Would you split stay?

[scriv2]

We are going to WDW in December for 9 nights. We wanted to go to Universal 2 days out of the 9. I booked a AAA package with 7 nights courtyard view at WL with passes and dining then booked a 2 night stay at the Royal Pacific hotel in Universal. For anyone who has done a split stay, would you recommend this or book WL for 9 nights, with a 7 day pass, dining and just go to Universal 2 days? I don't know if I want to pack and then unpack but I heard the advantages of staying at a Universal hotel is great.

Any advice would be helpful!

Thanks

 

[cobbler]

I did a split stay last year. All 9 nights were at Disney though. We did 4 nights at POP and 5 at ASSports. It wasn't too horrible. For a long trip like that it wasn't bad, but I wouldn't do it for any shorter length of stay.

I wanted to try it once and also knock out 2 resorts in one shot.

If you are going to Universal I would think it would be a benefit to be there on the property then having to drive to and from Disney for those 2 days.

 

[DIS~n~JAN]

We are going to WDW in December for 9 nights. We wanted to go to Universal 2 days out of the 9. I booked a AAA package with 7 nights courtyard view at WL with passes and dining then booked a 2 night stay at the Royal Pacific hotel in Universal. For anyone who has done a split stay, would you recommend this or book WL for 9 nights, with a 7 day pass, dining and just go to Universal 2 days? I don't know if I want to pack and then unpack but I heard the advantages of staying at a Universal hotel is great.

Any advice would be helpful!

Thanks

Hi,
I had been wondering the same thing as you. I even posted, but didn't get many responces. I've decided to stay the whole time at Disney, split stay there, just to try something new like cobbler said. Disney moves your stuff within the resort for free and you don't have to be there. Plus, you get magical express. Whereas staying at universal, I thought we would waste alot of time checking out, checking in. I do agree with staying at Universal to get the FOTL pass, but we are going in Jan and when we were there last time in Jan we wouldn't have needed it at all. Let me know what your thoughts are, maybe you'll change my mind after all.haha

 

[disnut8]

My two cents - when you're doing Universal, stay closer to there. When at Disney, stay onsite. It really is a bit of a drive from Disney to Universal and you need to take either International Drive or I4 and both can be crowded. Let me put it this way - a novice friend of mine (who didn't listen to my advice) stayed at Universal the whole time and gave up on doing Disney World just because of the drive.

I think the plan you have is fine. I just hope you're doing Universal first and then Disney World. That would be my only other suggestion.

 

[4greatboys]

We almost always split our stay Disney/Universal. Universal has great resorts, right on par with the Disney deluxe and FOTL cant be beat!
We have stayed at the Royal Pacific Resort x 2--I love the theme of the resort and we have also stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel--my teen boys fav!
They have a boat that takes you up to CityWalk and you can just walk to either park from there. Everything is pretty close.

 

[SplashMom]

We did this last year although it was a bit longer but we stayed at Disney for 12 nights and at HRH in Universal for 3 nights. It was definitely worth the move. When you stay onsite at Universal, you get front of the line passes for all rides, restaurants, etc. It is a fabulous perk. We were there at Easter and bypassed lines that were sometimes up to 90 minute wait times. Plus, if you stay onsite you can either walk or take the boat to the parks--very close! No need to drive anywhere. I would definitely make the move.

 

[NCombs]

Stay at Universal so you can get FOTL benefits.

 

[goofyfordisney]

We stayed at Hard Rock Hotel for 2 nights and did Universal then switched to WDW and split a stay there between AKL and BC.

My boys loved Hard Rock Hotel (& we did too!) It was nice to have front of the line passes at Universal/IOA. It was much better than WDW's fastpass system--we got alittle spoiled at Universal/IOA!

The only thing I would have done differently on the trip is skipped the resort hopping we did between AKL and Beach Club! We should have just picked one resort and stayed there the 5 nights! In the planning stages of the trip, it seemed like the thing to do because we had trouble picking just one WDW resort--too many choices!

I would definitely split stays between Universal/IOA and WDW again!

Have a great trip!

 

[Mis4Mouse]

We've split our stay (at WDW only) - and would do it again for trips over 4 nights. My daughters and I stayed at the CBR for four nights and then switched over to the YC where my husband and sons met up with us for six more.

The switch was very easy, (we used Disney Transportation and luggage transfer) and the CS's at both resorts were very helpful in regards to luggage and checking in.

Sue

 

[Mom24Princesses]

I logged on for just this question. We are plannig a 10 night trip and I was wanting to split the time between two resorts. Please describe what happens on the day of the switch. I'm thinking we have lots of junk in tow. What did Disney do for you when you say thye moved your things? What was the timeline? When did they pick it up and when was it in your new rooms? What were you guys doing during that time? We drive down so we'd have our van. We usually have lots of drinks/snacks in the room too. JUST THINKING OUT LOUD. I would not want to move everything ourselves. We take too much LOL!!
Thanks to you and anyone else who adds on.
Melanie
257 days until we all do the Magic
329 days until DH and DW are alone on the Wonder

 

[scriv2]

Thanks for all your advice. I think I will keep my plans.

Disnut - why do you think I should do Universal first? We were doing after WL. Is there a difference?

 

[Mis4Mouse]

I logged on for just this question. We are plannig a 10 night trip and I was wanting to split the time between two resorts. Please describe what happens on the day of the switch. I'm thinking we have lots of junk in tow. What did Disney do for you when you say thye moved your things? What was the timeline? When did they pick it up and when was it in your new rooms? What were you guys doing during that time? We drive down so we'd have our van. We usually have lots of drinks/snacks in the room too. JUST THINKING OUT LOUD. I would not want to move everything ourselves. We take too much LOL!!

The first day we checked in to the first resort, I mentioned that we were switching resorts....the CM was great and answered my luggage tag questions, asking me to call down the night before check out to confirm.

The night before we left the first resort I called and was given instructions on when to have my luggage ready to be picked up. I'd already made up my mind that the day we switched was a "rest" day, so we went to breakfast and were back in time for the 10 a.m. luggage pickup. I told the CM who picked up my luggage where it was going, and tipped him.

Then the girls and I hopped a bus to Downtown Disney. We did a little shopping had lunch and then hopped a bus to the next resort.

We checked in a little early, so our room was ready, but our luggage wasn't.... We dumped whatever stuff we had (each had backpacks with our bathing suits and sunscreen in them and we also had shopping bags) and went to explore the hotel (it was the YC) We took a quick dip in the pool and as we were heading up to our room, around 3:30, we spotted our luggage on the bellhop carts in the lobby, on their way up to our room.

I suggest you take your drink and snacks with you and any purchases you've made so far, when you make the switch, especially since you have your own van.

As for what you can do while waiting for your luggage, I would say, make plans for a non-park day, go swimming, shop, go to lunch at the resort where you will be staying for the second leg of the trip...explore the resort or go to DD or DQ....something like that.

I was told that most luggage is in the room no later than 4 p.m., so you would still have the night ahead of you to do whatever.


I loved splitting stays..I think you will too!
Susan

 

[luvdisney14]

I would definately split my stay. It is like having 2 vacations in one.One year we stayed at the dolpin first and them went to hard rock. I wish we stayed at hard rock a little longer, we loved the pool area and being able to walk around city walk.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

We have done split stays several times (WDW only so far). We just returned on Tuesday from a split stay between CSR and GF. Not really a big deal to change resorts to us.

 

[drp4video]

We always stay at Disney the entire time, and drive to Universal for the two parks. I have never had a problem or hit traffic. We go in August and in December at Christmas. Two years ago, we stayed past New Years, and on January 3, the day after everyone went home, we went to Islands of Adventure. There was no one there. We walked on the rides and more than once on each ride. I think we did the whole park in 4 or 5 hours, and then did not know what to do with ourselves cause we finished so fast. I guess I have never spit my stay because I don't want to pack and unpack again.