Changing Resorts - POP to AKV

[nolatron]

Hey all,

Got a question about changing resorts for an upcoming trip.

The quick backstory: Have a Rented point DVC reservation w/DDP for Sat. Sept 3 to Mon Sept 5 at the Animal Kingdom Villas. With our morning flight to Orlando, earliest we'll hit Epcot on Saturday is 2-3pm.

I recently realized my daughter has a half day of school that Friday before so I was thinking of catching an afternoon flight on Friday so we'll get the traveling done and then have a full first day at Epcot on Saturday.

I'd book a 1 night stay at the Pop Century so I can still use the DME (I'm bussing this trip, eek!)

Questions:

1) I understand Bell Services can move our luggage to the AKV on Saturday but how does this work? Just drop off my suitcase at the bell services desk at POP? Will it be automatically delivered to my room at the AKV or will it be waiting at bell services there? And any idea when it should actually get to the AKV?

2) I'm assuming I can't get my DDP cards at the POP and will need to go to the AKV to check-in and get our room/ddp cards. What do you think is the quickest way there at about 7-8am?

I was thinking I'd have to take a bus to AK then another bus to the AKV. What's the earliest the busses starting running to AK? 7am due to the Tusker house breakfast?

I thought about taking a cab but I'm not going to have a car seat for my daughter, so that option was scratched.

Thanks!

 

[DisneyJoe]

1) I understand Bell Services can move our luggage to the AKV on Saturday but how does this work? Just drop off my suitcase at the bell services desk at POP? Will it be automatically delivered to my room at the AKV or will it be waiting at bell services there?

Tell them when you check in at Pop and they will most likely tell you to call Luggage Services the night before you check out of Pop. I believe they will tell you to put your luggage just inside your room door for them to pickup.

As a double-check, I always call that morning when your luggage is ready, sometimes they have someone out that can stop and retrieve it.

They then take it and it will eventually make it over to AKV - BE PREPARED as you don't know when it will get there! If all goes well, it SHOULD be there before 3pm or so.

In many cases, you will need to call AKL/AKV Bell Services once you have your room to have them deliver the luggage. Sometimes they will do this automatically.

 

[CaptainShortty]

1. Yup, just take your stuff down to Bell Services at POP and let them know you're moving to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Be sure to tell them which building you're going to (Kidani or Jambo)! Many times people would forget to tell them and it winds up at the wrong building. I believe transfers are done at 1PM but don't quote me on that one, I don't remember. Ask the Bell Service desk and they'll let you know for sure what time they do transfers. When you get to the hotel your bags will be waiting for you at bell services. Just be prepared that when you get to the resort your luggage may not be there depending on what time it is.

2. Take a bus to AK and then a bus to DAKL. The buses will start running an hour before the park opens. Be at the bus stop about 15min. or so before that time to get on the first bus. If you can't do that you'll have to go to the park with EMHs in the morning and take a bus from there. Other than that, a cab is really your only option or seeing if the hotel will drive you (but it's unlikely because the person who drives the van is probably not there yet).

Have a great trip!

 

[worldfanatic]

We switch Resorts on almost every trip.
And like to let the Bell Staff take care of everything for us.

We always have our bags picked up at the room by them, tell them where we're going, give him a tip, take a ticket, and away we go.

At our new resort, after checking in we stop by the bell desk, ask to have to bags delivered, and tip that bell person upon bag delivery.

It's easy.
And as a former Bell Captain, I know they appreciate the business.

 

[nolatron]

Thanks for the info yall. Hopefully Monday I'll know if my tie off request is approved to make more definite plans.

I also emailed my DVC Renter to see if he happens to have some more points to rent so I could simply extend my current reservation. I'm just worried Disney would want to add another night to the DDP when I really don't need it. So we'll see.

 

[CaptainShortty]

Thanks for the info yall. Hopefully Monday I'll know if my tie off request is approved to make more definite plans.

I also emailed my DVC Renter to see if he happens to have some more points to rent so I could simply extend my current reservation. I'm just worried Disney would want to add another night to the DDP when I really don't need it. So we'll see.

It it's DVC, you can link the reservations together so you can have dining plan with one and not dining plan with the other. Have them talk to member services about it.