Split Stay - December 2018

[Alli1988]

I'm looking for advice... and before I start, I know I got myself into this position!

Husband, Me, Daughter (7), Daughter (2), My Mom

December 6-11 - POP (One Room)
December 11-15 - All Start Music (Two Rooms, TA submitted adjoining request)

December 11 we have an 8am H&V ADR. I chose this day based on availability in the 8am hour - for what will be the highlight of the trip for my 2yo. My kids are used to being up at 6am daily - they will be up then regardless of us having plans or not. This will be our 2nd day at HS, with the first day being quite long but including a nap. My intent was to leave HS by 11a - we will REALLLLLY need a nap this day as we have MVMCP tickets this night - I read it would be the best night during our trip.

This puts us in-between POP and MUSIC, without luggage (assuming we let Disney "move us") and needing a nap. I know I'm not guaranteed early check in. I'm also not promised adjoining rooms. I don't really have the time to do a morning in-person check in. I am willing to shuttle our own luggage over (Minnie van or Lyft) but don't know when I would make that happen.

I considered leaving after our ADR, going to POP to get our luggage, Lyft to Music and in-person check hoping two rooms were ready. This does seem like it's wasting the perk of being in HS early with shorter lines (the point of the early ADR), especially because this could cause us to just sit around Music if they don't have a room. Staying in HS would also give us the time to do our last 3 must-dos and then be done with the park for this trip. I'd hate to go back for just 3 things on a different day.

Any advice on what to change in order to increase my chances for a mid-day nap and our luggage to get ready for the party?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Why go back to get your luggage wletBell Services transfer it.

 

[Alli1988]

I've read that luggage transfers aren't done until 3pm. 3pm is when we will want to be ready and leaving the room. IDK if their is any truth to this or not - however, our experience with using Bell Services is always terrible.

 

[dansdad]

I've read that luggage transfers aren't done until 3pm. 3pm is when we will want to be ready and leaving the room. IDK if their is any truth to this or not - however, our experience with using Bell Services is always terrible.

You are correct. When letting Bell Services move your luggage don't expect it to be at resort #2 until 4-5PM.

 

[Alli1988]

I thought so... I was lucky to get 10pm for half my stuff and 11pm for the other half in the past... or hovering over staff at bell service for 90 minutes and taking it myself. They once insisted they didn't have our bags, Amazon order, or a rented stroller and crib.. they had it all the entire time. At Coronado it took two visits to the front desk for a bell services person to even show up to talk to. Rant over...

So I guess my options are cut back the HS time and show up in-person late morning (with my luggage in hand and figures crossed) to the front desk at Movies and ask for at least one room at that time or nap in the food court.

Anyone have a guess at what % chance I have at getting a room by noon? Would it be worth it to talk to POP front desk a few days before and have them call Movies - or me visit Movies front desk a few days before?

Can anyone confirm that my MVMCP Tickets can't be exchanged to another night? I don't want to switch but that would take the pressure off for a nap...

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I thought so... I was lucky to get 10pm for half my stuff and 11pm for the other half in the past... or hovering over staff at bell service for 90 minutes and taking it myself. They once insisted they didn't have our bags, Amazon order, or a rented stroller and crib.. they had it all the entire time. At Coronado it took two visits to the front desk for a bell services person to even show up to talk to. Rant over...

So I guess my options are cut back the HS time and show up in-person late morning (with my luggage in hand and figures crossed) to the front desk at Movies and ask for at least one room at that time or nap in the food court.

Anyone have a guess at what % chance I have at getting a room by noon? Would it be worth it to talk to POP front desk a few days before and have them call Movies - or me visit Movies front desk a few days before?

Can anyone confirm that my MVMCP Tickets can't be exchanged to another night? I don't want to switch but that would take the pressure off for a nap...

The CM's at Pop can't help you with room assignments at Movies. The best you could do would be to put an "early check-in" request on your Movies reservation, but that won't solve your luggage issue if you have luggage transferred from Pop to Movies.

You can certainly call WDW ticketing to see if they will exchange your MVMCP tickets to another night. No guarantees, but there are many reports of WDW doing that for guests.

My suggestion (and it may not be possible at this point) - try changing your resort dates so you can either stay at Pop on extra night or check into AsMu one night earlier. Your current park plans are not conducive to a resort switch day.

 

[Alli1988]

I guess I was thinking if pop called movies they could assign me a room right then and there (like faxing in requests) and they might have a little more pull/convincing ability than I do.

I could leave my luggage at bell services at pop and pick it up myself when we get back and move it myself.

And you are correct, adding a night at pop isn’t possible and I don’t want to leave early and forfeit a free dining night. My ADR then goes from free to around $130.

 

[Luvs Mickey]

As PP stated, I would try to change MVMCP date. With your adjoining room request, it will make it more challenging to receive an early check in, just depends on occupancy levels.

 

[Alli1988]

I think I will call today and ask for a different night.

 

[Babsy]

So, it sounds like you aren't able to change our resorts in order to not move on this particular day. Moving the date of the party sounds like a wise decision.

Meanwhile...a small point:
You need to request early check in and decide now if you want to prioritize early check in or connecting rooms. Then indicate your order of preference when adding the requests to the reservation. (If you want an interior door between the two rooms, you want connecting rooms rather than adjoining, which actually means rooms that are just near each other)
Requesting connecting rooms as well as early check in makes granting your requests more difficult, so be prepared for the possibility that you won't get one of them, or even either one. (Hopefully you will be lucky and get both.)

 

[Alli1988]

So, it sounds like you aren't able to change our resorts in order to not move on this particular day. Moving the date of the party sounds like a wise decision.

Meanwhile...a small point:
You need to request early check in and decide now if you want to prioritize early check in or connecting rooms. Then indicate your order of preference when adding the requests to the reservation. (If you want an interior door between the two rooms, you want connecting rooms rather than adjoining, which actually means rooms that are just near each other)
Requesting connecting rooms as well as early check in makes granting your requests more difficult, so be prepared for the possibility that you won't get one of them, or even either one. (Hopefully you will be lucky and get both.)

I understand.... based on my mom being a nervous nelly, we will have to leave connecting as our preference.

 

[kaytieeldr]

December 6-11 - POP (One Room)
December 11-15 - All Start Music (Two Rooms, TA submitted adjoining request)

and have them call Movies

Movies? Or Music? While they're adjoining, they are separate resorts. Which brings me to...call your TA and specify, and reconfirm, that your request is for connecting rooms, not adjoining. Unless you aren't hoping for an internal door between the two rooms and do just want to be near each other.

This puts us in-between POP and MUSIC, without luggage

Pack what you will need for the map and the party in as small a carry on as possible. Take it to the park with you and store it in a locker.

 

[Alli1988]

Disney let me change Christmas Party nights - much more ideal.

 

[Alli1988]

Movies? Or Music? While they're adjoining, they are separate resorts. Which brings me to...call your TA and specify, and reconfirm, that your request is for connecting rooms, not adjoining. Unless you aren't hoping for an internal door between the two rooms and do just want to be near each other.

Pack what you will need for the map and the party in as small a carry on as possible. Take it to the park with you and store it in a locker.

Sorry for the confusion - the only hotel other than POP is MOVIES - no Music. We have been back and forth between the two so I even confuse myself.

With two kids (one in diapers) and three adults wanting to be in a park for the morning and then shower and change clothes, there is no such thing as a "small" bag

At this point our plan is to pack up at POP and drop our stuff for holding at Bell services, ADR and park time, pick it up mid-day and Lyft over to Movies and see if a room can be made available. If it isn't, judge if we should just go to a park or wait until a room is ready and move in - based on predicted ready time and everyone's mood.

Thanks for everyone's input.