Give me all your best Split Stay Tips!

[Fastpassminus]

Just booked a 5 night stay in September 1 night at Kidani in a 1 bedroom Standard View and then switch to BLT 2 bedroom Standard View for 4 nights

How do you best handle split stays. Our plane doesn't land in Orlando until 12:30 so I am sure we won't be at AKL until 2pm at the earliest. We are only doing 2 parks this trip ( MK and Epcot) so our arrival day is not a park day. I made a 4:30 reservation for Saana and we are just planning to enjoy the afternoon at the AKL pool!

How do you pack for split stays? I was planning on packing one suitcase for the 4 of us with all essentials for one night and the first park day. Is RD on the " switch" day a bad idea? We were planning on Epcot, pool hopping to Boardwalk Clown Pool for a break checking in at BLT and then going back to Epcot for Illuminations that night.

I was planning on having the stroller delivered to AKL and the groceries delivered to BLT. Any other tips to make moving easier?

It is me, my DH our 3 year old DS and my 70 year old DM on this trip!

TIA!

 

[disneynutz]

We don't split stay unless we stay 4 or 5 days minimum at each resort. Moving is disruptive and we don't vacation to move, we vacation to relax.

We also try to plan food usage so not much needs to be moved, take a marker to label your food bags with your name and keep cold.

If you have a short segment, consider the DDP.

Make sure that each resort checks you out or you may have trouble with your room access at the new resort.

Bill

 

[Fastpassminus]

Thanks! I will make sure to check out at AKL in the morning.

 

[Fastpassminus]

We are not planning on having food in the first room ( aside from a few granola bars and enough milk for my three year old for one night). We will have garden grocery deliver to BLT.

 

[nalajms]

How do you pack for split stays? I was planning on packing one suitcase for the 4 of us with all essentials for one night and the first park day. Is RD on the " switch" day a bad idea?

That's what I do when we have a 1n, then you don't have to unpack and repack all the luggages. Everything for the 1n + the next day is packed into a small luggage.

I would also suggest having all the swim gear in your carry-on so that you can go to the pool right away rather than wait for you luggage and room. If your room's not ready, I'm not sure they'd let you look for your luggage through DME.

 

[LaurEm378]

Separate luggage for the first night is key, so you're on the right track.

Not sure I'd rope drop moving day with a 3 year old. The day can be long when you're without a room, and if anyone gets overtired too early, it can be unpleasant without a place to go rest.

If it were me, I would linger at AKL until close to checkout time, then go to Epcot, then head to BLT around check-in time and swim there. This would fill up the day better for me, and minimize the feeling of being room-less.

If you're letting Disney transfer your luggage, don't plan on it being available until at least 5 pm--bring the clothes you'll need for the evening with you. Good luck and happy planning!

 

[SwimChicSQ]

I love LOve LOVE split stays. My first was a one night in at BLT in lake view studio and then five nights at SSR; when we left we went downstairs, handed them our bags checked out and off we went to MK for the day. When we got to SSR we checked in got taken to our room and poof there were our bags (it was around 3pm). Everything went beautifully. We've also done BCV to AKL and AKL to SSR. Never had issues with bags we plan on a longish park day on transfer day and never worry. So glad its easy to do! great way to experience different places and be able to get in a few extra days.

If you can help it DO NOT do this the day before you leave; that was not a bright idea the one time we tried it!

 

[Splashboat]

I put everything we pack listed on a spreadsheet. I color code each item as I pack (with highlighters) so I know exactly what is in which suitcase. I have always needed to get something that wasn't planned in the first leg of the trip. It is actually easy to do and once you have your spreadsheet you probably will only need to make slight adjustments each trip. I now use it even when we don't do spilt trips because I don't unpack everything in the room.

BTW, I put a heading at the top of each column to make it easy to follow -example; first column is clothes (everyone's clothing items listed separate), carry-on (which backpack things are in), kitchen, bathroom, cleaners...

 

[Dean]

As a rule we don't do split stays when we can avoid it and we almost always can avoid it on property at Disney. The times when we do split stays are fairly specific. We stay overnight traveling so we can arrive early and sometimes we spend a few nights off property, usually at the end of a stay (sometimes at the beginning). When we travel to places where we might stay longer than a week (often 2 weeks), we would transition from one to another villa. Most of the time this is with Marriott and they allow you to stay in one villa until the other is ready no matter the timing even if it's a different resort in the area. For an overnight on transit or arrival, we pack a separate bag with things we might need so we don't have to worry about the rest of the bags. Things like a change of clothes, swimsuit, etc. For example, you have 4:30 dinner reservations and it's entirely possible your room won't be ready until that time or later. For my wife that might also mean makeup and a hair dryer so she could hit the pool and get ready for dinner afterwards. She is not taking the chance the room won't be ready.

 

[DVCjj]

I LOVE split stays. Granted I only stay in Studios and don't cook and kids are grown, so I'm sure that makes a big difference.

I love getting to know numerous resorts and have split stayed 6 days out of 8 days on two trips this year alone.
I own and love BCV and never would have known how much I like OKW, Boardwalk, Bay Lake & Wilderness Lodge had I not split stayed. Twice I got a taxi with my (I travel light....all carryons) luggage, once the wonderful Captain on the Wilderness Boat let us carry the luggage ON THE BOAT that went to the Contemporary and once I rolled my own bags across the bridge from BCV to BWV. That was the most fun.....clump, clump, clump. Ididn't use the offered transport system because I really like knowing where my luggage is at all times.

Even if the room isn't ready (usually not in an early a.m. checkin), I liked knowing my luggage was being held in the resort I was actually staying in.

As previously mentioned, the main thing is to be sure to CHECK OUT of each resort. VERY important.
Be aware that not all CM's at the Front Desk realize this as when I tried to check out of the BWV (for Wilderness), she said it wasn't necessary because I hadn't charged anything to my Magic Band. I personally had to tell her that I definitely needed to physically check out as I was going to check into a different resort.

Split Stays are an Adventure! This was a solo trip but even my non-adventurous, structured husband thoroughly enjoyed the 3 resorts in 4 nights' trip recently. He thought it was something new each day. All the more so because we've spent 40+ years going to DW and it wouldn't have crossed our minds to switch resorts, even for 9 day stays. DVC changed that.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks for the tip about separate luggage for the first night. I'm going to try that this October. I've got one night at AKV-Jambo, followed by a week at BCV. Turns out I couldn't get that first night at BCV, and I love AKV, so I booked there. Think I'll just make it a "resort night", then up, breakfast at Boma, then off to BCV (or maybe a few hours at a park en route).

 

[Fastpassminus]

I like the idea of color coding my luggage. I think I will put a piece of colorful duct tape to match the color on my chart.

 

[SarahInMN]

We do split stays but not "even" split stays - so on our next trip 2 nights at BWI and then 7 nights at BCV (versus 4-5 days at each place). We will unpack a bit at first but don't fully unpack until the final move to BCV.

We have 2 lockers and get enough of the zip ties to lock them up and move them to BCV with us. Also we have moved cold items before no problem. We get stuff ready the night before and then early (i.e. 7 am) call bell services, they load up a cart, and we tip well. We check in at the new resort right after we check out and then head to the parks. Once the room is ready, we call bell services again.

We've not "lost" any food before but we don't buy frozen items. Mostly cheese and coffee creamer in the fridge + non perishables (chips, etc).

Our key has been heavy use of bell services for transport and they do a good job.

 

[lovin'fl]

I have each person put toiletries in their own ziploc...that way they can take it of suitcase to use and then put it right back in. I also have each person have their own suitcase, but we usually do several nights (like 3 or more) for each split. We do splits a lot and we just live out of our suitcase. Each person has their own and just finds a good spot to sit it opened up with the ziploc of toiletries on top (for me, I use a hanging organizer- I have more stuff- but kids and DH get a ziploc).

 

[Tunseeker1]

We usually do splits. 1 day splits mean ddp and characters for meals!!

I color code magic bands and have fun with the names. Last akv trip was giraffe,monkey,elephant and zebra on mb.

We also pack one carry on for first night.

 

[NJMermaid]

We went from SSR to AKL CL. We paid for a taxi, not too expensive, and arrived early at AKL, spent the whole day there, want to the Waymana safari and then a dinner at Boma, and spent plenty of time in the lounge, next day moved to Art of Animation, we were out of points and how to pay for a hotel, hahahaha. Moral of the story is, pay for a cab and don't go to parks that day, enjoy the resort.

 

[loves to dive]

I've done two split stays and am getting ready to go on my third in May, all were when travelling solo and I drive so it's easy to transfer resorts. I've never checked out of the resort I as leaving but did check into the new resort even though I had done on line check in. I take two bags and use a hanging toiletry bag that I just transfer from bag one to bag two. I don't usually like to wear the same thing twice but I know a lot of people like to wear the same shorts or pants twice so the two bags might not work for that.

 

[Nanajo1]

We have done split stays. We found out not to move from a larger villa to a smaller one ( 1 BR to studio) we felt cramped. If you are trying out a new resort we found a 3 night stay was the shortest length of time. The first night you are getting the feel of the resort. The second night you've settled in and the third night you are packing.

 

[Dean]

We have done split stays. We found out not to move from a larger villa to a smaller one ( 1 BR to studio) we felt cramped. If you are trying out a new resort we found a 3 night stay was the shortest length of time. The first night you are getting the feel of the resort. The second night you've settled in and the third night you are packing.

And likely the most important part, that on any change day you're orphaned for a few hours and it could affect options that day.

 

[Anal Annie]

We are doing our first split stay this summer (5/5 split between BCV and AKL) so this will be our first time transferring groceries and using bell services for most of the move. We have done alot of other vacations in the past tho which required multiple hotels / moves (ie Europe & Hawaii). If we have only a few nights in 1 spot I always try to pack each person in their own carry-on so we don't have to root thru every bag for stuff. I DESPISE packing tho and have come to rely VERY much on our packing cubes (1 color for each person). Using the packing cubes helps me pack a LOT lighter. I think for this summer I like the idea of using 1 large duffle for all of us for each resort and maybe 1 or 2 smaller bags for misc stuff that we might want at either resort (like dressier dinner clothes / shoes and bathing suits. We use studios so won't have a TON of groceries...was thinking I would just bring 1 of my insulated grocery bags that I use at home for groceries. I could slap a luggage tag on it for bell services.

We have an owners locker too - thanks SarahlnMN for the tip to be sure there are plenty of zip ties with it to cover the move - I will put that on my "to do list"!!