Advice sought for Split Stay May Vaca... (Help! Haha...)

[kmill99]

Hi,
Family of 4, kids will be 8 and 10. Pools and swimming are not a factor (minimal at best). Also, restaurants overall are probably not the biggest factor either, but advice/thooughts are welcome. Biggest concerns: fun, character, comfort, and convenience, in that order. Traveling from May 5th thru May 15th.

This is for our long overdue, covid-canceled May vacation from 2019, and we are looking to do it up a bit more.
The goal is to go a bit deeper than normal before the "magic years" window closes finally for our girls.

We are currently looking at a few options, so advice would be great. We are actually looking to pull the trigger and book it up really quickly, too. (I just discovered renting DVC points for stays a couple days ago, and feel the heat of the 7 month window drawing near!)

Currently mulling over these mash-ups, in a nightly stay rhythm of 3night, 3 nights, and 4 nights (flying home late afternoon on a Sunday)... landing on Thurs, May 5th...

Swan to Riviera (preferred studio) to Poly (standard studio).
Swan to AK (Jambo savannah view) to Poly
AK (same) to Riviera (same) to Poly... or I suppose Riviera to AK to Poly.

We were originally pondering a simpler split: Swan to Poly (5 nights each), too... but everyone is interested in different resorts.... we know this may be a bit of a whirlwind if we split to 3 resorts, but we have a big multi-generational family trip to Punta Cana a couple months later -- we plan to rest then, lol!

Any advice, thoughts, brilliant wisdom is most definitely welcome.... again, hoping to secure reservations within the next couple days.

HUGE thanks to anyone with advice!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We've done a number of split stays over the years, and I don't think your plan is crazy since you're doing a minimum of 3 nights. It gets more cumbersome just doing 1 or 2 nights. I really like your Swan to AK-Jambo to Poly approach. That gives you a few nights at the perfect location for enjoying EPCOT and HS, plus the Boardwalk area. You can even walk across the street for mini-golf, if that might sound fun. Then you move to AK and the animals - our favorite resort on property. You'll be in close proximity to AK at that time, and not that far from Downtown Disney. AK has some really good dining options. And then you end with Poly with easy access to MK/EPCOT via the monorail.

So you'd be covering some of the major 'prime' locations around WDW with the 3 resorts. And each new place is a reboot, it's like starting the vacation over again with brand new experiences and fun! Have a great trip, no matter what you decide!

 

[NicoleLarson]

Of your choices, Swan, AKL, Poly. Looking at your wish list you have fun and character as 1 and 2 so I would have to say instead of the Swan to sub PoP, AoA or ASMo. My kids are the same ages as yours and LOVE those resorts. The Swan? Not so much, its very forgettable. Their favorite deluxe hotels on property are BWI and AKL (they've stayed at them all) So definitely keep AKL, if you want to save a bit of cash go with a standard view Jambo house studio, lots of these have Savannah views, worst case scenario you get a pool view but tons of areas to view the animals all over the resort. Make sure to make a resort day here. We do splits all of the time, they are a bit tougher with toddlers but a lot easier with 8-10 year olds.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Hi,
Family of 4, kids will be 8 and 10. Pools and swimming are not a factor (minimal at best). Also, restaurants overall are probably not the biggest factor either, but advice/thooughts are welcome. Biggest concerns: fun, character, comfort, and convenience, in that order. Traveling from May 5th thru May 15th.

This is for our long overdue, covid-canceled May vacation from 2019, and we are looking to do it up a bit more.
The goal is to go a bit deeper than normal before the "magic years" window closes finally for our girls.

We are currently looking at a few options, so advice would be great. We are actually looking to pull the trigger and book it up really quickly, too. (I just discovered renting DVC points for stays a couple days ago, and feel the heat of the 7 month window drawing near!)

Currently mulling over these mash-ups, in a nightly stay rhythm of 3night, 3 nights, and 4 nights (flying home late afternoon on a Sunday)... landing on Thurs, May 5th...

Swan to Riviera (preferred studio) to Poly (standard studio).
Swan to AK (Jambo savannah view) to Poly
AK (same) to Riviera (same) to Poly... or I suppose Riviera to AK to Poly.

We were originally pondering a simpler split: Swan to Poly (5 nights each), too... but everyone is interested in different resorts.... we know this may be a bit of a whirlwind if we split to 3 resorts, but we have a big multi-generational family trip to Punta Cana a couple months later -- we plan to rest then, lol!

Any advice, thoughts, brilliant wisdom is most definitely welcome.... again, hoping to secure reservations within the next couple days.

HUGE thanks to anyone with advice!

I would go with AK to Riv to Poly. You cover all 4 parks. Schedule AK when you are at Jambo, schedule Epcot and Studios when you are at the Riv, and MK while at Poly.

To me, the Riv is actually the easiest to Epcot and Studios.as you sit on the skyliner instead of walking from BWI or BC & YC.

 

[JennyDrake]

I agree with replacing Swan with something else. Really, most kids LOVE the values!!!!

 

[Marthasor]

Hi,
Family of 4, kids will be 8 and 10. Pools and swimming are not a factor (minimal at best). Also, restaurants overall are probably not the biggest factor either, but advice/thooughts are welcome. Biggest concerns: fun, character, comfort, and convenience, in that order. Traveling from May 5th thru May 15th.

This is for our long overdue, covid-canceled May vacation from 2019, and we are looking to do it up a bit more.
The goal is to go a bit deeper than normal before the "magic years" window closes finally for our girls.

We are currently looking at a few options, so advice would be great. We are actually looking to pull the trigger and book it up really quickly, too. (I just discovered renting DVC points for stays a couple days ago, and feel the heat of the 7 month window drawing near!)

Currently mulling over these mash-ups, in a nightly stay rhythm of 3night, 3 nights, and 4 nights (flying home late afternoon on a Sunday)... landing on Thurs, May 5th...

Swan to Riviera (preferred studio) to Poly (standard studio).
Swan to AK (Jambo savannah view) to Poly
AK (same) to Riviera (same) to Poly... or I suppose Riviera to AK to Poly.

We were originally pondering a simpler split: Swan to Poly (5 nights each), too... but everyone is interested in different resorts.... we know this may be a bit of a whirlwind if we split to 3 resorts, but we have a big multi-generational family trip to Punta Cana a couple months later -- we plan to rest then, lol!

Any advice, thoughts, brilliant wisdom is most definitely welcome.... again, hoping to secure reservations within the next couple days.

HUGE thanks to anyone with advice!

If fun and character are criteria #1 and #2, I would probably scratch Swan and RIV off the list altogether. I love Swan for its location and the rooms are incredibly comfortable, but there really is nothing "Disney" fun or character-related about it. RIV rooms are gorgeous, but the resort is really bland and you actually are at a disadvantage with the Skyliner (over the boat/walking/Skyliner option in the Swan/EP resort area). When the Skyliner goes down (and it does frequently), you are stuck with only buses. Personally, I would consider replacing Swan and RIV with Beach Club or Boardwalk - both livelier resorts that offer the location advantage of the Swan. If BC/BWI aren't possibilities, it's a toss-up for me with Swan or RIV. RIV is comfortable and offers a little more of a Disney vibe. Swan is comfortable and offers a location convenience advantage.

 

[DJFan88]

Swan, AKL, Poly

The Riviera is nice, but elegant, not sure if fun is the word I’d use. Also, and I don’t know this myself, but have heard that the studios are maybe even smaller than your room at POR will be.

You can eat at Topolinos there to check it out. Maybe while your there skyline over to AoA to check it out for fun and a chance to ride skyliner going to those two places, since no other reason really to ride it with the other resorts.

 

[kmill99]

Thanks for tips and thoughts everyone!
We have actually booked RIV for middle 3 and Poly for last 4... Currently looking at getting AK for 1st 3, savannah view... I failed to mention cost, which is also a factor. DVC rental has been beneficial to our wants!

I guess we liked swan for the location and being able to walk, and proximity with boardwalk, plus the beds everyone raves about... and I had a good deal for that at tickets thru costco.... kids and wifey actually love the look of the Riviera, and being near skyliner, so fingers crossed that works out ok, lol.

I think we are going to cancel convneience and walking for the experience of AK while our kids are still lingering in that 'window of wonderment' -- before it slams shut on us! =O

Everyone's encouragement for splitting the stay into 3 was awesome to hear. And definitely plan to visit the AoA and spend some time there too... it does look awesome!

The consideration to share advice and thoughts is so amazing, and also fun to read different opinions and takes on what to do... so thanks again!!!