You’ve been told that staying on-site at Walt Disney World is FAR superior to staying off-site, right? And I am not here to dispel that idea (believe me, I’ve done both!), but I AM here to commiserate with what it’s like to want a Dom Pérignon vacation on a PBR budget…
When you compare staying at a Disney value resort, or even a moderate resort when there is a great offer on rooms, to staying off-site, it is pretty easy to compare prices and see that it’s the same or even cheaper than staying off-site once you factor in transportation, parking fees, and the value of your time spent sitting in traffic on International Drive. So let’s set that idea aside.
Value resorts have a lot to offer: Really fun themes, on-site family-friendly food, and there are even poolside bars! But if you are looking for more plush amenities, your eye may be wandering to Disney’s Deluxe resorts. With bigger rooms, amazing pools with slides, high-end vibes, endless restaurant choices, incredible views, not to mention deluxe magic hours in the parks, and more efficient transportation options, you may feel your heart crumble into a million pieces when you see the price tag.
My hack? A split stay to get the best of both worlds.
A split stay means, well, splitting your stay between two hotels. With all the logistics that go into planning a WDW vacation as it is, moving your family halfway through your trip might sound like a nightmare. Fortunately, this is just one of the many things Disney has thought through to make your experience more magical. Bell Services will seamlessly move your luggage between Disney resorts at no extra charge (besides a tip for their hard work, obviously).
So what does a split stay look like? Here is a breakdown of a 6-night stay with some pro-tips to make the most of your time and on-site perks:
Check in to a fun, vibrant value resort like All-Star Movies that your kiddos will love. Spend the afternoon at the pool, taking a rest after traveling while your kids are entertained by a cast member-led poolside party and safely swimming with provided life jackets.
The next 2-3 days you will hit the parks, using your room at All-Star Movies as your crash pad at the end of a long day. You might not see much of the resort except to sleep and refill your reusable mug with coffee on your way to the bus stop in the mornings.
After 3-4 nights (depending on your budget) at Movies, you are going to upgrade! Let’s choose one of my favorites, Beach Club! Standard rooms here will be anywhere from $500-850 per night depending on the time of year and what discounts are being offered at the time. But remember, you are only paying for 2 or 3 of your 6 nights at Beach Club!
Wake up at All-Star Movies and call Bell Services to pick up your luggage, or you can wheel it down to them if you don’t want to wait. Let them know you are switching to Beach Club and they will take it from there.
This should be a park day so you won’t feel lost in a new space without your luggage yet. Go have fun all day and come back to new digs without a worry! I recommend Hollywood Studios or Epcot so you can take a boat or walk to Beach Club at the end of the day and say goodbye to buses.
Stop by Bell Services on your way back in or give them a call from your new room to bring your luggage up. It’s that simple! (Don’t forget to mobile check-in to save yourself a stop at the front desk. Just check your My Disney Experience app to find your new room number).
Take the next day off to enjoy your new resort with the best pool on property. You can easily spend all day at the sandy-bottomed Stormalong Bay, and then take a walk over to the Boardwalk in the evening for food, entertainment, and fun nostalgic vibes. You know how it feels like you need a vacation from your vacation sometimes? This is that day! Rest your weary feet and recharge in luxury.
If you have one more park day, work with your Fairy Godmother travel agent to plan it for a night with Extended Evening Hours for deluxe resort guests (or do this on your hotel-swap day) to enjoy one of the parks free of crowds after the park closes. This is possibly the BEST perk of staying at a WDW Deluxe resort.
What do you think? Can you picture staying at a Deluxe now with a more budget-friendly split-stay?
If you want to make your dream of doing a super fun Disney split stay, reach out to one of our Fairy Godmothers to help make this a reality without the stress of planning it all on your own!
Your Bibbidi Bobbidi Bestie,
Becky
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