Curious about planning a split onsite/off site stay...

[sherilaine]

So since we just got back what else is there to do but get busy planning our next vacation right? Even if it's likely almost a year away!!

Our past 4 stays have been at the Hojo in the Kids Suites. We find them really comfortable - allowing you to spread out, completely unpack all our stuff and really enjoy our longer stay. We stay over a week each visit as we live quite a distance away. Oh and they are a lot cheaper than staying on site, so when staying for 8 to 10 nights the savings add up!

Still, I would love to try staying onsite but I don't want to be crammed into one room with two queen beds for 9 or 10 nights, so I'd love some advice from anyone who has done split stays! Of course if we did this I'd want to pick either the beginning or ending of our trip since I don't want to pack up and move twice during our vacation. We'd likely spend 3 nights on and 7 off but split up our DLR days throughout the entire trip as we love taking days off in between park days to go to the beach or just relax.

How does this sound?

• Check in on a Thursday afternoon (as our flight won't likely get in until around noon)
• Use EMH at DCA on Friday
• Take Saturday as a break day and relax at the resort
• Use EMH to DCA on Sunday and then check out at 11 and move over to Hojo during a mid day break for the remainder of our vacation.

We have done MM at DLR so know what that is all about, so for onsite days would want to take advantage of EMH at DCA. I also figure since weekend days normally have earlier opening hours we'd get more value from a 7AM EMH at DCA than a 9AM?

Now, as to which resort to stay at? Our kids will be 14 and 13 our next trip - they do like water slides, but it's taking more and more to impress them pool wise as they get older. My guess is that DLH might be our best bet - but would love to hear opinions.

Thanks for any suggestions - of course I am ridiculously early even beginning to plan this but planning the next trip takes away the sadness of the last one ending!

 

[mad hatter fan]

We have ended a trip by moving onsite (DLH). I thought it would be disappointing to move the other way and also it was a surprise for the kids. If we do it again though, I would do it how you are planning. I would want to have the EMHs for when we are full of energy/have an easier time getting up early. We also have a 2 hour time difference that helps with getting up early. Towards the end of the trip (we usually do 10 - 12 days in the area) not so much.

Oh and it is not ridiculously early, LOL! The best time to start is right after the last trip, IMHO

 

[planningjollyholiday]

I like the DLH the best. It is very magical with lots of disney touches everywhere. I think your teens would like the pools better there as well. I think you are spot on with utilizing the EE for DCA and using it on the weekends. However, like the pp said, it's kind of a disappointment to go from staying onsite to then going offsite. If possible i would reverse it.

 

[Disney127]

We have done two split stays, once at BWPPI/DLH and once at BWPPI/PPH. We like going from offsite to on-site, not so disappointing to us. DD likes the DLH pools better and even though we like everything about DLH, we like our PPH room that overlooked the DCA. It's never too early to start planning, you will have lots of time to check out your options!

 

[Indiana Scott]

I've always avoided a split stay just because I didn't want to take away from any "park time" for the moving process.

 

[ShaunaM]

Don't do it!!!!!

No seriously it's hard to stay off site now!

We have done split stays twice my biggest advice would be to move on a non-park day. It takes longer than you think to move. We definitely prefer DLH to Paradise Pier. .can't comment on GCH. I agree though going from on site to offside might be a bit anti-climactic.

If you are looking for magic then DLH if you are just looking for EE then go with PP and save the $$.

Not sure where in Canada you are but one thing that helped us this last time was sticking to Alberta'a time zone for meals it made it a lot easier in the morning. ..the only night we stayed late to the park was the night before our day off. We were determined to maximize our use of EE ...it cost a pretty penny..this meant getting to bed at night.

 

[sherilaine]

Don't do it!!!!!

No seriously it's hard to stay off site now!

We have done split stays twice my biggest advice would be to move on a non-park day. It takes longer than you think to move. We definitely prefer DLH to Paradise Pier. .can't comment on GCH. I agree though going from on site to offside might be a bit anti-climactic.

If you are looking for magic then DLH if you are just looking for EE then go with PP and save the $$.

Not sure where in Canada you are but one thing that helped us this last time was sticking to Alberta'a time zone for meals it made it a lot easier in the morning. ..the only night we stayed late to the park was the night before our day off. We were determined to maximize our use of EE ...it cost a pretty penny..this meant getting to bed at night.

We were up bright and early for very park day this last time, in fact we were the first at the gate and any rope for 4 of our 5 days (the 5th day I said, if we are 5 rows back at rope drop we are fine!!), so I know my kids have it in them to utilize the EMH. The time change doesn't even fizz my kids as they are used to a 3 hours difference when we travel to the east coast every year.

One of the reasons we'd like to try it is just to have that extra hour in DCA, but honestly I think it might be a lot of inconvenience and effort and money for 2 bloody hours of park time since there is no way we'd do 3 park days in a row.

Thanks for all the suggestions though - we certainly have a lot of time to think about it!

 

[Disney127]

Since it's just DD and I with one suitcase each - we get up early, take a taxi over to the Disney hotel, check in, leave our luggage with the bellhop and head over to which ever park that has EMH. So, we never waste any park times. It is nice to stay at a Disney hotel but we don't do it in high season - not worth it to us just to get the extra hour.