Split Stay Questions

[JBelle19]

I have never done a split stay before, but we are considering checking in a night earlier then planned and I can’t add a night to our ressie at POFQ because a) none available and b) don’t want to add another night of the dining plan…so, I have a few questions

We were originally going to check in on 12/20 and arrive around 6, not doing a park day. However, we have decided we do want to go to a park that day so we want to drive down the night of 12/19 and get in late, around 11. This way, we can likely get to a park around 9-10 AM on dec 20th. Plus, 12/19 is my birthday and I just want to get there!

So, if I book one of the All Stars for one night on 12/19, what is easiest-get up and drive our car and bags over to POFQ and leave w bell services for the day? We would not return until park close- would they put them in our room when it is ready? If not, will we still be able to get them late?

Dining reservations- would I now be able to start booking 60 days from my one night stay at an All Star, or 60 days from my four night stay at POFQ?

Same question about booking lightning lanes ahead, but I realize that info may not be available until the new system rolls out

 

[StarCruzer]

IMO it's easier to drop off with Bell Services at All Stars and ask for the luggage transfer to Port Orleans, especially if you won't be back to the room until late. You can double check with Bell Services, but usually if you drop off in the morning your bags will make it to the second resort after 5 p.m.

They won't put the bags in the room if you're not there, but when you arrive back at your second resort you can stop at the BS desk and ask if they can bring your bags up for you. Don't forget to tip

 

[JFDIS]

We do lots of split stays. I would personally drive them over and leave them with bell services. Even if we plan for a full park day you never know when you may want to have access to your stuff. For example, wait times are high and you want a swim break, an unexpected downpour happens and you need to change clothes or your room is ready early and a nap sounds good.
We get lucky all the time and our room is ready earlier than expected. In April they had our POR room ready at 8am after talking with a cast member. Mostly just luck. When you are in your room bell services will bring your luggage up if you call. This is particularly helpful if you have no elevator available.

 

[Upcharge]

We do split stays almost every trip. Our preferred routine is to take our luggage to the next resort and drop it off at bell services. They are open 24 hours so it's no problem to get it delivered to your room when you're ready.

Disney treats split stays as separate reservations. You will be able to book dining for stay number one 60 days prior to your initial check in. You will be able to book dining for stay number two 60 days prior to it's first day. From what is being said in other threads, most people anticipate the new LLMP will work the same way. Of course we won't know until later this month but I expect this is how it will be. Disney has never officially recognized the term "split stay" and it is unlikely they will start doing so any time soon.

 

[kanerf]

Bell Services will not deliver luggage to your room unless you are there.

 

[starry_solo]

Is there some reason why you wouldn't just leave the luggage in your locked car and drive to the parks?

 

[disny_luvr]

We do split stays a lot, too, and we always take our luggage to the second resort and leave with bell services until our room is ready. We found out the hard way on our very first split-stay when we had Disney move our luggage and it took forever for our luggage to arrive. Here the luggage was at the wrong resort and they had to transfer it over from there. Never again.

 

[Upcharge]

Is there some reason why you wouldn't just leave the luggage in your locked car and drive to the parks?

I'm not sure who you are asking. We fly and use a car service, Minnie Vans, or ride share.

 

[starry_solo]

I'm not sure who you are asking. We fly and use a car service, Minnie Vans, or ride share.

The OP who started this thread

 

[wendlle]

I always do a split stay and opt for them to transfer our luggage, it works so well and yes even if you request them very late you can still get your bags delivered or you can pick them up yourself from bell services.

 

[JBelle19]

The OP who started this thread

We don’t like to leave our luggage in the car, plus then we would still have to drive to POFQ after Epcot. I’d rather make one trip in the car instead of two

 

[JBelle19]

Thank you everyone!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Is there some reason why you wouldn't just leave the luggage in your locked car and drive to the parks?

Depending on the heat things can start to melt, like makeup.

Also haven’t there been reports of people’s cars with luggage being broken into at Disney Springs? I know it’s different than the parks but I would also rather take it to the resort.

OP I would drive the luggage to the resort and drop it off. That way if you decide to head back early or take a break you’re stuff will be at the resort.

 

[Miffy]

We don’t like to leave our luggage in the car, plus then we would still have to drive to POFQ after Epcot. I’d rather make one trip in the car instead of two

Since you're going to Epcot that day, I agree that you should drive to POFQ, drop off your luggage, and then go to Epcot, which is only a 10-minute, maximum, drive from POFQ.

Although I've never had my bags delivered to the room when I wasn't there, I have had a package I mailed myself delivered to the room when I was out, so you never know.

 

[StarCruzer]

Forgive me if the comes off as rude, but it's odd to me how many people are suggesting driving your bags from one resort to the other yourself.

We have always used Disney's luggage transfer service for split stays. You can drop off your luggage with Bell Services at your current resort, and ask them to transfer to your new resort (as long as they're both on Disney property). So fill out the forms for luggage transfer nice and early, head out to the park, and at the end of the day go to your second resort. You can pick up the bags directly at Bell Services or stop by the desk and ask them to bring everything up to your room.

If you have a car and want to drop it off yourself, that's certainly an option. I personally don't think it's the most time efficient, but it could certainly give you extra peace of mind if that's more valuable to you (which is totally legit).

The only exception is they don't transfer refrigerated items.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Forgive me if the comes off as rude, but it's odd to me how many people are suggesting driving your bags from one resort to the other yourself.

We have always used Disney's luggage transfer service for split stays. You can drop off your luggage with Bell Services at your current resort, and ask them to transfer to your new resort (as long as they're both on Disney property). So fill out the forms for luggage transfer nice and early, head out to the park, and at the end of the day go to your second resort. You can pick up the bags directly at Bell Services or stop by the desk and ask them to bring everything up to your room.

If you have a car and want to drop it off yourself, that's certainly an option. I personally don't think it's the most time efficient, but it could certainly give you extra peace of mind if that's more valuable to you (which is totally legit).

The only exception is they don't transfer refrigerated items.

For us we like having access to our bags before 5pm. Last trip they weren’t at our new resort until 4 pm and back in our room until 5 pm or so. If we ever do another split stay we will Uber with our bags to our new resort.

 

[StarCruzer]

Depending on the heat things can start to melt, like makeup.

Also haven’t there been reports of people’s cars with luggage being broken into at Disney Springs? I know it’s different than the parks but I would also rather take it to the resort.

OP I would drive the luggage to the resort and drop it off. That way if you decide to head back early or take a break you’re stuff will be at the resort.

Fair enough! OP did say they would be in the park until close, which was why I suggest transfer.

 

[kylenne]

Fair enough! OP did say they would be in the park until close, which was why I suggest transfer.

Yeah I was going to say this. If they plan to commando a park on moving day, having Disney transfer their stuff just makes more sense instead of doing an extra trip.

Personally we always let Disney do it, because on moving day we tend to be elsewhere anyway. If not at a park, then resort hopping or at Disney Springs. And I never worry about where our bags are because we use AirTags for checking them anyway, so I always know where they are.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The OP will have their car and will have to drive somewhere anyway. They would rather only make one trip in the car. So makes sense to just drive the car to POFQ and take the bus to Epcot and leave the car. If already driving over might as well take the luggage.

Other option if you only want to drive the car once is to transfer luggage wirh bell services and take the bus straight to Epcot and bus back to All Stars and then drive your car to POFQ.

 

[nursejackie]

We have done many split stays and always ask Disney to transfer our luggage. We like to rope drop, so don't want to drive to another resort and then the park very early in the morning. As we don't stay in the parks all day, I leave a swim bag in the car if arriving before our room is ready. However, not done a split stay for a while, but have one next year (POR to Poly) what is the expected tip per case now? TIA