Pros & Cons - switching hotels midtrip?!?

[ericafny]

OK. I am still considering all of options here for my upcoming trip (some of you may remember I posted about wanting to stay at WL or BC). I wanted some pros/cons from people who have switched hotels mid trip. How does this work out and have you had good or bad experiences. Also, does it interfere with meal plan and/or park tickets. I am not concerned about ME because I would probably just take a cab this time as ME got us to the airport slightly later than we wanted to. Any suggestions and comments are well needed!

Thanks!!!

 

[Marimar]

Also, does it interfere with meal plan and/or park tickets. I am not concerned about ME because I would probably just take a cab this time as ME got us to the airport slightly later than we wanted to. Any suggestions and comments are well needed!

Haven't done it yet, but will be doing it in a few weeks. I am keeping an open mind and positive attitude. I do forsee some time being spent checking out/in, but hopefully we can work it out where dh or I do the checking in/out and the other goes about w/the children. W/the whole group meeting later. Don't know how viable the plan is though????

OK...about tix...You would be OK on the first leg w/dining and "original" park tix. On your second leg though, you would need to at least purchase a one day base tix for everyone in the party to be eligible for the dining plan.

What we are doing is buying a 10 day tix and then purchasing a one day tix once at the GF, to be eligible for the dining plan. Works for us because we need the tix anyway.

 

[cobbler]

We did it in 04. Honestly I don't think I would do it again. We spent 4 nights at POP and 5 at Sports.

We are a family of 4 and that morning we had to be all packed up again and check out before 11am. Since we had CC on file they did express check-out so at least we didn't have to go down to the lobby and spend time doing that.

Of course we did have to get over to Sports, we drove down so that wasn't a problem. But then you have to wait in line at Sports to check in. Luckily we were able to snag a room when we checked in but there is a good chance one may not be ready when you arrive so you are in limbo without a home and luggage.

Then once you do get the room you have to settle in again.

It wasn't totally horrible but it did consume some time. I don't think I would do it again. I kind of like knowing that once I check in I don't have to pack or do anything with my room until I have to go home.

 

[lucky1]

I agree that I would not want to do it again, but would for a good deal. We went from POFQ to POR. We did this because we got a great package deal after having a Room only reservation at POFQ. POR was booked our first day of the trip and we could not get the package at POFQ. When just did not unpack at POFQ and just used it as a place to sleep and the next morning we had to get up early, pack, have bell service pick up luggage, check out, walk over to POR (bell would have driven us), check-in, get our tickets with the package and then start the day. Unfortunately our room was not ready until after 3pm, so we were not able to go back to the room mid day for our DD nap. It was all just a hassle, but doable. Disney does move your luggage for you. You just have to decide if you want to take the extra time of dealing with luggage move, check-in and being without a room possibly for several hours.

We onced moved rooms with in the resort midway through a trip, because we wanted to be closer to family, but same situation was that we did not have a room until 4pm that day.

 

[DJmommy]

We did a split stay on our last trip and loved it. I got to experience two of the resorts that I have always dreamed of staying at. We did the Poly for the first three nights, then moved over to the AKL for the last four nights. We took advantage of the unbelievable and convenient transportation from and to the MK and EPCOT while at the Poly, and visited all parks from the AKL. We also got to do the Sunrise Safari since we were staying on the concierge level. Luckily for us, our room was ready when we arrived at the AKL at about 11 am, so we got oriented, had a snack and headed out for a day at the parks.

We have two kids and I worried if it would be too much of a hassle doing the switch, but it was well worth it and the kids enjoyed both resorts, too. It's a great way to go, IMHO.

 

[Marimar]

Disney does move your luggage for you. You just have to decide if you want to take the extra time of dealing with luggage move, check-in and being without a room possibly for several hours.

That is what we are counting on...Disney dealing w/the luggage; wonder if they have a packing service

We are staying concierge so we would at least have the lounge/snacks to kick back before the room is ready....if we needed the down time that is.

 

[Collette]

We have switched resorts once - last year to move from Pop at holiday season rates to Wilderness Lodge value season rates. It was a 4 night/3 night split. Although Disney makes the move painless, I will probably always avoid it when we can because I like to settle in and enjoy where I'm staying without having to think of packing up until we are leaving for home. We never really settled in at Pop because we knew we were moving and at WL because we only had three nights. Personally, I would want to have an absolute minimum of 4 preferrably 5 or more nights before I would even consider it again. Our time at WL was way too short (of course ten nights wouldn't be enough for me there).

We stopped by Pop luggage services the evening before the move and arranged a luggage pick up time for 11:00 a.m. (check out time). They asked how many bags there would be and told us that we could just leave the bags in the room and go to the parks. It takes me forever to get things packed up again and we decided just to take our time in the morning. Some down time is needed mid-trip anyway. We left just before 11 to go to Beaches and Cream for lunch. By the time we rode the bus to MGM, boat to Beach Club for lunch, boat back to MGM, and bus to WL, it was around 1:30/2:00 p.m. The check in line was long, but by the time I checked in, our room was ready and not more than ten minutes after we were in the room our luggage arrived.

We didn't have the meal plan so I don't have a clue how that is affected by switching.

Good luck with your decision!

Collette

 

[bicker]

Been there, done that, never again. It just wasn't worth the bother.

 

[copper68]

This may be a personal preference thing, but I would be bored staying at one resort for more than 4 days. If we go for a long weekend trip, we always stay at the BWV, but whenever we stay longer, we always split our stay between the Poly and the BWV.

First off, as I read earlier, you get to experience two different resorts. Every Disney resort is a vacation adventure in itself. By switching after 3-4 days, it's like starting a new vacation all over again. You feel refreshed and ready to go.

Switching over has never been a hassle. We always stay at the Poly first, and on our last day we wake up, drop our bags off with the luggage service, and DW, DS (14), DS (14), DD (2), and I head to the MK. Around lunchtime we take the monorails over to Epcot and have lunch there. Then walk out the back to the BW. Takes a few minutes to check in, and our bags are sent right to our room. We never really unpack everything anyway, so the luggage switch is no big deal.

While I would do it for all of the reasons I have already listed, the biggest reason that we swap resorts is because of transportation issues. We plan our itinerary around which resort we are staying at. While at the Poly we do MK, Hoop De Doo, and everything around that area. At the BWV we hit Epcot, MGM and DTD. This really minimizes travel time. The bus ride from the Poly to DTD is almost unbearable. By doing it the way we do, you can wake up really early, hit the parks, and then get back for a nap in minutes. To me time is money, especially at Disney. 30-45 minutes to wait for and then take a bus ride is too much wasted time.

Again, this is my opinion, and I am a very spontaneous person. I will wake up on any given day, and tell my wife we're leaving for Disney that afternoon. So swapping resorts for me is no issue at all. It's a preference thing. If you can't handle change and a little adventure, then it may not be for you.

 

[ericafny]

Thanks to everyone for all the input. I am hearing a few different things, but I think I am leaning towards possibly doing it. I want to stay at a deluxe and I think the only way to do it is to split our stay. Now I just have to convince the BF its worth it...hmmm...

Have a wonderful holiday!!

 

[twotoohappy]

We almost always switch resorts half way. We do VWL for the first 4-5 nights and have the ease of going to MK by boat. Then we call bellservice the morning we switch, they pick up our stuff and then we're off to AK! By the time we finish AK, we check into BCV and we're ready to start a new vacation. By staying at BCV, we can now walk/boat to MGM and Epcot, thus almost eliminating riding the bus
To me, it's like having 2 vacations!

 

[johnvree]

In May 2004 we switched resorts three times: 3 nights at the Royal Pacific, 3 nights at the AKL and 7 nights at the Poly. It was great and we are going to do it again next year. My kids love getting to try out the different pools and we love being able to hit the different resort restaurants. But to me, the best thing about it is we plan out which parks we are going to hit based upon which resort area we are staying in. For example, next summer we are splitting our trip up as follows: 4 nights at the AKL/6 nights at the YC/4 nights at the Poly. We will hit AKL and a water park while we are staying at the AKL. Then we'll do Epcot and MGM while staying at the YC. And we will hit MK and another water park while we are at the Poly. In my mind, the time we lose packing and moving to the different resorts is made up by the reduced time going to the parks since we are always staying right next to the park we are hitting. (Well, we probably don't save that much time.)

Packing is definitely trickier. Instead of everyone getting their own suitcase, we pack one (or two) suitcases for each resort. And you can feel like you are not settled in if you stay only a couple of days in one resort. For that reason, I don't think I would resort hop if I was staying less than 4 days at each resort.

Hope this helps.

 

[TinksMagic54]

Depends on how many are in your party and if you don't mind packing/unpacking. Disney makes it very easy to change resorts so this would be more a personal preference. Last summer we (family of 4) went to WDW for 8 nights -- first four were at AKL and the last four were at YC. Check out/check-in was very easy (our room at the YC was ready mid-morning so we checked it out before our luggage arrived).

Would I do it again? Nope! Never felt like I totally unpacked at AKL because I was fearful I would forget something. Once we got to YC and unpacked -- I was disappointed we were only there for 4 nights.

Again, its a personal preference -- Disney makes it easy.

 

[gssmks]

I am considering doing this. My DD and I are planning a Christmas 2006 trip to WDW. We will be arriving on the 19th and staying until the 30th (13 nights). I want to stay at the Polynesian, but I can not afford 13 nights at the Poly. I have considered 4-5 nights at Poly and then switching to a value resort. We came to WDW for 11 nights last fall. About half way through, we needed a break from the parks and just hung around the resort all day anyway. This can be our move day, and we won't attempt to go to a park. Questions are:

1. Would the resort that we move to allow us to check in and use the pool, playground areas, etc., while waiting on our rooms to get ready?

2. By checking in on the 19th, we will get the value season rate as opposed to the holiday season. If we switch to a second resort, does the value season rate still apply, or will we then fall under the holiday season rate for the second resort?

3. We were prosuaded to go to WDW at Christmas because of the Christmas at WDW speciaL that has been running on the Travel Channel this month. All of the wonderful decoration and activities that they showed regarding resorts, were the deluxe resorts. If we switch to a value resort, will we still get the Disney Christmas Magic or will we feel left out of the special Christmas activities?

 

[Marimar]

I have considered 4-5 nights at Poly and then switching to a value resort. We came to WDW for 11 nights last fall. About half way through, we needed a break from the parks and just hung around the resort all day anyway. This can be our move day, and we won't attempt to go to a park.

That sounds like a good plan! Only thing, I would consider staying at the Value resort first and ending up at the Poly for the last leg of your stay.

Questions are:

1. Would the resort that we move to allow us to check in and use the pool, playground areas, etc., while waiting on our rooms to get ready?

Yes!

2. By checking in on the 19th, we will get the value season rate as opposed to the holiday season. If we switch to a second resort, does the value season rate still apply, or will we then fall under the holiday season rate for the second resort?

Different resorts have different "rate" seasons; although on further review, not by that much difference. So that would depend on the resort and when you check in. But no, if it wasn't a "value" season when you check into the second resort you would not get value season.

ETA: rate season info from allearsnet.com

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]never mind..the charts didn't format correctly, but if you go the link you can see the info by following the links to the resorts you are interested in.
[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/font]

 

[MaryKatesMom]

We've done it a couple of times and would only do it to move closer to family.

Yesterday at checkout it took 45 minutes for the bellman to pick up our luggage. If I had been waiting to get to the parks, I would have been livid. This happened during one of our moves. We got up early to pack before we left for the parks and STILL had to wait at 7:30 AM so we missed opening.

One move our room at the GF wasn't ready until 4:30 which messed up our plans.

 

[Marimar]

Yesterday at checkout it took 45 minutes for the bellman to pick up our luggage. If I had been waiting to get to the parks, I would have been livid. This happened during one of our moves. We got up early to pack before we left for the parks and STILL had to wait at 7:30 AM so we missed opening.

My understaning is one doesn't have to wait for bell service to pick up the luggage. Just leave it in the room and they will deal with it? Is this not right?

 

[back2disney]

The con is packing up.
The pro is unpacking for a "new/another" vacation.

 

[mjkaferle5]

We almost did out split stay for our upcoming trip and decided against it. I think our deciding factor was the fact that we have small children. It would make the move that much tougher.

I would definitely do it though when the kids are older.

 

[DisneyKidds]

We split stays on all our trips now. We love it, and our kids (2, 4, and 7) love it. It's like two vacations in one.

We don't find packing and unpacking mid-trip to be a problem, but we usually just live out of our bags so it's pretty easy. We usually drive, so we move our own bags. it's always been an easy transition. If our new room isn't ready we just leave the bags with bell services and enjoy the resort or hit a park. Having Disney move your bags seems like it would be easy, and a good option if you don't mind not having access to your bags.

We always split our stays between an Epcot resort and a MK resort. Usually it's BCV and VWL. You get to experience two great resorts, you have easy access to multiple parks. It works great for us. It also would be a good way to experience a deluxe resort without having to spend that much each night for the entire trip.

I say give it a try.