Resort Hopping

[d1gitman]

On a couple of our trips we would stay at 3 diff resorts over 9 nights. One very minor issue is WDW does not provide luggage or people transfers for this. Anyone else do this and have any different experiences other than a rental car or calling a taxi?


Our last two trips have been single resort stays because we did free dining at the tail end of hte promo period but could extend it as much as 14 days beyond the promo end date. However, the DDP promo is tied to your resort reservation. Once you change resorts, you break the reservation, thus we could not stretch our stay to late september.

 

[alldiz]

Disney will move your luggage for you.(without you) You just take a bus to a park and then the resort bus to your new place. They will deliver
the luggage to your room
Kerri

 

[goofy4tink]

Not sure why you say Disney doesn't provide transfer service. They do for your luggage. You hand it off first thing in the morning and you'll get it later that afternoon at the next resort. It isn't quick but it is available.
As for getting people to the next resort..I usually get rid of my luggage by 7:30 am, then head to a park for a few hours. At lunchtime I hop on the bus to the new resort, get checked in, and relax. Sometimes I get lucky and can get into my room right away. Sometimes not. Then, I just grab a bite to eat and head off to a different park.
If you want to keep your luggage with you and get checked in first thing in the day, then a cab is going to be your best option. I don't think you'll find the cost to be much more than $10 or so.

 

[WickedWench]

When we transferred from Poly to AKL, they told us we should have our luggage at AKL by 4pm. We checked out as late as possible that day since my Dad was sick. We had a rental car, so getting from one resort to the other wasn't a problem. If my dad hadn't been sick though, we would have gone to a park then took the bus back to AKL. Unless you need access to your luggage during the day, it shouldn't be a problem. Just take what you need when you go out for the day.

 

[Allison]

You are mistaken, Disney does provide luggage transfer.

 

[klofan]

Oh, this is great. I'm probably going to be doing this in September. What do I do? Do I just call bell services and tell them I'm doing a split stay?

 

[WickedWench]

Oh, this is great. I'm probably going to be doing this in September. What do I do? Do I just call bell services and tell them I'm doing a split stay?

When you're ready to leave, you call bell services and have them pick up your luggage. You can either tell them when you call or when they pick them up (or both) that you want the luggage transferred to another resort. Once you're in the room at your new resort, call bell services again and tell them you had luggage transferred, and they'll bring it to your room for you.

 

[klofan]

When you're ready to leave, you call bell services and have them pick up your luggage. You can either tell them when you call or when they pick them up (or both) that you want the luggage transferred to another resort. Once you're in the room at your new resort, call bell services again and tell them you had luggage transferred, and they'll bring it to your room for you.

Thank you. Sounds too easy.

 

[WickedWench]

Thank you. Sounds too easy.

Yep, It was very easy. I'd never done a split stay before because I was worried about the hassle, but I really wanted to do the sunrise safari at AKL, so I gave it a shot. It was so simple that I'll probably do it again next time I go.

 

[Robert P]

A very easy process. Works well.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

They will even transfer luggage at the values - for those who may be reading - but at the values they don't have valets, per say, so they will just bring your luggage to your room, you don't have to call.

 

[d1gitman]

Not sure why you say Disney doesn't provide transfer service. They do for your luggage. You hand it off first thing in the morning and you'll get it later that afternoon at the next resort. It isn't quick but it is available.
As for getting people to the next resort..I usually get rid of my luggage by 7:30 am, then head to a park for a few hours. At lunchtime I hop on the bus to the new resort, get checked in, and relax. Sometimes I get lucky and can get into my room right away. Sometimes not. Then, I just grab a bite to eat and head off to a different park.
If you want to keep your luggage with you and get checked in first thing in the day, then a cab is going to be your best option. I don't think you'll find the cost to be much more than $10 or so.

Things must have changed from when we were there in '04 and '05 or the CM told us wrong. We explained we were transferring to another resort but were told we would have to take our luggage with us and check it in at the next resort. Bus to park and back to new resort or a taxi on our dime was the only transportation method offered.

7:30 am is way too early for me to get up at WDW, i am on vaca and want to sleep in. I have 350 other days left in the year to get up early. we also use resort transfer days as 'down' days to give our body a rest and check out the pool at the resort we are checking in to.

I realize we can take the bus to the park and back to the new resort, but to us that is a lot of wasted time and effort. I also realize that a taxi is $10 or less, which is what we have done. I was just wondering if WDW had offered anyone else who resort hopped, any WDW transportation, like the DVC van does for prospective DVC members.

I think it would be great if WDW offered complimentary resort to resort transportation. i think they would find that guests would enjoy an efficient way to go to restaurants or resort hop.

 

[WickedWench]

I was just wondering if WDW had offered anyone else who resort hopped, any WDW transportation, like the DVC van does for prospective DVC members.

I think it would be great if WDW offered complimentary resort to resort transportation. i think they would find that guests would enjoy an efficient way to go to restaurants or resort hop.

I don't think so. AFAIK, the only direct resort to resort transportation would be if you were transferring between MK resorts, where you could use the monorail (or boat for WL & FW), or if you're switching between Epcot resorts you could use the Friendships. Otherwise I think you're stuck with transferring at a park.

It may not be as big a hassle as you think, depending on which resorts you're staying at. If, like me, you stayed at the Poly and were transferring to AKL, you could take the AK bus which takes you close to AKL, then the second bus trip is very short. Or if you were transferring to an Epcot resort you could take the DHS bus and jump on the friendships. Or an MK resort, just take a MK bus and hop on the monorail.

 

[Hopefully]

There are 2 parts to your question.
Disney does provide luggage transfer on split stays as others have said. This has been in place for awhile, so it seems you got bad information in the past.
However, you will definititely be without your luggage for several hours on transfer day. They do not deliver it to the new resort until after 3 PM.
Disney does not provide people transfers on a split stay. There is no direct resort to resort complimentary transportation.
If you use your transfer days as "down" days, you are also very likely to be without a room for several hours. I think this is a major reason most people do it on a Park day. You will need to check out of your first resort by 11 AM and your room likely will not be ready for you until after 3 PM. So be sure to pack a day bag with whatever you will need for your activities on that day.
Personally, this is too much hassle for me!!. I am a "Nester" and I like to totally unpack and settle in for the duration at one resort. I would not like the hassle of luggage transfers and being "homeless" most of one of my vacation days. Resort hopping is not for me.
Have a Great Trip.

 

[goofy4tink]

Things must have changed from when we were there in '04 and '05 or the CM told us wrong. We explained we were transferring to another resort but were told we would have to take our luggage with us and check it in at the next resort. Bus to park and back to new resort or a taxi on our dime was the only transportation method offered.

7:30 am is way too early for me to get up at WDW, i am on vaca and want to sleep in. I have 350 other days left in the year to get up early. we also use resort transfer days as 'down' days to give our body a rest and check out the pool at the resort we are checking in to.

I realize we can take the bus to the park and back to the new resort, but to us that is a lot of wasted time and effort. I also realize that a taxi is $10 or less, which is what we have done. I was just wondering if WDW had offered anyone else who resort hopped, any WDW transportation, like the DVC van does for prospective DVC members.

I think it would be great if WDW offered complimentary resort to resort transportation. i think they would find that guests would enjoy an efficient way to go to restaurants or resort hop.

If you are looking for Disney to take you and your luggage to the next resort, then you are most likely going to be out of luck. I have been given a ride to the CR from BWV when they (BW) messed up a reservation and I was going to be late for my Thanksgiving dinner...they did provide transport for that.
You could 'get lucky' and be offered a ride in one of the company vans but I wouldn't count on it. Can you imagine how many vans/drivers they would have to have in order to move all the guests around? Resort hopping is very common. I agree, it would be a nice perk though.

 

[d1gitman]

we had a similar transportation "comp" when we called guest svc's about Carribean Beach not working out for us (DW was 5 mo. prego). The walking was too much for her so they upgraded us for free to Wilderness Lodge. For transportation, they called a taxi and actually gave us a $20 bill to cover the cost. We were very impressed by that.

Maybe someday they will cater to us resort hoppers. We do it because the resorts are all so neat to see, I would think WDW would find a way to "cash in" on those of us hopping around like Tigger.

 

[Perditamarie]

Regarding the DDP, if you book a package at each resort you are staying at, you could include the ddp that way. However, since each package would require at least a one day ticket purchase, your ticket costs would be more expensive.