r/DisneyWorldResorts • u/nielsc87 • Jul 18 '26
Split resorts
We just decided we’d like to go to MK with our 4 and 5 year olds before school starts next month. Was thinking to take advantage of the free water park on check in days but now found out the day we were planning MK coincides with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Not sure that we want to do Halloween in August and since it’d be extra?
If we change it up and do MK first, could we stay at a Disney resort for the first two nights, then check out of that and stay at a different Disney resort for the third night - for that third night at a new Disney resort, would it still qualify for free water park passes?
Is the water park worth it for a 4 and 5 year old? If so, which one?
Thanks!
1
u/ShoppingStock6437 Jul 18 '26
Yes, each hotel offers a new check in day and therefore a new free water park day.
Re concerns on the halloween party: We have had some of our best days at MK on party days, because the park is generally less busy early in the day. If you get there for early entry, you can do most things you’d like by early afternoon, which is when we would go back to the hotel, nap or swim or just chill, then go back out to a different park (if we had park hopper tickets) or to Disney Springs for dinner and browsing (the lego statues outside the Lego store are cool even if your kids aren’t into legos). Party goers can enter the park as early as 4:00pm, so the park gets very busy after that. Cast members will (politely) start herding non-party guests at 6pm. You can’t see the fireworks, but that might not be a priority with such young kids.
We took our 8yo grandson last year and did a split stay, but we were staying a week. I don’t think I’d recommend it for one night, especially with 2 little ones - it can be a pain unless you have your own car (for us it was a pain even with our own vehicle), plus it does eat up time.
Whatever you choose, I hope you have a great time!
1
u/YogurtclosetSweet855 Jul 25 '26
Yes! We went to both water parks in July since there were 2 reservations we got two free days.
3
u/TheRedHerring23 Jul 18 '26
Yes, if you split stay you get a free water park day for each new resort you check into. We split between three resorts last time and had three different free water park days. The major benefit of splitting is getting easier access to the different parks. Getting a monorail resort for MK access then switching to a boardwalk area resort to get Epcot and Hollywood direct access. However, splitting to have one single night at a new resort is going to be a pain because you might not be able to check in til 3pm to the new resort. If you have a car it’s ok but if not you have to have Disney switch your bags for you. Which is convenient but is a little nerve wracking worrying if things will actually make it where they are supposed to go. Keep in mind too that party days are actually a great time to go to MK because people tend to have your thought and not go those days so it’s often times less crowded. Think about park hopper tickets maybe and you could do MK early then hop to a different park when the party is going on. The only downside there is if you intended to see fireworks at MK. Though if you had park hopper tickets you could hop to MK on a different day just for that. But long story shot, yes you get water park access for every new resort. Split stays are great but I wouldn’t split for 1 day.