Split stay question

[pennylane16]

Hi all,

I wasn't sure which category to post this under since it touches on a few topics, but I thought since it's a split stay question, I'd post it here.

We are a party of 5 (3 adults - my mom, myself, my DH - and 2 kids) so space in the hotel room is certainly a factor. Let's just say it was much more pleasant space-wise staying in an AoA suite last trip vs staying in a LM room the trip before that (DD was still young enough to be considered an infant so we were able to fit the 5 of us in a LM room).

We are trying to plan our trip for 2017. We have our hearts set on Polynesian, and if only there were 1BRs there, it'd be booked already. The bungalows are totally out of the question financially for us. Since we would really really like to stay at the Poly, but a studio will be tight for the 5 of us, I thought maybe we could do a split stay - the majority of our trip at a roomier room, like a suite at AoA, and finish up the trip with a couple nights at the Polynesian.

First off, what do you think of this plan? I've planned a couple Disney trips, but I have zero experience with split stays and I know some of you are pros at this!

Next question - we usually do the whole package through Disney: resort, park tickets with park hopper/water parks, plus the regular dining plan (not QS, not deluxe). I was thinking I would buy the park tickets along with my first booking (the longer stay at AoA) and purchase enough days worth of tickets for the whole trip since the price of the tickets goes down the more days you buy altogether. However, if we'd like to have to dining plan for our last couple days at the Poly, we are required to have purchased park tickets with the reservation. What is the most cost effective/best way to handle this? If I just buy 7 days worth of tickets on the first res, and 2 on the 2nd res, that will make it so I'm paying a lot more for tickets than if I bought all 9 days worth together. Any advice on handling a split stay with the dining plan?

Thank you so very much in advance for any advice!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Buy park tickets with first booking. Call Disney and book the second stay as a ticketless package to get dining added.

Keep an eye out for deals. With the right deal, a Standard room at Poly can be in the same price range as an AoA suite.

 

[pennylane16]

Buy park tickets with first booking. Call Disney and book the second stay as a ticketless package to get dining added.

Keep an eye out for deals. With the right deal, a Standard room at Poly can be in the same price range as an AoA suite.

Ah perfect! Thank you so much! I was not aware it could be done that way! And thanks for the tip on the deals - we are thinking of going in May, so I'm not sure if that's a common time for room promos as we've never gone to WDW in May before, but I'll keep my fingers crossed!

 

[Sue M]

Is there a reason you want the Poly studio? If you aren't using DVC points I'd book a regular room. It has 2 queens plus full size day bed. The studio has only one queen, a sofa pull out and a Murphy bed. The studio does give you 2 bathrooms, but only one real bed.

We've stopped buying the DDP, for us it didn't save any money, we found we ate well and for less than the cost of the DDP. However when we used the DDP we could make it work, booking the most expensive restaurants, and ordering the most pricy things on the menu.

Poly does have 1 bedroom suites, but super $$$$$

 

[TJA]

We just had a tour of a studio at Poly and I have to say that I don't think you guys would all comfortably fit. I was surprised at how small the living space was. There was one small queen bed, then a small Murphy type bed, and I didn't see the actual size of the sofa bed. I think even for our family of 4, the regular Poly room fits us better because it has 2 real beds (both queen) plus a full size daybed. Only thing is the studio does have 2 showers versus the 1 in a regular room.

 

[Hopefully]

Just a point of clarification - the Poly studios have 2 showers but only 1 toilet - so not 2 bathrooms.
I agree with PP, I think you would be more comfortable in a regular Poly room, unless you want the kitchenette.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The regular Poly rooms are pretty spacious. I stayed there with my SO and two kids ages 15 and 9. We didn't feel cramped at all.

 

[Babsy]

Another vote for a standard room at the Poly. In the studio you get a queen bed, a queen pull out sofa and a small trundle bed. With the beds pulled out, the floor space is limited. There are two bathrooms that take up a large percentage of the space, but only one toilet. The 'kitchen' is a small area like you had in AoA. You have sinks and coffee machines in the regular room. The only thing that you add in the studio are the toaster and microwave. There is very little storage for personal items that you bring.

In a regular room you do only have one shower, but you have two sinks and a separate toilet area. The room is large with two queen beds and a daybed. You can request a microwave oven (subject to availability, but we have always received one when we asked). It is MUCH more comfortable in this room, IMO, with enough personal space to spread out a bit. You do get a dresser and a closet for storage.

My DH and I had a tour of the Poly DVC. We REALLY wanted to like it, but we decided that the bungalows were just too big for 2 people and the studios were too small. If they had had one bedrooms, we would have bought DVC here. Those studios were just too small for the two of us so I can't imagine putting 5 people in there.

Good luck!

 

[mickeynut1]

If you aren't using DVC points I'd book a regular room. It has 2 queens plus full size day bed. The studio has only one queen, a sofa pull out and a Murphy bed. The studio does give you 2 bathrooms, but only one real bed.

I think even for our family of 4, the regular Poly room fits us better because it has 2 real beds (both queen) plus a full size daybed.

Another vote for a standard room at the Poly.

In a regular room you do only have one shower, but you have two sinks and a separate toilet area. The room is large with two queen beds and a daybed. You can request a microwave oven (subject to availability, but we have always received one when we asked). It is MUCH more comfortable in this room, IMO, with enough personal space to spread out a bit. You do get a dresser and a closet for storage.