Split stay for 3 days?

[MauraSF]

Hello! I am planning a 3 day trip to Disney with my husband and kids (7 and 4). I went as a child and stayed at Poly and it was MAGICAL. Our budget isn't huge for Disney, but it seems I could rent DVC points for a Poly studio for nights 2 and 3 of the trip, but night 1 is not available. We don't fly into Orlando until 9pm that first night anyway, so I'm thinking we just stay somewhere affordable the first night and switch to Poly...but is that too much of a pain for a 3 day trip?? I have read Disney will move our bags if we stay at another Disney resort, but I just don't want to be bogged down with logistics too much instead of enjoying our time. That said, Poly is really a dream resort for us! Ideas for night one include a DVC night at Old Key West, Swan & Dolphin or Pop Century. Any advice? Thank you!

 

[tguz]

IMO it is too much of a hassle for a 3 night stay. I am not a fan of the split stay anyway. We briefly thought about it during out 10 might Honeymoon but decided against it. We like to get settled in not worry about moving.

 

[SG131]

Too much moving for 3 nights, especially with kids. I've done a lot of split stays and might consider it for an adult only trip, but definitely not worth it with 2 kids in tow. Honestly, the poly is nice and fun if you can swing it, but Art of Animation would be just as magical through the eyes of your kids if not more so. Or All Star Movies, but that has exclusively bus transportation which some people mind more than others. The theming with all the characters especially at art of animation is so cool. It's decorated with characters they know and love all over. If it were up to my son, he'd pick the resort with the cars theme every day over any of the deluxe hotels he's stayed at.

 

[robinb]

Just be aware that DVC resorts are often not available until much, much later in the day. They are often not ready until after 4:00 pm, so you will be “homeless” between when you leave your first resort (for, I assume rope drop) and when you are finally able to check into the Polynesian. Check out is 11:00 am. I don’t think it’s really worth it for essentally one full day at the resort.

When are you going? If the extra day was available at the Polynesian, would you be able to afford it?

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Pre-pandemic my family did a few short split stays with a value or moderate the first night and then a switched to a DVC. Both worked out reasonably well for us. I want to say we did one night at the moderate, and then 2 or 3 nights at the DVC.

We're a family of 4 and the kids were 7ish and 9ish when we did this. Think November 2019 and then February 2020.

The first time, we spent one night at Pop and then all 4 of us took a Lyft in the early morning, magically our room at Boulder Ridge was ready, so we checked in and dumped our bags and then hit the parks. Probably took the boat to MK.

The second time, we spent one night at Coronado, took our bags to Bell Services for transfer early in the morning, took a bus to the parks (possibly HS) and then went to Bay Lake Tower in the early evening to check-in and get bag delivery from Bell Services.

It worked well enough and didn't detract from the trip at all especially since we're at the point where we tend to take afternoon breaks.

 

[MauraSF]

Just be aware that DVC resorts are often not available until much, much later in the day. They are often not ready until after 4:00 pm, so you will be “homeless” between when you leave your first resort (for, I assume rope drop) and when you are finally able to check into the Polynesian. Check out is 11:00 am. I don’t think it’s really worth it for essentally one full day at the resort.

When are you going? If the extra day was available at the Polynesian, would you be able to afford it?

Oh that's a helpful point! We are going March 21-24. Today, Poly is showing availability with DVC points for March 22-23, but just a few days ago it had March 21 availability, and we could afford it if that day becomes available again. It's hard to get a sense of how likely/unlikely that will be! Just straight up buying the night of March 21 from Undercover Tourist/Disney at Poly Villas is going to bring the total out of price range, since I believe it's hovering around $900/night.

One additional point: right now I have a res for Contemporary Garden Wing from March 21-24 for a total of $1481. That is my overall max spend. Given the initial reactions from folks about split stays, I'm leaning toward just keeping that...

 

[eandt]

Oh that's a helpful point! We are going March 21-24. Today, Poly is showing availability with DVC points for March 22-23, but just a few days ago it had March 21 availability, and we could afford it if that day becomes available again. It's hard to get a sense of how likely/unlikely that will be! Just straight up buying the night of March 21 from Undercover Tourist/Disney at Poly Villas is going to bring the total out of price range, since I believe it's hovering around $900/night.

One additional point: right now I have a res for Contemporary Garden Wing from March 21-24 for a total of $1481. That is my overall max spend. Given the initial reactions from folks about split stays, I'm leaning toward just keeping that...

Have you considered AK Savanna view? Beautiful resort and don’t let the naysayers sway you about the bus transportation being spotty … longest ride is to MK and it’s about 15 minutes …grab the 3 nights there and waitlist Poly if you have an owner willing to work for you …

 

[MauraSF]

Have you considered AK Savanna view? Beautiful resort and don’t let the naysayers sway you about the bus transportation being spotty … longest ride is to MK and it’s about 15 minutes …

That's exactly what has made me hesitate to do AK! I was trying to pick a resort that had walk/monorail/skyglider option. That and, since we only have 3 days, we are planning on only doing MK, Epcot and Hollywood Studios, just based on my kids interests and the fact that we live right near one of the best zoos in the country and we go there frequently. But wow does the resort look cool!

 

[mikeuno]

I like the AK point charts!

 

[eandt]

That's exactly what has made me hesitate to do AK! I was trying to pick a resort that had walk/monorail/skyglider option. That and, since we only have 3 days, we are planning on only doing MK, Epcot and Hollywood Studios, just based on my kids interests and the fact that we live right near one of the best zoos in the country and we go there frequently. But wow does the resort look cool!

Understandable apprehension but we have never found the buses there to be a big drawback but we don’t have small kids to deal with anymore either… We love Poly as well. If you are working directly with an owner he/she could waitlist Poly for you and in the meantime grab AK for the 3 nights or even do a room only 3 night stay thru Disney someplace that can be cancelled if your Poly waitlist should come thru …I’d say you might have a decent chance of that happening Good Luck!

 

[MauraSF]

Understandable apprehension but we have never found the buses there to be a big drawback but we don’t have small kids to deal with anymore either… We love Poly as well. If you are working directly with an owner he/she could waitlist Poly for you and in the meantime grab AK for the 3 nights or even do a room only 3 night stay thru Disney someplace that can be cancelled if your Poly waitlist should come thru …I’d say you might have a decent chance of that happening Good Luck!

Thank you so much for weighing in! This group is amazing.

 

[robinb]

I noticed on another thread that your kids are 4 & 7. I think they would really enjoy AK-Kidani. It has an awesome splash pool and the animals are literally outside their balcony. The negative about Kidani is that it has no Counter Service restaurants. It can also be a hike to the parks via the bus and it can feel somewhat remote. I own DVC points at AK so I’ve stayed there many times.

I think that for $200 more I would keep the Contemporary. You can walk to the MK and take the monorail to Epcot.

 

[nw6675]

We just did a three way split over 10 days with the first being 2 nights at BR then moving to the RIV.

It was seemless and the rooms were ready early after a stop by the front desk who put in a request with mouse keeping. That isn't usually the case.

Doable, but not advisable. I echo keeping CR.

 

[Debbie Jean]

I guess if it was me and I was arriving at 9 PM the first night, I’d stay by the airport and leave early the next morning, checkin at Poly and head for the parks. DVC rooms are not typically ready before 4 but you could head back unpack and maybe enjoy the resort for the evening.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've done exactly what you're describing and it worked out fine. Got in around 9:00, stayed first night somewhere else, and then transferred over to the other hotel. What helped was to have a small carry on just to get me through that first night. That way I didn't unpack my big suitcase. In my case I stayed the first night at the All Star Sports. Headed out to the parks early the next morning, with a quick stop at Bell Services to drop off my luggage to have it transferred.

 

[CarolynFH]

DH and I are in the group who don’t like split stays, even just two of us, no kids. I wouldn’t do a one-night with kids, with a late arrival like that.

That's exactly what has made me hesitate to do AK! I was trying to pick a resort that had walk/monorail/skyglider option. That and, since we only have 3 days, we are planning on only doing MK, Epcot and Hollywood Studios, just based on my kids interests and the fact that we live right near one of the best zoos in the country and we go there frequently. But wow does the resort look cool!

If MK, Epcot and DHS are your goals, I’d tend to keep the CR reservation (unless/until I could get all 3 nights at Poly) especially given that it seems you don’t land until 9 PM. You’ll be able to go straight to CR, get to bed, then get up and out to the parks in the morning without having to pack everything up again (even if you pack a single overnight bag, you’ll still be rounding up toothbrushes, hairbrushes, yesterday’s dirty clothes, etc.) to bring down to Bell Services for them to transfer to the next resort for you.

 

[Genie+]

I have some experience with this. It’s not my preference but is workable. I’ve done it many times and actually doing it later this month too.

Years ago we often added a night at Pop or Allstar because we were coming in on late flight. But… we also rented a car. The next morning we’d just hit the parks and by the time we were done (usually after dinner) our room would be ready. That first night we wouldn’t even bring all the luggage inside, just the carryon with PJs and next day clothes for family.

It’s harder if you don’t have car and need to transfer luggage - options are: let resort move (can arrive anytime 4- 7pm) or uber over to Poly in the morning and check luggage with bell services before you go out to the parks. Eta- you could hang and swim at the Poly at this point too. But I figure you are looking to hit the park.

 

[5stljayhawks]

Have done spilt stay, felt like PITA and there is a risk of major time suck(if getting stuck at 2 checkin desk) if you are on tight schedule.

Not sure on transports methods for you, but if getting rental, its 10 or 1030 when you are hitting road to wdw, I would stay offsite 1st night close by airport since getting in late, then up early, refreshed and off to park then check in around nap time.

speaking from experience, only did late flight once. We stayed at AOA the desk wasnt fully staffed and kids super tired and cranky, to me not they way I want to start off.