Too much switching?

[goodferry]

OK, we were originally booked for a DVC stay from June 13-18th at the BLT followed by a stay at the WL from the 18th-21st. Sooooo I booked our airfare yesterday and it was $50 PER PERSON (six of us) cheaper for us to fly on the 12th as opposed to the 13th. So, of course I will go a day earlier, duh.

So now I need to decide what to do. Do I add on an extra night at the BLT (if it's available) the point cost would be pretty high since it's a weekend night, or do I go for one night at a Value resort? We wouldn't be arriving until 5:30 pm, so it isn't like we would have a full park day that Saturday. My plan is to go to DTD and get our APs activated and maybe take the kids to Disney Quest for the evening. Would it be too much moving around with six people and three different resorts over 9 days?

 

[goofy4tink]

I wouldn't pay more for a night than what I was saving in airfare. So....that would pretty much rule out BLT. I would head over to a value resort (Pop is always my first choice) and stay there that addtl night. Don't even unpack...just take what you need for the 13th in your carryon bags. Then, you have two options...
1. allow Pop to move your bags to BLT on the 13th, and you just go to MK that morning (the 13th) and then walk over to BLT later in the day to get checked in.
or..
2. get a cab from Pop to BLT the morning of the 13th, with your bags. Get checked in.

It's your choice. You just won't get your bags until after 6ish if you have Pop move them. And for me, that's a pain in the neck.

I'm looking at moving from BLT over to Pop for one last night in August. It's a Sat night so I don't want to use weekend points (DVC), but would like to have that last entire day...and since we're flying SW, we could check our bags at POP. If Sunday is about the same fares, then we'll be moving to Pop for the night and early morning.

 

[robinb]

If you're coming in that late, you may want to consider staying out at the airport (using Priceline) and then taking ME into BLT in the morning. Even 2 rooms at a Value resort will eat up a lot of your $300 savings.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I'd pick the Doubletree at DTD. You can get a good price, fit six and you will be near the Quest and to get your AP passes activated. Take the MK bus from the Doubletree the next day and you will be at BLT (that is if you can manage the luggage) otherwise take a taxi. OR check out the rental for a day, there is a Budget at the doubletree.

 

[hmillerbarilla]

I don't think it is too much switching. I'm hoping for a good rate at SSR for the weekend before we move to BLT in July since I don't want to use weekend points either! I'm planning a DTD night as well for my family.

I also think the move from BLT to WL will be easy, have one person take a cab with the luggage and the rest of you can just ride over on the boat.

 

[abubu919]

I don't think its too much. I would stick with a value though since they are pretty cheap. POP is my favorite

 

[robinb]

FWIW, if the OP ends up in a value resort there is no need for a cab. His bags will be transferred by the luggage fairies to BLT and all they need to do is take the MK bus and walk over to BLT to check in. That is the biggest advantage to staying at a Disney resort that first night.

 

[Hopefully]

I think it is a lot of switching, but I think it is a done deal that you have to make the best of it.
I agree with Goofy4tink. I would find somewhere that does not cost more than my savings. Since you know you want to do DTD that night, I would look at the Values for one night. I would then take a taxi with my luggage in the morning and get checked in and my luggage stored.
Remember that you are virtually "homeless" on moving day
Have a Great Trip

 

[goodferry]

I was thinking of a Disney Resort too because of the luggage moving thing. I am staying at BLT on points, so chances are my room won't even be close to ready until after 4, so waiting until 6 or so isn't such a big deal. No different really then what we would normally do which is get a flight that gets us in around 9 am.
This next question may be for the DVC boards, but if I am staying at BLT on points will they move my luggage to WL after my stay? For such a short taxi ride, it may be worth just moving it myself, though.
Thanks for all the input. I think two rooms at Pop is probably what we will do. I considered staying at the airport, but can you still take ME if you don't go right after your flight arrives. Plus if we stay on property, we can go to DTD and get those APs activated, that way the next morning we can head straight to the parks!

 

[DisTeach1]

This is why I would not lengthen my trip to save money on airfare. Really, for $300 you're not saving that much. We would have to pay an extra night hotel (don't you need two rooms for six of you?), at least two extra meals, an extra day of parking at the airport, and an extra night at the kennel. I would have to save a lot more than $300 on airfare because you're really not coming out that far ahead.

 

[Tara922c]

I would book a night at a value. Like you said, you aren't arriving until after 5, and then plan on going to dtd, so all you would be doing in your room is basically sleeping. I would get up the first day, and take your luggage to luggage services to have it transferred to BLT, and enjoy your day until it is time to check in to BLT. Have fun!!

 

[Cruella 66]

We had a simular situation last year. If you are military, book a room at SOG for the night! It's only about $99. BUT, if you don't have military ties, I'd go value or see if you can get a mod. to fit everyone in. Good luck and isn't this a great situation to be in???

 

[npmommie]

This kind of happened to us. we were booked on a sunday to sunday week with disney, but found the airfare significantly cheaper if we flew monday to monday, so I changed the reservation dates with disney.
we were going to do the extra day but the extra cost would have just ate up the savings,
can you change the dates of your reservations with disney just coming in a day earlier and leaving a day earlier?

 

[goodferry]

Well, here's my thought process on the extra day.
1. It's a Saturday, so no work or school missed

2. We normally drive into Pittsburgh and spend the night near the airport and then take a very early morning flight (6 or 7 am). If we have a 3:00 flight on Saturday, there's no need to do that, so there's money saved there.

3. I would rather give Disney the $300 then the airlines

4. I have always wanted to stay at one of the Value resorts, we never have because my family overrules me. Now that we bought DVC, even less likely to happen, so this would be my chance to see how they are.

So $300 saved on airfare, $200 saved on hotel room in pittsburgh. $8 on extra day parking (we park offsite at the airport), $200 on value rooms in Disney, maybe $100 on extra food, dog goes with my sister so no extra cost there.

I realize there's no huge savings per se, my real concern is will it be a huge pain in the rear end, has anyone done this before.

 

[DisTeach1]

Well then, having settled that...my thoughts are, Yes it's a pain. Now, I have switched resorts many times and even stayed one or two nights at one resort before moving. And I know Disney makes it easy on us by moving our luggage. Still...

It is time consuming. You have some stuff to pack up, you have to check in, then check out, then check back in, etc.

That's why, this time, we decided not to do a split stay, and just stay all 8 nights at one resort. I guess I just like the feeling of having "arrived" and settling in.

So, if you're really not looking to save money, I would stay where you are going to end up staying anyways and just enjoy the extra time at Disney.

 

[Cruella 66]

All that being said, pack a small suitcase with what you'd need for one night, and only open that for your one night before your original reservation. I have stayed at the Family Suites at All Star, and yes, that would be a good place! Is it a huge pain, not really, at least it wasn't for us. We were a party of 5; two adults, and three children 12, 8, and 6. Best wishes, Cindy

 

[Sandisw]

I was thinking of a Disney Resort too because of the luggage moving thing. I am staying at BLT on points, so chances are my room won't even be close to ready until after 4, so waiting until 6 or so isn't such a big deal. No different really then what we would normally do which is get a flight that gets us in around 9 am.
This next question may be for the DVC boards, but if I am staying at BLT on points will they move my luggage to WL after my stay? For such a short taxi ride, it may be worth just moving it myself, though.
Thanks for all the input. I think two rooms at Pop is probably what we will do. I considered staying at the airport, but can you still take ME if you don't go right after your flight arrives. Plus if we stay on property, we can go to DTD and get those APs activated, that way the next morning we can head straight to the parks!

Yes, bell services will move your things from BLT to VWL. We did it last year when we moved from BWV to BLT.

Have you checked to see if you could book that extra night at DVC for cash through MS? If it is available, it might be better than paying with your points and if it is the same room type, you would not even have to move (just have them link the two). I think that the member discount is 25%.

Just a thought

 

[goodferry]

Hadn't thought of that! Thanks