Welcome to planDisney, Lori Anne!
Experiencing two different
Disney Resorts Collection hotels during your trip will be so much fun. I recently did the same thing and it felt like two vacations in one.
Did you know that Disney will transfer your luggage to your new hotel when you check out? It's really convenient if you want to visit a theme park on your check-out day. Simply bring your luggage to Bell Services (or ask them to come to your hotel room) and let them know which hotel you'd like your luggage transferred to. You can then go and enjoy your day and a few hours later your luggage should arrive at your new "home." Usually, your luggage will arrive at your new hotel by 6:00 PM that same day. You can pick it up from Bell Services once it's arrived. Just make sure you keep your luggage ticket so you can claim your belongings.
But "let's get down to business." As you alluded to, Guests staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel can make their
dining reservations 60 days in advance of their trip, plus the length of their day (up to 10 days). However, unfortunately, since you are staying at two hotels during your trip, you will have two reservation windows. That's because each hotel stay counts as a separate reservation in Disney's system. Therefore, 60 days before your trip, you'll only be able to make dining reservations for the length of your stay at your first hotel. Then you'll have to wait until 60 days before you stay at your second hotel before you make your next batch of dining reservations. Does that make sense? I know that's not the answer you were hoping to hear, Lori Anne. I guess this is one of the downsides of doing a "split stay." There are definitely pros and cons to staying at multiple Disney Resorts Collection hotels, however, I firmly believe it's worth it.
I actually had the same issue on my most recent
Walt Disney World Resort trip. However, I was thankfully able to get the restaurant reservations I wanted. I was particularly impressed by the character breakfast at
Topolinos Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera. The breakfast cocktails are heavenly! Here's a tip: Try to book your restaurant(s) on the furthest out date available. Hopefully, you'll still be able to eat at the restaurants you set your heart on, Lori Anne. Even if you have difficulty, keep checking availability (even the day of) and you never know what you'll find.
I hope that's informative, Lori Anne. Thanks for choosing to be our Guest.
Mike