How do I properly book a split stay?

[chippydale33]

I'm a seasoned DISer, but I just don't know how to book a split stay through MDE.

We are booked at GF Oct 27th-Nov 5th with 10 day park hopper and regular dining plan, but are looking to add a day to our trip, and do split stay. We're looking at Oct 27th-Oct 30th Yacht Club, and then Oct 30th-Nov 6th Grand Floridian. One of those days will be a resort day at GF without a park ticket needed, but would be preferred in case we want to get dinner at Epcot or something.

I can't for the life of me figure out how to do this without everything getting all wonky. Ideally I'd like to know the cost difference before we switch all our plans around but I can't figure out how to do it?

Also, how does fastpass and dining work for this? Would our stay at GF be considered a whole other stay, and I'd have to wait to book fastpasses and dining until 180 days out from that reservation? I saw an option to "link" reservations, so perhaps that's my golden ticket with all of this?

What about Memory Maker? Would I have to purchase this twice? If so, it's a no-go.

Any advice and guidance would be appreciated!

 

[siren0119]

You can't "book" a split stay - "Split Stay" is just an internet term. All it means is two separate reservations are being booked for the same trip. You would need to book individual reservations at each of the hotels you want to stay at.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

You basically just book 2 reservations.

 

[chippydale33]

You can't "book" a split stay - "Split Stay" is just an internet term. All it means is two separate reservations are being booked for the same trip. You would need to book individual reservations at each of the hotels you want to stay at.

You basically just book 2 reservations.

This makes sense, but how do I work a dining plan and park tickets for it? And memory maker, and trip insurance? Would I have to buy everything twice? Seems like a huge waste!

My thoughts are do I buy a 10 day park hopper with my YC reservation since it's my first hotel stay, include the dining plan, memory maker, and trip protection, but then book nothing but hotel for GF? Will my dining plan, memory maker, and trip protection properly coincide with my GF stay?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

This makes sense, but how do I work a dining plan and park tickets for it? And memory maker, and trip insurance? Would I have to buy everything twice? Seems like a huge waste!

My thoughts are do I buy a 10 day park hopper with my YC reservation since it's my first hotel stay, include the dining plan, memory maker, and trip protection, but then book nothing but hotel for GF? Will my dining plan, memory maker, and trip protection properly coincide with my GF stay?

Park ticket would depend on what dates it can be used.
Dining plan is linked to the number of nights at a resort and will expire at midnight of check out day.
Not too sure about memory maker as I've never done it and probably never will.
Honestly my thought is its just too complicated for what you want of your vacation so just book one hotel.

 

[chippydale33]

Park ticket would depend on what dates it can be used.
Dining plan is linked to the number of nights at a resort and will expire at midnight of check out day.
Not too sure about memory maker as I've never done it and probably never will.
Honestly my thought is its just too complicated for what you want of your vacation so just book one hotel.

Thank you for your input. I thought split-stays were so common that these things had to have been figured out before and I just didn't have the knowledge about it.

We wanted to add an extra day for relaxation since it is our honeymoon and we don't want to be park hopping all day every day. We figured the best way would be to do a split stay at a lower cost resort to get us a cheaper booking total overall, PLUS an extra night at GF. We aren't breaking the bank if we simply added another night at GF instead of a split stay, I'm just trying to save that good extra amount of money. And we wanted memory maker for the reason of it being a special trip.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Thank you for your input. I thought split-stays were so common that these things had to have been figured out before and I just didn't have the knowledge about it.

We wanted to add an extra day for relaxation since it is our honeymoon and we don't want to be park hopping all day every day. We figured the best way would be to do a split stay at a lower cost resort to get us a cheaper booking total overall, PLUS an extra night at GF. We aren't breaking the bank if we simply added another night at GF instead of a split stay, I'm just trying to save that good extra amount of money. And we wanted memory maker for the reason of it being a special trip.

People split stay for various reasons and often they have an AP or opt to not go to the parks during one part of their stay or the other.
Also people often times only opt to get the dining plan for one part of their stay or the other.
But as stated above its really not a "thing" that Disney does. Its just that you essentially just book 2 reservations because that's what you want to do.
Like I said in your case wanting it all inclusive I wouldn't recommend doing a split stay.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I'm a seasoned DISer, but I just don't know how to book a split stay through MDE.

We are booked at GF Oct 27th-Nov 5th with 10 day park hopper and regular dining plan, but are looking to add a day to our trip, and do split stay. We're looking at Oct 27th-Oct 30th Yacht Club, and then Oct 30th-Nov 6th Grand Floridian. One of those days will be a resort day at GF without a park ticket needed, but would be preferred in case we want to get dinner at Epcot or something.

I can't for the life of me figure out how to do this without everything getting all wonky. Ideally I'd like to know the cost difference before we switch all our plans around but I can't figure out how to do it?

Also, how does fastpass and dining work for this? Would our stay at GF be considered a whole other stay, and I'd have to wait to book fastpasses and dining until 180 days out from that reservation? I saw an option to "link" reservations, so perhaps that's my golden ticket with all of this?

What about Memory Maker? Would I have to purchase this twice? If so, it's a no-go.

Any advice and guidance would be appreciated!

Reservation #1: Oct. 27 - Oct. 30, Yacht Club with 10 day park hopper tickets and dining
Reservation #2: Oct. 30 - Nov. 6, GF with dining (you have to call in to make this reservation and ask for a "ticketless package")

Purchase Memory Maker separately. Purchase third-party insurance separately (I like Travel Insured).

You should be able to make all of your FP+ 60 days prior to Oct. 27. You will, however, have two ADR reservation dates - 180 days prior to Oct. 27 and 180 days prior to Oct. 30.

 

[siren0119]

Dining plan - that is tied to your hotel stay, so you would need to book the dining plan separately along with each hotel reservation

Memory maker is good for 30 days, so you only have to pay for it once to cover your entire trip

Dining reservations can be booked at 180 days+ length of stay from the start date of each reservation. So you would have to book ADR's for the first part of your stay, then book the ADR's for the second half of your stay at 180 days from THAT checkin date.

To be honest, it's not a ton of extra work - If you want to be on the dining plan, book both stays with the dining plan added, and add 10 day tickets to the first reservation. Put your two ADR days on your calendar so you don't forget/miss one, and enjoy your trip

 

[chippydale33]

Reservation #1: Oct. 27 - Oct. 30, Yacht Club with 10 day park hopper tickets and dining
Reservation #2: Oct. 30 - Nov. 6, GF with dining (you have to call in to make this reservation and ask for a "ticketless package")

Purchase Memory Maker separately. Purchase third-party insurance separately (I like Travel Insured).

You should be able to make all of your FP+ 60 days prior to Oct. 27. You will, however, have two ADR reservation dates - 180 days prior to Oct. 27 and 180 days prior to Oct. 30.

Dining plan - that is tied to your hotel stay, so you would need to book the dining plan separately along with each hotel reservation

Memory maker is good for 30 days, so you only have to pay for it once to cover your entire trip

Dining reservations can be booked at 180 days+ length of stay from the start date of each reservation. So you would have to book ADR's for the first part of your stay, then book the ADR's for the second half of your stay at 180 days from THAT checkin date.

To be honest, it's not a ton of extra work - If you want to be on the dining plan, book both stays with the dining plan added, and add 10 day tickets to the first reservation. Put your two ADR days on your calendar so you don't forget/miss one, and enjoy your trip

Thank you both so much!! Very helpful information! I'm sure I can get on a call with a CM and they'll let me know how much it would all cost now that I know it is possible.

 

[crouton]

We have really become addicted to split stays. We have also used it to save money on dining, by only doing the dining plan on the first stay. It lasts until midnight of your check out, and with a little planning, spreading out snacks, etc. we have been able to almost turn that resort changing day into a free meal day. The resort changing is about as seamless as it could possible be. I never really unpack fully anyway, so Disney just takes the bags to the 2nd resort. Easy breezy.

 

[bumbershoot]

Reservation #2: Oct. 30 - Nov. 6, GF with dining (you have to call in to make this reservation and ask for a "ticketless package")

Yep.

To be honest, it's not a ton of extra work - If you want to be on the dining plan, book both stays with the dining plan added, and add 10 day tickets to the first reservation. Put your two ADR days on your calendar so you don't forget/miss one, and enjoy your trip

Agreed.

 

[FSU Girl]

I love split stays, but we have an annual pass so it's a little easier. We also never do the dining plan, it's too much food and would cost us extra money in the end. When booking dining you'd have to wait for the second hotel stay's 180 day to book that, but for Fastpasses you'd get to book for the entire trip. It's nice to have two hotels. You could plan to be in Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom when at Grand Floridian and Epcot and Hollywood Studios when you're at Yacht Club. I say go for it, it's a fun experience and it's your honeymoon.

 

[Maxie86]

With a trip that long you may want to look into at least one of you getting an AP. You will be able to get discounts on food and merchandise, and possibly your room, plus memory maker is free with an AP. Split stays are much easier when booking room only. Depending on where you plan on eating, you can look into getting the Tables in Wonderland card, it may save more than the dining plan. It gives you 20% off dining including alcohol, but costs $150 and with only two people it would only be worth it if you are eating at a lot of TS and signature restaurants. You must be a Florida resident or AP holder to get one though. You can still get the dining plan with an AP by booking a ticketless package.

 

[JenniferYoung44]

I would highly recommend one of you buy an AP instead of a 10 day hopper. You not have to buy memory maker, you can get an AP discount on the rooms (once they come out later in the year) and 20% off merchandise. My AP paid for itself twice over in discounts in just one trip.

 

[ErinsMommy]

I'm a seasoned DISer, but I just don't know how to book a split stay through MDE.

We are booked at GF Oct 27th-Nov 5th with 10 day park hopper and regular dining plan, but are looking to add a day to our trip, and do split stay. We're looking at Oct 27th-Oct 30th Yacht Club, and then Oct 30th-Nov 6th Grand Floridian. One of those days will be a resort day at GF without a park ticket needed, but would be preferred in case we want to get dinner at Epcot or something.

I can't for the life of me figure out how to do this without everything getting all wonky. Ideally I'd like to know the cost difference before we switch all our plans around but I can't figure out how to do it?

Also, how does fastpass and dining work for this? Would our stay at GF be considered a whole other stay, and I'd have to wait to book fastpasses and dining until 180 days out from that reservation? I saw an option to "link" reservations, so perhaps that's my golden ticket with all of this?

What about Memory Maker? Would I have to purchase this twice? If so, it's a no-go.

Any advice and guidance would be appreciated!

You can add all park tickets to your first stay (so 10 day park hopper) so that way you can book all your FPs when your window opens 60 days prior to 10/27. Dining, you have to add to each part of your stay (so 5 day dining on the YC portion; and 5 day dining on the GF portion) - whatever extra dining credits you don't use on the YC portion, you'll lose at midnight on day 1 of the GF portion. Hope that makes sense.

 

[chippydale33]

I would highly recommend one of you buy an AP instead of a 10 day hopper. You not have to buy memory maker, you can get an AP discount on the rooms (once they come out later in the year) and 20% off merchandise. My AP paid for itself twice over in discounts in just one trip.

Hmm.. we never once thought about an AP! Is it 'guaranteed' there will be an AP room discount coming out for my dates?

 

[siren0119]

Hmm.. we never once thought about an AP! Is it 'guaranteed' there will be an AP room discount coming out for my dates?

Nope, discounts are never guaranteed. There are blogs that track trends for when discounts are offered, so you can look at historical data and see if it's LIKELY that a discount might be offered. Remember that you also get free Memory Maker, and food/merchandise discounts with an AP too (plus free parking at the parks, if you were going to have a car with you)

 

[chippydale33]

Nope, discounts are never guaranteed. There are blogs that track trends for when discounts are offered, so you can look at historical data and see if it's LIKELY that a discount might be offered. Remember that you also get free Memory Maker, and food/merchandise discounts with an AP too (plus free parking at the parks, if you were going to have a car with you)

Understood! Wasn't sure if AP holders always got room discounts, or if it's still up in the air. Thank you!!

 

[JenniferYoung44]

Nothing with Disney is a guarantee but if you google "disney historical discounts" you will see that historically there is almost always an AP room discount and it is always better than the general population gets. For example I will be staying at Yacht Club May 12-14. The average nightly rate with the current room discount is $432, I booked it for $340 per night with the AP discount. Just like any discount it is subject to availability but as long as you pay attention to when the discounts come out (there are threads here on the DIS that watch for them) I have never had any problem booking the room i want with it, especially at a deluxe.