

This time, we are moving from CR to Poly, and we really want to check into the Poly early, so we have the best chance of getting a room with a balcony (this is not a category that can be specifically reserved at the Poly). In this case, we will still have bell services move the bulk of our luggage, but instead of heading to a park or DTD, we will head to the Poly early to check in (via the monorail, with bell servics moving our luggage, as I don't believe they allow luggage on the monorail). So we are using the option #4 presented by the PP!

We would not hesitate in the least to have bell services move our luggage! Yes, this is the standard procedure and saves you time. I would only recomment for you to go to BC early in the day if room assignment is an issue for you (if you want a room with a full balcony, for example, it will be to your benefit to show up early).