Split stay- how should I book it?

[DisneyMomma930]

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.

I really want to book one as a package in case dining comes back- not free dining as I know that’s a long shot but the dining plan was worth it for us and I liked our meals being prepaid for. I didn’t even think about doing an AP for the discount but that’s not even available right now anyway. We don’t live locally and only do big trips every 2-3 years.

 

[kc51570]

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.

I wasn’t referring to “free dining”. The poster mentioned wanting to add on the dining plan eventually which is why I mentioned a potential future dining plan.

 

[Lilsia]

I really want to book one as a package in case dining comes back- not free dining as I know that’s a long shot but the dining plan was worth it for us and I liked our meals being prepaid for. I didn’t even think about doing an AP for the discount but that’s not even available right now anyway. We don’t live locally and only do big trips every 2-3 years.

In the past, you can always just buy the dining plan without having a package. There are plenty of AP holders, with room only reservations, that add on the dining plan. Think of all of the DVC people, they can buy the plan also. It is not limited to packages.

 

[jemtx]

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.

This summer we did a split stay 3 days CR and 3 days at YC. I was able to call and have the first part a package with 6 day tickets attached to it and the second part a room-only package with no tickets. I did have to pay a $200 deposit for each reservation (and we had two separate adr days). You might be correct that you can’t book longer than stay tickets like that online yourself, but a reservation agent can certainly help you and do it so you can do a split stay.

 

[Honeypot]

I'm not sure what the OP's thoughts are, but the reason I booked the package is because we are still watching how things go and open up before fully committing to our trip. Booking it as a package allows us to have our park tickets, book our park passes, but if we decide not to go or postpone, the $200 deposit is refundable or transferable. Also having to only spend the package and room deposits, rather than two room deposits and park tickets in full (approx $2500 that is non-refundable), was very appealing.

 

[Wiltony]

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

I've done split-stay trips now and I feel differently; I don't enjoy them as much because I don't feel like I can "settle in" since I know I'll have to pack up and change rooms soon. To each his/her own, however! I will say this: if doing a split stay, be sure to *end* your trip at your favorite/home resort, rather than the other way around.

 

[anomamatt]

I've done split-stay trips now and I feel differently; I don't enjoy them as much because I don't feel like I can "settle in" since I know I'll have to pack up and change rooms soon. To each his/her own, however! I will say this: if doing a split stay, be sure to *end* your trip at your favorite/home resort, rather than the other way around.

Yes, I should have added that while I love them, my wife hates them. For the same reason: she never feels settled when we have a resort change in 3 (or whatever number) of days.

One of the things I like is that they "lock" you into a schedule. I never know which park to do on what day... split stays make it much easier to plan!

 

[lanejudy]

It is not limited to packages.

You are correct that DVC can add dining. However for most resort guests, a room-only would need to convert to a package to add the DDP -- it may be a "basic" or "ticketless package" but still a package by the reservation system. The DDP cannot be added to a room-only reservation without changing to a package.

 

[DisneyMomma930]

I've done split-stay trips now and I feel differently; I don't enjoy them as much because I don't feel like I can "settle in" since I know I'll have to pack up and change rooms soon. To each his/her own, however! I will say this: if doing a split stay, be sure to *end* your trip at your favorite/home resort, rather than the other way around.

This was my only concern with doing a split stay, with 5 of us and 3 being kids- it’s a lot to keep things contained and pack everything up after 3-4 days but I also think we will be too squashed in the Poly room and I’m not willing to give up the Poly. The Riviera 1 bed is perfect for us but I know if I booked our entire stay there I would be longing for the Poly. Such a dilemma! A split stay kind of gives us the best of both worlds. I’m sure my husband will be saying why on earth did you decide to do this while we are packing in the middle of our trip

 

[DisneyMomma930]

I'm not sure what the OP's thoughts are, but the reason I booked the package is because we are still watching how things go and open up before fully committing to our trip. Booking it as a package allows us to have our park tickets, book our park passes, but if we decide not to go or postpone, the $200 deposit is refundable or transferable. Also having to only spend the package and room deposits, rather than two room deposits and park tickets in full (approx $2500 that is non-refundable), was very appealing.

This is exactly why I always book as a package. Our dates are not set in stone and the way the world is these days nothing is certain. I like that it’s refundable and I can easily change dates. We have some big things going on next year so I’m guessing on the dates we will be able to travel but it could change and I want the flexibility.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

I recently booked 4 nights with a Disney package that included 7 day tickets. Don’t need to match but might need to call to add the longer ticket. Then rented DVC for the second leg of the trip. End the trip with the better resort so you don’t feel bad leaving the first

 

[TXRunner]

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!

I am thinking about it but haven't booked it yet. I have a 7 night/6 park day package booked with Riviera 1 bedroom. I may call and just try to change a few nights at the end to a 2 bedroom at a MK property (like 2-3 nights at one of the Wilderness vacation club properties). You have to wait on hold when you call, but it seems easier than rebooking everything. Or maybe not ... maybe it's complicated on the phone as well. All I've ever done in the past is straight bookings for moderate resorts. This time we plan to treat ourselves a little. We are looking at March 2022 (our spring break, so those dates will be filling up, esp. with the 50th). I was reading responses to see how difficult it would be. I think the only problem for us is that it would be a partially lost day because my husband is not going to leave his laptop anywhere, so one of us would have it in a backpack or something until room was available. So I dunno. I would love to try out a couple of the other resorts because I've only stayed at Port Orleans and Caribbean Beach in the past. But, maybe we just need to do more frequent shorter vacations to try more resorts