Favorite Split stay strategy

[Skywalker3]

Thank you! As someone who has my first split stay coming up next month, I was curious why there were comments suggesting not to do a park on transfer days. I should have asked why they thought that, lol. We have Epcot planned for our Poly-BCV transfer day. Give bags to Poly bell services in the morning for transfer to BCV...go enjoy the day at Epcot...head to BCV later in the day to grab our bags and go to our room. Seems pretty straightforward.

We always had APs, so it's not like that transfer day is using up a day. last 2 splits, Hubby/kids went to a park, while I took care of loading the car. We do not travel light, and takes forever to pack up. If you travel lighter, it's easier for sure. Then we usually do some off site shopping for groceries, or whatever, or go to Disney Springs, before heading to the next location. Epcot is also perfect for roaming around, killing time, waiting for checkin. We've been very fortunate that rooms are ready timely at the second location, but we also do not count on it at all. So we have no plans to be in that room until the evening. So will be kinda 'homeless' for that day.
I love split stays, hubby does not. He would just rather get one place and stay, but this way, we can experience a variety of resorts. He'd be happy staying at BWV every trip.

 

[808blessing]

For us, in the past- we have only done parks on transfer days. We didn’t do any non-park days/changes due to budget and time constraints.

But that will change for our next WDW trip.
We are new dvc owners and want to tour all the new-to-me resorts -so spending time getting to know many resorts is important to us. (For possible -but not probable - add-on and general curiosity purposes!) We built in non-park days to check out Beach Club, Riviera, + Grand Floridian.

ETA just remembered, last trip we did a non-park day to Kennedy space on transfer day. We wanted to see as much of the animals at AKL!

 

[SorcererC]

So people made commented on the size of the room ?

Oh yeah. I mean, comments I didn’t need were gonna happen on this trip no matter what, but I could have avoided this particular type of comment by not being in the massive OKW 2BR before the beautiful but obviously smaller CCV 2BR

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Great thread! For me, a good split-stay means:

• more than one night at the first resort (to actually be able to enjoy it)
• a maximum of 2 resorts, with the most days spent at my final resort (to feel like a restful vacation)
• feel like I’m ending on a high note (whether that be room type, or preferred resort/location)

Originally, I chose 3 day/4 day splits when staying a week, but quickly found that I never felt like I was there a whole week… switching to a 2/5 split made all the difference!! I guess I just need longer to feel settled… but I still like to try new (to me) resorts, or just stay in different home resorts that I know I’ll love. On my last trip I tried a 2/7 split, and I liked it the best so far!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our February stay is split, studio first at CC, then one bedroom at BCV.

Our April stay is split, Studio at VGF, then one bedroom at BCV.

ONLY when we go to Vero does the last part of stay end up in smaller than one bedroom. We really like the OVIRs at Vero. Our July split ends up there for two nights. In that case the One bedroom BCV is the second leg of a 4 way split over 12 days.

 

[keishashadow]

My version of a split stay is typically one resort at WDW, then moving over to onsite at least two nights at Universal

when I’ve been ‘forced’ to change resorts at WDW, try to book ‘the nicer resort’ 2nd since we usually hit the ground running when we arrive

 

[DarthDadMan]

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

I found this out the hard way last week on our 3/4 BLT/AKV split stay. Arrived after midnight after flight delays, and brought big park-goers along, and felt like I never saw our resorts.

 

[DarthDadMan]

Great thread! For me, a good split-stay means:

• more than one night at the first resort (to actually be able to enjoy it)
• a maximum of 2 resorts, with the most days spent at my final resort (to feel like a restful vacation)
• feel like I’m ending on a high note (whether that be room type, or preferred resort/location)

Originally, I chose 3 day/4 day splits when staying a week, but quickly found that I never felt like I was there a whole week… switching to a 2/5 split made all the difference!! I guess I just need longer to feel settled… but I still like to try new (to me) resorts, or just stay in different home resorts that I know I’ll love. On my last trip I tried a 2/7 split, and I liked it the best so far!!

Yes! 2 resorts and always end with a longer stay. I was just considering this on my resort only trip with my daughter this summer. Trying to decide between 2/3 split Poly/AKV or just do all 5 at AKV.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

We used to do split stays to get the dining plan for the first part. Then we stopped getting the dining plan and started enjoyed stays at one resort. Then I decided I didn't like Disney transportation so much, so we started doing split stays again and planned our parks around where we were staying. So far our trips have been only around 5 nights. My favorite was 2 nights AKV/3 nights CCV. We like BRV better but will do CCV if that's all that is available. I'm sure we would prefer a longer stay at each.

We are like Sandisw. We like to sleep in on transfer day and then enjoy that resort before leaving it. We don't like to rush to get ready, get our luggage together, get it to Bell Services, and get to a park before RD. That is not enjoyable. After we check out at 11:00, we either go to DS or we resort hop. We have a nice sit-down lunch and relax and explore. Unlike Sandisw, we have never used an AP. If we had one, we might pop into a park just to explore (no rides), but with regular day tickets, we just don't want to use up one of our days on transfer day.

 

[DarthDadMan]

Last July my wife and I spent one night at OKW and one night at SSR. It was a pretty amazing three days.

Did you have a favorite between the 2?

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Surprised no split stays with akv.

AKV is our home resort. We've been booking a 6-night stay with family in a 2BR preceded by 2-3 nights for just the two of us at another resort to try them out. We typically don't do any parks during that pre-vacation, but just relax and experience the resort. Then we go to parks with the rest of the family during the "main" stay.

We also did a split stay last year with a couple of nights at Vero Beach after our WDW visit. It's not far from where my mother lives, so we used it as a home base to pay her a visit. We've also stopped at HHI on the way home several times (not quite a split stay technically).

We're considering a slightly different split stay next January... hoping to get a 1BR BW view for 3 nights to go to EPCOT Arts Festival and then do another 3 nights in a studio at AKV to visit AK along with an off-site excursion to Gatorland Zoo (my wife has never been and I haven't gone since the late 1970s during Jr/Sr high school).

 

[BamaGuy44]

AKV is our home resort. We've been booking a 6-night stay with family in a 2BR preceded by 2-3 nights for just the two of us at another resort to try them out. We typically don't do any parks during that pre-vacation, but just relax and experience the resort. Then we go to parks with the rest of the family during the "main" stay.

We also did a split stay last year with a couple of nights at Vero Beach after our WDW visit. It's not far from where my mother lives, so we used it as a home base to pay her a visit. We've also stopped at HHI on the way home several times (not quite a split stay technically).

We're considering a slightly different split stay next January... hoping to get a 1BR BW view for 3 nights to go to EPCOT Arts Festival and then do another 3 nights in a studio at AKV to visit AK along with an off-site excursion to Gatorland Zoo (my wife has never been and I haven't gone since the late 1970s during Jr/Sr high school).

I love this pre-vacation strategy! Will definitely try this out

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Surprised no split stays with akv.

I split stay akv with a monorail resort

We like to split-stay AKV with BCV (ending at AKV)

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Yes! 2 resorts and always end with a longer stay. I was just considering this on my resort only trip with my daughter this summer. Trying to decide between 2/3 split Poly/AKV or just do all 5 at AKV.

That’s a tough one! But I would probably go for the split on a resort-only stay, bc it would add more fun things to do! Plus, I always ask my kids their preference, and all of my girls would want some time at Poly first. It’s such a fun pool, the grounds are gorgeous, watching MK fireworks on the beach with a dole whip… need I say more?!

I do enjoy a 2/3 split over 5 days. Best of luck deciding- either way, it’s sure to be a fabulous trip!!

 

[Mousetopia]

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.

In the past it was a more affordable way to try a Deluxe..start at a moderate then move up. Now that Ive discovered renting DVC its whatever fits our plans. Upcoming is 6 at SSR then 4 at AKL. Had planned on PO Riverside first and price is quite a bit higher so we said Deluxe for us!. One time we did 1 night at All Star/ 6 moderate/ 3 AKL ..that was too much moving. We have always had a park day when moving and planned accordingly. for 4pm check in. At first resort we arrive with the carryon holding what we need for first stay so unpack in minimal.
We have learned to schedule non park rest days. We are super excited to have check in day at AKL as a no park day!!! We will have a bag packed with suits, and whatever is needed and put in a locker until room is ready. So great to step in and savor the experience rather than drop luggage and run off!!!
We feel 3 nights min for splits to make it worth bothering

 

[js]

Thank you for this thread.

Information and Question:

At the seven month mark, I was able to do the following without any stalking (although for the GFV portion/dates, I did have to pull over on the New Jersey Turnpike at 7:55 am to book for 8 am, as I was driving to my dd's to babysit. I could NEVER tell my dh this piece of information LOL).

October 5-9
GFVs one bedroom standard view. My mom, dd and my grandson-14 months
My dd/dgs will leave on October 9. I will take the ride with them to airport to help out my dd and my mom will
stay back at GFVs. They have a 7 am flight.

October 9-16,
Studio, BWVs. My mom and sister
My sister comes in early on October 9 but my dd will have already been at the airport about two hours prior so I'm not staying around. I will Uber back to GFVs.

When I get back to GFVs, we (or I) will wait for my sister to arrive and I will have my mom get in an Uber with our luggage/food and take to BWVs (maybe with my sister). My mom will have a scooter she rented. I will go to MK bus stop with the scooter and get on a bus to BWVs with my sister or alone. Or, if my mom rather do the MK to BWVs with my sister and I Uber, that is fine too.

We want to to the Sangria experience at CS so we will leave our food/luggage at BWVs.

Would above be the easiest you could think of for our move since we have the scooter?

Thank you all so much!

 

[lundve]

Our February stay is split, studio first at CC, then one bedroom at BCV.

Our April stay is split, Studio at VGF, then one bedroom at BCV.

ONLY when we go to Vero does the last part of stay end up in smaller than one bedroom. We really like the OVIRs at Vero. Our July split ends up there for two nights. In that case the One bedroom BCV is the second leg of a 4 way split over 12 days.

I like to do this too mostly. Start in a studio and end in a one bedroom - hello washer and dryer.

We also limit resorts to two - we did three once and that was way too much - we have a car and drive over to change. We also don’t often do a park day on change day.

This past July we did 8 nights - 4 at RIV in a preferred studio and the 4 at SSR in a 1 bedroom. On check out day we had breakfast reservations at Toppolinos and then left leisurely to go to SSR and used the Paddock pool until we got a room ready text. That evening we hung out in Disney springs.

My favorite past spilts involved AP years.
-We had 11 nights in a BCV studio followed by 4 nights in an AKV Kidani one bedroom.
-We had 8 night in a BVW studio followed by 6 nights in a Poly studio. (I learned Poly needs more laundry for all those studios but was able to quite a bit during my 2 year olds nap time.)

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

While I am not a huge fan of split stays (we like to unpack and settle in), I will admit it was FANTASTIC on our transfer day last year from SSR/BLT to park, drop bags off, then walk to MK.

 

[Suzabella]

Great thread and very helpful.

We booked our first split stay for September. We're normally the 'like to unpack and settle in' crowd.

We're splitting our stay between BCV for access to HS and EP and CC for MK. Only doing the 3 parks this trip but I'm really excited to be staying at DVC resorts we've not stayed at before.

 

[Ensusieasm]

I almost always do a split stay. Usually it’s for two weeks to take a bite out of a Maine winter. This January it was 5 nights solo at Port Orleans Riverside, followed by 6 nights with family at Saratoga Springs, and finishing up with 3 nights at Disney’s Vero Beach. Next year my two week winter break will be 3 nights at Saratoga Springs, 3 nights Disney’s Vero Beach, 3 nights solo VGF, and 5 nights OKW. It’s just me doing all this moving around to join with friends and family who are only staying in one place. It’s always good to put down the snow shovel and see some green grass and flowers for two weeks!