The ultimate split-stay thread

[smiths02]

We are from uk and the free dining plan run til 11/3. Spoke to them today and I can only get free dining with room and ticket purchase and even though tickets remain valid, I would have to buy a new set.
Makes it cost £1500 on tickets alone x2!!
Could miss out on free dining but think it means we will stay at akl and visit FW and poly instead of staying.
Thanks for your help. Ruth

In the states for free dining and split stay, you can buy the tickets you want for your entire stay with the first package
so 5 nights Poly with free dining and 10 day park hopper tickets, then 6 nights AKL with free dining and buy the cheapest tickets you can that still qualifies for free dining (it was 2 day parkhopper for the USA) THEN DON'T use your 2 day parkhopper and just save them for another trip.
OR
You could do 5 nights Poly with free dining with whatever tickets you want. THEN book 6 nights AKL with a room only discount and pay for your dining out of pocket. (Plan your most expensive meals on your first stay with free dining).

Obviously, I know UK offers don't work the same.

 

[Alicatt]

Hi everyone! I wanted to share some recent information with the group. I was chatting with a cast member about my split stay trying to confirm where to have my early tickets activated, since they are linked to my second MYW package. I have been told you could do it at your resort but wanted to confirm. She told me I couldn't do it at all since it was a package and not stand alone tickets. Not even at the parks. I asked for her to check with a supervisor and she did and gave me the same answer. I didn't believe her because the cast member who made my reservation was the one who suggested I do it this way and because other people on this board have been able to do it. I called Disney reservations and the cast member there said that you can use your tickets 10 days before your reservation. They are already linked to your magic band. You can just go to the park. I told him about my chat and he said though he was pretty certain that he was correct, he would call guest services and confirm. He put me on hold and did. He also told me that your meal plan should switch over automatically when you've used up your credits for the first stay and that you can use either magic band for everything, if you get 2 per person, because they don't actual hold a reservation but they are all linked to MDE and pull the same info. I really wish they all had their facts straight and I will certainly double check that I have my tickets ready to use before I go to the parks but I hope that like me, this info puts your mind at ease a bit.

 

[thisismyusername]

Hi everyone! I wanted to share some recent information with the group. I was chatting with a cast member about my split stay trying to confirm where to have my early tickets activated, since they are linked to my second MYW package. I have been told you could do it at your resort but wanted to confirm. She told me I couldn't do it at all since it was a package and not stand alone tickets. Not even at the parks. I asked for her to check with a supervisor and she did and gave me the same answer. I didn't believe her because the cast member who made my reservation was the one who suggested I do it this way and because other people on this board have been able to do it. I called Disney reservations and the cast member there said that you can use your tickets 10 days before your reservation. They are already linked to your magic band. You can just go to the park. I told him about my chat and he said though he was pretty certain that he was correct, he would call guest services and confirm. He put me on hold and did. He also told me that your meal plan should switch over automatically when you've used up your credits for the first stay and that you can use either magic band for everything, if you get 2 per person, because they don't actual hold a reservation but they are all linked to MDE and pull the same info. I really wish they all had their facts straight and I will certainly double check that I have my tickets ready to use before I go to the parks but I hope that like me, this info puts your mind at ease a bit.

Unfortunately, not all CMs are fully educated on the minutiae of Disney tickets or reservations. I do not believe you will be able to activate your tickets at your resort: It will require a trip to Guest Relations (any of the four parks, plus DTD). They should be able to separate your tickets from your second resort stay to activate them. Or perhaps they will be active on your MagicBand from the get-go and there will be no issues to begin with. For myself, I would get to the park as early as you can and try to go through the turnstile first. If that doesn't work for you, then expect to head to Guest Relations. For the record, I've had no problem activating tickets up to three days before my MYW package started during a split stay.

 

[Alicatt]

Thanks, Thisismyusername. That is exactly what I will do. But if anyone tried this before the end of the year could you please post the results? I will do it too when I'm back in Jan.

 

[Lehuaann]

Hi everyone! I wanted to share some recent information with the group. I was chatting with a cast member about my split stay trying to confirm where to have my early tickets activated, since they are linked to my second MYW package. I have been told you could do it at your resort but wanted to confirm. She told me I couldn't do it at all since it was a package and not stand alone tickets. Not even at the parks. I asked for her to check with a supervisor and she did and gave me the same answer. I didn't believe her because the cast member who made my reservation was the one who suggested I do it this way and because other people on this board have been able to do it. I called Disney reservations and the cast member there said that you can use your tickets 10 days before your reservation. They are already linked to your magic band. You can just go to the park. I told him about my chat and he said though he was pretty certain that he was correct, he would call guest services and confirm. He put me on hold and did. He also told me that your meal plan should switch over automatically when you've used up your credits for the first stay and that you can use either magic band for everything, if you get 2 per person, because they don't actual hold a reservation but they are all linked to MDE and pull the same info. I really wish they all had their facts straight and I will certainly double check that I have my tickets ready to use before I go to the parks but I hope that like me, this info puts your mind at ease a bit.

Unfortunately, not all CMs are fully educated on the minutiae of Disney tickets or reservations. I do not believe you will be able to activate your tickets at your resort: It will require a trip to Guest Relations (any of the four parks, plus DTD). They should be able to separate your tickets from your second resort stay to activate them. Or perhaps they will be active on your MagicBand from the get-go and there will be no issues to begin with. For myself, I would get to the park as early as you can and try to go through the turnstile first. If that doesn't work for you, then expect to head to Guest Relations. For the record, I've had no problem activating tickets up to three days before my MYW package started during a split stay.

We are in the middle of a split stay right now - AKL CL room only to FW FD package.

We were able to activate our tickets early from our FW FD package right at AKL resort conceirge in the main lobby.

We have picked our tickets up early numerous times, but this was the first time picking them up at a resort. Very easy and only required the lead guest's MB. They will even print you out a confirmation.

However (and this was the not-so-easy for us part), in order for our DDP credits to activate on our FW FD package, we had to be fully checked out of AKL. FW *could not* activate checkin process prior to 11 am or until, again, we manually/fully checked out of AKL.

For the record, we attempted to check into FW at 8 am and didn't get back to AKL to pack up until 10 am, so we didn't get the chance to manually check out prior to 11 am. System auto-checked us out at 11:07 am. AKL CM verified by showing me the system screen stating "checked-out."

Finally, after successfully activating checkin at FW - we eventually went back over to AKL CL at around 5 pm to see if the MBs still worked for 6th floor CL lounge and we were good.

Yes, LOTS of going back and forth between AKL/FW...but I really hope this helps someone out...

 

[Hi Pluto]

However (and this was the not-so-easy for us part), in order for our DDP credits to activate on our FW FD package, we had to be fully checked out of AKL. FW *could not* activate checkin process prior to 11 am or until, again, we manually/fully checked out of AKL.

For the record, we attempted to check into FW at 8 am and didn't get back to AKL to pack up until 10 am, so we didn't get the chance to manually check out prior to 11 am. System auto-checked us out at 11:07 am. AKL CM verified by showing me the system screen stating "checked-out."
..

So how do you manually check-out? I will be checking out and back into beach club (couldn't get the bb rate for the first day of our trip so I had to make two reservations). So can I just go to the front desk and check out and back in at the same time? I was hoping to use the DDP credits right away for that morning. Or will I have to pay OOP for that meal?

~Cari~

 

[alwaysmom]

So glad I found this thread. First time split staying. POR & CBR, 4 nights each. Looking forward to it. A lot of my questions have been answered here. Thank you to all you pro's for the info.

 

[thisismyusername]

So how do you manually check-out? I will be checking out and back into beach club (couldn't get the bb rate for the first day of our trip so I had to make two reservations). So can I just go to the front desk and check out and back in at the same time? I was hoping to use the DDP credits right away for that morning. Or will I have to pay OOP for that meal?

~Cari~

To check out, you simply go to the desk and ask them to check you out. In your situation, when you check in, if your room category is the same for both reservations, I'd ask them to tie the reservations together when you check in on the first day so you don't need to move rooms. (You can also call the resort directly a few days before you leave. You will not reach the front desk when you call, but you can explain the situation to the CM on the phone and ask them to put you through to the Beach Club back office, or they will call them themselves directly.)

ETA: If your room categories are different and they can't keep you in the same room, make sure you pack and remove your luggage from the room (and give it to Bell Services to keep until your next room is ready) before you check out. You will no longer have access to the room once you are checked out.

 

[Alicatt]

Good Morning! Just wanted to post an update. I was able to make FP+ reservations at 60 days out from my first stay, even though I don't have any tickets associated with that stay. I could not make them for the days of the first stay, 12/31- 1/1, and could only make them from 1/2 on but I was allowed to start making them at midnight turning into 11/1.

 

[YoungAtHeart762]

I'm a newbie at the split stay thing, so my apologies if this is a simple question, but help is appreciated none-the-less:

My fiance and I are considering our first split stay in October, somewhat unexpectedly. We have made reservations at the Dolphin for our honeymoon. I made the reservations directly through the hotel as I was able to get a better rate than going through WDW's website. I had already received confirmation from both the Dolphin and Disney that we would be able to link up our hotel reservations and the park tickets that we would eventually buy in My Disney Experience. We unfortunately are not able to book the Dolphin for our first intended day of our trip due to them being sold out and are now considering staying at Pop just for that first night and moving to the Dolphin for the rest of our visit.

If I book a package with our one night at Pop as well as our 8-day tickets (no dining plan), this will not impact the rest of my stay at the Dolphin since Dolphin will end up being a RO reservation, right? Would it be better to leave Pop as an RO reservation and connect park tickets to our Dolphin reservation?

Thank you in advance for anyone's advice and assistance!!

 

[loves to dive]

So how do you manually check-out? I will be checking out and back into beach club (couldn't get the bb rate for the first day of our trip so I had to make two reservations). So can I just go to the front desk and check out and back in at the same time? I was hoping to use the DDP credits right away for that morning. Or will I have to pay OOP for that meal?

~Cari~

I have gone down to the front desk and called from my room, both have worked. Last trip I called from my room and asked if I needed to check out and she said she would check to see if I had express check out, which I did so she said I was good to go and I was. When I go down to the front desk it is after I've already packed up and put my bags in my car, usually around 7 am (I'm an early riser). Super easy just walk right up since there is rarely anyone there that early in the morning, check out and get my print out and on my way. I've checked into my second resort as early at 7 am as well, while they rarely have my room, they know I am there and they have been able to tell me the location and particulars of the room.

 

[Sammyjo199]

I can't find the information on here, maybe i'm missing. If I have a split stay both on the dining plan. My plan is to check out and head over to my second resort. From AKV to Contemporary. I would like to use my first stays QS credit for dinner the night I check into the Contemporary before using my Dining credits from that reservation. How do I check out of 1 resort and check in to the other while not losing my QS credits from that reservation?

 

[maryj11]

I have been driving myself crazy trying to decide if we should do a split stay. Anyone want to help me decide? We are only going to be there 5 nights, it will be myself and my 13 year girl. We have the BC for all 5 nights reserved right now.
We have never stayed there before but we are looking forward to it.
Our problem is we plan to go to MK twice (our favorite park). We have stayed at the Poly before and love the area and resort.
We also really want to try the BC.
My question should we do a split stay 2 nights Poly 3 nights BC ?
If we do a split with the Poly first, can we take our carry on luggage on the monorail with us to MK then onto a BC bus? We always only take a carry on each and both are suitcases with wheels, so they are not real small but the kind that just fit in the over head on the plane?

 

[Shellyb84]

I have been driving myself crazy trying to decide if we should do a split stay. Anyone want to help me decide? We are only going to be there 5 nights, it will be myself and my 13 year girl. We have the BC for all 5 nights reserved right now.
We have never stayed there before but we are looking forward to it.
Our problem is we plan to go to MK twice (our favorite park). We have stayed at the Poly before and love the area and resort.
We also really want to try the BC.
My question should we do a split stay 2 nights Poly 3 nights BC ?
If we do a split with the Poly first, can we take our carry on luggage on the monorail with us to MK then onto a BC bus? We always only take a carry on each and both are suitcases with wheels, so they are not real small but the kind that just fit in the over head on the plane?

I don't think that's too short of a trip to do a split stay. I would avoid taking my luggage on Disney transportation though. Bell services will transfer it for you from your first resort to the 2nd so that would by far be the easiest way.

You will love the BC! It's amazing.

 

[thisismyusername]

I can't find the information on here, maybe i'm missing. If I have a split stay both on the dining plan. My plan is to check out and head over to my second resort. From AKV to Contemporary. I would like to use my first stays QS credit for dinner the night I check into the Contemporary before using my Dining credits from that reservation. How do I check out of 1 resort and check in to the other while not losing my QS credits from that reservation?

It should be fine; double check when you check in at the Contemporary that your credits are still attached. They should be--we've done it before without any problem.

I have been driving myself crazy trying to decide if we should do a split stay. Anyone want to help me decide? We are only going to be there 5 nights, it will be myself and my 13 year girl. We have the BC for all 5 nights reserved right now.
We have never stayed there before but we are looking forward to it.
Our problem is we plan to go to MK twice (our favorite park). We have stayed at the Poly before and love the area and resort.
We also really want to try the BC.
My question should we do a split stay 2 nights Poly 3 nights BC ?
If we do a split with the Poly first, can we take our carry on luggage on the monorail with us to MK then onto a BC bus? We always only take a carry on each and both are suitcases with wheels, so they are not real small but the kind that just fit in the over head on the plane?

I think that sounds like a great split! You'll so enjoy staying at the BC! For the record, I have taken a carry on on the bus, but as mentioned above, it's far easier to have Bell Services move it for you. On the day you check out, take your luggage to Bell Services, ask them to move it to the BC, and it will be moved between 1-3 while you go to a park. When you get to BC, go to Bell Services (or call from your room) to have it delivered.

 

[Shellyb84]

I'm a newbie at the split stay thing, so my apologies if this is a simple question, but help is appreciated none-the-less:

My fiance and I are considering our first split stay in October, somewhat unexpectedly. We have made reservations at the Dolphin for our honeymoon. I made the reservations directly through the hotel as I was able to get a better rate than going through WDW's website. I had already received confirmation from both the Dolphin and Disney that we would be able to link up our hotel reservations and the park tickets that we would eventually buy in My Disney Experience. We unfortunately are not able to book the Dolphin for our first intended day of our trip due to them being sold out and are now considering staying at Pop just for that first night and moving to the Dolphin for the rest of our visit.

If I book a package with our one night at Pop as well as our 8-day tickets (no dining plan), this will not impact the rest of my stay at the Dolphin since Dolphin will end up being a RO reservation, right? Would it be better to leave Pop as an RO reservation and connect park tickets to our Dolphin reservation?

Thank you in advance for anyone's advice and assistance!!

It will not have an impact on your Dolphin reservation to go ahead and get your tickets as a package with your Pop reservation. Your tickets will be linked in your MDE account. You will get two sets of Magic Bands (you have the option to decline one if you want but I would just get both), but they should both work for either reservation. You can double check this when you check in to resort #2.

 

[alwaysmom]

It should be fine; double check when you check in at the Contemporary that your credits are still attached. They should be--we've done it before without any problem.

Confused here! I was under the impression that the dining plan expires at check out (even though I thought it was at midnight on day of check out). CM's advice was to check balance BEFORE check out to use and not lose. At check in of next resort new dining plan will take effect. Are you saying I can carry over points? Sorry If I'm being dumb but first split stay ANY first dining plan. :/

 

[alwaysmom]

Confused here! I was under the impression that the dining plan expires at check out (even though I thought it was at midnight on day of check out). CM's advice was to check balance BEFORE check out to use and not lose. At check in of next resort new dining plan will take effect. Are you saying I can carry over points? Sorry If I'm being dumb but first split stay ANY first dining plan. :/

To add lots of firsts this visit......First time split stay, first time moderates, first time dining, first time package LOL!

 

[dansdad]

Confused here! I was under the impression that the dining plan expires at check out (even though I thought it was at midnight on day of check out). CM's advice was to check balance BEFORE check out to use and not lose. At check in of next resort new dining plan will take effect. Are you saying I can carry over points? Sorry If I'm being dumb but first split stay ANY first dining plan. :/

You can use any available dining credits until 11:59PM of check out day.

 

[alwaysmom]

Another question I need help with. Sorry if I missed it somewhere. When my window to book dining, etc. opens at 180 days, it's based on my arrival date of my 1st reservation. Can I at that point also book for the 2nd part of my reservation? or do I need to wait until its 180 days from my arrival date of 2nd reservation.