Would you do a split stay when travelling with a first-timer?

[Jerusalem Gal]

Although it would be fun to get her in on the planning! You could get together for planning nights! And it will get friend more excited about trip. Give friend some planning info sites like this one, Allears.net, Easy Disney, and maybe a book. For new people WDW The Unofficial Guide is great.

For moderate resorts we love POR Riverside mansion section. It has lots to offer like a boat to Disney Springs, Carriage rides, fun evening entertainer in the lounge.

I've been off the DDP. We put what we'd pay for DDP on a Disney Gift card, and use that for dining. Always have a balance left on it. And we eat well, and what we want. Having a dining gift card is almost like having a dining plan, just give card to pay. And free dining isn't really "free" when you're paying rack rate for room. The room discount is generally better for us. Especially at deluxe resorts.

Air fare for us isn't that bad, but still $650 - $700 each RT from west coast of Canada. Ugh.

My friend is actually a 'he' and I'm sure I'd get him involved (we'd also have to sit and watch lots of Disney movies before we go) I'd just prefer he'd let me make the decisions in the end
I've never stayed at POR yet but was thinking of it for my last trip. I actually don't remember why I didn't go for it. Maybe tried to save money with Pop so I could splurge on the CR I also really like Coronado!
BTW, can you buy the Disney gift cards there on the spot? Because we can't get them here in Israel... And I guess I really have to do some number crunching to see what discount would save us more.
You pay a lot for airfare too! $650-$700 is nothing to be sneezed at! For us the $900 would be during an off season. In the summer we're talking about $1300 and even more! Crazy

 

[Landslide305]

How does a split stay work? I'm in that boat because my FD dates only work for the 2nd part of my trip so I booked the same resort/same level but if I could save money or get an extra day with the savings I would do it. Do you have to bring your bags to the front desk and check out and then check into the new hotel?

 

[Sue M]

My friend is actually a 'he' and I'm sure I'd get him involved (we'd also have to sit and watch lots of Disney movies before we go) I'd just prefer he'd let me make the decisions in the end
I've never stayed at POR yet but was thinking of it for my last trip. I actually don't remember why I didn't go for it. Maybe tried to save money with Pop so I could splurge on the CR I also really like Coronado!
BTW, can you buy the Disney gift cards there on the spot? Because we can't get them here in Israel... And I guess I really have to do some number crunching to see what discount would save us more.
You pay a lot for airfare too! $650-$700 is nothing to be sneezed at! For us the $900 would be during an off season. In the summer we're talking about $1300 and even more! Crazy

Yes, we buy them when we arrive at the resort gift shop.

 

[loves to dive]

How does a split stay work? I'm in that boat because my FD dates only work for the 2nd part of my trip so I booked the same resort/same level but if I could save money or get an extra day with the savings I would do it. Do you have to bring your bags to the front desk and check out and then check into the new hotel?

You just call bell services and they come get them and move them for you, when you get into your room at your new resort, call BS at that resort and they will bring them up. They usually aren't available until after 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I just head over to whatever park I planned for that day and call whenever I get back.

Original poster - another yes to the split stay. I started doing them with my first solo stay and am hooked now. I love checking out new resorts and then moving to an old trusted favorite like one of the Epcot deluxe resorts. Lately I've become hooked on the Swan, cheaper than my true love Yacht Club yet still within walking distance of my favorite parks, Epcot and HS. I'm on a mission to stay at all the resorts so a couple of days in the front of my trips at a new resort works out well for me (plus I hate to spend deluxe prices for the first night when I get there around 3 and don't really get to enjoy the resort). Just make sure he knows in advance to sort of organize his clothes, my son isn't fond of split stays but he tolerates them to get to go all expenses paid. He doesn't unpack at all at either resort but he also doesn't unpack if we don't do a split stay.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I would say ( as a fan of spilt stays ) our rules are as long as you have a decent amount of nights in each ( no one nights too much even for us Disney regulars! ) , start with the lesser resort category if there is a difference as PP mentioned, pick resorts in different locations that gift you access to different parks. For example Monorail resort and Broadwalk, Animal Kingdom and The springs etc.

For moderates I like CSR and POR? CSR is lovely great pool. I liked the Pepper market. POR has a boat to Disney Springs that is a real bonus.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

Yes, we buy them when we arrive at the resort gift shop.

Thanks I read somewhere that you can purchase them at a discount (maybe with a Target card?) But that obviously wouldn't work from overseas...

Original poster - another yes to the split stay. I started doing them with my first solo stay and am hooked now. I love checking out new resorts and then moving to an old trusted favorite like one of the Epcot deluxe resorts. Lately I've become hooked on the Swan, cheaper than my true love Yacht Club yet still within walking distance of my favorite parks, Epcot and HS. I'm on a mission to stay at all the resorts so a couple of days in the front of my trips at a new resort works out well for me (plus I hate to spend deluxe prices for the first night when I get there around 3 and don't really get to enjoy the resort). Just make sure he knows in advance to sort of organize his clothes, my son isn't fond of split stays but he tolerates them to get to go all expenses paid. He doesn't unpack at all at either resort but he also doesn't unpack if we don't do a split stay.

Thanks! I'm sure if I ever had the guts to go alone I'd definitely do a split stay- maybe even three ways! I'd like to try all the different resorts slowly but surely.
I'd just have to warn my friend about the whole luggage moving thing so he doesn't get stuck without things he needs for the day we switch resorts...

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

I would say ( as a fan of spilt stays ) our rules are as long as you have a decent amount of nights in each ( no one nights too much even for us Disney regulars! ) , start with the lesser resort category if there is a difference as PP mentioned, pick resorts in different locations that gift you access to different parks. For example Monorail resort and Broadwalk, Animal Kingdom and The springs etc.

For moderates I like CSR and POR? CSR is lovely great pool. I liked the Pepper market. POR has a boat to Disney Springs that is a real bonus.

Yes, I stayed at CS and loved it! And POR was on my list just haven't gotten around to it yet
Thanks!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Yes, I stayed at CS and loved it! And POR was on my list just haven't gotten around to it yet
Thanks!

You could def do worse! You will adore POR. Just adorable!

 

[Sue M]

Thanks I read somewhere that you can purchase them at a discount (maybe with a Target card?) But that obviously wouldn't work from overseas...


Thanks! I'm sure if I ever had the guts to go alone I'd definitely do a split stay- maybe even three ways! I'd like to try all the different resorts slowly but surely.
I'd just have to warn my friend about the whole luggage moving thing so he doesn't get stuck without things he needs for the day we switch resorts...

Yes I read about gift cards at Target too, but no Target in Canada. They came into Canada a few years ago but didn't do well here. People were excited about them coming and expecting them to be like the U.S. Stores, but they weren't so people here just stopped shopping there. And they didn't sell Disney gift cards either :-(
I just buy them when we go.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

Yes I read about gift cards at Target too, but no Target in Canada. They came into Canada a few years ago but didn't do well here. People were excited about them coming and expecting them to be like the U.S. Stores, but they weren't so people here just stopped shopping there. And they didn't sell Disney gift cards either :-(
I just buy them when we go.

Thanks Sue! I'll keep that in mind. (I wish we had Target here!!!)

 

[Sue M]

Thanks Sue! I'll keep that in mind. (I wish we had Target here!!!)

Be careful what you wish for lol! We wanted them too, but when they came here they weren't like the US stores, in pricing and had a problem keeping and getting stock in. Total fail. They pulled out 2 yrs ago.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Yes, I stayed at CS and loved it! And POR was on my list just haven't gotten around to it yet
Thanks!

I was wondering do you have yo change much to fly to Orlando? If so do you change in America or Europe? We live in UK so we can fly direct from Gatwick or Heathrow to MCO.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

Be careful what you wish for lol! We wanted them too, but when they came here they weren't like the US stores, in pricing and had a problem keeping and getting stock in. Total fail. They pulled out 2 yrs ago.

Well I won't complain if they open them here

I was wondering do you have yo change much to fly to Orlando? If so do you change in America or Europe? We live in UK so we can fly direct from Gatwick or Heathrow to MCO.

I usually change in NY or Boston. We don't currently have a direct flight to MCO unfortunately.... That's about 12 hours to the US and another 3 or so to get to Florida

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Well I won't complain if they open them here


I usually change in NY or Boston. We don't currently have a direct flight to MCO unfortunately.... That's about 12 hours to the US and another 3 or so to get to Florida

That is long journey! I guess you are about 6 hours from us in the UK and consider it a long journey! On the positive side my wife and I think the longer we stay up and go to bed American time the quicker we can get into American routine and time change. We find we get less jet lag that way. My wife has family in Jerusalem and other towns and cities in Israel. She has visited several times I am envious! I have always wanted to see your beautiful country.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

That is long journey! I guess you are about 6 hours from us in the UK and consider it a long journey! On the positive side my wife and I think the longer we stay up and go to bed American time the quicker we can get into American routine and time change. We find we get less jet lag that way. My wife has family in Jerusalem and other towns and cities in Israel. She has visited several times I am envious! I have always wanted to see your beautiful country.

I don't really feel the jet lag at Disney. Too busy
You and your wife should visit together some day! Israel is a gorgeous country

 

[Sue M]

That is a looooong flight! Ours is 6hrs, and by the 5th hr I'm more than ready for it to be over!

 

[beccasmom]

I think it would be great too. We often did that and especially for folks who can't visit as often as we do, they really enjoyed the opportunity to see even more of what WDW offers. The resorts are an integral part of the experience IMHO. I have a friend who is planning a sisters-only trip with no kids and she's really excited to check out resorts she hasn't been to before.

 

[taiko225]

I am doing it this year with my first time visit friend. I did my firstsplit stay last year taking advice from this forum. Stepping up instead of downgrading. ***/Pop... They are so true. Once you are in a "better" resort (still value) you won't wanna go back. So this year, we are staying at Pop then BLT studio (with my DVC points). Yes I got so addicted that I joined DVC... It's a virus that just got spread out worse everyone I go since I lived overseas... Travelling 16+ hrs to WDW. Sounds crazy to most of my friends. But I managed to poison one to come with me this year!!
The split stay is totally effortless last year. Pack your bags the night before, have breakfast go back n fetch your bags checkout drop bags at bell service, show them your next reservation.... They will tell you that your bags will be with the bell service at the next resort. When I went to Pop and check-in, they gave me the new set of MB( coz I am still trying to get a full sets of Colors) n told me that my bags already placed in my room. Also go what I request for... Lake view upper floor on 60's building... Where I stopped every morning enjoy a few minutes of the view before heading off to the park! I will keep doing split stay...so I could try out more resorts! Also having it in 2 resorts is better than one coz maybe I don't like one of them I only got stuck with 1/2 my trip... Else all 8-9nights in a resort that you really don't like... Ruins a bit of the magic.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

That is a looooong flight! Ours is 6hrs, and by the 5th hr I'm more than ready for it to be over!

Totally understandable. I used to LOVE flying but that sort of changed over the past few years. Also I'm used to stopping in NY to visit family and not flying all the way to Florida in one day but that didn't (and probably won't) happen. I wonder if a direct flight would be any better.

I think it would be great too. We often did that and especially for folks who can't visit as often as we do, they really enjoyed the opportunity to see even more of what WDW offers. The resorts are an integral part of the experience IMHO. I have a friend who is planning a sisters-only trip with no kids and she's really excited to check out resorts she hasn't been to before.

Thanks- yeah, I think I'll give it a go

I am doing it this year with my first time visit friend. I did my firstsplit stay last year taking advice from this forum. Stepping up instead of downgrading. ***/Pop... They are so true. Once you are in a "better" resort (still value) you won't wanna go back. So this year, we are staying at Pop then BLT studio (with my DVC points). Yes I got so addicted that I joined DVC... It's a virus that just got spread out worse everyone I go since I lived overseas... Travelling 16+ hrs to WDW. Sounds crazy to most of my friends. But I managed to poison one to come with me this year!!
The split stay is totally effortless last year. Pack your bags the night before, have breakfast go back n fetch your bags checkout drop bags at bell service, show them your next reservation.... They will tell you that your bags will be with the bell service at the next resort. When I went to Pop and check-in, they gave me the new set of MB( coz I am still trying to get a full sets of Colors) n told me that my bags already placed in my room. Also go what I request for... Lake view upper floor on 60's building... Where I stopped every morning enjoy a few minutes of the view before heading off to the park! I will keep doing split stay...so I could try out more resorts! Also having it in 2 resorts is better than one coz maybe I don't like one of them I only got stuck with 1/2 my trip... Else all 8-9nights in a resort that you really don't like... Ruins a bit of the magic.

Where are you from? I'm glad you got someone to go with you! I'm hoping if it doesn't work out with this friend I'll get someone else. Or do a solo if I'm up for it!

 

[taiko225]

Where are you from? I'm glad you got someone to go with you! I'm hoping if it doesn't work out with this friend I'll get someone else. Or do a solo if I'm up for it!

I am from Hong Kong....