Help withSept 2009 trip (split-stay questions)

[chimo2u]

Hello! I posted this on another board as well, but haven't had many awnsers yet, so I am hoping a new community of Disney lovers can help me out .... Here's my situation:
I am having a bit of a mind battle over my first split-stay planning, and knew you all could throw in just the comments I need to get this settled in my mind! Well, I graduate June 2009 from my Medical Office Assistant course and this trip with my family will be our last major vacation together. I recieved the school calendar printout today for the 2009/2010 school year, and I noticed that Labor day is quite late in Sept 2009. (actually Sept 7 to be exact). This is a blessing in a way as the kids would only have to miss 4 days of school for a 12 day trip. (Thinking Sept 1-12, 2009). This would also, perhaps, allow us to take advantage of Free dining if it is offered. This trip my kids will be 13 and 17, and Epcot/HWS are their favorite parks, so I'd like to add BC for the last 6 days of the trip as they'd LOVE SAB, I am sure
For the first 5 nights, I'd like to either do WL (never stayed there only ate a WC... fun evening!) OR AKL again (stayed there concierge level on our first trip Jan. 2008) and fell in love with it. Now, I'd like to book concierge for our stay as well, but am running the thought of perhaps asking upon check-in what the cost would be vise adding it on prior, as this is sometimes a cheaper route!
Now.... With the splitting of the resorts, how does a package work staying at 2 properties? Would I book the first 5 nights (Tue. Sept 01-to Sat. Sept 05 at WL or AKL) with dining and then book Sunday Sept 06 - Sat Sept 12 (CHECK OUT DAY) at BC with dining? We only want 10 day Park hopper, water park option tickets as the Sept 01 and Sept 12 would be check-in/ check out days and not needing park admission. I hope you can all get what I am trying to figure out in this. It's driving me bonkers trying to figure it all out! I don't know how the dining package would work if we do a 2 resort stay, as I am hoping there would not be an overlap of food day due to checking out of 1 resort and checking into another. ??????????? Also, where would you all recommend for the first resort? Our faithful and beloved AKL, or trying something new at WL?
Thanks for all your ideas/ help/ advice, you are life savers when it comes to planning! LOL and I am just one big confused planner with so many questions floating through my over-stressed mind!!
I am hoping you can set me straight. PS>>>> I am also considering Poly concierge after all the rave reviews I hear about the Poly resort.
Marie

 

[Magic4Four]

We did a split stay in Feb. 2007 but not by choice. It was OKW then SSR. We didn't realize that it is two separate reservations so we got two separate Key to the World cards. That was tough because we were also on the dining plan and had to use up all the credits from the first (OKW) stay or else lose them before we switched to SSR. We usually spread out our dining options over the course of our stay so having to eat all of that food in such a short time was tough. We also hated packing up all of our stuff, much of it baby items and putting in the car until check- in time. We felt like the day we switched was kind of a lost day. We are actually doing another split stay in August but won't have as much baby gear. We are going from BCV to VWL. Hopefully, it won't be as hectic.

The VWL is my absolute favorite resort - hands down. The moment we walk into that lobby I have to pinch myself because A.) I can't believe that I am staying at something so spectacular and B.) it has everything a person could ask for in a vacation resort. There are restaraunts if you care to sit down, a counter service that offers delicious salads and breakfast options. The pool is beautiful, my dd5 loves the slide, and the convenience to the MK and the other resorts, which gives us the monorail to use, cannot be beat. I love going anywhere on those boats. It adds so much to my vacation. It is so pleasant in the morning when the sun is reflecting off of the water and we are on our way for an early breakfast at Crystal Palace. It is peaceful and priceless.

Hope this helps in any way. Good luck planning.

 

[aussieinvasion]

I would be interested in hearing opinions too chimo2u as we are going in aug/sept '09. We are thinking 5 nights WL/5 nights BWV. I am concerned what would happen if free dining is offered as I am sure I have previously read that you have to have park tickets booked with both accommodations as they are separate reservations. Someone correct me if I am wrong. So I am thinking that I would have to book 5 nights WL with 9 day park passes and then another separate booking for 5 nights BWV and 1 day park passes to get the free dining on both reservations. Does that make sense? I hope I am giving the right info. Or the other choice is just to get the free dining in the first portion of our holiday, book the 9 day passes with this and just book room only for BWV..... talk about confusion