Ever stayed at two resorts in one trip?

[Takeitforgranite]

My family of 5 has stayed the Poly 4 times now, and we love it. Everything about it fit us and our preferences. We book through David's, and it works out great. We plan to stay there every summer.

The kids are now 17,15,and 12, and are WDW veterans. I still would like to find ways to give them new experiences, though. I was thinking about booking another resort for 2-3 nights before our Poly stay to give us all a chance to enjoy the amenities and conveniencies of another resort.

Since GotG opened, we have been going to Epcot more often, but the Monorail makes that convenient from the Poly. Beaches and cream is always part of our visit, but the walk from Epcot and back is tough in the summer. The pool there looks great, so staying at the Beach Club would help with that and access to HS.

Any of the resorts with access to the Skyliner could be good.

I am open to any suggestions for a family with older kids. We have never been a family that visits other resorts much, so I know there are a lot of things yet to see and do.

 

[nickys]

We do a split stay every trip.

With teens I suggest either the Beach Club or Boardwalk. Both has access to the Skyliner, and also the boats to DHS. Or you can walk in around 20 minutes strolling pace.

Depending when your trip will be, Stormalong Bay at BC will be closed from early 2025 until May / June.

 

[RememberWhen]

I agree Beach Club would be a good bet. i would throw out Animal Kingdom Lodge if you’re able to do some resort time (hard for my family to tear ourselves away from the parks). It’s beautiful with plenty to do right there.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

a great many times

For that matter, we often do 3 or even sometimes 4.

1. arrival night or departure night at inexpensive option
2. Universal
3. WDW
4. Sometimes split WDW portion into 2 stays.
5. Some trips are combo of Orlando and beyond Orlando- like Tampa, St Augustine and beyond.

To clarify, we don't split every trip into multiple stays, mostly just longer visits. Sometimes we do splits in order to get the room at a discount, or just to try a new hotel.

To answer your question, there are a number of good options in that area: BC, YC, Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve. Of the S/D SR options, we like SR and Swan best. SR is new and super clean, but a little further to walk. Swan has the best location of the 3.

If you want to try something new, consider a club level stay perhaps. Though only if the price difference for Club is $200 or less and you aren't doing the Dining Plan for that portion of your visit. With 4 people and a rate of $200 (over non CL) that works out to $50 per person for club lounge. The CL is a bit like half-board. You get access to the lounge from 7am-10pm. They serve breakfast 7am-10am, and the rest of the day you can get snacks and beverages if you visit the lounge up until 10pm. It isn't always convenient to return to the lounge mid-day, but the 8-10pm desserts are tasty. It isn't too hard to get back before 10pm. Some of the CL's now offer ice cream during the day. If you have 4 people, CL doesn't exactly save money, but it can be a fun splurge, and it saves time over getting breakfast anywhere else if you want to make rope drop at Epcot or HS. I would not pay more than that for CL though.

Of the WDW resort options, BC and YC are just 2 halves of the same resort, and BWK is also nice. We tend to pick whichever one has the best rate. I should maybe add, we don't care much if we have a balcony. If a balcony is important to you then there is some difference between them. I'm not 100% certain, but I think YC has more (full-size) balconies than BC.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Last trip we stayed at the Hilton Lake Buena Vista (cashed in some points) and it had the early entry benefit. Then we rented DVC points for Kidani (wonderful!) and then the last three days moved to All Star Movies. Might not fit your family but split stays are fairly easy to do. Disney will move your bags for you if it is a Disney to Disney stay.

 

[meggo819]

Disney will move your bags for you if it is a Disney to Disney stay

Do they move it from one bell services to the other bell services? Or from room to room, if you request it? We’re doing a split stay moving from Art of Animation to Kidani.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Do they move it from one bell services to the other bell services? Or from room to room, if you request it? We’re doing a split stay moving from Art of Animation to Kidani.

Yep, we dropped off our bags at Bell Services at Kidani and asked them to transfer to the All Stars. They do warn you not to expect bags to be at the next resort until later in the afternoon, so take anything you really need with you. And they won't transfer refrigerated food.

 

[Tuvalu]

Do they move it from one bell services to the other bell services? Or from room to room, if you request it?

Yep, we dropped off our bags at Bell Services at Kidani and asked them to transfer to the All Stars. They do warn you not to expect bags to be at the next resort until later in the afternoon, so take anything you really need with you. And they won't transfer refrigerated food.

To add to ^^^ it is bell services to bell services only - you’ll either have to call for delivery once in your room or pick up the bags from bell services yourself.

 

[Takeitforgranite]

Wow. I can't believe I've never heard of club level. I guess I've never shopped for a deluxe resort on the Disney site, and it looks like that isn't an option when renting points. I made the mistake of including my wife in the reaserch last night, and she, of course, wants to do it. We were watching videos about the club level food/drinks, and she kept saying "All that is free?"

"No. It's included when you pay for club level."

"But it's free after that."


We like the idea of staying at BC or BWK. We looked at BWK last night and think the kids would like it. We will look into the other resorts mentioned. We both love the idea of being able to walk back to the resort after Fantasmic or Luminous. Honestly, that could be the best perk for me, as leaving the park at close is the thing I dread the most.

 

[Tuvalu]

Wow. I can't believe I've never heard of club level. I guess I've never shopped for a deluxe resort on the Disney site, and it looks like that isn't an option when renting points. I made the mistake of including my wife in the reaserch last night, and she, of course, wants to do it. We were watching videos about the club level food/drinks, and she kept saying "All that is free?"

"No. It's included when you pay for club level."

"But it's free after that."


We like the idea of staying at BC or BWK. We looked at BWK last night and think the kids would like it. We will look into the other resorts mentioned. We both love the idea of being able to walk back to the resort after Fantasmic or Luminous. Honestly, that could be the best perk for me, as leaving the park at close is the thing I dread the most.

Boardwalk has an amazing club level. If you’d like to read about my experience earlier this year, info and pics can be found in my trip report, pages 21-30. (Link should take you directly to page 21.)

Trip Report - Shortest Retirement in History?

Justin Bieber lasted 2 weeks. Tom Brady lasted 40 days. I, Tuvalu, outlasted them both. Not by much, mind you. Yet if not for the encouragement of some forum friends - along with some unusual circumstances - you wouldn’t be reading this. Unusual circumstances, you say? Around Thanksgiving my...

forums.wdwmagic.com

 

[nickys]

I guess I've never shopped for a deluxe resort on the Disney site, and it looks like that isn't an option when renting points.

The only DVC that has a Club Level option is AKL (at Jambo). The rooms are very hard to get and it’s unlikely that you’d get one renting points, but not impossible.

 

[Eric Graham]

We've done it with my niece and nephew without a problem to Univeral and Disney. And, the house of mouse a few times. We are a little biased about kids. We don't have kids, just the four legged kind. We like kids that you can give them back after a few hours. Nothing against our many nephews and nieces. They're very wonderful, except for that one

 

[Eric Graham]

Wow. I can't believe I've never heard of club level. I guess I've never shopped for a deluxe resort on the Disney site, and it looks like that isn't an option when renting points. I made the mistake of including my wife in the reaserch last night, and she, of course, wants to do it. We were watching videos about the club level food/drinks, and she kept saying "All that is free?"

"No. It's included when you pay for club level."

"But it's free after that."


We like the idea of staying at BC or BWK. We looked at BWK last night and think the kids would like it. We will look into the other resorts mentioned. We both love the idea of being able to walk back to the resort after Fantasmic or Luminous. Honestly, that could be the best perk for me, as leaving the park at close is the thing I dread the most.

Back in the day when they had fastpasses once in a blue moon...You could buy an additional 3 fastpasses and have 6 a day. It was so awesome! Not sure if they still do this but they had a concierge that would help you find dining etc reservations more easily...

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I can't remember a trip where we didn't do it lol. Now we almost always have a rental car so that helps, but apparently your bags can be transferred to your room for you. We like it, it breaks up the trip, we get to try something different, and if you hate your first room it's nice to know you will be trying something new. The only drawback is ....
Because it's Florida, if you do it during warmer months(of which there are many) many consumables are going to have to be tossed when moving rooms. Chocolate, candies etc will just melt.
The other drawbacks are having to pack up mid trip and that sometimes the room might not be ready at the second location ..for awhile. Now if you aren't picky, they can usually have a room available earlier, but sometimes we have had a long wait even after going to the parks and trying to to check in around 3.

 

[nickys]

I can't remember a trip where we didn't do it lol. Now we almost always have a rental car so that helps, but apparently your bags can be transferred to your room for you. We like it, it breaks up the trip, we get to try something different, and if you hate your first room it's nice to know you will be trying something new. The only drawback is ....
Because it's Florida, if you do it during warmer months(of which there are many) many consumables are going to have to be tossed when moving rooms. Chocolate, candies etc will just melt.
The other drawbacks are having to pack up mid trip and that sometimes the room might not be ready at the second location ..for awhile. Now if you aren't picky, they can usually have a room available earlier, but sometimes we have had a long wait even after going to the parks and trying to to check in around 3.

If you have perishables that will melt etc you can always take them to Bell Services at the new resort yourself and ask them to refrigerate them for you.

 

[Takeitforgranite]

Do refillable mugs work if you switch resorts?

Do they move you bags from room to room, or is it Bell Services to Bell Services?

 

[Tuvalu]

Do refillable mugs work if you switch resorts?

Do they move you bags from room to room, or is it Bell Services to Bell Services?

1. Yes, refillable mugs work at all WDW resorts for a two week period. If your stay is longer than two weeks a CM can reset the mug date for you.

2. Bell services to bell services, as I mentioned above.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Disney will move your bags for you if it is a Disney to Disney stay.

They will, but it takes several hours, so just be aware of that. You might not have your stuff all afternoon.

One thing that helps us with split stays is when we pack/repack, we try to put most stuff back in the same place every time. I've found that really helps. Items like toiltetries, hairbrush, etc have designated spots.

We also always seem to accumulate chocolate in FL, so a small soft sided cooler comes in handy to keep it from melting.

 

[the_rich]

I did it on my trip last week. We only went from kidani to jambo house but our bags were there by noon(you're mileage may vary)

 

[tired_photog]

We've done a Poly/Riviera split stay and loved it. You get the best of the monorail resorts and the best of the Skyliner resorts in the same trip. Highly recommend it.