Anyone Done a SPLIT Stay??

[fam4jc]

Hi. Has anyone done a short split stay before? We are thinking of doing 3 at WL and 3 at AKL. our current ressie is four all six at WL but am dying to stay at AKL.

How much time does it take to change resorts? Would we be giving up lots of park time??? Do they move your luggage for you?

I wish we could make it a longer trip, but time and money are both factors.

Thanks to all you wonderful people!

 

[LuvTigger]

It's really a matter of personal opinion, but for me, I've done short split-stays several times and haven't found it to be a problem. I like being able to experience different resorts, even on short trips.

They will transfer your luggage for you. You can call bell services the morning of your transfer (some call the night before), and just tell them you want your luggage sent to the other resort. They will pick it up, and usually the lugage will arrive at the other resort by 3 p.m. (So make sure you carry whatever you need for the day with you...)

Planning and organization are the key. I usually spend a few minutes each night packing away souvenirs and dirty laundry so the night before the transfer, almost everything is packed away except toiletries. Then, in the morning, all you have to do is wait for bell services to pick up your luggage, check out, then go to the parks until you're ready to check in to the next resort!

(Disclaimer...I don't have children, but those who do seem to be more leery about split stays...)

 

[goin2disneyagain]

We have done a split stay a couple of times and it was quick and easy. We rented a car so we moved our luggage ourselves but I think WDW will do it for you. One word of warning, last year we had a ressie for AKL/WL and we loved the AKL so much that we went to the front desk and asked if we could continue our stay at AKL instead of moving to WL. They allowed us to do so and we were thrilled. So if you are going to stay at both I would at WL first and then AKL. We fell in love with AKL and are going back in May...

 

[fam4jc]

You make it sound simple. I was thinking about the night before thing. my girls go to bed early so it will be easy to pack up after they are down for the night. My hubby is afraid of trying to split the resorts. I think our girls 5 & 7 will just love it. I know it will be more work for me - mommy. I am having trouble deciding what to do. I pretty much plan all our trips. So it will be ME that gets blamed if something goes wrong.

Thanks Again!

 

[fam4jc]

I know, I know!! AKL looks so great! I think if we do the split we will stay at WL first. We will all, like you get hooked on AKL. I just can't imagine how wonderful to look out your room window and see the Savannah! How cool is that!
Thanks for you advice. I'll take it to heart.

 

[fitzgra]

Have not done a split stay yet but have one planned for this September

7 nights

3 - WL woods view
4 - YC Water view

We will have our own car but we are going to let "Disney do the Magic" and transfer our bags that day while we are enjoying the parks.

Since it is just my "better half " and me there are no time contraints -just keep a small bag with the essentials for the day with you.

We stayed at AKL - Savannah view the year it opened and it is magnificient!!! Enjoy!!!

Our countdown clock is not correct - that was the original plan but since DH has to take his national teaching boards sometime in June we have changed our "Celebratory" vacation to September and will be going to POFQ or CS (if we can get reservations) when he finds out the date for his test up there.

 

[Mercy]

If you really want to try the two resorts, then I say go for it. Last trip we did a 3 way split, 4 nights each. I personally wouldn't do it for less than 4 days. But that being said, I really enjoyed moving to a new resort, kind of made the vacation more exciting.

I will have to say though, that it is harder on "mom", with all the packing and unpacking and you can never really settle in. But if I really wanted to try a couple of resorts on one stay, I would do it again.

This year we have a 10 night trip planned with 7 nights at a disney resort and then 3 at HRH.

 

[PartyOf5]

We did a split stay one year and I am so happy we did. We spent the first 2 nights at the Contemporary Tower. We had always wanted to try it out but unfortunately, it just wasn't for us. On day 3 we transferred to POR and that's when our vacation really began as everything was awesome there!

Last year we did did the Fairytale Package at the Grand. We loved it but after the 4th night we were thinking of spending the rest of our vacation at the Poly to mix things up a little bit. We were not able to do that because of restrictions with the FTP.

For us, it's almost like having 2 vacations in one! Disney will transport the luggage for you while you are enjoying the parks.

 

[JESW]

We will be doing our 3rd split-stay next trip. We don't mind the packing and the moving - we just head to the parks while Disney moves our luggage. Our kids are 5 & 9 now so being "homeless" for a few hours isn't bad (we don't need to go back for nap times).

When we split our stay it's as if we get two separate vacations! I love the change and getting to know another resort. We have so many favorites now that it would be hard to pick just one for an entire stay!

June last year we split our stay between AKL and BWI and loved both. I hope that you get to stay at the AKL as it is a beautiful resort!

Jill

 

[Schmeck]

We did a split stay last trip, but we did it backwards - 4 nights AKL, then 4 nights POR. We'll never do a deluxe, then a moderate again, LOL! And my little one got so attached to the giraffe outside of our AKL room that she didn't want to go to POR.

So this time we're doing 5 nights at PC, and then 6 nights at AKL! I figure that'll give us plenty of time to settle into both resorts, and not feel like we just unpacked.

 

[Tamickey]

We do a split stay each time we go now. Last time we did ASMo and WL. This next time it'll be POP and BWI.

I think it's really a matter of personal choice. If you'll be upgrading, do the fancier hotel last since it adds a bonus to switching. Some folks don't like packing up mid vacation. For me I feel it helps organize the vacation stuff and makes for the real packing to go home much easier & quicker. It helps me with planning our trip because I get to pick 2 hotels and don't have to always pick just one! I probably wouldn't do it if I had infants because it's tough enough to travel with them as it is. Kids over 5 will balk just because they do, but they love to explore a new hotel. As soon as you get to the next one, they will love it more than the first.

Make sure you have your daily must haves with you since your bags may not be delivered right away. There will probably be a gap between checkout at the first hotel and checkin at the next.

 

[RayJay]

OK Here you go,

Arrived in Orlando, check into inlaws (Lakeland) 1 night checked out next day, checked into BCV 3 nights and then checked out back into in-laws (Lakeland) 4 nights then checked out again, checked into BWV for 5 nights last night was New Year's, got no sleep and then checked out and flew home.

Bottom Line, used hotel bellhops and Valet, no problems and stress free, need to keep that positive attitude about it and you'll
be fine.

The worst part was I4 traffic.

RayJay

 

[crystalrp]

I didn't start this thread, but it has made me feel much better about our upcoming trip! We will be spending the first three nights at POFQ. (we have stayed here previously and it is my favorite moderate resort). Then we check out and check into AKL for 8 nights! My two DS's..ages 10 and 13...are very opposed to moving, but I don't think it should be any hardship on them! I am the one who has to do the extra work, and I certainly don't mind. Thanks for making me feel better about my decision!

 

[bunnyfoo]

I did a split stay at CBR and AKL ... Disney makes it really easy since they move all of your luggage for you. It worked out well for us because we didn't have a car. I think splitting a stay is a great way to try out different resorts

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

We are doing our 1st split stay in May! Will let you know, if you'd like. 3 nights AKL & 1 night WL. Can't wait.

Allison

 

[fam4jc]

Thank You! I have my mind made up - It's a split stay for us!! 3 night WL and 3 nights AKL. It's been torture on my travel agent

I think that it will be like to vacations.

Thanks Again for sharing

 

[JLS]

We did this EXACT split last year. 3 at the AKL and 3 at the WL (in a studio at the Villas). We also stayed 2 nights before AKL at the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal, in order to take advantage of the Front of the Line access. It was a great trip - it felt like 3 different vacations. I really liked the split stay because I like trying different resorts. I don't think I would split for less than 6 nights though, just becuase its nice to be somewhere for at least 3 nights.

 

[mep319]

Didn't read all the posts so I may be repeating....but.....

Did the exact same thing split stay...3 nites AKL/4WL. I find that even though disney makes it as painless as possible no matter how efficent you are you are wasting...bare minimum 3 hrs. Unpack/Pack/Unpack/Pack/2 room assignments etc... I wouldn't do it again unless we were doing at least 5 days at each. That being said if you do decide to split a stay...do WL first so you won't be disappointed when leaving AKL. I found WL to be such a let down after spending time at AKL. Plus AKL is very relaxing and a better close to a vacation!

 

[diznee25]

Anyone Done a SPLIT Stay??

We did a split stay during last Christmas, 14 nights between CBR & WL. This was our first time splitting between two resorts and it wasn't that bad!

I personally can't see my husband and I splitting any vacation under 8 nights. There's just no way!!

Diznee25

 

[Threegirls]

I was struggling with the same issues. We are staying at HIFS for 7 and then BWI for 2. We will actually be in Sanibal for 3 before we get to Orlando.

It will definetly be more work for me but I am looking forward to staying at deluxe resort even if it's only 2 nights. I don't know if I could take 9 nights in one room with the 5 of us so the change will be good!! We will have to transfer bags/check in ourselves but that will be ok since we will have a car.

I also decided based on location, since we are doing epcot/MGM the days we are BWI - nice and close.

Have a great trip!