How complicated is a split stay?

[Camno's Mama]

Okay, so I booked a split stay...5 nights at POFQ and 2 nights at ASMo. I wanted to do this because I really want to try a mod, and the price is right this year with the gift card. My boys saw pictures of ASMo (my bad...thought we would be doing a value), and they really want to stay there because of the Sorcerer Mickey Pool and the Toy Story building. I don't really mind staying either place, but know that POFQ is good for my family because it's small and has the boat to DTD.

Anyhoo...my question is, how complicated with this split stay be? I'm thinking we will be a the park the day we move resorts. So, we would have to be packed up and get our stuff down to luggage services before we head to the parks. Then, I'm thinking we would take our mid-day break at ASMo to make sure we are checked in, and are hopefully in the building we want.

For those of you that have done it, how bad will this be with three little ones? The packing up, the loading up, the checking in? Is it worth it?

Our other option is taking a "field trip" to ASMo. Maybe having lunch there on one of the off days, taking a walk around, etc. (I know it's just food court, and we're fine with that).

Opinions, please?

 

[Sandisw]

I have done split stays but not with little ones. It was not bad for us and we were lucky that our rooms were ready by earlier afternoon.

We went over to the new resort early and checked in and then headed to the parks. At one resort, the room was ready at 8:00 am and at the other resort, we got a text around 1:30 pm.

We had a rental car and took our own luggage, except once when we used bell services. If you do this, just be sure that you keep anything out you might need that afternoon as the bags didn't get to the new resort until after 3:00 pm.

Good luck!

 

[Camno's Mama]

Thanks...keep 'em coming!

 

[johnsonet]

We now do split stays often. I recommend going for it!
If you try and think things through ahead of time and can keep the children happy then you will be fine. Since it's 5 at one and then 2 at another, I think you'll do great.
I pack separate bags for each person per hotel and of course toiletries go to both
Good luck!

 

[nhdisnut]

We have done split stays frequently, sometimes as many as three different resorts in one week. So long as you don't mind repacking your belongings a split stay is lots of fun in that you get to experience more than one of the WDW resorts.

What we usually do is make arrangements the night before for Bell Services to pick up our luggage at a specific time in the morning. Otherwise, if you call the morning you are switching, then you might end up waiting as they tend to get busy quickly. Alternatively, we have taken our luggage ourselves to Bell Services...now that our kids are older this is much less of a chore. Either way, just indicate which resort you are moving to and they will mark your bags accordingly. Once the bags are taken care of we usually go off to a park until mid-afternoon (with maybe a backpack of essentials) then head to the new resort to check in. Most every time our luggage has been at our new resort waiting for us.

Sounds like your plan will work! Have fun!

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

We've done split stays in the past with 3 kids and no problems. You do have to be organized but I don't think it's really a big deal. We always call bell services the night before and arrange a luggage pick-up time. In the am, they come up to our room and tag and retrieve all the luggage. We then go off for our day in the park and when we're done for the day we head over to our new resort. We've always found our luggage waiting for us. It was quite easy. It really is a great way to try a new resort without committing to it for the whole trip. We were able to try Poly this way. The bad thing was my kids, and my DH and myself, fell in love with it. Now trips are more expensive than they used to be.

 

[grace&philipsmom]

When we last year for my DD's birthday I booked the last 2 nights at the BC because she had always wanted to try the "sand bottom pool". I kept it for a surprise until we arrived. My DH was not happy that we were going to waste a day changing hotels.

Anyhow it took us only 1-2 hours to change hotels, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Even with two smaller kids it was fairly effortless.

 

[Pixieflip]

Etiquette question on this topic. You should tip the person who takes the luggage from you and then again tip the person who brings it to you at the new resort. Right?

 

[gailanncreates]

Did not call bell services the night before, and now I wish I would have. We had to wait about 45 min. for them to come get the bags. We were second floor at OKW, and far from the HHouse, so we weren't dragging them. But once they came and got them, we were off to the parks. DH stayed in the park with the kids, I went to YC and checked us in. They messed up our room request, only 1 Q and a sleeper chair for 2A and2K. So I did have to stay over an hour to get that straightened out, but our luggage was there waiting for us. Was checking in about 3 pm. I'd do it again if it was worth it moneywise, but would rather just stay at one place.

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

Etiquette question on this topic. You should tip the person who takes the luggage from you and then again tip the person who brings it to you at the new resort. Right?

Yes.

 

[gluvsmickey]

we just did this in Dec and I have mixed feelings, I guess if we would have moved our luggage ourselves it wouldn't have been so bad. we moved from POR to AKL and were told that our luggage would arrive between 1 and 3 no biggie we could kill time before it got there, well the temp dropped that day and my sister who is preggo wore flip flops early figuring before we went to the MK that night she could change, well our luggage was still nowhere to be found at 9 so her and my mom decided to forego the park because it was just too cold (most were wearing winter hats that night!) the luggage finally arrived around 11. i still am not sure about the delay but it really bummed us out! we might try again this trip but see if we can take our own luggage over!

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

We've done split stays in the past with 3 kids and no problems. You do have to be organized but I don't think it's really a big deal. We always call bell services the night before and arrange a luggage pick-up time. In the am, they come up to our room and tag and retrieve all the luggage. We then go off for our day in the park and when we're done for the day we head over to our new resort. We've always found our luggage waiting for us. It was quite easy. It really is a great way to try a new resort without committing to it for the whole trip. We were able to try Poly this way. The bad thing was my kids, and my DH and myself, fell in love with it. Now trips are more expensive than they used to be.

This is the scenario we are thinking of doing as well. I was wondering how it would work without a rental car. We would like to head out to the parks for rope drop in the am and then we wouldn't be to the new resort until late afternoon and was wondering how that would be - if we needed to be around the new resort when the luggage and other stuff (food/water) got there. From your post it sounds like you don't need to be there but can show up when your day is done.

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

This is the scenario we are thinking of doing as well. I was wondering how it would work without a rental car. We would like to head out to the parks for rope drop in the am and then we wouldn't be to the new resort until late afternoon and was wondering how that would be - if we needed to be around the new resort when the luggage and other stuff (food/water) got there. From your post it sounds like you don't need to be there but can show up when your day is done.

In both of the split stays that we've done, we've never had a car. We always just go to the parks for the day and when we're done for the day go to the new hotel and check in. You don't have to be there for your luggage. They hold it for you until you get there. It has always been a very smooth transition and we never altered our plans for the day because of changing hotels.

 

[gailanncreates]

No, you don't need a rental car. And if you felt you wanted to be with the luggage, I'd grab a taxi instead. But somewhere else I was warned about being there closer to the check-in times vs. later in the day. Even though I was there about 3:30, we still had the room assignment issues. I was glad I left DH and kids in the park and took care of it on my own; the resort was pretty empty and had lots of staff at my disposal. It would have been miserable to work that out after 9 pm with a crowded resort and tired family.