Switching resorts halfway?

[Lisa LSR]

How much trouble is it to switch resorts halfway through? Does it take too much time to check out of one and check into another/pack and unpack? Is it worth it? We are LIKELY staying at AoA in a LK suite this November. We stayed in a Cars suite last November and LoVeD it.

But I reallllly want to experience one other resort, even if just for a night or two. Maybe WL? Or a Savannah view at AKL? (I have stayed at AKL before though). What would you suggest?

Just don't want to get into a rut, although we love the extra space at the suite. Oh, we have two kids (7 and 10), so theming is kind of important

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I love split stays! I think they are great, as long as you have at least 3 nights on each end it never feels like we lost time. Sometimes if we only move for 1 or 2 nights it does feel sort of rushed and not worth the trouble. I think it depends on how much you pack and how easy it is to move. We always overpack and have like 8 bags plus shopping bags, so it can be a big job. Good luck deciding!

 

[karenklo]

Love a split stay! We will not stay somewhere less than 3 days to make it worth it to us. Last July we spent 3 nights at POFQ (met extended family) and then hopped over to the Poly Cl for 4 nights! Feels like another vacation! We packed up night before and had our own car. Left POFQ by 715 am and were checked into our room at Poly by 820am. Made RD at the MK! I did do online check in so I they knew we would be arriving early. Worked great! If you do not have your own car, WDW will move your luggage for you. It might not arrive until afternoon that way, but you are free to go about your day!

 

[FencerGirl]

Split stays are pretty easy. We don't really unpack much, so for us, repacking is easy.

In the morning before going to the park, call bell services and tell them that you're changing resorts and would like help transferring your luggage. A bell person will come to your room, take your luggage and give you some tags. If you provide a credit card at check-in, you might not even have to go to the desk to check out. Go to the park for they day, and then go to your new resort. Check in there and then go to bell services and tell them that you're there to pick up your luggage. They'll bring it to your room as soon as they can.

We swapped to AKL Savannah view and loved it! Worth the time.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I don't think split stays are that big of a hassle although I wouldn't move for just one night. That's just a pain and I never feel settled in or feel like I really get to check out the resort.

It doesn't take us long to pack up, maybe 15 minutes? We put things in the bags so that we only need to take out the toiletries and remaining clean clothes at the second resort, the dirty clothes stays in the suitcase. Disney's bell services will move your bags if you want, it takes a few hours so keep what you need with you. You could move them yourselves if you have a car or take a cab (you can't bring them on buses).

Depending on your schedule, you can go straight to the second resort to check in early or go to the parks and check in towards the end of your day.

I guess the only thing that could be a problem is if you are booking packages or purchasing the dining plan. Since they are tied to the resort reservation and split stays are considered two reservations, you will have to make sure you use all your dining credits before the end of the day you check-out of AoA and plan ADRs accordingly and check for park ticket requirements.

 

[goofy4tink]

Love split stays! There was one trip that I was at AKL-Jambo for one night, then BWVs for four nights, Kidani for two nights, Pop for five nights and then back to BWVs for two nights! It was pretty confusing! Don't think I would do that again!
But I just added 3 nights at POR to our June trip. A week at BWVs then dd and I move to POR for the last 3 nights! I can't wait.
We just hand our bags off to Bell Services/Luggage Assistance first thing in the morning..around 7ish. Then off to a park. We go to the new resort mid-afternoon, around 3ish, to get checked in. Our bags are never there by then. We go back to a park and have dinner. Our bags are usually at the new resort by 5:30-6. We call for them and get them delivered to the room.

If you really need to have the bags available to you, you may want to just take a cab to the next resort, bringing the bags with you. Then, they can be stored at the new resort until the room is ready.

 

[ppony]

Easy peazy, lemon squeezy! We love splits. But I'll qualify that by mentioning we don't unpack and use the drawers there. We live out of the suitcases usually and set up a hamper in the room for clothes. Bell services move the luggage efficiently, including your groceries, perishable and not for you.

 

[LAS321]

We will be doing a split stay for the first time this year….we weren't able to get CSR for the entire stay so we're doing a few days at POR…
We are excited but a little worried about making a move during the trip!
Hope it's as easy as you all say!!