I know I promised you that my next post would be Sea World. Truth be told, I’ve been trying to write the post but it just hasn’t come to me. I don’t know what it is, but it just isn’t happening for me. I promise I will write that post . But at the moment, instead, I decided to write about something else –Disney resort split stay. This, actually, wasn’t something I was aware of until I started planning my latest trip. I really didn’t know that it was an option, or that it was that common. But after some research, I found out that split stays at the Disney resorts are very popular. I was even convinced to change our plans and try out a Disney resort split stay for the first time.
Disney World is enormous, with so many choices of on-site accommodations. Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming and hard to decide where to stay. So, instead of making a decision, some prefer to divide their stay between two or more resorts. That is what is known as a Disney resort split stay.
The question is, if a split stay is the right fit for you.
There are a several reasons you may consider splitting your stay at Disney World:
- You have your heart set on more than one resort, and can’t make up your mind.
- The resort you have your heart set on is a deluxe resort. Staying there for your whole vacation is too heavy on your budget. Splitting your stay will allow you to enjoy the deluxe resort, if only for a shorter stay.
- The resort you want isn’t available for the entirety of your stay.
- Sometimes your party composition will change, changing the resort priorities with it.
- Mixing business and pleasure on one trip – staying for business in one hotel, and changing hotels for pleasure.
- Just being adventurous.
Booking your reservation:
You will need to make two separate reservations. For example: staying at AOA for 6 nights and then another 4 nights at the Polynesian, you’ll need to secure two separate bookings, with two reservation numbers, to be entered separately in My Disney Experience. Doing that also means you’ll need to pay two deposits. Make sure to pay attention to the different cancellation windows for each one of the reservations.
The reservations can be made online, just make sure that your second reservation starts on the day that your first one ends. Reading many posts and forums on the matter, many find it easier to make the split stay reservation over the phone (407-W-DISNEY). You can also use the services of a travel agent.
What about park tickets?
When it comes to booking park tickets, the more days you book, the cheaper the tickets will get. If you’re looking to save money, it would be best to attach your tickets for the entire stay to your first reservation. The tickets can be used up to 14 days from time of activation.
By making your second reservation a room only booking, and not splitting your park tickets, you can surprisingly save a small fortune. It’s a fact. I couldn’t believe it myself until I crunched the numbers for our trip. With a split stay of 6 nights at AOA and 4 nights at The Polynesian, when attaching the park tickets to the first booking we will save over $US 1,500, say what??? Yep, with a small movement of numbers from left to right we will be saving a nice sum of money. Savings like that can be very important when talking about a Disney vacation – a money consuming vacation as it is.- See my post on planning our Disney stay.
Dining plan/ Free dining
In the past, if you wanted to get the dining plan, when splitting your stay, you would have to attach park tickets to each reservation. The Disney policy has recently changed, and now days guest can book the dining plan on both reservations even if their tickets are attached to the first booking. This means, you can enjoy the cheaper tickets when attaching them to your first reservation, and still have dining plans for the duration of your stay.
Saying that, unlike the park tickets, the dining plan is linked to the number of days in each resort. The dining must be added separately to each reservation. Also, you must use your dining credits during your stay in each resort. If booking first resort for 4 days and second resort for 5 days, you need to use your dining credits for the first stay during your stay in the first resort. Dining credits related to the first reservation will expire at midnight on the day you checked out of your first resort.
What happens with promotions like Free Dining?
To be able to take advantage of a promotion like free dining, you must have park tickets attached to your multiple reservations. This means you won’t be enjoying the savings when attaching tickets to your first reservation. You need to know, that when the free dining promotion is out, you don’t get discounted room rates either. So, even though the free dining promotion is very tempting, you need to make your individual calculation, including your expected dining expenses, with room rates and ticket prices. You may be surprised to find that the promotion is not always worth your while. In your case, it may be more advantageous to enjoy discount room rates, ticket attachment to first reservation and eating as you go.
What happens with my luggage? How do I get from the first resort to the second?
There is no problem to move from one resort to the other. Even if you don’t have your car with you, Disney will take care of your luggage. All you have to do is check-out of your first resort, and bring your luggage to the bell service desk (or have it brought down by the bell boy). Let them know you’re moving to another Disney resort, and they will tag the bags, give you a receipt, and have them transferred to your new resort.
You can go off to enjoy a great day in the park, and return in the afternoon or evening directly to the new resort. Check in, and make your way to the Bell boy service to retrieve your luggage. You can take your luggage yourself or have it brought up to your room.
The bag transfer will usually take several hours, and in most of the cases the luggage will arrive at the new resort mid-day to late afternoon. If there are items you need during the day – keep them with you while the luggage is in transfer.
How does the split stay effect dining and Fastpass booking windows?
With the fastpass, if tickets are attached to your first reservation and extend the length of your stay, you can make fastpass reservations at the 60 day mark for your entire stay. If tickets are split, the reservations would need to be make separately at 60 day mark of each reservation. When planning to make your dining reservations online, you will be able to make reservations at the 180 day mark for each reservation. If you make the reservations by phone they will, most likely, make your reservations for both consecutive stays.
What about Disney Magical Express?
While on split stay you can take advantage of Disney’s Magical Express. Attach pick up to your first resort and transfer back to airport to your last resort. Make sure they are aware that you will be arriving to one Disney resort and leaving from another.
Do you get two Magic Bands, one for each resort? How are they used?
You will be issued two magic bands, as you are booked in two separate holidays. You can consolidate to one band. When checking into your second resort, just ask Guest Services to add the new resort details to your first band. If you have a My Disney Experience account, and both your Magic Bands are connected to your account. Then you should be able to use them interchangeably for your park tickets, charges to your room, Fastpasses and anything else linked through that account. When checking in just make sure both Magic Bands are properly linked to your room key.
Planning your split stay
A split stay is a great way to experience Disney even more. Saying that, you must understand that managing your split stay takes more effort, more attention to details and more energy.
When you plan your split stay, it would make sense for you to visit the parks in the vicinity of the resort location. For example: Staying at AOA and then at Poly, make your Ohana reservations for your Poly resort stay. Smart planning can make up for time lost in the resort transfer process.
Bottom line, it may be harder to plan a split stay, but on the same note, it may well be worth it.
