How to book a split stay?
1. Preparing to book separate reservations and packages:
One of the pitfalls of a split stay is that Disney does not and will not recognize consecutive-but-different-resort-stays as a single reservation. Each part of your stay--even if a split stay at the same resort--is under a different reservation number and may have different promotions, different dining plans, different ticket packages and different deposits and payments terms and dates. Even though you are staying on Disney property and simply moving from one resort to another, nothing attached to your room reservation (
DDP, discounts) carries over from one room reservation to the next. You must really know the intricacies of how Disney handles reservations and what is required for each reservation to be prepared to book your split stay.
The basic difference between Disney reservations is that you are either booked under a MYW package (this is a room + ticket + possibly dining package) -OR- a room only (RO) reservation, which a dining plan (but only if you have an AP) and tickets can be added onto separately.
Split stays can both be MYW packages (but this is not recommended--we'll get to that in a moment), or they can both be RO reservations, or they can be a combination of MYW and RO reservations.
RO reservations:
GENERALLY speaking, if there is not a free-dining promotion and you're not interested in paying for the DDP, it is often easiest to book your reservations as RO reservations. There are generally very good discounts to be found with RO rates, and it gives you the freedom to purchase the ticket package you want, and to eat as you like.
MYW reservations:
Generally speaking, you do not want to book your split stays BOTH as MYW packages simply because Disney forces you to purchase a ticket package for each reservation, and with the tiered pricing on Disney tickets (first day most expensive, subsequent days becoming fractions less), you are forced to purchase TWO first-day tickets. This really depletes any savings you'd see from staying on Disney property and visiting the parks longer. Instead, what makes more sense is to make your first resort a MYW reservation and purchase a ticket package that includes tickets for the ENTIRE length of your trip, and then make your second resort a RO reservation.
For example:
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Length of vacation: 1/1/15 to 1/8/15 (7 nights/8 days)
1/1/15 - 1/4/15 : Yacht Club MYW package with an 8 day ticket (yes, even though you are only staying here 3 nights, you can purchase an 8-day ticket)
1/4/15 - 1/8/15 : Contemporary RO reservation using the remaining days on the ticket that you picked up from the YC
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It is recommended you do a MYW package first followed by a RO reservation for simplicity: You don't need to worry about picking up tickets attached to a later-scheduled MYW package from Guest Relations early (though that can be done--but only 3 days before the MYW package begins--see the Theme Park Attractions and Strategies forum for additional information).
2. Booking a split stay with the DDP:
With a split stay, there are three different ways you can book the DDP (these scenarios assume you will be staying at two different hotels):
a) If you have an AP and make RO reservations, you can add the DDP onto your reservation at each resort. (Easiest method, but don't buy an AP just to make it simple if you don't need one or want one.)
b) You can book a MYW package WITH the DDP for your first hotel, and then book a RO reservation WITHOUT the DDP at your second hotel. Again, you will want to make the ticket package on the first MYW reservation for the entire length of your stay (both resorts combined). You will have to OOP for your food for the second half of the trip when you switch resorts.
c) You can book TWO MYW packages with the DDP. This will require the purchase of TWO sets of tickets for each reservation, and will deplete the savings you see from staying on Disney property and visiting the parks longer (remember the tiered pricing?) If you do this because the DDP is free, or because it's just how you want to vacation, what is suggested is that you purchase the FULL set of tickets for the first hotel, and then buy the minimum number of tickets (usually 2 days) for the second hotel and then KEEP those tickets for another later visit. Remember, your ticket length is NOT tied to your DDP--it is tied to the number of nights you are staying at the hotel with a ticket package. Tickets do not expire or lose value as long as you don't use them. It is recommended you visit either the Concierge desk or Guest Relations to pick up an actual hard ticket so that it's not inadvertently tied to your Magic Band and kicks in when you switch hotels. Obviously, you should not plan to use this method unless you are absolutely certain you'll be back to Disney at some point in the future and won't lose the tickets.
3. Scheduling ADRs to maximize 180+10
When staying at a Disney resort, you are given a booking advantage of being able to make reservations at 180 days before your trip up through 10 days of your trip. This is called 180+10. When making your ADRs online or on the
MDE app, the computer will only recognize the first resort reservation and allow you, at the 180 day mark, to make reservations through that reservation period (up to 10 days). It will not tie any subsequent, consecutive resort reservation(s) together with that one. ADRs for those days will open on the day your next resort reservation hits 180 days out and continue throughout that reservation length up to 10 days. [This is a change for 2015. Prior to 2015, the system could be overrided by phone and by providing all reservation numbers to a CM. Numerous reports for 2015 have indicated that Disney has changed the system, now only allowing reservations to be made at 180 (+up to 10) days for
each resort reservation.]
4. Scheduling FP+ reservations
As long as you have valid ticket media loaded into your MDE account, you will be able to make FP reservations through the length of your stay no matter how many hotels you plan to stay at 60 days from your first reservation day. Remember, your FP+ reservation is tied to your ticket media, not your room reservation. The first day of your first reservation simply opens the window to allow you to start FP+ planning when you have a valid ticket in your account.
5. Customizing MBs for one trip or different resort stays
Because your split stays are booked under separate reservation numbers, you will be invited to customize MBs for each resort. You can choose to do so, OR you can simply order one set of MBs (for your first resort) and skip customizing and skip confirming your address for the secondary resort. When you arrive at the secondary resort, the box (with gray bands) may be waiting for you (or it might not), but you can ask the CM to tie your existing MBs to this reservation and recycle the gray, non-customized bands waiting at the desk.
6. Prioritizing split stay order
Most agree that, if possible, you should try to end your vacation at the most-liked or most-looked-forward-to resort to have something to look forward to as you progress through your vacation and to ensure you end your vacation on a positive note. For example, if splitting between a value and a deluxe, many families might feel squashed and let down if moving from the Grand Floridian to ASMu. Of course, there are always exceptions and unexpected things that may happen along the way that may make your last resort a bit of a let down...
On a similar note, some people have very firm opinions on the minimum number of nights one needs to stay before moving. For us, while I don't think we would want to do a 7 in 7 like Pete and the gang did for the Podcast, we were OK with a 3 in 3 with a short stay around the monorail resorts since they were all so close to each other and we could easily move our luggage ourselves. If asked my opinion, I think that 3 days minimum is great for a resort that I've never been to before to fully soak it in, and 2 nights, at minimum, is great for a resort I've visited before and am familiar with.