Splitting Stays Between 2 WDW Resorts

[was5]

I don't want to hijack another post, so I'm going to start a new one.

Is it possible to split between 2 resorts if you book one through Disney (a value resort suite) and the other by renting DVC points?

If you did switch between a nicer and value resort, where would you start your trip?

Tentative plan is for early 2018 (probably January). Trip will be 4 adults and 3 kids: me, DH, + 3 kids (10, 4, 4), my dad and stepmom. Most likely 7 nights.

My original thought was an AoA suite for us and a room at Pop for dad/stepmom. I'm now considering an All Star Music Resort so my family can get a suite and my dad and stepmom can stay on the same property as us and have the least expensive standard room option. I think there is enough theming in the rooms and at their pools to make the little kids happy even though I'm kind of meh about it.

I thought it might be nice to end our trip by staying a couple days at the Beach Club or Board Walk. Then again, maybe it would be nice to start our trip at BLT and stay a couple days there while we go to MK and switch over to the value resort hotel.

I also considered sharing a 2 bedroom villa with my dad and step mom for the whole stay, but I think we need a little bit of space from each other.

Thoughts?

[juliej]

It's pretty easy to do a split stay – they're just two separate reservations. When you're ready to move over, they'll transfer the baggage for you. Our last trip, we did three different resorts – AoA as a direct book, and then Beach Club and BLT as DVC rentals.

Personally, if I was doing a value and a DVC, I'd end on the high note. It would feel like a letdown to go from BLT or Beach Club to one of the All Stars (AoA isn't quite as drastic because it's newer). Starting at a value sets expectations lower, and then when you move to a deluxe or DVC the upgrade feels SOOOO nice.

[tinkerbell]

IIRC if you stay at either Pop or AoA you are able to use the pools at both resorts.

I personally would start at the value and then move to the deluxe.

The only thing that might make me re-think doing a split stay is if I was planning to get the dining plan. You can get park tickets that last your entire stay, but you can't extend the DP to the 2nd resort unless you purchase a whole new set of park tickets.

[lala]

We have found it super easy to switch between resorts and have done it on several trips. Shouldn't make a difference how it was booked.

I would definitely go for the value first then then deluxe.

If the 2 bedroom villa is in the budget it's a decent amount of room so you might be fine. Or maybe 2 studios for the whole time?

[was5]

Thanks juliej, the main reason I was considering doing the DVC first is because we could stay at BLT and start off with a bang at MK and Epcot, taking advantage of the monorail. We would do AK and HS after we moved to the value resort, since we'd have to use busses anyway.

tinkerbell, interesting you point that out. I was actually wondering if we could just do a DP for the time we were at one of the resorts. I was thinking of front-loading a couple character meals and then being more laid back the second part of the trip.

[lala]

Yes, you can add the dining plan to just one of the reservations.

[ilikedonuts]

We are using our DVC points at BLT and then doing 3 nights at AoA in October/November.

[was5]

Aug 18, 2016 13:29:51 GMT -5 lala said:

We have found it super easy to switch between resorts and have done it on several trips. Shouldn't make a difference how it was booked.

I would definitely go for the value first then then deluxe.

If the 2 bedroom villa is in the budget it's a decent amount of room so you might be fine. Or maybe 2 studios for the whole time?

Yeah, I've been playing around with the costs of various configurations. I noticed the BLT studio only sleeps 4 but the Poly studio sleeps 5. Maybe DD could sleep in the room with my dad and step mom if we did BLT. I hadn't really thought of the BLT before but since this will be the first trip my boys will know what's going on, I'd like to have easy access to MK. I also think they'd get a kick out of the monorail.

[ilikedonuts]

Aug 18, 2016 13:06:30 GMT -5 tinkerbell said:

IIRC if you stay at either Pop or AoA you are able to use the pools at both resorts.

You can't pool hop. They don't share pools. Allstars share but Pop and AoA are both separate from each other.

[Deleted]

I do it all the time. You just call Bell Services and they get your bags and bring tag them and then they show up in your new room.

You will be " roomless" from the like 11:00am-4:00pm. We usually leave early for RD have a sit down lunch at our new resort around 1:00 and swim at our new resort until check in. It can be hard if you have a little one who needs a nap during that time and won't nap in the stroller. I pack the " essentials" that CANNOT be lost in a bag and bring it into the park ( mostly my kid's " babies" he sleeps with, bathing suits to use at the resort pool while waiting for our room and contact solution, powder, an emergency change of clothes etc)