resort switch logistics/what to do on switch day

[daisyx3]

We are switching from BLT/AKV on the Friday of our trip. No car. So I have a couple of questions.
1) would it be better for us to taxi over to AKV to make sure all of our bags and food get there? We don't have tons of food, we usually order a case of water and some breakfast munchies from garden grocer. Do most people move their things themselves, or trust bell services?
2) what is a good idea for switch day? We usually plan at least one "down day" and one water park day. I'm thinking if we move the stuff ourselves, we could then go to TL for the day and then go back to AKV. Or, we could spend the morning swimming at BLT, maybe eat breakfast, move to AKV, check in, maybe do DD for a while, or just go and swim there. I don't think a park day would work because I like to get to parks early, and I don't want to switch resorts at the crack of dawn!
We haven't switched resorts since 2002, and most of what I remember about it involves carrying a much larger bag than I wanted to that day because I was worried about some things being "in transit" between two resorts.
Daisyx3

 

[daisyduck123]

We are switching from BLT/AKV on the Friday of our trip. No car. So I have a couple of questions.
1) would it be better for us to taxi over to AKV to make sure all of our bags and food get there? We don't have tons of food, we usually order a case of water and some breakfast munchies from garden grocer. Do most people move their things themselves, or trust bell services?
2) what is a good idea for switch day? We usually plan at least one "down day" and one water park day. I'm thinking if we move the stuff ourselves, we could then go to TL for the day and then go back to AKV. Or, we could spend the morning swimming at BLT, maybe eat breakfast, move to AKV, check in, maybe do DD for a while, or just go and swim there. I don't think a park day would work because I like to get to parks early, and I don't want to switch resorts at the crack of dawn!
We haven't switched resorts since 2002, and most of what I remember about it involves carrying a much larger bag than I wanted to that day because I was worried about some things being "in transit" between two resorts.
Daisyx3

We do split stays often. We always make our switch day a "pool day" at our new resort.

We head over (we have our own vehicle), wearing our swimsuits & cover-ups, check-in, & then head to the pool until we get the message that our room is ready. Perfect!

 

[Nanajo1]

After check in we either do a pool day at our new resort or a leisure lunch awaiting our room. We have never had a problem with our luggage or food tranfers.

 

[wdwfan1]

We have bell services move most of our luggage. We pack what we want with us in the car and drive to the new resort. We check in and then head for a park (passholders, so it is not a problem). Since we are usually moving to BWV we go to Epcot, do a few rides and lunch at LeCellier. Then we stroll back to the resort and check out our villa.

This is so much better than hanging around the new resort waiting for the room to be ready. Enjoy your trip.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've had bell services move our things, and also I've used a taxi to do it myself. I do prefer the taxi, for speed, and what I perceive as convenience.

 

[Pakey]

We've done it both ways too. I prefer the taxi and having the switch day be our pool/resort day.

 

[PKWallaby]

We do split stays quite often and have accomplished the luggage/grocery part of the "switch" by either:
1)rental car
2)taxi or
3)bell services.

Numbers 1 and 2 give the most control, but #3 was probably the most carefree (2 phone calls to bell services, one to have them pick up your bags at hotel one, the second to have them delivered at hotel two). We have never experienced a problem with the transfer; they will even keep groceries refrigerated if needed.

Since you are so close to MK, you may want to let bell services transfer your things and just walk across the street and hop the next AKV bus that comes by. Of course your bags wouldn't be there immediately, so you could take a back pack/duffle bag to haul your swim stuff and use the AKV pool after checking in.

You also could leave your bags with bell services and bus to DTD, then afterward catch the AKV bus from there. Depending how much time you spend at DTD, your bags may make it ahead of you. I wouldn't count on that, of course.

If you want the most control of your stuff, take the taxi and haul it yourself. If your room it ready when you check-in, perfect. If not, simply leave it with bell services and call for it when you get into your room later on.

I know many people find the transfer part of a split stay a hassle...I like the fact that it allows us to experience more than one hotel in a trip (our max so far was 3 over 16 days ) and have never had a problem yet.

Hope you enjoy your stay...let us know what you decide, and how it all works out

 

[jo-jo]

We have moved several times using bell services with small amounts of food. Last time we used a flat insulated carrier (about the size of a large laptop bag) that got lost for several hours, but at least it was lost in a cooler. Since I had a stick of butter in the carrier, I would have known if it had been allowed to warm up because the butter would be squashed but it was in perfect shape.