Split Stays??

[blues2411]

Has anyone done this? Is it really worth the trouble? I really wanna stay at the AKL in a savannah room but I also want to stay at either the GF or WL. Is this a good idea or not??

 

[baketank]

It depends on the person, but I personally love split stays. I love all the different Disney hotels, so I love the opportunity to try two out during one trip or go to an old favorite and also experience a new one. The best thing about split stays is that it makes your trip feel longer in my opinion and it also refreshes you once you check into that second resort and makes the magic start all over again.

I say it depends on the person because some people feel that switching resorts wastes a day. I always switch resorts halfway through obviously and just plan on the day we switch resorts as our down day in the morning. I wake up a little later, check out and head to the second hotel via cab with our baggage. (I prefer bringing my own bags this way than using bell services because it gets there quicker. I also dont like wasting time riding Disney transportation from our first hotel to a park and then to our second hotel. If you rent a car though, which I dont, this is a mute point as you can just hop in the car and drive there.) When we arrive at the second hotel, we check-in early (sometimes the room is ready, sometimes not), and then we have lunch at our new resort at whatever sit down restaurants there are. Usually our room is ready by the time we finish eating, and we settle in and get ready to head to a theme park that evening for Evening Extra Magic Hours and dinner etc.

In my opinion, if you can do it and dont mind losing one morning of your trip, it is well worth it. It will really reinvigorate your trip and let you experience two of the great resorts that Disney has to offer. Hope this helps and have a great trip whatever you decide.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

I agree, it makes it feel like 2 trips in one. We have done it several times and may do it again this year. We always take a break from the parks by setting aside a down day anyway, so this is the perfect time to move. You can sleep in, move to the new resort and swim and relax and do some of the non park things Disney has to offer, while getting t try 2 of your favorite resorts!

 

[Chris333]

I guess it also depends oh how long you are going to be there. We are going for 12 nights and the first 5 will be at WL and the rest at the BC.

 

[OKW Lover]

We generally dislike split stays although we've done them several times. For me, the extra pack/unpack cycle, along with being "homeless" for the move day are big drawbacks.

 

[helenk]

I like doing split stays this way I can enjoy more resorts, and it helps my budget.
I've stayed at a value resort and then moved to a moderate, and a moderate and then gone to a deluxe. And now with owning at DVC a value and then onto a villa. I do not mind not having a home temporarily. I just leave my luggage with bell services and have them transfer my luggage and then head on out to a park.

 

[Mr. Pig]

Individuals will have a different definition of "trouble" of course. If you like to really settle in, unpack and not have to think about repacking the split stay will turn you off. We are not like this so we almost always do a split stay. It gives an opportunity to stay at two resorts as you are thinking of. I would not do less than three days at any one resort otherwise you really are starting to think about leaving almost as soon as you get there. We have always had a car - either our own or rented - so we have moved our own things at the time we want. We normally use the changeover day as kind of a down day.

 

[ScrapperBelle]

The only time we ever had a split stay, we spent the 1st night at AKL and then moved to the YC. I would have liked to have spent at least 2-3 nights at AKL, but DH was antsy to get to the YC.

We drove, so we took our own luggage, but it was really easy to move from one resort to the next. Just staying 1 night, we had an overnight bag that was all we had to take in to the AKL. We left everything else in the car for the next day.

I wanted to do a split stay this year, but we are only staying 7 nights and it is our anniversary trip, so I just wanted to get somewhere and get settled.

Next trip I would love to spend the 1st 3 nights at AKL and then on to another resort. I just didn't feel like 1 night was enough there, but I wouldn't want to spend more than 2-3 nights because I would hate to get all settled in and then have to move again...but that's just me!

 

[jtlover]

We have stayed at AKL and then moved to GF - we loved it and didnt find it a problem - We enjoyed moving nearer to MK.

 

[MissionMouse]

Has anyone done this? Is it really worth the trouble? I really wanna stay at the AKL in a savannah room but I also want to stay at either the GF or WL. Is this a good idea or not??

Yes, many people do spilt stays. Worth is something you need to determine. Here are some of things I can share for you to consider...

Like some have mentioned it can be like two vacations. It can also allow you to try a place you are not sure of and make arrangements to be for a few days at the one you are not certain about.

Personally, we like the AKL but it is the only deluxe which is not adjacent to water, walking distance or boat ride to a park or located next to another deluxe resort, so we did miss this dimension we have come to know from other deluxe resorts. Viewing the animals is very unique but after time can start to loose its excitement-interest. I would note you might consider the AKL club as I would say it is one of the nicer clubs on property and does have some advantages.

If you do a spilt stay it counts as two separate trips. Room only is best since packages require a minumum stay and base park tickets. If you do DDP your first resort tickets must be used by the end of the day you check out of your first resort. Park tickets can be transferred on to your new resort room key. You may also be without a room for a period of time as you check into the 2nd resort. Lastly, don't overlook the fact that you will have to dedicate a level of time to repack, check-out, travel to new resort, check-in and get to your room along with your luggage. If you are a Disney Commando type this could make this a very stressful-wasteful process for you.

We have been lucky each spilt stay we have done and got the room when we checked in early morning. I think this is rare and think most guest go through a period of time their without a room and luggage. We always moved our luggage ourselves, since we had a rental car. If you love to totally unpack then a spilt stay will consume time to pack your things to move to the second resort. If you live out of your luggage but have lots of kids you may still have lots of nick nacks to pack up to move too...this is also where we have found a rental car makes this a lot easier too.

We would not do less than 3 nights at one resort since one day is check-in and another is checking-out which leaves a two full days to get a feel of the resort.