Is split stay a pain?

[IBLarsen]

Looking for a March trip and DH really wants VWL. We will be doing DVC point rentals. of our 7 night stay, we can only get the first 5 nts at VWL. So that means we either do a split stay to another DVC resort for the last 2 nts, or pick another resort all together. My concern is if we don't have a car, how do you get luggage moved? A taxi?
Also, the fact of check out time being 11am, and can't get into new resort until 4pm. I don't want to waste morning hours moving? could we just store luggage at current hotel until later in the day and then move in the evening?

If you've done this, is it really a pain, and easier just to NOT? (we have 2 adults/2 kids).

 

[rwdavis2]

I believe Disney will transfer your luggage for you and you get it at bell services at the next resort. Although I don't know how long it may take to move it.

 

[nanhol]

Looking for a March trip and DH really wants VWL. We will be doing DVC point rentals. of our 7 night stay, we can only get the first 5 nts at VWL. So that means we either do a split stay to another DVC resort for the last 2 nts, or pick another resort all together. My concern is if we don't have a car, how do you get luggage moved? A taxi?
Also, the fact of check out time being 11am, and can't get into new resort until 4pm. I don't want to waste morning hours moving? could we just store luggage at current hotel until later in the day and then move in the evening?

If you've done this, is it really a pain, and easier just to NOT? (we have 2 adults/2 kids).

Disney will transfer your luggage for you--bring it to Bell Services (or call them) and they will tag it and transfer it for you. If you're checked in at your next resort then they'll deliver it to your room, just like if you're coming from the airport. As you'd expect, this can take several hours, and you need to decide if that works for you.

When we did a split stay we had our car with us and my husband didn't want to deal with not having access to our luggage . We were able to get a late checkout at our first hotel (Contemporary) & an early check-in at our next hotel (Poly), so we just transferred ourselves over. You wouldn't need to do this, though.

It wasn't a pain for us, but I think it depends on the age of the kids--our then-elementary aged kids were helpful in packing up & moving, but younger kids might make this more of a pain.

 

[choppee]

hate to be the negative nelly, but our experience had it as a bit of a pain. granted, we weren't on disney property and switched locations during our week, but the re-packing and re-settling took precious park time away, as did the check-out/check-in as well. we had to also re-acclimate ourselves to our new surroundings...oh well. it was what we had to do, and we did it, but it made me swear off ever doing it again.

i will say though that disney will move your baggage for you, so i didn't mention our issues with that, and that is certainly a big help. we had three small kids and ourselves (hubby and i) and it was hard...i think it's possible, do-able, but not convenient. go with your gut; it usually gives you the truth about a situation! and good luck either way. you will still enjoy yourself immensely. our split stay was a bump, but we didn't let it distract us too much from our focus of having a good time.

 

[Miffy]

It depends on how often you use your room and how settled you get once you check in.

If you do a split stay, even if Disney moves your luggage for you (the one time I did it, I took a cab with my luggage), remember that you still have to unpack and pack twice. If you have anything in the fridge, you'd have to make sure that WDW took care of it properly (assuming you wanted to move it to your new location). You could use online check-in, so you wouldn't have to check in twice, but you'd still have to get your room assignment at each place.

If you like coming back to your room during the day, realize that on moving day, you wouldn't have that option unless you get lucky and your room's ready early.

I did a split stay once and I hope never to do it again. Once I'm unpacked, I like to settle in and not have to think about it again until we're leaving. Also, I like knowing that if I want to go back to the room, I've got a room.

But if you wouldn't mind unpacking and packing twice, checking in twice, and not having access to a room on moving day, then you'll be fine. If any of these things would bother you, try to get one resort for your entire stay. You'll be happier, I think.

 

[dchronister]

We had this same experience two different trips. The first time we moved over from POR and it wasn't a huge deal. You pack up everything and hand it over to bell services when you leave for the park in the morning and when we checked in at VWL, we went to our room and called bell services for our luggage and we had ordered groceries also. The luggage came is about 45 minutes and the groceries in about 15. The other time we had a split stay we got a room at the WL for two nights, we thought it would be easier just being right there already, but it really didn't make a difference, you still have to pack up everything and hand it over to bell services whether you are going 200 yards or 5 miles. We would rather not do a split stay but we rent DVC points a lot and sometimes don't have an option. We travel a long way to get to Disney, we are gonna stay as long as possible once we get there. We like to get settled and stay but like I said it isn't always an option. I am traveling solo for my Nov trip this year and I said I was not switching resorts this trip, one place and done, but I don't need more room when I travel alone.

 

[GM24]

My husband and I have done split stays many times. I only unpack the clothes we need for our stay at each resort. The morning we check out we have bell services pick up our luggage around 7:00 a.m. then we leave for breakfast and the parks. We never return to the room during the day, so when we are done for the day we just go to our "new" resort, check in, stop at bell services for our luggage and go to our room. It is so easy (at least for us two 50 somethings who travel alone) and allows us the opportunity to check out many resorts (different areas, different price points, etc.).

 

[sharadoc]

We did it once - 3 nights in the Contemporary and a week at OKW. I packed separate suitcases for the Contemporary stay only and didn't unpack everything. We drive, so we moved ourselves.

I think doing 5 then 2 could be a little more annoying, but it can certainly work if you repack every day, rather than wait until the last day to pack. If you go out to a park all day, it can be transparent. Your bags are packed, go to Bell Services at 8 am, leave for a park, go to your new resort at 3 or after and check in to your other room.

Where do you plan to go the second part?

 

[robinb]

Split stays at with DVC resorts is especially a PITB. Rooms are very rarely available earlier than 4:00pm so you should expect to be homeless until 4:00 pm or even later. I've had to wait as long as until 6-8:00 for my room. Bell services will transfer your luggage but it's been my experience that sometimes the bags don't make it to your room automatically. Sometimes you need to call down to have them delivered so that means you need to plan extra time to be in your room when you want your bags. We usually back a bag with swim stuff and use the pool area during our afternoon wait for our room.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

It will take Disney alot of hours to get your luggage moved. If you don't have too much luggage maybe one person could take a taxi with the all luggage to the new resort and have it stored in Bell Services there. That person could even check you into the new resort.

Then you could all meet up at the park you were going to for the day afterwards. And when you get to your new resort after a day at the parks, just call Bell Services for your luggage to be delivered.

I did a split stay for the first time ever but I had my own car so it was easier. I did discover that I prefer not to do split stays.
I like to settle in to my room and having to repack and unpack a 2nd time was not something I'd like to do often.

 

[Dawn68PA]

We did this once and although it wasn't a pain - it was a time sucker. I'd rather not do a split unless I had to.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We're not fans... It is a pain... Packing up and moving your stuff plus fridge contents and a huge time sucker .... I

We did it once, cured me of doing it again... Wanted to get out of AKL as early as possible... Went to second resort only to find room won't be available till after 3 pm.... It was more 5 pm and luggage and fridge contents came later... Blew a whole day, we're not the kind to go to a park on move day and get all sweaty and come back to no room.... We were homeless for most of the day without access to our stuff... Not for us..

 

[IBLarsen]

We did it once - 3 nights in the Contemporary and a week at OKW. I packed separate suitcases for the Contemporary stay only and didn't unpack everything. We drive, so we moved ourselves.

I think doing 5 then 2 could be a little more annoying, but it can certainly work if you repack every day, rather than wait until the last day to pack. If you go out to a park all day, it can be transparent. Your bags are packed, go to Bell Services at 8 am, leave for a park, go to your new resort at 3 or after and check in to your other room.

Where do you plan to go the second part?

I'm not sure where we would want to stay the 2nd part, maybe AKV? We are open. We really would like to just stay at VWL. The trip is for DH's 40th birthday, and we have stayed at VWL on a previous trip for our kids' birthdays. This was our familys favorite place ever and DH really wants to stay here. The only issue is no availability for the last two nights, and our dates aren't flexible. I really don't want to do a split stay, but at the same time spending most of the week here would be better than not at all. I'm really struggling with this! I'm one who 'moves in' to the hotel, I like everything organized and unpacked. You all have made great points and tips! I appreciate the help

 

[JoeA]

We almost always do a split stay just to experience different resorts. Of course, I travel about every week for business so I am used to living out of a suitcase and rarely fully unpack. About all I ever take out of my suitcase are shirts or pants I want to hang. Everything else stays in.

Even if you do unpack/pack (which my wife does), she rarely gives as much thought as packing for this transfer as she does for the trip itself.

We wake up early, pack and call bell service to fetch our stuff (including any thing in the 'fridge)...head out to the park(s)...have a blast...go to new resort and meet our bags later that night....done and painless.

 

[IBLarsen]

We almost always do a split stay just to experience different resorts. Of course, I travel about every week for business so I am used to living out of a suitcase and rarely fully unpack. About all I ever take out of my suitcase are shirts or pants I want to hang. Everything else stays in.

Even if you do unpack/pack (which my wife does), she rarely gives as much thought as packing for this transfer as she does for the trip itself.

We wake up early, pack and call bell service to fetch our stuff (including any thing in the 'fridge)...head out to the park(s)...have a blast...go to new resort and meet our bags later that night....done and painless.

When you say bell services take anything in the fridge, do they have a way to keep it cold for you before the transfer?

 

[goofy4tink]

Actually, a split stay can be a lot of fun. I do it all the time.....my dh hates doing it though. I would start at VWL and get the last two nights at AKL villas. They are so much fun. But....having Disney move you takes a long time. I hand my bags off before 8am and have yet to see them again until well past 5pm. Drives me nuts! So now, I take a cab. I move the first thing in the day. You could even have just one parent make the move while the other takes the kids to a park. I get to the new resort by 8am, get checked in. If the villa isn't available, I just leave the bags with Bell Services, and head to a park. I head back later in the day to get settled in.
You could leave one suitcase packed with just what you'll need for those last 2 nights. Then you just have to toss your toiletries in the bag and go. Park up the other bags before you to to bed the night before you make the switch.

 

[IBLarsen]

Actually, a split stay can be a lot of fun. I do it all the time.....my dh hates doing it though. I would start at VWL and get the last two nights at AKL villas. They are so much fun. But....having Disney move you takes a long time. I hand my bags off before 8am and have yet to see them again until well past 5pm. Drives me nuts! So now, I take a cab. I move the first thing in the day. You could even have just one parent make the move while the other takes the kids to a park. I get to the new resort by 8am, get checked in. If the villa isn't available, I just leave the bags with Bell Services, and head to a park. I head back later in the day to get settled in.
You could leave one suitcase packed with just what you'll need for those last 2 nights. Then you just have to toss your toiletries in the bag and go. Park up the other bags before you to to bed the night before you make the switch.

You make this sound so simple! Makes me feel much better, at least now I think this could be do-able, thank you!

 

[JoeA]

When you say bell services take anything in the fridge, do they have a way to keep it cold for you before the transfer?

Yes, we had them put our food in cold storage. If you do this I'd save the bags, boxes, etc the food came in so you can pack it easily.

 

[disnut1149]

Our split stay was really easy. We packed and took our luggage with us in a taxi. We decided to move on our day-off day, just relaxing at the new resort. Just checked in, checked luggage with bell services and went to the pool for the day.

 

[ncc1701]

Never done a split stay at WDW but other than there and Vegas, most of our vacations have involved 2 or more hotels. It is just the 2 so that helps . I just unpack what we need to put on hangers and either leave the rest in the suitcase or pack up the night before we leave.