Split Stay Transportation

[agr8teacher]

My family and I are considering a split stay. We would like to stay at POR and Caribbean Beach. Does anyone have any tips on how to get from POR to Caribbean Beach on the change day? Are there any thoughts on the cost/usage of Minnie Vans? Thank you!

 

[dansdad]

My family and I are considering a split stay. We would like to stay at POR and Caribbean Beach. Does anyone have any tips on how to get from POR to Caribbean Beach on the change day? Are there any thoughts on the cost/usage of Minnie Vans? Thank you!

We do split stays often and prefer to not lose any park time on transfer day so we give our bags to Bell Services at resort #1, ask them to deliver them to resort #2 and head to a park for the day. Around 5 or 6 we leave the park and head to resort #2. Once in our room, we call Bell Services and ask them to bring up our bags. Some don't like not having access to their bags during the transfer but the way we look at is that we would be at the park all day and not have access to our bags anyway. If that doesn't sound like something you would like to do then you'll have to use Minnie Van, Uber, Lyft or a cab.

 

[roydavid7771]

We do split stays often and prefer to not lose any park time an transfer day so we give our bags to Bell Services at resort #1, ask them to deliver them to resort #2 and head to a park for the day. Around 5or 6 we leave the park and head to resort #2. Once in our room, we call Bell Services and ask them to bring up our bags. Some don't like not having access to their bags during the transfer but the way we look at is that we would be a the park all day and not have access to our bags anyway. If that doesn't sound like something you would like to do then you'll have to use Minnie Van, Uber, Lyft or a cab.

What he said! We usually pack a bag with swimsuits, snacks, or anything else we might need in the room, and bring it with us to the parks where we stash it in a locker. If you check in online, you'll get a text when your room is ready, so you don't have to worry about going to the front desk.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Similar plan for us, but we're not going to a park. I'm packing a tote with what we'll need for the pool (really just sunscreen, swimwear, some diapers and wipes for 2 yo, wallet/ID, camera) and we'll leave our other bags with Bell Services. We plan to take a bus to MK then walk over to CR for breakfast. Then we'll either take a lap on the monorail, or catch the bus from MK to SSR and go in the pool.

To use Disney transportation from resort to resort I just take a bus from resort 1 to any park (whichever is closest, or whichever bus pulls in next). Then I take a bus from that park to resort 2.

Rideshare is an option if you're looking to save some time. A Lyft for 4 (no car seats and not more luggage than will fit in a small sedan) is around $8 right now and goes up from there (Lyft for 6 is around 12$ right now). Minnie Van for the same ride (which is an SUV and has 2 car seats) is $24 right now. Minnie Van is always more expensive than Lyft/ Uber.

 

[Haley R]

If it isn't a park day we pay for a Lyft. They're a LOT cheaper than Minnie Vans and often have promo codes. In January we went from CBR to POFQ using a Lyft and it was $4 after a promo.

 

[Hi Pluto]

It really depends on what your plans are for the day and if you want to have your bags immediately upon arrival.

If you are willing to wait until the late afternoon/evening for your bags, then use bell services. Take Disney transportation to either Disney Springs or any park. Then hop on the CBR bus.

If you want to move your bags yourself you could take the minnie van or lyft. You will most likely have to store your bags with bell services when you get to CBR, but at least then you can get them immediately when your room is ready.

I should add: We did the first option for our split stay from BC to POR. Went to the parks then took the bus to POR. The problem is we had never been to POR before and didn't realize there were different bus stops (or maybe we did but didn't know which one was the one we needed so we just panicked). We got off at the first one, which was in the back of the alligator bayou. We then had to navigate our way through the resort, asking several times for directions and being all turned around. Not our finest moment.

 

[Tigger's ally]

If it isn't a park day we pay for a Lyft. They're a LOT cheaper than Minnie Vans and often have promo codes. In January we went from CBR to POFQ using a Lyft and it was $4 after a promo.

And even if you didn't want to pay for that, just pack a backpack with things you might need that day at the new hotel, give the rest of your bags to guest services and take a bus to any park and turn around and grab a bus to the new resort. We have often changed from AKL to WL and last time we actually bused to MK then boated over to the WL. Was a wonderful boat ride in the morning.

 

[Haley R]

And even if you didn't want to pay for that, just pack a backpack with things you might need that day at the new hotel, give the rest of your bags to guest services and take a bus to any park and turn around and grab a bus to the new resort. We have often changed from AKL to WL and last time we actually bused to MK then boated over to the WL. Was a wonderful boat ride in the morning.

That’s too much work for us lol

 

[Tigger's ally]

That’s too much work for us lol

I decided about five years ago after many trips to take a more relaxed, enjoy the moment and the scenery type of attitude. It was always such a rush. Not anymore. Extra day at the beginning and end and even one in the middle. While I will absolutely never grow up, I can make grown up decisions once in ahwile! Don't tell Mrs. Tigger that unless you want to hear otherwise!

 

[Haley R]

I decided about five years ago after many trips to take a more relaxed, enjoy the moment and the scenery type of attitude. It was always such a rush. Not anymore. Extra day at the beginning and end and even one in the middle. While I will absolutely never grow up, I can make grown up decisions once in ahwile! Don't tell Mrs. Tigger that unless you want to hear otherwise!

We’ve hit that point where we want our trips to be more relaxing. If that means we have to pay $10 to get to our next resort we’ll do it instead of trying to maneuver our way around using Disney transportation.

 

[Tigger's ally]

We’ve hit that point where we want our trips to be more relaxing. If that means we have to pay $10 to get to our next resort we’ll do it instead of trying to maneuver our way around using Disney transportation.

Oh, just different ways of relaxing. To me a boat ride is way better than a back of the car ride, even if it takes an hour longer. Part of my hesitancy of getting in cars while I am there is we usually drive down so we have a day and a half in the car each way. When I am there I don't want to get in any car until it is time to go home. Which is why we often stay where this at least some sort of boat transportation whether it be OKW, Boardwalk or WL.

 

[ErinsMommy]

last split stay we did, we took an Uber from one to the other with our luggage. best $20 we spent.

 

[jerseygal]

We’ve hit that point where we want our trips to be more relaxing. If that means we have to pay $10 to get to our next resort we’ll do it instead of trying to maneuver our way around using Disney transportation.

We do split stays often. Use Uber, Taxi, haven’t use Lyft yet. We usually get over to second resort by about 10:30 am, use the pool until our room is ready.

 

[Babsy]

FYI: When considering if you want to book a split stay, consider the new FP+ booking windows.

 

[ErinsMommy]

FYI: When considering if you want to book a split stay, consider the new FP+ booking windows.

what are the new FP+ booking windows?

 

[Haley R]

what are the new FP+ booking windows?

You can no longer roll over your FPS to the next stay. Each stay will have its own booking window.

 

[Babsy]

what are the new FP+ booking windows?

If you have a split stay, your reservations combined no longer work like a single reservation when booking FP+. Your booking window starts at 60 days prior to each reservation and ends on the last day of that reservation. So, for example, if you have a 7 day stay in one resort you can book all 7 days 60 days prior to your arrival date. If you stay onsite but in two different resorts for that same 7 days, you will have to wait for the days of the second reservation to be 60 days from checkin as well. So now, a three day stay followed by a 4 day stay will result in a 60+3 FP+ booking window and then a 60+4 booking window. You lose the advantage of a 7 day stay.

 

[Haley R]

Oh, just different ways of relaxing. To me a boat ride is way better than a back of the car ride, even if it takes an hour longer. Part of my hesitancy of getting in cars while I am there is we usually drive down so we have a day and a half in the car each way. When I am there I don't want to get in any car until it is time to go home. Which is why we often stay where this at least some sort of boat transportation whether it be OKW, Boardwalk or WL.

We fly down so I don’t mind taking a car to get around. This last trip we had a really good guy as our driver. He was just an all around great guy and we had a nice talk with him. We’ve also had drivers that don’t talk the entire way which can be awkward.

 

[ErinsMommy]

If you have a split stay, your reservations combined no longer work like a single reservation when booking FP+. Your booking window starts at 60 days prior to each reservation and ends on the last day of that reservation. So, for example, if you have a 7 day stay in one resort you can book all 7 days 60 days prior to your arrival date. If you stay onsite but in two different resorts for that same 7 days, you will have to wait for the days of the second reservation to be 60 days from checkin as well. So now, a three day stay followed by a 4 day stay will result in a 60+3 FP+ booking window and then a 60+4 booking window. You lose the advantage of a 7 day stay.

I thought that's the way it always was before? Most that do a split stay book the entire trips worth of tickets on resort #1 and resort #2 is resort only or resort + dining.

 

[ErinsMommy]

You can no longer roll over your FPS to the next stay. Each stay will have its own booking window.

Split stays are just a term, its always been that way since your booking two entirely different reservations and you've never been able to "roll over". What most people - including me - have done, is book all the park tickets at resort #1 so the window opens for the full stay.