What would you do?

[NSmuppetmom]

Hi everyone,
DH and I are booked for BWI Nov 7-12. When I made the reservation, the cast member on the phone talked me out of a split stay (we were thinking a split with AKL)
- she mentioned that we may lose park time as we could be asked to accompany our bags, etc.
But now, with all the uncertainty around the effects of SWGE, the fact that no AH events or EMM have been posted, I’m considering a split stay CL at CSR tower.
Would you change the current reservation to a split stay? (Buying extra FP could be a game changer.) is a split stay really any hassle (esp if we don’t fully unpack?)

 

[FSU Girl]

I don’t find split stays a hassle. You either have the hotel move your bags or you can bring them to the new hotel and have bell services hold them until the room is ready. We have a car so we’ll drive to the new hotel and drop off the bags and then go to a park. You just won’t have a hotel room for a few hours the switch over day. If you plan to be at a park that whole time it’s not the big a deal.

 

[gwynne]

Hi everyone,
DH and I are booked for BWI Nov 7-12. When I made the reservation, the cast member on the phone talked me out of a split stay (we were thinking a split with AKL)
- she mentioned that we may lose park time as we could be asked to accompany our bags, etc.
But now, with all the uncertainty around the effects of SWGE, the fact that no AH events or EMM have been posted, I’m considering a split stay CL at CSR tower.
Would you change the current reservation to a split stay? (Buying extra FP could be a game changer.) is a split stay really any hassle (esp if we don’t fully unpack?)

Disney will move your bags. They don't want you to "accompany" the transport folks. Your bags should arrive sometime late in the afternoon at the 2nd resort.

That said, we find it's easier to just grab a cab and bring our bags with us. We arrive at the second resort, check in. Sometimes our room is ready early (hooray!) sometimes not. If it's not, we just leave our bags with bell services and go on about our day.

We love splits. If resort availability works for your dates, I'd go for it.

 

[Nick6300]

A lot of folks seem to enjoy split stays to experience a variety of resorts. Some mix in a more budget friendly room with a deluxe for just a few days to take advantage of certain perks, dining, spa for select days. It depends on your preferences.

The few times we’ve had split stays, I’ve been unlucky. The time I’ve split CSR with POP, they lost my luggage in the transfer - since we went to the parks and was assured my bags would be waiting for me at my other room. We dealt with the issue for hrs because they had no idea where my bags were.

We’ve split at the same resort before too. Because we wanted to add days but found a better deal on orbitz. I had to call when within 10 days to try to merge reservations, and request the same room. Explain it again at check in and then still told that I needed to go to check in during the split transitions. You aren’t supposed to have to check out and check in if they converged reservations right, but apparently my cm didn’t.

For us, who typically stay in the parks from RD to close, split reservations are a nuisance. Have friends who avoids split stays as well after trying it. But I could see the appeal for others. CL would be neat.

 

[goofyintoronto]

The few times we’ve had split stays, I’ve been unlucky. The time I’ve split CSR with POP, they lost my luggage in the transfer - since we went to the parks and was assured my bags would be waiting for me at my other room. We dealt with the issue for hrs because they had no idea where my bags were.

I had the same experience. Also, i experienced extremely long wait times for my luggage when doing a split stay. That's why i started using uber to transport myself to the 2nd resort. Much easier this way. Overall, i really enjoy split stays. I dont lose any park time because i get an uber to my next resort quite early in the morning. its so easy. I check into my 2nd hotel, ask the concierge to hold my bags, and off i go park hopping. its great!

 

[goofyintoronto]

she mentioned that we may lose park time as we could be asked to accompany our bags, etc.

Sorry but thats completely incorrect and horrible advice. I cant believe they said that to you. They do not ask you to accompany your bags. There's no way to do that as they dont allow luggage on the park buses. Disney does in fact transport your luggage for you. To get to the other resort via disney park buses you'd have to go to a park first, then get a resort bus.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We dealt with the issue for hrs because they had no idea where my bags were.

Hiding somewhere at Pop. I had a similar experience, except going from Pop...to Pop.

and then still told that I needed to go to check in during the split transitions

Yes, because there is no. such. thing. in the hotel industry as a split stay. There is a stsy, followed immediately by another stay.

You aren’t supposed to have to check out and check in if they converged reservations right, but apparently my cm didn’t.

You had consecutive reservations via two different sources, correct? One directly through Disney and the other through Orbitz? It's simply not possible to converge the two distinct reservationsThey can note that the guest has back to back reservations and would love/like to stay in the same room, but every guest with consecutive reservation needs to check out of one and into the next - just as if it were two separate hotels.

 

[robinb]

I’m not a big fan of split stays. I think they are a PITB because you have to pack up part way through and then you are “homeless” for your moving day. You may be lucky and be able to check in when you want, or you may need to wait.

In any case, a 5-night trip is too short for a split stay. You’ll have to pack up and leave just as you settle in.

 

[Farro]

For me a split stay makes the trip seem shorter somehow. I like to arrive, unpack, and know this is my home for the next 9 nights!

Either way, check out the pictures on instagram of the new Tower at CSR - AMAZING.

 

[sndral]

...The few times we’ve had split stays, I’ve been unlucky. The time I’ve split CSR with POP, they lost my luggage in the transfer - since we went to the parks and was assured my bags would be waiting for me at my other room. We dealt with the issue for hrs because they had no idea where my bags were.
...

Whichever CM assured you that your bags would be waiting for you in your other room was wrong or you misunderstood. Your bags are delivered to Bell Services (I think at the values Bell Services has another name?) at your new resort and you either call down for them when you are in your new room or you collect them from Bell Services at your new resort.
When you take DME from the airport they leave your bags in your room, but w/ a split stay Bell Services usually will not deliver your bags to your room unless you are in it & call for them.
I’ve never done a value/moderate split - & have not had issues w/ luggage moving from one deluxe to another, although there was one time when AKL couldn’t find my bags, so the Bell Services guy took me into the luggage room to look for them. Ironically I had the same thing happen last fall at the Hilton at the Rome airport, after offering me 2 sets of bags that weren’t mine, the
Italian bell services guy also took me into the luggage room to locate my bags .

 

[Magnoliafan]

For me a split stay makes the trip seem shorter somehow. I like to arrive, unpack, and know this is my home for the next 9 nights!

For me, it’s the opposite: Split stays feel like multiple vacations on one trip. I’ve found that the key is planning my days around that 11am-3/4pm window so that I don’t feel “homeless”. My last trip was a 2/2/5 split stay that ended up working perfectly. After 2 nights at the GF, I dropped my bag off at Bell Services and then took the boat to MK for a few hours. I left at 3:30, took a bus to AKL, and checked into my room at Kidani. Two days later, I dropped my bag again, took a bus to Epcot, and then walked to the BWI around 4. Both times, my bag was already at Bell Services when I checked into my new resort. It couldn’t have been easier. Now, it helps that I’m typically a solo traveler, as well as an AP holder who doesn’t do rope drop to park close anymore. And I would never do a one night split after a horrible experience I had at CSR a few years ago when my room wasn’t ready until 6pm and I really only used the Resort for sleeping because I was exhausted after waiting for hours. But I love taking the time to enjoy new resorts and the advantages that each one has - in this case, proximity to MK at GF, great dining and atmosphere at AKL, and walking distance to two parks at BWI.

So to the OP, I’d say yes to a 3/2 BWI & CSR split as long as you plan your days to maximize the benefits of each one.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Do it.

I'm someone that doesn't generally unpack. It's easy. Throw what you have taken out of your suitcases back in, pass them off to bell services, tell them you're transferring resorts, and head to the parks. When you're done in the parks, or ready for a late afternoon break, get on the bus to the next resort. Pick up or have your bags delivered, and you're done. Easy. If you've done online check in, the process is even easier, because you'll know when your next room is ready.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Your bags are delivered to Bell Services (I think at the values Bell Services has another name?)

Luggage Assistance . Not as personalized as Bell Services. They deliver many bags at once, either by location or on a schedule - I forget which.

 

[Nick6300]

Hiding somewhere at Pop. I had a similar experience, except going from Pop...to Pop.

Yes, because there is no. such. thing. in the hotel industry as a split stay. There is a stsy, followed immediately by another stay.

You had consecutive reservations via two different sources, correct? One directly through Disney and the other through Orbitz? It's simply not possible to converge the two distinct reservationsThey can note that the guest has back to back reservations and would love/like to stay in the same room, but every guest with consecutive reservation needs to check out of one and into the next - just as if it were two separate hotels.

Good to know for the next time I avoid a split stay. Err, sorry, no such thing... a stay followed immediately by another stay.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I've done a split stay twice but I prefer to stay in one room. We are midday break by the pool people so being homeless doesn't help us. Both times our rooms weren't ready until after 3 pm and we didn't get our bags until closer to 5 pm. Not a huge deal but just something we didn't like. We knew going in these were possibilities and we were willing to try it out. It's just not for us completely.

The first time I did a Poly/BC split and it was great but a pain with the kids. They were older but it was still a pain. Getting them to pack up and drag all of our bags to bell services. They were annoyed. It wasn't very "vacationey" to them. That was 20 minutes of sleep they lost and for teens and preteens that's HUGE.

The second time was just DD and myself. I only did it because I needed a room for two nights before our DVC rental stay started. It was Much easier but I really don't like packing. Especially that we carry tons of toiletries for our hair and body so packing up wet shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc. gets irritating.

I may try a split stay if we ever do an adults only trip now that my kids are older. We shall see. I'm not completely against them. I just think for our situation at the time it wasn't the best idea.

 

[Nick6300]

Whichever CM assured you that your bags would be waiting for you in your other room was wrong or you misunderstood. Your bags are delivered to Bell Services (I think at the values Bell Services has another name?) at your new resort and you either call down for them when you are in your new room or you collect them from Bell Services at your new resort.
When you take DME from the airport they leave your bags in your room, but w/ a split stay Bell Services usually will not deliver your bags to your room unless you are in it & call for them.
I’ve never done a value/moderate split - & have not had issues w/ luggage moving from one deluxe to another, although there was one time when AKL couldn’t find my bags, so the Bell Services guy took me into the luggage room to look for them. Ironically I had the same thing happen last fall at the Hilton at the Rome airport, after offering me 2 sets of bags that weren’t mine, the
Italian bell services guy also took me into the luggage room to locate my bags .

It's quite possible, since this was a few yrs ago, that the CM told me that my bags would be delivered to my next hotel and I misinterpreted that as showing up in my room, similar to magical express. But in either case, an error was made because they weren't at Bell Services or Luggage Assistance. I don't remember where they got shipped to but they weren't at our resort and it took a long time to get them. Wasn't a case where we got to 2nd resort in the am and needed to wait until 3pm, we got our bags late at night, after several discussions, waiting for a reply, going to DS and back.

 

[Pamela M]

I’m not a big fan of split stays. I think they are a PITB because you have to pack up part way through and then you are “homeless” for your moving day. You may be lucky and be able to check in when you want, or you may need to wait.

In any case, a 5-night trip is too short for a split stay. You’ll have to pack up and leave just as you settle in.

I agree. Now if I was doing a 2 week stay I could see it being worth it to switch resorts 1/2 way through.