would a split stay be too much for a four year old?

[lissiesmum]

We have had such a hard time deciding on which resort (and we won't be able to afford Disney for at least another five plus years) that we have decided to try to split up our vacation. We want to just try Pop for our arrival day, check in and relax and hang around the resort for the day. Next day, check into POR for five days, then head over to the CBR for another five days. DH and I think this would be a great way to explore different resorts, but I wondered if this might be too much for our DD4. My initial thought was that she would think it's exciting, but then I thought, what if she loves POP so much and is not happy at the other resorts the rest of the time. Has anyone else done this with a child this age, and how did it work out for you? Thanks as always for your help

 

[Cindy B]

3 resorts is too much for me and I'm an adult.

I'd pare it down to two resorts maximum.

 

[donaldduck1967]

I've never done 3 resorts but I don't think it would be all that bad. Maybe if you make POP the last 5 days instead of the first day. Also you can have bell hop move all the luggage and can check-in late in the afternoon when your 4 yr old is ready for a nap and falls asleep on the bus, if she doesn't fall asleep in the park.

 

[lissiesmum]

OOPS! I forgot to mention that we'll be driving down there and will have our own car...that would make things easier, right? But that said, the resort would move our luggage from one resort to the next if we wanted to spend the day in a park, right? Oh, I guess while I'm rambling thoughts this early in the morning, I had another question. Part of the reason we want to stay at Pop the first night is that we want to get to POR first thing in the morning so we have a better chance of our requests being met. First question: Let's say I get there at eight am. Do they look at what rooms will become available after people check out? Or just what is available at that time? Second question: My thought was, DH and DD can stay at Pop and sleep in while I check us in to POR. Can you do that? Then I thought if our room at POR wouldn't be ready until after three, we could drop off our luggage at POR when we were ready and either swim, explore, etc. How exactly would that work? Sorry if my questions are silly. I envision how this split stay would work in my head but it doesn't always work out in person

 

[dmslush]

She's four, she's in disney world, I think she will be fine

 

[mtemm]

as a veteren of many, many road trips as a child (rarely did we stay in a motel room more than one night), I think you'll be fine. especially with a car.

 

[donaldduck1967]

You can check in any time you want. That doesn't mean you will get a room. What you will get is a resort ID card so you can use transportation and you will be able to use the Hotel facilities. Even if you are driving I would still let Bell Hop move the luggage. Why dont you do CBR then POR then POP? I havent stayed @ POP but looking at the pics I know my 5yr old wouldn't want to leave. I have stayed @ CBR and POR and they are nice but imo your daughter will probably like pop best. Yes your husband and daughter can sleep while you go over and check in somewhere else. Your check out time is 11:00am so you should be able to check-in and get back in plenty of time.

 

[lissiesmum]

I havent stayed @ POP but looking at the pics I know my 5yr old wouldn't want to leave.

My thoughts exactly! I just wanted to do a one night stay there because we're not checking in until late afternoon and it would save a few bucks, but it looks much more appealing to children than adults! (although I know it is just as popular with the adults) I don't want to pull DD away kicking and screaming Worse comes to worse, guess we'll skip Pop and just do the other resorts. What she doesn't see, she won't miss, right? I would love to stay but I just can't get DH to do the same!

Glad to know you can check in one resort and still stay at another until check out.

 

[schwaa]

OOPS! First question: Let's say I get there at eight am. Do they look at what rooms will become available after people check out? Or just what is available at that time? Second question: My thought was, DH and DD can stay at Pop and sleep in while I check us in to POR. Can you do that? Then I thought if our room at POR wouldn't be ready until after three, we could drop off our luggage at POR when we were ready and either swim, explore, etc. How exactly would that work? Sorry if my questions are silly. I envision how this split stay would work in my head but it doesn't always work out in person

Hi, I'll answer your question first and then give my advice.

First question: It's my experience that if you check in early they will assign you a room that is free and either clean or waiting to be cleaned. If nothing is available, they will wait to assign you a room when one is. I think you have better chances of getting your requests by checking in during the afternoon (just my humble opinion).

Second question: you can easily drop off your luggage with Luggage Storage and then when you get into your room, call them and they will deliver it. You can easily explore the resort, swim, whatever.


OK here's my advice. I think 3 resorts are too many, I'd probably do it, but it's a lot. What i feel more strongly about is your plan to do only 1 night at pop. A 4 year old is going to love it there and she will most likey keep asking if we are going back. and when you change again to go to CBR, she will most likely ask why are we going back to POP.

So with that said, I think you should do 5 nights at POR and 4 nights at CBR. If when you check in to POR, they do not have your requests available, you can ask if they can move you the next day to the location you want. Then it's still like your 1 night at POP and switching to POR, except you are only moving rooms. (And yes, bell services will still help you move your luggage).

Good luck. You are going to love POR. I am at the French Quarter right now (while I'm typing this) and last night we went over to POR to have dinner and I wished I had booked POR. POFQ is great (for all those reading this getting nervous). It's wonderful, I just love POR more. That means I love the French Quarter this much and I love POR this much

 

[lissiesmum]

Hi Schwaa! I think I was reading your mind while I was writing my last thoughts I think we'll just have to skip Pop altogether unless I can convince my DH to stay and then we'll do Pop at the end of our stay for DD You are so lucky to be there right now at POFQ! We had a hard time deciding on the two Port Orleans ourselves and we are crossing fingers for Alligator Bayou. FQ looks pretty too and I like the idea of being able to enjoy both resorts. Enjoy your stay and please post some pics when you get back

 

[alldiz]

I agree...if you were to try POP...wait till the end.....

The kids really love the icons....hey they are cool

Your child will not care.....it will be all one big adventure....

I would keep a bag in your car if you let disney transfer the
luggage......Just in case you have to wait and you
want to swim or change...
Have a great trip
Kerri

 

[alldiz]

Forgot to mention....taking DD5 on a trip "around the world..

We leave 8-22 for YC 1st night...
then BCV for 3 nights....
then POFQ for 5 nights with free dining....

Here's the crazy part....Within those 5 nights at POFQ....
I am getting a room at POR for 2 nights....so DH and I can sneak
away....DD will be with mom...
Kinda tight with 2 doubles....don't know what I was thinkin..

My parents are temporarily living with us....so I figured we could use
the space

I'm so excited to try 3 new hotels....I figured it will be so hot....
we'll swim most of the time....check out all the pools.
Kerri

 

[lissiesmum]

Your child will not care.....it will be all one big adventure....

I agree! This will be her first big trip and I know it will be great no matter what....it's me that's the perfectionist and wants everything just right

 

[lissiesmum]

Wow Alldiz! That sounds like quite a vacation Please let me know how your 5 year old does with all the moving around and have a wonderful time!

 

[Bibbidi]

I don't think your daughter will have any problem. As another poster said, she's 4, she's in Disney, she'll be fine. However, it may be you and your DH who have a problem. We did a triple split stay on our trip in May. We stayed one night at POR. Check-in there was no problem at around 3 pm on a Friday afternoon. Our room was ready, no lines at check-in, etc. The next morning we checked into CR at 8 am. Amazingly, our room was ready for us then, at 8 am! However, after our 3 night CR stay, we went to check into the BC. We got over there at noon on a Tuesday. While there was no line for checking in, there was a 4 hour wait for our room to be ready. We wandered the boardwalk, we stopped for ice cream, we did everything to kill those 4 hours (it was a non-park day for us). I got a migraine, the kids got tired of dancing in the lobby, and my husband was a total crab. Those 4 hours of waiting were terrible.

My point is, sometimes checking in goes rather quickly. Other times it doesn't. If I had to do it again, I would plan a park day for the days I was changing to another resort.

 

[DisnyMik]

As parents that have been dragging their 3 kids around Disney since they were 6 months old...oh wait, the youngest was 4 mos. old...we have done a lot of resort hopping or split stays. Our kids are used to it and never really minded too much. They are now 19, 16 and 9.

The only thing I disagree with some of the previous posters was I and my family would prefer to stay at POR or POFQ over POP. My kids have a better time at those pools and resorts. It has been many years since we've stayed at CBR but since it is comparable to POR and POFQ I know they would like it there too.

If you want to stay @ POP I would definitely do that first. It just isn't as exciting as the others IMHO. I would also pack a small bag if you just stay one night. No since hauling everything to your room needlessly! We've done that before,too!

Also, we have always saved the 'best for last.' To us that would not be POP.
While it is nice, it or the other ASR's is never our first choice. If that is all that is available or all that is all we can afford, then that is fine! That being said, we prefer the Moderates over the Values.

Don't worry about your room not being ready when you arrive or waiting on another room. If you have easy access to or wear your swimsuits, you can swim and hang out @ the resort while you are waiting! We've done that too!

Hope this helps and have a great time!

 

[MissionMouse]

... we have decided to try to split up our vacation... Has anyone else done this with a child this age, and how did it work out for you?

We have performed spilt stays with children this age with no issues or complaints. They may ask why we are moving or going but that was pretty much for us. I think a largee part of it is the attitude of the parents...we make it an adventure. We always have a special event associated with each place we stay. We will be doing a spilt stay at Disney this year and will also be staying on site at Universal along with a Sea World Resort.

 

[lissiesmum]

I like the idea of making it an adventure She responds well to that. We're going to stick with the mods, and maybe even splurge and do seven days at POR then a few days at AKL, who knows? Thanks for all your posts, makes me feel a whole lot better

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

We are doing GF, BCV, and BWV. I am sure our girls will be fine with the room changes. Like others have said, they are in Disney and that is enough for them!!

 

[DisnyMik]

A few years ago on our last night at ??? (can't remember which resort) we begged my husband to let us stay one more night. It didn't take too much convincing on our part as he loves it too. The only catch was we had to leave @ 6 am the next morning for home (16 hrs.) and drive straight through since he had to be @ work Monday. We checked out of our hotel and let the kids think we were going home until we pulled into AKL and surprised them!

We stayed at the pool the whole day and never left the property. That is one of our fondest memories at Disney! Since we had to have a room to accomadate all 5 of us we had a Savannah view room and loved it.

After every trip we try to convince him "just one more day???" Most of the time the cost is out of our reach or there is no availability.

My whole point to this is, if you take your daughter to AKL she will love it!