Staying at 3 different resorts....are we crazy?

[princesspiglet]

Since we can't make up our mind where to stay, we have decided to stay at 3 different resorts! We will be there for 9 nights, so each resort will be 3 nights. I tried to pick a resort in each them park, so here is what we have chosen. CBR-close to Epcot and DD, CSR-close to DS and AK, and WL-close to MK. How easy is it to transfer resorts? Will we even have to do anything besides pack up our stuff? Do we have to re-check in at every resort? And, what about room requests? If we request a bunk-bed at WL, will we need to be there in person to make sure we receive that? And what about the dining plan, do we have to buy a new dining plan everytime we move resorts? We will be buying a 7 day park pass before we check in. TIA!

 

[dsmom]

We do the same thing every trip! It is really easy- just have your bags sent to the resort you are moving to. They will store them until you check into the new resort. You do have to check in at each new resort but is is easy with no bags to haul around.
We are doing one night at POP then three nights at the GF then three nights at the BCV for our trip in November. It really is a lot of fun changing resorts! You'll have a great time!

 

[domestic goddess]

We stayed at 3 different resorts last December and we have decided it was a little much. You can have Disney move your luggage for you but you still have to go to the new resort and check-in. We moved our own luggage and we found that it took us most of the morning and early afternoon to move and get checked-in. I have heard of some people getting things lost by the Disney transfer, but most of the reports have been favorable. We just planned to have the days that we transferred be resort days, and no parks, so it worked out pretty well. That way you get to spend at least one day enjoying the resort.

We have stayed at all 3 that you are planning on. WL is our all time favorite! We loved it so much that we bought DVC there. We also liked CSR and CBR, the pool is better at CSR.

My advice is to have Disney move your luggage and then go to the new resort in the morning and check-in. If your room is ready-great! If not, then you can ask that your requests be filled and have the room when available. (Remember that requests are just that and are not guaranteed.) Just remember to pack a separate bag with things for the day(swimsuits, etc.) in case it takes a while to get your things at the new resort and/or your room is not ready until around 4:00. I believe that you will have to buy a new dining plan for each different resort, as each new resort constitutes a new reservation.

Have fun and enjoy all of the resorts!

 

[sue1013]

For me that would be too much changing. I'll only switch if I'm there for 2 weeks 1 week at each. I tried what you are planning and felt like I was always packing up. We always unpack I don't like living out of a suitcase. Maybe if you don't totally unpack it won't seem so bad. Good Luck whatever you decide.

 

[DeeDeeDis]

I know Animal Kingdom and Wilderness lodge have bunkbeds but i didn't know that CBR and/or CSR had them also?

Yes you will have to check in again at each resort. I believe it is handled at the check in counter as if yu were just someone off the street - totally new reservation, not at all connected with the resort you just stayed at. So yes i imagine you would have to repeat your special room request at each resort.

Disney will move your luggage from one resort to another for you but it could be as late as 4pm for your luggage to travel from one resort to another. Just let bell services know that you would like your luggage moved to such & such resort when you call them to have them pick up your bags from the room you are currently in.

Have you considered just doing two resorts? It is hard to pick since the resorts are all so beautiful and they all have something special to offer but moving three times in nine days, imho, would make me feel like i was just getting settled when i would have to spend half the day packing and unpacking my bags and waiting to check into a resort.

 

[klj27]

We were there for 9 nights this summer and did two resorts. We started with three nights at POR and then 6 at CSR. I don't think that I would stay at any resort for less than three nights and I would want one of the hotels to be slightly longer so we could truly settle in. This will become a little more tricky if you are purchasing tickets and dining. Each hotel stay will be its own package. I would probably only do two resorts, but you may enjoy three. I would reconsider if you are doing a package though. All of your meal credits would expire every three days and I wouldn't want to have to keep track of that.

 

[msmayor]

Personally, I wouldn't even do 2 resorts but that's just me. My vacation time is precious, and I don't want to spend even one minute of it repacking, checking out, checking in, unpacking again, even one time. I want to get the most fun for my $$, so I'm not going to spend time just moving around.

klj is correct about the package thing. If you're planning to do the dining plan, then you'd need to buy at least a single-day ticket for each 'new' resort reservation you make and then buy the dining plan for that reservation. It makes your admission costs go up, because you'd be spending at least an extra $45/pp for each additional resort you want to stay at. Family of four, that's almost $400 extra just to see 2 more resorts and stay on the dining plan.

 

[tkldisney]

I'm with you msmayor, that would take to much of my vacation time, packing, unpacking, having to check-in again, etc. I'd much rather check-in one time and enjoy my vacation. Do some resort hopping and check out the rooms and then plan your next trip that way.

 

[warpdarkmatter]

i think it depends on how many visit you have had to wdw to me it sounds like a blast if only i could get all my friends to stop going down there with me and me wifey

 

[JESW]

Hope you have a great time!

We just did 3 resorts over 9 nights in august and it was waaaay too much for my family. (2 nights at AKL, 2 nights at WL & 5 nights at BWI) We usually split the stay with 2 resorts and we will go back to that next trip. Just too much moving around, wasted time and forgetting what room we were in.

Jill

 

[robinb]

Since we can't make up our mind where to stay, we have decided to stay at 3 different resorts! We will be there for 9 nights, so each resort will be 3 nights. I tried to pick a resort in each them park, so here is what we have chosen. CBR-close to Epcot and DD, CSR-close to DS and AK, and WL-close to MK.

Yikes! Yes, I have to say I think you're crazy.

How easy is it to transfer resorts? Will we even have to do anything besides pack up our stuff?

Yes. You will have to wait for bell services to pick up your bags in the morning. Once at your new resort you'll have to wait for them to be delivered to the resort and then up to the room. You will also have to "settle up" each resort bill as you leave.

Do we have to re-check in at every resort? And, what about room requests? If we request a bunk-bed at WL, will we need to be there in person to make sure we receive that?

Yes. You will have to check-in in person at each resort. It can be in the morning when you leave your last resort, or later if you you're out and about. IMO, the odds of getting special requests goes down is you check-in late.

And what about the dining plan, do we have to buy a new dining plan everytime we move resorts? We will be buying a 7 day park pass before we check in. TIA!

Another wrinkle. You cannot buy the dining plan without buying park passes along with your hotel. It's a all-in-one package. So, you would have to buy 3 seperate 3-day passes, one for each stay.

A couple other things to think about ... each time you settle in you'll be packing and moving in just 2 short days. Also, the day that you move you may find yourself "homeless" for the whole day. Check-in really isn't until late afternoon and your room may no be ready for you if you arrive at the resort before 4PM. I find changing resorts to be a PITA. Although I do it, I limit the number of resiorts and maximize the number of days at each resort.

 

[princesspiglet]

You all have got me rethinking y plan! I am especially worried because we will have a four year old with us. So maybe I should pick one or two resorts then? Too many decisions! How about 2 resorts then? 5 nights at one, and 4 at the other. I would start with 4 nights at CSR, then 5 nights at WL. Is hat too difficult? I am wanting to do more than one because my husband says this is the last trip for at least 3-4 years :sad and we have never (in the last 8 years!) stayed onsite!

 

[4orm]

We are staying at three resorts for 10 nights! We love switching it up and find it no problem at all. We have done this on all our trips

 

[DeeDeeDis]

Princess

plan two sounds much more doable than your first plan of three resorts

The only thing i would be concerned about is the "package deals" I would call to see about having to purchase a pass at each hotel in order to get the free meal plan, of course thats if they are running this special again when you plan on going

 

[byoung]

We will be staying at 3 resorts(CS, SS< and OKW) if our wait liss doesn't come thru.

 

[robinb]

princesspiglet

Two resorts sounds much better! You will still need to purchase tickets at both resorts to get the package that includes food, but the prices will be better. I love both CSR and the WL .

 

[Janet2k]

Staying at 3 different resorts....are we crazy?

If you're crazy, then I'm insane. For this year's summer trip, it went like this:

PC:............1 Night
AS-Mu:.......2 Nights
GF:............2 Nights
FW Cabin:...1 Night

For the final 3 weeks of our vacation, we did two more resorts (SSR & AKL).

We've done similar trips for years since we like to sleep around (and obviously have ants in our pants ). But that is us. Most people, as you have seen in this thread, do not like to switch resorts at all. One resort per trip is what they prefer.

Your second idea sounds more do-able for your family since you are concerned. Go with your gut and book your resort reservation(s) accordingly.

Have a great vacation.

 

[erikthewise]

Two resorts does sound more sensible, at least until you become a pro at this like Janet .

This year for the first time we will spend our entire vacation in one resort, and boy is DW relieved! In 2003 we spent 1 night at the Swan, 5 at BCV, and 2 at the Polynesian. There was a perfectly logical explanation, and we had a good time!

 

[Super Goof]

We're doing the split-stay thing also. We start with 3 nights at WL, 3 nights at Poly, 4 nights on the Wonder, and wrap things up with 2 nights at AKL. We weren't able to narrow our choices down beyond those three resorts, and figured that since this is our first Disney trip, we'll sample each of the places that caught our eye. Our kids (DD5 & DD7) are looking forward to the hotel changes. They've 'toured' each hotel on the Disney website and can't wait to see the differences in the pools, whether they get bunk beds, and all those other little details that vary from resort to resort.

 

[princessgirls]

This November we will be staying at 3 resorts. WLV (3 nights), OKW (3 nights) and CBR (2 nights). The CBR was added (hopefully our wait list at OKW will open up!!). Last year I did POP (3 nights) and OKW (5 nights) and it was fine. I traveled with my dds' (5 & 1 at the time). They loved the changes and it wasn't really much of a problem. The hotels transfer your luggage and we just showed up at the next one and checked in (we chose after a day at the parks---no need to rush!!).

Good luck and you will have a great time, no matter what you do!!!!

Pamela