Split Stays? Yay or Nay?

[Masonmj84]

We always do split stays and have done it with a party of 8. We have done a split of 5 hotels. This time we are doing a split stay of 6 resorts over a 17 day time. People say we are crazy, but we like it and my kids love trying the different places. We plan accordingly and never lose real time in switching. We have lost maybe in loading driving and unloding. This time we will not have a car so will depend on the resorts moving our luggage. We never really unpack so it works ok for us. We consider the resorts like an attraction.

We recently did a split stay at Poly and BC over 8 nights and loved it. We felt like we actually GAINED time because we were generally closer to the parks and restaurants we planned to visit on a given day (only had to use the buses on our AK day). Plus we got to experience two different resorts (like two vacations in one).

In fact, we liked it so much that I'm planning another split stay at 4 resorts over 12 nights. Originally, I was going to just do a 2 way "lodge themed" split at WL and AKL because I really want to experience those resorts. But I couldn't bring myself to give up the ambiance (and Monorail access) of the Poly and the location of BC for visiting EP and HS. So the current plan is 3 nights at each of WL, Poly, AKL, and BC.

 

[emmysmommy]

I'm a split stay kinda person but that's because I can't make up my mind about which resort so we do both. Or in the case of our last trip we had a split-split stay with 3 resorts!

We've done both the taxi and luggage transfer and I prefer to simply have Bell Service take our bags for us and move them. Typically luggage transfer takes place between 1-3 in the afternoon. I don't feel we've lost any time doing this since we take a bus/monorail to our new hotel, pick up our new room key and move on to a brand new room!

 

[dayfritch]

Thank you all SO much! My husband "made" me read aloud all of your responses. The advice is invaluable. I'm still leaning towards a split; my husband loves all the comments for "No!". Im wondering. - wouldn't we need to check in at the new hotel (WL) first to get our new tickets? Wouldn't my park tickets expire at checkout? Confused. Actually, they are god until 11:59 PM the night you checkout - right? I was thinking of getting a day less on the first ressie so my tickets wouldn't overlap. In other words, buying tix with PH 3 nights (23,24, 25th) and then on 26th check into WL and get tix with PH for the 26th, 27th, 28th, etc.... Is this correct? So confused!!! Ahhhhhh.

 

[dansdad]

Thank you all SO much! My husband "made" me read aloud all of your responses. The advice is invaluable. I'm still leaning towards a split; my husband loves all the comments for "No!". Im wondering. - wouldn't we need to check in at the new hotel (WL) first to get our new tickets? Wouldn't my park tickets expire at checkout? Confused. Actually, they are god until 11:59 PM the night you checkout - right? I was thinking of getting a day less on the first ressie so my tickets wouldn't overlap. In other words, buying tix with PH 3 nights (23,24, 25th) and then on 26th check into WL and get tix with PH for the 26th, 27th, 28th, etc.... Is this correct? So confused!!! Ahhhhhh.

FYI, you can buy tickets with your first hotel reservation that cover your entire stay. Park tickets do not expire until 14 days after they are first used. Then you can get a room only reservation for resort #2.

 

[CoolDisneyKitten]

We got to WDW during Christmas (including Christmas Day). This year our trip is 12.23 to 12.30. We usually stay at the Wilderness Lodge (my fave). This year my 6 y/o and my husband want to stay at the Poly. I don't want to abandon my WL! I suggested a split stay as a compromise. My husband is getting upset and keeps informing me we will lose an entire day to changing hotels. Has anyone else done this? Was the experience a positive one? Any feedback you could give would be most welcome!

We did a split stay in May 08, and at first I was really apprehensive for the exact reasons your hubbie is worried.

Lemme tell you: Disney knows their business! We checked out of SSR and had bell services move our luggage to OKW (we didn't have a car). Later, when we checked in at OKW, our luggage was in the room waiting for us. No big deal. Easy peasy.

You can check out of one first thing, have bell services take your luggage, hit a park, and check in at the new place either online from the park (you could use your phone, yeah?) or later that evening after you're all parked out.

Seriously. I'd do it again, and I hate moving. That's how easy they made it.

 

[Bob NC]

We got to WDW during Christmas (including Christmas Day). This year our trip is 12.23 to 12.30. We usually stay at the Wilderness Lodge (my fave). This year my 6 y/o and my husband want to stay at the Poly. I don't want to abandon my WL! I suggested a split stay as a compromise. !

If you usually stay at the WL, wouldn't a compromise be staying at the resort everyone else wants to stay at this time?

 

[pmaurer74]

We did a split stay last year and it was a little annoying. This year we are doing it again mainly to save money. We originally booked one week at BC CL because there were few rooms left and were told there were a bunch of regular rooms when we went to switch we were stuck with CL. So, the compromise was to stay 4 nights BC CL and switch to POR RGR so the girls can stay in the princess rooms. We will have access to the lounge until late afternoon at BC and we are going to Chef Mickey's for breakfast then come back to the room and pack then on to HS for lunch and a few shows then back in time to move to the other resort. So it will be a "down" day for us though a lot is still going on. This switch is saving us $900.

 

[mickeynut1]

FYI, you can buy tickets with your first hotel reservation that cover your entire stay. Park tickets do not expire until 14 days after they are first used. Then you can get a room only reservation for resort #2.

This . If you are looking at going to parks for 6 days, it's better cost wise to book a package with 6 day PHs with the first reservation and book room only for the 2nd one. A 6 day PH is quite a bit cheaper than buying two 3 day PHs with each reservation. If you are wanting the DDP with both reservations, you can get the 6 day PHs with the first resort and a 1 day ticket with the second resort and save that 1 day ticket for a future trip.

 

[Daycogs]

We are going for 8 days. I was thinking I would have to book 2 reservations. First ressie (Poly) from 23-26, with a meal plan and PHs for the 23, 24, 25th. Second ressie (WL), take a dining plan and PHs for 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. If I buy only the one day tix for the second ressie, wouldn't I only be eligible for dining for one day? Very confused!

 

[Daycogs]

If you usually stay at the WL, wouldn't a compromise be staying at the resort everyone else wants to stay at this time?

I do not believe that would be a compromise. My husband also wants to stay at the WL but wants to try the Poly. I suggested trying both to "satisfy" everyone. Thanks.

 

[Daycogs]

We did a split stay in May 08, and at first I was really apprehensive for the exact reasons your hubbie is worried.

Lemme tell you: Disney knows their business! We checked out of SSR and had bell services move our luggage to OKW (we didn't have a car). Later, when we checked in at OKW, our luggage was in the room waiting for us. No big deal. Easy peasy.

You can check out of one first thing, have bell services take your luggage, hit a park, and check in at the new place either online from the park (you could use your phone, yeah?) or later that evening after you're all parked out.

Seriously. I'd do it again, and I hate moving. That's how easy they made it.

Thanks! I will def. read your reply to my husband! I think he is becoming more open to this -- now that he sees that people have done it and would recommend doing it again (or, even better, HAVE done it again!). Dana

 

[Daycogs]

We recently did a split stay at Poly and BC over 8 nights and loved it. We felt like we actually GAINED time because we were generally closer to the parks and restaurants we planned to visit on a given day (only had to use the buses on our AK day). Plus we got to experience two different resorts (like two vacations in one).

In fact, we liked it so much that I'm planning another split stay at 4 resorts over 12 nights. Originally, I was going to just do a 2 way "lodge themed" split at WL and AKL because I really want to experience those resorts. But I couldn't bring myself to give up the ambiance (and Monorail access) of the Poly and the location of BC for visiting EP and HS. So the current plan is 3 nights at each of WL, Poly, AKL, and BC.

I am loving your plan! I also love the AKL but feel that it is too far away from the Magic Kingdom (my son just turned 6 and the MK is his favorite park). I would love to stay there -- it is so gorgeous. You will definitely have to update me about this 4 stays in 1 vacation. It seems adventurous and a whole lot of fun! Dana

 

[mickeynut1]

We are going for 8 days. I was thinking I would have to book 2 reservations. First ressie (Poly) from 23-26, with a meal plan and PHs for the 23, 24, 25th. Second ressie (WL), take a dining plan and PHs for 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. If I buy only the one day tix for the second ressie, wouldn't I only be eligible for dining for one day? Very confused!

The DDP goes by the number of nights you stay, not by park tickets. As long as you buy the minimum required (1 day base when paying for the DDP and a 2 day base for free dining), you will get DDP credits according to the number of nights you stay. For 8 nights, each person will get 8 TS, 8 CS, and 8 snacks for the trip (assuming you are going with the DDP and not QSDP or DlxDDP). So, in order to get the DDP for the whole trip, I would book the Poly with 6 day PHs + DDP and the WL with 1 day base tickets + DDP and save the 1 day base tickets for a future trip. Some people have suggested having that 1 day ticket taken off of the second KTTW card and transferred to a paper ticket so you don't accidentally use that ticket when entering the parks, since you will need that KTTW card for dining. HTH .

 

[osugal]

I like unpacking, getting settled in, and knowing i don't have to pack up until we leave. I don't want to go through all of that and move out midway through my vacation. I just don't think I'd be able to kick back and enjoy myself as much. I've considered it before but always decided against it.

 

[robinb]

We do split stays, but I don't like them very much. Packing and moving takes too much time out of my day and I like to have a place to relax in the afternoon. Your resort may not be ready for you when you check in during such a busy time and you may end up "homeless" for much of the day.

 

[Bob NC]

This year my 6 y/o and my husband want to stay at the Poly.

If you usually stay at the WL, wouldn't a compromise be staying at the resort everyone else wants to stay at this time?

I do not believe that would be a compromise. My husband also wants to stay at the WL but wants to try the Poly. I suggested trying both to "satisfy" everyone. Thanks.

I will say I don't like split stays.

 

[Daycogs]

The DDP goes by the number of nights you stay, not by park tickets. As long as you buy the minimum required (1 day base when paying for the DDP and a 2 day base for free dining), you will get DDP credits according to the number of nights you stay. For 8 nights, each person will get 8 TS, 8 CS, and 8 snacks for the trip (assuming you are going with the DDP and not QSDP or DlxDDP). So, in order to get the DDP for the whole trip, I would book the Poly with 6 day PHs + DDP and the WL with 1 day base tickets + DDP and save the 1 day base tickets for a future trip. Some people have suggested having that 1 day ticket taken off of the second KTTW card and transferred to a paper ticket so you don't accidentally use that ticket when entering the parks, since you will need that KTTW card for dining. HTH .

We are staying for 8 days and will be staying at the Poly for 3 nights/checking out on the 4th day. There is never a free dining option when we go! :-( Since I'm going to be issued two separate reservation numbers, the dining plan will only be for the dates per reservation. We get deluxe when we go. So ressie 1, it would be a 3 day PH with deluxe dining. So ressie 2, 5 day PH with deluxe dining. This is what Disney recommended when I called.....?!?!

 

[Karebear]

We are staying for 8 days and will be staying at the Poly for 3 nights/checking out on the 4th day. There is never a free dining option when we go! :-( Since I'm going to be issued two separate reservation numbers, the dining plan will only be for the dates per reservation. We get deluxe when we go. So ressie 1, it would be a 3 day PH with deluxe dining. So ressie 2, 5 day PH with deluxe dining. This is what Disney recommended when I called.....?!?!

Buying 2 sets of park tickets can be very expensive. You could buy 8 days of park tickets on your first reservation that you will be able to use on your second reservation too. You would only be able to get the dining plan on your first reservation with the tickets. Could you pay for meals oop for your second reservation? Any money that you save with purchasing the dining plan would probably be "lost" in having to purchase 2 sets of tickets. Unless you could save a set of tickets for a later trip?

 

[Daycogs]

Buying 2 sets of park tickets can be very expensive. You could buy 8 days of park tickets on your first reservation that you will be able to use on your second reservation too. You would only be able to get the dining plan on your first reservation with the tickets. Could you pay for meals oop for your second reservation? Any money that you save with purchasing the dining plan would probably be "lost" in having to purchase 2 sets of tickets. Unless you could save a set of tickets for a later trip?

Wouldn't it be the same price - 8 day PH tix under one reservation vs. 3 day PH and then 5 day PH tix?

 

[lizzi6692]

Wouldn't it be the same price - 8 day PH tix under one reservation vs. 3 day PH and then 5 day PH tix?

No it wouldn't. Price per day decreases the longer you stay. 8 day tickets are way cheaper than a 3 day ticket and a 5 day ticket.