The ultimate split-stay thread

[PolyRob]

I've read a few of the split stay threads and they all mention to book a package with tickets at the first resort. We're staying at the Beach club for one night, poly bungalow for one night then the poly for 5 nights. If/When discounts come out I'd like to use that on the poly 5 night stay since it is the most expensive. Can I book that as a package with 7 day tickets? I know ADR 180 days would be different for all 3 stays but would the FP+ 60 day window start with my first stay? I don't think tickets are tied to a stay so they should be on my MDE for me to use the first night, correct?

When you mention discounts, do you want a percent off room rate or free dining? Percent discounts can usually be booked as room only for the same rate. Free dining will require the room plus the minimal 2-day hopper ticket. If its just a percent off, I believe having tickets linked to Beach Club would make it easier to use them on your first day.

 

[ghertz]

%off room rate. I was just looking at historical discounts and wanted to see what my options were if the discount was tied to a package, which I assume means the purchase of tickets as well.

10/4/15-12/23/15 10%-25% off room-only rates for general public (also bookable as package) (blacked out 11/25/15-11/27/15) 7/20/15, exp 9/18/15
10/4/15-12/23/15 discounted package (“Magical Family”) for general public with up to 25% off rooms 7/20/15, exp 9/18/15
10/4/15-12/23/15 discounted package (“Kid-Sized”) for general public with up to 25% off rooms 7/20/15, exp 9/18/15

 

[PolyRob]

%off room rate. I was just looking at historical discounts and wanted to see what my options were if the discount was tied to a package, which I assume means the purchase of tickets as well.

10/4/15-12/23/15 10%-25% off room-only rates for general public (also bookable as package) (blacked out 11/25/15-11/27/15) 7/20/15, exp 9/18/15
10/4/15-12/23/15 discounted package (“Magical Family”) for general public with up to 25% off rooms 7/20/15, exp 9/18/15
10/4/15-12/23/15 discounted package (“Kid-Sized”) for general public with up to 25% off rooms 7/20/15, exp 9/18/15

Hmm it could be that they give the extra incentive of buy 5 days get 1 free, which is like $12 or whatever under the package.

The current general public discount "Fun & Sun" can be booked room only or as a package. Late October 2016 I booked a general public room only with the same percentage off until passholder discounts came out. I think you should be ok! If anything, you could always book it as a package, and if you want the tickets removed, they can convert it from a MYW package to a "basic" package (ticketless), unless tickets are required with the discount (like free dining).

 

[Masonmj84]

Well, we're now just days away from our split stay on steroids trip (7 resorts over 14 nights, and no, I won't be offended if you think we're nuts).

Arrival day: check into POR/dinner at Boatwright's (seemed more relaxing than a DS restaurant after a long flight)
Day 1: late breakfast at Olivia's (via Uber)/Disney Springs (via boat)/hang out at resort/dinner at Art Smith's Homecomin'
Day 2: breakfast at Riverside Mill/Typhoon Lagoon (via Uber)/check into CR/dinner at HDDR
Day 3: breakfast at Chef Mickey's/MK (mid-morning arrival)/dinner at Narcoossee's/Wishes
Day 4: EP (mid-morning arrival)/early lunch at San Angel Inn/check into BWI/dinner at Monsieur Paul
Day 5: HS (RD)/early lunch at 50's Prime Time/Fantasmic dinner package at Brown Derby/Fantasmic
Day 6: EP (from IG)/early lunch at Teppan Edo/check into WL/dinner at Artist Point
Day 7: MK/PPO breakfast at Crystal Palace/dinner at California Grill
Day 8: late breakfast at Whispering Canyon/check into Poly/hang out at resort/dinner at 'Ohana
Day 9: MK/PPO breakfast at CRT/dinner at Citricos
Day 10: late breakfast at Kona/check into BC/hang out at resort/dinner at Yachtsman
Day 11: EP (from IG)/early lunch at Via Napoli/dinner at Flying Fish/Illuminations
Day 12: breakfast at Cape May/Blizzard Beach (via uber)/check into AKL/dinner at Jiko
Day 13: AK/PPO breakfast at Tusker House/dinner at Tiffins (currently, a non-ROL night)
Departure day: breakfast at Boma/hang out at resort

On park days (days 2, 4, 6, and 12) we plan to have bell services move our bags between resorts. On non-park days (days 8 and 10) we plan to take Uber between resorts (and take our bags with us). I realize that with all of these transfers, we run the risk of bell services losing something but we'll just have to tip well and hope for the best on that score.

Fortunately, we're already very familiar with most of these resorts (have stayed at all except CR and BWI, but have visited those multiple times).

The only time we plan to use buses is on our AK day.

We're not doing any sort of dining plan (although our ADRs fit will with the DxDP, we've calculated that it won't save us much money with our eating style).

We have 3 magic bands each (1 primary and 2 back-ups) as we declined them for 4 of the resorts.

And, yes, we're a live out of our suitcases kind of family that has done split stays in the past (although not 7 resorts on the same trip). It will be interesting to see if we've gone too far this time.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Well, we're now just days away from our split stay on steroids trip (7 resorts over 14 nights, and no, I won't be offended if you think we're nuts).

Arrival day: check into POR/dinner at Boatwright's (seemed more relaxing than a DS restaurant after a long flight)
Day 1: late breakfast at Olivia's (via Uber)/Disney Springs (via boat)/hang out at resort/dinner at Art Smith's Homecomin'
Day 2: breakfast at Riverside Mill/Typhoon Lagoon (via Uber)/check into CR/dinner at HDDR
Day 3: breakfast at Chef Mickey's/MK (mid-morning arrival)/dinner at Narcoossee's/Wishes
Day 4: EP (mid-morning arrival)/early lunch at San Angel Inn/check into BWI/dinner at Monsieur Paul
Day 5: HS (RD)/early lunch at 50's Prime Time/Fantasmic dinner package at Brown Derby/Fantasmic
Day 6: EP (from IG)/early lunch at Teppan Edo/check into WL/dinner at Artist Point
Day 7: MK/PPO breakfast at Crystal Palace/dinner at California Grill
Day 8: late breakfast at Whispering Canyon/check into Poly/hang out at resort/dinner at 'Ohana
Day 9: MK/PPO breakfast at CRT/dinner at Citricos
Day 10: late breakfast at Kona/check into BC/hang out at resort/dinner at Yachtsman
Day 11: EP (from IG)/early lunch at Via Napoli/dinner at Flying Fish/Illuminations
Day 12: breakfast at Cape May/Blizzard Beach (via uber)/check into AKL/dinner at Jiko
Day 13: AK/PPO breakfast at Tusker House/dinner at Tiffins (currently, a non-ROL night)
Departure day: breakfast at Boma/hang out at resort

On park days (days 2, 4, 6, and 12) we plan to have bell services move our bags between resorts. On non-park days (days 8 and 10) we plan to take Uber between resorts (and take our bags with us). I realize that with all of these transfers, we run the risk of bell services losing something but we'll just have to tip well and hope for the best on that score.

Fortunately, we're already very familiar with most of these resorts (have stayed at all except CR and BWI, but have visited those multiple times).

The only time we plan to use buses is on our AK day.

We're not doing any sort of dining plan (although our ADRs fit will with the DxDP, we've calculated that it won't save us much money with our eating style).

We have 3 magic bands each (1 primary and 2 back-ups) as we declined them for 4 of the resorts.

And, yes, we're a live out of our suitcases kind of family that has done split stays in the past (although not 7 resorts on the same trip). It will be interesting to see if we've gone too far this time.

This is an epic undertaking! May I ask what made you do this?

 

[Gillybean08]

Could I ask some advice please on split stays, we are travelling from England at the end of October and are staying our first 3 nights at BLT renting points. We then move to HRH at Universal for 3 nights. This is all to tie in with Halloween nights at WDW and Universal. We then finish our stay with 14 nights at WL with the dining plan included. We were considering staying 1 more night during our 14 nights at another resort just to try it out, this would be renting DVC points again. In a way it would be wasting money as we would also be paying for WL that night but would it be worth it to try out a Delux resort and pool etc? BCV or GFV would be my picks if there was any availability. A night at BCV in a studio would cost approx £135. Thanks in advance

 

[DVCjj]

Well, we're now just days away from our split stay on steroids trip (7 resorts over 14 nights, and no, I won't be offended if you think we're nuts).

Arrival day: check into POR/dinner at Boatwright's (seemed more relaxing than a DS restaurant after a long flight)
Day 1: late breakfast at Olivia's (via Uber)/Disney Springs (via boat)/hang out at resort/dinner at Art Smith's Homecomin'
Day 2: breakfast at Riverside Mill/Typhoon Lagoon (via Uber)/check into CR/dinner at HDDR
Day 3: breakfast at Chef Mickey's/MK (mid-morning arrival)/dinner at Narcoossee's/Wishes
Day 4: EP (mid-morning arrival)/early lunch at San Angel Inn/check into BWI/dinner at Monsieur Paul
Day 5: HS (RD)/early lunch at 50's Prime Time/Fantasmic dinner package at Brown Derby/Fantasmic
Day 6: EP (from IG)/early lunch at Teppan Edo/check into WL/dinner at Artist Point
Day 7: MK/PPO breakfast at Crystal Palace/dinner at California Grill
Day 8: late breakfast at Whispering Canyon/check into Poly/hang out at resort/dinner at 'Ohana
Day 9: MK/PPO breakfast at CRT/dinner at Citricos
Day 10: late breakfast at Kona/check into BC/hang out at resort/dinner at Yachtsman
Day 11: EP (from IG)/early lunch at Via Napoli/dinner at Flying Fish/Illuminations
Day 12: breakfast at Cape May/Blizzard Beach (via uber)/check into AKL/dinner at Jiko
Day 13: AK/PPO breakfast at Tusker House/dinner at Tiffins (currently, a non-ROL night)
Departure day: breakfast at Boma/hang out at resort

On park days (days 2, 4, 6, and 12) we plan to have bell services move our bags between resorts. On non-park days (days 8 and 10) we plan to take Uber between resorts (and take our bags with us). I realize that with all of these transfers, we run the risk of bell services losing something but we'll just have to tip well and hope for the best on that score.

Fortunately, we're already very familiar with most of these resorts (have stayed at all except CR and BWI, but have visited those multiple times).

The only time we plan to use buses is on our AK day.

We're not doing any sort of dining plan (although our ADRs fit will with the DxDP, we've calculated that it won't save us much money with our eating style).

We have 3 magic bands each (1 primary and 2 back-ups) as we declined them for 4 of the resorts.

And, yes, we're a live out of our suitcases kind of family that has done split stays in the past (although not 7 resorts on the same trip). It will be interesting to see if we've gone too far this time.

How did you get your ADR's for all your Splits? I had a nightmare this morning booking ADR's for an upcoming Split Stay. I love split stays and do several times a year but this morning when my 180 day window opened up, the system would only allow a reservation for the 1st split and when I called Dining, she said I cannot make anything for the 2nd split. I called DVC an hour later when they opened and she said the exact same thing and she temporarily did a 'workaround' that she had to undo as soon as we were finished. Because of all the nonsense, I no longer could get the DVC tour I wanted and a hard to get ADR.

My question is this: How in the world did you accomplish this?

 

[Tonyz]

Would Fall discounts be room only? So I could buy tickets separately and still get room discounts for both resorts?

(I edited my original question.)

 

[msjprincess]

How did you get your ADR's for all your Splits? I had a nightmare this morning booking ADR's for an upcoming Split Stay. I love split stays and do several times a year but this morning when my 180 day window opened up, the system would only allow a reservation for the 1st split and when I called Dining, she said I cannot make anything for the 2nd split. I called DVC an hour later when they opened and she said the exact same thing and she temporarily did a 'workaround' that she had to undo as soon as we were finished. Because of all the nonsense, I no longer could get the DVC tour I wanted and a hard to get ADR.

My question is this: How in the world did you accomplish this?

You'll have to book those at 180 days from that check-in date.

 

[DVCjj]

You'll have to book those at 180 days from that check-in date.

I did just that this morning (28). I couldn't go past the length of the FIRST Stay (3 nights/4 days). Today was 180 days from check-in day of FIRST resort. Both Disney and DVC told me it cannot be done as system only recognizes 'length of stay'. (which would only be the first 3 nights). I was told I could do the NEXT stay (split) on the 31st.
DVC and only DVC (not Disney, not online) could 'work around it' temporarily in order to book the next resort of the split.

UPDATE: I may have misunderstood that you were telling me the same thing.....I need book the second split on the 31st.....if DVC hadn't solved for me.

 

[adelaster]

Thank you for this very informative thread!

Right now I have a room-only reservation at POFQ until more information is released. Depending on what is announced, I could see trying to do a split stay. Alas, we probably cannot afford more than a night-maybe two- at most at any of the Deluxe resorts, and I am aware that POFQ will likely be excluded from all offers. Regardless, want to make sure I comprehend the system just in case.

Fact checking myself, as this is hypothetical until MVMCP dates & free dining/room discounts are released:

Part one:
POFQ - Room only reservation can be upgraded to Quick Service Dining Plan Package (available only via phone w/o park tickets- package rules do not apply)

Part two:
Deluxe- A minimum of 2-day Park Hopper Tickets and a 3-night stay to receive Free Standard Dining Plan (package rules apply)
OR
Room Only and Quick Service to receive room discount (other rules pending on discount offer)

We would need to use the entirety of meal plan credits by midnight of the morning we check out.

Does this appear correct, in theory? Thanks! Disney planning sure is complex!

 

[dansdad]

Thank you for this very informative thread!

Right now I have a room-only reservation at POFQ until more information is released. Depending on what is announced, I could see trying to do a split stay. Alas, we probably cannot afford more than a night-maybe two- at most at any of the Deluxe resorts, and I am aware that POFQ will likely be excluded from all offers. Regardless, want to make sure I comprehend the system just in case.

Fact checking myself, as this is hypothetical until MVMCP dates & free dining/room discounts are released:

Part one:
POFQ - Room only reservation can be upgraded to Quick Service Dining Plan Package (available only via phone w/o park tickets- package rules do not apply)

Reserving a Room with the Dining Plan but no Tickets is called a Ticketless Package and Package Rules DO apply. You are correct that you can only book this via phone.

Part two:
Deluxe- A minimum of 2-day Park Hopper Tickets and a 3-night stay to receive Free Standard Dining Plan (package rules apply)
OR
Room Only and Quick Service to receive room discount (other rules pending on discount offer)

We would need to use the entirety of meal plan credits by midnight of the morning we check out.

Does this appear correct, in theory? Thanks! Disney planning sure is complex!

This is all correct.

 

[sheila14]

Good luck in your 14 day journey resort hopping!! This will be my first split vacation and if all goes well then maybe I would tackle a 3 resort split next year. Keep us posted!!

 

[LoopyDoopy]

We usually stay at the Contemporary, but the pool area is the worst of all the Deluxe resorts IMHO. I decided to give a split stay with the Beach Club Resort this time. Here's my itinerary:

1. BC: Epcot (partial day since we'll be arriving from the airport)
2. BC: Epcot
3. BC: Animal Kingdom
4. BC: OFF (Stormalong Bay! Yay!) - Pack bags at night
   
5. BC Checkout/Contemporary Checkin: Hollywood - Will check out in morning before leaving to Hollywood. Bags should be transferred while we're at the park. Take bus from Hollywood to Contemporary. Hopefully bags will be there.
6. Contemporary: MK
7. Contemporary: MK
8. Contemporary: MK

Yes, I do 3 days at MK

Epcot is walking distance from BC. Animal Kingdom is a ride from either park. Hollywood should be closer to BC, so it makes sense to stay at BC.

Any gotchas I have to worry about? What about sending purchases to my room? Is it safe to do when at Hollywood since I should be checked in 60 days prior, right?

 

[HolRae]

We usually stay at the Contemporary, but the pool area is the worst of all the Deluxe resorts IMHO. I decided to give a split stay with the Beach Club Resort this time. Here's my itinerary:

1. BC: Epcot (partial day since we'll be arriving from the airport)
2. BC: Epcot
3. BC: Animal Kingdom
4. BC: OFF (Stormalong Bay! Yay!) - Pack bags at night
   
5. BC Checkout/Contemporary Checkin: Hollywood - Will check out in morning before leaving to Hollywood. Bags should be transferred while we're at the park. Take bus from Hollywood to Contemporary. Hopefully bags will be there.
6. Contemporary: MK
7. Contemporary: MK
8. Contemporary: MK

Yes, I do 3 days at MK

Epcot is walking distance from BC. Animal Kingdom is a ride from either park. Hollywood should be closer to BC, so it makes sense to stay at BC.

Any gotchas I have to worry about? What about sending purchases to my room? Is it safe to do when at Hollywood since I should be checked in 60 days prior, right?

I think you need a room number to send packages to room. So if you get a text with your room number then you could do it but I don't think you can do it before you have a room number.

 

[LoopyDoopy]

I think you need a room number to send packages to room. So if you get a text with your room number then you could do it but I don't think you can do it before you have a room number.

It's been a while since I stayed at Disney. Do you get a room number when you check in 60 days in advance?

 

[HolRae]

It's been a while since I stayed at Disney. Do you get a room number when you check in 60 days in advance?

No. They text you when your room is ready the day you check in.

 

[JungleCruiseFan]

I read through the initial posts and several of the following pages but didn't see this posted so I apologize if I missed it.
If you buy a resort refillable mug and are doing a split stay do you have to buy a new one at the second resort? Thanks

 

[dansdad]

I read through the initial posts and several of the following pages but didn't see this posted so I apologize if I missed it.
If you buy a resort refillable mug and are doing a split stay do you have to buy a new one at the second resort? Thanks

If your total stay is under 14 days, your mug will work at resort #2 also.

 

[JungleCruiseFan]

If your total stay is under 14 days, your mug will work at resort #2 also.

Thanks. Looks like our stay will be 15 days, 11 at all Star Movies and 4 at Saratoga Springs, so still worth it to buy one as it will work on the last day