Split Stays - Why?

[debit34]

Tell me why you choose to do a split resort stay. Is the main benefit just to be able to stay at multiple resorts during one trip? Is this a hassle? How do you book this - two separate packages?

 

[Mr. Pig]

Yes, this is two separate packages. Disney doesn't really use the term split-stay. They just look at it as two packages.

For me it is true that the big attraction is staying at two resorts. I would not stay less than three days at any one resort otherwise you don't get a chance to settle in. Then you move on with new surroundings.

I personally don't mind the hassle of moving. We usually use that as a day off from a park or go offsite. We typically rent a car for part of the stay (if we didn't drive there in the first place) and have it during the move. We take our own luggage, move it over to the new resort, check in then head out to Sea World or Universal. When we get back the room is ready. Sure you have the packing and unpacking but to me that is not that much of a hassle.

We will also use this to split up the dining plan. We will do the DDP for the first part of the stay then do a room only for the second. That way we can do the DDP but also have some freedom later to go offsite to eat. Then we can get park tickets in the first stay for the entire time.

 

[mmmears]

We do split stays for several reasons:

1 -- we get to try 2 different resorts & 2 diff sides of the "world"
2 -- it feels like 2 different vacations
3 -- it maximizes easy transportation -- less time wasted
4 -- we're always close to our hotel for nap/swim breaks

We stay at an Epcot resort & walk and boat to Epcot and DHS.
Then we move to a monorail resort and experience MK.
We only have to drive/bus to AK (& waterparks).

Never booked a package, but I do make 2 diff reservations and have to pay 2 diff deposits. We think it's really fun, though.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Our main reason is for convenience. We do the parks closest to each resort we stay at.

 

[checkwriter]

DVC members (or point renters) will stay at a mid- or value-priced resort on the weekends (when DVC point charges are highest) and move to their DVC resort during the week.

 

[smidgy]

Our main reason is for convenience. We do the parks closest to each resort we stay at.

great reason! also, the dining plan. we like to "strech it out" the first night, eat a TS credit at the resort we are staying at.. do NOT use a Park ticket.(maybe even ride the monorail to polynesian., eat at Ohana;s or konas. watch wishes from the beach (so-so) and the Electrical water pagaent!!!.
now, you have NOT use a day of your park ticket, but one TS.
you have booked 3 days at one resort, WITH the DDP, and 4 days, at another, room only. you now have 2 TS left. you have 3 CS and # snack left!
more than enough to eat(each)make ressies for TS at the NEXT RESORT. (the DDP is good until midnight after check out). the "transfer day", you eat a nice TS at the new resort., save it for that.use that as a "non'park day. transfer, chaeck out the nes resort, swim, have a "nice meal".
be aware, you MIGHT still have unused sncak credits. use them at the food court that first night, and keep them inyour room! have fun!!!!!!

 

[fairestoneofall]

Well, we were going to do a split-stay in November originally. My main reason was that I wanted to stay at CR MK view, but really didn't want to pay to stay there the entire time. So, I could split my stay with a Mod to make the price easier to swallow.

As it is, we'll either stay CR Garden View or at WL instead. I've decided I don't want to worry about switching.

 

[mom2my2gr8kids]

I am staying at 2 resorts for the 1st time in November. We are only staying 1 night at POP since we are getting in late and then we are moving to Grand Floridian the next day when the rest of our family gets there!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Another perspective (sorry it's so long):
I don't really like split stays and try to avoid them at all costs. For me, the idea of a split stay and trying out different resorts always sounds more attractive when I am still at home planning my vacation. Once I am at Disney, it is a big hassle and a time waster, in my opinion. Mostly because it is usually DGS and myself, no rental car, and relying on Disney to transport our luggage (which can take several hours - I made arrangements at POP to pick up my luggage at 9:30 am and move it to Poly. Luggage did not arrive until about 6:30 pm after much checking with bell services, which would not be so bad at all, but Disney insists guests be IN THE ROOM to receive the luggage which can be a real time waster if there is any type of confusion on their end. They will only deliver luggage to an empty room with ME).

That said, sometimes I choose to split my stay. For our next trip, we are renting points for 4 days at SSR. We will stay in a value resort for the first night (to save money and be better rested for our first DVC day) and move to SSR the next day. I am also thinking of adding on 2 or 3 nights at the end of our stay, but will probably not want to add on at SSR, so might move again (remember, it sounds exciting when I am here at home) to yet a third resort.

I keep telling myself it will be so much fun to try 3 new resorts, but honestly, after aching feet and tired muscles of 5 days at the parks, I really just don't want the hassle. Oh, and the reason I don't go ahead and just add on days at SSR is because the resortaholic in me has me waitlisted at a second DVC for those 4 days, so not sure if I'll even be at SSR for the rental portion of the trip. Confused?

Last year, I moved to a new room within the same resort (CSR) and between the time I checked out of first room and personally dropped off my luggage with bell services, until the time my new room was ready, they misplaced my luggage and no one knew where it was. They even had me looking in the back to see if I coud find it. Nope it wasn't there. It wasn't a huge deal and I know it was just a mix up which all ended well, but it did waste another hour I could have been in the parks.

So I really don't like split stays and may regret this one, but gosh, while sitting in front of my computer at home out of the hot sun, I envision this smooth transition from one exciting new resort to another and that thought can be quite thrilling. There is nothing quite like the moment you step into your Disney resort lobby for the very first time... or how about the first time the green light flashes after inserting your KTTW card and you are stepping into your new room for the first time. I need help.

tink

 

[Pat]

We have done it a few times. We like to experience two different resorts. DD#2 and I have spent about a week in one resort, then we move to another when DD#1 arrives. We have had the resort move our luggage, even though we have a vehicle. Last time we did this, we started out at Animal Kingdom Lodge and then transferred to Boardwalk where we had a suite. The Boardwalk was reserved when we thought we would have six of us. We decided we would keep it as a one time special treat. It was nice walking to EPCOT and MGM from the Boardwalk.

 

[smidgy]

yes, usually when we have done split stays, we have our own car. and KEEP out what we really need. also,be aware, while they will deliver your luggage to your room, (even if you are not there), that does NOT include any alcohol. you need to be present for that (understandably) we just keep that in our car
it depends how flexible you want to be. and... how much money you have, fo course!!! given my "druthers" (whoever made up THAT word?... but I challenge any Neboites to figure it out) I'd settle in at one VERY NICE resort. I LIKE to settle in. however, it.s also kinda EXCITING to see what room you'll get at the NEXT resort!
hhhmm. I think Nebo and I need A life, ... ya think?

 

[yaksack]

We are doing our first split stay this year. 7/1 -7/6 AKLV then 7/6 - 7/9 BCV. The only reason we did it was so that we can experience both resorts.

 

[Disney Ella]

I've done it before, but done it off-site/off-site. We wanted to stay on-site but also wanted to save some money, so we split the stay onsite in a room and off-site in a condo.

 

[Kim1964]

The first time we did it was for financial reasons. Airfare was higher than we had budgeted, so the only way to stick to our budget was to do 3 days mod (POR) and 3 days deluxe (YC) instead of 6 nights deluxe. It really felt like two separate vacations and it was a lot of fun. Last year we did one night at Pop just because I wanted to try it after reading so many rave reviews on the DIS....it was a very fun way to get into Disney mode.

This year we are doing a split because I've wanted to try POFQ and DH won't be with us for the first 4 nights, so I don't have to share a tiny bed with him. When he arrives we'll move to WL (for 7 nights).

I don't find it time consuming or a big hassle. I pack so that we have suitcases that don't even have to be opened at the first hotel, and we always have a rental car, so it's pretty easy to toss the bags in the trunk and head to a park for the morning.

 

[raven69david]

We do a split stay only if there are no discounts on the actual day of our trip. We usually arrive on Saturday and the discounts do not start until Sunday so we book a Value for Saturday and then continue to our Deluxe resort of choice for the rest of our stay.

 

[JohnNYC]

We do it to experience 2 resorts but mainly for transpotration. Splitting between Epcot and MK resorts allows you easy access to 3 parks. The luggage transfer is no big deal at all - you never have to lift a bag.

 

[wdwrich]

We've done a split stay before (CR/YC), and it really wasn't a hassle at all. Have Disney pick up your luggage in the morning of "moving day" and go off to a park for the day. Leave the park at your convenience and go to the new resort and check in. They'll bring the luggage to your new room and the deed is done!

 

[madalex]

Our main reason is for convenience. We do the parks closest to each resort we stay at.

We have done split stays several times, but the reason stated above is not one of the reasons why. All of the resorts all fairly easy to get to from all of the resorts (of course, some resorts are closer to some parks than others, but no park is more than a 20 minute bus ride from any resort). As a result, it has never occurred to me to only visit Epcot and DHs when we are staying at YC or AK when we are staying at AKL.

The reason we do split stays is that we like so many resorts at WDW. But, we only go once a year, so a split stay helps experience at least two of the resorts we like on each trip. It is a very slight hassle to pack up and move midway through a trip to WDW, but that slight hassle is offset by the excitement of going to the second resort.

That all being said, I only do split stays where I can stay at least 3 nights at each resort. Any less than that and I don't really feel settled in.

 

[DizzDoll]

We split stayed for the first time last year and we ended up really liking it. I did it basically for financial reasons - the kids like to stay for 10 days and there's no way I can afford a deluxe for that long, so we start with a Value (Pop converts, here ) then switch to a deluxe. We like the Contemporary but this year we're trying the AKL - I'm a little nervous about that, but hopefully we'll love it.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We book room only (AP holders) and if we are going for 6 or more days we like to split it up and experience 2 resorts instead of one. Makes our vacation feel longer for some reason.

Other reasons would be price and availability. Last Oct we did 3 nights YC and 3 nights Poly because the Poly did not have the entire stay available and the YC had some FL resident prices left open.