Split AKL/Poly with toddler

[awestbrook23]

We are taking a late summer trip for 8 days to WDW and have booked 8nts at the Poly because of the monorail covenience. It will be me, DH, DS9, DD8, and DD2. The toddler really changes the way we are used to doing Disney with our older kids, meaning afternoon nap breaks. We didn't do AK last trip (gasp: 3yrs ago), and with Pandora opening, we figure we might spend a couple of full days there. Thinking about it now, would we better off doing a split stay with 2-3 nts AKL and then 5-6 nts Poly? That would give us the convenience of popping back to the room easier on our AK days. This is our first deluxe stay and we are stoked about the poly (we usually stay at POR). But when it comes to toddlers at Disney, convenience is everything. Is doing a split stay a bad idea?

 

[laughinplace199]

We did a split stay once many years ago with a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old. For us, it wasn't worth it. The day you change resorts, you are "homeless" until your new room is ready, which could be as late as 4:00. That really messed us up as the kids needed naps every day. Also, packing up to move resorts (we did OKW to AKL) was time consuming and a little hectic. I should've had DH take the kids out of the room so I could pack alone, but that didn't occur to us at the time.

Now that the kids are 17, 15, and 10, switching resorts is easy, but I don't recommend it with little ones.

 

[kniquy]

It depends on the needs of your little one. Like the previous poster mentioned you are technically homeless so if an afternoon nap in a room is necessary then yes a split is in convenient. If they can nap in a stroller and you just stay at the parks then a split stay is easy peasy. You pack up, get bell services to pick up bags in the morning (arrange the night before) then head to the park, when you are done bus to the new resort. The needs of your 2 yo would be my deciding factor.

 

[dorospin]

When we were at poly last year with a 2yo - we had a cheap screen shipped to poly from Amazon to put around her pack and play so she could nap easier without us being in room bothering her. It worked really well.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We did our first split when DS was 3 1/2 and it worked out just fine. On our switch day (we did BC/WL), we simply gave our bags to bell services at BC, spent the day in EP and then took the bus to WL when we were done touring EP in the early afternoon. By the time we got to WL, our room was ready and our bags had been transferred. It was just like any other day in the parks except we went back to a different hotel when we were done. As others have said, if your child has to nap in a room on your switch day, it could be a problem as you most likely won't have your AKL room until 3 pm (possibly earlier, but never a guarantee). Since you will be there for a longer stay and are planning on two full days at AK, yes, I think I would do the split. It would make your AK days easier and AKL is a beautiful resort. Just know, the AKL rooms are quite a bit smaller than the Poly rooms.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

No! Don't do a split stay! You will still need to take a bus to get back to Animal Kingdom Lodge, so you might as well take a bus back to Poly and avoid the possibility of being homeless all day one day. The bus to Poly will maybe add 10 minutes to your trip. Hardly worth switching rooms over an additional 10 minutes.

 

[newestkg06]

Either way you have to take a bus or drive to AK, so yes, you might save a few minutes of transport time, but I don't think it would be worth the hassle of having to pack everything and double check you got it all, then having to unpack at a new place and reorganize it. If I were you (and I wish I were, the Poly is a dream of mine!!), I would just stay at the Poly the whole time.

 

[Surgie2]

Enjoy the Poly for 8 nights! Too much of a hassle to split a stay and we never feel relaxed, settled and "at home". Always thinking ahead...don't unpack this or that since we are moving in a few days. Not to mention the loss of resort time with the move even though Disney makes it easy. I especially wouldn't want to give up the bigger Poly room with 5 people! It would be different if there was a resort where you could walk to AK - then a move would be worth it but not just to save a few on a bus ride. Plan to have a meal at AKL if you want to let the kids get a feel for the place.

 

[kboo]

When we were at poly last year with a 2yo - we had a cheap screen shipped to poly from Amazon to put around her pack and play so she could nap easier without us being in room bothering her. It worked really well.

Not to hijack, but can you post a link or tell me what you mean? We are taking some trips in studios with our almost 2yo and this would be really helpful.