Is disney trying to limit split stays!

[qv09vvp]

I came here hoping someone had started a thread but didn’t see one. Please delete if I just missed iit.

I’m a fan of split stays but saw that Disney will no longer transfer perishables. Just wondering how everyone else feels about this.

 

[PalmettoPath]

My guess is that it has more to do with the logistics of providing this service right now (lack of CMs and more guests potentially doing split stays). We're going to bring a cooler bag and get some ice packs/bags of ice in there for the milk, cream, cheese etc. We'll have to figure out the best way to move everything as we're only going from the Grand Villas to a Poly Bungalow. So close, yet still far enough when you have groceries to transfer along with luggage. We'll figure it out, even it's only a short ride share hop or something.

 

[mom2rtk]

I do see this leaving them with more orphan rooms. I think a lot of people were booking odd nights here and there as part of split stays.

 

[tbssenterprises]

Took me an hour to chop off some days at the end of my next stay as I was able to book two nights in a BC villa and had to cancel the two nights at the end of my POP visit to accommodate. The cast member told me that SHE couldn't just take the two nights off of POP and she had to contact some sort of customer service to do that. I've never heard of such a thing, but held on while she did that. All in all, it took me one hour on the phone to accomplish this.....

 

[mom2rtk]

Took me an hour to chop off some days at the end of my next stay as I was able to book two nights in a BC villa and had to cancel the two nights at the end of my POP visit to accommodate. The cast member told me that SHE couldn't just take the two nights off of POP and she had to contact some sort of customer service to do that. I've never heard of such a thing, but held on while she did that. All in all, it took me one hour on the phone to accomplish this.....

This has been going on for a few years. I think it was our trip in 2018 maybe where this had just started and we had to completely rebook to take off a night.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I don’t see it as limiting split stays as much as wanting to remove something that is probably somewhat of a hassle to handle - takes time, resources, lots of people, and I’m sure mistakes happen occasionally so then you have upset guests, etc. Not making excuses for Disney as it was definitely a convenient service that I used, but I can start to understand why a company might not want to handle such things. Again, not saying if that is right or wrong as it does negatively impact me, but I can understand it.

While not as convenient and it comes with time and a cost, it’s not like work arounds like rideshare/taxi to resort #2 with your perishables are all that difficult. Takes some planning and more thought, but it’s relatively manageable and we’ll just incorporate that into our future split stays. I don’t like seeing the removal of convenient guest services, but this is one I can manage around, in my opinion.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don’t see it as limiting split stays as much as wanting to remove something that is probably somewhat of a hassle to handle - takes time, resources, lots of people, and I’m sure mistakes happen occasionally so then you have upset guests, etc. Not making excuses for Disney as it was definitely a convenient service that I used, but I can start to understand why a company might not want to handle such things. Again, not saying if that is right or wrong as it does negatively impact me, but I can understand it.

While not as convenient and it comes with time and a cost, it’s not like work arounds like rideshare/taxi to resort #2 with your perishables are all that difficult. Takes some planning and more thought, but it’s relatively manageable and we’ll just incorporate that into our future split stays. I don’t like seeing the removal of convenient guest services, but this is one I can manage around, in my opinion.

I totally get that. But I think they're going to have some unintended consequences for this.

 

[bella_and_the_beast]

Yeah, we always end up doing split stays (we have gone on a few trips with my in-laws. They own at BC and book half the trip, we usually book at AK and we move there). We don't usually have too many perishables, but we always drop our luggage and food off in the morning so we can rope drop a park, and I can't see us wasting time transporting it to the second resort. Our workaround will be two smaller grocery orders (and I hate that we'll be dumping the rest of the perishables at resort #1 such as milk). I do understand why they're doing it - from what I've read the luggage can sit in a car for hours on its way over to resort #2, so I'm sure it's logistically challenging to get perishables over, especially if it's something like someone's medication (which I've never had to do, but I'm sure others have). I don't like this, but I can see the reasoning. It just sucks that things are being taken away that make Disney vacations convenient. I may be phrasing that wrong, but it's like...show up at the airport and the magic starts. Head right to a park and your luggage will be waiting at the resort and bell services will bring that and your groceries up for you. Ready to switch resorts? Bell services comes to your room and take your stuff and it'll be waiting for you at resort #2. It's just nice to be in a bubble and not have to think about all that.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

They aren't doing this to limit split stays. They are doing it because the customer is still paying the same price or more for limited services and they know they can keep pushing the envelope further to increase their profits. From what I've read WDW is just about booked solid the rest of this year and well into next year, probably due to the anniversary. They don't need to provide more services when people are already paying top dollar and apparently happy to do so.

 

[Eastern]

Refrigerating items in between stays without making mistakes has got to be a logistical nightmare.

 

[cvjw]

I don’t blame them for stopping the transport of perishables and medicine. It was a great service that disney did not have to provide. I can just imagine the logistical nightmare that it was for the bell staff. Then, when something went wrong, dealing with furious guests probably got to be too much.

 

[Disneytrippin']

I don’t see it as limiting split stays as much as wanting to remove something that is probably somewhat of a hassle to handle - takes time, resources, lots of people, and I’m sure mistakes happen occasionally so then you have upset guests, etc. Not making excuses for Disney as it was definitely a convenient service that I used, but I can start to understand why a company might not want to handle such things. Again, not saying if that is right or wrong as it does negatively impact me, but I can understand it.

While not as convenient and it comes with time and a cost, it’s not like work arounds like rideshare/taxi to resort #2 with your perishables are all that difficult. Takes some planning and more thought, but it’s relatively manageable and we’ll just incorporate that into our future split stays. I don’t like seeing the removal of convenient guest services, but this is one I can manage around, in my opinion.

Do you think this will effect those people who walk reservations or is intentional?

 

[vicarrieous]

I don’t blame them for stopping the transport of perishables and medicine. It was a great service that disney did not have to provide. I can just imagine the logistical nightmare that it was for the bell staff. Then, when something went wrong, dealing with furious guests probably got to be too much.

^^THIS!

I will admit after attempting split stays twice, I am not a big fan. I like to make a home base and spread out/unpack.

 

[Eastern]

I will admit after attempting split stays twice, I am not a big fan. I like to make a home base and spread out/unpack.

I think a lot more people are doing split stays to minimize having to use buses.

 

[vicarrieous]

I think a lot more people are doing split stays to minimize having to use buses.

Agreed and also due to availability in the DVC realm. I get wanting to try out places too.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Interesting question. I personally have never been a fan of the split stay b/c I like to unpack and settle in to enjoy vacation (and am lazy ) but know so many enjoy them and the ability to try different resorts. I agree that the transfer of perishable goods (particularly those that are open/unsealed) must be a logistics nightmare. Not sure when the change occurred but split stays also now have separate "windows" for booking dining reservations whereas they used to potentially fall under the 60+10 rule. So there are some quirks to split stays that require some extra effort and planning but I'd agree they are pretty manageable.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Truthfully I am surprised that they have not done this years ago and it's a good move on their part. Perishable items are a big pain to keep and transfer and you know that the people will blame them if something got warm etc. So, I do not think they are trying to stop split stays, but are putting the responsibility of perishable's back on the customer where it should be.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I wonder if they have fewer CMs to do the transfers, so they take longer. That means the food is unrefrigerated while they are on the truck. You get a bunch of complaints and you either change the process (too expensive and hard to staff) or get rid of it.

 

[kc51570]

I came here hoping someone had started a thread but didn’t see one. Please delete if I just missed iit.

I’m a fan of split stays but saw that Disney will no longer transfer perishables. Just wondering how everyone else feels about this.

I’ve done plenty of split stays and I’ve never had them transfer my perishables. Actually the last few split stays we did we just moved all our stuff ourselves-one time we had a rental car and other times we got a lift. The one time we used the transfer service, our room was ready well before our luggage arrived. We never bus tons of groceries even though we have the full kitchen, usually just breakfast items, snacks, and waters. Last time I did end up tossing some yogurts and some milk, but it wasn’t a big loss.
I‘m not sure discontinuing the service will have much of an impact and I don’t think it was done to discourage split stays.

 

[FCDub]

Rooms with kitchens are certainly an exception, but asking a company to transport your personal items purchased as a way to avoid giving them money always seemed like a weird ask to me.