3 Resorts in 10 days?

[Simba's Mom]

Has anyone done this and if so, how was it-would you recommend it to others or think it was too much work? Or would you recommend we stay at one resort for fewer (7) days so we don't have to move out on the weekend to save those dreaded high weekend points?

 

[BigTigger]

What can really make this work is that Disney will move your luggage to the next resort. On moving day you can call for the bell service and head off to the park. That night you check in to the new hotel and your luggage is in the room with any luck. Of course, if you have a lot of luggage, the bell service tips could exceed the room savings

We did this once because of short notice on some school calendar changes that allowed us to take a Friday to next Sunday October trip with the kids missing little school. There were no DVC rooms for two days in the middle of the week. We went from OKW to POFQ then back to OKW.

 

[amee]

Hi,

We did this last Fall.....October 17 for 11 days. We started with one night at POR(night of arrival)....went to OKW to check in the next morning(1BR) and stayed for 5 nights. We moved to BC Concierge on the weekend(got a great AP discount, or would not have done Concierege), so stayed 2 nights and then moved to BCV for the remaining 3 nights.

Well, the best part of it was that we saved using points on the week end and are able to fit in an extra trip this year(and were able to treat my bro and fam to a 2-BR for 5 nights).......the worst part ? Well, it certainly wasn't horrible, but it was a lot of moving. If i were doing it again, i may do the same, just to budget funds and points(we are in Seattle, so there is always airfare to consider too)........The moving days really weren't too bad, except for the very first night....CM's moved all of our goods....it really was all pretty easy.......of course, ideally we would stay in one locale for all 10-11 nights....but it just is not the best stewardship of what we have to use/spend..........feel free to ask anything i haven't ocvered.

Amee

 

[newcomer52]

I'm planning this for my May 05 trip. First night at POP, five nights at BCV, then two weekend nights at Poly. Looking forward to each leg of the trip.

 

[COACHSTING]

We did it once and agreed not to do it again. We stayed 5 nights in a 2 bedroom at WLV, 2 nights at the Swan and 2 nights in 2 studios at BWV. We found it to a lot of packing and unpacking, then checking in and your room is almost ready..but not quite. So we stuck around and it ended up taking several hours on each check in day. I"d recommend you stay in one resort and take advantage of the DVC cash discount or AP discount and pay cash on the weekend or pay cash at least one of the weekend nights. Then you can stay longer and not have to move.

 

[gopherit]

We just did 3 resorts in 12 days -- 1 night at BCV in a studio and 1 br lockout (a Sat night on cash, DVC discount), then 8 nts in a 2br at BWV, then 3 nts at SSR in a 1br.

We tried to minimize the mess by: (1) Packing a single bag for our one night stay and leaving rest of bags in car. (2) Packing up 2/3 of our stuff at the end of the BW stay so we only really needed to open 1/3 of our bags at SSR. (3) Made do without any real groceries until we got to BWV, and tried our best to use 'em up before moving to SSR.

On the whole, ti wasn't bad, but I don't think I'd ever do 2 moves again. Coachsting is right about that "room not quite ready yet" business. Even though we were prepared (we carried a duffle on our transition days that held a change of clothes, bathing suits, and basic necesities so we could fully use pool area, dine out, etc) it still was like a nagging presence -- where is our room? Do we have one yet? We lucked out and our room at BWV was ready at 11 am, but at BCV and SSR, the room was not ready until 4 pm. If I had it to do over -- I would have paid cash for the wkend at BCV, then stayed the additional nights there. We moved to BWV because we could get std view and save pts. Time is worht money too, though, and in the interest in saving some, one less move would have been nice. Plus, it seemed kinda silly to move from BCV to BWV. Same area, really, just a mildly different theme and pool. It seems silly, but the only reason we stayed the one nt at BCV was so the kids could try SAB. We spent both days at SAB, then moved to BWV. All that, just for the pool. And DH and I really felt a need to try BW because we own there since '99 but had yet to stay there (we loved OKW too much to try it, then VWL...) So that's how we ended up with a 3-resort vacation.

Now the move from BWV to SSR -- that was totally different, so it really seemed like a "Change" to us, something new and different. That was really good and I would do it again in a heartbeat -- the kids seemed re-energized by it. I think a move to OKW or VWL would have same effect because they are all different from where we had been at the Epcot resorts. I think it would be hard, though, to go from a DVC to a "standard" resort(non-DVC) -- I'd make sure I put the simple resort room stay at the beginning of the trip, then move to where you plan to stay for the rest of the trip. If you don't do much cooking or snacking (and hence have very little groceries) that helps, but if you do -- try to get by without them until you're at your long-stay residence.

Good luck deciding!

 

[CaptainMidnight]

If your going to spend 2 days at another resort, why not talk that on the front or end of your trip and only move once. I highly recommend the DIS specials at Swan and Dolphin, they can't be beat for being on site, deluxe and a great price thanks to DIS.

 

[SoCalKDG]

I don't understand the big deal. Here is how I see it.

1) You check out, Disney has your bags and moves them.
2) Check in at your new resort then go to the parks
3) Take an afternoon break(after 4 PM) and go to your new room
4) Back to the parks in the evening

And what do you get out of this? 3 xtra days at DisneyWorld. No worrying about if you room is ready, no wasted time. Its perfect.

I always read that the worst day at Disney is better than the best day at work. So its obvious, take the xtra 3 days.

I might see it differently if I lived within driving distance of WDW, but if you're flying, then anything to max the time there is worth it to me.

OK, lets see a counterpoint. Someone tell me how 7 days is better than 10. You can't, can you.

 

[Coach Rick]

I just got back on Tuesday from 7 nights at OKW, and have already been planning our next two trips. (DW thinks I'm nuts)

We did a 130 point add on while we were there, so now have 305. Ok, thought that was enough. when adding things up we come up short for 12 nights...remedy....move out for the weekend, and into a cheaper arrangement. Of course we could borrow, but then we start that viscous cylce of chasing points. So in my estimation 12 nights beats the crap out of 7. SoCalKDG, no argument here...

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by SoCalKDG
I don't understand the big deal. Here is how I see it.

1) You check out, Disney has your bags and moves them.
2) Check in at your new resort then go to the parks
3) Take an afternoon break(after 4 PM) and go to your new room
4) Back to the parks in the evening

And what do you get out of this? 3 xtra days at DisneyWorld. No worrying about if you room is ready, no wasted time. Its perfect.

I always read that the worst day and Disney is better than the best day at work. So its obvious, take the xtra 3 days.

I might see it differently if I lived within driving distance of WDW, but if you flying, then anything to max the time there is worth it to me.

OK, lets see a counterpoint. Someone tell me how 7 days is better than 10. You can't, can you.

I like your thinking! I thought about this overnite and thought it might be good time-wise if I went to just 1 or 2 parks each "segment", maybe MK during the first few days, from VWL, the weekend is a ? since I don't know where I'd stay (maybe AKL, then only AK), then only Epcot and MGM while at BCV. Make sense?

 

[JimC]

I voted to stay put at BCV for the week. But if weekend points were an issue I would do five days at BCV and five days at a second resort on AP code (such as AKL concierge).

 

[Pumbaa_]

We usually move once during a trip. We fly down usually late on Friday (as late as mdnight checkin) so we usually spend the weekend in a studio and then move to a 1 bedroom. Small hassle, especially if you do not have a car.

While Disney will move your luggage, I have things I would prefer them not to have in their possession while we wait for a room and that I don't want to carry around in a park. Cameras, cash, prescritpions, meal vouchers, things like that. So that becomes a bit harder.

This will be our 2nd time doing this in October, so we will see how it goes. Last year I sucked it up and used the points for you 20th anniversary trip, January did the move thing and doing the move again in October. But this time we have a car, I think that will halp as I can lock the things I don't want bell services to have in the trunk.

Doing it twice is beyond my patience level. BUT, I also travel down 3 or 4 times a year. If it was just once a year, I may think differently.

Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[jastza]

We have run into a similar problem in November! We just got our points and we had planned to be on vacation the 6th to 17th. When I called, a 1 br was available for every night except one.So, we now are booked for a 2br on that one night! It is only my DH and I so I guess we get our own bedrooms for a night LOL

 

[patsal]

Personally I don't find moving that big a hassle. I just prepare for it ahead of time and it takes the hassle out of it. Now I would not change if I didn't have access to a car, but it really isn't a huge deal for us. Our last vacation we did 1 night at Pop C. , 5 nights BCV, 2 nights Dolphin,5 nights OKW and 1 night AKL. All we do is pack the night before in a smaller collapseable bag for the 1 or 2 night stays, packe the car up the night prior withall the extras, check out/park at the resort we will be staying at--check in and then hit the parks using the "new" stay transportation. When we get back our room is usually ready. Normally I don't change this much, but the first night I wasn't getting in until late(we drove) and I didn't know when we would get in since this was our first time--it ended up we checked in after 9pm. We did not want to activate our passes so we let the kids swim and play unti it was check in time at BCV. Checked out of BCV and over to the Dolphin for the weekend as planned to save enough points for Feb. vacation. To OKW from Dolphin room was ready in early am (just luckyon that one!). The AKL was a surprise, and the room again was ready when we checked in early. We didn't lose any park time since travel was built into our schedule leaving before parks opened--or on our DTD days.
In February I will be bookending 5 days at OKW with Pop Century so I can stay in a bigger unit/ and get a bigger unit in July. So far my tentative plans for July are 2 nights POP or Mod. with code(we are driving and want to get a head start on the 4th of July travel crowd so it means an extra night), 5 nights at WLV, 2 nights at Universal, 5 nights at OKW and then head for home. The collapsable suitcase makes this all very easy and it works for us.

 

[Bella2000]

I read this and thought "Calling Janet2K..." I am always entertained by her trip reports and I cannot imagine anyone planning more mutliple resort adventures and without a car

Personally we love switching. Most longer trips we switch twice. We've never done more than two but I'd be game if I could work the schedule. We've done switches in the past without a car and without incident. One stayed behind to handle the move with bell services while everyone else went to the park. Since DVC we typically rent a car but that is more to appease DH that he isn't trapped in the world of Disney.

 

[MagikMom]

I love switching things around. Like most people have said, it's convenient because your bags will be transferred for you. It's a good way to save some points too. I'm planning trip for june 23rd - July 8th of 05. I plan to stay 3 nights at All star Sports, move to OKW, and then spend the last 5 nights at AKL. This way we can experience all these places in one trip! Try it. I think you'll like it.


Oct. 2004 SSR
Aug. 2003 BWV
Oct. 2002 All star Sports/BCV
March 2001 All star sports

 

[Lesley]

What we did at one time was to take 5 nights in a studio, then 5 nights in a 1br....saving points but allowing us a longer stay. I don't think either of your poll choices is ideal. I would either do the studio/1br option....or stay at a regular hotel cash for the first 2-5 nights then the rest at DVC.

I think 3 hotels in 10 nights is a bit much....and I speak from experience (my worst was 4 hotels in 6 nights...but I've done many other variations). If the poll choices are the only ones that work for you I'd go ahead and just stay the 7 days....but I do think there are other options to consider as well. Then again...just once perhaps 3 resorts in 10 nights could be fun....its when you do that all the time that it gets tiring (or at least it has become very tiring for me and now I just want to stay in one or two places....)

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I have no problem with moving--although it can be hard if you have young children to possibly be without a room all day (until 4:00)

 

[LisaSt]

We never stay at DVC over weekends not worth the points when you think of the cost. We check out over the weekend and go to the All Stars and make our stay 14 days ratehr than 7-10 days.

 

[Coach Rick]

Originally posted by LisaSt
We never stay at DVC over weekends not worth the points when you think of the cost. We check out over the weekend and go to the All Stars and make our stay 14 days ratehr than 7-10 days.

With the going rental rate of points at $10 each, when I do the math on a two bedroom at SSR I come up with $540 a night up to the Permier season rate of $950 a night. I am positive I can get a lower rate than that for two nights. The more I do the math, the more changing for weekends makes sense.