What resort should I start off with in a split stay??

[flinkerfrosch]

What would you do??

Coming to WDW Oct 16th-Oct 27th

I thought I had my itinerary all planned out, until I added yet another day. I've gone from 7 nights now to 11 nights. I won't be adding anymore.

Originally, I had my family-myself, DH and 2 boys (3 & 6) staying 5 nights at AKL and 5 nights at the Poly. Now that I've added the additional night, it is 6 nights AKL and 5 nights Poly.

My question/confusion is..do I switch the order and do 6 nights Poly and 5 nights AKL? So, Poly 1st then AKL or AKL then Poly?

I don't know where to start off? I've got a lot of ADR's and 1 MK day, possibly 2 in the first 6 nights, along with AK (which I would move if I changed the order of resorts) I also have us attending DHS Dance Party on the EMH night (which would be a Sunday evening)

I would have to change some of my ADR's, but I don't mind as long as they are available??

Any help from all you experts would be wonderful!!

Thanks!

 

[MomofDisneyLoversx3]

Leave it. And stress no more. There are pros and cons to either order, but I've started to realize that obsessing and changing my plans every few days makes me a 'no fun momma'. If you don't 'love it' this trip, do something different next trip. I believe in changing your mind 5 million times-until you book. Then just enjoy.

 

[CoolPool]

If your primary goal is the MK and if the kids would be most excited to go there first...I would probably put Poly first.

The only hesitation I would have is that you would be moving from a large room at the Poly to a noticeably smaller room at the AKL.

I find AKL calm and relaxing; probably the most relaxing resort on property. Maybe after some hectic park days at the Poly, you would enjoy the change to the AKL.

 

[nkereina]

I think the rule of thumb with a split stay is to do the "better" resort last. In your case, Poly would be the "better" one of the two due to the larger room and monorail. I think people save the better one for last so there are no split stay regrets and you aren't let down after leaving the first resort.

As for the number of nights for each, I'd do 6 nights AKL 5 nights Poly, just to save a little money.

 

[mickeynut1]

I agree with the pp and would do AKL first and end with the Poly. We've stayed at both and while we loved AKL, the Poly is our favorite resort and I wouldn't want to go from there to somewhere else. Also as the pp stated, the Poly rooms are quite a bit larger than the rooms at AKL, so my choice would be to go from the smaller room to the larger one rather than the other way around. Have a great trip and I hope you enjoy both resorts .

 

[Sommer76]

We are doing this at the end of May - 6 nights at AKL and 4 nights at the Poly. I think your order is great!

 

[bilzer]

I would choose the first resort based on parks. If MK then poly should be first. I did a split stay with BC, BLT, and AKL Kidani. It worked great because I had planned ADRs and park days around my resort locations.

 

[Sue M]

I would do AKL first then Poly

 

[waitomo]

I would do the AKL first, both because of the smaller rooms but also the polynesian has the monorail and convenient boat ride--more enticing and less overwhelming if the children (or you and your spouse) are getting a bit tired of waiting in lines and feeling herded.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

Thank-you to everyone for your input

I have another idea...

I could still do AKL for the 1st 5 nights, and then do the Poly for 6 nights checking in on the Monday instead of the Tuesday.

Here is my itinerary, maybe this would help!? This is what I had originally planned, and now up in the air to switch.

We have 6 park days with PH & Water park and more option;

Wed, Oct 16th- Arrive at AKL
*We arrive late (appx 7pm) at resort
*Chill at resort

Thurs, Oct 17th
*Swim at resort or waterpark
*Dinner at Chef Mickeys 6:40pm
*After dinner monorail to Poly for water parade & fireworks on beach
*Head back to AKL

Fri, Oct 18th
*MK RD (Hours are 9am-7pm)
*Breakfast at Crystal Palace
*Hop to Epcot in evening for 7:20pm ADR at Garden Grill
*Watch Illuminations
*Back to AKL

Sat, Oct 19th
*Chill day- do whatever the kids want (could be waterpark, swim at resort, DTD, mini golf etc)
*Breakfast at Boma
*MMBYBBQ 6:30pm (this is still up in the air)

Sun, Oct 20th
*AK (9am-5pm)
*Breakfast Tusker House
*Hop over to DHS for EMH- Dance Party

Monday, Oct 21st (this is where I could check into the Poly or stay at AKL for 1 more night)
*Whatever day (kids can pick what they would like to do)
*MK in the evening (EMH?)
*Back to AKL

Tuesday, Oct 22nd- (this is where I originally have us checking into the Poly)
*Check into Poly (if I don't check in on the Monday)
*Hang out at resort
*Rent sea racers etc...
*Dinner at Ohana

Wed, Oct 23rd
*MK
*NO ADR's

Thursday, Oct 24th
*Chill day (again, do whatever the kids want to do)
*Breakfast Ohana
*MNSSHP 7pm (this date is still in the air, we may do the 31st as we are staying off property for another week on the beach)

Fri, Oct 25th
*DHS
*Hollywood & Vine breakfast
*Sci-Fi dinner
*Fantasmic

Sat, Oct 26th
*Kids can pick their fav park, and do that park again or whatever they want to do..(my kids LOVE to swim, so I truly believe the waterparks will be their fav parks..lol)
*Pirate & Pals Fireworks Cruise 7:45pm

Sunday, Oct 27th
*Check out
*Breakfast 11:30 at Chef Mickeys

So, does this change anyone's decision?

Thanks again

 

[monorailsilver]

I would do the poy last.

I love the monorail and I'd miss it plus the view while swimming.

I thought about a split stay for August between the Poly & the BC. My Dh nixed the idea because he didn't want to move.

But if he said OK I'd thought about where to stay first. We do chef mickeys on arrival night for dinner so may main concern was getting there. By the dreaded bus vs the monorail that first night. So that made me want to stay at the poly first.

But at the same time I love the Poy, view, sights and sounds that knowing I'd have to leave there to go to the BC was going to make me sad.

And yes I enjoyed the BC when I stayed there when it first opened but....I am a Poly girl at heart.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

I would do the poy last.

I love the monorail and I'd miss it plus the view while swimming.

I thought about a split stay for August between the Poly & the BC. My Dh nixed the idea because he didn't want to move.

But if he said OK I'd thought about where to stay first. We do chef mickeys on arrival night for dinner so may main concern was getting there. By the dreaded bus vs the monorail that first night. So that made me want to stay at the poly first.

But at the same time I love the Poy, view, sights and sounds that knowing I'd have to leave there to go to the BC was going to make me sad.

And yes I enjoyed the BC when I stayed there when it first opened but....I am a Poly girl at heart.

Thank-you for your help!

I was thinking the exact same thing about arrival day etc...it would be nice to be on the monorail convenience wise at the start of the trip, but we've heard the buses aren't too bad from AKL, and I've also discussed with DH about taking a taxi a few times to some of our ADR'S.

I think what I might do is, check out of AKL on the Monday, and stay 5 nights AKL in the beginning, and 6 nights at the Poly on the 2nd part.

How's the pool at the Poly? It doesn't look anywhere near as big as AKL??

 

[mickeynut1]

How's the pool at the Poly? It doesn't look anywhere near as big as AKL??

The pool at AKL is bigger and while it is a great pool, the volcano pool at the Poly is our favorite. We love how it backs up to the beach and you have a distant view of the castle while swimming. With that said, both pools are great in their own way, but the AKL pool is a little larger than the Poly pool.