Split stay- how should I book it?

[DisneyMomma930]

Looking to do a split stay next August- first 3-4 nights at the Poly, then 5 nights at Riviera. There’s 5 of us and it’s going to be tight at the Poly but I’ve always wanted to stay there and we love Moana. So I figure we would get to experience it and then move to a bigger option at the Riviera in a 1 bed suite. I’m dying to stay there too. We would plan to do MK a couple times and AK while at the Poly then do Epcot and HS while at the Riviera to take advantage of the skyliner.

I’ve never done a split stay before. I would want 7 day park tickets as a package. Should I do the Poly stay with 7 day tickets and then do a Riviera room only stay? How does that work with putting down a deposit? I’m going to be making payments over the next year so we can’t pay it all off now. Or should I split it up and do 3 day tickets with the Poly stay and 4 day tickets with the Riviera stay so I only have to do the package deposit twice? Will this mess up my chances for dining reservations and such? And assuming fast passes if they ever come back? And if they end up bringing back the dining plan I would likely add that as well. I’m torn and I don’t want to wait too long and miss out on rooms being available.
Thanks for your help!

 

[anomamatt]

Cost-wise, you are MUCH better off with a longer ticket (7 days) versus two different tickets (3 and 4 day tickets).

That said, I am not sure you can buy a package with mismatched nights and ticket days (for example, you can buy a 4 day ticket if you are staying 3 nights, but not a longer ticket than that in the package)? Maybe you can, but quickly trying on the website I was unable? If that won't work, what I would do is make the room reservations as room-only. And then buy the appropriate ticket. Each room-only reservation will be one night deposit. And you'll pay upfront for the tickets.

Of course, play around with the website to see how the pricing varies.

And I love split stays. Just have a solid plan for the day(s) you are room-less.

 

[PAdisMOM]

I recently booked my first split stay and I used Dreams Unlimited Travel. It is actually 2 separate reservations and I had to put a deposit on each. The 8 day ticket is on the first stay reservation (4 nights at WL). The second part of the trip (4 nights at BC) is a room only reservation. Since I didn’t make the reservation myself but through a Travel agent I’m not sure if the tickets and room 1 are a package but I just wanted to chime in with my experience

 

[DisneyMomma930]

I recently booked my first split stay and I used Dreams Unlimited Travel. It is actually 2 separate reservations and I had to put a deposit on each. The 8 day ticket is on the first stay reservation (4 nights at WL). The second part of the trip (4 nights at BC) is a room only reservation. Since I didn’t make the reservation myself but through a Travel agent I’m not sure if the tickets and room 1 are a package but I just wanted to chime in with my experience

Do you mind me asking, did you do a package deposit on one and then the first nights stay equivalent deposit on the other?

 

[Honeypot]

I just switched around our reservation for a split stay and booked it myself. We have a 4 night stay at CBR with 8 day tickets (no problem booking for longer than your stay and cheaper than booking two separate ticket packages) - that was the $200 package deposit. Then we have 6 nights at AKL- room only, that was first night deposit. Two different confirmation numbers, but you see it all together in MDE.

 

[PAdisMOM]

I put a $200 deposit on each reservation even though the second one is room only. It could be a Dreams Unlimited thing

 

[Turksmom]

I just switched around our reservation for a split stay and booked it myself. We have a 4 night stay at CBR with 8 day tickets (no problem booking for longer than your stay and cheaper than booking two separate ticket packages) - that was the $200 package deposit. Then we have 6 nights at AKL- room only, that was first night deposit. Two different confirmation numbers, but you see it all together in MDE.

How did you do that? I had to split my CBR stay and it wouldn't let me add longer tickets to the first package. I booked the other reservations as room only, figuring I can add ticket days when we arrive, but I'd love to add now, so I can make park passes

 

[lanejudy]

Your resort is 2 separate reservations. You can add tickets to the first reservation...and it's good to know @Honeypot was able to do this recently with no problem. Just be aware ticket length in packages has been limited since the re-opening but could usually be made longer by calling if you have trouble doing what you want. Alternatively, you can purchase tickets separately, though that requires full payment. Your tickets will not receive the "length of stay" expiration extension but rather the stated expiration based on your start date and number of days purchased.

 

[lanejudy]

I put a $200 deposit on each reservation even though the second one is room only. It could be a Dreams Unlimited thing

Probably a "basic package" for the 2nd reservation -- in essence, a room-only booking with package terms for PIF/cancellation.

 

[DisneyMomma930]

Your resort is 2 separate reservations. You can add tickets to the first reservation...and it's good to know @Honeypot was able to do this recently with no problem. Just be aware ticket length in packages has been limited since the re-opening but could usually be made longer by calling if you have trouble doing what you want. Alternatively, you can purchase tickets separately, though that requires full payment. Your tickets will not receive the "length of stay" expiration extension but rather the stated expiration based on your start date and number of days purchased.

I did notice when I was looking at booking it gave me the option of doing up to 10 days of park tickets with just a 4 night stay at Poly. I just didn’t know if it would affect me trying to do dining reservations for the whole 10 days even though I only have 4 nights on the first reservation. Or do I have to do it for each stay at 60 days out?

 

[Honeypot]

How did you do that? I had to split my CBR stay and it wouldn't let me add longer tickets to the first package. I booked the other reservations as room only, figuring I can add ticket days when we arrive, but I'd love to add now, so I can make park passes

I just did it online and it came up as an option I was able to add park tickets up to 10 days when I booked it. We are going Feb/Mar of next year if that would make any difference. I’m not sure why they would allow it sometimes and not others though.

 

[lanejudy]

I just didn’t know if it would affect me trying to do dining reservations for the whole 10 days even though I only have 4 nights on the first reservation. Or do I have to do it for each stay at 60 days out?

I believe ADRs are separate, 60 days out from check-in date for each part of your reservation. If FP+ comes back, that was not split and the full length of ticket could be booked 60-days from first check-in date.

 

[Turksmom]

I just did it online and it came up as an option I was able to add park tickets up to 10 days when I booked it. We are going Feb/Mar of next year if that would make any difference. I’m not sure why they would allow it sometimes and not others though.

Thanks for the quick response! I just checked again and mine still has a maximum of 5 days. I guess I'll call on a day that I have 3 hours free.

 

[DisneyMomma930]

I believe ADRs are separate, 60 days out from check-in date for each part of your reservation. If FP+ comes back, that was not split and the full length of ticket could be booked 60-days from first check-in date.

Got it. Thanks!

 

[rangerxenos]

Thanks for the quick response! I just checked again and mine still has a maximum of 5 days. I guess I'll call on a day that I have 3 hours free.

I recommend trying to call later in the evening. I think they are there until 11 p.m., I've had okay luck calling later on in the evening, maybe try 9:30? I was only on hold for 20 minutes a few Sundays back, I called around 10:00 p.m.

 

[MomOTwins]

I believe ADRs are separate, 60 days out from check-in date for each part of your reservation. If FP+ comes back, that was not split and the full length of ticket could be booked 60-days from first check-in date.

That's correct. We found this out "the hard way" for our trip back in March--could only book through check out day of the first stay. When dining was at 180 days this was not really a probably because not everyone plans that far in advance. But at 60 days, it is so cutthroat that split stays are a real disadvantage now.

That said, Poly/RIV sounds like an ideal split, so I'd say it is worth it.

 

[Lilsia]

You can just book 2 separate room only reservations and then buy your tickets. You don't need to have a package deal.

 

[kc51570]

You can just book 2 separate room only reservations and then buy your tickets. You don't need to have a package deal.

If the poster wants to add on a future potential dining plan, I believe room and tickets need to be booked as a package unless it’s a stay on DVC points.

 

[Lilsia]

If the poster wants to add on a future potential dining plan, I believe room and tickets need to be booked as a package unless it’s a stay on DVC points.

I don't think free dining is coming back anytime soon. If it does, it will not be what it once was. Chapek will make sure of that. I have found that it was usually a much better deal to have 1 person get an AP and get the AP room discount over any free dining.

 

[DisneyMomma930]

That's correct. We found this out "the hard way" for our trip back in March--could only book through check out day of the first stay. When dining was at 180 days this was not really a probably because not everyone plans that far in advance. But at 60 days, it is so cutthroat that split stays are a real disadvantage now.

That said, Poly/RIV sounds like an ideal split, so I'd say it is worth it.

That’s what worries me is not being able to get the dining reservations we want but I really can’t budge on staying at the Poly and now I’m totally in love with the Riviera and we only go every 2-3 years so I can’t wait til our next trip to do it. I will just cross that bridge when I come to it