Split stay- is it frustrating to do?

[JoBird]

Family of 5 going in October of this year, staying at POFQ. Thinking of surprising the fam with a split stay at the end of the trip for a few nights at the Poly. (our first time there.)

Could any of you give me your experiences in doing this? Is it hard and frustrating? Did you feel like you wasted a lot of time in the transfer? Would you do it again?

The reason we have never stayed at a deluxe is because we like a lot of space, so we always book two rooms at a moderate. Our children will be 13, 9 and 6. Will we feel cramped in one room at the Poly? Just wanted to give it a try once, just to see how we liked it.

We will have a rental car, if that makes a difference.

I know, so many questions, but I value everyone's opinion!

Thanks so much!

Jo

 

[Robert P]

Family of 5 going in October of this year, staying at POFQ. Thinking of surprising the fam with a split stay at the end of the trip for a few nights at the Poly. (our first time there.)

Could any of you give me your experiences in doing this? Is it hard and frustrating? Did you feel like you wasted a lot of time in the transfer? Would you do it again?

The reason we have never stayed at a deluxe is because we like a lot of space, so we always book two rooms at a moderate. Our children will be 13, 9 and 6. Will we feel cramped in one room at the Poly? Just wanted to give it a try once, just to see how we liked it.

We will have a rental car, if that makes a difference.

I know, so many questions, but I value everyone's opinion!

Thanks so much!

Jo

We have done a split stay several times. I think you will have no problems with it, and it would be a great surprise for your family. My advice would be:

1 - Split the stay into more than just 1 night. We made that mistake once, and it was not worth it. Now, if we can't get at least 2 nights elsewhere, we don't bother to move.

2 - Like you are mentioning for the Poly, split the stay and move 'up'. Starting at a Deluxe, and dropping down at the end, is disappointing. Always move 'up'. It's more exciting, if nothing else.

Yes, there is wasted time, b/c of the extra pack/unpack sequence. If you won't need many items with you on the move day, you can always let Bell Services move your bags. We take our car, and usually elect someone, that's me, to check-in and move us to the new resort, while everyone else hits the parks. Cuts down on any missed park time for the group. I just catch up with the others at the park later in the a.m., and we don't have to wait til 4:00 p.m. for the luggage transfer to arrive at the new resort.

I'd say go for it!

 

[uva185]

We take our car, and usually elect someone, that's me, to check-in and move us to the new resort, while everyone else hits the parks. Cuts down on any missed park time for the group. I just catch up with the others at the park later in the a.m., and we don't have to wait til 4:00 p.m. for the luggage transfer to arrive at the new resort.

That’s a good idea. I have never done a split stay at Disney but many times while traveling for a long weekend (3-4 nights) I will spend each night in a different hotel to earn extra perks (HHonors Diamond-for those who know travel at Hiltons) at hotels. It’s not that bad but I don’t carry too much so there is not a whole lot to pack up. I guess with souvenirs, etc it may be more difficult but I would still do it if it means upgrading to the Poly at the end.

 

[OKW Lover]

The downside we see in a split stay is the extra pack/un-pack cycle and being "homeless" on most of the switch over day. This latter item can be especially important if you (or your children) like an afternoon nap.

 

[DizzDoll]

We did a split last year for the first time and are doing again this year. It really is hassle free, and we didn't have a rental car!! We stayed first at the Pop. My recommendation would be to have your stuff packed the night before with the exception of what you'll need in the morning (obviously!! ). Anal little me did laundry the night before we switched. Call bell service the night before you leave to schedule baggage pick up and transfer. They'll take care of everything. You can leave the hotel, and leave your luggage in the room, and it'll be at your new hotel by the time you get back from the parks. When you get to your new hotel, check in is usually a breeze, and you'll be ready to roll within 20 minutes, tops. When you come back from the parks call bell service and your bags will be delivered to your rooms within 5 minutes, usually, if they're not already there.

Checking out is easy as well. If you're like us and don't charge anything to the room, and use your cell phones to make calls, then it's about 1.5 minutes from start to finish.

If you use the Magical Express, when you get your package before you leave for WDW there will be 2 sets of luggage tags. One for your first hotel and the others for the second. BE SURE TO SWITCH LUGGAGE TAGS before you switch hotels. Other than that little nugget there's really nothing to it at all. No stress, no mess, no hair pulling, I found it to be very easy. And I, too, am the designated moving person.

Also, it really is best to move up. We liked our first hotel very much, but we like to end on a high note - kinda to make you want to go back again the following year!

Anyway, good luck, and if you decide to accept the challenge, you won't regret it.

 

[NMAmy]

If it were just DH and I, then, yes, I'd do it again. However, I learned my lesson about trying to do a split stay with two teenagers.

My plan was to get up and out the door early in the morning, check in and leave the luggage if the room wasn't ready, and then head on to a park.

By the time the girls got up and ready it was 11:00. They frustrated the heck out of me. We ended up not getting to a park until afternoon.

I'd say it all depends on your children and how difficult it is to wrangle them around.

 

[DizzDoll]

If I could add just one more thing regarding packing (I have 2 teens also ). When we pack for Disney trips (or anywhere else), what we do is get the bigest zip lock bags they make. In them we put FOLDED clothes for 2 days: one pair of shorts or jeans, 2 tops, 2 complete changes of underwear, and 3 pairs of socks (we like comfy feet). We take out one bag at a time, and when all the clothes have been used, we ROLL them up and put them back in the bag, then toss in the suitcase. The rest of the bags stay in the suitcases, and between the folded and the rolled, we know what to reach for. I find this easy for 2 reasons: (1) I don't have to listen to my daughter's constant wail of "I have nothing to WAAAAAAAARE" on a daily basis and (2) there's very little to pack back up. The room stays neater, too!! And believe me, my son is a HELL of a lot neater than his sister ever DREAMED of being!! I still say try the split.

 

[ciera321]

We did this in 2006 WL/BC and are doing it again this year CR/Poly. It was very easy. We just packed up (only took maybe an extra 30 minutes), called bell services and took a day bag to BC with us. We spent the day at SAB enjoying the resort. We plan on having a resort day on the day we move to Poly. We'll check out of CR, go parasailing, then have a late breakfast at Kona and enjoy the resort. This is such a great way to try a more expensive resort for less money... Have a great stay!!!

 

[wings91]

We always split our stay, in fact this time will be 4 hotels. A cheapo for our late night arrival; 3 nights at CSR, 2 nights at Hard Rock, and 4 at WL. We are crazy, but DW has gotten used to it. (no kids to slow us down)

A rental will make it easy. We've never let the resorts move our stuff, if the rooms aren't ready, we just leave it in the car. The car also makes getting from resort A to B a direct stop vs taking the bus.

Go for it!

 

[MAGGIED]

I did a split stay in November with POP being first and then to AKL.... it was no problem.... worked out every easy.... they even upgraded our room when we got to AKL.... we had a car so it was even easier. We packed our stuff in the morning and brought it down to the car.... went to Epcot and then went to AKL after lunch to check in.... got right into our room.... we normally take a break in the afternoon anyway so this was perfect for us..... it was fun to try both places.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We did our first split stay Oct 07, 4 days at YC and 4 days at Poly...it was super easy and I think it was because we had our own car. We had a late check out at YC and we could not get a room at the Poly until 3 but bell services held our luggage for us.

We are doing another split in April, 4 days at OKW and 4 days at the Dolphin and again in Oct, 4 days at AK adn 4 days at BW

 

[TSMAMI]

Im thinking of splitting my stay. This would be out first time doing this. My question is whn I go to book do I need to do both seperately or will they combine both hotels and tickets into one package with one deposit?

 

[alldiz]

I love split stays.....I do live out of a suitcase though

I think you need a good 2-3 nights at the second resort though...

Since you have a car....that much easier....
drive to poly with your stuff....if your room is not ready...head to
M.K for a few hours and come back to a ready room
Kerri

 

[mello]

in '05 we stayed 10 days at CBR and then moved to the Poly for 2 days. It was fun to "move up" as a pp mentioned! We liked the size of the Poly room we were in - we also have a family of 5 and found it to be nice and roomy; but we were comparing it to the size of 1 moderate room, not 2 (though CBR rooms are the biggest mods). The only thing we didn't enjoy about it was the packing - especially after 10 days of accumulating and spreading stuff around lol. We used bell services to move our stuff and it went very smoothly. I would do it again - in fact we are going to do it again on our next trip, except we're doing 2 nights at Poly first, then a longer stay in DVC - should make the packing easier after only 2 days (hopefully!)

 

[Blessedx3]

We did a split stay in Dec. We moved from the AKL to the Poly. I did feel the waste of time in the packing and unpacking. But I have 3 under 4 so I was solely responsible for all that. I would do again though. It was fun to be in 2 different resorts! And really bell services does everything for you! It is great.

 

[John's Mom]

Im thinking of splitting my stay. This would be out first time doing this. My question is whn I go to book do I need to do both seperately or will they combine both hotels and tickets into one package with one deposit?

We are doing our first split stay in December--room only (for now). I had to pay a deposit of one night's stay at both resorts.

 

[JoBird]

Gosh, thanks so much for all of the replies!!!

I don't know why I have never thought to do it this way. DH and I are always moaning and groaning because we want to try the Poly but are afraid of the space issue. "We lika' da' space, ya'll!"

I priced it out and the difference in price is so little. I'm really leaning towards doing it. Now I have to figure out if I should only do it for two nights or take a gamble that the space isn't going to be an awful issue and go for three. Hum...

Since you have a car....that much easier....
drive to poly with your stuff....if your room is not ready...head to
M.K for a few hours and come back to a ready room
Kerri

This is exactly what I thought of doing! Check out of POFQ, drive to the Poly and check in, then leave bags in the car or with bell hops and go to the MK or even to Epcot. Wow. I am digging this surprise!
The whole trip is a surprise to the kids, I figure why not let there be a surprise in there for DH???

Here's one more question..
how big is that day bed in the Poly? Would my 13 year old fit on it or one of the younger ones?

Thanks again so much for all of your wisdom!

Jo