Favorite Split stay strategy

[DarthDadMan]

What is your favorite DVC split stay strategy and/or combination of resorts? Or favorite split stay you've done? What are the minimum number of nights you'll consider per resort? We're doing a 3/4 split at BLT/AKV and was curious what others like to do.

 

[dropd]

For us, we try to do a few nights at BLT either at the front or back end of our stay (2-3 nights), simply because it is by far the most pleasant way to get to/from the Magic Kingdom - with the caveat that we have never stayed at GF so haven't tried the new walking path there yet.

Beyond that, depends on if we have a car on the trip. If we have a car, the other part of the split would be basically any other resort (we like to try many different resorts). if no car, BWV/BCV/RIV because of ease of transportation and (for BCV/BWV), walking options.

 

[kanerf]

I stay for 10 nights most trips, so it is usually 3, 3, and 4. I usually try to do a MK resort and then a Epcot resort followed by wherever I have the points.

 

[jakenjess]

Our favorite split is VGF/BWV, but really any monorail resort plus a BWV or BCV. We do many split stays and this is my favorite. I prefer at least three nights each.

 

[Sandisw]

RIV and either VGF or BLT. This are what I strive for. I have done splits as small as 1 night and 2 nights.

On the change day, we sleep in, enjoy the pool, check out at 11 am, go to lunch somewhere and then usually do DS or the spa for some/parks for others.

By the time, we do those and go to new resort room is ready!

 

[nuhusky123]

Surprised no split stays with akv.

I split stay akv with a monorail resort

 

[SorcererC]

What a fun question! We have only had 2 trips so far as DVC members and both have been split stays. We’ve learned a few lessons too.

1st trip: 3 nights CCV, 2 nights AKV Kidani, both 1BR. Learned not to do a park on transfer day and to always end on CCV. The Savannah is of course frickin’ awesome, but the room at AKV looked more worn out in comparison to CCV. We probably would have been way more impressed with it if we had seen it first.

2nd trip: 1 night at ASM (for 4 people after driving, met up with larger group the next day) 3 nights OKW, 2 nights CCV, both dedicated 2BR. Learned we’d like the longer stay to be at CCV and not to stay at the resort with the larger rooms 1st if you’re traveling with people who might need to point that out a lot if you move to a smaller space.

We drive, so we’ve now decided we need to break up the travel days by stopping somewhere overnight or stay longer at WDW. We like the split stays now so we can try out all of the resorts, but will probably stay at CCV for part of most trips.

 

[starry_solo]

We usually start in the Animal Kingdom or EPCOT/HS area and end the vacation with MK. We are thinking about switching it out and ending it at EPCOT/HS

 

[Wedgeout]

Wanted to experience a split stay. Did 2 at VGF followed by 3 at BCV. Enjoyed every bit of it.

 

[CarolynFH]

In the past we’ve done splits only to try something new, e.g. Poly and CCV studios while those resorts were still being sold, on the theory that availability would be better then! We found that one and even two nights are too short for us, so we set a three night minimum. And now the 50% borrowing limit means this year all we could afford was 3 nights Kidani savanna view studio, 4 nights BWV standard view 1 BR (thank goodness for home resort advantage!) for our normal 7-night visit.

 

[RanDIZ]

AKV/CCV

I use AKV for AK, EP and/or HS. Proximity to those parks is not bad at all. Then head to CCV for relaxation and MK day.

I think it works best with a minimum 3 nights at each. Although I did a triple and added in BCV for 2 nights to satisfy my EP and HS days.

 

[808blessing]

For this year I am starting with MK - BLT and GF/ 3 days Ep/HS @ BWV and then off to AKJ. Ending trip by checking out RiV and BCV stays cause I like to see all the things and we just want to tour.
Last time it was BWV/AK which will prob end up being my fave repeater but just experimenting for now. Next time I might like to do CC & BCV at the holidays. I think normally I would only want to move once or twice at most.

 

[oufpat]

My favorite is BLT and BWV with a minimum of 3 at each.

 

[Rick195275]

We love split stays! Have done as little as 1 night and most we’ve stayed in 1 place is 5 nights. Have learned we prefer at least 3 nights per resort. Our favorite split was a 9 night trip, 3 nights at poly to start, 3 bcv in the middle and 3 at akl kidani at the end. I might change the order given the chance, start at akl, poly second and bcv at the end. On shorter trips we usually try for poly and bcv which leaves me missing the animals lol. Our next trip we are split between riviera and boardwalk both new to us so excited to try them out but will definitely miss our favorites!

 

[DVCSunDevil]

We are doing our first split stay in February, so this topic is perfect to get a feel for how to navigate a split stay. For example, it's good to know that having a park day planned for transfer day isn't the best idea. We are doing 3 days (Sat-Tues) at the Hilton Buena Vista Palace by Disney Springs with no parks, then two days each at Poly and BCV with three days of parks. We are excited to experience our first split stay!

 

[TCRAIG]

We do split stays as 3-4 nights at an Epcot 1Br (prefer BC over BW) followed by 3-4 nights at a MK resort in a 1Br (GF or BLT or VWL)…

 

[Rick195275]

We are doing our first split stay in February, so this topic is perfect to get a feel for how to navigate a split stay. For example, it's good to know that having a park day planned for transfer day isn't the best idea. We are doing 3 days (Sat-Tues) at the Hilton Buena Vista Palace by Disney Springs with no parks, then two days each at Poly and BCV with three days of parks. We are excited to experience our first split stay!

I think that one depends on your traveling party. We always head to the park on transfer day, usually not a full day, a few hours and then head back to the resort. We pack our bathing suits in backpacks and head to the pool until we get the room ready text. Rooms usually not being ready until later is our reasoning for heading to the parks for a while first

 

[808blessing]

Yes to cushioning arrival, departure, and additional non-park days between changes so you get to enjoy the resort otherwise what’s the point!

 

[Skywalker3]

We've done several split stays, and now we like to make sure 1 part is BWV (or BCV would work-one of the EPcot resorts.) Used to make sure to work in a monorail resort.
I enjoy doing a split at AKL Kidani, so we can experience that wonderful resort, and do our AK days when there, but then make sure to include a more convenient Epcot resort, or MK resort. Our home is BWV, and it's hard not to stay there some since it's so easy to walk to HS/Epcot, but splits let us add in some variety. We do minimum of 3-4 days each place

 

[Royal Consort]

One week at VGF for MK area, followed by a week at Riviera for Epcot area, then 3 nights at VGC for DL. I dislike visiting WDW without DL.