Do many of you move within same resort to smaller villa/studio to save weekend points

[edk35]

We have done a split stay the last two summers and the first split was 5 at SSR followed by 3 at BWV. This past summer we split between OKW and BCV. I have never moved within the same resort to reserve points because we need a 2 br ever where else, but was thinking with all the different levels of points at AKV we might try it. I am trying to figure out next summer and because we are excited about staying at AKV our new home....we are thinking of doing 5 there instead of 3 and 5 or 6 at BCV. Well we are staying in a 2br SV in Kidani for the first 3 nights and then maybe move to either a 2 br. Value OR Standard or even go into a 1br. for the two weekend nights...then move over to BCV. Is this just nuts???????

 

[CraftyMouse]

When we don't use points for the weekend we head to a non-DVC resort for those nights. We like to try different resorts and since we have to move anyway it's the perfect opportunity to do so. My kids actually still love the All-Stars and Pop so now that we've tried most of the other resorts we tend to head to one of those. The upside is that in addition to saving points we're saving money by staying at a Value. We've also used weekends to stay (for cash) at Vero or up in the Universal area so we can enjoy those parks for a couple of days.

We tend to say Su-Th at DVC, move for Fr/Sat and then do another Su-Th at a different DVC property than the first week. It works out perfectly for us. The nice thing is that, with the washer & dryer in DVC units, we don't have to bring tons of clothes so we don't have that much to pack up. BTW, we also have our own car with us so we drive. If you don't have a car with you I would think that moving to a different property would be a bit more of a hassle.

 

[LIFERBABE]

To me, changing rooms is the same as changing resorts. We still have to pack up, check our luggage and wait for our room to be ready. We then have to retrieve our luggage or wait for Bell Services to bring it up. We still have to unpack if staying any length of time.

I add in the cost of moving, such as tips, and time compared to what we are saving in points. We usually stay put, unless its a last minute add a night.

 

[Choogie]

Yes, we stayed four nights in a 1 bedroom at BW, then moved to a studio at Beach Club the last two nights to save points. Worked out great...just moved our luggage across the lake.

 

[Laneychris]

Too much work for me. I am on vacation, I don't want to have to move. Doen't make sense to me.

 

[edk35]

We used discounted cash to stay our weekend nights this past summer.....mainly because by doing this we could stay 14 nights but we don't plan on doing that this year. It is a pain to move but we also love to try the new resorts and don't want to wait til the next trip. This past trip was nice in that we did 8 at OKW then had 6 at BCV so by then we were ready to move.

 

[kristenrice]

We moved this past January. We'd rented a DVC ressie for a 1BR at OKW for Su-Th. I found that airfare was a lot cheaper for us to arrive on Friday instead of Sunday (don't ask me why....I still don't know ) so we booked 2 nights at POP. We arrived around 7pm on Friday night, hit the park on Saturday and then checked into OKW on Sunday morning. We never really "unpacked". We just used our extra outfit and 3-1-1 stuff from our carryons. The bigger bags stayed in the rental car until we went to OKW. It worked great. I liked what little I saw at POP, but I can honestly say that the rooms were too small for our family to stay in for more than a couple of nights. For the price we paid, it was fine, but we'd go crazy in 1 room for 5-7 nights. That's why we just bought DVC! I think I would have no problem in staying in a studio for a weekend (an arrival weekend) and then switch to a 1BR. I would do the smaller room first so that we'd have the laundry facilities for the end of the trip. I also wouldn't mind doing the value resorts again for the weekend nights.

 

[Tozzie]

I just added on points so I would have enough to stay the length of time I want in the accomadations that I want without having to move. I bought into the AKV with the intention of almost exclusivly staying there. I have no desire to try any other DVC resort except for VWL. I am on vacation, it is a hassle to pack, check out, check in and unpack. I have enough stress in my real life, I try to escape on vacation.

 

[robandkelly13]

Moving rooms sounds like hassel. I think we'll stay put.

 

[janni518]

We have a SSR 1-BCV 7 split stay due to availability. I'm hoping that it goes smoothly so my dh will see it's not a big deal to move.

 

[alldiz]

My 1st choice would be to change hotels....I like to feel like 2 different vacations. If I'm packing anyways....might as well see some new sights
Kerri

 

[edk35]

Well I think when you stay somewhere for one night then move to the place you are for the rest of your vacation.....it is probably much easier. You can leave everything packed except maybe keep one small bag with that one night's things in it.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Well I think when you stay somewhere for one night then move to the place you are for the rest of your vacation.....it is probably much easier. You can leave everything packed except maybe keep one small bag with that one night's things in it.

That's exactly what we do. We usually pack according to our plans as well. On most trips we get into the WDW area late at night so we stay off property (usually via Priceline) for that one night. We pack one bag that has pjs and a change of clothes for each of us and that's all that comes into the hotel the first night.

We do the same thing when moving for the weekend. We pack one bag that has clothes for each of us for 2 days. We then bring that and the toiletries bag in and leave the rest of the luggage in the car. It's really easy once you get in that frame of mind and saves a lot of lugging!

 

[edk35]

That's exactly what we do. We usually pack according to our plans as well. On most trips we get into the WDW area late at night so we stay off property (usually via Priceline) for that one night. We pack one bag that has pjs and a change of clothes for each of us and that's all that comes into the hotel the first night.

We do the same thing when moving for the weekend. We pack one bag that has clothes for each of us for 2 days. We then bring that and the toiletries bag in and leave the rest of the luggage in the car. It's really easy once you get in that frame of mind and saves a lot of lugging!

Sounds like a good plan except that we don't drive a car to Disney.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

What it amounts to is maximizing your points. We live in Florida and drive in, so we do Sun -Thu. If I want or need to stretch my 210 points and I need to stay longer than that, I move to a value resort for Fri-Sat. Yes it might be incovenient to some but in the end those Fri & Sat points that I saved, buy me another Sun-Thu vacation at my favorite DVC.

If I had 500+ points like some of you lucky devils, I wouln't bother either. I love DVC and I bought in low and wish I could add on but can't so this makes it work for me.

 

[helenk]

I have never had a rental car and I have changed resorts without any problems. This was pre-DVC, but I would think that it would be as easy as changing resorts that you were paying for mid trip. The resort you are leaving will hold your luggage and then transfer it to your new resort. This has always worked fine with me, I just go to the parks and then go back to the new resort later in the day to check in.
I plan on staying at the Allstar Sports for my trip in Nov and then transfer over to the SSR, and I am hoping that the transfer will be just as easy as it has been for me in the past.
If for some reason you do not want the resort to transfer your luggage, because it does not get to the new resort until later in the day, you can always just take a taxi over to the new resort to check in.

 

[emlutz23]

We don't change our rooms. We bought and have added on enough points to book a 6-night vacation in a 2-bed during the summer to make sure we can get in at least one vaca a year. When we don't travel over the summer, then we can afford to split our points up for shorter trips at other times of the year. Once I'm in a room and our stuff is all over, it's not moving!

 

[CMedley78]

We are going to SSR this April from Monday-Sunday staying in a 1-BR Mon-Sat then a studio Sat-Sun. I asked for the same building so hopefully it works out and the move won't be too bad. I just figured that I was already borrowing points and didn't want to borrow any more, plus we will already be all packed up for when we leave Sunday morning. I don't anticipate it being too much of an inconvenience, but we'll see!

 

[wildernessDad]

We moved once, to change resorts. DW doesn't want to do that again.

 

[Kathi OD]

Too much of a hassle to change rooms/resorts especially when I'm supposed to be relaxing. Changing rooms requires more work than I want to do on a vacation.