What will it be for trip #3? (August 5-14, 2012) About This Page:

[Colexis Mom]

Great plans! I'd let WDW take care of the luggage (just don't put meds in there)!

[mfirst]

Originally Posted by benjiboo25

That was probably a longer answer than you were looking for...

Seriously, thank you for your answer. It really helps shed a bit of light - we're still muddeling through our new diagnosis for our son and we're still learning how best to help him. Thank you as always for your honesty!

We have gotten him home-based early intervention and he's really taken off with sign language and is working toward vocalizing some. He transitions to a special preschool in August after he turns 3. When we "loose him" he sounds similar to your daughter - can't tolerate physical touch, looses eye contact and will flap/rock, etc.

He seems to learn best with song - we have a toothbrush/getting dressed and getting out of the house set of songs (everything is sung to the tune of 10 little Indians).

Your daughter's progress is so wonderful!

Originally Posted by benjiboo25

Our 15th wedding anniversary!

This is another “off” day for us… But read carefully because I will need much feedback on this day because…this is also the day we change resorts from POR to OKW. We have never done a split stay and want some feedback from those of you who have done this. I am thrilled to be able to stay at OKW and grateful for a 30% pin code—although in 2010 we would have been able to use a 45% pin code! After 5 days of being cramped in the room at POR and doing as much as we can, we will really appreciate the opportunity to slow down and spread out—and do laundry! LOL!

Once again, we plan to sleep in as long as we need to before packing up and checking out of POR. As you all know…we need to be out of POR at 11am but will not be able to check into OKW until 4pm…

This is also the day that we pick up our rental car. Unless we find a better deal…we are renting from National and can pick it up around noon. This is also the first time we have ever had a car at WDW and are only getting one because we will be driving down to the Fort Lauderdale area to visit family. We were going to rent for a full week, but decided to add one more day so that we would not have to fit the car pickup in on an actual park day. I am also looking forward to having a car at OKW because it is so spread out.

Should we have POR store our luggage and come back with our car to retrieve it? I *believe* we can have WDW transport our luggage from POR to OKW, right? Is it best to checkin to OKW early just in case the room is ready or to wait until after 4pm? Should we ask for a late checkout of POR so they do not need to store our luggage?

What is the most efficient and least frustrating way to manage the resort change and to pick up the rental car and to still have some fun experiences this day? HELP!

I *think* we will spend this day at DTD so that we do not have to fuss with swimsuits and changing clothes when we are not sure where our luggage will be. We expect to visit DQ and Babycakes… J

We have a dinner ADR at Olivia's Cafe at 6:05 p.m. Once again, I am re-thinking this ADR time as I fear it may cut into the flexibility of our day. However, I want to be able to spend time in our room at this resort as much as we can. I envision going back to our room after dinner and enjoying the space.

Good luck with these decisions! For some reason, I'm getting really hung up on our ADR's and keep "tweaking them' - maybe because we don't have the DP?

[OneLittleSpark]

Sorry I can't help with any of your questions this round. I do want to say though that I think doing all the resot change and car rental on this off day is a great idea! Also DTD so you don't have to mess with clothes and wet suits too.

[Linnynad]

I can't be of much help here with the split stay thing, BUT on our cruise last yr I do know that going from resort to ship, then ship back to resort was annoying with the luggage and not knowing when we would see it agin, so I think a day at DTD or DQ would be an excellent idea. I think the 6pm dinner time is pretty decent too. Not a big rush hour time just yet. Also late enough that you wouldn't have to cut into any of your play time.

[mommapants]

Spent all afternoon catching up on the PTR - glad you took a break for a bit as I didn't get too far behind.

just a few comments, won't help this time but for you next trip planning. I have had really good luck getting great rates on minivan rentals at MCO but you have to book WAY out, like 11 12 months in advance. If you know when you will be traveling that far in advance I was able to get a 10 day rental of an 8 passenger van with unlimited mileage for $400.00 (twice) in 2006 and then again in 2011 but booked it one year in advance.


I've never done a resort switch mid stay but my advice would be to check in as early as possible at OKW - never know the room may be available. Also if you have the car, I'd transport your luggage so you will have it when/if you need it. I hate sitting around waiting for my luggage. That's just me.

More please

[KMB733]

I can't help you with the split stay, but I think that I would let WDW transfer my luggage.

[HollyH]

Good luck with the split stay! We had good luck with our room being ready when we did online check in and we estimated a morning arrival. I have heard others who report the same thing. But I didn't have any room requests which makes it easier to assign a room. As for the luggage, I think I would pack a day bag with some items that I think we might need (swim suits for example) and let Disney transfer the bags.

[mcc0313]

So split stay, we have done it both ways. One year we took a cab in the early AM from POR to the BWV and our room was ready at 8:30 AM. Last year we did online check in for our second resort the day we were leaving, we let them transfer our bags from AKL to the BWV and we headed to DTD for a bit. We got back to the BWV at 2:30 and our room was ready but our bags were still not there so we headed to Epcot and did not get our bags until later that evening when we returned and we called bell services.

Not sure if that helped or not....I found both ways pretty easy. If you are going to have the rental car I would probably relax in your room until check-out, have bell services hold your bags for a bit while you pick up the car, or if your DH picks up the car you can let the kids play around at the resort for a while longer, then take your bags over to OKW to check in. If your room is ready great, if not at least you will have your bags there for when the room is done.

I think 6 would be a good time for dinner, even if you make your way to DTD around 1 it gives you more than enough time to wander and if you felt like you were running a bit late maybe call dining and see if they could change your ADR for a bit later.

I always obsess about the times of my ADRs and then I realized if we are having such a great time then we change what we have too instead of trying to find the perfect time because you never know how the day is going to play out. I think you picked great times so I would keep it.

[benjiboo25]

Thanks for all the great feedback!!!

Originally Posted by Cam22

When we have done a resort change, we always have WDW transport our luggage from one resort to the other, so much less stress. We checked in early at our 2nd resort, but unfortunately, our new room was not ready. But you all might get lucky as I know some folks have been.

I have heard they make this easy...but I do not really get how it works. Do we have Bell services pick it up at our room and they just send it over? Do we need to have everything packed neatly in suitcases or would they transport tote bags as well? How long does it take?

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great plans! I'd let WDW take care of the luggage (just don't put meds in there)!

No meds...got it...is that just because it may take a while? Anything else we should leave out? Electronics ok?

Originally Posted by mfirst

Seriously, thank you for your answer. It really helps shed a bit of light - we're still muddeling through our new diagnosis for our son and we're still learning how best to help him. Thank you as always for your honesty!

We have gotten him home-based early intervention and he's really taken off with sign language and is working toward vocalizing some. He transitions to a special preschool in August after he turns 3. When we "loose him" he sounds similar to your daughter - can't tolerate physical touch, looses eye contact and will flap/rock, etc.

He seems to learn best with song - we have a toothbrush/getting dressed and getting out of the house set of songs (everything is sung to the tune of 10 little Indians).

Your daughter's progress is so wonderful!


Good luck with these decisions! For some reason, I'm getting really hung up on our ADR's and keep "tweaking them' - maybe because we don't have the DP?

Every time I think we have Hannah figured out...she ssends us another curve ball. Honestly, I think that is the case with all of our kids, but it is a much bigger ball with her

I like how you use a repetitive song to cue your son. Many of these kids respond well to music. (It is Hannah's passion!)

ADR's were BOTH harder and easier for us this year. Like you, I think it is because we have no DDP. I wanted flexibility...but I also crave structure. We also need to keep the budget in mind. We still have a lot...but less than we do with the DDP so I want to make the most of every one!

Originally Posted by OneLittleSpark

Sorry I can't help with any of your questions this round. I do want to say though that I think doing all the resot change and car rental on this off day is a great idea! Also DTD so you don't have to mess with clothes and wet suits too.

Thanks for following along, as always!

Originally Posted by Linnynad

I can't be of much help here with the split stay thing, BUT on our cruise last yr I do know that going from resort to ship, then ship back to resort was annoying with the luggage and not knowing when we would see it agin, so I think a day at DTD or DQ would be an excellent idea. I think the 6pm dinner time is pretty decent too. Not a big rush hour time just yet. Also late enough that you wouldn't have to cut into any of your play time.

Thanks. I do fear that waiting for luggae will be annoying...

Originally Posted by mommapants

Spent all afternoon catching up on the PTR - glad you took a break for a bit as I didn't get too far behind.

just a few comments, won't help this time but for you next trip planning. I have had really good luck getting great rates on minivan rentals at MCO but you have to book WAY out, like 11 12 months in advance. If you know when you will be traveling that far in advance I was able to get a 10 day rental of an 8 passenger van with unlimited mileage for $400.00 (twice) in 2006 and then again in 2011 but booked it one year in advance.

I've never done a resort switch mid stay but my advice would be to check in as early as possible at OKW - never know the room may be available. Also if you have the car, I'd transport your luggage so you will have it when/if you need it. I hate sitting around waiting for my luggage. That's just me.

More please

Thanks for following along!

When you got youir good deals on minivan rentals...did you actually have to pay in advance. Because our trip details have been so uncertain, I was hesitant to make anything official.

Originally Posted by KMB733

I can't help you with the split stay, but I think that I would let WDW transfer my luggage.

It does seem easiest...but I also think I would not need to spend as much time packing well if we moved everything ourselves.

Originally Posted by HollyH

Good luck with the split stay! We had good luck with our room being ready when we did online check in and we estimated a morning arrival. I have heard others who report the same thing. But I didn't have any room requests which makes it easier to assign a room. As for the luggage, I think I would pack a day bag with some items that I think we might need (swim suits for example) and let Disney transfer the bags.

I wish there was a way to know in advance if the room would be ready...

Originally Posted by mcc0313

So split stay, we have done it both ways. One year we took a cab in the early AM from POR to the BWV and our room was ready at 8:30 AM. Last year we did online check in for our second resort the day we were leaving, we let them transfer our bags from AKL to the BWV and we headed to DTD for a bit. We got back to the BWV at 2:30 and our room was ready but our bags were still not there so we headed to Epcot and did not get our bags until later that evening when we returned and we called bell services.

Not sure if that helped or not....I found both ways pretty easy. If you are going to have the rental car I would probably relax in your room until check-out, have bell services hold your bags for a bit while you pick up the car, or if your DH picks up the car you can let the kids play around at the resort for a while longer, then take your bags over to OKW to check in. If your room is ready great, if not at least you will have your bags there for when the room is done.

I think 6 would be a good time for dinner, even if you make your way to DTD around 1 it gives you more than enough time to wander and if you felt like you were running a bit late maybe call dining and see if they could change your ADR for a bit later.
.

I really like the idea of playing at POR while DH goes to get the car. I guess I imagined trekking the whole family over there...If I knew the room would be ready, I would definitely prefer to get settled into OKW early.

Does anyone know if there is a way we could contact OKW the morning of our POR checkout to see if the room would be ready early?
If I knew the room would be ready, I would rather move the

[lazanya]

Good luck with the split stay. I haven't done a split stay myself, so I'm not sure myself. But if it were me, I'd let Disney transfer my bags (less hassle) and just pack a bag or two with the essentials (meds, swimsuits, electronics, etc.) that you might need before your bags arrive at OKW. Hope you like OKW. OKW is my home resort (DVC member). My DH s Olivia's and the Key lime pie from there!

[benjiboo25]

Originally Posted by lazanya

Good luck with the split stay. I haven't done a split stay myself, so I'm not sure myself. But if it were me, I'd let Disney transfer my bags (less hassle) and just pack a bag or two with the essentials (meds, swimsuits, electronics, etc.) that you might need before your bags arrive at OKW. Hope you like OKW. OKW is my home resort (DVC member). My DH s Olivia's and the Key lime pie from there!

The key lime pie is what my husband is looking forward to as well! I am droooling over the eggs Benedict...can he get key lime pie at breakfast?

[mommapants]

Originally Posted by benjiboo25

Thanks for following along!

When you got youir good deals on minivan rentals...did you actually have to pay in advance. Because our trip details have been so uncertain, I was hesitant to make anything official.

Nope never had to pre-pay. I wouldn't want to do that that far in advance. The only great deal I've ever had to pre-pay was for a hotel. I think the vans must just price super low until about 6-8 mos out.

[lazanya]

Originally Posted by benjiboo25

The key lime pie is what my husband is looking forward to as well! I am droooling over the eggs Benedict...can he get key lime pie at breakfast?

I didn't see the Key Lime pie on the breakfast menu, but it wouldn't hurt to ask your server if you can still get it then.

[benjiboo25]

Originally Posted by mommapants

Nope never had to pre-pay. I wouldn't want to do that that far in advance. The only great deal I've ever had to pre-pay was for a hotel. I think the vans must just price super low until about 6-8 mos out.

Thanks for the info. I will start looking far in advance from now on. I think we got a ddecent deal on the car...but I would prefer a minivan to an intermediate SUV...

Originally Posted by lazanya

I didn't see the Key Lime pie on the breakfast menu, but it wouldn't hurt to ask your server if you can still get it then.

We just may!

[Cam22]

We've had all our suitcases, tote bags, and carryons piled together in the room. We call to let them know our luggage is ready and we leave the room with the suitcases in it and they magically appear at the other resort. It really is !