Tips for a Split Stay at Walt Disney World

Maybe you are considering staying at more than one resort on your next Walt Disney World vacation. And you are wondering- is this going to be a nightmare?  Will I spend all my time moving from resort to resort and miss the magic? Here are our tips for a smooth split stay, magic not only included, but maybe even more magic!

 What is a Split Stay?

This is when you stay at more than one Disney resort on you vacation (Usually at Walt Disney World).

Want to learn other terms used often? click here

Why do we recommend it? Are we insane???

• New resort, New pool– Kids (and adults) love to explore a new hotel, and it give you a chance to experience more than one hotel- new dining, new theming, new pool
• New clean room– Because of rules for housekeeping and DVC (housekeeping every 5th day), it’s nice sometimes nice to get a new clean room

Here are all the details on Housekeeping and DVC

• Location, Location, Location– we like to reserve two resorts, one on the monorail, and one either close to Epcot or Animal Kingdom.
• Budget– If you are splurging on a more expensive Disney Vacation resort, you can offset the cost by staying at a less expensive resort for part of the time.

Success stories from our Renters

Our tips for smooth transition from resorts

• Pack in packing cubes to make it easier to unpack and pack quickly.
• Drop off your bag at bell services on your way to the parks- usually in the main lobby or outside the main doors to the resort where you pull up your car to check in)
• Pack your swimsuit (and anything else you need for the day) in your park bag
• Take a picture of the tag they give you at bell services- text it to everyone in your group in case they need
• Go to a park close to your new resort for that day, or plan a resort day on the transition day
• You can use pools at either resort on check in/check out day
• Use online check in so you can go straight to your room
• Pick up  your bags at bell services or have them bring them to your new room
• Pack an apple air tag in a bag (I’ve never had any problems with bags going to the wrong resort, but just so you know when they are at the new resort)

Learn what how we order groceries and what can be transferred for a split stay

Rules for bag transfer

• Luggage can only be transferred between Disney owned resorts, not Swan, Dolphin, Reserve, or Disney spring hotels
• Bags will be available around 4 pm that day at your new resort
• Food items- you can transfer non perishable food, but the rules have changed and now you can not transfer freezer or items that need refrigeration.  Bell services told us that there was an incident with a guest that had transplant meds that had to be refrigerated and forgot to tell bell services.  So for obvious legal reasons they had to stop.