Best strategy and tips for a BWI/Poly split stay Please!

[ErinsMommy]

It'll be our first time at an Epcot resort -- and also our first time doing a split stay, so looking for suggestions and clarification from those that have done this before.

Spending first 3 nights of our trip at BWI Standard Room and last 5 nights at the Poly Club. If still available, will possibly look at booking those extra club level FPs for at least 3 of our nights.

First would you make your dining and FPs for the most part just at DHS/surrounding restaurants for those 3 nights since DHS/Boardwalk is right there and "get it out of the way"? DD will be 1 month shy of turning 12 during that trip, so not sure how much of Toy Story Land will keep her interest -- and I can only be dropped (TOT) and turned upside down (RNRC) so many times even in a week long trip before I'm cooked.

We'll be on the deluxe dining plan -- any recommendations for good sit down breakfasts/lunches/dinners in the Boardwalk area when we want to just stay at the resort for a pool day? (We're very familiar with the restaurants in Epcot & DHS, so looking more for outside the parks and walkable from BWI). On the top of our list is a definite visit to B&C and ESPN for DH, but that's all we have.

When our 180+ dining window opens on the BWI portion, we can only make ADRs for those 3 nights only -- then have to wait for the 180 day window to open on the Poly portion 4 days later, correct? Whereas, we can book our entire trip's FP+ when the BWI portion opens, correct?

Any other tips/suggestions from split stayers? <Packing and unpacking isn't an issue -- we pretty much just live out of our suitcases, and we plan on taking an Uber from BWI to Poly on our BWI exit day>

 

[PPFlight75]

We are doing almost the exact same split!
We are doing 4 nights BWI and 5 nights Poly CL in July. This is our first split stay.

We usually mix up our park days but this time we are doing EP, HS and AK during the first part and MK and AK the second part. I also have a down day each stay.
I wanted only EP and HS the first part but since I booked the extra CL FPs I had to switch things up.

I am planning a down day on our last BWI day so I can do laundry and have pool time. This way we can pack less for the split.

We will do our first CL FP day on our BWI check out day and go to HS after dropping our bags for transfer. We will get our car around 3 and drive to Poly and spend the rest of the evening relaxing and enjoying CL offerings.

You are correct about FP and ADR bookings around a split stay.

I hope we like a split stay and I hope you do too!! It seems like a fun way to experience our favorite resorts!!

 

[ErinsMommy]

Thank you

 

[DisneyWishes14]

It'll be our first time at an Epcot resort -- and also our first time doing a split stay, so looking for suggestions and clarification from those that have done this before.

Spending first 3 nights of our trip at BWI Standard Room and last 5 nights at the Poly Club. If still available, will possibly look at booking those extra club level FPs for at least 3 of our nights.

First would you make your dining and FPs for the most part just at DHS/surrounding restaurants for those 3 nights since DHS/Boardwalk is right there and "get it out of the way"? DD will be 1 month shy of turning 12 during that trip, so not sure how much of Toy Story Land will keep her interest -- and I can only be dropped (TOT) and turned upside down (RNRC) so many times even in a week long trip before I'm cooked.

We'll be on the deluxe dining plan -- any recommendations for good sit down breakfasts/lunches/dinners in the Boardwalk area when we want to just stay at the resort for a pool day? (We're very familiar with the restaurants in Epcot & DHS, so looking more for outside the parks and walkable from BWI). On the top of our list is a definite visit to B&C and ESPN for DH, but that's all we have.

When our 180+ dining window opens on the BWI portion, we can only make ADRs for those 3 nights only -- then have to wait for the 180 day window to open on the Poly portion 4 days later, correct? Whereas, we can book our entire trip's FP+ when the BWI portion opens, correct?

Any other tips/suggestions from split stayers? <Packing and unpacking isn't an issue -- we pretty much just live out of our suitcases, and we plan on taking an Uber from BWI to Poly on our BWI exit day>

Yes, for those first three nights, I would focus your time, ADR's and FP's for the DHS/EP parks and area. You are within walking distance of those two parks and all the restaurants available there and at the EP resorts, so you might as well take advantage of it!

As for restaurants in the EP resort area, honestly, they are all good. We had breakfast at Ale & Compass at YC a few weeks ago and it was excellent. Trattoria al Forno is good for both breakfast and dinner as is Cape May at BC. For signatures, there is Flying Fish and Yachtsman. I would just take a look at the menus for the YC/BC and BWI restaurants and choose the menus that appeal to you most!

Yes, you'll have to do your ADR's in two batches because of the split stay. My only advice would be to focus on EP/DHS for the first three days and do MK/AK when you are at Poly. Otherwise, have fun!

 

[ErinsMommy]

Thank you!

 

[suprgrlx]

You mention doing an Uber between BWI and Poly. Assuming that you know that Disney will transfer your bags for you if you're switching resorts? Just have to call Bell Services on your last BWI morning, then they will arrive later at Poly and you can pick them up from Bell Services there. It's free (except for tips) and I believe they'll even take grocery type items and saves you from having to do the Uber with the luggage if you don't want. Could instead bus to DS or a park, then bus back to Poly later. If you know this already and just prefer to Uber, ignore this.

Also, we're doing a split stay this summer and are attempting to mostly do what you said about doing our Epcot days during our Epcot-area stay and our MK days during our MK-area stay, however we're not doing club. If we were doing club and getting the club-level fastpasses, I'd definitely consider doing our DHS day during our MK-area stay. That'll allow you to get all the new TS-land rides at 90 days, and despite them all being Tier 1 (this would allow you to FP pretty much all of DHS and get it all done in one day).

 

[Wood Nymph]

It'll be our first time at an Epcot resort -- and also our first time doing a split stay, so looking for suggestions and clarification from those that have done this before.

Spending first 3 nights of our trip at BWI Standard Room and last 5 nights at the Poly Club. If still available, will possibly look at booking those extra club level FPs for at least 3 of our nights.

We did a GF/BC split stay last November. It worked out best to plan our MK days for the GF portion and Epcot for the BC portion. It is much easier to get to Epcot from an Epcot resort and a lot less convenient to do it from a monorail resort. We also planned our ADR's for the specific resort area. We only had to take buses for AK and Disney Springs when we did our split stay.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Thank you!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

If you want your bags before 4 or 5 pm definitely transfer them yourself via Uber or Lyft. Especially if you are planning a midday pool break.

Last trip we left our bags with bell services and went straight to DHS from the Poly. It was so hot that day and we arrived at the BC around 2 and our room was ready but still no bags. We really wanted to go to the pool. We just napped instead and it all worked out.

Next trip I'm planning for us to be in the park all day on moving day. I thought about moving our bags via Uber, and still may do it, but our room probably won't be ready until 4 anyway (DVC).

 

[Wood Nymph]

If you want your bags before 4 or 5 pm definitely transfer them yourself via Uber or Lyft. Especially if you are planning a midday pool break.

Last trip we left our bags with bell services and went straight to DHS from the Poly. It was so hot that day and we arrived at the BC around 2 and our room was ready but still no bags. We really wanted to go to the pool. We just napped instead and it all worked out.

Next trip I'm planning for us to be in the park all day on moving day. I thought about moving our bags via Uber, and still may do it, but our room probably won't be ready until 4 anyway (DVC).

We were in the elevator at GF, heading to the taxi stand with our luggage, when we got the text from BC that our room was ready. It was about 9:30am. So it worked out really well that we took our luggage ourselves because we went straight from the taxi to our resort room.

 

[PolyRob]

Just did a BC/Poly split and have a YC/GF split booked.

I agree with everyone that you should keep your park days to HS/Epcot when in the Epcot resort area. It makes it so much easier.

I will add that you can transfer resorts via Minnie Van as well. Additionally, dining will require you to log back in to book for both reservations on separate days, but FP+ will not. Your first day will open your consecutive resort stays.

 

[heidijanesmith]

What a great split stay!! The best of the MK resorts and the best of the EPCOT resorts for us!!

You got some great advice above. We love BW area, make sure to carve out some free time at night to enjoy the entertainment!