Resort hopping

[Dancermomof1]

I know this may sound like a stupid question, but how complicated is it to book a split resort vacation? We will be doing a Disney vow renewal and plan on resort hopping between CBR, AKL, POR, and POLY for 12 days. Has anyone had any problems when booking several resorts for their vacations? Do you have to re-check in at each resort when you switch and wait for your room to be ready eachtime? Any info. is appreciated. Thanks!!!

 

[grimley1968]

I do believe each resort would require its own check-in. However, they will transfer your luggage for you, I've heard. Not sure if you need to bring it down to the lobby or if they'll take it from room to room.

Depending on when you check in at each resort, you may have to wait for a room to be ready at each one.

Not to pry, but that's an awful lot of packing, unpacking, moving around, etc. over a 12-day period. It would take away some stress and packing, unpacking, etc. to eliminate at least one of those resorts from the itinerary, and stay in at least one of them long enough to get to know the resort more.

 

[baseballmom3]

I have never done that. Too stressful for me. How about doing one Mod and one Deluxe during your stay? That just sounds like alot of work to do 4 different Resorts.

 

[Aisling]

I've never split stayed at more than two hotels at a time, but it was easy, as long as you don't mind the repacking your luggage. When it was time for us to move from the AKL to the Contemporary, we just basically threw our stuff in the siutcases, the luggage serive picked everything up, and we went over to the CR to check in. The room was ready once, and the other time, we just went one of the parks and when we returned, the room was ready with luggage there waiting. It's really easy.

 

[madalex]

As others have said, split stay is easy. New check in is required, but Disney will move luggage for you, if that is your desire.

That being said, I will also pile on and say that 4 resorts in 12 days is a lot of packing, unpacking and moving around. I would not do that, but if it works for you, go for it!

 

[kim_d]

We stayed 2 night at AKL and then spent 8 nights at BWV. We had no problems. We packed up the night before and call bell hop in morning- they picked up the luggage and brought it over to BWV. We went to the parks and then later in the day checked into BWV and our luggage was waiting.

We are planning on staying at 3 resorts with our upcoming trip. 3 nights at CBR, 8 nights at BWV, and then 3 nights at Poly. We will have a car so we can either transport our luggage by ourselves or use the bell hop. I also plan to have smaller luggage to keep our smaller nights (3 nights) and then don't have the lug the bulk of the luggage until I am at BWV.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Most important, Disney won't let you book the DDP if you transfer resorts. You'd be able to get it for the first resort, or any one of the resorts, but your tickets will also be tied to that resort package. You would still be able to use park tickets beyond that stay.

As others have said, you'll lose time with each move. Though WDW will transfer bags, you still need to check in and out of each, plus repacking, and unpacking. At WDW, time is critical - esp. early am time. Late pm time is uncrowded in the parks too. It also gets more complicated if you have to pack up wet bathing suits. To make it really work well at WDw, you'll want to get up early on transfer days so that you can get all your packing done and still be in the park around 9am-ish.

The most moves I've done is three in one trip: I got a great deal to fly down a day early, so we stayed one night at a cheap place. We did a few nights by Universal, then a longer stay on property. Also important: We had a rental car!

Here's what I'll say - if you pack correctly, then the un/re-packing isn't SO bad, but you'll still lose time. If you can do the minimalist thing: little make-up, little hair products, using the resort's hairdryer only, wearing shorts twice, that helps. If you are high maintenance, (needing lots of facial products, hair mousse and hairspray, curlers of any kind, your own hairdryer, changing clothes for dinner, etc. than staying put is MUCH better.

IF you are going to move, pack so that you only open like one suitcase per resort (plus a toiletries/pj's tote bag).

Generally,I'd stick to two resorts at WDW. That way you leave something to enjoy next time!

 

[Lynne M]

You'd have 4 completely separate reservations, and you would have to check in to each resort.

The reason I wouldn't do it is that you will probably be 'homeless' for the better part of each day that you're switching resorts - three days out of your trip. You'll need to be out of 'resort A' by check-out time in the morning, and your room at 'resort B' may not be ready till 3 PM or later. It's certainly possible that the room will be ready earlier, but it's not something you can count on.

 

[ezma]

We are going in July 2009 for 10 days we will be at the Contemporary Tower M.K. side for 3 nights , 2 nights at Poly. and 5 nights at the Yaht!!! We can not wait , its like 3 vacations in one and the packing is not a big deal, we have 2 boys 12 and 16 so they help pack and unpack . We also like the different pools at each resort and location is everthing !!!! So do the split stays at the resorts Marla

 

[Dancermomof1]

Hmmm.... well after talking to my husband we have decided to just split things between POLY and GF. We will do AKL this Spring instead. We aren't too worried about park tickets since our VR comes with annual passes but I thought the coordinator at Disney told me I still was able to utilize the DDP if we resort hopped??? Has anyone experienced this?

 

[grimley1968]

Hmmm.... well after talking to my husband we have decided to just split things between POLY and GF. We will do AKL this Spring instead.

This sounds like a good idea. Wish I could do the same. I chose the green guy because I'm green with envy.

If I may make one more suggestion, though: if I were doing a split stay at 2 of the deluxes, I'd choose them in different areas of WDW property, rather than being next door to each other, as Poly and GF are. For example, you could do GF for some of it, and then maybe BC or YC for the other part. That way, you take advantage of close proximity and easy access to 2 different parks (MK for GF and EPCOT/DHS for BC), and also get a little more of a differentiated feel between the resorts.

Next spring you could split again, perhaps between AKL and Poly.

 

[Dancermomof1]

This sounds like a good idea. Wish I could do the same. I chose the green guy because I'm green with envy.

If I may make one more suggestion, though: if I were doing a split stay at 2 of the deluxes, I'd choose them in different areas of WDW property, rather than being next door to each other, as Poly and GF are. For example, you could do GF for some of it, and then maybe BC or YC for the other part. That way, you take advantage of close proximity and easy access to 2 different parks (MK for GF and EPCOT/DHS for BC), and also get a little more of a differentiated feel between the resorts.

Next spring you could split again, perhaps between AKL and Poly.

Believe it or not we have never even been to the Beach Club area. I looked at the rooms online and they look really nice though...and that is where the VR is. This vacation is long over due. It is a gift from someone otherwise we would never have been able to go!!!