Help deciding! Split stay?

[ParkHoppers]

Thank you so much everyone!! I booked the full 8 nights at VGF late lastnight after reading everyone’s replies.

But then after reading todays replies… I’m torn again

I do a lot of split stays and really like them but for a first DVC trip it is tough to beat a full week at VGF. On the monorail, walkway to MK and decorated for Christmas. My vote is for your next trip to be a split stay.

 

[koncra]

While typically I think split stays are a bit of a hassle, I think they can be really fun if you have a car rental. If relying on Disney transportation/Uber i would advise against.

We just did a 2/2 split stay at AKL and Poly and it was super easy because we had a car. When relying on Disney transportation in December for our 2/3 split stay Poly/OKW it was complex to say the least. Even though bell services did a great job, being "homeless" on your check in day until at least 4pm can cause issues and not having access to your stuff sucks, like if you get caught in the rain and cant change your clothes.

 

[Kristine3204]

I do a lot of split stays and really like them but for a first DVC trip it is tough to beat a full week at VGF. On the monorail, walkway to MK and decorated for Christmas. My vote is for your next trip to be a split stay.

I think you’re right. It’s VGF afterall. Thank you!

 

[Kristine3204]

While typically I think split stays are a bit of a hassle, I think they can be really fun if you have a car rental. If relying on Disney transportation/Uber i would advise against.

We just did a 2/2 split stay at AKL and Poly and it was super easy because we had a car. When relying on Disney transportation in December for our 2/3 split stay Poly/OKW it was complex to say the least. Even though bell services did a great job being "homeless" on your check in day until at least 4pm can cause issues and not having access to your stuff sucks, like if you get caught in the rain and cant change your clothes.

Ahh. Didn’t think about the rain either lol. So many different factors that can come into play.

And nope, we won’t have a car, completely relying on Disney transportation and Ubers

 

[ParkHoppers]

I think you’re right. It’s VGF afterall. Thank you!

What room did you book. Was it the Resort Studio.. They just opened those for booking so that might be why a full week was available within the 7th month window. There isn’t usually full weeks open at VGF for Thanksgiving week within the 7 month window. If you don’t own at VGF you might not get another full week at 7 month window in the future. Even more reason to be happy you already have a full week booked.

 

[Kristine3204]

What room did you book. There isn’t usually full weeks open at VGF for Thanksgiving week within the 7 month window. If you don’t own at VGF you might not get another full week at 7 month window in the future. Even more reason to be happy you already have a full week booked.

The resort studio! There’s so much availability since they released the dates for the new building. I already had the 2nd half of the trip booked last week (30th - dec 4th.. which is now currently booked out) then booked the 1st half (26th - 30th) lastnight. I figured we never use a kitchenette anyway, the resort studio would be fine? (Probably cause we never stayed dvc before lol)

 

[Kristine3204]

What room did you book. Was it the Resort Studio.. They just opened those for booking so that might be why a full week was available within the 7th month window. There isn’t usually full weeks open at VGF for Thanksgiving week within the 7 month window. If you don’t own at VGF you might not get another full week at 7 month window in the future. Even more reason to be happy you already have a full week booked.

I guess technically it’s post thanksgiving week

 

[ParkHoppers]

The resort studio! There’s so much availability since they released the dates for the new building. I already had the 2nd half of the trip booked last week (30th - dec 4th.. which is now currently booked out) then booked the 1st half (26th - 30th) lastnight. I figured we never use a kitchenette anyway, the resort studio would be fine? (Probably cause we never stayed dvc before lol)

So that is not what the availability is normally like within the 7th month window. Meaning I would not give up that full week as getting one in the future will be tough to impossible at the more popular resorts at certain times. This is what led us into split stays in the first place. Availability at the 7 month window. Glad you got the full week. It can be more rare than you would think inside of 7 months. Especially at the more popular resorts.

 

[ParkHoppers]

I guess technically it’s post thanksgiving week

We show up for our VGF Resort studio on Dec 7th. We took the full week also.

 

[koncra]

Ahh. Didn’t think about the rain either lol. So many different factors that can come into play.

And nope, we won’t have a car, completely relying on Disney transportation and Ubers

I think you made the right choice keeping it all one reservation then. Gotta remember that by the time you drop your bags at bell services in the morning(8am-ish) and the standard check in time of 4pm, that's 8 hours without access to anything in your bags or a room to go to if the kids need a nap, if someone gets sick/headache, if the weather takes a turn, etc.

Save the split stay for a trip when you rent a car, as you can at least have your bags in the trunk if you need something.

 

[Kristine3204]

We show up for our VGF Resort studio on Dec 7th. We took the full week also

So that is not what the availability is normally like within the 7th month window. Meaning I would not give up that full week as getting one in the future will be tough to impossible depending on when you go. This is what led us into split stays in the first place. Availability at the 7 month window. Glad you got the full week. It can be more rare than you would think inside of 7 months. Especially at the more popular resorts.

I actually thought that I’d never get to stay at VGF after reading how hard it was to book for none home resort owners. I had poly booked originally but then switched half of the week to VGF when I saw it was available. Definitely doing the entire week there now since I probably won’t get the chance to again

 

[Kristine3204]

I think you made the right choice keeping it all one reservation then. Gotta remember that by the time you drop your bags at bell services in the morning(8am-ish) and the standard check in time of 4pm, that's 8 hours without access to anything in your bags or a room to go to if the kids need a nap, if someone gets sick/headache, if the weather takes a turn, etc.

Save the split stay for a trip when you rent a car, as you can at least have your bags in the trunk if you need something.

thank you! Definitely a good idea renting a car for one trip. There’s so many different resorts that I now want to stay in, I know I do want to do a split stay in the future.. rental car would make it easier for transferring

 

[kboo]

thank you! Definitely a good idea renting a car for one trip. There’s so many different resorts that I now want to stay in, I know I do want to do a split stay in the future.. rental car would make it easier for transferring

Yes it would be a studio at both places! My kids don’t nap in the room anyway so I figured transfer day wouldn’t be a big deal since they can nap in the double stroller like they normally do. Late start pack day and adr near VGF (second resort) would definitely work.

I’m leaning towards doing a split stay again. I THINK I can be organized enough to not have too much packing and unpacking to do lol. Thinking pack one set of luggage for first half of trip and another for the second half.

So another option is BCV 1br for 3 nights then 5 nights at VGF studio. Or still go for Kidani savanna/VGF split?

We did a lot of split stays (still do) with a double stroller - if your kids will nap in the stroller a split stay is much easier. We have never rented a car when doing our splits - we usually do laundry the night before so packing is easier - throwing everything in the suitcase as clean is very simple, and since we know we will be doing laundry, we bring 4-5 days' worth of stuff and just do laundry in the evenings after the kids have gone to sleep.