Split stay - didn't realize it could cause trouble

[LD500]

I just learned about the term split stay. We rented DVC points but couldn't get our resort pick for the whole time so booked a few extra days at another resort. Apparently this is called a split stay.
For anyone who has done this, a few questions if you don't mind:

1. On my MDE it shows we can customize two sets of Magic Bands. Do split stayers typically get 2 sets?
2. How does the Park Hopper tickets are going to buy get linked two the two sets of bands?
Do we need to remember to start using Magic Band#2 exactly the day we start Stay #2?
3. Depending on #1 and #2, can we just decide to go for 1 set of Magic Bands for the whole stay, although I'm sure my kids would love to customize 2 each.
4. Any other issues with split stays and magic bands? For example, will my dining reservations not 'cross-over' the Magic Bands.

Bottomline is I'm not sure what the split stay will affect during our trip. Originally I thought the only thing it changed was us having to tell the Bell staff we are moving to another resort on Day #5.

Thanks!

 

[BudgieMama]

Your bands are able to be used interchangeably. Don't worry, shouldn't be a problem.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Doesn't matter how many sets you have. There should be no issues whatsoever with split stay magic bands.

You can use any band assigned to you, interchangeably.

You can even decline the bands on your second stay, if you prefer.

your dining reservations have absolutely nothing to do with your magic bands. The most you might do is use the bands to pay for your meals, if you have a room charge set up. On your transition day you might have to specify which room account you want your charges billed to, if it matters to you. If you have a dining plan, you would also use the bands to pay, and you'd have to keep track on your transition day of how many credits you might still have to use up.

 

[LD500]

Best answers and outcome I could have asked for, Thanks! Great people on this board.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You should probably try all the bands at the second resort, they should work, but if they don't, then the front desk will help set them up.

 

[rwdavis2]

Just an FYI, I don't believe WDW recognizes split stays. To them it's just 2 different reservations.

 

[Airykah]

Does anyone know if I can buy just one refillable mug for a split stay and it work at all hotels, or would we have to buy them at each hotel?

 

[CynBeth]

Just to give you a heads up when making ADRs you can only do for the days of the first resort including changeover day and then have to wait until 180 days of the second resort for the rest of the trip. We had no issues with doing FPs for the entire trip. One other thing is make sure you get checked out of your first resort so you do not have an issue getting into your room at the second resort.

 

[brinkley07]

We had a split stay and 2 different bands. Our bands worked fine, but I did stick to one band for the whole trip because it matched my outfits better....that's the honest truth. In our first stay we had the dining plan and therefore got the refillable mugs which worked at both resorts without a hitch. Have a great time!

 

[JZCubed]

I just learned about the term split stay. We rented DVC points but couldn't get our resort pick for the whole time so booked a few extra days at another resort. Apparently this is called a split stay.
For anyone who has done this, a few questions if you don't mind:

1. On my MDE it shows we can customize two sets of Magic Bands. Do split stayers typically get 2 sets?
2. How does the Park Hopper tickets are going to buy get linked two the two sets of bands?
Do we need to remember to start using Magic Band#2 exactly the day we start Stay #2?
3. Depending on #1 and #2, can we just decide to go for 1 set of Magic Bands for the whole stay, although I'm sure my kids would love to customize 2 each.
4. Any other issues with split stays and magic bands? For example, will my dining reservations not 'cross-over' the Magic Bands.

Bottomline is I'm not sure what the split stay will affect during our trip. Originally I thought the only thing it changed was us having to tell the Bell staff we are moving to another resort on Day #5.

Thanks!

The only negative affect you'll have is prior to your 180-window to make ADR's (dining reservations).

Had you been staying at 1 location, you could make ADR's for 180+10-days when that day arrives.

However, now each portion of your stay (each check-in day) begins your 180-window for making ADR's.

But as others have already suggested, the Magic Bands are not an issue. Just make certain that you do all the linking of your ticket(s) to your MDE account before your 60-day window opens for FP+ purposes.

 

[siskaren]

Does anyone know if I can buy just one refillable mug for a split stay and it work at all hotels, or would we have to buy them at each hotel?

You just need to buy one mug and it can be used at any resort, whether you're staying there or not.

 

[bumbershoot]

Does anyone know if I can buy just one refillable mug for a split stay and it work at all hotels, or would we have to buy them at each hotel?

I believe mugs are "live" for 14 days at any resort (not just your own).

Had you been staying at 1 location, you could make ADR's for 180+10-days when that day arrives.

And in the past, it worked for split stays. It's a change, that they got rid of that.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I just did a one night stay at POFQ on Oct. 13th and when I moved to CSR, I couldn't use my magic band for charging.

I did check out of POFQ by stopping at the front desk and having them check me out before I checked into CSR and even a call to Disney's IT didn't fix the problem. They were thinking it was due to my checking into CSR the morning of the scheduled system outage.

I just wanted to give you a heads up so you will be prepared if that problem happens to you.

 

[jpeden]

I just did a one night stay at POFQ on Oct. 13th and when I moved to CSR, I couldn't use my magic band for charging.

I did check out of POFQ by stopping at the front desk and having them check me out before I checked into CSR and even a call to Disney's IT didn't fix the problem. They were thinking it was due to my checking into CSR the morning of the scheduled system outage.

I just wanted to give you a heads up so you will be prepared if that problem happens to you.

THIS!

We did a split w/ one night at SSR and four nights at Kidani. We checked out of SSR around 6AM and headed to Kidani (we had an 8AM BOG). We spent 30 minutes at the front desk trying to get magic bands to work and charging privileges established. The charging privileges were supposedly okay, but the CM told us because we checked in so early, our MB wouldn't open the room until the system switched over around 7AM so she gave us an old school KTTK card and away we went.

Got in room (MB didn't work but room was ready at 6:30 so who am I to complain?), dropped the luggage and away we went. Made our 8AM BOG and we couldn't charge back to the room at the kiosk. The IT Manager came out, couldn't figure it out, and comped our breakfast. Later that day, tried to buy water and a mickey bar, same issue. The CM said he had never seen that error code and comped the snacks and sent us to guest relations in town hall to get it fixed.

Got an excellent CM at town hall who got everything fixed and got our charging privlidges restored - he said they never checked us out of SSR and that was the problem! He used to be a concierge at the deluxe resorts and I guess knew his way around the system better than most because he got it all straightened out right there. We were able to charge from that point on and our MB worked on the room.

All this to say, MAKE SURE they really do check you out of your first resort.

 

[swimfin]

THIS!

We did a split w/ one night at SSR and four nights at Kidani. We checked out of SSR around 6AM and headed to Kidani (we had an 8AM BOG). We spent 30 minutes at the front desk trying to get magic bands to work and charging privileges established. The charging privileges were supposedly okay, but the CM told us because we checked in so early, our MB wouldn't open the room until the system switched over around 7AM so she gave us an old school KTTK card and away we went.

Got in room (MB didn't work but room was ready at 6:30 so who am I to complain?), dropped the luggage and away we went. Made our 8AM BOG and we couldn't charge back to the room at the kiosk. The IT Manager came out, couldn't figure it out, and comped our breakfast. Later that day, tried to buy water and a mickey bar, same issue. The CM said he had never seen that error code and comped the snacks and sent us to guest relations in town hall to get it fixed.

Got an excellent CM at town hall who got everything fixed and got our charging privlidges restored - he said they never checked us out of SSR and that was the problem! He used to be a concierge at the deluxe resorts and I guess knew his way around the system better than most because he got it all straightened out right there. We were able to charge from that point on and our MB worked on the room.

All this to say, MAKE SURE they really do check you out of your first resort.

Was the CM at Town Hall Kurt? If so he's phenominal and YES he does know the system backwards and forwards!!!

 

[jpeden]

Was the CM at Town Hall Kurt? If so he's phenominal and YES he does know the system backwards and forwards!!!

No his name was Dennis - but he was AWESOME. We got to spend quality time with Dennis - he even knew he had to bridge our tickets since we bought them from UT. He got our charging privileges fixed, bridged our tickets, added our day we requested, and had a wonderful talk while he was working on it about his Disney career between his current job and his former job as a deluxe resort concierge. He even discussed with us about how he helped design and test MDE and MM+. He was one of the highlights of our trip and even though he was a supervisor at Guest Relations, I made sure to leave a comment card about the awesome job he did.

 

[creatingmemories]

The last time we went, we booked one night, then booked another week so that we could get in on the discount that was offered. We were staying at the same resort. We went to HS on our first full day there and our magic bands did not work. We waited for two hours outside the gates until they could get everything fixed and linked up. Not fun on our first trip to Disney with a 3 and 5 year old who are beyond excited! We are actually doing the same thing again next month, so we will be having them check to make sure our bands work properly before we head to the parks on our first full day. I hope your trip goes smoothly!

 

[Minniekins]

You just need to buy one mug and it can be used at any resort, whether you're staying there or not.

Usually get a refillable mug but don't use it too often really, probably don't get my money's worth, but like the souvenier Just wondering, it can be used at all resorts, but can it be used in the parks? I'm thinking not, but figured I might as well ask, just to know. Not that I'd wanna be carrying it around all day anyway, lol. Thx!

 

[bumbershoot]

Issues with charging are glitches, and don't happen to all people. Sometimes glitches happen, sadly.

Usually get a refillable mug but don't use it too often really, probably don't get my money's worth, but like the souvenier Just wondering, it can be used at all resorts, but can it be used in the parks? I'm thinking not, but figured I might as well ask, just to know. Not that I'd wanna be carrying it around all day anyway, lol. Thx!

Nope, not at the parks. They don't have the RFID system that th resorts do, nor do they have the self-fill stations.

 

[wendow]

We had a split stay this past Dec. We did have problems with out MB's. The tickets were linked to one and FP's sometimes did not work on my youngest's band. Our charging privileges were always a mess. The CM's at guest relations were able to sort it all out but it did take a bit of time. HOWEVER, our trip was booked through Disney's promotions agency. My aunt won a trip and we went through the agency for booking everything, even though we paid for our trip. I truly think that caused all the hiccups.