Hi there, Erica!
A warm welcome to planDisney and thanks for bringing us an excellent
Walt Disney World Resort vacation planning question. I'm so excited to hear you'll be making your way to The Most Magical Place on Earth in just a few days! Let's chat about how to make your "split-stay" a breeze.
Erica, I love staying at two different
Disney Resort hotels during any Walt Disney World Resort vacation. A change of scenery is always exciting and means you'll be able to experience all that two unique Resort hotels have to offer! Luggage transfer is usually available for Guests switching between two Disney Resort hotels. However, since you'll be checking into Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge after staying at a hotel that isn't part of the Disney Resorts Collection, you'll be responsible for your own luggage transfer in this case. My best recommendation would be to hire a rideshare service with ample trunk space to transfer you and your luggage between the
Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista and Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. In my experience, Lyft and Uber generally offer fairly low rates for transfers within the Walt Disney World Resort area.
You'll be staying at one of my favorite Deluxe Resort hotels during your vacation, Erica. The atmosphere and ambiance at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge are unmatched, and the dining options there are all fabulous! If you have the chance, try to snag a dinner reservation at
Jiko - The Cooking Place for an upscale, African-inspired dining experience and excellent wine menu. Victoria Falls Lounge is the perfect locale for a lovely libation in the moody ambiance of the lobby area. And, of course, you won't want to miss the famous Zebra Domes at
The Mara either!
Erica, I hope you've found this information helpful as you prepare for an exciting split-stay adventure at The Most Magical Place on Earth. If you have any additional questions before or during your vacation, you're always welcome to revisit us here at
planDisney anytime! We're all ears.
See ya real soon,
Lauren