How many split stays are too many?

[Pluto777]

On a 16 day trip, is it pushing the limits (packing and unpacking) to do 3 split stays? This is in addition to an offsite stay so it would actually mean moving 4 times, packing and unpacking for a family of 5...

 

[msmayor]

I think only you and your family can decide how much is too much. I know changing hotels four times during a vacation would drive me nuts, but your family may be OK with it.

 

[Dave006]

The real questions are what are the ages of the children and why so many different resort?

Are you staying on Package(s) as the number of ticket days are impacted by the lenght of each stay or do you have those international 14 day tickets?

Dave

 

[Disneylover99]

3 would be okay. 4 might be pushing it.

But it really depends on how you’re breaking up the split stays. What are your resorts and how many days at each resort.

 

[Cdaley]

I did 3 in 15. I had planned 1 5 day and 1 10 days but I was unhappy with the resort so transferred on day 5. I wouldn’t recommend it though unless you really need to.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Why is it you want to move? Is it to enjoy the amenities of the resort? Do you spend much time in the parks?

If you’re going for the resort amenities and not the parks, you will have more time available for packing and unpacking.

I don’t like to move as for us the resort is a place to lay our heads. We get settled, unpacked and hit the parks. We like the ease of everything being in the same place in the room and the comfort that comes with that. We also like knowing we have our space to relax. Each time you leave has potential to have hours without a home base. That takes away from the relaxation of a vacation for us so we choose to move as little as possible and just visit other resorts for short visits, not move. Other than use of pools I’m not aware of much you cannot enjoy at a different resort so we choose to visit, not move.

It’s totally personal but if we really wanted a split vacation I think once would be lots for us.

 

[BingoJoe]

Go for 14 nights at a time every year and tried a few split stays but I have gone off them entirely.

I feel like you don't get to really relax into a resort and feel at home if you have to move after a week.

 

[mrsap]

We stay 2 weeks every year and the most we ever split was 3 times over a 14/15 day stay - but the first split is usually just the first night added on last minute, if we couldn’t get an extra night at the first resort. For the one night, we typically just bring an overnight bag. For the rest of the trip, we split the stay in half and we love it. Feels like you’re on 2 different vacations! I’d definitely recommend a Magic Kingdom resort/Epcot resort split to make the most out of your trip. Enjoy and good luck deciding!

 

[kylenne]

As others have said, it’s really up to you and your family and what your priorities are. I know a lot of DVC folks tend to do the extreme splits due to availability issues and seem to make out fine. For us though, we love split stays on longer trips but could never do it more than once. The longest trip we had was 11 days last summer, and we did 3 nights at Yacht Club and 7 at Poly. That was great. But even on a 2 week trip we would only stay at 2 resorts max. Our main purpose in splitting stays is maximizing travel logistics: a few nights at Crescent Lake for our heavy Epcot and HS days followed by a few nights on the monorail for our MK and AK days (AK is going to be buses regardless). Experiencing different resorts/areas is a bonus. So it really makes no sense for us to change resorts more than once.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

I would do (3) with a 16 day trip.

5 5 6

1 MK Area 1 Epcot Area than AKL

 

[jo-jo]

How do you pack? Have two outfits for every day and matching accessories or 2 sets of clothes that you wash every day? Do you eat all or almost all meals in the room?

 

[tguz]

Why is it you want to move? Is it to enjoy the amenities of the resort? Do you spend much time in the parks?

If you’re going for the resort amenities and not the parks, you will have more time available for packing and unpacking.

I don’t like to move as for us the resort is a place to lay our heads. We get settled, unpacked and hit the parks. We like the ease of everything being in the same place in the room and the comfort that comes with that. We also like knowing we have our space to relax. Each time you leave has potential to have hours without a home base. That takes away from the relaxation of a vacation for us so we choose to move as little as possible and just visit other resorts for short visits, not move. Other than use of pools I’m not aware of much you cannot enjoy at a different resort so we choose to visit, not move.

It’s totally personal but if we really wanted a split vacation I think once would be lots for us.

Pretty spot on for us also. It is 100% a personal choice but we hate to pack up at the end of the vaca, let alone in the middle also.

 

[kanerf]

I routinely do 3 splits over a 10 night trip each time. The only pain is moving my refrigerated items from one resort to the next. I do have an insulated back-pack and an insulated grocery bag that I use for this process. I did it yesterday from Riviera to Wilderness Lodge. I took the Skyliner to Hollywood Studios and took the bus from there to Wilderness Lodge. The bus arrived shortly after I got to the stop and I rode it back to Wilderness Lodge with just myself and the bus driver. From there I stop by the Bell stand and have my items refrigerated until I get my room ready alert and come back and pick it up.

 

[Sajchinook2015]

I do split stays but we are resort people. Been going to Disney since the 90’s. We use packing cubes. Makes it easier. I have never done it with little ones. My 13 year old nephew loved it. But we had AKL for one of the resorts. I think like others mentioned you have to ask yourself what the benefits would be and why a split stay is best for your trip and family.

 

[mrsap]

How do you pack? Have two outfits for every day and matching accessories or 2 sets of clothes that you wash every day? Do you eat all or almost all meals in the room?

We still pack as we normally would with a non-split stay. I typically have two bags packed for myself, plus a bag for toiletries and such. Kids and DH have their own bags/suitcases as well. We also pack a bag for the pool. I tend to overpack and wouldn’t change anything just because we are doing a split stay. We still eat out and we order groceries for the room. We transfer any leftover items from the first stay to the next resort. If we need more items, we will re-order food to be delivered or pick it up on our move day. We do wash clothes right before we move and that way we have fresh laundry and everything repacked before we move. To our family, it’s worth it. Not only do you have the benefits of being at an Epcot resort, one week, and then a Magic Kingdom resort the next, but it truly feels like you are on two different vacations. We love it.

 

[sponica]

Honestly I thought packing up a room to go on a cruise, then packing up at the end of the cruise to go to another hotel for a night was too much packing/unpacking and those were necessary moves.

So I don't think I'd plan a split stay unless absolutely necessary....but that's just me.

 

[reddog21]

We did a split stay once between Disney resorts and would never do it again. I don't see the point in packing/unpacking over and over again seems like a wast of time.

 

[MickeyMice]

How do you pack? Have two outfits for every day and matching accessories or 2 sets of clothes that you wash every day? Do you eat all or almost all meals in the room?

these are the two questions that matter.

if you can pack light and are willing to wash clothes, you'll have much less to collect on move day. and you can move food as long as you don't have a fridge full of perishables.

i love splitting but you have to approach it like a backpacker, lol.

 

[GoingSince1990]

For me that would be sheer misery. I just love the feeling of unpacking, settling in, and knowing we won't have to pack up again until the end of the trip. Also, split stays mess up your 60 day + length of stay restaurant reservations.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Are you packing them up or are they capable with minimal supervision? If they can’t stick to 2. If they can go 3. Honestly, I can start getting a bit bored of a hotel after day 5 and it’s nice to have a fully refreshed room. I have bell services transfer my stuff and plan to spend the majority of the transfer day in the parks*

*weather is a factor. If it’s during Stupid Hot season you may not want to have to spend 2 afternoons in the parks instead of at a hotel pool or napping in the room