Split stay - SSR & BLT - how to plan?

[triciari]

I had to change my dates to save on airfare, so a 7 night at BLT trip is now a 3 night at SSR and 5 nights at BLT. I've only been to WDW once, and we stayed at WL. How should I plan my trip regarding park visits? (I use TGM, by the way.) I'm thinking that arrival day (flight to MCO arrives at noon) we'll check in to SSR and head over to MK, it's a TGM green day.) On Thursday, I'm planning on Epcot and Friday HS.

Saturday is the move day, and TGM's only green rated park is AK. How long does the move take? I'm travelling with my husband, my mother and my 3 kids (7, 5 and almost 3.) Should I keep them around the SSR pool on Saturday morning while I pack up or perhaps send them off to AK and meet them there after I've moved us in to BLT?

I don't really understand how the move works. Can I just pack my room up and expect SSR's bell services to move everything to BLT's bell services? Can I run over to BLT (without all my stuff) and check-in to a room so that bell services can bring my stuff up while I'm out at a park?

And even more questions: What is there to do around SSR? Should we "bother" with DTD? (It just looks like a lot of shopping to me.)

Any comments will be greatly appreciated!

-Tricia

 

[erionm]

You will need to be in the room when bell services comes to pick up or deliver your luggage. Your luggage won't be available at the new resort until about 4pm.

 

[dizfan]

I had to change my dates to save on airfare, so a 7 night at BLT trip is now a 3 night at SSR and 5 nights at BLT. I've only been to WDW once, and we stayed at WL. How should I plan my trip regarding park visits? (I use TGM, by the way.) I'm thinking that arrival day (flight to MCO arrives at noon) we'll check in to SSR and head over to MK, it's a TGM green day.) On Thursday, I'm planning on Epcot and Friday HS.

Saturday is the move day, and TGM's only green rated park is AK. How long does the move take? I'm travelling with my husband, my mother and my 3 kids (7, 5 and almost 3.) Should I keep them around the SSR pool on Saturday morning while I pack up or perhaps send them off to AK and meet them there after I've moved us in to BLT?

I don't really understand how the move works. Can I just pack my room up and expect SSR's bell services to move everything to BLT's bell services? Can I run over to BLT (without all my stuff) and check-in to a room so that bell services can bring my stuff up while I'm out at a park?

And even more questions: What is there to do around SSR? Should we "bother" with DTD? (It just looks like a lot of shopping to me.)

Any comments will be greatly appreciated!

-Tricia

To transfer luggage, call bell service the morning you switch resorts. We have needed to be in the room when they come. They pickup the luggage and tell them the luggage needs to go to BLT. A tip is common courtesy. Head out to the parks and enjoy the day. When you checkin to BLT and get to your room, call bell service and ask them to bring your bags up. Keep in mind that the bags may take a few hours to be transferred. You will need to be in the room when they deliver bags for a resort transfer. Again, a tip is common courtesy.

As far as park plans during a split stay, we try to plan our parks based on which ones have better Disney transportation from the resorts we'll be at.
For example, from BLT MK is walking distance, and Epcot is via the monorail (our favorite ride). The other parks are via a bus that is typically shared. When we were at BLT, the DHS bus stopped at Poly before going to DHS.

If you have any interest in going to DTD, definitely go while you are at SSR.
It's very convenient from SSR, but not as convenient from BLT. 20+ minutes travel time between BLT and DTD vs. a few minutes from SSR.

Whether you send your family to the park on transfer day really depends on your family. You may not be able to get into your room until after 4pm, so if your family gets hot and tired, they will not have a place to rest. Some people head to the parks and take it easy. Others prefer to use it as a relaxing resort day.

 

[mla1977]

I am a chronic resort-hopper. I actually did this switch when I was there in March. Once you are packed up, call Bell Services at SSR. Tell them that you are switching resorts and they will pick up your bags and have them delivered to BLT.

You do not need to go over to BLT right away. You could go to a park or relax at the pool at SSR. Whatever you want to do. Make sure that you through some stuff that you might need during the day into a backpack (or two). Chances are that your room at BLT won't be ready until check-in time.

Later in the day, you can head over to BLT (check-in at the Contemporary), get your room number and while you're there, let Bell Services at the Contemporary know that you are heading to your room and you would like your luggage delivered. If you don't plan on heading to your room right after checking in, or your room isn't ready when you check in, you can call Bell Services when you get to your room later in the day.

Bell Services will not deliver your luggage to your room unless you are there (Magical Express will deliver your luggage to your room on arrival day, but that is handled differently than Bell Services).

In March I actually changed resorts twice. My original plan during one of the switches was to have lunch in Epcot and then head over the BCV to check in. Long story (a big portion of which involves drinking around the world), but I didn't check into my room until 11pm (or later!). My luggage was brought over to my room when I got there.

 

[DenLo]

triciari, what's a TGM Green day?

I think that if you have plans for a EMH opening, you'll have to get up even earlier to have Bell Services pick up your luggage for transfer to BLT. Or one adult stays at SSR awaiting Bell Service while the rest of the family goes onto the park. And the SSR adult will catch up later.

How about scheduling a breakfast somewhere on the change day? After you turn the luggage over to Bell services everybody goes to breakfast and then hit the parks afterwards. Then anytime after breakfast one adult can go register at BLT while the rest of the family is enjoying the park. Then in the afternoon you'll get a voicemail/text that your room is ready and everyone can go to the room at BLT. When in the room you call Bell services and they will bring up the luggage. One adult has to wait for Bell services, but the rest of the family could go to the pool.

 

[triciari]

Great advice, All. Great beginning to a story, DenLo!

My kids will be 7, 5 and almost 3 in November when we travel. What fun things in DTD are there to do?

 

[MrShiny]

We've done split stays a lot and are doing what you are doing in reverse in about a month!

Yes, just call bell services. Once they pick up the bags, you are free for the day. I try to get ready as early as possible just in case it's a busy check out day.

We tend to do the park nearest the second resort. In your case, I'd personally do MK the switch day. In the afternoon, just monorail or walk to CR and check in to BLT.

I think a split stay makes the trip seem longer than it is, in a good way!

 

[Ms.Minnie]

This Jan 2011 we will be doing a split stay between BWV’s & BLT’s; I can’t wait to try BLT’s & BWV is our favorite resort so I’m really looking forward to this trip.* This time ‘round I plan to take a taxi with our luggage from BWV to BLT to avoid any mix up with our bags.*

We have done several split stays & the last time we did was from WL to BWV & our bags got lost in transit & didn’t show up until after midnight the day of switch.* I don’t want to go through that again so I’m taking my bags to BLT’s myself.* I don’t think a taxi will cost more than $10 to $15 dollars so to me it’s worth it to know my bags are where they need to be.* At the same time I can check into BLT & then be on my way for a day at the pool or a park.

Does anybody have experience with taxi serve at WDW? Am I estimating correctly @ $10 to $15 from BW to BLT?

 

[simmons_m]

I'd plan on 18 to 20, to include tip.

 

[DenLo]

Great advice, All. Great beginning to a story, DenLo!

My kids will be 7, 5 and almost 3 in November when we travel. What fun things in DTD are there to do?

There's a small carousel in the Marketplace at DTD and one or two other small rides. A lot of kids have fun with the Stitch statue over the entrance to the World of Disney Store (Stitch spits water). There are some statues of Disney characters that are great photo ops. The Lego store brings out the kid in everyone. The gigantic Lego figurines (outside the store) gets everyones attention. The Goofy candy shop is always a hit with kids and some parents. There's an AMC movie theatre. Disney Quest is really for older children (lots of video games and rides). La Nouba, the Cirque du Soliel show is a fabulous variation on a circus without animals, but your children might be a little young.

I know some families shop at DTD and then never step into a store at any of the parks.

 

[triciari]

This Jan 2011 we will be doing a split stay between BWV’s & BLT’s; I can’t wait to try BLT’s & BWV is our favorite resort so I’m really looking forward to this trip.* This time ‘round I plan to take a taxi with our luggage from BWV to BLT to avoid any mix up with our bags.*

We have done several split stays & the last time we did was from WL to BWV & our bags got lost in transit & didn’t show up until after midnight the day of switch.* I don’t want to go through that again so I’m taking my bags to BLT’s myself.* I don’t think a taxi will cost more than $10 to $15 dollars so to me it’s worth it to know my bags are where they need to be.* At the same time I can check into BLT & then be on my way for a day at the pool or a park.

Does anybody have experience with taxi serve at WDW? Am I estimating correctly @ $10 to $15 from BW to BLT?

Excellent plan regarding the taxi! I'll definitely do the same!