Switching resorts during my stay

[Disdude71]

I am staying at Movies next week and will be switching to Coronado Springs on my last day. I will be spending the day at MK until evening. What is the best way to switch resorts? Should I leave super early and take my bag to CS and see if they can check me in early? Or should I leave my bag at Movies, ask them to transfer it to CS, and head out to park for the day and check in later? Not really super enthused with having to check in at an unfamiliar resort at midnight and have to stumble around in the dark looking for my room, though. Any suggestions?

 

[nicb88]

They can likely check you in early at CS though they probably won’t have the room ready. Or you could do online check in and have them transfer your bag from Movies.

Either way, they can’t actually tell you a room number until 11am due to guests in that room, so you’d have to wait for the info. It will come up in MDE by around 3pm, so you’ll know when heading back to CS. The only issue then is finding the building. It’s a big resort so could take a few minutes, unless you’re in the tower then it’s just going upstairs haha.

 

[dreamfinder]

Just drop your bag at bell services at Movies and ask them to transfer. It may take most of the day to arrive, but it's the best option. You can stop over mid day to try to get into your room if you want to know where it is before dark, but odds are you won't have a room number early in the AM, so not much benefit from going straight there from Movies.

 

[DisneyJoe]

They can likely check you in early at CS though they probably won’t have the room ready. Or you could do online check in and have them transfer your bag from Movies.

Either way, they can’t actually tell you a room number until 11am due to guests in that room, so you’d have to wait for the info. It will come up in MDE by around 3pm, so you’ll know when heading back to CS. The only issue then is finding the building. It’s a big resort so could take a few minutes, unless you’re in the tower then it’s just going upstairs haha.

If you've done online check in, I've received my room number as early as 8am - or you get a text saying that the room isn't quite ready yet, to check back later - I wouldn't use 11am as a guide, as the rooms can be ready any time between 7am and 3pm or even later; it can also depend on how flexible you are. If you show up at the resort first thing and don't have any requests and are willing to take whatever is available in your room category, they may be able to have a room for you.

 

[Disdude71]

Just drop your bag at bell services at Movies and ask them to transfer. It may take most of the day to arrive, but it's the best option. You can stop over mid day to try to get into your room if you want to know where it is before dark, but odds are you won't have a room number early in the AM, so not much benefit from going straight there from Movies.

Thats what I was thinking. I may a break from MK during the day so I can hop on bus to CS, try to check in there during the day, then head back to park. Thanx.

 

[Dave B]

Are you driving or did you take the Magical Express?

 

[Simba’s Mom]

I am staying at Movies next week and will be switching to Coronado Springs on my last day. I will be spending the day at MK until evening. What is the best way to switch resorts? Should I leave super early and take my bag to CS and see if they can check me in early? Or should I leave my bag at Movies, ask them to transfer it to CS, and head out to park for the day and check in later? Not really super enthused with having to check in at an unfamiliar resort at midnight and have to stumble around in the dark looking for my room, though. Any suggestions?

I do lots of split stays and always go with your second choice. I drop my bags off at bell services on my way to the bus stop, and head out to the park (or on my last stay it was Disney Springs).

 

[Disdude71]

Are you driving or did you take the Magical Express?

I am not driving. I will take Amtrak into Orlando, then ride share onto property. Relying mostly on Disney bus for transportation.

 

[dreamfinder]

I am not driving. I will take Amtrak into Orlando, then ride share onto property. Relying mostly on Disney bus for transportation.

Then you would want to let bell services move the luggage. Technically luggage isn't allowed on Disney buses.

 

[Disdude71]

Then you would want to let bell services move the luggage. Technically luggage isn't allowed on Disney buses.

Yeah. Thats true. I was thinking of taking an Uber over with my luggage. I just think the better/easier option is leaving it with them, let them move it, and check in later on. Thnx

 

[Tom 55]

Yeah. Thats true. I was thinking of taking an Uber over with my luggage. I just think the better/easier option is leaving it with them, let them move it, and check in later on. Thnx

On our last 2 trips we did a split stay. The first time it took forever to get our luggage moved using Bell Services. We were in our new room waiting hours for luggage to arive so we could change and got out to dinner. The second time we learned our lesson and got a Mini Van to take us. Took only a few minutes and was like $25. we worth it.

 

[Disdude71]

On our last 2 trips we did a split stay. The first time it took forever to get our luggage moved using Bell Services. We were in our new room waiting hours for luggage to arive so we could change and got out to dinner. The second time we learned our lesson and got a Mini Van to take us. Took only a few minutes and was like $25. we worth it.

That is good to know. The good thing is it is just myself, and I plan on being in the parks until evening so I won't be needing my luggage right away so I dont mind leaving it with bell services. But it is good to know. Thanx!

 

[Weather_Lady]

Also, OP, after you check in at your second resort, they might insist that you go to your room, call Bell Services and have them bring up your luggage (rather than get it yourself.) The last time we did a split stay, transferring to the Polynesian, the Bell Services desk literally refused to give us our luggage, even after confirming that it had arrived from our first resort (Beach Club) hours earlier. They made us go to the room and call them from there, so they could deliver it. I don't know if this is the policy at all resorts, or just the Polynesian, but it's something to be aware of.

Little did Poly Bell Services know, the reason we stopped by to pick up our luggage ourselves was that we realized we didn't have much cash on hand to tip them, so we didn't want them to have to put in the effort to bring it to us in our room for a paltry tip. I guess the joke was on them.

 

[RobWDW1971]

That is good to know. The good thing is it is just myself, and I plan on being in the parks until evening so I won't be needing my luggage right away so I dont mind leaving it with bell services. But it is good to know. Thanx!

Just Uber it over in the am - no wait, costs a few bucks, and you know you’re baggage is there. Check in the am before you head to the park and just swing by front desk to get your room key at night. Easy peasy.

 

[Disdude71]

Just Uber it over in the am - no wait, costs a few bucks, and you know you’re baggage is there. Check in the am before you head to the park and just swing by front desk to get your room key at night. Easy peasy.

That sounds pretty easy too. And I wont have to take a chunk out of my last day at the parks to come and check in. I may end up doing that. I seem to be all over the map with ideas of how I am going to do it. I am an early riser anyway so it wont be a problem to get up a bit earlier to do this.

 

[PeterGriffin]

Just Uber it over in the am - no wait, costs a few bucks, and you know you’re baggage is there. Check in the am before you head to the park and just swing by front desk to get your room key at night. Easy peasy.

This is what I would do, since I have done multiple split stays. I would do online check-in at Coronado. Bring your bag to bell services at All Star Movies and have them transfer them for you. Go to the Magic Kingdom and you will receive a text from Coronado, when your room is ready. When you get to Coronado, get off the bus at the Gran Destino Tower. Here you will pick up your luggage from bell services and you can ask someone at the front desk where your room is located.

 

[Disdude71]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their help with this issue. I had some issues with the move from resort to resort such as not having a credit card available to do online check in, and not having my own transportation to get around easily, As a guy who suffers from anxiety issues I was really worried about it but all of your suggestions really seemed to help and ease my worries. That's what I really appreciate about our "community". Everyone is willing to share their experiences and advice all for the benefit of others who love Disney as much as they do. Lately, it seems like all the planning has been engineered by Disney to suck all the fun out of a trip, but it's nice to know I can turn to my fellow travelers here for help. Thank you all, again. Now...if I can just make sure I get a bg for RoTR....