resort switching...difficult?

[katmouse]

Since I can't make up my mind on where to stay, WLV or BCV, I am contemplating staying at both. My question is, how difficult is it to switch resorts mid-trip? Do the resorts help out with this, or do I have to transport my luggage myself. What about food? Is it difficult to unwind knowing you need to get things packed up to move in a few days? Any dvc members with experience and advice in this matter I would love to hear from you. Our trip will be 10 days in duration.

 

[Dean]

We always pack our things and take them. I've heard they will move them for you if you don't have a car and store them until your room is ready.

 

[Disney Doll]

Bell Services will move your luggae from hotel to hotel. When you check out of your first hotel, call them and tell themyou are moving. When you check into your second hotel, let the front desk know that your luggage was transferred from your first hotel by Bell Services. They usually have it in your room within 10-15 minutes after check-in, unless you happen to arrive at a time when there are a ton of other people arriving.

If we have rented a car, often we will just throw the luggage in the car ourselves though. Using Bell Services is certainly not in any way difficult. We've done it several times and have never had a problem.

 

[Lesley]

I am the queen of the switch! LOL. Really, there's nothing difficult at all, except for going without a room for a large part of a day.

We pack everything up and have bell services deliver it to the next resort. Cold foods are packed separately and we specifically ask that those stay in cold storage, which hasn't been a problem at all.

I have read where someone referred to bell services as the "luggage fairies"....and that's just how it is! Hand it over at one place and it arrives at the next. Very simple.

I don't know why so many folks act like moving is a huge problem!

 

[DeeP]

I am also someone that moves around from WDW resort to resort ALL the time and I have done it both with and most times without a car and it is SIMPLE. I agree the biggest hassle is not having a room for part of the day but even that you can work around if you plan ahead of time and I have found the earlier I check into the next resort the better. I usually get up and check into the new resort and then come back to the old resort and get the family up and moving. Many times we make the moving day a down day and will give our baggage to luggage services for transfer, while we keep a bag with pool things and we have a nice breakfast somewhere and then we go to the new resort and just hang by the pool and relax. Most times our new room is ready by mid afternoon which is about the time we are ready to leave the pool and take showers, unpack etc and then go out for the evening. I MUST add though, I did not start switching WDW resorts until about 9 yrs ago when my kids were 10 & 12 yrs old, so switching has always been easy because of their ages, when they were babies and toddlers we checked into the trailers/now cabins at FW and planted roots and never even thought of moving until it was time to leave for MCO. LOL! So I can see where for a family with young kids switching resorts could be a big hassle but for adult parties or parties with older kids, switching resorts could not be made any easier than Disney does it.

 

[Tagrel]

yup, Bell services picks up the bags at your room and delivers them after you arrive in your new room - no problem.

They will even do this if you are not checking into the new resort that same day.

We checked out of WLV on Friday morning - sending all the 'extra baggage/food' to BCV. Took just what we needed to visit my brother in Ocala and then returned to WDW on Sunday and checked in to BCV. All our luggage was at BCV waiting for us. (We checked with Bell services before doing this, and they said it was no problem)

The only difficultly is the packing/unpacking involved in a move. It also a bit less painful to just schedule a full park day when you move.

- Check out and have the bags transfered.
- Head to the parks.
- Catch transportation back to new resort and checkin (after 4pm if you want to get right into your room)

Staying 2 weeks instead of 1 outweighs our dislike of packing/unpacking. We just 'schedule' the packing and enjoy an early evening in the room - order a pizza and the kids play and/or watch TV while DW and I get the bags ready to go. Besides, we are getting pretty good at it and like to spend one weekend with family and one at Universal enjoying front of the line passes!

 

[Dean]

I would like to see DCV offer a service that Marriott does. They allow you to stay in the old room until the new one is ready. They just call you when it's ready and then you move.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Dean
I would like to see DCV offer a service that Marriott does. They allow you to stay in the old room until the new one is ready. They just call you when it's ready and then you move.

But then there would be even more irate, disgruntled guests who do not understand why they can't get into their room right away!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by CarolMN
But then there would be even more irate, disgruntled guests who do not understand why they can't get into their room right away!

I don't think so. There's no reason this would have to hold up the overall process. It just means putting the old room on hold temporarily and making the new room a priority. It should be a wash for the new guest and a big win for the old one.

 

[DeeP]

I would like to see DCV offer a service that Marriott does. They allow you to stay in the old room until the new one is ready. They just call you when it's ready and then you move.

I would LOVE to see this also, that would be fantastic! I know my family would get a lot of use from this! Very enlightning! It is always good to hear what other vacation timeshares offer to their members. I know I am one, and I am pretty sure there are a lot more DVC members out there beside me, that only belong to one vacation timeshare--DVC-- so therefore we are out of the loop in regards to what other timeshares offer members. Thanks Dean for the info!

 

[erikthewise]

I think this could be done; after all, Marriott is doing it!
Of all the guests departing a given resort on a given day, only a small fraction are moving to other Disney resorts. So doing what is suggested should not place a major strain on the system.

However it may require somewhat greater efficiency and organization on the part of housekeeping and room assignment. If you have been assigned a room, and somebody has parked their keister in it until THEIR new room is ready elsewhere, it may be necessary to give you a different room if you want it by 4PM! Even if they depart by 2 or 3, housekeeping will need to be on their toes to have it ready by 4.

 

[RobDoc]

They allow you to stay in the old room until the new one is ready.

I assume this means moving to a different room in the same resort... but not actually changing resorts?

If so, that is certainly a different situation that what is being discussed here - or do most Marriott timeshares consist of several different resorts all on the same site?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
I assume this means moving to a different room in the same resort... but not actually changing resorts?

If so, that is certainly a different situation that what is being discussed here - or do most Marriott timeshares consist of several different resorts all on the same site?

Obviously it would be mostly the same resort most places. Marriott in HH has 9 resorts and this applies across all of them. You have to ask to have it work, they don't just automatically know. It works well as we've done it ourselves. Stayed in the room at Monarch until the room was ready at Grande Ocean, it was ready around 1 -1:30. So yes my response would be across all WDW DVC resorts. I do realize that the unique flexibility of DVC negatively affects this suggestion but I still think it's workable for no extra cost, just a little attention to detail.