Will bell services move our luggage to another Disney hotel?

This is a new situation for us and the only other thread I could find was from 2007.

We are doing a split stay for the first time. First 3 days are at Pop Century as we are not going to the parks. The next 8 days are at AKL but the day we switch we have an 8:10 Akershus reservation.

Can we drop our bags at bell services at Pop and have them taken to AKL for us?

Thanks,
Stacy

Srbright said:

This is a new situation for us and the only other thread I could find was from 2007.

We are doing a split stay for the first time. First 3 days are at Pop Century as we are not going to the parks. The next 8 days are at AKL but the day we switch we have an 8:10 Akershus reservation.

Can we drop our bags at bell services at Pop and have them taken to AKL for us?

Thanks,
Stacy

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Yep, absolutely. They'll transfer luggage between resorts. Note, don't expect it to be at resort #2 until much later in the day (3-4ish), so best to carry a day bag with anything you'll really need.

Have fun!

Yes, we've done this several times, and it's seemless... bell services will even come to your room... collect all your bags, and give you your claim tickets then & there... off you go to enjoy your day! Just call them from your room phone (allow 15-20 minutes from the time you call until they will arrive), they will ask you how many bags, and send someone along. I do tip them at least $1/bag, and I will give extra if they are moving cases of water. I also tip at delivery at the next hotel... same as above.

Also, I found out you have to call bell services at the NEXT hotel when you're in your room... I had thought it was like ME, and they would just show-up.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-ultimate-split-stay-thread.3322505/ is current and probably answers any questions you have.

Yes, they'll transfer the bags for you free of charge. Just be sure to bring cash to tip Bell Services when they collect your bags at your first resort, and when they give you your bags at the second resort.

On a FB group, a guest was told they didn't take luggage and the guest would need to take a cab (or a Minnievan - should call these Dollars for Disney). Others said they had their luggage transported for them just two weeks ago.

Deb & Bill said:

On a FB group, a guest was told they didn't take luggage and the guest would need to take a cab (or a Minnievan - should call these Dollars for Disney). Others said they had their luggage transported for them just two weeks ago.

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All onsite hotels will transfer to another onsite hotel for free. (Well, you tip but no charge.) FB post is incorrect. I promise. (Here now, transferred ASMo to bwi 4 or so days ago, tomorrow will transfer to BC same way.)

They have never asked or suggested how I should get to my next hotel.

Perhaps the person reporting this was misunderstood. Perhaps they were transferring to an offsite hotel and didn't realize the difference.

FYI OP: at values it's called Luggage Assistance (something like that- it's a button on the phone in your room- it's not called Bell Services there. But works same for this task.

Amanda999 said:

All onsite hotels will transfer to another onsite hotel for free. (Well, you tip but no charge.) FB post is incorrect. I promise. (Here now, transferred ASMo to bwi 4 or so days ago, tomorrow will transfer to BC same way.)

They have never asked or suggested how I should get to my next hotel.

Perhaps the person reporting this was misunderstood. Perhaps they were transferring to an offsite hotel and didn't realize the difference.

FYI OP: at values it's called Luggage Assistance (something like that- it's a button on the phone in your room- it's not called Bell Services there. But works same for this task.

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They were staying at BWV and transferring to SSR. It sounded like somewhat of a communication issue more than denying them Bell Services. But she was totally upset with what took place. She said it took her three hours to get transferred to the other resort and she missed her FP+ at Epcot because of it.

Deb & Bill said:

They were staying at BWV and transferring to SSR. It sounded like somewhat of a communication issue more than denying them Bell Services. But she was totally upset with what took place. She said it took her three hours to get transferred to the other resort and she missed her FP+ at Epcot because of it.

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It was likely a communication issue, I have had bell services either not have a clue what I was talking about, or tell me that I have to transfer my own luggage in a taxi as they can't go on the buses (yes obviously, that's why I am asking you to transfer it for me) a few times, it isn't normal, but has happened, I am usually able to resolve the issue by more clearly explaining what what I want to do, and how it has been done in the past, but I can remember at least one time where I had to get a manager involved to get resolution.

Deb & Bill said:

On a FB group, a guest was told they didn't take luggage and the guest would need to take a cab (or a Minnievan - should call these Dollars for Disney).

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There must have been some miscommunication issue in that instance. I have done multiple split stays within the last two years and Disney always transferred our luggage for free and efficiently from resort to resort. Bell Services also completed understood my request right away- such requests are routine, so I'm not sure which resort rep the FB poster asked & received that misinformation from. The people to talk to about luggage are the people at Bell Services. Maybe the FB poster instead asked an inexperienced rep at the front desk who just didn't know the right procedure. Or worse, they might have called "Front Desk" from their resort phone, not realizing that call is routed to an offsite call center, and possibly received the misinformation that way.

That is bizarre that people have allegedly had trouble with this. As others stated it had to be a miscommunication.

I used to work the bell/valet desk at a deluxe resort and took care of luggage transfers daily. Sometimes to value, moderate or other deluxes. Very routine. Bell person would retrieve bags from the room (or the guest would drop them at the desk) I'd drive the bags in a van to the resort the guests were switching to. I loved this aspect of the job - a change of scenery and a nice break during the day!

Guests usually went off to the parks and arrived at their new hotel later that day. Happened all the time, like I said almost daily.

We've done it twice in the last 5 days. Pofq-Poly and then Poly-AS Movies. No issues whatsoever. Both times our bags were at the new hotel by the time our room was ready at 3.

gillep said:

It was likely a communication issue, I have had bell services either not have a clue what I was talking about, or tell me that I have to transfer my own luggage in a taxi as they can't go on the buses (yes obviously, that's why I am asking you to transfer it for me) a few times, it isn't normal, but has happened, I am usually able to resolve the issue by more clearly explaining what what I want to do, and how it has been done in the past, but I can remember at least one time where I had to get a manager involved to get resolution.

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I have to wonder if this might be indicative of things changing. Bell Service CMs probably spend a fair amount of time every day, moving bags from resort to resort. So, it isn't hard to imagine that Disney is going to try to figure out a way to make a buck here. I can see them saying that Bell Services will no longer provide this as a free service, but one that you will pay for. Which means that many will choose to just take a MV, with their luggage, to the next resort.
I have never had a Bell Services CM have any issue understanding what I needed when told that I needed my bags moved to a different resort. BUT....I am tired of handing off my bags at 7:30am, and not getting them until past 5pm!! I have never, ever had them before that time, and usually later!!! So, I've started using a cab, early in the day, to get over to the new resort, with my bags. Sure, the bags are usually in storage, but I can get them as soon as my room is ready, or if I need something prior to the room being ready.

[QUOTE="Amanda999, post: 58082822, member: 471846"

FYI OP: at values it's called Luggage Assistance (something like that- it's a button on the phone in your room- it's not called Bell Services there. But works same for this task.[/QUOTE]
Can you get luggage assistance at the end of your stay from your room to RAC ?

did any of you have the dining plan for a split stay? My travel agent is trying to discourage me from the plan because she said the transition day is having glitches...any issues?

usmccobrawife said:

did any of you have the dining plan for a split stay? My travel agent is trying to discourage me from the plan because she said the transition day is having glitches...any issues?

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The only issue is that you have to use ALL of the credits from the 1st leg before you can access the credits from the 2nd. So if you have 2 snack credits from the 1st leg, you won't be able to use any Table Service credits from the 2nd leg. This is only an issue on the day you checkout of resort #1 and check into resort #2. After that, no issues.

JessicaW1234 said:

Can you get luggage assistance at the end of your stay from your room to RAC ?

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You can, but there will likely be a wait. They pick up in batches.

Kaytie said:

You can, but there will likely be a wait. They pick up in batches.

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Can you schedule it ahead of time?

I had researched it prior to my trip but then forgot everything I read during the trip itself lol. Anyway, we were staying at Saratoga Springs and switching to All Star Music and this is how it worked for us:

1. Called Bell Services from my room phone and scheduled a luggage pickup time (they had no issues modifying this half hour before pickup)
2. When Bell Services showed up, we showed him all our bags and he tagged them all and gave us claim tickets. We asked if they would be delivered directly to our new rooms at ASMu and he said he thought so, but wasn't sure.
3. When we got to ASMu later that afternoon, we called and asked for our bags to be brought up. We left the room immediately (it was just a quick stop to drop some stuff) and didn't have to actually be there for them to bring the bags.

As a side note, I had called and added a note on our ASMu reservations asking for connecting rooms. We did online check-in otherwise and was thrilled to show up to connecting rooms (we never went near the front desk).

JessicaW1234 said:

Amanda999 said:

Can you schedule it ahead of time?

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Yes and yes. We were staying at All Star Music and called ahead for luggage assistance and they scheduled a time. My brother left the next morning and he also scheduled a time. His time was about 30-60 mins earlier than he wanted but they said they had other pickups to do and that was the time available so he went with it. They'll take the bags to the front for either RAC or DME.

Prior to that we stayed at Saratoga Springs and for that one you can call 15-20 mins before to ask for pickup. We called the night before and scheduled it to our preferred time (then called half an hour before to adjust it lol).

usmccobrawife said:

did any of you have the dining plan for a split stay? My travel agent is trying to discourage me from the plan because she said the transition day is having glitches...any issues?

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The tough part for me was room charges. We did a splitstay with dining plan in the beginning and no dining plan for our last day. On our transition day, I went to front desk and cleared up all my room charges with my gift card. I had a bunch of snack credits and some table service credits left. After my TS meal that night, I realized I forgot to bring my gift card with me and had to charge the tips to my room. Even though I was checked in to my new room, they could ONLY charge it to my old room. I checked the MDE app later on and could see the charges (this tab disappeared the next day and I could only see my new room thereafter). If you want to apply a gift card, you either have to visit the front desk of Resort #1 before midnight (obviously not convenient) or call billing. I went physically to Resort #1 the next day (had another issue I wanted to deal with in person) but they could do nothing to switch the payment from my CC to my gift card. I called from home a few days later and after getting a bit of a runaround, got the right person to deal with all my issues.