Hi, Kristin! Thanks for coming back to planDisney with your vacation planning question! It sounds like you're planning for a fantastic New Year celebration, welcoming 2025 with your split stay at the Most Magical Place on Earth; that's a great way to bring the magic into the new year with you! I'm such a fan of staying onsite at the various
Disney Resorts Collection hotels when I visit for their proximity to the parks and all of the great
benefits that come along with them, and booking a split stay is a great way to see more during your time! I'm slowly checking them all off on my to-do list, and can't wait to mark off
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge this summer!
When you book a split stay, you will have two separate hotel reservations, and each of those reservations will have its own 60-day advance booking window for dining reservations and
Enchanting Extras, so you will not be able to book for the entire length of your stay at once. I know this probably isn't the magical news you were hoping to hear, but I can share a few tips with you to ensure you have the best chance to get all the reservations that your heart is dreaming of!
- Book more popular reservations for later in your stay, so that you have an advantage of more than 60 days! Even during a split stay, you will have a few extra days that are likely to show more availability for more sought-after experiences, so strategically placing those in your itinerary can help!
- Be sure to log in and have your credit card information stored in your My Disney Experience account in advance of reservation opening time. I like to try to be online at least 15 minutes before 7 AM EST, ready to go!
- Remember the Mobile Dine Walk-Up Availability feature in the My Disney Experience app. If you aren't able to get a reservation in advance, this is a great backup option if available!
- Keep checking! Especially as your trip gets closer, plans change and availability is always changing!
Kristin, I hope this is helpful and I'm sending lots of pixie dust your way that you get all of the reservations you are hoping for! If you need any recommendations for dining or other experiences or have any other vacation planning questions, I'm always happy to help again! You've got a friend in
me!
See you real soon,
Alison