What to do about split stay

[katied]

Hi,
I’m looking for advice. I booked a few weeks after the 11 month mark (my fault, I know), and was not able to book one night of my trip. So, here’s what I have:
Dec 29 - Dec. 31: 2 bedroom lock off at BLT, lake view
Dec 31 - Jan 1: 1 bedroom at BLT (booked on points) and studio (booked on cash, as not available for points)
Jan 1 - Jan 4: 2 bedroom lock off at BLT, lake view

So, my issue is only NYE, which has been waitlisted for 3+ months, and I’m watching every day. Nothing was available at the 7 month mark.

So, I can leave it alone, worst case, we have 3 rooms over 6 nights…. Maybe the waitlist clears…

I can switch and book 3 (Dec 29 - Jan 1) or full 6 nights at Old Key West or Saratoga (only things available now, tried for others at 7 month, no luck)

What would you recommend? We are traveling with teen kids and another couple.

Thanks!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Really depends on you and how your family would view switching rooms twice in a 6-day period. We actually enjoy the split stays, but 3 rooms is 6 nights would be a bit much for us. You'll essentially be without a room for 4-6 hours twice during the trip. Not to mention the packing, repacking, holding bags - but it's absolutely doable. Just unpacking once and staying set might be a nice alternative!

Or, perhaps the first 3 nights at OKW/SSR, and then move to BLT for the 2BR you have from 1st to 4th? Split stay, but only 2 rooms.....

 

[Disdreaming479]

Twice I had to stalk for NYE (2022,2023). I started 4 & 2 months out. I checked constantly all day and night. Only a 1 bed at SSR popped up and it was around the 31 day mark. Best of luck!!

 

[Sandisw]

I think getting a 2 bedroom at BLT for NYE is going to be very tough. We don’t mind the split stays but if it were me, and I had some extra points, I would actually try to get thr studio for Jan 1st too….so that if it does t come through, you would not be homeless for that change day….at least those in the 1 bedroom can just move their things there while you wait for the 2 bedroom.

This way, you have until 31 days ahead of time to hope it comes through!

 

[jo-jo]

Well, one good thing is , it's the same resort. You can packed up, give your bags to bells service and when your next room is ready, your bags are right there. Bell service will hold onto fresh food, just won't transfer it and no waiting 6 hours for your bags to be transferred.

Due to my own mistake, I cancelled 6 days at BLT in a standard 1 bedroom and only was able to get 4 days back, but with a gap. I'm hoping to find something, so I can stay in the same resort.

Unless you have a car to drive from SSR, the monorail and walking to MK is worth a lot to me.

 

[katied]

Thanks! I will look into an extra studio.

 

[marmentrout85]

Hi,
I’m looking for advice. I booked a few weeks after the 11 month mark (my fault, I know), and was not able to book one night of my trip. So, here’s what I have:
Dec 29 - Dec. 31: 2 bedroom lock off at BLT, lake view
Dec 31 - Jan 1: 1 bedroom at BLT (booked on points) and studio (booked on cash, as not available for points)
Jan 1 - Jan 4: 2 bedroom lock off at BLT, lake view

So, my issue is only NYE, which has been waitlisted for 3+ months, and I’m watching every day. Nothing was available at the 7 month mark.

So, I can leave it alone, worst case, we have 3 rooms over 6 nights…. Maybe the waitlist clears…

I can switch and book 3 (Dec 29 - Jan 1) or full 6 nights at Old Key West or Saratoga (only things available now, tried for others at 7 month, no luck)

What would you recommend? We are traveling with teen kids and another couple.

Thanks!

As long as everyone in the group is cool with switching rooms a few times then I'd probably just keep things as they are and wait it out if you truly have your heart set for BLT. Plus there's still many stalking months ahead

 

[brettcw23]

Hi,
I’m looking for advice. I booked a few weeks after the 11 month mark (my fault, I know), and was not able to book one night of my trip. So, here’s what I have:
Dec 29 - Dec. 31: 2 bedroom lock off at BLT, lake view
Dec 31 - Jan 1: 1 bedroom at BLT (booked on points) and studio (booked on cash, as not available for points)
Jan 1 - Jan 4: 2 bedroom lock off at BLT, lake view

So, my issue is only NYE, which has been waitlisted for 3+ months, and I’m watching every day. Nothing was available at the 7 month mark.

So, I can leave it alone, worst case, we have 3 rooms over 6 nights…. Maybe the waitlist clears…

I can switch and book 3 (Dec 29 - Jan 1) or full 6 nights at Old Key West or Saratoga (only things available now, tried for others at 7 month, no luck)

What would you recommend? We are traveling with teen kids and another couple.

Thanks!

Speaking from my experience, 3 different resorts is one too many!. Years ago we were "split stay virgins". Then a situation forced us into a split stay. We rebooked everything about 2-3 months out. We stayed at AKL-Kidani, Club Level Wilderness Lodge and then over to VWL. We now routinely do split stays between BLT (one of our home resorts) and BWV or BCV. We like being walking distance to the Parks. But being that you're at BLT the whole time, I'd like to think that the cast can be accommodating in making your transisitons smoother. Keep the BLT reservation. You'll appreciate the locale there more than OKW or SSR.

 

[katied]

Thanks for all the advice, I’ll hold on to BLT, keep fingers crossed, but be ready to deal with the moves… we enjoy the easy park access.

 

[TinkAgainU]

If you are doing multiple parks, I'd consider one of the Crescent Lake resorts for the first half, then over to BLT. While I split stay, usually one hotel room change is Plenty when on vacation lol. If you stayed at BCV or BWV (or even Animal Kingdom) you'd feel like you'd changed rooms and resorts to enjoy two ambiance and theme park access benefits. Over the holidays, seeing each of the hotels is a blast! Then instead of a pain in the tush, it's a beneficial change. The bell services can move your luggage to another (Disney) resort just as easily as they can hold it for you at BLT.

Sometimes I Uber with all my stuff to the 2nd resort, drop it and go to that Resort's adjacent park (usually in walking distance) until notified my room is ready.

P.S. Be sure to check Theme Park holiday parties if you're planning for that week - since some dates bump you out of the park early without a special event ticket.

 

[bumbershoot]

Splits are as easy or difficult as the group dynamic makes them.

Pack up as you go; put your dirty clothes into the suitcase so they are ready. Don't let toiletries etc be strewn about. Make it as easy on your future self as possible.

Morning of each move, have your daypack ready for everything you might do or need from 11am to 4ish pm, stash bags with Bell, and head on out to parks, DS, pools if weather allows, etc. Definitely do online checkin.

But there's not much wrong with OKW or SSR's 2 bedrooms. Loads of space, things to do, and buses aren't that much more difficult than the monorail.

 

[brettcw23]

Splits are as easy or difficult as the group dynamic makes them.

Pack up as you go; put your dirty clothes into the suitcase so they are ready. Don't let toiletries etc be strewn about. Make it as easy on your future self as possible.

Morning of each move, have your daypack ready for everything you might do or need from 11am to 4ish pm, stash bags with Bell, and head on out to parks, DS, pools if weather allows, etc. Definitely do online checkin.

But there's not much wrong with OKW or SSR's 2 bedrooms. Loads of space, things to do, and buses aren't that much more difficult than the monorail.

Solid all around advice!

 

[katied]

Thank you all!

 

[katied]

Thank you all!

Just to report back… I booked a back up for the one night (NYE) at BLT on cash and decided to hope for the best. I checked multiple times a day… no luck, and then suddenly, my waitlist cleared this week - so now I have my two bedroom at BLT for 6 straight nites, no changing, etc. the waitlist magic worked for me. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[sndral]

Just to report back… I booked a back up for the one night (NYE) at BLT on cash and decided to hope for the best. I checked multiple times a day… no luck, and then suddenly, my waitlist cleared this week - so now I have my two bedroom at BLT for 6 straight nites, no changing, etc. the waitlist magic worked for me. Thanks for all the advice.

Sweet! & thanks for reporting back, I love happy endings