Split-stay or no? Also feedback request regarding Treehouse Villas

[dd08]

We have never done a split-stay before but due to reasons are currently booked as a split-stay- was looking for advice.

There will be 4 adults and 3 children in our party. Currently we are booked for 2 nights at a GV at Jambo House followed by 4 nights in a 2 bedroom at Grand Floridian

Any downsides to doing that split stay? We know and love both resorts, just asking regarding the logistics of the split stay.

Also one possibility that’s open to us is to spend all 6 nights in the Treehouses. Thoughts regarding that considering our party (ie the 3 kids and one being a toddler)? How much of a pain would it be without a car?

Thanks everyone

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The Treehouses might be a perfect accommodation for your group if the kids would like the bunkbeds but transportation may not be ideal without a car. You can walk over to SSR to get the park buses but that might be to far for the children. The other option is the internal bus that transports you from one of the 2 bus stops at THV over to the Springs stop at SSR or during certain hours you can take the boat from THV to SSR.

Split stays are relatively easy as Disney will move your luggage but they do take up time because you have to pack up to move and then are without a room until the new one is ready. On the day of a split stay, unless we are moving ourselves with a car, we will pack up and call Bell Services to transfer our luggage and then head to a park. It's usually late afternoon that we might think about a break and that's normally the time when the room is ready. This way we're not just sitting around waiting for a room. Many like to pack a day bag and then plan pool time. But I will say - the smaller the group the easier the split stay IMO.

 

[Cyberc1978]

We normally do a split stay, as that fits us the best. However the way we do it and the reasons for us doing it might be different compared to others.

We normally arrive very late, so for the first day we book the smallest room we can get and then the following day we switch resort and stay there for the remaining days. By doing this we get the option (which we use) to buy the deluxe dining plan for just 1 night. The deluxe plan gives us the mugs for length of stay and allows us to use the credits for the following day.

For the logistics you just contact bell services and ask them to move your luggage. For some this is too much hassle but not for us.

For our trip in may our split stay is like this:1+3+5. Only reason to do two splits is to stay and experience the 1br’ At two different resorts. Going forward we only do 1+x

 

[Deb & Bill]

THV has no king sized beds. Only two queen beds (one in each of two bedrooms). Plus the set of bunk beds in the third bedroom. If the kids would fight over the bunk beds, I'd avoid them. The room they are in is rather small and you couldn't sleep all three in the third bedroom. You might find space in one of the two bedrooms with the single queen bed for the pack and play for the toddler.

 

[sbobbio]

If you're doing a split stay with a dining plan it takes some thought. We have used this to our advantage. We had a dining plan for one stay and went to some of the more costly restaurants for the Disney Experience. Then for the second split we decided to just have snacks and quick service. Both of best worlds.

 

[sbobbio]

We normally do a split stay, as that fits us the best. However the way we do it and the reasons for us doing it might be different compared to others.

We normally arrive very late, so for the first day we book the smallest room we can get and then the following day we switch resort and stay there for the remaining days. By doing this we get the option (which we use) to buy the deluxe dining plan for just 1 night. The deluxe plan gives us the mugs for length of stay and allows us to use the credits for the following day.

For the logistics you just contact bell services and ask them to move your luggage. For some this is too much hassle but not for us.

For our trip in may our split stay is like this:1+3+5. Only reason to do two splits is to stay and experience the 1br’ At two different resorts. Going forward we only do 1+x

Do the mugs work after your dining plan is done? Last visit at AKL our cups had microchips so they would actually limit how quickly you could get refills. It was crazy!!

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

THV has no king sized beds. Only two queen beds (one in each of two bedrooms). Plus the set of bunk beds in the third bedroom. If the kids would fight over the bunk beds, I'd avoid them. The room they are in is rather small and you couldn't sleep all three in the third bedroom. You might find space in one of the two bedrooms with the single queen bed for the pack and play for the toddler.

We had 3 kids (10,8,2) in the third room with the older kids in the bunk beds and the 2 YO on an inflatable bed so it depends on the kids' ages.

 

[dd08]

Thanks everyone for the feedback so far!
The bunk beds in the THV aren't a concern as the two oldest fell in love with bunk beds on the DCL and since we added our 3rd have been sleeping in bunk beds at home ever since!

The only concern we have a bit of is the transportation at the THV. Busses themselves don't bother us (like they do some), but just the logistics, esp with the kids, of the transportation from the THV to SSR proper then getting busses to the parks. If anyone has any more feedback regarding this, that would be helpful.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

I would request a treehouse near the walking path to the Grandstand section of SSR. Make that your only request. It's about a 5 minute walk and the bus picks up there first.

 

[nolanboys]

I would request a treehouse near the walking path to the Grandstand section of SSR. Make that your only request. It's about a 5 minute walk and the bus picks up there first.

Completely agree. This is what we did when we stayed in the THV. it was an easy walk to the bus stop. We loved staying there.

 

[kniquy]

Any downsides to doing that split stay? We know and love both resorts, just asking regarding the logistics of the split stay.

Honestly if those are your current room reservations then i would stick with those and do the split. The THV seem neat but i think the locations and what both AKV and VGF have to offer far exceeds the THV. Just the animal viewing at AK and the restaurants and the proximity of GF. It does seem like transportation at THV can be a little more challenging and i believe the area can tend to be a bit more buggy

Your transfer day can be super simple. Request your bags be picked up in the morning on your transfer day, just keep essentials in a back pack and even bathing suits. Go to MK and then you can just hop on the monorail to head over to GF in the afternoon. You might luck out and have the room ready early and if not then hit the pool. If you have tired kids that need a nap then maybe still heading out of the park after lunch would be good to then hopefully have them fall asleep in the stroller during a nice walk around the GF grounds.

 

[dd08]

Honestly if those are your current room reservations then i would stick with those and do the split. The THV seem neat but i think the locations and what both AKV and VGF have to offer far exceeds the THV. Just the animal viewing at AK and the restaurants and the proximity of GF. It does seem like transportation at THV can be a little more challenging and i believe the area can tend to be a bit more buggy

Your transfer day can be super simple. Request your bags be picked up in the morning on your transfer day, just keep essentials in a back pack and even bathing suits. Go to MK and then you can just hop on the monorail to head over to GF in the afternoon. You might luck out and have the room ready early and if not then hit the pool. If you have tired kids that need a nap then maybe still heading out of the park after lunch would be good to then hopefully have them fall asleep in the stroller during a nice walk around the GF grounds.

Thanks for the feedback (and everyone else too!!)

Just an update we decided to stay with the split stay; some of the reasons are ones cited by some of the responses here.
Thanks again everyone!

 

[wdw4rfam]

Thanks for the feedback (and everyone else too!!)

Just an update we decided to stay with the split stay; some of the reasons are ones cited by some of the responses here.
Thanks again everyone!

We love split stays. My fav is AKL and DH loves poly, so we split. Disney will make it easy. Our kids love having different pools/food options. We booked a treehouse last year and cancelled after researching. Too far away from everything. Way too much time on buses.