Is a split-stay a good thing?

[Jake&IzzyLand]

How does a split stay work? I want to stay at the Beach Club so my kids can splash around their awesome pool for a couple of days (would not go to the parks for these days) on the days we are at the parks I want to stay at a Value b/c we are there all day and stay for fireworks. Is this a smart thing to do? How does it affect you if you arrive at one place and depart from another in terms of the ME? Also, do room discounts or free dining go with you to each resort? Thanks!

 

[MyMagicalTrip]

How does a split stay work? I want to stay at the Beach Club so my kids can splash around their awesome pool for a couple of days (would not go to the parks for these days) on the days we are at the parks I want to stay at a Value b/c we are there all day and stay for fireworks. Is this a smart thing to do? How does it affect you if you arrive at one place and depart from another in terms of the ME? Also, do room discounts or free dining go with you to each resort? Thanks!

I actually *would* get park tickets those days. You are within walking distance to Epcot and Hollywood which is a huge convenience. After 3/4 days park tickets are a miniscule price for what you get in the convenience of being close to your room.

We did do this (stayed at the Beach Club and did a split stay with Value) - I have actually done it many times but we didn't enjoy it last time. It is so disruptive to move. But... if that's what your budget allows for, then you gotta do what you can do.

Room discounts may be different for value versus Deluxe. I have no advice for free dining, if it is offered.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

Can you do this online? I booked half and then wanted to add the other half of the trip and it wouldn't do it with out taking the Beach Club out.

 

[vicki_c]

Can you do this online? I booked half and then wanted to add the other half of the trip and it wouldn't do it with out taking the Beach Club out.

You would have to book two separate reservations. There is no such thing as a split stay when booking with Disney, it is just two reservations.

If there was free dining available, the only way to get it for both stays would be to add tickets to each stay which can really drive your costs up (historically, a 2 day ticket minimum is required to get free dining).

 

[Crystal824]

We did this one year between a value and a deluxe (Wilderness Lodge). I have got to say I didn't care for moving in the middle of our trip. It was disruptive to the trip and a huge pain. It was also the only way I was willing to pay the deluxe prices, 2 days as opposed to the entire 10 days we were at WDW. We do have little kids (too little to help move) with a lot of stuff so that could be part of the problem. If your children are old enough to help carry the stuff, it might be easier. For us, we don't plan on doing that again.

I'm not sure about ME, but I think you can arrive at one resort and depart from another. We had a rental car that trip. I think you have to make two separate reservations. I would probably just do free dining where you will stay the longest and pay OOP at the other hotel so you don't have to pay extra for tickets. I would just get the number of days you need on the tickets associated with free dining. As I am sure you are aware, tickets are cheaper the longer you stay. I would also get tickets for the days you are at Beach Club. You are so close to Epcot. You could just pop in for a couple of rides (think FP+ rides) and dinner, which would still leave lots of time for the pool.

 

[tinkerbee]

How long do you plan on staying at each?

 

[kenny]

We have done split stays an are not a big fan. Hate having to pack and unpack in mid trip. Also if you do value and deluxe I would do value first. Kind of hard going to value after staging at deluxe. But if you are not going to the parks those days it would make it hard to end your trip in disney but not at park

Some people swear by split stays. Just wasn't for us. One tip is to try and pack for each resort separately. Wouldn't have to repack

Good luck

 

[TDC Nala]

It's great so long as you don't want a dining plan with both reservations.

Dining plans do not transfer between reservations, so you'd have to have a separate one for each reservation. If you have a package, that means you have to buy tickets for both reservations. Although you can buy as little as a one-day ticket on the reservation where you don't intend to go to the parks, and save it (if you want free dining it has to be two days).

Can you do this online? I booked half and then wanted to add the other half of the trip and it wouldn't do it with out taking the Beach Club out.

You have to book two entirely separate reservations. You cannot change a single reservation into a split stay.

 

[Meriweather]

We did our first split stay this last trip in Jan.
It was fine. Booked as 2 reservations.
ME is booked as two also....one for arriving and one for leaving. It works fine to do it online.
I didn't find it a pain to move.....but we always have free days and I planned on one for that day. We just called bell services and they took our bags over to the next resort.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

Thanks for your input. I see that it does make sense to buy all of the tickets at once, and I think you have me talked into buying tickets for the BC stay as well. I can see how its a pain to move mid-vacation, but I'm willing to try it at least once. Two reservations actually makes it easier. Use the room discount at the BC (2 days)and use free dining at POP(4 days).

 

[jimandami]

We have done several split stays and didn't find it a pain at all. We just packed our stuff and had Bell Services come get it for transfer to new resort. We then went about our day at the park and when finished, took a bus to the new resort to check-in. We then had Bell Services deliver our luggage. Disney actually makes it very easy. We find that AK is a good park for moving day because it closes earlier so you get to your new resort on the earlier side, even if you stay all day.

 

[frozengurl]

A question w/in this question if I may: how long would you suggest your total stay should be if considering a split stay? I've been thinking about a split stay too- I have a friend who loves but but her vacations are 14 days- mine is 9

 

[Meriweather]

A question w/in this question if I may: how long would you suggest your total stay should be if considering a split stay? I've been thinking about a split stay too- I have a friend who loves but but her vacations are 14 days- mine is 9

Doesn't really matter....whatever you want.
I have a friend that changed 4 times in 10 days. Just depends on what you want to do.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Thanks for your input. I see that it does make sense to buy all of the tickets at once, and I think you have me talked into buying tickets for the BC stay as well. I can see how its a pain to move mid-vacation, but I'm willing to try it at least once. Two reservations actually makes it easier. Use the room discount at the BC (2 days)and use free dining at POP(4 days).

That may or may not work. Traditionally you can pick up tickets 3 days early, but with MB things are in constant flux. In order to get free dining you must have park tickets, so if the rule changes you may be without tickets your first two days (or if it stays the same you are good to go g)

As for the rest of it, we have done split stays twice. We spent one night at AS movies and then hopped to Contemporary for 8 nights. Last year we did 2 nights at Coronado and then 5 at BC. The hop is slightly annoying, so we don't usually do it, but I want to stay at each resort and my dh is a deluxe only type guy so this is our compromise. I will say BC is our "home" resort. It used to be the Contemporary, but once you stay at BC, you are not going to want to stay anywhere else!

 

[Crystal824]

A question w/in this question if I may: how long would you suggest your total stay should be if considering a split stay? I've been thinking about a split stay too- I have a friend who loves but but her vacations are 14 days- mine is 9

We did 9 nights, 10 days. With 2 nights at Wilderness Lodge and the remaining nights at Pop.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

That may or may not work. Traditionally you can pick up tickets 3 days early, but with MB things are in constant flux. In order to get free dining you must have park tickets, so if the rule changes you may be without tickets your first two days (or if it stays the same you are good to go g)

Agreed - I would try and do the free dining portion first, if possible. Then add days to the tickets for the BC stay.

 

[TDC Nala]

You also have to remember that the minimum stay for free dining (if it's offered) is 3 nights. Works if you put it on the 4 night reservation but not the 2 night one.

 

[MrsDuck]

I think it just depends on your style. In my opinion? I have no interest in getting to a resort, unpacking, repacking, and starting all over again at a new resort.

If it's something that you'd be okay with doing, your plan sounds like a good one, OP.

 

[JennyDrake]

I've done it twice. It was not a big deal as I'm a childless adult and I pack pretty light. The only negative for me was the LONG time it took to check in to AKL each time one time over and hour, the other in excess of hour and a half.

 

[lroger01]

I haven't done a split stay, so take this advice with that in mind.

If it were me I'd do the value resort and park days first. The parks can be exhausting! I'd rather end the trip with two quiet days of enjoying the amenities of a deluxe resort. If I did deluxe first, the parks might be pulling at me too much for me to enjoy relaxing and swimming.

If you get tickets (or add them on) for the deluxe stay, you'll have time to do anything you missed at the parks. I like the insurance of a back up plan in case a must-do (like watching Wishes) get's rained out. You also have the option of ending your trip with an evening at your favorite park.