OK, let’s get real here for a moment – Disney can make it HARD to make vacation decisions. Am I right?
There are so many opportunities to experience magic and fun on a family vacation to Disney’s resort and parks, but the choices at times can feel overwhelming. Especially when you want to see it all!
But let’s back it up for a moment. The first choice any Disney planning mama will face can, at times, feel the most difficult of all: where she and her family will stay and enjoy accommodations for their special week visiting the main mouse.
Even this decision can feel wildly tough, though. Did you know there are well over twenty Disney World resorts to choose from?
That number may seem mind-boggling to you! How can one ever decide when Disney has so many unique places to stay?
The good news is there is a solution for the family who likes variety. Enter the Disney “split stay.”
If you are enticed by this idea, wondering what splitting a stay at Disney may even mean, it is when guests spend the first portion of a vacation at one resort, and then, midway through the trip, they intentionally shift gears (and literally hotels!), transferring to a second resort for the remainder of their visit.
Whoa whoa whoa… is this a thing?! Do families really prefer to uproot themselves from their resort after they’re comfortable and unpacked? This does not sound like an easy task, particularly if you have a grumpy husband un-inclined to deal with luggage.
I hear you. It can sound like more work than it may be worth.
So first, let’s go over the benefits and why some choose this nontraditional path to their lodging.
You want to enjoy more experiences!
When each Disney resort has incredible theming, making it feel like you are being transported far, far from Orlando, Florida in some cases, some guests find it attractive to experience more than one style, as well as the different activities, dining options, and pools that the hotels offer.
One night you may be listening to island tunes on a beach at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, while the next you are dining on African delicacies, staring at a giraffe that is mere meters away, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. It can feel like two vacations all in the same week!
Resort Location
Another important piece to consider with a split stay is the location of the resorts. With four major theme parks miles away from each other, it is possible to strategically select resorts in conjunction with the trip itinerary so you are never far away from the park you want to visit on any given day.
For my family’s upcoming trip, we are doing four nights at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, which just happens to be within walking distance to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. We are then shifting for the last two nights to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, where we can ride the monorail to Magic Kingdom in under five minutes. Was this planning by accident? Absolutely not! I knew the location was the number one deciding factor for our resort selections this trip, and I lined them up accordingly!
A note here… There is no need to stress if you do not know which resorts are located near each theme park. That is what a Disney travel planning specialist is for, and our assistance in giving you this guidance in selecting the perfect resort(s) is totally free. Let’s get connected today if you are ready for some free planning advice!
Enjoying a Deluxe Experience While Staying on Budget
It is no surprise that some of Disney’s deluxe resorts can feel pricey. This is where a split stay can step in and help make the premiere experience a reality for some.
Let me paint the picture of my family’s trip this past May for you. We found availability at a resort I was dying to try – Disney’s Yacht Club. I knew my girls would love the infamous pool, my husband would be impressed by the luxurious details and amenities on property there, and the hotel’s proximity to the parks cannot be beaten. But, for this trip, the price tag to stay there for a full week was far too steep. Our budget would only allow for us to stay at a moderate-tiered resort for the 6 nights we would be visiting.
Think again!! After some creative thinking, and some number crunching, I realized a split stay could make a two-night stint at the Yacht Club a reality for us! We ended up booking our first four nights at the value resort Art of Animation, saving significant money compared to a full week at the moderate choices we had been considering, and this freed up the funds for us to enjoy the last two nights deluxe. Let me tell you – it was WELL worth the transfer!
So now that you are beginning to see some of the clear benefits a split stay can provide your family, there is the issue of logistics. Of course, you’re thinking – is this worth the effort?
Here are the primary concerns and questions that should be addressed so you can make an educated decision:
We won’t have a car! How in the world will I get my luggage from point A to B?
Fear not! Disney has you covered. Their bell service is phenomenal, and all it takes is a quick call down to them on your check-out morning to request a luggage transfer (or you can bring it to their bell service desk). They will tag and move every bit of your luggage for you, all for free (excluding a courteous tip, of course)! This is so easy to do, especially on a park day… Just head out to enjoy your day, and when you are ready to take a break or head back for the night, arrive at the new location (let’s say 2:00 PM or later) and your luggage is waiting for you. It could not be more simple.
Would this be one or two reservations? And if it is two, what are the deposits?
Technically this indeed means two reservations with Disney and two individual bookings, both of which will come with two different confirmation numbers. As such, they do require two deposits. A ticket and resort package at Disney requires an initial deposit of only $200, totally refundable up to 30 days before check-in. Some happy news is that your travel agent can actually call in and book the second reservation as a ticket-less package too, which means this also will have the same deposit requirement and terms.
How do the packaged tickets work between two stays/reservations?
It is more cost-effective to package all your tickets into one of the stays as opposed to breaking it into two simply because the more ticketed days bundled together, the less expensive they become. As an example, 5-day or 6-day tickets are cheaper than two shorter tickets. Again, rely on your travel agent to ensure you are getting the absolute best deal here, but as a general rule, you will want to bundle all the tickets together, on the front end stay of the trip.
Besides these elements reviewed, there is not a whole more to complicate this type of booking! As you can see, a split stay is not nearly as complicated as people may assume. If you can’t tell, I am a huge fan of this method. If I am visiting Disney for more than 3 or 4 days, I almost always divide my time between two (or more!) resorts. Hopefully, you too now understand the ins and outs of such a process and the potential ways it can enhance your vacation.
Interested in chatting more about these possibilities? I would love to get you more details and chat with you about this option of splitting your week between two locations! I am an agent with Smart Moms Travel, our sister company, and it is totally free for you to book your Disney vacation through me. Ready to get started today? Click here for us to connect! Allow me to handle the logistical pieces so you can just enjoy the planning process and trip! Or, if you are already booked with a Smart Moms travel planner, you’re in excellent hands, so be sure to reach out to them with questions, and they will happily guide you toward the best option for your family.
