Thinking about a split stay - lots of questions!

[steph73]

We're booked for 7 nights at the Contemporary with the dining plan for late May/early June with a 40% off PIN code.

Now we're thinking about doing a split stay to also take advantage of the $750 gift card promotion.

What we're considering is 5 nights at AKL and the dining plan at rack rate with the $750 gift card, then 3 nights room only at the Contemporary using our 40% off pin. Our idea was to use the gift card to cover tips during our AKL/DDP portion of the trip, then use the remainder on food for the last three days of our trip.

I looked on the Disney site and I didn't see any expiration date for the gift card, and it also says it can be used for dining so I assume this is possible? Does anyone know for sure?

Another question - would they pick up our luggage from our room at AKL and transport it to our room at the Contemporary when we swap?

Thanks in advance! I'm not sure if we're going to be doing the split stay or not, but it's looking very appealing.

 

[BabyRN]

I got quotes for 7 nights at both Beach Club and Poly. There was only about $100 difference. I then got a quote for a split stay and it was $700 more! When I asked why I was told it was because of the value of the park tickets because it didn't look like I was buying all my days at once, but a few for each trip. Needless to say, I just booked all 7 nights at the Poly.

 

[marcielm]

I got quotes for 7 nights at both Beach Club and Poly. There was only about $100 difference. I then got a quote for a split stay and it was $700 more! When I asked why I was told it was because of the value of the park tickets because it didn't look like I was buying all my days at once, but a few for each trip. Needless to say, I just booked all 7 nights at the Poly.

On your split stay, were you trying to do a room only discount on the later half of your trip? If so, you can buy a longer ticket than the 5 day minimum for the GC promo... and do a room only for the later half of your trip. That way, you are taking advantage of how the tickets are only ~$3/person for each extra day you add after 4 days.

 

[marcielm]

We're booked for 7 nights at the Contemporary with the dining plan for late May/early June with a 40% off PIN code.

Now we're thinking about doing a split stay to also take advantage of the $750 gift card promotion.

What we're considering is 5 nights at AKL and the dining plan at rack rate with the $750 gift card, then 3 nights room only at the Contemporary using our 40% off pin. Our idea was to use the gift card to cover tips during our AKL/DDP portion of the trip, then use the remainder on food for the last three days of our trip.

I looked on the Disney site and I didn't see any expiration date for the gift card, and it also says it can be used for dining so I assume this is possible? Does anyone know for sure?

You can use the GC for dining & tips, like you are hoping to do. There is no expiration date for the GC... it is a typical Disney gift card (like you might find at the Disney Stores).

Another question - would they pick up our luggage from our room at AKL and transport it to our room at the Contemporary when we swap?

Thanks in advance! I'm not sure if we're going to be doing the split stay or not, but it's looking very appealing.

I believe bell services will transfer your luggage, but I've never done a split stay so I'm not sure what steps it involves. Maybe someone else can answer exactly how it works.

Be sure and get more than the 5 days on your park tickets on the GC promo... or when you get there upgrade your ticket to more days and pay with the GC. That way, you won't be buying tickets on the room only portion of your trip.

 

[DISNEYNY]

That sounds like a good plan...I think it would work. As PP said buy tickets for more then 5 days on the first ressie so you can use them on the second ressie.

 

[steph73]

Thanks!

Yes, what we would do is buy a longer MYW ticket on the first ressie so that the second PIN ressie would be room only.

I'm still going back and forth on this... I'm crunching the numbers right now to see if it is a good value.

 

[StuckInKS]

Thanks!

Yes, what we would do is buy a longer MYW ticket on the first ressie so that the second PIN ressie would be room only.

I'm still going back and forth on this... I'm crunching the numbers right now to see if it is a good value.

Not including the dining plan and assuming standard rooms, the GC deal should save around $225 per room over the 40% deal with a 5 night AKL/3 nights CR vs. 8 nights CR in the regular season. If you are going for savanna view, you may see no savings at all. The GC deal seems to be a better deal than the 40% deluxe deal when staying in a standard room at a 'cheaper' deluxe resort.

Let us know what you decide!

 

[BabyRN]

On your split stay, were you trying to do a room only discount on the later half of your trip?

No I wasn't, but I'm going the end of November so I'm not getting the GC, and I'm also doing dining and I believe if I do dining I have to purchase one day of park tickets anyway, correct? It's okay, I'm still so happy to be staying at the Poly anyway. I was just really having a hard time deciding between Beach Club and Poly and thought it would be a good idea to do a split stay to try both!

 

[Sandisw]

We're booked for 7 nights at the Contemporary with the dining plan for late May/early June with a 40% off PIN code.

Now we're thinking about doing a split stay to also take advantage of the $750 gift card promotion.

What we're considering is 5 nights at AKL and the dining plan at rack rate with the $750 gift card, then 3 nights room only at the Contemporary using our 40% off pin. Our idea was to use the gift card to cover tips during our AKL/DDP portion of the trip, then use the remainder on food for the last three days of our trip.

I looked on the Disney site and I didn't see any expiration date for the gift card, and it also says it can be used for dining so I assume this is possible? Does anyone know for sure?

Another question - would they pick up our luggage from our room at AKL and transport it to our room at the Contemporary when we swap?

Thanks in advance! I'm not sure if we're going to be doing the split stay or not, but it's looking very appealing.

We are DVC members and did a split stay last summer. It was easy to have the luggage transferred. Just have bell services pick it up from your room (or take it down on your way out--that is what we did) and tell them where you are going. They will take care of it for you.

It usually arrives in the afternoon (after 3:00 pm) so if there is anything you might need, keep that out and take it with you (and then leave it with bell services at the CR while you head to the park).

We did that with our swimsuits so in case we got back to the resort and the room was not ready, we could swim.

As it turned out, it was, so we didn't need to leave anything with bell services. When we got back to the resort later, we just called down and they sent up the luggage.

 

[marcielm]

I'm also doing dining and I believe if I do dining I have to purchase one day of park tickets anyway, correct?

You are correct! You need the 1 day minimum of park tickets to add the dining.

 

[steph73]

I think we've decided to flip it. Since we're happy with a standard Garden Wing room at the Contemporary but want a Pool View Bunk Bed room at AKL, and we wanted to start our trip at the CR and stay longer there, we're leaning towards this:

On the $750 gift card promotion:
5 nights at Contemporary, Garden Standard
5 nights dining plan
6 day MYW tickets = $3707.20

On the 40% deluxe PIN:
3 nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Pool View Bunk Bed room only = $716

Grand total: $4423.20 - $750 gc = $3673.20

Right now, we're booked for 7 nights CR, 6 day MYW, 7 nights DDP on the 40% PIN for about $3750. The other plan gets us one more night, 2 less nights on the DDP but a $750 gc that can be used for dining and tips, so the final price of the split-stay is really all-inclusive.

Plus, I think it would be exciting to change resorts! It's like two vacations!

I'll update if we end up booking this (or just end up keeping what we have).

 

[Belleandtinker]

We orginally had 11 nights at POFQ with an AAA rate. Now we are at AKL for 5 nights (with the $750 gift card) and 6 nights at POFQ. The $750 gift card will pay for the balance at POFQ when we check in. Now we are looking for an even better room rate fro POFQ to save again.