Choosing which resort to stay at is one of the most exciting parts of planning a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort, and a split stay can sometimes be the way to go. If you are indecisive (like I am), simply looking to experience more than one resort during a vacation, or want to splurge on a deluxe resort, but not necessarily for the entire trip, breaking up your accommodations is a helpful strategy.
If you’ve never booked a split stay, it might seem like an intimating process, but it’s actually super easy! Before my first split stay, I always thought it would be time consuming to switch hotels mid-Disney trip, and would just opt to stay at one resort the whole time to avoid any extra process. This really isn’t the case, though, and switching resorts is honestly a breeze.
Why book a split stay at Walt Disney World?
The main reason people sometimes book split stays is to experience staying at a resort that would be out of their budget for the entire trip without breaking the bank. I’ve done this a couple of times, where I’ve started the trip at one Disney’s All-Star Resorts or Pop Century, and ended with a night or two at Wilderness Lodge or the Grand Floridian.
Some guests also plan their stays based on which parks or events they’re going to at certain points of the trip. While my primary reason for booking a split stay has been budgetary, I’ve considered this point when choosing when to swap resorts as well. For instance, I’ve booked Disney trips where most of my stay is at All Star Sports, except the last night or two, when I know I’d be attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
For those nights, I’d switch to the Contemporary, so that I can easily walk to the Magic Kingdom for the party, and skip any long wait times at the bus or monorail by walking back when the party is over. (And as a bonus, it’s the Contemporary and I can have breakfast at Chef Mickey’s!)
If you’re planning a late night with an after-hours event, or early morning breakfast, it may be worth working your split stay around these plans so you can make the most of the locations of each resort.
Booking a split stay
To book a split stay, simply book two resort stays (yes, it’s that easy!) Or, if you are using a Disney authorized travel agent, they can take care of the details for you.
You would simply have two reservations, both in your name, where the check-out date at the first resort is the same as the check-in date at your last resort. Like all other Disney World reservations, this could be booked online through Disney, or through a travel agent or organization like AAA.
If you book multiple stays, just be sure to double check that all of the details are correct on both reservations (ie: arrival times, who else is staying with you, any special requests, etc.) You can see all of this under My Plans in the My Disney Experience app.
How do you switch resorts during your trip?
When it comes time to switch resorts, the move is actually quite simple. A split stay might sound intimidating when you consider how to go from Resort A to Resort B while moving your luggage, and especially when considering that most Disney guests are relying on Disney transportation and do not have their own cars. I promise it’s easy, though!
All you need to do is go to Bell Services at the resort you are checking out of. Tell the Cast Members there that you are switching resorts and need to drop off your luggage. They’ll ask you which resort you are moving to, and will tag the luggage accordingly. Then, you can head off to the theme parks, water parks, or Disney Springs, and start enjoying your day at Disney. As with any situation where you are dropping off luggage, be sure everything you’ll need is on your person (ie: if you take medication or need to change into a bathing suit).
When you’re ready to turn in for the day, head over to your new resort and stop at Bell Services to pick up your luggage. Then either head to the front desk, or right to your room if you checked in online and have your room number on your phone. In total during your trip, switching resorts should only take an extra couple of minutes to stop at Bell Services and drop off or pick up your bags.
What about resort hopping?
I actually have a whole post about resort hopping, that covers the best ways to get around the different resorts at Walt Disney World, and how to plan your time exploring resorts across property.
When it comes to split stays, you’ll just want to note that certain resort amenities are only for guests staying at those resorts. For instance, if you start deluxe and move to a value (which I don’t recommend, I would save the splurge for the end of your trip!), you can’t go back and use the pool at the deluxe resort since you are no longer staying there. You can, however, revisit a favorite restaurant for dinner and explore the lobby and grounds.
Have a question that wasn’t covered here? Drop it in the comments! Thanks for reading, and happy planning!
