Splitting your stay

[disneysmiths]

We simply can't decide between CSR and POFQ. We are staying long enough (9 nights) to split our stay and still get enough time at each. How easy is it? Is it worth it or is it too much trouble?

 

[bridegirl]

I'm sure it's not for everyone, but we always split our stay and we love it. Yes, there is one day that you have to pack up, but Disney moves your stuff for you while you are out at the parks, so that makes it easier.

We usually do one hotel near MK, and go to mostly MK and Epcot while we're there, then we move to YC or BW and go to Studios, Epcot and AK from there. Saves alot of travel time!

Susy

 

[thelionqueen]

There are positive and negatives by splitting stay. The biggest drawback for us doing a split stay again would be the packing and unpacking.

The 1st place you stay, you don't unpack everything (at least we didn't to make packing easier) therefore we didn't have out everything I would have liked.

You get used to one place, then have to move to another.

The upside would be that you kinda have 2 different vacations, and get to experience 2 different resorts in 1 trip.

I don't know that I would do a split stay again unless I absolutely had to, but try it if you like, and decide for yourself.
have fun!!

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I will never ever do it with my kids in tow but enjoy splitting a stay when it's just my dh and me. Perhaps when the kids are older, it won't be as stressful. At this point, I don't like being assured of a place to rest during the day and not having access to our luggage. When dh and I split our stay between POP and WL at the end of July/beginning of August, we checked-out fairly early in the morning. We were not able to get into our WL room until nearly 5 pm and our luggage arrived only a little while before (around 4). We were hot and tired by the time we were able to get into our room. Fortunately, we had packed swimsuits in our backpack; so we could at least swim for a little bit while waiting.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

disneysmiths,

I'm not sure if my situation fits yours, but I'm going solo in Dec 06 and couldn't make up my mind between WL and Poly, so from Dec 1-6 it's WL and Dec 6-11 its Poly. From what the CM told me yesterday, when you check into your first resort, let them know your splitting your stay and they will try and make the transition from one to the other as seemless as possible.

 

[kirbsam]

We are splitting our stay for the first time this weekend. 4 nights at yc and 4 nights at poly. got the idea of splitting stays from these boards actually. hope it goes as well as everybody says it does. will let you know.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

kirbsam,

I got the idea from here as well. Someone mentioned that since I couldn't decide between WL and Poly for my December trip, to do a split stay and stay at both.

 

[aubriee]

Last January I couldn't decide between WL and AKL, so did a split stay. I loved it so much that in May I went back solo and did two days at POP, then rented DVC points for BWV for five nights, then added two more nights at POP. In Dec we're doing a split stay between POFQ and CSR. Can't wait!

Disney makes switching resorts very easy. I live out of my suitcase, so packing to move is not a problem. I also like to wash clothes halfway through my trip (so I don't have so many to wash at home). I just wash clothes the night before I switch resorts. The morning of the switch, call bell services to pick up your luggage, hop on a bus to the nearest park, then on another bus to your new resort to check in. If you're room is not ready, they'll give you a number to call later for your room number. On the way to your room that night stop by bell services and have them bring your luggage to you. At POP my luggage was already wating for me in the room, but at AKL and at BWVI had to ask for it to be brought up.

 

[mrsswat]

We do it almost every trip, with no problem!! It's not a big deal!!

 

[ciera321]

We're doing our first split stay in August at CSR 5 nights and then on to BC for 5 nights. We wanted to try the BC, but I'm too cheap to pay for 10 nights there. It's a good way to try a more expensive resort and not break your budget.

 

[joll43]

We just did it -- because we were at the Dolphin, it wasn't possible to have our luggage moved to WL, but it was actually easier for us to bring it over in a cab, then see if we had to store it or not. We were lucky, and were able to check in at 11:00! We didn't even have to store it!

It was really cool to have two vacations in one; the Dolphin and WL couldn't be more different!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

We just did it -- because we were at the Dolphin, it wasn't possible to have our luggage moved to WL, but it was actually easier for us to bring it over in a cab, then see if we had to store it or not. We were lucky, and were able to check in at 11:00! We didn't even have to store it!

It was really cool to have two vacations in one; the Dolphin and WL couldn't be more different!

Weird! When we stayed at AKL, they moved our luggage over to the Swan with no problem! I remember asking before splitting the stay if the luggage would be moved between Disney and non-Disney resorts like the Swan/ Dolphin and was told it was fine--and for us, it was. I wonder if it makes a difference that you left the Dolphin and went to the WL, so the Dolphin would have been the one to move your stuff to WL (and did not)? I guess that's good to know, I always thought it would work both ways, of course.

I guess the moral is, if you are splitting your stay to include a Disney resort and a Swan or Dolphin resort, stay with Disney first!

 

[huskies90]

We are trying it this time around. We are there 10 days. First 5 at POR starting T'giving day with a myw package that includes our tix for the whole trip and the dining plan, then second 5 at AKL with a room only. We are hoping it will be like two different vacations and since we rarely "unpack" I am not worried about transferring. The first half of the trip will focus on "seeing" more of WDW and eating at some new restaurants while the rides at the parks are packed and then (hopefully) getting to do more heavy park touring and attracations the second half of the trip when it is a little less crowded (we'll have to work off all that food)...

 

[tootsiebell]

How do you deal with your park tickets on your room key if you split your stay? Can you get the park tickets transferred to resort #2 or do you wind up with park tickets on the expired room key and separate key cards for resort #2?
Thanks!

 

[vanyel]

I had considered splitting our stay this trip - 3 days at Pop, 5 days at AKL. We decided to do the entire stay at CSR, splitting the difference in cost rather than in resorts.

On day 4 or 5, we both mentioned how glad we were that we didn't have to pack again and move. I doubt that I'd ever split a stay now, unless it was 1 night somewhere before moving into our main resort.

We like to unpack and live out of the drawers and closet rather than a suitcase. I guess you could say we move in!

This is just my personal preference and I'm sure others have no problem with the split stay.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Since you are doing 9 nights I would definitely split your stay and get the best of both resorts!!

 

[LvsTnk]

I did it on 2 different trips this summer. AKL/BC then Universal's Portofino Bay/Nick Family Suites.

Boy, talk about a fun summer!!

DD was the only one of our family not to have stayed at AKL so we did 2 nights there first so she could do the Sunrise Safari. Then over to the BC, the transition was fine but we did not care for the BC at all. Good way to try a resort without spending your whole stay there.

I added the second split stay to the post just to say that we actually had to pack up and drive a distance to switch and I still didn't find it to be a problem. The kids also liked stopping on the way for some fast food!!

The only bad part is deciding where to stay on the next trip...Have Fun!!

 

[huskies90]

How do you deal with your park tickets on your room key if you split your stay? Can you get the park tickets transferred to resort #2 or do you wind up with park tickets on the expired room key and separate key cards for resort #2?
Thanks!

That is a good question. I bought an 8 day ticket as part of my package for the first half of the stay so I will be covered for the second half but I am not sure how my tix will be transfered. I would think the days will get transfered to my new room key or I would just keep the old one and it would only work to get into the parks.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

We're doing a split stay at the advice of these boards and I'm really happy about it. We always plan off days where we go into no parks. so we are switching resorts on our off day. Leaving POP after 6 nights then onto AKL for 5 more. We will unpack suitcases with each move. It makes me more relaxed! Both of these resorts are new to us, and I didn't want to get bored at just one resort. Looking forward to both resorts and if this switching thing works for us, we'll probably try it again. It is a neat way to stay at a couple of resorts inonetrip. we're not planning on concentrating on parks close to where we stay, we'll do all of the parks from each resort.