I am joining those that DO NOT LIKE SPLIT STAYS!!!!!

[DenLo]

Have to admit that we are doing our first official DVC split stay in October and I'm starting to get nervous. But we plan on only bringing in items in stages, packing for the first three nights at BLT and then bring in everything at BWV later. But then after 4 nights at BWV in a 1BR we switch to studio when my DBIL leaves so that will be a mini split stay there. That switch is the one that really worries me, but DH is worried about moving to a different resort and how it will impact is brother and all of his groceries.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh, this could drive you crazy! Okay I'm taking deep relaxing breaths.

 

[jekjones1558]

Our last split stay was when we had to make a reservation on short notice. We did 3 days then 4 days. It was just DH and I, so not too bad. But I would only repeat if the alternative were no trip at all. Spreading out in a villa with a kitchen and 2 Owner's Lockers is great but packing all that stuff multiple times isn't my idea of a relaxing vacation. One caveat: If and when we are able to spend 3 weeks or so at one time, I would consider moving once.

 

[edk35]

Done. We have also made a pact in our family if we extend a day its at the same resort.

AMEN!!!! Yes adding a night or two onto a week at Disney is fine by me. I do love Disney but no more adding on at a resort other than where we are currently booked..........and NO adding on a night at said resort if it means we have to move rooms.

 

[edk35]

We take so much stuff with us since we drive that a split stay would be totally impractical. I see the appeal but it isn't for us. We take a bunch of food and drinks and totally unpack and don't want to have to repack and check in again. No thank you!

You know what? I agree. We always fly but this time we drove and I tell you what...we brought so much more STUFF. I can pack for flying with no problems but when you drive I feel you pack or bring stuff that I would not normally bring if we were flying. We are road trip rookies big time. We should have planned that part out better.

 

[photobob]

AMEN!!!! Yes adding a night or two onto a week at Disney is fine by me. I do love Disney but no more adding on at a resort other than where we are currently booked..........and NO adding on a night at said resort if it means we have to move rooms.

A couple of times we've gone down a day early and stayed at a value or offsite to preserve some of our precious points but we have discontinued that practice as well! It just makes it seem like you are postponing the real start of the trip. We have been enough times that we just don't feel the need to go to the extra expense of staying somewhere else the first night to make sure we squeeze every precious moment we can being at WDW.

 

[edk35]

I'm a member of the split stay haters club too! I don't mind a couple nights on one end or the other (especially if one of them is in concierge at AKV), but I like to totally unpack and "move" in, so split stays are a royal PITA for me. We sometimes do a concierge stay on one end of our trips, and I just don't completely unpack for those, but it's still a hassle.

I remember you being one those that was not a fan of split stays. Please join our group. I didn't mind that 2nd split stay in July 08 because we had 8 days at OKW and we were ready for another adventure. However that first DVC trip in Aug. 07 where we did 5 at SSR and 3 at BWV....well 3 nights is not enough. You lose that entire day. I apparently didn't learn my lesson because last summer we did that crazy 2/5/2 and then apparently I DIDN'T LEARN MY LESSON BECAUSE I DID AN EVEN WORSE SPLIT THIS STAY.

The splits didn't ruin our vacation by any means (still had a great time)......but it sure makes me want to NEVER do one again.

 

[edk35]

Sometimes we do split stays, but it's usually not with the DGC's family. What I especially like doing is AKV/BCV, usually in that order. When we cruised with DGC's family last year, we did BCV, DCL cruise, then 1 night at AKV, and we all thought that was fun. DS/DDiL like to take the very last plane home, so they had a full second day at Kidani and the kids just loved that pool and the whole experience. They didn't seem to mind not having a room. However, the weather was just about perfect, it could have been tough.

Denise, I totally see where you're coming from! I hope you and your family can look back at this vacation fondly,(while saying, "never again") and that you really enjoy these last few days at VB!

Bobbi

Hi Bobbi!!!'

Oh yes we did have a great time at WDW and we are enjoying Vero so far. I just know that next time our trip can be even better by planning far enough in advance and not doing S P L I T S T A Y S!!!! Did I mention I am not a fan of them anymore???????

 

[photobob]

Hi Bobbi!!!'

Oh yes we did have a great time at WDW and we are enjoying Vero so far. I just know that next time our trip can be even better by planning far enough in advance and not doing S P L I T S T A Y S!!!! Did I mention I am not a fan of them anymore???????

Hope you enjoy your Vero stay. We stayed there last year and had a brief stay in 2007 and we sent our DS and his DW on their honeymoon there last year. We really love the resort. We were planning a Vero trip again this year but I decided two years since my previous WDW was long enough! It is a great place to kick back and relax. Enjoy!

 

[twinklebug]

Pre-WDW..We're doing Universal-RP Hotel.Getting into Orlando late anyway, so we decided to experience Wizarding World Harry Potter and Hollywood Rip Ride Coaster the next day and some other IOA and US rides! For our Universal trips, we've only done on site Universal Hotels....love the Universal Express pass!!!In my opinion, the only way to go!

Perfect Plan. This is what I hope to do on our next visit too: 2 day/nights Universal @Royal Pacific followed by 6 or more nights in a 1br DVC (AKV or VWL)

I enjoy switching resorts once in a trip if we're there for 8 or more nights. Anything less and we'll stay put. I think the keys in switching rooms are not to overdo it, to make sure we'll be at the next resort for longer than the previous resort, and most importantly, always make the switch a step up in accommodations.

 

[tjkraz]

I agree--not a big fan of split stays.

The only way I have done it where it was somewhat tolerable is when we booked 2 nights in a Studio or standard hotel room at the START of our trip before moving to a 1B / 2B. For those two nights we packed in such a way that we had all of our necessities plus 2 days' worth of clothes in a single bag. The rest of the stuff stayed tucked away until we relocated.

That wasn't too bad. But now that DVC has pretty much eliminated the higher weekend point costs, the need for such bookings is gone. We'll just stay the full trip in a 1B / 2B.

 

[RLRDA]

I just know that next time our trip can be even better by planning far enough in advance and not doing S P L I T S T A Y S!!!! Did I mention I am not a fan of them anymore???????

So, just remember to mention here on the DIS what you're thinking of planning next year once the time gets closer - that way if you forget this feeling everyone from this thread will be happy to remind you!!

I think the key to why you feel this way is that you start out the first few years with only one split (which we have done in the past). Those are harmless IMO. Because those probably went so smoothly, you "graduated" to 3-4 splits per trip which sounds stressful.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[Wigit12]

We didn't mind it so much until BLT lost our Owner's Locker in March
Added a first night late so we stayed at VWL. Took everything over in a van instead of letting them transport it so I KNEW it had arrived when they tried to convince me it was never there.
For October we just went ahead and booked the Saturday night, if we change our mind this time we'll be cancelling instead of adding. I think that ended our split stays for good.

(They had sent our Locker with another family's luggage to MCO! We got it in the evening but it was not a fun first day)

 

[Tiger926]

Denise - You know I will be your Vice President, so I'm there right with you!!

This trip was 7 hotels in 15 nights - OMG!!! Due to a hotel on the way down and on way back, it makes for too many rooms.

My head is still spinning...Tiger

P.S. Can't wait to hear how Vero is?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I like to unpack and pack only once. Moving kitchen stuff/food etc. is a pain in the patutie. The only split stays have been when changes to existing reservations (adding days etc) made it necessary. It's still vacation and really not that big of a deal but I try to prevent having to do split stays if at all possible.

 

[rentayenta]

This thread is going to solidify that all of our 10 nights are spent at the SSR in a 2 bedroom. We stayed at 3 places during our last 2 Disney trips. First trip was:

• OKW GV
• AKV SV
• POR

Next was:

• Marriott Suites
• GCV
• PPH

I realize how insane I seem when I type it out.

 

[edk35]

A couple of times we've gone down a day early and stayed at a value or offsite to preserve some of our precious points but we have discontinued that practice as well! It just makes it seem like you are postponing the real start of the trip. We have been enough times that we just don't feel the need to go to the extra expense of staying somewhere else the first night to make sure we squeeze every precious moment we can being at WDW.

AMEN BOB...I am with you.

 

[edk35]

So, just remember to mention here on the DIS what you're thinking of planning next year once the time gets closer - that way if you forget this feeling everyone from this thread will be happy to remind you!!

I think the key to why you feel this way is that you start out the first few years with only one split (which we have done in the past). Those are harmless IMO. Because those probably went so smoothly, you "graduated" to 3-4 splits per trip which sounds stressful.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!

Thanks and please do remind me. The ONLY split we will do will be for WDW and here at Vero or.....we would do a split between WDW and HHI.

 

[Nutty4Disney]

You guys are scaring me. Our Oct. trip will be our first split stay. DH wasn't too thrilled but we couldn't get AKV Concierge for the first night. So we are staying at Kadani the first night. I don't think it should be too bad since it is the same resort. We decided we won't even get our Owner's Locker until the second day so we don't have to mess with it. Then we will just take our bags to bell service at Jambo House when we check out of Kadini. That should work right?

 

[twinklebug]

You guys are scaring me. Our Oct. trip will be our first split stay. DH wasn't too thrilled but we couldn't get AKV Concierge for the first night. So we are staying at Kadani the first night. I don't think it should be too bad since it is the same resort. We decided we won't even get our Owner's Locker until the second day so we don't have to mess with it. Then we will just take our bags to bell service at Jambo House when we check out of Kadini. That should work right?

You can do this, but remember the distance from the far end of Kidani to Jambo is a marathon in itself. Do you have a rental car or do you plan on walking your bags over? If walking them, I'd request the Kidani room be close to the elevators on the Jambo end to make the trek shorter. We can come up with the name of those elevators if you're interested. I think it's either Timone or Pumba.

 

[cseca]

Yep, another not a fan of SS either.
When it was just me or me and DH, no problem. Add DD to the mix... hmm... well... I think I would much prefer no moving.
Did it this past may and I'm glad we won't be doing it next january. Although we'd have to on december for our big family trip... blah.

That's why I'm dreading the fact that we have so many points but spread out to many resorts. So to get to stay in 1 resort I'll have to do some fancy bank/borrow... GAH! What was I thinking!!!

DH would so give me dirty looks if I even mention adding on... as well he should really. We have more than enough.