Split stay, hotel switch day

[jennilee17]

We booked our vacation to stay at the Grand Floridian October 3rd-8th. Last night I decided that it was not nearly long enough since the 3rd and the 8th were going to be travel days with no time to do anything fun. So I decided to extend our trip and arrive on the 1st and stay through the 8th. The Grand's prices were triple what I paid for them when we booked a few months ago, SO I booked Coronado Springs the 1st-3rd and then we will transfer over to the Grand the 3rd-8th. My question is, how does everyone transfer when they do a split stay? Do you ride the bus with all of your bags and strollers? Also, does the magic band have all of your information for both hotels or are there two sets of bands? Is this going to be seamless or is there things I should prepare for in advance? Can you check in super early before the parks open on hotel switch day?

Thanks for any help you have! This is the first time I have booked to two different hotels for the same destination!

 

[DSMVP]

I have done split stays many times and have done it different ways. If I had a car, I moved the bags myself. If I didn't have a car I let bell services move my bags for me. Yes, you can check in at any time, but your room probably won't be ready. I have had a room ready as early as 10am once so you could get lucky. Since magic bands have been introduced I have only done a split stay once when they first came out and had two sets of magic bands, not sure how they handle that now. My experience may be out dated. I don't believe the resort bus lets you get on with all your luggage. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but why would you want to do that anyway? You could also take a cab with your bags to the GF. I've done that once too. If the room isn't ready you just leave your bags with bell services and head out to a park for the day.

I love doing split stays and have never had any issues. I think you will have a fabulous time!!

 

[Tigger's ally]

We have always just let Dis move the luggage and go about our day in typical fashion. Only difference is since we drive usually, I run the car over to the new hotel and meet up with the family in the park of choice. I usually check in when I park the car and then wait for the text that our room is ready. We have never had any problems at all and we split stay all the time.

 

[Masonmj84]

We just call bell services and have them move our larger bags then go to a park like we would on any other day.

Then, after we've checked into the new resort, we call bell services to deliver the bags to our room.

Keep in mind that if you do this, your bags may not be available at the new resort until after 4 pm.

For that reason, we always take a swim bag into the parks with us on transfer days so we can hit the pool in the afternoon at the new resort (we typically put the swim bag in the under compartment of our stroller).

 

[CynBeth]

Make sure you go down to the desk to check out of the first resort or else you will not be able to get in to your room at the second resort. You have the option of 2 MBs and they will both work at either resort. Our last trip we alternated which bands to wear on which days. Just to give you a heads up when making ADRs you can only make them for the first part of the trip including switch hotels day and then must wait until 180 days from the second resort to do the rest.

 

[jennilee17]

Ok great! This is all great information! If you take the bags over yourself will you have access to them during the day?

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We take the bags over the night before just to ensure they are ready. Nice to get rid of them that way! Just keep a few items back for that day.

 

[Silvermist999]

We just returned home from doing our first ever split stay last week. We had a car rental so moved everything ourselves. The day before check out I went over to our second resort (PVB) to see if we could get an early check in, but the cast member said she couldn't do anything for me.

The morning of checking out, I went down to the front desk (WL) and asked if we could check out later. The cast member directed me to the manager and he called PVB and helped us get our room, at 9 am!!! We headed over to PVB right away and carried on with our day! It was totally unexpected and totally amazing!!

 

[Hopefully]

Ok great! This is all great information! If you take the bags over yourself will you have access to them during the day?

If you take them yourselves via cab and store them with Bell Services, yes you could have access to them if you need it. You would go to Bell Services and ask them to bring them out of storage for you. We always tip Bell Services each time they handle our bags, so that could add up.
On transfer day, you very well may not have access to your new room until after 3 PM, so do be prepared for that. As far as Disney is concerned, it is a totally new, different reservation. You may get lucky and it be ready early, but there is no way to tell. I always think of it as a "homeless" day.
Good Luck

 

[jennilee17]

Thanks y'all that answered all of my questions!

 

[BltAk]

We booked our vacation to stay at the Grand Floridian October 3rd-8th. Last night I decided that it was not nearly long enough since the 3rd and the 8th were going to be travel days with no time to do anything fun. So I decided to extend our trip and arrive on the 1st and stay through the 8th. The Grand's prices were triple what I paid for them when we booked a few months ago, SO I booked Coronado Springs the 1st-3rd and then we will transfer over to the Grand the 3rd-8th. My question is, how does everyone transfer when they do a split stay? Do you ride the bus with all of your bags and strollers? Also, does the magic band have all of your information for both hotels or are there two sets of bands? Is this going to be seamless or is there things I should prepare for in advance? Can you check in super early before the parks open on hotel switch day?

Thanks for any help you have! This is the first time I have booked to two different hotels for the same destination!

We have transferred resorts several times. We usually let the bell service move the bags. We go to the closest park to the new resort and just take the bus there when our park day is concluded.