Question about Split Stay

[FSU Girl]

Would it be too hectic for a five night six day stay for us to spend the first two nights at Grand Floridian and then switch to an Epcot resort? I've always wanted to stay at the Grand Floridian, but it's very expensive. We have a dining reservation the night we arrive in that hotel and are going to Magic Kingdom the following day. The rest of the trip will mostly be spent at Epcot and Hollywood Studios so I figure being at an Epcot resort would make more sense for the majority of the trip.

I've just never done a split stay before and don't know if it will be too much of a hassle moving from one hotel to another. Especially since we are planning to be in Epcot the day we'd be switching.

Opinions?

 

[NeuroCindy]

I think it depends how you use your hotel room. I personally live largely out of my suitcase, so it's not an issue to do a split stay. If you unpack everything in your hotel, you have decide if it's worth the time/effort to repack, move hotels, and unpack again.

 

[ncc1701]

Just only unpack what you need for the 2 nights at GF (or better yet live out of your suitcase). We have never done a split in WDW but have done trips to California where we have had 2 or 3 hotels in 8 nights not in the same area I think your move will be ok.

 

[jo-jo]

Are there kids involved? That adds a lot more work I think. I've only done a split stay once and that was with my DD and DGDs, so DD took care of her luggage. But DH and I did a three way split stay two trips ago by choice over a 10 day trip. Don't know if I'd do that too often, but it was ok. We did BLT/BWV/ AKV. just for ease of transportation.

 

[FSU Girl]

Are there kids involved? That adds a lot more work I think. I've only done a split stay once and that was with my DD and DGDs, so DD took care of her luggage. But DH and I did a three way split stay two trips ago by choice over a 10 day trip. Don't know if I'd do that too often, but it was ok. We did BLT/BWV/ AKV. just for ease of transportation.

No, just me and my boyfriend. Will be there for the week celebrating my birthday

 

[CynBeth]

Just to give you a heads up in case you are not aware when you do a split stay you can only make ADRs for the first resort including switch resort day and then have to wait until 180 days of the second resort for the rest.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

In your case, I would do it. While we typically do split stays over longer periods of time, when it's just 2 adults, it pretty simple. Spend your first two nights at GF and focus on MK/GF stuff. On your GF check-out day, you can either call bell services, have them come to your room and have them transfer your luggage, or take everything down to bell services yourself. Then, go off and enjoy your day and go to your EP resort late afternoon or later. Your room should be ready in the late afternoon (check-in 3 pm for resorts, 4 pm for DVC). Luggage tends to arrive late afternoon. Once you've checked in, you can simply call bell services and they'll bring your stuff to your room. We've done this many times and simply go to a park on our switch day and then go to our next resort when we're done. It's pretty easy and fun to go to another resort!

 

[Hopefully]

Personally, I think it is too much for such a short stay. That said, I am a "nester" and I like to unpack and settle in when I travel.
You will basically be "homeless" on your move day. I also believe that 2 days is to short to really experience a resort.
Good Luck with your choice.

 

[FSU Girl]

If we do the online check-in could the second room be ready earlier? Will bell services put our luggage in our new room while we are the park or do we have to call them to get it?

 

[dansdad]

1. If we do the online check-in could the second room be ready earlier?

2. Will bell services put our luggage in our new room while we are the park or do we have to call them to get it?

1. Maybe.
2. No, you have to call for them when you're in the room.

 

[Hopefully]

If we do the online check-in could the second room be ready earlier? Will bell services put our luggage in our new room while we are the park or do we have to call them to get it?

As @dansdad said, maybe. Especially if that is your only request.
Bell Services will not deliver your bags until after you are in your room. You should tip for this service.
They will not be available at the new resort until the late afternoon, early evening when Disney transfers luggage.

 

[Average Joes]

FP selection can be an issue as you have two separate short stays. So you are doing 60+3 (1st arrival to depart GF) and 60+3 (day after arrival to hotel #2 to departure). At least that is what I remember.

We have done two split stays. I don't think I would do one less than 7 nights but we have young kids.

 

[friscofunfam4]

We just did a split stay. Our ticket package was booked with our second stay (b/c of free dining) and our fast passes for our first 2 days could not be booked until we arrived and activated our tickets, which we did at resort check-in. Then we immediately made FP and we actually got what we wanted. On transfer morning, we brought our bags with us and took an Uber XL to our second resort. Our room was ready when we checked in and we were done with the whole process by 7:45am! (2 nights at AoA and 5 nights at AKL - I like to unpack but we lived out of our suitcases the first 2 days.)

 

[cedricandsophie]

We just got back from 8 days and three resorts for four of us. Two days at bay lake with one night at the Christmas party at MK, four nights at Boardwalk and two nights at AK. We had bags transferred via bell service and just took bathing suits. We didn't go to parks on a move day. It was very easy. When we moved from bay lake to Boardwalk we went to Disney springs, had lunch and then bus to Boardwalk. For AK we took bus to AK and then bus to AK Lodge. Both times our bags were there and room ready by 3 or 4.