Split stay experts - please help!

[amsafko]

We just went crazy and changed our plans around due to our desperate need to get to Disney ASAP. Me being a control freak, this has thrown me for a loop We were scheduled for 8/24-8/31 at the Poly on FDing. We added 8/21-8/24 at POR with a park hopper MYW plan (no dining). From what I understand, they will transfer our luggage for us - as the CM told me, we can just go about our day at the parks and not worry about the luggage. Now, what happens regarding our KTTW. The second reservation has the fding on it - will we still have to go to the Poly anyway first thing on the 24th to check in and get it (we have ADRs at the Princess breakfast at Norway at 9:55)? Anything else that we should know would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Redbudlover]

You have to check in to get your room keys which have the dining credits on them. I would suggest you take your luggage with you because you are going to want to get there expeditiously anyway to be sure you make your ADR - and that means not fooling around with buses and monorail - which means taking a cab. As long as you have a cab, take your luggage and check it with the bellman if your room is not ready. The other advantage to going early is getting a better room than you would get if you checked in late. this is not a proven dis deal! However, my experience has been early check, in better rooms. The only reason not to take luggage with you is if you are going to the park before checking in and then you would have to pay for breakfast OOP.

 

[alldiz]

I second that....

Take your luggage in a cab...and checkin to the Poly early...it will be a zoo with 1st day of FD and all.

Also you'll know your luggage is there....and maybe you'll get a room ready.

If not....go to a park.....call bell services when you get back to send your luggage up(that you know is there)
Kerri

 

[amsafko]

When's the earliest we can check in? Thanks!

 

[FINFAN]

I think the earliest is 6 a.m. ( give or take) 2 years ago we did almost the same thing, 3 nights at POP 8/10,11, and 12...switched to the Poly on the 13th which was the ist day of dining. We could not believe the sheer volume of people checking into Pop on the 13th...it was CRAZY! We checked into the Poly around 9 a.m., we had our tix already so we just had them transfered to the new Poly KTTW that included the dining, and then we never used our 1 day base ticket that we had to purchase for free DDP. We are holding those to put toward new hoppers for whenever the next trip is. Check in was smooth enough and headed over to MK until our room was ready...maybe a little after 4 pm we checked and it was assigned...called when we got to the room and then our luggage was delivered. We enjoyed both resorts that trip, POP was very fun and mangeable until the floodgates opened...Poly was full too. but just not as many people as there are not as many rooms. We stopped back at POP one night casue we liked the food court and kids had the refil mugs for slurpees and the place was a madhouse! People were upset that the snack type stuff was gone or slim pickin's to use their credits on. The line at check in was STILL huge...I really felt bad for the CM's there.

 

[alldiz]

I know for sure 7am
Kerri

 

[amsafko]

Forgive me for one more question, but I'm concerned about checking in and making our ADR. So...can my husband drive (we have our car) to the Poly at the earliest time to check in and get us set up there before we officially check out of POR? Thanks.

 

[FINFAN]

this is a question that has several answers...many have been told that ALL members of their party must be present to receive thier KTTW cards/dining etc. I think if you all head to the Poly, get your new KTTW cards then head back to POR, it will be a lot of chasing. Just do express check out of POR. The bill will be under your door after 5 a.m. or so and you can check it over to make sure all is correct,then all of you drive over to the Polynesian drop your bags after check in and hop the monorail over to Epcot from the Polynesian.

 

[nurse.darcy]

this is a question that has several answers...many have been told that ALL members of their party must be present to receive thier KTTW cards/dining etc. I think if you all head to the Poly, get your new KTTW cards then head back to POR, it will be a lot of chasing. Just do express check out of POR. The bill will be under your door after 5 a.m. or so and you can check it over to make sure all is correct,then all of you drive over to the Polynesian drop your bags after check in and hop the monorail over to Epcot from the Polynesian.

This is simply not true. . .I had a friend staying with me at Pop and was arriving 2 days later than me. . .I checked in and got his KTTW card at the same time. So no, not everyone in the party has to be there.

 

[FINFAN]

Thats why I said it had many answers..that many have been told they all have to be there there, some did not all have to be there. Since the OP is in a time crunch and it will be the first day of Free dining, to avoid the possibility of being told that ALL of the party need to be present, I suggested all of them checking in together and then all heading together to the monorail and ADR. When WE checked into the Polynesian during free dining 2 years ago on the first day of the promo, we all had to be there...according to the Polynesian resort and the DID ask that all of were present when we checked in. This was 2 years ago, perhaps the rules have changed. Better safe than sorry...the OP should call the Polynesian the AM she plans on checkng in, get a CM name to verify all do not need to be present and hope for the best if they do not wish to check in together. Hopefully by going very earl in the a.m. it will be smooth sailing.