Is there any reason NOT to do a split stay?

[fifthdimensiondweller]

Hi all!

I'm currently planning a Disney trip for my husband, myself, and our friend. My husband and I will likely be arriving at Disney 2 days before our friend, and I'd really like to spend a few nights at a deluxe. However, once our friend joins us, I'm not sure that a deluxe would be in his budget, and I'd like to then move to a moderate (probably CSR). From what I've seen, it seems like Disney takes care of everything and that split stays are pretty easy, but has anyone ever had any problems or is there any reason not to do a split stay?

 

[MarBee]

I'd be interested in responses as I am also planning a split stay. Although it seems like Disney ships your luggage, I can foresee it being a pain to unpack and get comfy in a room and then have to pack it all up and do it again.

 

[DisBuckMan]

If you have no problem unpacking at one resort, then packing back up for the move, then unpacking again at your second resort, then it's no problem at all.

We do split stays on every trip, usually 3 nights at one resort, then 3 nights at another resort. Occasionally, we'll even squeeze in a night at one of the Universal resorts, too. We're close enough to drive though, so we have a car for all the moving.

 

[lovin'fl]

We do split stays a lot. I like them but DH and teens do NOT. I feel like it's 2 vacays in one while DH and the kids think it's not worth the hassle.

The hassles are:
1- pack and unpack also hauling stuff down to Bell Services or your car.
2- check out of room #1 by 11 am and might not get room #2 until late (for us DVC, check in is 4pm and most times it is pretty dang close to that when room is ready). So you may be homeless for a few hours and for my DH that's a nightmare (no ESPN for a few hours...eekkk).

 

[Hopefully]

I would hate the unpack/repack work. I like to settle in on vacation and unpack once.
Plus you are basically "homeless" on move day. You need to leave room 1 no later than 11 AM and check in time for room 2 is either 3 or 4. Plus luggage is moved late afternoon, so you do not have access to your clothes etc until late in the day, no matter how early you leave it

 

[dansdad]

In this family's opinion, there is no reason not to. We really enjoy split stays. They are super easy too. What we do:

Use packing cubes to separate clothes for each leg.
Call Bell Services at resort #1 and have them come get our luggage and move it to resort #2.
Check out of resort #1.
Head to the parks for the day.
Around 4 or 5 head to resort #2.
Check in to resort #2.
Once in our room call Bell Services and ask them to bring us our luggage.
Get ready for dinner.

This way we don't lose any vacation time.

 

[Shanti]

Hi all!

I'm currently planning a Disney trip for my husband, myself, and our friend. My husband and I will likely be arriving at Disney 2 days before our friend, and I'd really like to spend a few nights at a deluxe. However, once our friend joins us, I'm not sure that a deluxe would be in his budget, and I'd like to then move to a moderate (probably CSR). From what I've seen, it seems like Disney takes care of everything and that split stays are pretty easy, but has anyone ever had any problems or is there any reason not to do a split stay?

If you have babies or toddlers & therefore a ton of gear/small items, I would stay in one place. If it's a few adults who can pack/unpack quickly & easily, or if you have a child over 9 who is flexible & doesn't strew tons of tiny items across the resort room, then split stays can be great. I'm going with my 11 year-old son and SO next week, and we're actually splitting the stay between three resorts. Love trying out the different resort pools in summer.

 

[Shanti]

I would hate the unpack/repack work. I like to settle in on vacation and unpack once.
Plus you are basically "homeless" on move day. You need to leave room 1 no later than 11 AM and check in time for room 2 is either 3 or 4. Plus luggage is moved late afternoon, so you do not have access to your clothes etc until late in the day, no matter how early you leave it

This is why we schedule our move days for park days. If we're on the go at the parks all day, we don't need a resort room mid-day at all. (That's also why I don't recommend it for families with babies or toddlers who need naps.)

We typically check out and drop off our luggage at Bell Services early morning on our way to rope drop, then at the end of the day after we're done with the parks, we go to the other resort, check in, collect our luggage, unpack and prepare for bed.

Even wanting to take a pool break works, as we are free to use the pool at either resort that day- we just keep our swimsuits with us in our park bag. That also allows us to check-in mid-day instead of at the end of the day.

 

[jcjen519]

I like to settle in and not have to pack everything up. We have small kids which maybe adds to the stress of it.

It makes sense in your situation though and given that is probably even go for it.

Have fun

 

[TaraPA]

We LOVE split stays & plan them every trip. It's like getting 2 vacation experiences in one! Check my signature, we've even done triple splits with no problems. We never unpack into closets & drawers - we live out of our bags - so its really just toiletries that need to be packed up on move day. Bell services will get your luggage in your room & transfer to next resort by 4pm. We head to a park or DS for the afternoon. Its not for everyone, but well worth it to try to find out!

 

[amy1981]

We like split stays because we really want to try all of the resorts and it can be more budget friendly to do deluxe for just a few nights as opposed to the whole trip. We split stay and have two kids, and we can easily pack up in an hour or so. The night before check out of resort 1 we all take showers/baths get our pajamas on and spend an hour or so picking up & packing. We leave out our clothes for the next day and a few toiletries we may need. The next morning we toss our pj's and toiletries in the suitcase and that's about it. With just adults I would think it would be even faster. As to being without a resort for a day, this hasn't really affected us. We take our luggage to bell services in the morning, head to the parks, and when we return to resort 2 our stuff is there waiting. I've read where some people have said it took longer than expected, but we returned around 4 and our suitcases were all there.

 

[goofy4tink]

I do them all the time. For the split stay you're thinking about, I would pack one bag with the things you'll need for the first two days. I like to get my bags to Bell Services by 7, then I have breakfast and head to a park. I leave that park around 2ish and head to the new resort. With online checkin, you could get the email telling you your room is ready.
Just be prepared to be without your bags until late afternoon/early evening.
You can always take a cab to the new resort, and take your bags with you. At least you'll have access to them if they're at the new resort.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I've only done a split stay once. And if I never have to do another one, I will be a happy camper.

But I tend to move into a hotel. I hate living out of a suitcase.

That means when I move, I have to pack everything back up. And then unpack again when we arrive at the new resort.

Our next trip has us at one resort overnight, then we move to our main resort for the rest of the trip. That won't be bad. We won't even unpack the car for the first night. We will have an overnight bag for the first night and everything else for the rest of the week will be packed in suitcases.

For me, it isn't the actual moving. It is the packing and unpacking. It takes too much time and energy.

 

[Micca]

Our usual WDW trips are 5 nights, 2-3 times per year. The only way I'd consider a split stay is if we were staying much longer--maybe 10 nights. Sounds like folks like @dansdad has it down to a science, so that'd be the way to do it.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

We love split stays - we're doing a 4 way split this time
We don't unpack so that's not an issue for us.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We did a split stay on our last trip. I hate packing and unpacking so that was a bit annoying but I think it was worth it. My kids were a bit bothered by it but were over it by the time we got to DHS. We spent our morning there, hopped over to Epcot for lunch and then to BC by 3 pm. Our room was ready, we rested for a bit and then headed back to DHS for the evening. We got to try two awesome resorts and plan our park days around it. I would do it again.

 

[RedOne3781]

I've done a few split stays and it is super easy. Here is some info/tips:
Make sure you have everything packed and ready the morning of your switch before you head out to the parks.
Call luggage services and tell them you are switching resorts. They will come get your bags, out tags on with your name and what resort the bags are going to.
Go to the parks, have fun. You should get a text when your new room is ready (if you sign up for this service).
When you go to your new resort, call luggage services and ask them to bring you your bags.

The first time I did a split stay it was from Pop to CBR. It took quite a while to get our bags.

Last summer I moved from Contemp to Poly. Our bags were in the room within five minutes. I think it depends on time of day, how busy they are, etc.

For me, personally, it is pretty stress free and easy. Disney makes it a fairly seamless process.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I've done a few split stays and it is super easy. Here is some info/tips:
Make sure you have everything packed and ready the morning of your switch before you head out to the parks.
Call luggage services and tell them you are switching resorts. They will come get your bags, out tags on with your name and what resort the bags are going to.
Go to the parks, have fun. You should get a text when your new room is ready (if you sign up for this service).
When you go to your new resort, call luggage services and ask them to bring you your bags.

The first time I did a split stay it was from Pop to CBR. It took quite a while to get our bags.

Last summer I moved from Contemp to Poly. Our bags were in the room within five minutes. I think it depends on time of day, how busy they are, etc.

For me, personally, it is pretty stress free and easy. Disney makes it a fairly seamless process.

We did Poly to BC. We dropped the bags off around 7:30 am to make RD EMH at DHS. Our bags arrived to our room around 4 pm. That was even after checking with them when we arrived around 2ish. They did tell us as soon as they arrived they would bring them up immediately. They called us when they arrived and brought them up. It can take a while but it wasn't a problem since we planned a park day. It was easy and stress free.

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

My husband and I just did our first split stay and we would probably do it again! We weren't going to a park on check out day and we still managed just fine. We made a reservation for just after check out time at Kona and had a nice long breakfast with plans on swimming and hanging out at the Polynesian until we received our room ready text at French Quarter. Bell Services came to our room to get our stuff and they brought our bags to our room in French Quarter pretty soon after we got there. The only thing that I didn't like was having to re-pack everything mid stay but that is pretty minor. It allowed us to stay at a deluxe for a few days and enjoy the resort and then hit the parks when we were at the moderate for the next few.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We pack separately for split stays, and don't unpack everything for the first stay. Small bag should do it for a 2-night stay. Pack your toiletries, etc, in a way that will be easy to repack when you move resorts. We drive, so it is easy--clothes in a small bag, toiletries and such in a plastic tote and move on.