The Art of a Walt Disney World Resort Split Stay
One of my favorite parts of a Walt Disney World Vacation is staying at a Disney-owned hotel. Disney hotels are conveniently located to the parks, well-themed, and provide another chance for a visitor to experience that Disney magic!
Disney owns 25 hotels on Walt Disney World property, so there is a lot to choose from.
So how does one pick just one hotel? Well…DON’T!
Instead, stay at multiple Disney resorts on a single trip to Walt Disney World (known in the Disney community as a “split stay”). Personally, every time I visit Walt Disney World, I do a resort split stay. And before you lose your Mickey Ears, hear me out on how a split stay can spread some pixie dust on your next vacation.
Tips for a Split Stay:
1. You save time with Transportation
Walt Disney World is roughly the size of San Francisco. Consequently, Disney resorts provide bus, monorail, Skyliner, and boat transportation to the parks. Also, pathways have been constructed from parks to some of the resorts.
If you stay at one resort, you may have great transportation to one or two parks, but not all of them.
I recommend picking a resort that offers non bus transportation (unless you have your own vehicle or do not plan to use Disney transportation). The monorail and Skyliner are the most efficient transportation options on property. Staying at a resort within walking distance of a park is also ideal.
When I visit Walt Disney World, I stay at least at two resorts. This allows me to maximize the transportation choices to efficiently travel to Epcot and Hollywood Studios (boat, Skyliner, and pathways) on certain days, and Magic Kingdom (boat, monorail, and pathways) on others. Animal Kingdom is the one park where bussing and driving are the only options.
Photo: Disney
2. You can save money.
The Magic Kingdom resorts are usually the most expensive Walt Disney World properties. Many visitors cannot afford to stay a whole week at the Grand Floridian, but they may be able to afford the Grand Floridian for 1-2 nights while enjoying the rest of their vacation at a value or moderate resort.
Image Credit: Disney
3. You can check out different pools
Each Walt Disney World resort has a highly themed pool. Deluxe and Moderate resorts have slides at their main pool. Disney does not allow pool hopping, so this is a way you can experience multiple resort pools without breaking the Disney rules.
4. Different Restaurants and Amenities
The Deluxe resorts all have table service, quick service, and most have character dining restaurants. Moderate resorts have a mixture of quick service and table service restaurants. The Value hotels all have food courts. Doing a split stay can give you multiple dining options.
In addition, these multiple dining options can save you money.
Photo: MealTrip.com
5. Disney Will Move Your Luggage
The best part of a split stay is Disney does all the work for you! When you are ready to leave your resort, you simply call bell services from your hotel room and a bellman comes to pick up your luggage.
You tell them where you are transferring, tip the bellman, and then go enjoy the parks! When you arrive at your next resort, simply call bell services and they will deliver the luggage to your new room. It’s that simple!
Do you want more help planning your next Disney vacation? As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, my goal is to help you plan the Magic your way. I also create customized itineraries, book advanced dining and FastPass+ reservations, monitor for discounts for your vacation, and much much more! Also, did I mention that my services are FREE!!!! Contact me at SLoehrlein@MickeyTravels.com or follow me on Facebook @MickeyTravelsShannonLoehrlein
