How (easy or) difficult is a split stay?

[pinkivy]

We are already booked for the WL June 4-13. Now my 11 year DD wants to stay at AKL too. I was thinking about staying at WL June 4-10, checking out on the 10th, then staying at AKL June 10-13. My son is worried about losing valuable time that could be spent in the parks.

I am torn. I thought about sticking with the original plan of 10 days at WL, then doing a shorter trip later (like in 2009) to AKL. But who knows if we/they will want to do Disney again in 2009.

We already have a trip planned for 2010 because my son wants to go there for his high school graduation gift and he wants to stay at Poly.

So was switching resorts mid-stay a smooth transition? Would you recommend it? Tips/advice? Thanks sooooo much!

 

[Dawn16]

We do it all the time. We love many of the resorts and enjoy the "two separate vacations" feeling we get form staying at different resorts on the same trip. Its pretty simple to move. You just call Bell Services at WL and explain you are moving over to AKL. They'll pick up your bags and forward them over. Typically you'd see your luggage arrive late afternoon. In the meantime you can just go to the parks or do whatever you had planned and get to AKL when you're ready. As I said, we've done this several times (including once between WL and AKL) and have never had any problems. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[MNmom]

I think the only bad thing about splitting your stay is having to pack up everything and then unpack again! Other than that it was a great experience for us and did not take away from the parks at all!! We (...or should I say "I") packed our bags up the night before our switch. We left for the parks around 8am and left our bags in our room right by the door. At about 3pm we left the park and went to our new resort to check in. Our bags were deliverd within 1/2 hour of checking in to our new room. We showered and were back at the parks by 6pm for dinner and fireworks. Our family always takes a mid afternoon break for a shower or swim before dinner. It just seems to be what everyone needs. If your family usually stays at the park all day and evening then you can just check-in whenever you get to your new resort.

PS- I have heard that some people will take a taxi early in the am to their new resort and move their bags themselves. I guess they like to check in early and know that their bags are there. Then they go to the parks from their new resort. Either way- it usually goes smoothly.

Good Luck

 

[ciera321]

We had our first split stay last August and it went very smoothly. We left WL around 8:30am and headed to BC to enjoy the pool for the day. Our luggage arrived about 2pm and was delivered to our room.

 

[clkelley]

It depends on the way you travel and your "attachment" to your room and your stuff. From what I read on these boards, there are some folks even on their first arrival day if they get there early, are hanging around the resort, waiting on their room, furious if their bags aren't there, and just can't "do" anything until they are moved into that room and unpacked. Well, the same thing would happen with a resort switch. So therefore, I wouldn't recommend it for those with that mentality.

Then there is the 2nd camp, (which is where we fall), that if you arrive early, drop those carryons with bell services, get checked in as fast as possible, and on the first bus, or if we arrive late at night with essential carryons, go straight to bed, and are out the door early, without worrying about our bags, then no problem.

It is this 2nd camp that can tolerate a room change a lot easier.

There is also a 3rd camp, that isn't so picky about their bags and their room right away, but if your a family with lots of kids and lots of "stuff" and you are firmly entrenched in the room, and it takes all the way till 11am checkout to get packed up and organized, that camp probably shouldn't do a spit stay either.