Split stays

[Guzzi]

I am currently researching our Summer 2008 trip to Disney. I have read on other websites that folks split thier stays between moderate/value resorts and Deluxe resorts. Does this make sense? I tried to do the math using disney's online booking and 7 nights at AK was less expensive than 4 nights at Coronado and 3 nights at AK. I split the PH passes, 4 days and 3 days for each hotel respectively. I assuming that I did somthing wrong and it would be cheaper to split the stay. Any help would be appreciated


July 2005 Carribean Beach Resort
July 2006 Coronado Springs Resort

 

[LISAMWDW]

It's higher because you split the park hopper passes. The more days you buy, the cheaper they cost. Alot of people, including myself, resort hop. We like to check out the different resorts for fun. WDW makes it very easy as they move your luggage for you. I'd suggest calling WDW for exact prices, questions and booking. Online wouldn't work for you too well.

 

[Guzzi]

should i have just had the ph tickets for the full 7 days under one hotel and have none under the second hotel? thank you for your help I appreciate it.

It's higher because you split the park hopper passes. The more days you buy, the cheaper they cost. Alot of people, including myself, resort hop. We like to check out the different resorts for fun. WDW makes it very easy as they move your luggage for you. I'd suggest calling WDW for exact prices, questions and booking. Online wouldn't work for you too well.

 

[Guzzi]

Can you split your trip between two hotels and do the DDP for both hotel stays whild purchasing the 7 day park hopper pass under one hotel

 

[Flossbolna]

If you want to do the DDP a split stay does not work so well.

As you have figured out already, the way to go is to book a Package for your first nights with a ticket covering the whole time at WDW and then do a room only reservation for the other nights. Alternatively you could also do just two room only reservations and purchase the tickets seperately, possibly through a discounted dealer like the one mentioned on mousesavers.com (I haven't used them, just read about it).

The DDP however is only available with a package. So your second stay would need to be a packet, too. The best way to do that is to get a one-day ticket for that stay, as the first three or for days on the tickets are the most expensive ones. So the price for a six day ticket and a one day ticket should be cheaper than the price for a four day ticket and a three day ticket. Hope this makes sense for you!

IMO as you are planning a stay for 2008, the DDP is not such a great deal anymore anyway. So unless you are sure that you want to eat a table service meal every day, I personally would prefer to just pay for my meals. But that is just my personal opinion!

Have fun planning!

 

[LISAMWDW]

If you want to do the DDP a split stay does not work so well.

As you have figured out already, the way to go is to book a Package for your first nights with a ticket covering the whole time at WDW and then do a room only reservation for the other nights. Alternatively you could also do just two room only reservations and purchase the tickets seperately, possibly through a discounted dealer like the one mentioned on mousesavers.com (I haven't used them, just read about it).

The DDP however is only available with a package. So your second stay would need to be a packet, too. The best way to do that is to get a one-day ticket for that stay, as the first three or for days on the tickets are the most expensive ones. So the price for a six day ticket and a one day ticket should be cheaper than the price for a four day ticket and a three day ticket. Hope this makes sense for you!

IMO as you are planning a stay for 2008, the DDP is not such a great deal anymore anyway. So unless you are sure that you want to eat a table service meal every day, I personally would prefer to just pay for my meals. But that is just my personal opinion! This is true!

Have fun planning!

This is true, your first reservation should be room only. Then your second reservation should include your park passes. Pay your dining out of pocket for 2008.

 

[Guzzi]

I realize the dinning plan has changed, my understanding is that it no longer includes appetizers or tips. It was our experience that we only had the appitizers a couple of meals and we always felt strange not leaving the poor CM's some kind of tip, so we usually did. Even with those changes with my daughters and my self penchant for eating, the DDP seemed like a really good deal, the sit down dinners were a nice respite from busy days in the parks.

Are there other changes to the dining plan that I dont know about?

This is true, your first reservation should be room only. Then your second reservation should include your park passes. Pay your dining out of pocket for 2008.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Here's a link to the 2008 dining plan:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-dining-plan.htm

 

[Flossbolna]

I realize the dinning plan has changed, my understanding is that it no longer includes appetizers or tips. It was our experience that we only had the appitizers a couple of meals and we always felt strange not leaving the poor CM's some kind of tip, so we usually did. Even with those changes with my daughters and my self penchant for eating, the DDP seemed like a really good deal, the sit down dinners were a nice respite from busy days in the parks.

Are there other changes to the dining plan that I dont know about?

No, as I understand it, you got all the changes! I don't say that you would not be able to safe money on the DDP, but it really depends on what your preferences are, whether you will get your money worth. If you feel that even without appetizer and tip it is good for you, then go for it!

 

[scottny]

For me once I am at a resort i am at a resort. I do not want to have to pack up and move to another. This gives me more reasons to go back and try out other resorts through the years.

 

[Princess Brittany]

It is also alot easier to do this if you are booking a Room Only reservation.
We are doing the CR and Poly split stay in July 2008!! But we are doing a Room Only reservation. Good Luck!!

 

[Princess Amy]

Couldn't you do one resort as a package with non expiring tickets for the whole length of stay? And then a room only reservation for the second resort? Or is that more expensive?

 

[Princess Amy]

Okay booked last night a split stay at AKL and CSR.

The CM decided the best way to go is this...

12/1-5 AKL
8 day park hopper with dining plan

12/5-9 CSR
1 day base ticket with dining plan

As long as you have one ticket you can get the dining plan. And it does not matter how many nights you are staying vs. how many days are on your tickets.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Okay booked last night a split stay at AKL and CSR.

The CM decided the best way to go is this...

12/1-5 AKL
8 day park hopper with dining plan

12/5-9 CSR
1 day base ticket with dining plan

As long as you have one ticket you can get the dining plan. And it does not matter how many nights you are staying vs. how many days are on your tickets.

That sounds like a good plan!

Here's what we did for our trip in 15 days!

CR - room only
POFQ - room, park tickets, ddp

As we are doing other non park things, this plan worked out great for us. My itinerary is posted in my pre-trip report, link on the bottom. It kinda happened unplanned this time, however, this is what we do when we resort hopped in the past.

 

[Princess Amy]

That sounds like a good plan!

Here's what we did for our trip in 15 days!

CR - room only
POFQ - room, park tickets, ddp

As we are doing other non park things, this plan worked out great for us. My itinerary is posted in my pre-trip report, link on the bottom. It kinda happened unplanned this time, however, this is what we do when we resort hopped in the past.

My family has never resort hopped before. This will be the first time. Is it truly a headache like everyone makes it out to be? The CM said the only true headache was having to change my reservation. He said that Bell Services takes your luggage at check out and takes it to the other resort. Is this true? If so, then what could possibly be the trouble? Seems easy to me...

 

[Mr. Pig]

Changing resorts is not a headache - but of course that is my opinion. Many would like to get to a resort and stay there. We almost always do a split stay because it makes the vacation more varied. It almost makes it seem longer. We never stay less than 3 days at any one resort though. I'm the type that doesn't unpack everything in my suitcase either so packing back up is not as bad.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

I love to split/stay and do it almost every trip. I don't really unpack that much, but the last night at resort #1 you do need a little more time to get your bags packed up again. I also think it makes it seem like 2 trips in one, and going to the next resort is something to look forward to. Always move up, of course. You don't want to go from a Deluxe to a value!

 

[jcpuppy.com]

I have done split stay and not. Tjis trip coming up we will hit 3 resorts in 8 days!

However for us this trip is about seeing other restorts and planning for future trips. we will be kidless this time which will make it easier.
that said my hubby is totally opposed to hopping at all
I have not found it to be a problem at all

 

[Princess Amy]

Yeah I wanted to move from a mod (CSR) to a deluxe (AKL), but with using the Disney Visa we had to have it switched around. So we are staying at AKL the first 4 nights, then switching to CSR the last four nights. But I'm trying to see if I can get CSR changed to Poly, which would be fantastic! But either way, if I don't get the Poly, I still wanted to stay at CSR too. Seems like a beautiful resort.

 

[marivaid]

Changing resorts is not a headache - but of course that is my opinion. Many would like to get to a resort and stay there. We almost always do a split stay because it makes the vacation more varied. It almost makes it seem longer. We never stay less than 3 days at any one resort though. I'm the type that doesn't unpack everything in my suitcase either so packing back up is not as bad.

I agree, we always start with the idea of going to one resort and stay there, then we end up splitting our stay into 2 or 3 resorts! We're so used to it by now that's it's no trouble at all.

For our upcoming October vacation we decided to cut our NYC stay short and spend one night at POP (saving over $200 in the process). Then that brought up the idea of, well,since we're at POP anyway we may as well spend a couple nights there instead of going straight to AKL. It's hard not to consider it when we save another $230 that way.

For Christmas I'm putting my foot down though ! We only have 4 days (5 nights at CSR) and there's no way I'm splitting that stay just to save $50.

I have done split stay and not. Tjis trip coming up we will hit 3 resorts in 8 days!

That's what we did this summer. 4 nights at the Poly, 3 at BWI, 1 at POP.
It was great ! We couldn't get an AP rate for our last night at BWI and since our flights always leave very early, it was hard to justify paying $350 for an extra night just to sleep & be out the door by 8am. POP was just fine for that.