Split stay with value and deluxe?

[Libby6]

We're thinking of doing 4 nights at Pop or Music, and then 3 nights at an Epcot resort. Is a split stay worth the hassle? I can't stomach paying 7 nights at a deluxe lol. We also would like to try a couple different places, the Disney resorts are half the fun for us. But, I'm confused how the magic bands would work if we split stay too. Thanks!

 

[Disneylover99]

We split BC and Pop last year, but our trip was longer than a week. We got MB's at each resort. I'm not sure I would do a split for just a week, but if you like to try new resorts, go for it! It is a bit of a hassle for our family of four to pack and unpack and be out of our resort by 11am, etc.... though. That's why I prefer it for longer trips.

 

[LorrieAnn5]

You can customize MBs for both stays or just for the first stay and decline the MBS for the 2nd stay.

I have had complications from having too many MBs on our account from back when we weren't allowed to decline MBs so now that we can decline I do.

I've done split stays (you can see them below in my siggy). My main recommendation is to start value and upgrade as you go throughout the vacation.

Another recommendation is to choose your park days depending on where your resort is, but personally that hasn't really mattered to us.

I do enjoy trying out different resorts so this is a good way to do it.

On my most recents plot stay I tried to pack for each resort so I wouldn't have to go through all our luggage, but I wasn't super successful with that! Ha! takes practice I guess.

 

[Libby6]

Thanks so much for the advice!!!!! I'm torn because we really want the convenience of an Epcot resort but just can't afford it the whole trip. Then again I'm sure we'd still have fun at Pop only and wouldn't have to move mid trip.... Decisions!

 

[Mousemommy1]

7 nights is the bare minimum that I would consider doing a split stay, so I think it would be fine.

We are kind of doing a value/deluxe split stay in April, but with a cruise in the middle. We have 2 nights in an AOA Nemo Suite and then 4 nights on the Dream and then 2 nights GF. Should be interesting, lol!!

 

[Libby6]

Yeah, I don't want to feel like the vacation is shorter because we'd be breaking it up into two parts but at the same time I'd love to experience different resorts.....

 

[Aurora0427]

A split stay really isn't that big of a hassle. Disney will move your luggage for you to the new resort. Just know not to expect it until between 3-5pm.

Decline all magic bands except for the first set, stop by the front desk to make sure they're connected to the new resort, and double check magical express.

Definitely worth a 3 night stay at the Beach Club, IMO!

 

[Libby6]

A split stay really isn't that big of a hassle. Disney will move your luggage for you to the new resort. Just know not to expect it until between 3-5pm.

Decline all magic bands except for the first set, stop by the front desk to make sure they're connected to the new resort, and double check magical express.

Definitely worth a 3 night stay at the Beach Club, IMO!

Is there a fee for moving the luggage?

 

[Aurora0427]

Is there a fee for moving the luggage?

No

 

[halfpintpeggy]

We're thinking of doing 4 nights at Pop or Music, and then 3 nights at an Epcot resort. Is a split stay worth the hassle? I can't stomach paying 7 nights at a deluxe lol. We also would like to try a couple different places, the Disney resorts are half the fun for us. But, I'm confused how the magic bands would work if we split stay too. Thanks!

Have you considered looking into just renting points for a studio at an Epcot resort like the BWV? It might end up being about the same cost as your split stay. We like DVC Rental Store....haven't used David's.

 

[LorrieAnn5]

Is there a fee for moving the luggage?

No fee, but I do tip the Bell Service CM when I drop off the luggage at the first resort and pick it up at the next resort.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

For us, it was too much of a hassle. We found that with the exception of a one night add on reservation for our arrival day, we didn't like split stays. We didn't like how it broke up the trip.

 

[Accident]

I think a lot to do with it is why are you split staying and how long are you there... If you are having a down day or down morning, it's really easy to do late checkout, spend the extra to taxi your stuff over so you have access to it all day. Sometimes to get the best discount, a split stay is the way to go so you can fit into the requirements.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

We love split stays - we did a 3-way split last trip (one night at Pop, 5 Poly, 5 Beach Club) and liked it so much we're doing a 4-way this trip (one night All Star Movies, 4 Poly, 3 Yacht Club, 4 Grand Floridian).

We used all 3 Magic Bands with no trouble - plus a couple we brought from the trip before - except for one of my daughter's bands - for some reason her Beach Club band was the only one she could use to open our BC door (even though the rest of us could open it with any band from the trip or the past trip).

We found it made the trip seem longer - each new resort felt like we were starting a new trip. We had our truck down there which made it easy to transfer hotels and we did water parks or downtown on our transfer days.

 

[T00dles]

It's like going on two vacations! Bell services makes it easy, we just plan on doing a park day (or have other reservations) on our moving day. Don't forget you can use either pool.

 

[AngiTN]

I've started doing them a lot, even just for a couple of nights at each resort.
I'm not the type that unpacks, I live out of the suitcase. So it's super easy for us. If you are an upacker it may not be as easy for you.
For us, I just plan our nights based on what we are going.
For instance,
Last May I broke up our trip between CR and YC. CR for the 24 hour day at MK, YC for SWW at HS. We also did a single night at a Value Resort. So we were there for 5 nights, 3 resorts
In Oct DH and I did a split between BWI and BC CL. Plus a single night at a Value. We did that one just for F&W but wanted to check both resorts out. Again, 5 nights, 3 resorts

On all trips we used 1 MB the entire time, our AP bands. No problems

 

[happymommy]

It's really up to whether or not you enjoy splitting your stay up. I personally don't care that much for it, but have done so out of necessity a couple of times, and am doing it for spring break (two nights at Pop using some Orbitz rewards dollars, followed by seven nights at AKV rented from an owner in a one bedroom villa). The first two nights are just me and DD, so we won't unpack. We're just there to relax and sleep, and won't buy and drinks more than we will drink in the room, and no snacks also. Getting delivery of groceries the day we move over to AKV.

I like to have snacks in the room and drinks, so moving any extra would be a pain.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd save and either do the whole stay at Pop! I loved it there. The bus service was really good, the food court was great, room was fine & clean & quiet.

Or, I'd look at the Swan or Dolphin if you love the Epcot resort area (I do love that too!).

 

[buzznina]

It also depends on how much stuff you have and if you like to totally unpack and get settled into your room, we drive so we have twice as much stuff as compared to flying. Before our DDs, the DW and I did it and it was very easy. We tried it once with our DDs and it was just to much packing and unpacking and it felt like we totally wasted a day With all that said I would still probably try another split stay is we were to spend more then 10 nights. I would also recommend you to try it, because you may like it.

 

[mandaa]

We did a split stay last Oct. We stayed the weekend at Caribbean Beach to enjoy the resort and no parks. Then we switched to Pop for the week while we toured the parks. Very worth it, no hassles, no magic band issues what so ever. Everything for both stays was loaded on our magic bands and we didn't have to do anything extra. I think it's worth it so you can spend some time at the deluxe resort. Also, agree with other posters, it's a much better idea to start with value and go up. We did the opposite and we felt that.

 

[JustinS]

I've done it both ways growing up. If you like to see and feel the resorts then it could be worth doing. If you're more gung-ho with the parks then I wouldn't waste the time. Both are good options