Question About Pricing for Split Resort Stay

[rs505]

So, after much pleading, DW relented and we are going for our third trip since 2007. As a sweetener to DW, I thought we'd split our stay between POFQ and a deluxe resort. I chose AKL since it is a good combination of resonableness in cost for a deluxe as well as something a bit different.

However, when booking my trip through AAA, I ran into an issue that I essentially have to book two different trips with two different confirmation numbers. As such, I had to purchase two sets of tickets. So instead of having a 10 day park hopper, I had to split it up so that I had to buy tickets twice. I was surprised how much this cost, and since the more days you buy, the cheaper the tickets, it actually cost more than if we stayed at AKL the whole time.

I just want to know if anyone can confirm that when splitting the stay between resorts, you have to essentially book two trips.

Thanks in advance.

 

[nicole0992]

You can buy the 10 day park hopper with your first resort reservation. The second resort reservation just do room only. This will bring the cost way down.

I do split stays almost every trip and this is what we do for tickets.

Hope this helps!

 

[stargazertechie]

If you want the dining plan, yes, you have to essentially book two stays and it's super expensive.

IF you're paying OOP for dining, you don't have to buy tickets for both stays.

 

[dmband]

I am not 100% sure about the different "trips" but I would look into getting everything broke up in pieces vs a package AND I would look into setting it up through Disney Directly so that you had the Magical Express set up correct.

Depending on the time of travel and what deals Disney is offering you can get a complete trip for the same or even cheaper then AAA
2 of the last 3 times we went to Disney it was cheaper to do it ourselves
of course it takes a little leg work and thats the plus to using AAA

 

[rs505]

Thanks for all the advice. I will have to look into all the options.

Thanks again.

 

[POOHsie]

We did a split stay last fall. First part was a military discount room-only and we paid OOP for meals. We bought 10-day MYW PH tickets.

Second part was a free dining package that required 2-day minimum ticket purchase/each. We were still using the 10-day tickets, so we took these 2-day tickets home with us, unused. Disney allows you to do this, they won't expire unless you start to use them. We will probably use them next trip and upgrade them. The highest expense of WDW tickets is the first 3 days, so we have almost achieved ticket payment for next time.

You can do what we did, or you can get a room-only discount and pay OOP for food. Depending how many in your room, the dining plan might not be as good a deal as a deep room discount.

 

[MHSweb79]

When we did a split stay, we had free dining on one reservation and room-only on the second. We purchased 9-day park hoppers and had them add our leftover days from the first resort room key to our second room key. Since we booked room-only and ate OOP (not the dining plan) for our second resort, we did not need to purchase additional admission tickets.

If you are doing the dining plan for both parts of your stay, I believe you can still purchase a 10-day park hopper to cover this trip, and then whatever the minimum requirement is (say, a 2-day ticket) for your second resort. As long as the 2-day tickets remain unused, you can upgrade them at any time in the future to add more days or features (park hopping, water parks, etc.)

 

[jking6]

We also enjoy a split stay and get 10 day park hopper passes and have dining plan for 1st half of our trip (always eat at the more expensive places we want)
The second half we upgrade to deluxe room only, and eat counter service OOP.
its like getting a little bit of both worlds.

 

[snykymom]

We use "split stay" on these boards. Disney doesn't. As far as Disney is concerned, you have two separate reservations that just happen to be back to back. It's no different than if you had a reservation in May and a reservation in December.

You must meet the requirements of each reservation separately.

Don't worry about having to book through Disney to get ME correct; AAA can do that for you without issue.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We've done lots of split stays. What others have said is true.

A few ways we've made it work:

If you are going to end your vacation at a nicer resort, then maybe make that part shorter. Focus on hitting the parks hard the first part of your trip, and more time relaxing at the resort in the second half. AKL is a beautiful resort.

If free dining is part of your vacation plans, then maybe make the second part one night and skip the parks. When we've done our split stays this way - and we plan on spending lots of time at our resort- club level is a fun option. CLub level is relaly only worht doing if you will have enough time at your resort to take advantage of the club lounge, but it can be a fun splurge. The lounge at AKL is a very pretty vantage spot, and it will help offset your meals and adult beverage costs. (You get beer, wine, and cordials each day as part of the offerings)

Another option is to skip DDP altogether. Consider getting an AP if the discount on the rooms is good, and pair it with Table in Wonderland. TiW gives you 20% off most table dining. You have to pay for it, but it gives you some freedom as well. It gives you 20% off adult beverages and appetizers! and you aren't forced to get dessert every night. You also get 20% off at AK park, and the value resorts' food courts. (Really I'm not much into drinking. But the cost of any drinks REALLY adds up quickly at WDW. Many are $10 a pop when you include tip.)

If you do DDP for the first part - your DDP credits don't expire until midnight of the day you check out of that resort - so you can maximize how you use your credits. Use cash to pay for the least expensive items or stretch your creidts by sharing. (At a QS place, get one entree and one 'snack' item like a cup of chili. Plenty of food for two adults.)

Disney doesn't truly do split stays maybe as we talk about onthe DIS, but they do recognize them. DIsney will allow you to keep using your tickets for 14 days, will transfer your luggage between resorts for free, and will provide ME from both resorts. So I think they do their fair part to facilitate such transfers. The only part that doesn't really trnasfer is some of the discounts and DDP. on transfer day - if you already have your tickets - you do NOT need to go to your second resort first thing in the morning. You can simply head to a park. If you have to go to the second resort to get your tickets, that is quite a bit more complicated and time consuming! You are MUCH better off if you don't have to do that because there is no direct transportation between resorts! You might as well get a rental car.

Incidentally, if you DO get an AP - DIsney now ALSO allows you to do DDP wihtout buy two sets of tickets.


So while none of this solves your dilemma, it does give you some pointers to consider; one of which may work for you.

Last, when we do split stays, I pack accordingly. How you pack makes a big difference in how easy it is to transfer. For example, if you put all the used laundry into one suitcase, then you don't need to open it at all in the second resort. Instead of packing suitcases for each person, pack in terms of first-half and second-half, and a joint bag of toiletries/bathing suits. At the end of your stay- you final packing is MUCH easier. (The trade off of having to pack mid-trip.)

 

[jamescanuck2001]

We've done lots of split stays. What others have said is true.

A few ways we've made it work:

If you are going to end your vacation at a nicer resort, then maybe make that part shorter. Focus on hitting the parks hard the first part of your trip, and more time relaxing at the resort in the second half. AKL is a beautiful resort.

If free dining is part of your vacation plans, then maybe make the second part one night and skip the parks. When we've done our split stays this way - and we plan on spending lots of time at our resort- club level is a fun option. CLub level is relaly only worht doing if you will have enough time at your resort to take advantage of the club lounge, but it can be a fun splurge. The lounge at AKL is a very pretty vantage spot, and it will help offset your meals and adult beverage costs. (You get beer, wine, and cordials each day as part of the offerings)

Another option is to skip DDP altogether. Consider getting an AP if the discount on the rooms is good, and pair it with Table in Wonderland. TiW gives you 20% off most table dining. You have to pay for it, but it gives you some freedom as well. It gives you 20% off adult beverages and appetizers! and you aren't forced to get dessert every night. You also get 20% off at AK park, and the value resorts' food courts. (Really I'm not much into drinking. But the cost of any drinks REALLY adds up quickly at WDW. Many are $10 a pop when you include tip.)

If you do DDP for the first part - your DDP credits don't expire until midnight of the day you check out of that resort - so you can maximize how you use your credits. Use cash to pay for the least expensive items or stretch your creidts by sharing. (At a QS place, get one entree and one 'snack' item like a cup of chili. Plenty of food for two adults.)

Disney doesn't truly do split stays maybe as we talk about onthe DIS, but they do recognize them. DIsney will allow you to keep using your tickets for 14 days, will transfer your luggage between resorts for free, and will provide ME from both resorts. So I think they do their fair part to facilitate such transfers. The only part that doesn't really trnasfer is some of the discounts and DDP. on transfer day - if you already have your tickets - you do NOT need to go to your second resort first thing in the morning. You can simply head to a park. If you have to go to the second resort to get your tickets, that is quite a bit more complicated and time consuming! You are MUCH better off if you don't have to do that because there is no direct transportation between resorts! You might as well get a rental car.

Incidentally, if you DO get an AP - DIsney now ALSO allows you to do DDP wihtout buy two sets of tickets.


So while none of this solves your dilemma, it does give you some pointers to consider; one of which may work for you.

Last, when we do split stays, I pack accordingly. How you pack makes a big difference in how easy it is to transfer. For example, if you put all the used laundry into one suitcase, then you don't need to open it at all in the second resort. Instead of packing suitcases for each person, pack in terms of first-half and second-half, and a joint bag of toiletries/bathing suits. At the end of your stay- you final packing is MUCH easier. (The trade off of having to pack mid-trip.)

This is just great advice, thanks!

With this advice, figured out the best plan for DW and DD1 is 5 nights at POR on the free dining plan and 3 nights at 30% off at AKL club level. Feb 2-10

Price-wise works out to ~$2500 for the 8 nights, and cheap weekday flights.... figure just a couple of OOP meals when at AKL, the club level snacks should keep us going for the most part?