Split Stay...good idea or bad?

[AdventurerKat]

I'm going to WDW with a friend the week between Xmas and New Years. Got a fantastic rate of $121 and some change for AKL for the week with AP rate. But now I am wondering if we should do a split stay, maybe with the Dolphin or Swan (getting some good rates through Hotwire) so we can try two resorts instead of one (My husband refuses to change resorts mid stay so this might be my only chance) I am really looking forward to AKL but just don't know if I want to be that far out for the whole week. But since its just the two of us, I am sure we could handle the long bus ride.

I don't know what to do. Any thoughts?

 

[lizmc]

We are doing a split stay between the AKL and Poly , AKl for 6 nights and Poly for 7. I am really excited to stay at 2 resorts!! whatever you choose have a great trip!

 

[luvdisney14]

We've split our stay a few times when traveling. We love it , it is like having two mini vacations in one. It is easier now, since my boys are older. I would suggest it to anyone. We are planning on doing it again in 2004.

 

[mep319]

We split a stay in 1/03...AKL & WL. I had no problems other than I didn't want to leave AKL..WL was a let down afterward...that is the only problem I foresee for you...not wanting to leave. I will have to say you eat a couple of hours packing..unpacking, checking in and out. So depending on your schedule you might want to keep it in mind. Disney does make it easy to do but there is still some effort on your part.

 

[packy]

We just did a split stay between Disney and Universal. It isn' t
that bad. On the day we switched, we put our bags in the car but left it at the hotel, went to the parks then came back and got the car later in the day. You could also check your bags at AKL, go to the parks then come back on a break to get your luggage to relocate.

 

[faithinkarma]

We have a split stay this year for the very first time. 2 nights AKL, 5 nights rented DVC, 3 nights Swan. I have no idea how we will feel about all the moving around, but I figure we might as well try it. We are travelling without children, so that makes it less complicated. And I am encouraged by all the posters who say it is like having different mini vacations.

If I were you, I would give switching a try. You will never know until you do

 

[swilphil]

I would split the stay, especially since you aren't travelling with kids. The Epcot area is such a great place to be without kids, and you don't have to take a bus everywhere. You'll be right next door to the Boardwalk. Jellyrolls is fun, and I think Epcot's WS is very romantic.

 

[AdventurerKat]

That was my thinking, that it might be kind of fun to be in the Epcot area with all those other hotels to check out and walk to Epcot, etc. I could see the problem of not wanting to leave AK though. But just to get the chance to sample a couple of different places would be great. We haven't decided where to stay for our family trip so this would give me an opportunity to try them out too. With just two of us, packing up and moving is no big deal.

Its going to be a fun holiday week!

 

[NotTooGoofy]

We did a split stay with ASMo and CS two years ago and we're going to do it again with CS and WL this December. It does seem like you're having two trips into one. Plus I think you can have the first WDW resort ship your luggage to the other WDW resort while you are the parks. I don't know if the Swan and Dolphin participate in this exchange though.

 

[madge]

we love to split our stay between the Epcot and MK resort areas, we just plan that to be a non-park day, so it really isn't that big of a deal. the packing and unpacking is a bit of a hassle, I'll agree about that. This year I am going to try to pack accordingly and hope for the best!

 

[anita46]

We've done it a couple of times. I don't remember anyone being put out by it. We just packed up the suitcases for bell services, left for the parks, returned to the new hotel late in the afternoon and checked in.

We always pack one separate bag with beach stuff in case of check in snafus and so I can send the kids to the pool and unpack in peace.

Usually only like to split stay if we're going at least 10 days.

The bad part is leaving a resort you love and then not be as pleased with the new resort. Happened to us when we left the BC and went to the Poly. Kids were not happy. Every night it was can't we go back to the BC.

Anita

 

[hookedup]

After 3 years in a row of splitting our stay I swore this year that I will never, ever do it again! Too much of a hassle packing and unpacking. I think that no matter how much you try to make the day unimpacted by it you still are.
I think in the future I will stay put and use a day or afternoon or two to just go visit other resorts and leave my clothes in the drawers and my laundry on the closet floor and RELAX more!!! IMO if you are spending less than a week at your hotel stay put and enjoy it!!

PS) Yes the Swan/Dolphin bell staff will transfer your luggage to any property onsite no charge - we just did it at the beginning of the month.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I do it with my 2 young children. We like to do Universal first. Hard Rock Hotel, then we move to Royal Pacific Resort. We then move to Disney. CBR, then moved to CSR. We moved 4X in 10 days!! I thought that was way a bit too much. I think I would move no more than 2 unless i am staying longer in Orlando. But 4X is a bit too much.

If we can do it, I know you guys can.

 

[Mustangdi]

We have done a split stay for the past 5 years.
Last year we stayed at AKL and the Dolphin.
I don't like to stay so far out for the whole
trip and we like to stay in the Epcot area. This
trip will be split with the AKL and Swan. We just
get up early on our last day at AKL and transfer
our luggage to the Swan before going to the
parks. It is just 2 of us and it not too much of
a problem to switch. 19 days before we leave,
Yipes, I better get going on the packing.lol

 

[airhead]

a week at AKL and a week at the Dolphin! We can't wait. I don't know if I would do it if I had kids with me.

airhead

 

[christianweecare]

DH & I did a split stay last year between POFQ & the RPR at Universal. It really was no problem. We packed all of our dirty clothes in one bag and left it in the car. We then had only one bag plus our toiletries to move in. We will be doing a split stay in Dec. again. This time we are staying at WL first and on to AKL. We love it! It gives you a chance to explore different resorts!

 

[CalGal]

Each of the resorts at WDW offers its own unique experience and benefits. It is so hard to choose where to stay! I figure chosing two resorts is hard enough but is still much easier than chosing just one. Disney makes transfering hassle-free. The first time I did it, I was traveling alone with a seven year old. It was a piece of cake. Absolutely, split your stay.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

I am trying to talk my DH into a split stay for our next visit. He thinks it would be too much of a hassle.But we honestly cannot decide between AKL and WL.
This will be our first time at a deluxe, and I really want the best experience.

Question--we like to book a package deal.Can we have a split stay if we book the Dream Maker+Silver package?
If I know its possible.....maybe I can talk DH into it.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I split a stay between CBR and AKL last trip ... it was no problem at all. We spent 7 days at CBR and 4 days at AKL. Disney moved all of our luggage for us and we didn't mind packing and unpacking ... This trip we're thinking of splitting AKL and WL but we're still undecided

 

[Laurabearz]

We have done and are about to do a split stay...... our first was 5 nights Poly 4 nights BC, this time is is two nights AKL and 3 nights at VWL.

As you can see from my siggy, we have wee ones, yet we still find swicthing reosrts worth any trouble is causes..... it makes the vacation feel longer some how, plus spices it up!

Go for it!