Cost of a split stay

[autismgoesdisney]

What am I doing wrong here?

I just checked out the cost of a split stay to see if it would be cheaper to do that than to stay a whole week at a deluxe. This was our pricing.

9/1 - 9/8 Boardwalk; 8 day passes $4,308.17

OR

9/1-9/5 POR; 6 day passes $2,183.47
9/5-9/8 Boardwalk; 2 day passes $2097.08
Total $4,280.00

What the heck?!?! I don't get what I am doing wrong!!!

 

[mydisneyobsession]

I'm no split stay expert - we're doing our first this Fall - but I think what you want to do to save money is to buy 8 day park passes on the first stay so that you're not buying two sets of park passes. They're front-loaded, so most of the expense comes in the first four days, so it's much more expensive to buy two sets.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

I'm no split stay expert - we're doing our first this Fall - but I think what you want to do to save money is to buy 8 day park passes on the first stay so that you're not buying two sets of park passes. They're front-loaded, so most of the expense comes in the first four days, so it's much more expensive to buy two sets.

Let me look into that. The reason I did it the way I did is because of free dining. I need 3 nights/2 park passes each leg of the stay. Out of curiosity though, let me see what difference that does!

 

[Marthasor]

What am I doing wrong here?

I just checked out the cost of a split stay to see if it would be cheaper to do that than to stay a whole week at a deluxe. This was our pricing.

9/1 - 9/8 Boardwalk; 8 day passes $4,308.17

OR

9/1-9/5 POR; 6 day passes $2,183.47
9/5-9/8 Boardwalk; 2 day passes $2097.08
Total $4,280.00

What the heck?!?! I don't get what I am doing wrong!!!

To get the price down, try 9/1 - 9/5 POR, 8 day passes, 9/5-9/8 Boardwalk (no tickets). There is no need to re-purchase tickets at Boardwalk.

 

[Missytara]

Free dining does not work on split stays unless you plan on holding the ticket for another stay.

You should book tickets for length of stay, do room only for the first part and pick up your tickets early.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

Now it makes sense! That gives me much more choices for our 2013 trip! Woohoo!!!!!

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

Split stays won't save you money if you plan to use the dining plan throughout your trip. In order to have the dining plan (free or purchased) you have to have tickets to make it a package. The cost of an additional set of tickets for a family can really add up quickly.

You can have all your tickets on the first stay, and get free dining there, then you could do room only on the second leg of your trip. You just won't have the dining plan during the second resort stay. You can try to look for a room only discount and save some money on the second resort stay. The money saved on the room can then be used to pay for the remainder of your food once the dining plan runs out.

If you only do 2 nights at the second resort, you may be able to stretch your dining credits to cover that first night of the second resort stay (credits don't expire till midnight the day you check out). To do this you could opt to pay out of pocket for one of your less expensive meals (like breakfast) during the first leg of your trip. You can then use the "left over credits" before midnight the night you check out. This leaves you with just the last night without the dining plan. You can plan to have one of your least expensive meals on that day since you'd have to pay out of pocket. Actually come to think about it, when we are on the dining plan, by that last night we are somewhat tired of all the big meals each day. You may not even want/need the dining plan by that point.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

We're doing our first split stay but not the dining plan. We bought 10 day base tixs from undercover tourist to use during both resort stays.

If you want dining plan, as suggested book that with your first resort & buy your park tixs for the length of your entire trip with that reservation since you have to buy tixs to buy dining plan.

Your second resort you'll already have your park tixs and have to pay out of pocket for meals. Obviously you'll want to plan your more expensive table service meals when using dining plan and choose less expensive ones for the OOP.

If there is free dining offered again next year (it started 8/25 this year) I'd book POR with the free dining offer, stay there the longest and buy your park passes for your length of stay with that package.

Then book Boardwalk as your "upgrade" resort for the end of your trip as a treat to stay deluxe. You may be able to get a room only discount for this reservations. Staying deluxe sometimes the room discount will save you more than the free dining anyway - depending upon the # of people in your party.

In your situation, I think you'll save the most booking POR with the dining plan and tix's with enough days to cover your entire trip, then book BW for the end of your trip - ALWAYS move "up" when doing a split stay