Is it worth doing a split stay?

[juliebee]

I have a reservation for both a 7nt BRV stay and for a 3nt BCV for the same period of time in May as I'm considering a split stay. This will be our first WDW DVC trip (we've done Aulani) and I wanted to try two resorts. Before I modify my BRV reservation to drop those 3 nights, I wanted to think of all the ramifications of a split stay. I know that it means I would have two dining reservation dates since it would be two reservations. I think it would also mean that if doing Lightning Lane Multi Pass, that I would have two dates for that as well. Can anyone confirm that? What other issues would having a split stay cause? Is it even worth doing a split stay? Any plusses besides experiencing two resorts?
** I know that BCV's pool is closed in May, and that isn't an issue for us.

 

[T00dles]

Well, it's kind of an obvious one...but usually the biggest pain in the butt for us is having to pack and unpack. We really prefer unpacking our things and staying in one place, not having to move at all.

But if we do a split stay, we try to have the short end at the beginning of the trip so we can settle in at the end of our vacation. Just seems more relaxing that way.

Of course, the convenience of BC for Epcot and HS is nice.

Best wishes with your decision!

 

[CarolynFH]

I think it would also mean that if doing Lightning Lane Multi Pass, that I would have two dates for that as well.

The good news is, no, as long as you go from one resort to another without a break, you can book your LLs for your entire stay at 7 days from checkin for the first.

As far as the split stay goes, we don’t like them, mostly due to the packing-unpacking thing, plus being homeless for a day. But we will do them with a minimum 3 nights at any resort, so your 4+3 would work for us if we had a reason for a split (not enough points for all 7 nights at one place, for instance).

 

[tarheellovesdisney]

A plus for a split stay in 2025 is the first day of each stay you get a free water park visit. So you would get 2 water park visits. Disney also will transfer your luggage, which makes it a little easier.
Having those 3 nights a BC will make getting to E & HS so much easier! Plus access to all that crescent lake offers.

 

[juliebee]

The good news is, no, as long as you go from one resort to another without a break, you can book your LLs for your entire stay at 7 days from checkin for the first.

That is great news! I tried to search for the answer, but couldn't find anything on this specific issue so thank you for that!

 

[juliebee]

A plus for a split stay in 2025 is the first day of each stay you get a free water park visit. So you would get 2 water park visits. Disney also will transfer your luggage, which makes it a little easier.
Having those 3 nights a BC will make getting to E & HS so much easier! Plus access to all that crescent lake offers.

ooh, two water park days would be great. Our flight doesn't get in until 4pm, so we won't be doing it on our first arrival day, but it might be worthwhile on the split stay transition day.

 

[CarolynFH]

That is great news! I tried to search for the answer, but couldn't find anything on this specific issue so thank you for that!

Yes, still waiting for the “All About LLMP” sticky thread the TPAS forum moderators promised us. In the meantime I try to keep up with https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...t-walt-disney-world-starting-july-24.3948850/.

 

[DisTravels]

A plus for a split stay in 2025 is the first day of each stay you get a free water park visit. So you would get 2 water park visits. Disney also will transfer your luggage, which makes it a little easier.
Having those 3 nights a BC will make getting to E & HS so much easier! Plus access to all that crescent lake offers.

If you have individual days booked in the same room type at the same resort do they always combine the reservations? I understand there could be a risk of having to move rooms, but if you actually checkout and checkin to the same room, would that get you a water park visit?

 

[Bearval]

A plus for a split stay in 2025 is the first day of each stay you get a free water park visit. So you would get 2 water park visits. Disney also will transfer your luggage, which makes it a little easier.
Having those 3 nights a BC will make getting to E & HS so much easier! Plus access to all that crescent lake offers.

We are doing a split stay from June 7th to June 14th with the first 3 nights at AKL in a 2 bedroom value then 4 nights at BLT. We are driving down from Pennsylvania non-stop and will arrive ~ 6pm to 7pm so basically we will be sleeping in for the first day. For our "homeless" day we will be making use of the waterpark. I am curious to see what the pricing will be for the 5 weekday tickets since this will be exactly what we need for this trip. Paying the $99 fee for the MM and ticket discount would be a no brainer for us if the tickets are discounted by 10% or more.

 

[jess2022]

We like split stays. New dining options, clean room, closer to different parks… I’m not sure I would split stays though between two resorts so close together. We have done AKL to SSR, and OKW to CCV recently. Both worked well and are very different resorts, which I think it important if I’m going to move.

 

[CarolynFH]

If you have individual days booked in the same room type at the same resort do they always combine the reservations? I understand there could be a risk of having to move rooms, but if you actually checkout and checkin to the same room, would that get you a water park visit?

If the rooms are identical - same size, view, etc. - and booked on points on the same DVC membership (can be different contracts), you can chat/email/call MS to combine them into one reservation. I’m not sure whether they’d do it automatically or not - there are reports of both here on DISboards. If the rooms are the same but booked on different DVC memberships, or one points and one cash, they can’t be combined into one reservation, all you can do is chat/email/call MS and ask them to note it as a Continuing Stay - and in that case you would have a second checkin day.

 

[MonkeyKnifeFight]

We like split stays because it allows us to stay near the parks we going to. Often times its half at an epcot resort and half at a monorail resort. It also allows us to only get the dining plan for 3-4 days instead of 8-10. Its a lot easier to stuff our faces at character buffets for only 3 days instead of 10.

 

[Sandisw]

If you have individual days booked in the same room type at the same resort do they always combine the reservations? I understand there could be a risk of having to move rooms, but if you actually checkout and checkin to the same room, would that get you a water park visit?

Even if they don’t officially merge your rooms into one, the front desk will treat them as such when you check in to keep you in the same room and it will no longer be considered eligible for an additional water park day.

It’s what currently happens with the cleaning schedule. When I book a stay using two of my memberships, and stay in the same room, they treat it as one and I only get trash and towel day 4

 

[Aussie RJ]

Packing mid trip and 2 dates for Dining Reservations are the only issues.

 

[juliebee]

Packing mid trip and 2 dates for Dining Reservations are the only issues.

I was thinking perhaps we could pack for Resort#1 with one suitcase and the put our clothes for Resort#2 in the second suitcase, since we typically take 2 suitcases. At least I would only be packing one suitcase during the trip.

 

[zavandor]

Even if they don’t officially merge your rooms into one, the front desk will treat them as such when you check in to keep you in the same room and it will no longer be considered eligible for an additional water park day.

It’s what currently happens with the cleaning schedule. When I book a stay using two of my memberships, and stay in the same room, they treat it as one and I only get trash and towel day 4

Thank you for this info, I always wondered what would happen with the cleaning schedule.
Do you know if you get the water park day for free the day of the second reservation starts? I guess not, otherwise it would be easily exploitable.

 

[McCrae]

I have a reservation for both a 7nt BRV stay and for a 3nt BCV for the same period of time in May as I'm considering a split stay. This will be our first WDW DVC trip (we've done Aulani) and I wanted to try two resorts. Before I modify my BRV reservation to drop those 3 nights, I wanted to think of all the ramifications of a split stay. I know that it means I would have two dining reservation dates since it would be two reservations. I think it would also mean that if doing Lightning Lane Multi Pass, that I would have two dates for that as well. Can anyone confirm that? What other issues would having a split stay cause? Is it even worth doing a split stay? Any plusses besides experiencing two resorts?
** I know that BCV's pool is closed in May, and that isn't an issue for us.

You should be able to get the reservations linked so that it counts as one trip. We do this regularly. It’s handy if you buy one of the refillable drinks mugs…you can keep it for both legs of your stay. I haven’t experienced any issues with a split stay. Disney are great at handling the transfer of your bags to the other resort.

 

[Sandisw]

Thank you for this info, I always wondered what would happen with the cleaning schedule.
Do you know if you get the water park day for free the day of the second reservation starts? I guess not, otherwise it would be easily exploitable.

One is only going to get it with a true split stay. So, I am sound RIV and BRV in January. I will be eligible for both since I am moving resorts.

 

[MonkeyKnifeFight]

I was thinking perhaps we could pack for Resort#1 with one suitcase and the put our clothes for Resort#2 in the second suitcase, since we typically take 2 suitcases. At least I would only be packing one suitcase during the trip.

We usually do something like that. Or if we stay in a 1 bedroom we do laundry anyway so repacking before moving isn’t much of an extra step

 

[Sandisw]

I was thinking perhaps we could pack for Resort#1 with one suitcase and the put our clothes for Resort#2 in the second suitcase, since we typically take 2 suitcases. At least I would only be packing one suitcase during the trip.

Exactly how we do it! I even…well before we had an owners locker…was to pack throwaway toothbrushes, shampoo, etc from the dollar store so we didn’t even need to pack those.

We unpacked the first, and then as we used things, they went back in the suitcase dirty, so night before it was a piece of cake.