Split stay-making sure I have it figured out!

[DisneyMommy77]

Hello,
We are headed to WDW in early August for our first split stay. 3 nights At Beach Club and 2 at Contemporary. (Haven't stayed at either before)
I'm all checked into the resorts. Any recommendations on the room requests? I was given options of large balcony, upper, lower or ground floor. Any tips I need to know about for those 2 resorts?

Are mini-fridges available upon request?

Also, on the day we move from Beach Club to Contemporary what would be the easiest way to get there? I was thinking it would be bus to MK and then walk to Contemporary?

I have the check in text message thing set up. When we switch to the Contemporary will that still work or do I physically need to check in at the front desk?

I know to have my luggage transferred.

Am I missing anything important?

Finally, if there is one thing you wouldn't want to miss at these resorts what would it be?

Thanks

 

[kcpinwdw]

1) at beach club not all rooms have a balcony so if that is important, request one. Otherwise I usually ask for near elevator. At contemporary it depends on the view you booked.

2) there are mini fridges in the rooms already

3) I think your plan is good. Uber is probably easier but bus to MK and walk is good! No luggage on the bus. If you have then transfer, you probably wont get your luggage until after 4pm, so be prepared if you want to swim or anything.

4) your check in text may work and it may not. One time they gave me my next room number and told me my room was ready at the POly while I was checking out at beach club...

Have fun!

 

[kcpinwdw]

PS my next disney trip is a split stay from beach club to contemporary too... nice choices

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Great advice above. Just curious, what is your "plan" for the switch day? Go to a park? Hang at resort? Just plan/pack accordingly if you have Disney transfer your luggage since you will like be "homeless" and without access to your things for much of the day.

Our last split stay we did a water park day the day we moved, which turned out to be a great way to pass pretty much the full day and avoid that homeless time.

Love CR, have fun!

 

[DisneyMommy77]

Great advice above. Just curious, what is your "plan" for the switch day? Go to a park? Hang at resort? Just plan/pack accordingly if you have Disney transfer your luggage since you will like be "homeless" and without access to your things for much of the day.

Our last split stay we did a water park day the day we moved, which turned out to be a great way to pass pretty much the full day and avoid that homeless time.

Love CR, have fun!

Thank you. Our plan is to be at AK in the AM on the transfer day. I was going to keep swim suits with us though because I don't think we will be at AK during the heat of the day. I do believe we can start using the pool at Contemporary even before our room is ready?
Thanks

 

[loves to dive]

Yes, you can use the pool at CR even if your room isn't ready. I always call and check out of resort #1 right before I leave the room. It seems to go a little easier that way. I don't think I've ever gotten the room ready text for resort #2 early but I always go right there after I check out since I drive and I need to go park my car. I just go to the front desk and let them know I'm there, that way if they get a room ready a little earlier they know I'm ready. As far as BC some of the rooms have the little Juliet balconies that you can just step out and stand on, no tables or chairs fit and some have a full balcony, if that's important make sure you note it. I actually never make room requests because I really don't care where they put me. That is where going to the front desk helps, I tell them I'll take first available but I'd prefer x view if they have it.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

As other people have pointed out, you'll want to pack whatever you'll need for the day and take it with you. The luggage transfer can (and, in our experience, usually does) take a while. If you're going to a park until late, this might not matter, but it sounds like you're planning to hang out at the resort. This is also what we like to do. We pack whatever we'll need at the pool into a backpack and Uber/taxi to our second resort. If you want to save a little money, the bus to MK also works to get to the CR, but Uber/taxi is fastest. Unless we are heading right out to spend a day at the park, we physically check into our second (usually CR) resort. It's probably not necessary, but if we're there anyway, we do it. More important, though, is that you make sure you physically check out at your first resort. Disney doesn't recognize split stats and if you skip checking out, you might run into some issues, especially if you have the dining plan.

 

[DisneyMommy77]

This is all very helpful, thank you!!

 

[AllieBoo]

We just did this same split stay in June. We stayed the first three nights at Contemporary in the garden wing. I requested first floor, so we would have a patio, and we got it We really enjoyed being so close to the pool and the beach. We could just step right outside our room and see the Electrical water pageant. My kids also enjoyed playing ping pong and cornhole out by the pool.

We were at Beach Club the next four nights, and I requested a large balcony room, which we also got. The balcony overlooked some woods, so it was very quiet and peaceful.

As far as can't miss things at these two resorts - at the Contemporary we really enjoyed watching the water pageant, but we never made it up to the observation deck to see the Mk fireworks and I really wish we had. At Beach Club, we loved hanging out at the pool, but one of our favorite things was getting a mini kitchen sink at Beaches and Cream. It was really good, and you get to keep the "sink" which makes a cute souvenir.