Is a split stay worth it?

[Pdollar88]

Still doing my AP calculations. Does it make sense to do a split stay with a Disney hotel and an off site hotel? I’d like to try out one of the Disney resorts, but don’t know if that’s feasible in a 6 day trip.

I’m not averse to moving my stuff, and it would justify the AP if I stayed even a few nights at a Disney hotel.

 

[ADisneyFamilyof5]

Personally, I tweak my plans anyway I can to stay onsite as much as possible. We really enjoy the onsite hotels (especially the pools) and enjoy the EMH benefit. When we go for a short trip in May, we are staying 2 nights DLH and 1 night at Candy Cane Inn. While I can usually justify the increased cost of onsite, I refuse to pay $600 for DLH just because it is a Friday night.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Not for us. It takes too much time out of my valuable park time to move!

 

[gottalovepluto]

With 6 days I’d do it, just to have the chance to try on-site. Personally I’d do offsite first & then move onsite when I’m a bit more tired and likely to spend a bit more time enjoying the hotel.
ETA: changed my mind! PP makes a good point about weekend nights costing more, something to definitely take into consideration. DLH on Mon feels the same as DLH on a Fri

 

[Pdollar88]

With 6 days I’d do it, just to have the chance to try on-site. Personally I’d do offsite first & then move onsite when I’m a bit more tired and likely to spend a bit more time enjoying the hotel.

This was my rough idea. I’m debating between the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier (because of the cheaper price point). At the end of my stay, that would like include a weekend day or two.

 

[gottalovepluto]

This was my rough idea. I’m debating between the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier (because of the cheaper price point). At the end of my stay, that would like include a weekend day or two.

Wow you’re fast!! Personally for a splurge I’d do DLH. Much more Disney Magic imho.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Wow you’re fast!! Personally for a splurge I’d do DLH. Much more Disney Magic imho.

It would be much harder to sell me on spending 2 nights at PP vs off-site. I don’t think I’d bite on that unless I really wanted EMH.

 

[ADisneyFamilyof5]

This was my rough idea. I’m debating between the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier (because of the cheaper price point). At the end of my stay, that would like include a weekend day or two.

If the pool is of any importance to you guys, go with the DLH. In regards to staying at the beginning vs end of your stay, I understand wanting to leave it for the end. However for our family, it makes it much easier for us to leave an offsite hotel to go home instead of leaving an onsite. We don't feel so sad to leave an offsite hotel.

It would be much harder to sell me on spending 2 nights at PP vs off-site. I don’t think I’d bite on that unless I really wanted EMH.

I agree! Besides EMH benefit, PP does not have the same magic feel.

 

[Congo Queen]

We've done a split hotel in the past. If it is the only way to afford some time at an onsite hotel (as opposed to no time) then we will do it. BUT I don't like to do it. Packing and unpacking is a chore, and I just prefer to do it as little as possible. In terms of sequence, I've always opted to stay at the onsite hotel first as we will get EMH each day and are at our freshest early in the trip and so most able to take advantage of those daily early mornings. Later we are more tired and don't mind sleeping the extra hour in the morning.

 

[Sun_soakin]

We’ve done that sometimes...if we are coming in super late on a Friday night, occasionally we will stay somewhere offsite w/ breakfast and then just pull into a DL resort first thing in the am and get early entry (more in off season when it’s later).

ETA - I just pack a separate bag for that first night. Makes it super easy

 

[cruisehopeful]

If you don't mind breaking up your move day, it sounds like a good plan to keep costs down. You'll have to check by 11:00am and check in at the next place will be 4:00pm. If you have a car, you can keep your luggage there and go to the parks, but if you don't have a car, what will you do for those 5 hours?

I know a lot of people don't like leaving Disneyland hotels for another hotel/motel in the area because they feel like they are leaving the "bubble." I am the opposite. I don't like going from free breakfasts, cheap food, etc, to all the really expensive stuff at Disneyland hotels. I feel like I pay a lot more to stay at Disneyland hotels because of the costs of parking, food, etc before even factoring in the higher priced nightly rates. With that said, I like to stay there for the early entry benefit for DCA.

 

[Pdollar88]

If you don't mind breaking up your move day, it sounds like a good plan to keep costs down. You'll have to check by 11:00am and check in at the next place will be 4:00pm. If you have a car, you can keep your luggage there and go to the parks, but if you don't have a car, what will you do for those 5 hours?

I wondered if there would be luggage services (either at a Disney hotel or an off-site hotel, depending on which order I book my stays) where I could leave my bags until check-in time. I've done this at WDW but didn't know how common that was at the Disneyland area hotels.

Doing some quick looking at the hotels I'm looking at, I think that that will be possible.

 

[Malcon10t]

I wondered if there would be luggage services (either at a Disney hotel or an off-site hotel, depending on which order I book my stays) where I could leave my bags until check-in time. I've done this at WDW but didn't know how common that was at the Disneyland area hotels.

Doing some quick looking at the hotels I'm looking at, I think that that will be possible.

At the Disney Resort Hotels, yu can check in at 6am and leave bags with bell services.

 

[Pdollar88]

At the Disney Resort Hotels, yu can check in at 6am and leave bags with bell services.

Can you also leave the bags there after check out time?

 

[Sun_soakin]

Can you also leave the bags there after check out time?

Yes.

 

[Pdollar88]

I’m trying to figure out “normal” Disneyland hotel discounts from Mousesavers.

Are AP discounts normally any better than general public discounts?

Ugh, also it looks like there aren’t usually *any* discounts offered for early October? That would definitely keep me from staying at a Disney hotel.