split stays? I need your experiences!

[mudman]

Hi there--
We are going to the world in April.
We currently have a Room only at ASSports preferred. I would rather a standard as he wants to be in the baseball section, but it isn't available for our last night.
This got me thinking of a split stay since, My son wants to stay at ASSports and my daughter POFQ.
We were contemplating a split stay with these resorts. How does Disney handle this.
I need all the info about
luggage transfer
check out/in
settling my bill
reservation deposit
etc...

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have done 3 split stays and will do another one this month. Since we have our own car it is so easy for us. You will need to make 2 reservations, one for each resort and pay 2 separate deposits

 

[DizzDoll]

Even if you don't have a car split stays are easy. I've done 2, and they were both separate reservations. When the day came to check out of our first resort (Pop) all I did was call bell service and they came and took care of transporting our luggage to our next resort (this year it was AKL, last year it was CR). We used resort busses to get to our next resort, checked in early even though all we had were our carry-ons, and this year our room was ready at AKL and I think we were upgraded to a savannah view but I digress. What you need to know is that when your luggage arrives at your next resort it will NOT be brought up to your room until you come back from the parks (or wherever) and call bell services for it. Your luggage will arrive within 10 minutes. We've had no trouble at all with splits and they're easier than you think. I wanted to do one again next year but we'll see (with the economy, ya know?). Good luck and enjoy.

 

[mudman]

Thanks for all the info. I am seriously considering doing this. We've been to the values so many times with the kids and it may be fun to mix it up a bit and enjoy the feel of a moderate for part of our stay.

We have our car with us so It's not that big of a deal there.

My only other concern is what happens if a Room only code or package comes out, would it likely be able to apply to a split stay? How does Disney handle this??

 

[HockeyMomR]

We also have done several split stays with no problems. On the day of our resort move, we like to pack up and give our luggage to bell services, go to our park of choice for the day and then return to check in at our new resort. Disney has transferred our luggage by the time we get to check in at our new resort. This has run smoothly for us.

Easy enough to use a code on a split stay. Think of your stay as two reservations, so, there would have to be availability for the code for one of both of the reservations to get a discount. We have used a code for our split stays, as I said you would have to get a code applied for each separate reservation.

 

[Sandi]

For room only discounts, if they are available at both resorts, you would be able to use the discount codes with both reservations. Packages are a bit different because you have to purchase at least a one day ticket with the package. Probably the best way to handle on a package would be to purchase the number of days you'd need in total for your first ressie and then only a one day for the second ressie. On a later trip (because there will be one), upgrade that ticket.

Also, I suggest that you choose to end your trip at the nicer resort. For example, we did a split stay where we were at POR for 4 nights and then moved to Poly for 3 nights. We loved both resorts, but I think it would have been kind of a downer to go from Poly to POR. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jerseygal]

CM's will not tell you this alot of the time..

If you're purchasing a refillable mug, you can now use the SAME MUG AT BOTH RESORTS...THE MUGS ARE GENERIC AND NOT RESORT SPECIFIC!

Enjoy your stay!

 

[Turtlegirl]

WAAAAhhhhh!!!!!!! This thread has me sooo excited! We are doing a split stay for the first time ever in 2 weeks! 4 nights at the Poly (first time ever there) and 4 nights AKL. we are fortunate that we had the 40% off code to book these 2 resorts.

It's our DD6 first time at WDW and we wanted the ease of the monorail and our mothers are coming with us and they wanted to experience AKL so we are doing both!!!!!
They are treated as 2 totally separate ressies and we have an 8 day PH ticket on our first ressie and a single day/single park ticket that we'll be saving on our second ressie. We also have deluxe dining so we're really living it up this trip.
Our moms haven't been since 99 and we haven't been since our last trip with our older DD18, in 2002 so we're thrilled to be going!!!!! And the boards only add to our excitement!!

 

[jerseygal]

Two great resorts!!! 40% off makes it that much more enticing!
Thats a nice discount...I was lucky enough to get 25% off at Beach Club this summer and I was excited with that!

Just my 2 cents worth though for your "plan"...We did Deluxe Dining for night stay..We combined our table services and ate a 3 signature restuarants for dinner..It was SO MUCH FOOD! My DS's are both really good eaters, but I would never do Deluxe for more than 4 days again!

To save yourself some money, would you consider getting more days on your MYW package on your first stay and doing deluxe dining for 4 days..On your next stay, save yourself the one day base ticket and skip the dining package all together? Just a thought!! One day base ticket in my opinion is very expensive..Adding more days on the MYW ticket is the more economical way to go..

8 days of Deluxe Dining is alot of food in my own personal opinion...Just a thought to try to economize your MYW ticket...

Don't forget..Deluxe Dining comes with refillable mugs..You can purchase them in the gift shops at the resorts! Since they're now generic, you can use the same mug at both resorts! Enjoy the refills!

Enjoy your magical vacation at Poly and AK! Give us all a trip report when you return..I'm especially interested in the AK Report!

 

[time4Mickey]

We are doing exactly what Jerseygal suggested. We are staying at Poly first 4 nights with deluxe dining with our park passes throughout our entire stay. We can use our dining up til midnight of the day we check out of the Poly so thats like an extra day and we can spread our meals out a bit. We have never done a split stay or the deluxe plan and I am so excited!

 

[Turtlegirl]

Jerseygirl, Thanks for the advice! I was bummed about having to pay for the single day ticket in order to do the dddp while we're on the second half of our stay-it DOES add to the expense, but it worked out for us as our DD17 is joining us from college for 3 nights at the AKL, so she'll be able to use our 4 adult single day, single park tix.

We got dddp for our entire stay in order to do HDDR for the first time while we're at the Poly and we're doing Cali Grill, HBD for lunch & dinner, Narcooses, & Jiko. It works out that we only have 2 sit down meals per day with all the 2TS restaurants, so each day we'll have one meal of snacks-mostly b'fasts at Main St. Bakery or Starring Rolls, etc., so hopefully it won't be too much food. Also, our DD17 will be with us for some meals and she won't be on the dddp, so if she orders an entree, she can have my app. and dessert as I'm sure I will be fooded out by the end of the trip.

I will definitely write a trip report upon our return. Gotta give back to the boards all that they have given me!

 

[Charleyann]

Annual Pass rate for first two nights, then switching to Movies with 40% off rate for $49 nightly! We do that from Dec 6th- 15th, Then 40% at POFQ from Dec 15th- Dec 19th! We couldn't discounted nights under one offer(hotels not available the entire stay). Doing this allowed us more time at Disney!!!!

Charleyann

 

[Candice30]

we did a split stay over a xmas vacation. the only down side for us was that it wasn't enough time to really relax and get to know each resort. we spent 2 nights at BC and then 2 nights at GF. i would never do a split stay with this short of a vacation again but if we were staying at least 1 week, then i would. it all went very easy. we booked BC with tickets and GF as room only. we call bell services to come and get our bags and transfer them. it was really early in the morning (like 8 AM i think) and we took the bus and monorail to get over to GF to check in early. guest services moved our remaining park tickets over to the new cards.

unfortunately for us, by the time we headed to dinner (around 6 PM i think - can't remember) our room still wasn't ready so we couldn't freshen up even though we had moved so early in the morning. a pain as we had purchases from the park and were sweaty but the resort made up for it.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

I just got back from doing a split stay and it was soooo easy. We checked out of AKL at 10:00 am and I was in my room, unpacked at BWV's by 10:45. We also threw in a load of laundry. It was really easy. I know that we were lucky to have our room ready.

 

[Marty Joe]

We did a split stay in June (Pop/Poly). We did the bell services thing and took a bus to MK, then took the mono to the Poly. It was OK but too many hoops to jump through. I think we will do a split stay next year, but we will get a taxi and eleminate some hoops and take the luggage with us. I have heard the taxi is around $20.

 

[jerseymom473]

We did a split stay in Aug, and I have to say it was very easy. We checked out of 11:00 and took a cab with all our stuff, had the cab stop at Hess Mart for a more snacks etc and were in our room at BC by 11:30.

You can have Disney move your stuff but had trouble deciding what we could not live without and needing to carry, had our room not been ready.

My only complaint for the split stay was that as a mom of 3, it was a hassle to pack up everyone midweek. It stayed in the back of my mind that I would be needing to do this and kept me from totally relaxing. But that may just be me!

Other than that it was nice to experience two resorts and the advantages of the closeness to parks from two different locations!!!!

Enjoy!!!!!!