Split stay worth it?

[bella2117]

So we are not anywhere near booking our next trip seeing how we just got back from our last one but I'm just getting ideas. I'm thinking of doing a split stay but I would like to know the pros and cons. My thinking is do 8 days and 4 days stay at AOA and those days be our DHS and AK (probably do DHS 2 days) one day for also for pool time and downtown disney and then the remainder of our trip be MK and EPCOT staying at The Contemporary utilizing the walking distance and monorail service. Looking at going either end of August or end of Sept.

 

[Mousemommy1]

So we are not anywhere near booking our next trip seeing how we just got back from our last one but I'm just getting ideas. I'm thinking of doing a split stay but I would like to know the pros and cons. My thinking is do 8 days and 4 days stay at AOA and those days be our DHS and AK (probably do DHS 2 days) one day for also for pool time and downtown disney and then the remainder of our trip be MK and EPCOT staying at The Contemporary utilizing the walking distance and monorail service. Looking at going either end of August or end of Sept.

Some will say yes, some will say no.

For us, we don't do them because 1) DH is very much against "moving" while on vacation. 2) we really like the idea of having a home base on vacation. Our WDW vacations are 11 days long and we like to unpack, get settled and really get a good feel for the resort.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

I agree with previous poster. We are doing a split stay this time as our first time ever. We will be at ASMovies for one night the transferring to WL. We are flying in a day early since flights on the WL arrival day were only later in the day. Down side is you have to check out and check in again, get your bags transferred (kind of a pain). You also run into issues with packages that include park tickets and dining plan. For example I could not extend our free dining to our ASMovies night since it is a separate reservation. I can however pick up our park tickets early if I wanted. If you ask me it is a bit more of a hassle but there are plenty who do it and enjoy it.

 

[darkwing818]

Some will say yes, some will say no.

For us, we don't do them because 1) DH is very much against "moving" while on vacation. 2) we really like the idea of having a home base on vacation. Our WDW vacations are 11 days long and we like to unpack, get settled and really get a good feel for the resort.

Agree as well, we also just like to unpack once & be done with it. That being said there are alot of folks who love doing Split Stays. To Each Their Own.

 

[Sweettears]

I'm on the other side. I almost always do split stays. Different experiences different conveniences. Also if you split between value/mod and deluxe you can significantly reduce your cost.

 

[fabulousfive]

We would never do it for the hassle. I like to unpack and relax. Seems like we'd lose too much time packing, moving, unpacking etc. I want to be in the Disney bubble and not think about such practical things. I would rather have less conveniences at various times of our trip rather than move. With that said, I feel like your trip plans make lots of sense.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

I usually wouldn't consider it because I do prefer to jut unpack and relax, but my next trip I'm considering it for my next trip because I want to stay deluxe for my wedding night and do a mod or value for the rest of the trip. Definitely to each their own. If you don't mind packing and changing resorts, go for it!

 

[lucyem]

We have done split stays. They can be fun and help save some money etc. They can also be a real hassle. I would not move more then once. I would not move if I had tiny children. I would not bother for a short trip (less then 6 nights).

 

[ArwenMarie]

We had the best split stay vacation this past August...we did BC for the first half and CR for the second half. Saw Epcot and DHS from BC, and then MK from CR. It was fun, it felt like two vacations.

It was about 8 park days long, which would probably be my personal limit...any shorter, I'm not sure I would do a split stay, at least with kids lol.

Anyway, I think with your length of stay, you will enjoy it!

 

[fabulousfive]

I usually wouldn't consider it because I do prefer to jut unpack and relax, but my next trip I'm considering it for my next trip because I want to stay deluxe for my wedding night and do a mod or value for the rest of the trip. Definitely to each their own. If you don't mind packing and changing resorts, go for it!

I think if it were two adults, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. We have a few little ones and I just can't even imagine. Makes sense for your wedding night too! Congrats!

 

[Babsy]

I LOVE split stays! I almost never stay in one resort for the entire vacation unless it is less than 6 days long. My personal minimum stay is 3 nights per resort.

We like the convenience of staying by the MK and then moving to an Epcot resort. SOmetimes when we arrive really late at night we will crash in an All Star resort (or any value) without unpacking and then move to the luxury resort as soon as we get up in the morning. This has the benefit of saving $$ and giving you a better chance of getting the room request that is important to you.

I don't unpack very much (love packing cubes) and have a routine for packing/unpacking so it only takes me a few minutes to throw my stuff in a bag. Then I give the bag to bell services and head into a park. Later, I go check in to my next hotel, have a break and settle in, then go back to the parks. It never feels like a hassle to me and I love seeing a new hotel/area. Every hotel has its own unique advantages/disadvantages. This way you get to experience the plus sides of 2 places and if you don't particularly care for one resort or room that you have, you aren't stuck with it for the entire trip.

Some people don't like moving, though, and that's fine too. It's all about your own personal travel style.

 

[Minniesgal]

I am a huge fan of split stays. We like to stay close to where we stay. In august we did 16 nights where we had 9 at Treehouse villas 2 at AKV and 6 at BLT. I don't find moving hassle at all and it feels like a whole new holiday when you move. So worth it to be close to the parks

 

[bella2117]

Thanks for all the info! I can say when we were there in September and when we were in MK my husband really liked the idea of being so close to MK and I did to! But to stay in a deluxe for a week would put us over our budget...the moving part wouldn't bother us much only because we don't bring a whole lot but I am worried about park tickets and dining plan disruptions split stays can sometimes cause. Is that a regular occurrence? I love the idea of it feeling like 2 vacations!

 

[TX Momof2]

Hi! We're doing our first split stay in February. Our trip is 7 nights; 4 nights at Art of Animation (for the kids) and 3 nights in a deluxe near MK! I'm really excited! I'm planning a down day for our transfer day...if we decide to go to the parks after we get settled at the new resort then that's great! If not, I just want to have time to explore the other resort.

 

[Sue M]

Our trips are 10 - 14 days. Sometimes we do split stays, sometimes not. It can be a good way to save money. We will sometimes do half at a mod, and half at a deluxe. Last August I wanted to try GF, so we did 2 days at GF, then 12 at YC.
This January we are staying all 10 nights at POFQ. I also enjoy unpacking and staying at 1 resort. But I travel with my adult daughter, so I only have to pack for me. If I had young ones to pack up I'd never do a split stay

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Love split stays! Did our first one in June and it worked out swimmingly! It's a great way to get to stay and see different resorts!!! We did a split stay at AoA for 2 days and AKV Kidani for 8 days, and then due to some issues with the airline added 3 days at the last minute and stayed at POR! We are heading back in May and are doing a split stay between BCV and AKV Jambo.

Personally while I know Disney will transfer your luggage for you from resort to resort, we found it quick and less of a hassle to just take a taxi when doing the transfer. Cab fare was about $20-25 with tip. Well worth it IMO.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

We had our first split stay in May between the Poly and Beach Club. We loved it. Planning on doing it again next time. Its really so easy - I unpack as well when we get to the first resort. Its just a matter of staying organizing IMHO.

We had Bell Services transfer our luggage while we went to Typhoon Lagoon and when we were done at the water park, we boarded the bus for the Poly. Checked in & within 10-20 minutes our luggage was brought up to room. Easy peasy!

Just don't forget to tip Bell Services.

 

[Mr. Pig]

Thanks for all the info! I can say when we were there in September and when we were in MK my husband really liked the idea of being so close to MK and I did to! But to stay in a deluxe for a week would put us over our budget...the moving part wouldn't bother us much only because we don't bring a whole lot but I am worried about park tickets and dining plan disruptions split stays can sometimes cause. Is that a regular occurrence? I love the idea of it feeling like 2 vacations!

Exactly. I think you mentioned the four top good and bad things about a split stay.

-It will feel like two vacations. I love going into that new room for the first time. New is good.
-It can be a great leveler for cost. You can do a deluxe but still keep cost down.

-Moving is a bit of a hassle. You do have to spend time packing up, getting bags to luggage service and doing check in at the new place. It takes time out of the vacation but for us it is not unreasonable.
-The dining plan is not friendly to split stays. Since it is really just two independent reservations you are subject to the dining plan rules for each. In our case we normally get enough park ticket days for the whole trip in our first part and just do room only for the second part.

 

[Sweettears]

I usually move my baga in the morning myself to the new resort. You can check-I n even though your room may not be ready. Although I have been able to get my room on a few occasions as early as 9:00. Bell services will hold your bags.

 

[Tigger's ally]

good organization makes a split stay seamless. We have suitcases that are first stay, suitcases that are second stay, and suitcases that are both. We don't even open second stay suitcases till we get to second hotel.

As for switching hotels, the day of the switch is so easy. My wife took the kids to the park of choice, I drove to the new hotel and checked in. Sometimes I got the room, sometimes I didn't. I always met them at the park soon after opening. Loved the feeling of a new hotel to peruse. And it has helped me stay at every level and many resorts.