Have you OR would you split your stay?

[etwinchester]

I'm still working on a budget for our next trip. It will be our first time with just the 3 of us as a family (last time was with 10 other family members) and will be our FIRST onsite stay.

I've read numerous things regarding CSR and POLY and I'm torn between the two. I hate to spend all that $$$ staying at the POLY for 2 weeks so I thought about splitting it. Spend one week at CSR and the next at POLY. This way, we'd know for next time which resort we enjoyed the most.

I've decided to become a Mary Kay Consultant and also took a PT job as a Secretary for a Real Estate office to save for our vacation and pay off some debt. I'm just torn between the two resorts.

Have you switched resorts? What was your experience? Does it waste too much time?

 

[gigi1313]

although we've never split a stay before, we are going to do it this trip... ds is dying to go to AKL and well, we don't want to stay there for our whole week, so we are switching over the last two nights as a surprise to the kids...

disney, from what i've been told, makes it very easy to switch resorts... you pack, they haul, you show up! yep, that easy! (pack up your room, they move your luggage to your next resort and you go to the 2nd resort and check in)

it's also been suggested that if you are switching 'level's' (i.e. mod to deluxe) that you do the mod first... it's what we're doing... i hope it works! LOL!

 

[NCombs]

I absolutely recommend it.

We did a split stay last year between BC and POR. It was great to get to try 2 resorts in one stay. We are doing it again next year between Poly and CR.

I think it is a good thing for people who don't go on a regular basis. You get to experience more in the trip you are taking. Certainly, if you are talking a week at each resort, you should be able to settle in and relax at both.

It was not a hassle for us at all. We had a rental car so we moved ourselves. Even without a car, you just leave your bags at your first resort and let them know you are moving to another location. They will get your bags there for you.

My recommendation is to go for it and do a split stay.

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

If you stay for two weeks, then definitely split the stay! Start with CSR and then move over to Poly. The move isnt that big of a deal, Disney will help you make it as simple as possible. (theyre usually able to move luggage for you)

I wish we could do a 2 week stay, but my DF wont let me!

 

[Ilovestitch]

We did a split stay a few weeks ago- we did 4 nights at AKL and 5 at Polynesian. Initially I wanted to stay at the same resort the whole trip, but it was the only way I could get the AP rate.

The moving of the luggage was really easy. Just give your luggage to bell services the morning you want to move and tell them which resort you are transferring to.

They put a colored tag w/the resorts name on all the pieces of your luggage and it will be at the new resort no later than 3pm. We called around 2 and ours was already at the Polynesian.

I would say the only negative about doing a split stay is that you have to pack all your stuff up halfway through your trip. Since we were saving so much $$ it wasn't a big deal to me.

Some people say they don't like being without a resort til 3pm. Well check out is 11am and check in is at 3 so its only 4 hours. I would think most people spend at least 4 hours away from the resort each day anyways. We just took a backpack w/anything we'd need and headed over to the Poly, checked in, got lunch at Kona and walked around the shops and the grounds of the resort a little and by that time is was 2:30 and our room was ready.

For the OP I would definitly do a split stay since you will be there 2 whole weeks. 2 weeks at the Poly is a lot of $$. You will save a lot by splitting w/CSR, think of all the meals and souvineers you could buy. Some people stay 2 nights at one resort, 2 nights at another-I think that's too much. But one week at each resort sounds awesome! -Steph

 

[patsal]

I split my stays all the time. It really is not a hassle and it makes for a new and exciting thing to look forward to. I like different places for different reasons, so the best thing I can do is split my stays.

 

[4greatboys]

We almost always do a split stay. We are DVC members but dont like to use our points on weekend stays (high point time) so we stay at a resort on cash for a couple of nights then move to our DVC accomodations.
Disney makes it so easy to change resorts. So far we havent had any problems moving.

 

[etwinchester]

Right now we are budgeting for a rental car but how far is POLY from CSR?

Our last trip in 2003 was for 2 weeks and we still didn't do everything we wanted to. With all those other family members it's hard. We only take 2 little weekend vacations a year (Knoebels & Wildwood) and need a well deserved lenghtly vacation every now and then.

I told DH that we're going for 2 weeks on our next Disnely trip and if he doesn't want to stay, he can fly back alone. Luckily he agrees that one week is just way to short to relax and enjoy everything. We don't get to go to WDW every year so it's worth it for the enjoyment and memories. I'd rather go for 2 weeks every 3-4 years or so than for one week every year. I'd feel to rushed....

 

[Suzanne74]

We are looking into doing a split stay our next trip in Dec. I really want to try a Savannah room at AKL but I also want the proximity to MK so we are either doing CR, WL, or GF for half our stay. I think AKL will be our relaxing time. I am still undecided - I many even do half our stay at the Portofino at Universal, either way we are moving this time. I rarely completely unpack anyway and it will be something to look forward to halfway thru. I would definately split your stay. I would never pay 2 wks at the Poly - that is A LOT of money The grounds, location and restaurants are great but the rooms leave a lot to be desired. I don't think I would want to stay there that long. For 2 wks, I may switch 3 times

 

[chiconh]

I would never split a stay of a week and (no flames please) can't understand why others do it. It would not be worth the hassle for me. I can understand splitting a 2 week stay, it would almost be like 2 separate vacations.

 

[BostonRob]

I would never split a stay of a week and (no flames please) can't understand why others do it. It would not be worth the hassle for me. I can understand splitting a 2 week stay, it would almost be like 2 separate vacations.

No I haven't and no I wouldn't. I do agree with chiconh here though. I can understand why some would do it for a two week stay. Any less than that is ridiculous (you asked for opinions, right?) But personally, I wouldn't move for any length of stay. I'm on vacation. I'm not moving.

 

[Sandi]

We split when we went in February. We did 4 nights a POR and 3 nights at Poly. There was no hassle to the switch. Very easy to do (we had a rental car and did our own luggage transfer). It was like getting two vacation experiences in one. I can never get more than a week off of work at any time. I'm not sure I would do a switch for less than 3 days, but we definitely thought it was worthwhile and would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Suzanne74]

I would never split a stay of a week and (no flames please) can't understand why others do it. It would not be worth the hassle for me.

No flames, but what hassle? All you do is put your clothes back in your bag, have a bellman come and take them - go to the parks, enjoy the day and then head home on your new hotel's bus. Your bags are there and waiting and you check into your new room. Disney makes it SO easy!!!!!

 

[Leota]

I have switched resorts twice & am planning to do so again this Dec....
I have had Disney transfer my stuff once & I transferred our stuff once via towncar - both ways were easy & totally hassle free. If I didn't have to transport meds that required refridgeration, I would probably just let Disney move my stuff in the future.

I like having the different experiences offered by different resorts. I like staying in 2 different areas. I like enjoying 2 differently themed resorts. It is like having 2 vacations in one.

BTW - my first split stay was Poly/CSR & it was wonderful. I didn't even find it hard going from Deluxe Concierge to moderate. Those last 4 days moderate cost me as much as 1 night deluxe concierge....that savings in a delightful resort really made it very easy.

 

[newholidayx2]

This Aug DS13 & I are staying 8nights VWL and switching to 6nights BCV
Im hoping it feels like 2 vacations!

 

[JESW]

We have been splitting all our stays lately and that is how our family likes it. To each their own. We don't find it a hassle at all but I can understand how others wouldn't want to. We don't go crazy at the parks all the time so the resort is very important to us. We love the change in scenery and the different things to do at each resort.

Our next stay will be in August and it will be the first time we do 3 resorts in 9 nights. The first 2 nights will be at the AKL. The first night we have NO plans and will just hang out by the pool. The second night the kids will go to Simba's Cubhouse and DH & I will try Jiko's. The second day we will go to the AK. We like the AKL but it is so secluded and we couldn't see spending the entire week there. Nights 3 & 4 we will be at the WL for the first time. By only staying 2 nights we can see if we even like it. We hope to do Hoop Dee Doo Revue and Whispering Canyon those two nights. During the day we will go to the MK and maybe a water park or Sea World. The last 5 nights we will move over to our current favorite resort - BWI. EPCOT is our favorite park so we like to end our vacation at a reort that is close by. One night we'll bring the kids to the Neverland Club at the Polynesian and DH & I will eat at Kona Cafe. (the kids are 6 & 10 and love the childcare places) The days we are there we hope to get to the other water park, downtown Disney, MGM & EPCOT. We will also plan several dinners at EPCOT resorts. The day we move from the WL to the BWI we will have lunch at the Sci-Fi at MGM so we are close to our next resort.

The kids also like the different pools and the different surroundings. As I said before, it is not for everyone and I will not flame anyone who has a different opinion...so please do the same for those of us who like to split.

Jill

 

[leighe]

My sister and I split our pre-Christmas stay between the Dolphin and GF - it was no hassle at all. We really enjoyed getting to stay in two different resorts. DH and I are splitting our July stay - 5 nights at BV and 5 nights at Poly. I chose to split this trip because DH is such a workaholic and gets antsy when we're away from home for long so I'm hoping the change of scene halfway through will help him to relax.

I think a week at CSR and then a week at Poly sounds just heavenly! Have a great time.

 

[melsmom303]

were staying 9 nites first 2 csp next 5 pop next 2 wl thats what i could get of the resorts i was intrested in for the ap rate i coulnt get pop for first part of our stay but thats ok i saved wl for last at least .. do i think it mite be a pain switching 3 times maybe but i saved 750.00 dollars over what i had booked before 9 nites at the dolphin . i saved eougnh to deal with it and i get to experience a value moderate and deluxe all in 1 trip

 

[etwinchester]

BTW - my first split stay was Poly/CSR & it was wonderful. I didn't even find it hard going from Deluxe Concierge to moderate. Those last 4 days moderate cost me as much as 1 night deluxe concierge....that savings in a delightful resort really made it very easy.

Thanks so much for sharing your split. I think I'll do CSR first though. I'd just hate to spend that much $$$ on the POLY for 2 weeks. I'm hoping that one week won't be so bad. The only thing is that when we go, which is March, it's considered peak season. If for some reason we can't afford it, guess I'll have to stay both weeks at CSR.

Since I'm so torn between the two resorts, I'd just love to vacation at both and see which one we really enjoy the most...it's so hard since we never stayed onsite.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Oh my! Two weeks! I would have to want to split my stay in 4!! Seriously!
I am currently booked at Poly and WL and POFQ and we are staying for 8 nights all together! If I could only stay on property for 2 weeks... it is going to look like this:

Poly 4 nights~
POP 3 nights
POFQ 3 nights~
WL 4 nights~

I think the main reason why I like to do split is because I can't make up my mind where to stay.