Opinions on split-stays?

[Evasmommy]

We are a ways out from being able to book but I was looking for opinions-and I know I'll get them here We were hoping to start at POR for three nights then switch to BC. How has this worked for folks? Getting luggage and packages to the new resort? Checking in at new resort?

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

Our first time doing a split stay was last year. I think it has its ups and downs. Love the fact that you get to experience two different resorts. You can either have Disney transport your luggage to the second hotel or you can take it yourself. We decided to take ours because didn't want to leave to chance that our bags would not be available/delivered to 2nd resort until the afternoon. We took a cab and everything was a piece of cake, checking in etc. The only part that I was not a huge fan of was having to pack things up again to relocate to the 2nd resort and the unpack things again..I mean it wasn't the end of the world but that part was a little bit of a pain...as I had to reorganize everything all over again..can you say OCD? Still think it's worth it.

 

[ResortFan]

Disney makes it really easy! You'll just have to call bring your luggage to Luggage Services and they will transfer it over for you!

If you are using the Dining Plan and switching resorts, make sure that you have used up all your credits before switching. You'll have to book 2 separate packages with the Dining Plan if you decided to stay at two different Resorts.

 

[Evasmommy]

Interesting that they make you stop/start your meal plan. We were going to try this trip without the meal plan. Do they do anything different with hopper passes? We were thinking we would go to Seaworld on the transition day. So we'd leave POR in the am, go to Seaworld, then go to BC after to check in. Would that work?

 

[elaw]

We are a ways out from being able to book but I was looking for opinions-and I know I'll get them here We were hoping to start at POR for three nights then switch to BC. How has this worked for folks? Getting luggage and packages to the new resort? Checking in at new resort?

We love Split Stays .... It's Super easy

... Love the fact that you get to experience two different resorts. You can either have Disney transport your luggage to the second hotel or you can take it yourself. ...

Getting luggage and packages to the new resort? If you do the Free/Disney way - Call Bell Services or Drop off with Bell Services and tell them that you are going to be switching resorts, They will give you a serialized claim check and affix matching tags for all of your items. Resort Luggage Transfers happen between 3-4pm, so be sure to keep important items with you (Medicines and stuff) ... we use a small backpack. When you're all checked into your new resort and are in your room, call bell services, give them the claim check number and they will deliver it to your room.

Checking in at new resort? - We usually go to the parks during the morning/early afternoon and then head over to the new resort no later than 2:00 to beat the crowds at the the registration desk. If your room is not yet ready they will still allow you to check in and get you room cards .... they will text you when your room is ready (with the room number). If our roomis not ready we spend some time exploring the new resort.

 

[AshleeH]

Disney makes it easy, but we hated it and hope to never do it again. We wasted more than half a day because of things that were out of our control and half a day in Disney is a lot. It was nice seeing two different hotels, but that was the only advantage I liked. We're looking forward to staying in one hotel this time around and not having to completely pack up mid-week.

 

[elaw]

Interesting that they make you stop/start your meal plan. We were going to try this trip without the meal plan. Do they do anything different with hopper passes? We were thinking we would go to Seaworld on the transition day. So we'd leave POR in the am, go to Seaworld, then go to BC after to check in. Would that work?

We never do the meal plan .... I'd rather save 30-40% off the room cost anyway. We have AP's so for us it's no hassle but the last time I had the hopper passes it was no problem either since it was a separate pass from the room key. The hopper pass is good for a specific number of use days not consecutive calandar days, so if you do not use it for one of the days then it won't be counted against the total.

 

[elaw]

 

[padawans]

We never do the meal plan .... I'd rather have 30-40% the room cost anyway. We have AP's so for us it's no hassle but the last time I had the hopper passes it was no problem either since it was a separate pass from the room key. The hopper pass is good for a specific number of use days not consecutive calandar days, so if you do not use it for one of the days then it won't be counted against the total.

We are a ways out from being able to book but I was looking for opinions-and I know I'll get them here We were hoping to start at POR for three nights then switch to BC. How has this worked for folks? Getting luggage and packages to the new resort? Checking in at new resort?

Other than packing up and moving they are great. Your plan sounds good to start at Por and move to a Deluxe. You can still buy the meal plan and get a room discount. It just doesn't work very well if you don't have AP's. You would have to buy at least a 1 day ticket at each resort.

 

[Pakey]

We love doing split stays and have done them on every WDW vacation in recent years.

We move our own luggage. On two of our split stays, at two different resorts, we had a bit of trouble getting our luggage after checking in at the 2nd resort. (We got part, not all, and they had to hunt for the missing pieces). So now we just grab a cab in the morning, check in at the new resort and store our luggage with bell services, head out for the day, return in the afternoon, already checked in.

We do not do meal plans nor do we put park tickets on room keys so there isn't that added hassle.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We did our first split stay during our last trip and thought it was so easy. We called bell services to come pick up our luggage around 11am and then since we had a car then, we did some resort hopping/shopping before heading over to our new resort. Bell Services let us know that the bags would be there anywhere between 3pm and 4pm, which was fine with us, so we headed over to DTD (we were staying at SSR) for dinner and some shopping...when we got back our bags were already in our room. We really liked this process a lot that we decided to do another split stay for our Aug/Sept trip, but this time we won't have a car so we will more than likely go to a park that day and let Disney transportation take us to our second resort .

 

[rjh3]

A 10 day ticket for a family of four would cost $1,126.

If I had to buy 2 sets of 5-day tickets it would cost $966*2=$1,932

Would this be the case, or can you buy 10 day tickets and split to stay in two resorts for 5 days each.

 

[dzorn]

A 10 day ticket for a family of four would cost $1,126.

If I had to buy 2 sets of 5-day tickets it would cost $966*2=$1,932

Would this be the case, or can you buy 10 day tickets and split to stay in two resorts for 5 days each.

Just buy the tickets with your first resort stay and use them for your whole trip. If they are on you KTTW card that is fine you will just have to carry two keys.


Denise in MI

 

[Evasmommy]

A 10 day ticket for a family of four would cost $1,126.

If I had to buy 2 sets of 5-day tickets it would cost $966*2=$1,932

Would this be the case, or can you buy 10 day tickets and split to stay in two resorts for 5 days each.

Great question! I was wondering this myself. I know you can by the multiple dat for your first stay but then can't buy a package for the second unless you add meal plan because you will already have passes.

 

[n2mm]

Disney makes it easy, but we hated it and hope to never do it again. We wasted more than half a day because of things that were out of our control and half a day in Disney is a lot. It was nice seeing two different hotels, but that was the only advantage I liked. We're looking forward to staying in one hotel this time around and not having to completely pack up mid-week.

I agree. We've done it a couple of times and never on purpose. Generally it's because our waitlist didn't come through. We just got back from a trip in January and were 5 at OKW and 5 at BWV (I was waitlisted for all at BWV but it never came through during the 7 months on the waitlist). I agree, I hate packing mid trip (I don't like to pack at all). We tried not to buy too many groceries so we wouldn't have to move them, so it meant another trip to the grocery store after the second check in. We checked in first thing in the morning, but didn't get our second room until 4:00PM, so felt a little lost and while we spent the day at EPCOT, I did find myself constantly checking for a text. We didn't deal with luggage service since we had our rental car and only 2 bags to worry about. We did a split stay for a big group once and the tips alone for luggage service for a split stay with a larger group was $40. Again, not planned, just couldn't get the entire stay at one resort. I'm happy some folks like changing resorts, but we've tried and hate it. We like to check in and make ourselves at home.