Split Stay Questions

[Megsie1000]

I am just trying to get this straight in my head before we book.

We are a party of 9 with 2 additional joining us toward the end of our trip (the last 4 days). Our dates qualify for the spring room-only discounts that Disney has been advertising.

The plan right now is to do a split stay beginning with the Pop Century for the first 7 nights and then moving to the Yacht or Beach Club for the last 4.

My particular situation is difficult in that we are a family of 5. There will only be four of us until the last 4 nights, but when my husband gets there, we have to upgrade or get a suite or 2 rooms. I would rather move to a Deluxe in a better location than get two rooms.

We all like the dining plan and want to do it, but I understand you have to buy at least another one-day base ticket with the second resort in order to attach the dining plan. Is that correct? I looked into renting DVC points for the 2nd part of the trip to avoid the extra ticket requirement to keep the dining plan, but because we are a family of 5 and need to get a one-bedroom instead of a studio, the cost exceeds our budget by quite a lot.

It is possible we will upgrade to an AP. If we do decide to do that, how does that affect the dining plan issue? How do we book things right now? Do we book Pop with the dining plan and a 10-day park hopper and then the Beach Club room only? When do we add the dining to the Beach Club reservation? Do we have to do that before check-in or can we do it at check-in?

Another complication is that there are rumors swirling that Disney may offer free dining for our dates, too. At that point, it might be within our budget to upgrade to a moderate resort for the first part (with the free dining) and then move over to the Beach Club with the room discount. This is why we haven't pulled the trigger on the AP yet, plus I am not 100% sure about that part yet.

Help! My head is spinning. I need some guidance from you experts. Thank you *so* much.

 

[purple figment]

I'll try to answer some of your questions.

Although it's often called a split stay on the disboards and people think of it as just one vacation, Disney considers it to be 2 completely separate reservations so if you want the dining plan at both Pop and YC/BC you would have to purchase at least a one day ticket for everyone 3 and older for each reservation. This is why many people opt for a room only res for the second part of their stay.

If you purchase an AP for yourself, you could book an AP ticketless package where you purchase the dining plan without buying tickets. Most people feel that if you're going to the parks for 10 days or more, it's worth considering an AP.

Also,the AP holder could purchase the TIW card which will give you 20% off the total bill at almost all of the TS restaurants in DW and at food courts in resorts where there is no TS restaurant (e.g. the values resorts). Some people prefer this to the dining plans.

If Disney offers free dining, even AP holders have to purchase 2 day tickets for everyone 3 or older in the room. Also the room will be at rack rate.

Dining has to be added no later than 72 hours before you arrive. It cannot be added when you arrive at the resort.

 

[Megsie1000]

Thank you so much, Kim. That helps. It didn't realize it would cost so much more to do the dining plan on the second reservation. That has definitely made me think twice about whether we even want to do a split stay. Or if we do, I probably won't do the dining plan the 2nd part of the trip.

Just to confuse things even more, we're now considering renting DVC points and doing a split stay that way. We could do a studio DVC villa and then upgrade to a 1-bedroom for the last 5 nights when my husband joins us. And no ticket requirement for the dining plan with DVC points, right? Now I just have to try and convince the other people in our party. And find out whether there is even availability.

Thanks for answering my questions. I really appreciate it.