Split Stay Wisdom Needed!

[disneypanda11]

Hi all,

I'm asking for your infinite wisdom to help alleviate my worries over our first split stay. I know it's probably not as complicated as I'm imagining! We already have a multi-day package reservation at WL that includes our park tickets and the DxDDP. Now, we're flying in one day early and plan to stay onsite before our WL package begins (likely at AoA or POFQ). This will be booked as a room only reservation, as we're planning to spend that day in Downtown Disney and won't need tickets or a dining plan. Here are my questions...

1) I assume we'll get two sets of Magic Bands, one for each reservation, correct? Is there a way to use one set, and if so, would you recommend it or would you suggest sticking to two separate sets?

2) Will the resort's bell services desks transfer luggage between resorts? Will all Disney resorts do this?

3) Logistically, is there a way for us to check out of Resort #1 and go straight to a park and use our tickets and dining plan assigned to the Resort #2 package (WL) without physically having to go to WL and check in? Anything special we have to do to ensure a seamless transition for this (e.g. do we have to do online check in for the package reservation)?

4) For booking dining reservations, I'm assuming that my 180+10 will be based on the date of my SECOND reservation (the multiday package with the tickets and DxDDP)- is this correct or can I do 180+10 using the date of my 1 day RO reservation?

Thank you as always for all of your help!!

 

[LisaCM614]

Hooray for an extra day! Don't worry - it will be just fine.
1. Yes - you need to use both. Your tix and DxDDP will be associated with set 2.
2. Yes - all resorts do this for you.
3. You'll definitely need to do online checkin to go straight to the park without going to WL. Please note that only one of you would have to go to WL and you can do that at 6AM. You could take a cab to make the trip quicker.
4. the 180 day mark of your first reservation.
HAVE FUN!

 

[dansdad]

1. Yes you will get 2 sets and you'll be able to use both sets your entire stay. My wife likes to pick 2 different colors and switch them up depending on her outfit.

2. Yes and yes. If you let Disney move your luggage, don't expect it to show up at resort #2 until 3 or 4 PM.

3. If you are eligible for the "Bypass the Front Desk" program they recently rolled out, you would be able to skip physically checking in to resort #2. You will need to do the following:

Be paid in full
Do online check in
Provide a Credit Card during online check in for room charging
Provide an estimated arrival time during online check in, I would suggest something like 7AM in your situation
Provide a US cellular number for texts or an email address

4. You'll have to wait until 180 days from your package to get the 180 +10

 

[eeyore45]

Can I jump in and ask a question too?

I'm not too enthused with how the resort handled my luggage ions ago when we did a split stay (didn't get luggage until after midnight, and we called from 7pm on) so I'm considering leaving luggage with bell services (not sure what they are called) while we go to our tour in the am, come back, pick up our luggage and then maybe take a taxi to our 2nd resort? (promise not to roll our luggage over to the MK to get on a bus to the 2nd resort!

Does that sound too obsessive or expensive?

 

[Marionnette]

Your MBs from both reservations will work for either stay as long as they are from the same MDE account.

To ensure a seamless transition from one resort reservation to the second, you will need to physically check out of the first resort. Otherwise, you will have an issue with checking in at your second reservation using the direct to room option.

Dansdad is correct that you will not get 180+10 for your first resort reservation. You will be able to make ADRs for your check-in date and the day that you check-out at 180 days prior to your arrival. The remaining ADRs will have to be made at 180 days prior to your check-in date for the second resort reservation.

 

[Marionnette]

Can I jump in and ask a question too?

I'm not too enthused with how the resort handled my luggage ions ago when we did a split stay (didn't get luggage until after midnight, and we called from 7pm on) so I'm considering leaving luggage with bell services (not sure what they are called) while we go to our tour in the am, come back, pick up our luggage and then maybe take a taxi to our 2nd resort? (promise not to roll our luggage over to the MK to get on a bus to the 2nd resort!

Does that sound too obsessive or expensive?

I can understand why you have apprehension about using the luggage transfer services. To me, your plan sounds like a lot of wasted time - returning to your first resort, retrieving the bags from bell services and then getting a cab to the second resort. But given what happened the last time, I can see why you would want to do this.

 

[eeyore45]

We are staying WL, and taking the Marceline Tour at MK (it was only available the day we transfer) because of that I don't want to lug one bag with our change of clothes/swim suits etc while waiting for luggage at 2nd resort (BCV)

but in the end, we're on vacation, and I"ll probably take the roulette wheel and just let it go.... let it go..

 

[disneypanda11]

Thank you all for the advice! It sounds like our best option will be to physically check out of Resort #1, use bell services to transfer our luggage to the WL, and give the "Bypass the Front Desk" option a try to check into WL. Dansdad- that sounds awesome, thanks for cluing me in on that! Just to make sure I'm understanding, if we use Bypass the Front Desk, our tickets and DxDDP will (perhaps I should say SHOULD ) work if we go straight from Resort #1 to the park before we stop at WL? And we'll be texted/emailed our room number, so when we go back we can go straight to the room using our magic band? Will bell services be alerted to our room number so that they may bring our bags up to us or will we need to call down to them?

 

[dansdad]

Just to make sure I'm understanding, if we use Bypass the Front Desk, our tickets and DxDDP will (perhaps I should say SHOULD ) work if we go straight from Resort #1 to the park before we stop at WL?

Yup.

And we'll be texted/emailed our room number, so when we go back we can go straight to the room using our magic band?

Yup.

Will bell services be alerted to our room number so that they may bring our bags up to us or will we need to call down to them?

Nope. They only time your luggage will be delivered to your room without you physically in it is when you arrive via Magical Express and let them grab your luggage.

 

[disneypanda11]

Thank you again! Now that I know how much simpler this is than I thought it would be I can stop worrying and get EXCITED!