Question for Resort Hopping Experts

[missusagi]

Has anyone resort hopped from a non-Disney resort to a Disney resort (without renting a car)? We're heading down for the Marathon weekend next January but thinking of coming early to adjust to the time (we're from California). I'm wondering if it would save us money to stay off site for the first two days, then move to a Disney resort. The problem is we're not planning on renting a car, meaning we would have to shuttle to TTC (or a park?) from the non-disney resort then catch a resort bus from there (WITH our luggage!!) Is this possible? I think I need a sanity check. Thanks in advance!

 

[Pakey]

They won't allow you to take your luggage on the Disney buses (except Magical Express) so that option is out anyway.

If you don't want to pay for a cab to move you from off site to on site, I'd recommend staying at one of the value resorts for the first night.

I come in from CA and I often stay the first night in a value or moderate because I never get to WDW before 6:30 pm anyway. Then I just take a cab to move to my deluxe of choice the following morning.

 

[missusagi]

No luggage on busses makes sense. Thanks for the reply! My other option was to stay at a value, and it sounds like that's the way we need to go. It was worth a shot!

 

[wendow]

I hope it's ok if I hop on this thread and ask a question. We are staying at POR for the first 2 nights before moving to BLT for the rest of our stay. I explained when I booked POR to the CM that we would need to move from POR to BLT, she said it was no problem and that they would take care of it. Just to talk to the concierge. Reading the response above that luggage is not allowed on Disney buses has me wondering, how will we be moved? I hope not a taxi. We won't have carseats. I didn't even think to ask b/c I figured they'd just put us on a shuttle

 

[Peaseblossom]

You just check your luggage with bell services the morning you leave your 1st resort - they tag it and send it off, you go to the parks or do whatever you were going to do for the day, and your luggage will show up to your room sometime after you check in an your 2nd resort.

Easy and free (except for tips for bell services).

 

[wendow]

You just check your luggage with bell services the morning you leave your 1st resort - they tag it and send it off, you go to the parks or do whatever you were going to do for the day, and your luggage will show up to your room sometime after you check in an your 2nd resort.

Easy and free (except for tips for bell services).

Thanks for your response This is perfect and definitely worth a generous tip!

 

[Pakey]

You just check your luggage with bell services the morning you leave your 1st resort - they tag it and send it off, you go to the parks or do whatever you were going to do for the day, and your luggage will show up to your room sometime after you check in an your 2nd resort.

Easy and free (except for tips for bell services).

Just want to clarify. Your luggage won't "show up" in your room. You have to call bell services at your 2nd resort and request delivery to your room. They will not deliver unless you are there.

Also if you get an early check in at your 2nd resort, your luggage might not arrive at the resort until late afternoon. You need to make sure you carry with you anything that you might need during the day as you will not have access to your checked luggage.

 

[wendow]

Just want to clarify. Your luggage won't "show up" in your room. You have to call bell services at your 2nd resort and request delivery to your room. They will not deliver unless you are there.

Also if you get an early check in at your 2nd resort, your luggage might not arrive at the resort until late afternoon. You need to make sure you carry with you anything that you might need during the day as you will not have access to your checked luggage.

Good to know! Thank you

 

[Sue M]

No luggage on busses makes sense. Thanks for the reply! My other option was to stay at a value, and it sounds like that's the way we need to go. It was worth a shot!

Plus staying at a WDW resort you get free airport transportation- Magic Express that picks up your luggage, and takes you via bus to your resort.
Staying off site i doubt will save you any money, because you'd have to grab a cab to your off site hotel, then a cab to your WDW hotel.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I wouldn't do it without a car. We have done it many times with a car. Offsite shuttle buses are just too unreliable. I mean, they often only come once an hour, might be full, are shared among resorts. The only exception is maybe one of the high end resorts- but you mention saving money.

What you could eaily do is spend the first two nights at a Disney value resort, then tranfer to a moderate or deluxe resort. I've done that many times, and plan to do it again.


I'm guessing they won't let you on the buses with tons of luggage, and they do luggage transfers for free- but I did a resort transfer via bus with carry-on type luggage not so long ago. Maybe it was the exception, but nobody said anything to us. We didn't have lots of luggage, just like one carry on bag and one duffle.
Offsite you also have to think about getting picked up at the airport.A taxi will cost you enough that you could party cover a rental car.Somtimes you an get great retnal prices in MCO.

One more suggestion - and you'd have to double check with ME on how to do this- but the Hyatt AT the airport is quite nice. We have stayed there on the LAST night of our visit several times. It's nice being able to roll out of bed and be at the airport if you have a very early flight. The last time I did it though, we had a rental car (which was also nice because it knocked a day off our car rental costs) If you think you'll be really tired upon arrival, you coud maybe stay there the first night, (book in advance) and have ME give youa ride in the morning perhaps.

 

[missusagi]

One more suggestion - and you'd have to double check with ME on how to do this- but the Hyatt AT the airport is quite nice. We have stayed there on the LAST night of our visit several times. It's nice being able to roll out of bed and be at the airport if you have a very early flight. The last time I did it though, we had a rental car (which was also nice because it knocked a day off our car rental costs) If you think you'll be really tired upon arrival, you coud maybe stay there the first night, (book in advance) and have ME give youa ride in the morning perhaps.

interesting suggestion. I may have to look into this with ME. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Belle'sFan]

Stay at any off site hotel with airport shuttle service. On check out day go to the airport and get on the Disney bus to your resort. Just sign up for ME when you make you Disnet reservation and you will get the vouchers and be all set.

 

[Keegansmommy]

When we went to Disney in April, we had to spend one night at Pop and the rest of our stay was at POFQ. When we transferred, we had to go to POFQ first to get our park tickets. We had several pieces of luggage (not big suitcases...we let Disney transfer them) but small carry-on size suitcases. We took the bus from Pop to DTD and got on the bus to POFQ w/ all of our bags. It was quite obvious we were carrying luggage stuff. Granted we were doing this at 8:30 a.m. so there was NOBODY on the bus. It wasn't like we were trying to cram on a packed Disney bus. The CM at DTD even radioed a bus for us. All in all, it took WAY longer than I had ever imagined it would and really didn't save us much time. I didn't want to fork out the extra money for a cab, but if I did it again, I would 100%.

Also noting...yep, our bags didn't show up in our room. We had to go find them at Bell Services once we arrived back in our room after a very long first day.

 

[feezle]

Stay at any off site hotel with airport shuttle service. On check out day go to the airport and get on the Disney bus to your resort. Just sign up for ME when you make you Disnet reservation and you will get the vouchers and be all set.

ME needs to know your incoming flight numbers....so unless you are going to fly somewhere and back, I don't think this is going to work. At that point, I think a cab would be a lot cheaper.

 

[Missytara]

ME needs to know your incoming flight numbers....so unless you are going to fly somewhere and back, I don't think this is going to work. At that point, I think a cab would be a lot cheaper.

Disney will give you one trip to the resort on your check-in day and one trip back. Many people stay at the airport if they arrive late at night and go to their resort the next day. For a fee, the Hyatt even takes your luggage to the ME buses.

All they have to do is give a corresponding flight number around the time they wish to board the bus.