For Those Who Pick a Park Based on Your Resort

[RanDIZ]

The travel time to MK isn't great from anywhere that's not an MK resort. And the boat from BRV is wonderful.

I totally understand why you're thinking of splitting the stay.

Whatever decision you make, it'll be fine. You'll be at WDW!

We did MK from AKV this past Thursday. I wasn’t expecting it to be such a success but it certainly was. MK park open was listed at 8a. The bus left AKV at 7a and I was in the park and off Mine Train by 7:40. I don’t remember the exact drop off time to MK, but to do all of that by 7:40 is huge!

 

[RanDIZ]

I posted this in another thread, but figured it might help out here as well. We definitely based our split selections based on park/resort locations.

Just finished our first split stay. We did 3 solely due to the unheard of availability during this year. Up to last week when we arrived, every resort had become available for studios at some point. The hardest was VGF which showed available only once, but we weren't interested. We wound up going with 3 night CCV, 2 night BCV, 3 night AKV Kidani. The check in times were amazing! CCV 10am, BCV 7:45am, and AKV 10:30am. Yes, the packing/unpacking situation sucks, but to get to experience multiple resorts was great. BCV made it more than worth it since we planned our EP and HS days for that portion. We were able to rope drop both parks each day and hit every ride including ROTR BG by 2p. We left both parks to head back to BCV for a break which was so convenient. Next time I would definitely limit it to 2 resorts per 4 nights though. FYI - we also drove so this made transportation with luggage smooth.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

We always start a few nights at AKV. Then head to wherever we’re staying. We usually mix it up every time but always start at AKV for 2/3 nights.

Yes we own at AKV. So far we’ve been lucky to get a value studio which helps to offset the cost of the other resorts. For next year’s trip, we are thinking of doing four nights in the value studio and then moving somewhere else, preferably BRV which is actually our favorite resort. I do like getting settled but this time we are going to spend more time at the resort so we will have plenty of time to pack up and move. Also we are planning on packing two suitcases, one for AKV and another for the other resort. On our homeless day, we will go to DS or a park and will head back to the new resort to enjoy it until our room is ready. We did this once with AKV/CCV and loved it. That one was only for five nights. This time it’s for seven so I think it will be even better. It will just be interesting to plan park days with a split stay.

 

[sethschroeder]

We always start a few nights at AKV. Then head to wherever we’re staying. We usually mix it up every time but always start at AKV for 2/3 nights.

Actually this is pretty smart as you get to have Fri/Sat at AKV where its cheaper and then never go back to AK the rest of the trip.

My issue is that I like to start out the trip with Epcot. Last trip we started with AK and it just didn't seem the same might have been the 2yo and 6mo making the difference though haha.

 

[sethschroeder]

been lucky to get a value studio

With all the excess points in the system you might be able to get lucky more often the next few years since less people will be "forced" in to value studios to make their trip work.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

With all the excess points in the system you might be able to get lucky more often the next few years since less people will be "forced" in to value studios to make their trip work.

True. I have excess points too, but I like a good value (literally). But that is why I’m considering a split stay at another resort. I have some points to spend.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Actually this is pretty smart as you get to have Fri/Sat at AKV where its cheaper and then never go back to AK the rest of the trip.

My issue is that I like to start out the trip with Epcot. Last trip we started with AK and it just didn't seem the same might have been the 2yo and 6mo making the difference though haha.

I know this post wasn’t directed at me but I totally agree and this is my plan. Check in on Wednesday in an AKV value studio, staying four nights. So we get the cheaper room on Friday and Saturday night, then move elsewhere. We love AK so we will go several times while we are at AKV and will probably go there one last time on check out day before heading to the next resort. We will focus on MK the second part of our trip, but I do have to say I will HAVE to go to MK at least once during the first part.

 

[Skywalker3]

We've done several split stays, (and plenty where you just stay put,) and definitely try and plan parks around that. We've done Poly/BWV once, with MK/AK first, then Epcot/HS. We've also done BLT/BWV, and a Poly/AKL. and just a few weeks ago, did AKL/BWV. That one was a bit last minute, so we had an HS day scheduled while at AKL, but usually wouldn't do that. With park reservations, had to keep it. Anyway, did our first 2 AK days from there, then the majority of the HS days and Epcot from BWV. we usually have at least a 7 or 8 night stay when doing a split. I like them a lot better than my hubby. But this way, we get to try some new places, but still get to go back to our 'home' at some point, and we just love walking to Epcot/HS.

 

[Heather07438]

oops

 

[Heather07438]

We do this sometimes and while I do like the ease of transportation, I don't like knowing I need to pack up and move. I like to feel settled in and when I know I will be moving in a few days I don't feel settled so what I will do is sometimes book only 2 nights in one area and then 6 or 7 in the other area. That way I just feel unsettled for a little while and still have plenty of time to feel settled in at the second resort.

This is basically our upcoming trip. We start at Poly Fri Jan 8 for 2 nites, then move to Beach Club on Sunday for the last 6 nites.

We reserved the park days before hoppers were 100% confirmed, which made it easier. We just picked 2 days per park and an extra day at HS in case we needed another shot at RotR.

But now with hopping we're ready to tweak our plans.
eta- Updated hopping plans:

Fri 1/8	Sat 1/9	Sun 1/10	Mon 1/11	Tue 1/12	Wed 1/13	Thu 1/14	Fri 1/15	Sat 1/16
Poly checkin	Poly	Poly/BC	BC	BC	BC	BC	BC	BC
MK	AK/MK 8p	MK/EP 9p	HS	EP	MK/EP 8p	AK/EP 8p	HS/EP 8p	HS flexible
8a-8p	8a-6p	9a-6p	10a-7p	11a-8p	9a-6p	9a-5p	10a-7p	7p flight

I feel like we're not taking the best advantage of our locations. On the flipside, we tried to make good use of the lowest crowds on Mon, Tues & Wed. Would you leave these days as is? Any suggestions?

Thanks for this board Quite timely for us.

Originally:

 

[Shellyred8]

We a did a split stay like this for the first time this summer - BWV and CR on one trip and Swan/BRV on another and I'm finding the idea of going back to just one resort (especially one that might have bus only transportation) difficult. It was honestly amazing to be able to get to three of four parks by walking or boat (and we saved AK for our day when we change resorts to minimize busses). We didn't find we missed the parks that weren't part of our dedicated days.

This is pretty much us too. AK is almost always on our move day.