Resort Hopping

[ChrisQ]

We're already talking about our next trip (2009 or 2010), and we're thinking of "resort hopping." Can anyone who has done so please share their thoughts on it with me? Things like pros & cons (other than the obvious things like unpacking and repacking), tips, helpful hints, etc. Thanks!

 

[MaxPower]

If you have a car and are using it to move things between resorts, take advantage of bell services. You may spend $20-$30 in tips, but trust me -- it'll make your attitude so much better. Ignore this tip at your own peril -- moving things down the long walkways and hallways on your own can kill a vacation.

On the day of the hop, we sleep in and get out of the old room around 10:00. We reserve the latest breakfast possible at a nice restaurant like BOMA, Wispering Canyon, or Chef Mickey's, which is usually about 10:45 or so and make that a brunch. If it's a low crowd time of the year and the hotels aren't full, we'll go to our hop hotel right after brunch, because the earlier you get there, the more accomodating they'll be on room preferences at check in. Also gives you a better chance at a free room upgrade. Usually they'll have a room ready even though you're way ahead of the check-in time. Don't always count on them having a room ready to go though. After years of doing it, I've developed a feel for when the best time to check-in is going to be. Depends on time of year, day of the week, crowd levels, airline arrivals (weather and delays), and hotel choice.

If it's during a more crowded time, we'll go to the parks after brunch and then check into the new hotel around 5:00-6:00. This is usually a good time because it's after the afternoon check-in rush, but before the evening check-in rush after dinner and when lots of flights are arriving.

 

[yankspy]

We have done this a few times and it is surprisingly easy. This is how we have done it. Once you are packed call bell services and tell them where you are transfering to. You can leave your bags in the room. We will usually try and do an all day park day on that day so when we get to the other hotel at 10.00 or so check in is easy and our bags are there. :wave:

 

[scorp111]

Just to second what the others are saying, utilize Bell Services!!

They do the hard part, moving the bags, and you enjoy your vacation. We have done this on several trips, and don't find it to be much of a hassle.

On our upcoming trip, we have two nights in the Contemporary and 7 nights at AKL, so we are doing it again. It gives us a chance to see new resorts without the commitment of a long term stay.

We have stayed at 3 deluxe, 2 DVC, 3 Moderates, and 2 values in the last 3 1/2 years.

 

[sleepybear]

On our last trip, we stayed at 3 resorts in six days. You can read the trip report here:

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=295644

We were worried about the time lost moving from one resort to another, but it wasn't that bad. Of course, we had a rental car, so it was easy to handle the luggage. We were able to check in to our second resort at 11 a.m. We spent a full day at AK before checking in to our third, so our room was ready then, as well.

As for packing, we unpacked at the first resort, lived out of our suitcases for the one night we stayed at the second resort and unpacked again for the three nights at the third.

The only problem we encountered was that we loved our second stop, The Contemporary, which made our third hotel, Grand Floridian, pale in comparison. So make sure the final resort on your trip is the one you'll love the most.

 

[Jerm]

I have hopped on 2 different trips and have to say I am not fond of it. It feels like you are loosing something having to repack and unpack. We never had a problem with the service or the move, it was just more of the readjusting yourself to new surroundings. But I do agree if you are moving make sure you end hotel is the best one!

 

[dvcnut39]

Our resort hopping is a little different than yours. We stay in a different resort every time, but we love to "hop" on our off days. We'll check out Boma and AKV, or 'Ohanas and The Polynesian, or we'll just walk around The Grand Floridian. I almost like checking out the resorts as much as the parks.

 

[ChrisQ]

Our resort hopping is a little different than yours. We stay in a different resort every time, but we love to "hop" on our off days. We'll check out Boma and AKV, or 'Ohanas and The Polynesian, or we'll just walk around The Grand Floridian. I almost like checking out the resorts as much as the parks.

We've done that for years. We try to take a day and just explore the resorts. We'll do that for sure this December.

 

[wendysmom]

We love looking at the other resorts! Last time we took DD and her husband to a couple, now she wants to know where we're going this trip! (Two days...we leave Wednesday!! Sorry...just a tad excited!:ROFLOL

 

[rictusred]

I've always wanted to try this but to worried about the hassle with 2 kids

 

[fosse76]

I have hopped on 2 different trips and have to say I am not fond of it. It feels like you are loosing something having to repack and unpack. We never had a problem with the service or the move, it was just more of the readjusting yourself to new surroundings. But I do agree if you are moving make sure you end hotel is the best one!

Don't some of you who resort hop thyink it's rather selfish? You are after all tying up rooms that may otherwise be booked. For example, if someone looked for a romm for four days at a certain resort, they can't book it because only three or two days are available because one or two of those days are being occupied by someone who is unecessarily hogging three rooms on property. Now obviously it's not always going to be the case, but I'm sure some bookings aren't made for that reason.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Don't some of you who resort hop thyink it's rather selfish? You are after all tying up rooms that may otherwise be booked. For example, if someone looked for a romm for four days at a certain resort, they can't book it because only three or two days are available because one or two of those days are being occupied by someone who is unecessarily hogging three rooms on property. Now obviously it's not always going to be the case, but I'm sure some bookings aren't made for that reason.

These people doing split stays are paying for the rooms, and are sleeping in them for the nights they paid for - they aren't sitting empty at all.

ie. I may go in May and spend 1 night at Pop Century and then 2 nights at Saratoga Springs - how is that selfish?

 

[kimmychad]

Don't some of you who resort hop thyink it's rather selfish? You are after all tying up rooms that may otherwise be booked. For example, if someone looked for a romm for four days at a certain resort, they can't book it because only three or two days are available because one or two of those days are being occupied by someone who is unecessarily hogging three rooms on property. Now obviously it's not always going to be the case, but I'm sure some bookings aren't made for that reason.

umm no i dont think its selfish if you want to try out different resorts and you have the desire to pack up everything and move around to the ones you like. you must think i'm really selfish to book a room at allstar music just so i can get the free dining and extra magic hours and then stay off property at a condo. im guessing if someone cant get a room because someone is hopping they should have called earlier, same as getting a dining reservation at your favorite restaurant. dont wait till the last minute and say oh what a shame we cant just walk upto ________ and get a room or walk upto ________ and be seated for a meal. it's one of the most visited places in the world - plan ahead

 

[Philo]

Nope, not selfish. I'm doing it because I want to experience as many resorts as possible.

At the end of the day, I'm going to stay in one resort or another for the length of my trip. If thats 11 days at the Poly or 5 at the Poly and 6 at POFQ it doesn't really make a difference. For the whole of my trip I'm only using one room at any one time and I have paid for those rooms.

I know that if I stay in one resort from Tuesday - Friday it might make it a little awkward for someone who wants to stay Monday - Friday but thats the nature of the hotel business.

 

[RiversideBunny]

It's interesting at Christmas time to go see how the other resorts are decorated, particularly the Deluxe ones.

I'm not sure it's worth it at other times considering that you are giving up park time or rest time to do it.

To me, actually switching resorts (staying at more than one during the trip) does not seem like it's worth the trouble. Just check in and stay there and then go have fun.
To try different resorts it seems more practical to maybe stay at different ones on different trips.

IMHO

Good luck.

 

[scarpiapiano]

I'm not resort hopping but for my next stay but I am planning changing rooms during my next stay. I plan on renting vacation points to stay at a DVC resort. I want to book a studio for a Sunday thru Saturday stay and then move to a one bedroom unit the following Sunday thru Thursday. The big reason for this is that points double during Friday and Saturday nights. I don't think I'm being selfish. Just trying to be a smart consumer. Any thoughts?

 

[fosse76]

I'm not resort hopping but for my next stay but I am planning changing rooms during my next stay. I plan on renting vacation points to stay at a DVC resort. I want to book a studio for a Sunday thru Saturday stay and then move to a one bedroom unit the following Sunday thru Thursday. The big reason for this is that points double during Friday and Saturday nights. I don't think I'm being selfish. Just trying to be a smart consumer. Any thoughts?

I think that's different than those who just randomly decide to switch resorts for no real reason other than to stay at that resort. To tell someone to book a room earlier is a nonsense answer. The truth is that it seems to me a lot of people who are resort hopping are being rather selfish about it (all you have to do is look at their response to my query). I am not saying it is a bad thing to want to experience the different resorts, but when many people are doing it during the more crowded times of the year it seems they don't want other people to be able to experience Disney. This is more a question of those who move around after a few days during mid-week as opposed to people who move around after week-long stays. It's one thing to stay at the Contemporary for a full week and move to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for the weekend; it's quite another to stay at the Pop Century on a Tuesday only to move into the Polynesian on Wednesday and then to Port Orleans on the following Tuesday. It seems these people are tying up rooms that could and would have been booked for full weeks. And as I said, this is more about during peak times of the year, since during slower times there's probably better availability, and also for those who switch from a value resort to a moderate resort. Most of the people here seem to go to Disney often. Try the different resorts on a different visit. There's no non-selfish reason to do it in one trip. Well, I take that back. I guess if there's only one room available for to days at one resort and three days available at another resort that is an entirely different story.

 

[santa's surpriz]

I like to book dining at the various resorts. I will then plan extra time to enjoy their atmosphere. I think it lets you experience what many of the resorts have to offer w/o picking up home base and moving. The thought of switching resorts during my stay just stresses me out!

 

[Philo]

I think that's different than those who just randomly decide to switch resorts for no real reason other than to stay at that resort. To tell someone to book a room earlier is a nonsense answer. The truth is that it seems to me a lot of people who are resort hopping are being rather selfish about it (all you have to do is look at their response to my query). I am not saying it is a bad thing to want to experience the different resorts, but when many people are doing it during the more crowded times of the year it seems they don't want other people to be able to experience Disney. This is more a question of those who move around after a few days during mid-week as opposed to people who move around after week-long stays. It's one thing to stay at the Contemporary for a full week and move to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for the weekend; it's quite another to stay at the Pop Century on a Tuesday only to move into the Polynesian on Wednesday and then to Port Orleans on the following Tuesday. It seems these people are tying up rooms that could and would have been booked for full weeks. And as I said, this is more about during peak times of the year, since during slower times there's probably better availability, and also for those who switch from a value resort to a moderate resort. Most of the people here seem to go to Disney often. Try the different resorts on a different visit. There's no non-selfish reason to do it in one trip. Well, I take that back. I guess if there's only one room available for to days at one resort and three days available at another resort that is an entirely different story.

Your entitled to that opinion but I still can't see how it's selfish. To say that the responses from me and others proove that it's selfish is crazy. I've often taken holidays from mid-week to mid-week, my younger brother has just had tuesday - tuesday off from school. If he decided to visit WDW for that holiday is he selfish because it doesn't fit in the perfect week? Reading these forums you hear alot of people who are visiting for three or four days - are they selfish because their not spending the full week there?

By your logic, the fact that someone booked a room at say the Poly is selfish because someone else want's to book a room at the Poly. It is a first come first serve thing - hotels always will be. The fact that the first person is staying from Monday - Thursday and the second person wanted to stay Sunday - Friday makes no difference.

 

[YankeeMouse]

Thanks for this great idea! We are staying at POFQ next week, but I changed my reservation for the last night of our stay for the Contemporary Magic Kingdom view! I'm so excited. Have always wanted to do this but couldn't justify the expense. Saved over $100 with the AP discount code, which I was able to get for this one night. Took the advice posted about making it your last night of the trip or you might not want to go to a moderate! Have been to the Poly, Contemporary garden wing, Beach Club, etc. many times, but this was always the thing I wanted to do.