Split Stays

[disneycheerleader]

How many of you have done split stays for a week long trip? How did you divide it up? How many and what hotels did you stay at? I am leaning towards doing 3 nights at a value and 3 nights at the Contemporary!

 

[TeamSy]

We typically do 3 nights at an Epcot resort, 3 nights at a MK resort, and then 3 nights offsite to relax. We love it!!

 

[disneycheerleader]

We typically do 3 nights at an Epcot resort, 3 nights at a MK resort, and then 3 nights offsite to relax. We love it!!

Does it get hectic planning and moving resorts that often? Does it save money?

 

[TeamSy]

Does it get hectic planning and moving resorts that often? Does it save money?

It takes a lot to make things hectic for us, so no. I really enjoy the planning of it! For us it's really easy, and we definitely prefer it. It doesn't save any money, it's just a matter of what we enjoy. We like having to only take the bus to AK or a water park, and being able to walk, boat, or monorail to the rest of the parks. It's so fun and convenient for sure! We also like the ease of having access to so many different restaurants, not to mention being able to enjoy different hotels. This past trip, we did an Epcot resort and AKL, vs a MK resort, and we wouldn't do that again. It's definitely only worth it to us to split between an Epcot and MK resort. Plus, should something not go right at one (we don't get a request met or something), we know we won't be there for too long. Then, at the end of our trip we always go to an offsite resort to relax, enjoy the spa, and a nice pool. We don't rent a car and just hire a Mears car service to transport us to the last hotel and then to the airport at the end of our stay. We love it, but it's definitely not for everyone! I'm not sure we would change so much if we had kids, but since it's just the two of us, it's really easy and fun! It never takes away from our day either. On the day we switch Disney hotels, we get up the same time and just bring our luggage to bell services. We stay at the park all day, so when we get to the new hotel our room is always ready, and it takes less than 5 minutes for them to bring up our luggage.

 

[Sue M]

We've done split stays on trips of 10 days or longer. With a moderate & deluxe. 5 & 5 split. It does save $ by allowing you to have some deluxe days. Lately we've gotten lazy and just do moderate or deluxe. We've been lucky enough to stay 2x a year, so January became the moderate stay, and August the deluxe stay. Our stays have been anywhere between 10 - 14 days, and there's something to be said about just digging in.
But splits let you try another resort you may not be sure you'll enjoy without a long term commitment.
We did that 3 summers ago, and just stayed at GF our first 2 nights, not being sure we'd like it. It's become our fav! The next year we booked it for all 14 days, and can't wait to return in August!

If I had young children I'm not sure if I'd do a split. Having to unpack & repack for everyone. My kids are adults so everyone takes care of themselves.

With only 3 days at each resort you'd prob just not unpack & live out of your suitcase.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

It takes a lot to make things hectic for us, so no. I really enjoy the planning of it! For us it's really easy, and we definitely prefer it. It doesn't save any money, it's just a matter of what we enjoy. We like having to only take the bus to AK or a water park, and being able to walk, boat, or monorail to the rest of the parks. It's so fun and convenient for sure! We also like the ease of having access to so many different restaurants, not to mention being able to enjoy different hotels. This past trip, we did an Epcot resort and AKL, vs a MK resort, and we wouldn't do that again. It's definitely only worth it to us to split between an Epcot and MK resort. Plus, should something not go right at one (we don't get a request met or something), we know we won't be there for too long. Then, at the end of our trip we always go to an offsite resort to relax, enjoy the spa, and a nice pool. We don't rent a car and just hire a Mears car service to transport us to the last hotel and then to the airport at the end of our stay. We love it, but it's definitely not for everyone! I'm not sure we would change so much if we had kids, but since it's just the two of us, it's really easy and fun! It never takes away from our day either. On the day we switch Disney hotels, we get up the same time and just bring our luggage to bell services. We stay at the park all day, so when we get to the new hotel our room is always ready, and it takes less than 5 minutes for them to bring up our luggage.

Hey, I'm thinking of a split stay in January. Just a question regarding the luggage:
When you say you bring your luggage to bell services, you mean in the second hotel? Or leave it in the first hotel you were staying at for them to move for you?
I'm wondering how complicated it would be to get a suitcase from Pop to CR on my own. Is there a direct bus?

 

[TeamSy]

Hey, I'm thinking of a split stay in January. Just a question regarding the luggage:
When you say you bring your luggage to bell services, you mean in the second hotel? Or leave it in the first hotel you were staying at for them to move for you?
I'm wondering how complicated it would be to get a suitcase from Pop to CR on my own. Is there a direct bus?

We bring it down the morning we check out and they take care of moving it for you. Then, once you get to the new hotel, just hand the ticket to their bell services, and they will deliver your luggage to your room. If you wanted to do it on your own you would have to take a taxi. You can't take luggage on a bus, and there are no resort to resort buses. Just go to the park for the day and enjoy!

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

We bring it down the morning we check out and they take care of moving it for you. Then, once you get to the new hotel, just hand the ticket to their bell services, and they will deliver your luggage to your room. If you wanted to do it on your own you would have to take a taxi. You can't take luggage on a bus, and there are no resort to resort buses. Just go to the park for the day and enjoy!

Awesome!! Thanks!
(Nah, why would we want to do it on our own? Let them carry all our stuff!)

 

[AprilDreamsOfDisney]

It takes a lot to make things hectic for us, so no. I really enjoy the planning of it! For us it's really easy, and we definitely prefer it. It doesn't save any money, it's just a matter of what we enjoy. We like having to only take the bus to AK or a water park, and being able to walk, boat, or monorail to the rest of the parks. It's so fun and convenient for sure! We also like the ease of having access to so many different restaurants, not to mention being able to enjoy different hotels. This past trip, we did an Epcot resort and AKL, vs a MK resort, and we wouldn't do that again. It's definitely only worth it to us to split between an Epcot and MK resort. Plus, should something not go right at one (we don't get a request met or something), we know we won't be there for too long. Then, at the end of our trip we always go to an offsite resort to relax, enjoy the spa, and a nice pool. We don't rent a car and just hire a Mears car service to transport us to the last hotel and then to the airport at the end of our stay. We love it, but it's definitely not for everyone! I'm not sure we would change so much if we had kids, but since it's just the two of us, it's really easy and fun! It never takes away from our day either. On the day we switch Disney hotels, we get up the same time and just bring our luggage to bell services. We stay at the park all day, so when we get to the new hotel our room is always ready, and it takes less than 5 minutes for them to bring up our luggage.

This sounds wonderful! I've always wanted to stay at a monorail resort, but can't afford it for the 7-10 day stays we typically do. But, splitting the stay would make it so much more manageable! Off to plan ...

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

This sounds wonderful! I've always wanted to stay at a monorail resort, but can't afford it for the 7-10 day stays we typically do. But, splitting the stay would make it so much more manageable! Off to plan ...

That's what I'm planning! 7 nights at Pop and then 2 more nights at the Contemporary!

 

[loves to dive]

I've done 2 nights POP - 3 night BWV, 2 nights POR - 2 night OKW, 2 nights AKV - 4 nights BWV (had to move to a different room at BWV for 4th night it was an add on day 3) and just did 1 night ASSp - 4 night YC. I do split stays when I go solo, either stay at the value mods for the 1st few nights cause its not worth paying for deluxe 1st night when getting there around 3:30 or rented points and couldn't get them all at one place. The AKV/BWV was just because I got a good AP discount at AKV and had never stayed there and thought why not, going to have to take a bus to AK anyway and a bus to MK from Epcot resort. I drive down so don't have to worry about moving bags, just load up the car and move to resort 2 early in the morning since I'm up anyway. I either leave 2nd resort bag in the car or with BS, have done it both ways. I generally go down twice a year, once for G&G and once for F&W so Epcot resorts are a must for at least the last part of the trip. First two days I know I'm going to AK and MK so it doesn't really matter where I stay. I think I might do a MK/Epcot split next time, possibly renting points.

 

[travelgoddess]

We are doing our first split stay next week. We're staying 3 nights at pop, then 7 at Contemporary. I'm guessing we just check out of one and take a taxi to the next one? I've scheduled moving day as a non park day, just going to relax by the pool at the Contemporary once we move until our room is ready.

 

[goofy4tink]

Awesome!! Thanks!
(Nah, why would we want to do it on our own? Let them carry all our stuff!)

Why? Because you won't have access to your bags for most of the day. You may be able to get into your next room well before official check in time, but you may have to wait until late afternoon/early evening to get your bags! I hand my bags off to Bell Services no later than 8am.....gave yet to have them in my next reset before 5:30ish! Drives me nutty.
So now I'll be taking a cab to the new resort, with my bags.

 

[snowhyte]

I have done many split stays- almost every stay. Doing 2 resorts in 5 nights this weekend! I just bring a small bag containing what I will need for that day and let bell services take care of the rest. It has allowed me to try resorts I could not afford for a whole stay. 3 resorts in 6 nights was the most moving I've done. It was just my DD 11 and I so it wasn't much trouble packing and unpacking.

 

[mickeysimba]

I love, love, love splitting stays to make a few nights in the nicer places more affordable. We have done a huge variety, but I like to be a the nicests places on our downtime days and the value resorts during park days. We did GF and Pop Century one time, for example. Worked great.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

Why? Because you won't have access to your bags for most of the day. You may be able to get into your next room well before official check in time, but you may have to wait until late afternoon/early evening to get your bags! I hand my bags off to Bell Services no later than 8am.....gave yet to have them in my next reset before 5:30ish! Drives me nutty.
So now I'll be taking a cab to the new resort, with my bags.

Thanks for the warning! The thing is, I love spending all day at the parks, so I won't miss my stuff anyway
I'll just have to make sure and take a small bag with any necessities with me.

 

[maryj11]

I'm thinking we may do a split stay this coming June. 3 nights POFQ and 3 nights BC. It will just be 2 of us and we always only take a carry on bag so packing wont be hard to do. Actually we never unpack our clothes but leave them clothes in our bags and just take out things we need like hair brushes, tooth brushes ect.
I know a lot of people say doing a split stay on short stays is to much of a hassle. I dont think it would be, I think it would be fun just to experience a deluxe that would cost to much for the whole trip.