Split stay and moving luggage

[saintstickets]

We have a split stay reservation after Thanksgiving. AKV 11/28-12/01 and BWV 12/01-12/04. We are not sure at this time whether we will fly or drive. I assume if we fly (no car rental and use DME), that bell services will take our luggage from AKV to BWV...is that correct? If we drive, I guess we'll move our luggage ourselves and leave it with bell services if the room at BWV is not ready. Do they make any special effort to have your room ready at the second resort when you have a split stay? We arrived at OKW two weeks ago (TR here - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2481750 ) at 12:30 and our room was ready but I know that is not always the case. TIA for your response and advice.

 

[Sammie]

Yes they will move the luggage for you, no they don't make any special attempt to get you a room if you are moving.

If they move, even if you get lucky and your room is ready when you get to the second resort, you will not get your luggage until sometime after 4pm. It can be as late as after 5pm, so plan accordingly.

 

[Sparkie]

We are going on our very first DVC stay this October.

Our home resort is BLT but since we didnt buy in until June it was not available.

So we have 3 nights at AKL (savanah view) and 2 nights at AKL (standard view).

If I am understanding correctly, the hotel will move our luggage. What about a few groceries? The baby has to drink Lactose free milk. I was going to order milk from Garden Grocer. Can I box up our order and take it to luggage services to be held and refridgerated until our new room is ready?

I also suppose I could check with the front desk at check in and see if the savannah view room would be available for the other 2 days, then we wouldnt have to move anything.

Is it better to pack up your luggage and leave it in the room for pick up and transfer or carry it down to bell services yourself?

Lots of questions, first split stay.... but we are doing the same thing in March.... BLT for 5 days and hoping for 2 days at either BWV or BC.

 

[HayGan]

We are going on our very first DVC stay this October.

Our home resort is BLT but since we didnt buy in until June it was not available.

So we have 3 nights at AKL (savanah view) and 2 nights at AKL (standard view).

If I am understanding correctly, the hotel will move our luggage. What about a few groceries? The baby has to drink Lactose free milk. I was going to order milk from Garden Grocer. Can I box up our order and take it to luggage services to be held and refridgerated until our new room is ready?

I also suppose I could check with the front desk at check in and see if the savannah view room would be available for the other 2 days, then we wouldnt have to move anything.

Is it better to pack up your luggage and leave it in the room for pick up and transfer or carry it down to bell services yourself?

Lots of questions, first split stay.... but we are doing the same thing in March.... BLT for 5 days and hoping for 2 days at either BWV or BC.

We actually really enjoy doing split stays! It is super easy to do. We pack up and then call bell services to come and pick up our stuff (including groceries.) We always pack out refrigerated/frozen stuff seperately and tell them when they pick it up that it has to be refrigerated. We just call down to bell services when we arrive at the new resort and they bring our stuff up to us. So easy! 9We actually could transport our stuff ourselves since we drive most trips but it is so much easier just to pay a few bucks to bell servies in tips and have them do it for us!)

One word of advice - if you are having bell services do your moving for you, don't plan on going straight from one resort to another. It will take them a few hours to move bags from one place to another so include that in your time calculations

 

[goofy4tink]

I have done a split stay many times...last Dec I moved 4 times. The thing you have to realize is that you may very well not see your bags until past 5pm. I know, I know...they tell you early to mid afternoon. But that has never happened for me. It just isn't a priority with Bell Services.
If having your bags accessible to you is important, I would just take a cab to the new resort, with your bags in hand. That way, they will at least be at Bell Services at the new resort, rather than still over at the previous one, waiting to be moved.

 

[MiaSRN62]

So we have 3 nights at AKL (savanah view) and 2 nights at AKL (standard view).

Sparkle,
You have a better chance of not having a long wait for your luggage since you're still at the same resort. I did this just last month at BLT (split with MK and Lake view). With split stays, you do need to go back down to the main desk and check in all over again. When we did this at BLT, we got to the check in around 1 pm after checking out of MK view and hanging at pool for a bit. When we got to desk at 1 pm, our lake view was ready and our luggage was brought to us within 45 min. When one splits stays between two different resorts, I agree with others----the wait could be all afternoon. So make sure you keep the things you absolutely need with you. I always pack an insulated soft sided cooler with ice packs for storing milk/yogurt etc.

Maria