Ideal Resort stay within budget

[Chili327]

Based on the “rate the resorts” thread. I thought it would be interesting to see what people would pick for their ideal trip (split stay or not), within budget.

On my only WDW trip, I started with 2 nights at AKV, then I went 3 nights at BWV, then 5 nights at BRV, but I did spend multiple days checking out other resorts to see what I might like, with that said, i now own AKV, BWV & BLT, so I think my ideal trip is about 9 nights starting with 3 nights at AKV, then 3 at BWV, and finishing 3 at BLT (or could be CCV)

Whats your ideal trip itinerary length and resort(s) within budget (otherwise we’d all pick theme park views, cabungalows, grand villas, etc)

 

[Tigger's ally]

My ideal trip is two weeks, all spent in a 1BR villa at OKW. Maybe a couple park days if we feel like it. Lot's of time around the villa and of course bellied up to the Gurgling Suitcase . One fine meal a day. Cooler time of the year....say Nov or Jan. Lots of walks around OKW and multiple boat rides to DS. And of course, Mrs. Tigger right by my side the whole time. Well, maybe a couple trips to Gurgling suitcase without her so me and the bartender can talk about her! Would find time to play a round of golf at LBV so that I can wave to Mrs. Tigger up on the balcony.

Ah, Heaven!

 

[Chili327]

My ideal trip is two weeks, all spent in a 1BR villa at OKW. Maybe a couple park days if we feel like it.

Nice!!
I'm somewhat new to WDW, but I could see enjoying that down the road.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Nice!!
I'm somewhat new to WDW, but I could see enjoying that down the road.

Yeah,, my trip in October will be my 39th to WDW and will be my first in a GV at OKW. Taking all three of my kids, my DIL and all three of my grandkids. It will be a go, go, go trip which I am still very much into as well. Wife and I always took a week with the kids in the spring and a long weekend for F&W each year when we had AP's. Loved the slower pace of the fall trips back then and look forward to them again. .

 

[Disdreaming479]

I own 160 at BLT, which I haven’t stayed at yet or on these points at all. I’ve been checking which combination of rooms to book that will get as close to 160 as possible. For my dates, I noticed 1 bed at bwv had nice availability. So I can stay 4 nights in a 1 bed at BWV (116 pts) and 3 nights in a deluxe studio at SSR (42 std studio) or 3 nights AKL (40 pts std studio).
I’ll be starting out in the studio.
ETA: if the drone show was still going during January, I’d book there and be done with it but I’m 2/3 booked at Jambo currently bc I really loved arriving there last year during my solo.

 

[intamin]

We own over 600 points but at the end of the day we're point hoarders so we're studios predominantly right now. Once our family gets bigger we'll probably move up to 2BR but for now 1BRs would work for just us. Probably would do 4 nights in a 1BR at RIV, 4 nights at 1BR club level at AKV followed by 4 nights in a studio at Poly or a 1BR once they're available at Island Tower.

Once our family gets up to 4 we'll probably do the same but 2BR at RIV, 1/2BR value at AKV, 2BR at Poly would be ideal but I could still see us doing studio/1BRs if necessary to go on more frequent trips

 

[Chili327]

I own 160 at BLT, which I haven’t stayed at yet or on these points at all. I’ve been checking which combination of rooms to book that will get as close to 160 as possible. For my dates, I noticed 1 bed at bwv had nice availability. So I can stay 4 nights in a 1 bed at BWV (116 pts) and 3 nights in a deluxe studio at SSR (42 std studio) or 3 nights AKL (40 pts std studio).
I’ll be starting out in the studio.
ETA: if the drone show was still going during January, I’d book there and be done with it but I’m 2/3 booked at Jambo currently bc I really loved arriving there last year during my solo.

So is 10 nights is ideal for you?

We own over 600 points but at the end of the day we're point hoarders so we're studios predominantly right now. Once our family gets bigger we'll probably move up to 2BR but for now 1BRs would work for just us. Probably would do 4 nights in a 1BR at RIV, 4 nights at 1BR club level at AKV followed by 4 nights in a studio at Poly or a 1BR once they're available at Island Tower.

Once our family gets up to 4 we'll probably do the same but 2BR at RIV, 1/2BR value at AKV, 2BR at Poly would be ideal but I could still see us doing studio/1BRs if necessary to go on more frequent trips

So is a 12 night stay your ideal length of trip? (4 night, triple split stay)


I ask length, because i feel like its easiest to take off from Sat & return on Sun, so you only miss 1 full week or work or whatever, but i do think i'd rather travel at least 1 day earlier, & stay about 2 days longer... mostly to take advantage of EEH.

 

[intamin]

So is a 12 night stay your ideal length of trip? (4 night, triple split stay)

We did a 10 a few years ago and loved it. I based this off of our home resorts so this is most realistic about what I would be able to book. Maybe if anything I'd put swap the order I visit these resorts with Poly being in the middle and AKV being last. This way I can gorge myself on club level food and take it easy at the end of my trip. If it could be anything I want though it'd probably 4 at RIV, then 4 at Poly, then 4 at Beach Club. But yes 4/4/4 would allow us to get housekeeping essentially every 4 days which would be nice.

 

[Chili327]

We did a 10 a few years ago and loved it. I based this off of our home resorts so this is most realistic about what I would be able to book. Maybe if anything I'd put swap the order I visit these resorts with Poly being in the middle and AKV being last. This way I can gorge myself on club level food and take it easy at the end of my trip. If it could be anything I want though it'd probably 4 at RIV, then 4 at Poly, then 4 at Beach Club. But yes 4/4/4 would allow us to get housekeeping essentially every 4 days which would be nice.

Makes sense...

I'm wondering if it makes better sense for me (or anyone trying to save over missing less work) to only be there for 1 weekend, so travel Sunday, and leave the following Thursday. That would be 11 nights total, with also being able to hit both EEH for 2 weeks, & only 1 weekend (higher points).
So like 3/4/4 or whatever works best. (mine would be 3-AKV/4-BWV/4-BLT) Also a 10 day hopper.

 

[tidefan]

One thing we like to do is to stay 1 night at one resort, and then move to another resort for 5-7 nights. We would do this if we want to do a dining plan day, so we'd do that on the first day. The plus is that the mug is good for 14 days, so it covers the whole stay.

 

[Chili327]

One thing we like to do is to stay 1 night at one resort, and then move to another resort for 5-7 nights. We would do this if we want to do a dining plan day, so we'd do that on the first day. The plus is that the mug is good for 14 days, so it covers the whole stay.

You sneaky bastard. lol

I do like the idea of staying someplace cheaper the first night since it takes all day to get there (and now I like the idea even better), & I'd be lucky to even get to my hotel before dark, or even to make any dinner reservations... just not sure if All-Star is the better way to go over a good Neighbor or just eat the cost & wake up on the savanna.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Makes sense...

I'm wondering if it makes better sense for me (or anyone trying to save over missing less work) to only be there for 1 weekend, so travel Sunday, and leave the following Thursday. That would be 11 nights total, with also being able to hit both EEH for 2 weeks, & only 1 weekend (higher points).
So like 3/4/4 or whatever works best. (mine would be 3-AKV/4-BWV/4-BLT) Also a 10 day hopper.

This is sort of what we do - for the last several years we've gone down Wed - Sat. The consensus in my fam is that it's been the perfect amount of time (though I'm not so quietly lobbying everyone to do a full two weeks next summer.)

I love having a few days and then the weekend - there's something psychological about settling in, getting to the weekend and knowing I still have a full week of vacation ahead of me.

For 10 days, the first 7 are more park-heavy and we'll stay at BWV and then the last 3 at CCV for some R&R - both are usually studios.

If I can convince the extended fam to come next year for two weeks, I'm thinking 7 days in BWV 2-bedroom (or 2 studios) and then 7 days in RIV 2-bedroom (standard view).

 

[intamin]

Makes sense...

I'm wondering if it makes better sense for me (or anyone trying to save over missing less work) to only be there for 1 weekend, so travel Sunday, and leave the following Thursday. That would be 11 nights total, with also being able to hit both EEH for 2 weeks, & only 1 weekend (higher points).
So like 3/4/4 or whatever works best. (mine would be 3-AKV/4-BWV/4-BLT) Also a 10 day hopper.

Our normal trips currently are from early Saturday morning to late Saturday evening just so I can have a day to relax before going back to work. Its also to avoid paying the points for the first Friday night since we probably would not get in until too late to really enjoy that first day. If I wasn't working though my ideal trip would probably be 4/4/4. Right now we like 4/3

 

[Disdreaming479]

For the January solo, 7 nights is currently my max. If I end up with more than just myself and one daughter for spring break, I’ll cut my January reservation down to a studio at SSR to really budget the points (90 svor 99 pv). I’ll book 1 bedroom at SSR for max sleep surfaces for March.
If in the summer, I’d like 8 -10 days but 8 is our longest yet.

 

[CastAStone]

Based on the “rate the resorts” thread. I thought it would be interesting to see what people would pick for their ideal trip (split stay or not), within budget.

On my only WDW trip, I started with 2 nights at AKV, then I went 3 nights at BWV, then 5 nights at BRV, but I did spend multiple days checking out other resorts to see what I might like, with that said, i now own AKV, BWV & BLT, so I think my ideal trip is about 9 nights starting with 3 nights at AKV, then 3 at BWV, and finishing 3 at BLT (or could be CCV)

Whats your ideal trip itinerary length and resort(s) within budget (otherwise we’d all pick theme park views, cabungalows, grand villas, etc)

My limiting factor isn’t budget (within reason) so much as it’s vacation time and school windows. We’re never gone long enough.

I’d love to do 2 weeks in a 1 BR, the first at AKV-Kidani (ITS IN A ZOO!) and the second at one of the Epcot resorts. I love love love the location.

Or a week at VGC in a 1BR. We spent 4 days in one in January and it just wasn’t enough.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

We are going in September for 20 days and I'm SO excited. 4 nights at OKW, 4 nights at BWV and spending the rest of the time at VGF! Our challenge is also vacation time, than budget. That will be the longest trip, just staying strictly at WDW, for us and is pretty much my ideal.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

We are going in September for 20 days and I'm SO excited. 4 nights at OKW, 4 nights at BWV and spending the rest of the time at VGF! Our challenge is also vacation time, than budget. That will be the longest trip, just staying strictly at WDW, for us and is pretty much my ideal.

You definitely need to do a trip report on this one - so fun!!

 

[JulieBeeRN]

You definitely need to do a trip report on this one - so fun!!

Yeah,14 days has been our longest trip on property so far. We've been here longer with a cruise and a pre/post resort stay, but that trip is going to be amazing.

 

[Disney Spaz]

We would do 14 nights in a 1bdrm at VGF or CCV. We own at both and DH hates split stays or I would probably do 7/7 between the two resorts. He prefers to settle in for the whole trip. Right now we have enough points to do this every summer, I work in a school so summers it is, but we also like a quick Nov/Dec trip to see the Christmas decorations. As a result it has been 10 nights at VGF each summer and the CCV points are for the Christmas trip.

Our longest trip ever was pre-DVC. We stayed 15 nights at POR and it was me, DH, our DS and DD. While we had fun, for us the room was too small for 4 people for that long. DS was also an adult at the time so that added to the space constraints.

 

[Cfabar1]

Our longest WDW trip has been 6 nights in a 1 BR... We love staying at VGF... I could see us in a couple years reaching the point it was a maximum of 9 nights, and as our family changes we already know 2 BR units are on the horizon soon...

Anything longer, we might choose to go a different way - maybe a stay at BWV to have access to more walkable locations and more varied food options for example. Or, might go completely the opposite way and stay at SSR or OKW - likely OKW because of the size of the units, and make it a true "vacation home" for a longer stretch - use the kitchen, relax by the pool, etc.. Split stays are not for our family.

Absolute longest I could imagine us going at WDW at once would be two weeks, even that seems like a stretch.... Getting time off work that long would be hard, longer in most instances impossible... To me, given the high cost, as much as we like the Disney bubble, there's better places to go if you're not going to use the parks for a good percentage of the visit (maybe say 40ish percent at a minimum). I'd rather save those points for another trip...