Split Stay - Moving Day share your best strategies

[nelsonkg]

I had kind of sworn off split stays but I want to give it another try. Plan is 4 days BCV and 4 days Poly Villa. We always do a resort day in the middle of our trip so I am thinking the day we move to Poly would be a good day. What are your thoughts? I am not worried about dining reservations, magic band or FPP because we have done the split stay before, I just do not like feeling homeless on moving day and repacking. I have always done the tranfer myself because we rent a car but if you all think bell services does a good job then I might let them handle it this time. Thanks for your expertise

 

[DVC Mike]

I had kind of sworn off split stays but I want to give it another try...

I just do not like feeling homeless on moving day and repacking.

This is exactly why we don't like doing split stays!

Others feel differently, as some of the responses to the Split Stays thread show.

We're doing a split stay our next trip just to try out PVB.

 

[robndani]

I've never done it, but if I did I would let someone else do the heavy lifting! I would pack a backpack with a few essentials and head over to the Poly pool. Around check in time (or a little earlier) I would see if room was ready. A quick unpack and dinner on the monorail loop!

Don't stress! Have fun!

 

[Jake & Crew]

We have done a split stay on every DVC trip and we really enjoy them.

We have never rented a car, always used bell services and never had a problem. Our last trip due to late booking we moved twice and that was too much packing/unpacking. Our next trip is with 19 people so we will not be doing split, but will go back to it on our trip after that.

Traditionally ( did not last trip because my parents were with us) we go to a water park on moving day. We get out of the room by 9am with our suits and a change of clothes and head to the water park. Finish up around 2 or 3 and head to our new home. It is an exciting adventure and we feel like we start our Disney trip all over again!

Most of the time our luggage is waiting for us, think only once we arrived before our luggage was at the hotel but we had scheduled an early dinner and it was ready right after. We always try to dine in our new home to take in the ambience and be there if we do run into a little luggage delay. Then we head out to for an evening at the park of the night.

The only downside to moving is the food and drinks. We have it all moved except milk, eggs etc. We only put beers in our fridge that on a use basis so we can move the rest warm. we buy new milk, eggs at our new location and we do not order too much wine so we don't move it. our last trip I realized we don't need to order any wine from the grocer but can buy it at Epcot as we go through our trip.

When we moved from BWV to BC we put our luggage in bell services and took our fridge groceries across the lake by boat. BC put them in a bell services fridge for us, though it wasn't an ideal start to the day it saved us buying more perishables at BC and we were excited about returning to our new home.

Overall we love split stays but one move per trip is just enough. Never had problem with magic bands etc. We had one for each resort and that was fun too. The other plus is if you want to do the dining plan for only part of your trip it is easy to do with a split. Since our kids are older we don't do the dining at all anymore but we used to do it for part of a split.

BTW I like the spa idea....might do that on our next split!

 

[nelsonkg]

Ooo planning a water park day is a strategy I never thought of! Thanks Jake and Crew!

 

[oshun]

We have done split stays a few times. I am with you on the whole packing and unpacking, but must say that bell services sends our things and we have never had a problem. We just spend a day at water park or theme park.

 

[wilma-bride]

We just did a split stay between Poly (whcih was awesome, by the way) and SSR. We actually had a shopping day (being from the UK, a shopping day is always part of our US trips) and arrived at SSR at about 3pm. Our room was ready and so we were in the room and unpacked before dinner.

One thing to be aware of is that, if bell services move your luggage for you, you are warned that it might not arrive at your new resort before 4pm (understandable given that check-in is supposed to be after 4). We were lucky and ours was there when we called bell services at about 3.15 but you might not be as lucky. We have always let bell services move our luggage for us on a split stay and never had any problems.

 

[loves to dive]

I love split stays, gives me a chance to check out new resorts. I drive down so have a car available so my strategy is this. I pack two bags, one for each stay. I have a hanging toiletry bag that I just transfer from bag one to bag two. On move day I get up at my regular time which is around 6 get dressed and go ahead and check out by phone, I always tell them at the front desk I want an email bill so no need to go to the front desk, just let them know I'm leaving. Get in my car and drive to resort 2 and go ahead and check in. Chances are my room isn't going to be ready but I've had good luck with checking in early and getting a room earlier than 4. If I'm valet parking my car, I give bag #2 to valet and let them keep it, if I self parking I just leave it in the car and get it later. I then go off to whatever park I'm doing that day, grab breakfast and go about my day. If I'm ready to leave the park when I get the text my room is ready I go back to the resort, if not I just keep on keeping on and get back when I want. If I've left my bag in my car, I fetch it, if I've left it with bell services I call them when I get to the room and they deliver it. They used to go ahead and deliver it but won't now unless you are in the room. Easy peasy. If I didn't have a car, I might invest in some packing cubes, pack for resort 1 in one cube, resort 2 in another. No packing and unpacking just take out the cube. Alternatively, use the huge zip lock bags, I think they are 2 or 3 gallon, put a days worth of clothes in one bag, roll out the air and zip it up so it's small and flat. Do this for each day so you only have to pull out whatever bags are for the days you are in resort 1. I've heard some people put a fold up duffel in one of their bags and pack resort 2 on the bottom of their bag so unpack only resort one and put the dirty clothes in the duffel instead of back in the suitcase. I've never felt homeless since I've dressed and am ready for whatever I was going to do on move day anyway. I'm not one of those who spends all day from early morning to late night in the parks and I like the break when I go back to the resort and get settled in, gives me a chance to cool off, wash up and rest.

 

[hakepb]

If you plan on using bell services to transfer luggage, you can reserve your check out a day or so in advance so you aren't just stuck in your room waiting for them to show up.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

........

The only downside to moving is the food and drinks. We have it all moved except milk, eggs etc. ........

When we moved from BWV to BC we put our luggage in bell services and took our fridge groceries across the lake by boat. BC put them in a bell services fridge for us, though it wasn't an ideal start to the day it saved us buying more perishables at BC and we were excited about returning to our new home.
!

Bell Service will also move groceries that need refrigerating or freezing. They've even moved ice cream for us. We get it in a separate bag and they keep it chilled or in a freezer both before and after.

 

[nelsonkg]

We will have a car so maybe we will just have bell services place them in the car and move our groceries only. Then we will not have to go without our luggage at all. We are doing the split this time so we can try PVB. We will be going from a 1 bedroom to a studio so hopefully we will have less food by then!

 

[Jake & Crew]

Bell Service will also move groceries that need refrigerating or freezing. They've even moved ice cream for us. We get it in a separate bag and they keep it chilled or in a freezer both before and after.

I really am a bit of a worrier so I felt better moving the milk etc myself, they took us right back to the fridge so I know it got right in. Also did not want them to deal with spilt milk etc....

We do have them move the beer which is why it does not all go into the fridge at the first resort. Also for bottled water we put the next days supply in the freezer and by the time we drink it in the park it is melted and cold. Not a moving tip just a park tip.

Usually we just buy milk, eggs at the new resort grocery store.

 

[nkosiek]

We actually like to sleep in a little and then grab a late breakfast at the 1st place before going to a park (which now with FP+ makes this even easier b/c you can actually get some decent rides in) before going to the new resort. It helps keep the day relaxed. After we get to the new place we either do dinner there or just relax for awhile before going back to the park.

 

[js]

I am staying one night solo at PVs and then meeting my mom and her friend who will already be a GFVs. I really dont want to have to wait for my luggage. Can I walk my luggage over myself from Poly to GF? Its a four wheel roller so its easy. My dh said I should get on the monorail with it but Ive never seen that before. I will be transferring this Friday.

Thank you.

 

[loves to dive]

I am staying one night solo at PVs and then meeting my mom and her friend who will already be a GFVs. I really dont want to have to wait for my luggage. Can I walk my luggage over myself from Poly to GF? Its a four wheel roller so its easy. My dh said I should get on the monorail with it but Ive never seen that before. I will be transferring this Friday.

Thank you.

There is no walking path between Poly and GF. There is an express monorail that just loops around the resorts, it does stop at the MK but you don't have to get off or switch at TTS and I believe the way it loops is from Poly to GF so it is just the next stop. Yes you can take your luggage yourself but if you have more than one bag it might be a tad combersum on the monorail.

 

[js]

There is no walking path between Poly and GF. There is an express monorail that just loops around the resorts, it does stop at the MK but you don't have to get off or switch at TTS and I believe the way it loops is from Poly to GF so it is just the next stop. Yes you can take your luggage yourself but if you have more than one bag it might be a tad combersum on the monorail.

Thanks. Maybe Ill do the monorail. There is a walking path between GFV and Poly. I did it last year. I will have one luggage and just my regular carry on airline bag.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks. Maybe Ill do the monorail. There is a walking path between GFV and Poly. I did it last year. I will have one luggage and just my regular carry on airline bag.

As you know there is a walking path, and yes, if you wanted to walk it with your bags you certainly could. For some reason I've always thought there was a rule against taking rolling bags on Disney transportation although others have said that they did. If nothing else you could go up there and if they won't allow it then just head down to the path and walk over. It would actually be a short walk compared to the walk in some airports!

 

[js]

As you know there is a walking path, and yes, if you wanted to walk it with your bags you certainly could. For some reason I've always thought there was a rule against taking rolling bags on Disney transportation although others have said that they did. If nothing else you could go up there and if they won't allow it then just head down to the path and walk over. It would actually be a short walk compared to the walk in some airports!

Thank you. As I think about it and read your response maybe Ill just pack up at 11, check out and just walk over with my luggage. I may not see as many people walking the path as I would on the monorail and I dont mind the walk. I wont need to wait for my room since my mom and her friend will already be there so if good weather thar is what Ill do.

Thanks all!

 

[Tunseeker1]

I love split stays, Either cheaper room first night or for a change of scenery. I usually pack a small bag with stuff for the day and leave it at bell at the more convent hotel. Moving from Bay Lake to AKV we went to MK and left bag at Bay Lake.

 

[Minniesgal]

I actually love split stays and moving day is my favourite day. We always have a rest day on moving day, we sleep in have a leisurely breakfast and pack. We don't leave the room until 11am after giving luggage to Bell Services. We then go check in to our next resort, and go play mini Golf, do some shopping at DTD, or visit a watermark. We return to the new resort about 3pm where our room is usually ready we get settled and dressed for dinner and go out to an early dinner and finally close a park either EPCOT or MK depending on where we want to eat. Those are my favourite days cos I get to sleep in and go slower.

I try and buy the right amount of perishables (mainly milk) that we don't need to be transporting it but buy fresh at each resort. Doesn't always work but we usually manage this.

Our next trip we have 5 nights VWL, 4 nights AKV and 4 nights GFV so we will have 2 rest days and I'm looking forward to them already.