Split stay pros and cons?

[Lucys dad]

I would do a split stay again in a flash. We did 7 days Animal Kingdom Lodge then 7 days Beach Club. Loved it.

It took us less than 2 hours to pack, get a taxi to the Beach Club, check in, get new bands and head straight into Epcot.

Experiencing more than 1 resort was great

 

[robinb]

I don't think that you will want to have the dining plan for both reservations since you need to buy park tickets for each reservation. It will take a bit of number crunching to figure out what will work better. Like if one of you bought an annual pass so that you could get an AP rate for the room and then instead of the dining plan get Tables in Wonderland. All of this depends on your travel dates and the discount offers for that time.

This is a good point. AP discounts are usually the best discount Disney offers and the 5-10% difference in price on 10 days of a Deluxe resort room may make up for the extra cost of the AP. A 10-day PH is $499 and an AP is $797. You'll only need one and then you can get the DDP without buying passes for both stays. If you don't buy the DDP, an AP will also provide you some discounts on restaurants and 10% off in gift shops.

 

[cheryterese]

I'll have to look into the AP option - didn't think of that. Thanks!

 

[minijeanie]

I love split stays. Enjoy staying on MK side then on to Epcot side. staying at BC so we can walk to EP F&W festival and either boat or walk to Studios. Then on to WLV for 3 days and take boat to MK
I am only staying 6 days but doesn't bother me moving. I like the convenience of being close to a park. One time I even did 3 hotel stay... First night we stay out of the park, go to Downtown disney, now disney springs and then next day check into disney resort.

You will be happy splitting your stay

 

[cheryterese]

We're definitely going to do the split stay - so many positive comments. Thanks everyone!

 

[TJA]

We're definitely going to do the split stay - so many positive comments. Thanks everyone!

Good decision! I just wanted to chime in our experiences. We love split stays now that our kids aren't babies/toddlers anymore. With planning and practice, they are really quite easy. Few things we do:

> We have a bathroom bag that hangs on the back of the bathroom door. When it's time to move to next resort, it's so easy to just place bathroom items back in the bathroom bag. And bathroom bag right back in the luggage.

> We also have packing cubes that contain our clothing. We leave our clothing right in the cubes, so there is really no re-packing any clothing.

> Misc. items such as sunscreen each have their own little bag, so on the switch-resorts day, we just place items back in relevant bags. And the bags back in the luggage.

We do keep our room pretty neat during the trip, so there isn't much hassle involved in the move. It's very quick and easy. Especially with the kids older -- they can just re-pack their own stuff. Then I simply double-check.

On switch-resorts day, our usual thing to do is leave our luggage with bell services to deliver to our next resort. Then we simply leave for a park for the day. Then return to our new resort later on. We find it exciting! Something new to look forward to rather than the same hotel the whole time.

As far as feeling comfortable in a regular hotel room for 10 days, I think you'll find the CR rooms suitable. They're pretty large and I believe it's automatic that all rooms have a daybed there. As far as the YC -- I'm very familiar with the BC, but not the YC, but assuming they are similar, the rooms are a bit smaller than the monorail resort rooms, so you might notice a difference in size. I don't think anything drastic, though. Although we are only a family of 4, so it's hard for me to judge how you will feel being a family of 5.

 

[sharadoc]

We did it once. 3 nights at CR, Theme Park View then moved to OKW for a week. We loved the Theme Park View, we focused on MK, MK Resorts and the CR pool/activities for those days. We also had a separate bag packed for the CR stay and we left the other bags in the van (we drive). It wasn't too stressful that way.

We were on the floor right above the monorail and it was not noisy at all. We enjoyed it.

 

[b44]

I've done split stays and I just hate packing up in the middle of vacation and unpacking again!

 

[TJA]

I've done split stays and I just hate packing up in the middle of vacation and unpacking again!

Agreed it is a pain if you indeed unpack and re-pack, etc. We used to do that when our kids were younger because we had so much stuff back then (diapers, bottles, formula -- times 2!). However, now that the kids are older, we simply use a bathroom bag for all of that stuff (hang it on the back of the bathroom door) so it's super easy and quick to put everything back in that bag. As far as clothes, we use packing cubes that our clothes stay in, so there's really no re-packing clothing either. It's a very simple process for us nowadays. Totally different when the kids were younger, though!

 

[cheryterese]

I never would've considered it when the kids were younger. I think back to our first family trip when the kids were 4 1/2, 2 1/2, and 18 months and all of the stuff we had to bring. It was a fantastic trip though, just wouldn't have done a split stay!

 

[mommyrosa2]

Agreed it is a pain if you indeed unpack and re-pack, etc. We used to do that when our kids were younger because we had so much stuff back then (diapers, bottles, formula -- times 2!). However, now that the kids are older, we simply use a bathroom bag for all of that stuff (hang it on the back of the bathroom door) so it's super easy and quick to put everything back in that bag. As far as clothes, we use packing cubes that our clothes stay in, so there's really no re-packing clothing either. It's a very simple process for us nowadays. Totally different when the kids were younger, though!

I don't mind split stays and have done it a few times now but after our last two split stays with the most recent one last month, DH and both my girls have declared no more splits!! None of them want to be bothered unpacking/repacking - I actually found it much easier when they were younger and not wiser .

 

[Missymoe4]

To those of you who've done a split stay, what were your pros and cons and would you recommend it? We're looking at a 10 day stay split between Contemporary and Yacht Club with 3 kids who would be 12, 10, and 8 at travel time. Our days would most likely be MK4, EP3, AK2, HS1. Thanks!

I happened to do split stays this past trip due to "adding on" days at the beginning and end of our trip.
Although I do hate packing and unpacking, it was sorta fun.

We spent 3 days at the Contemporary, 10 at the Grand Floridian, and 1 at the Yacht Club. The move between all resorts was fairly easy. We shipped our luggage over from the Contemp to the Grand with no issues. We dropped it off at 7:30 am, went to the MK and left around 2 pm to check in at the Grand. Our luggage literally arrived at that moment. So, if it's going to the Yacht Club, it would probably be later than 2 pm.

When we moved from the Grand to Yacht Club, we took an uber and moved our luggage with us. That was nice and easy.

With all this said.....

I don't know how simple it would be for you with kids. In essence, it should be easy. But the check in can be time consuming. Despite what people say about online checkin being easier, it still takes time to get the luggage. If you have a short trip, I would advise against moving resorts. If you have time, then do it. It's really nice to be closer to the different theme parks.

As warned earlier, it is a time suck. I think check in at each of the hotels, and getting baggage squared away ate up a good hour, if not more. Some people on here seem to think it's easy, but even with two adults that can carry their own luggage, it was somewhat of a hassle when you're already tired from walking around the parks and all you want to do is sit by a pool.

As with most things Disney, there are pros and cons. You'll never know until you try it.

Good luck!!

 

[Missymoe4]

Actually, Bell Services will keep your perishables refrigerated during the move.

Except for beer. They frown on taking up space for that.

 

[dansdad]

Except for beer. They frown on taking up space for that.

Hmmm....never got that feeling from them.

 

[b44]

Agreed it is a pain if you indeed unpack and re-pack, etc. We used to do that when our kids were younger because we had so much stuff back then (diapers, bottles, formula -- times 2!). However, now that the kids are older, we simply use a bathroom bag for all of that stuff (hang it on the back of the bathroom door) so it's super easy and quick to put everything back in that bag. As far as clothes, we use packing cubes that our clothes stay in, so there's really no re-packing clothing either. It's a very simple process for us nowadays. Totally different when the kids were younger, though!

I think I need to try the packing cubes

 

[TJA]

I think I need to try the packing cubes

They are great! We leave our clothes/outfits right in the cubes the whole trip. The ones I have are from Llbean. I also found an extra set at TJMax that I use for miscellaneous things like hair stuff for the girls. It keeps thing neat and tidy and easy to re-pack. This is what I have:

And then this is the exact bathroom bag I have that hangs from the hook on the back of the bathroom door:

 

[TJA]

I never would've considered it when the kids were younger. I think back to our first family trip when the kids were 4 1/2, 2 1/2, and 18 months and all of the stuff we had to bring. It was a fantastic trip though, just wouldn't have done a split stay!

Yes, same here! We only have 2 kids, but they are twins. We did take many Disney trips starting when they were 7 months old and there is absolutely no way I could've done a split stay with all the stuff we had to bring!! Now that would've involved some serious re-packing. The first time we split was when they were still border-line toddlers and that was bad enough. Needless to say, I was not a fan of split stays back then. I used to read these threads and wonder how people did it! Now that the kids are past all the baby/toddler stuff, I have a good deal of experience with split-stays, so I find it pretty exciting and really not very hard. However, next trip we have decided to stay put at GF for our whole trip! Just to switch things up... Though I will miss planning Epcot days while at the Epcot resort and MK days while at the MK resort...

 

[Missymoe4]

Hmmm....never got that feeling from them.

It was a joke.

 

[Missymoe4]

I think I need to try the packing cubes

Packing cubes are great! I used them for the first time and will be a repeat user. Btw, I bought some online AND found some nice, cheap ones at TJ Maxx/Marshalls for $10 (the brand name was The Sharper Image). They beat the ebags price and were the same bags.

 

[dkrauss]

When we moved from the Grand to Yacht Club, we took an uber and moved our luggage with us. That was nice and easy.

With all this said.....

I don't know how simple it would be for you with kids. In essence, it should be easy. But the check in can be time consuming. Despite what people say about online checkin being easier, it still takes time to get the luggage. If you have a short trip, I would advise against moving resorts. If you have time, then do it. It's really nice to be closer to the different theme parks.

As warned earlier, it is a time suck. I think check in at each of the hotels, and getting baggage squared away ate up a good hour, if not more. Some people on here seem to think it's easy, but even with two adults that can carry their own luggage, it was somewhat of a hassle when you're already tired from walking around the parks and all you want to do is sit by a pool.

As with most things Disney, there are pros and cons. You'll never know until you try it.

Good luck!!

Like the thought about Uber..........which we've used multiple times at WDW. The first night of our next visit is at POR (Royal room). The next morning we're off to AKV. We've done online check in for 10am (I know........a dream ) I like the idea of my wife and I bring our luggage.......given our early request I'm not expecting are room will be ready so will just leave our luggage with the hotels guest services (we've done this before and it worked quite nicely.) My hope is check-in won't be that busy that early in the morning......although we could bump into check out! Therese always something

Doug