If your favorite park is MK (and you stay Deluxe), would you ever stay at a Deluxe near Epcot, etc?

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

True, but switching monorails means double the lines, one at Epcot & one at the TC. Plus, you would walk into Epcot at IG, then out the main entrance then up the monorail ramp just to start your journey to MK? No way - the inconvenience of the bus would save 45-60 minutes. I couldn’t go through all that just to avoid the bus. Plus, you said MK was your favorite park, so this means doing this more than once. And, on the front & back ends of a day. Ick.

You are right. I made a crazy statement above. I didnt think it through apparently!!!

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Have you thought about doing a split stay? You could focus on Epcot and Hollywood Studios when staying at an Epcot resort and then focus on Magic Kingdom at the Magic Kingdom resort. I love being able to walk to two parks from the Epcot resorts, although I do think my favorites are the monorail resorts. With a nine night stay you'd definitely have time to divide your time between two resorts.

I did start thinking about a split stay for this reason. I would love to try Yacht or Beach club but hate the commitment of an entire trip based on it, and to be so far from MK.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

I’d certainty say five staying the the Epcot resorts a try. As long as you’re not trying to make MK for rope drop, I find the walk through Epcot to the monorail enjoyable. I also like that there is much more to do, easier around the Epcot resorts. BC/YC, BW, Swan, & Dolphin are all easy walks. The boardwalk has a fair bit going on, escpually at night (including outdoor performers for the kids). Fantasia mini golf is across the street, and BB is only a few minutes ride down the road.

What's BB?

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Our favorite parks are MK and Epcot. We have been getting 5 day park hoppers and basically spend one morning at AK and one at DHS. So for us the Poly is our resort choice. I asked my dh if he wanted to do a split stay when we went in 2013 and he said no. I asked him Again for our upcoming trip in August and he said sure. So we will do the BC for 5 nights followed by the Poly for 5 nights. We can do the studios while at the BC and that will be one less bus (I love the boats).

This sounds awesome. You only get a 5 day hopper for a 10 day stay?

 

[jettagirl]

I agree with PP who suggested the idea of a split stay. We don't like the buses either (we have a double stroller in tow) and we also tend to spend more time at MK than any other park so we often do split stays because we feel like we get the best of both worlds. For our upcoming trip in July, we are staying 3 nights at Beach Club Villas and then 4 nights at the Grand Floridian Villas. It's a bit of a hassle to pack up our suitcases and to be "homeless" on the switchover day but it's worth it. I love being able to walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios (or take the boat if it's nearby) and then take the monorail to MK. Obviously, we have to plan our days so that the Epcot/Hollywood Studios days are during the first part of our trip and then MK/AK for the last part. We will only have to take the bus on one day (AK day) which is awesome.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

I agree with PP who suggested the idea of a split stay. We don't like the buses either (we have a double stroller in tow) and we also tend to spend more time at MK than any other park so we often do split stays because we feel like we get the best of both worlds. For our upcoming trip in July, we are staying 3 nights at Beach Club Villas and then 4 nights at the Grand Floridian Villas. It's a bit of a hassle to pack up our suitcases and to be "homeless" on the switchover day but it's worth it. I love being able to walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios (or take the boat if it's nearby) and then take the monorail to MK. Obviously, we have to plan our days so that the Epcot/Hollywood Studios days are during the first part of our trip and then MK/AK for the last part. We will only have to take the bus on one day (AK day) which is awesome.

This is the only thing that concerns me - the time lost packing up and getting re settled elsewhere. Tell me more about your split stays with little ones!

 

[monorailsilver]

This sounds awesome. You only get a 5 day hopper for a 10 day stay?

Yes. Pretty much always have done a 5 day. Started with 8 day trips with my dh (had gone before him with my parents but you know there were only 2 parks and river country back in the Stone Age). We progressed to a few more days each trip and this trip was going to be 11 days and I would of done 6 day park hoppers since my sister was coming and we’d go to the parks with them 4 days but she couldn’t come so I cut down a day....now I think she is coming .

I like my pool/rest days just as much as my park days so out plan is every other day to do a park plus we will have a water park day. Our kids are older and will enjoy the sleeping in every other day as will my dh while I am at the pool!

I also don’t do parks on arrival or departure days.

 

[Nancyg56]

I did start thinking about a split stay for this reason. I would love to try Yacht or Beach club but hate the commitment of an entire trip based on it, and to be so far from MK.

Since we are discussing pros and cons, I cannot let the pool go. It's awesome. It's unique. It was also the biggest stresser for me. That is one huge pool, and there are so many curves and areas that block vision. I know your child is younger than my grand daughter was, but I was a nervous Nellie there. Kady was a strong swimmer, and the life guards are vigilant, however I was not always able to keep eyes in her.

I would suggest you look at why you would choose any resort: convenience, transportation, theme, amenities, and grounds. Of those, what will you use?

My family prefers the MK resorts, they love the Poly. For all the above. Walking into Epcot matters not to them, and while they like the Boardwalk, it is incidental to them. SAB is nice but not their deal breaker.

I really gravitate towards the BC. I live the Boardwalk area and the easy acces to Epcot. The pool is a non issue, itvis too crowded for me.

I suggest you look at all of this, decide what you will use, appreciate, and what cons are in store for any resort. They exist at each one, so the pros need to trump the cons.

Then decide. I will say that I consider wilderness lodge a MK resort, even though it is not on the monorail line. If you are looking for a change in atmosphere but do not want to give up convenience, consider it among your choices.

 

[Shellyb84]

I did start thinking about a split stay for this reason. I would love to try Yacht or Beach club but hate the commitment of an entire trip based on it, and to be so far from MK.

I love split stays! I have commitment issues and always feel like I'll have regrets if I don't stay at our favorite resort, so we'll stay a few nights at the beginning at another resort, then end at BC. We don't find it a big hassle to move. We pretty much live out of our suitcases anyway, and we drive, so we just pack a separate bag for each stay.

 

[OneinThree]

Tell me more about your split stays with little ones!

I would if I could, but there's no way I'd invite that sort of chaos when we're there to relax! YMMV, but we've got 5 children and like to keep things as simple as possible.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

My favorite park is MK but I've always loved the look of BC. It was always on my bucket list. Last trip I did a split with Poly and BC (first for both). I absolutely fell in love with the Epcot area resorts. So much so that our next trip will be at BWV. We are doing two nights at POFQ before our week at BWV so those first two days are concentrated mostly at MK with some AK time.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

I love split stays! I have commitment issues and always feel like I'll have regrets if I don't stay at our favorite resort, so we'll stay a few nights at the beginning at another resort, then end at BC. We don't find it a big hassle to move. We pretty much live out of our suitcases anyway, and we drive, so we just pack a separate bag for each stay.

This is my worry, regretting my choice. Which is why I would have to "end" our trip with the stay by the MK and start the trip with the new resort by Epcot.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

My favorite park is MK but I've always loved the look of BC. It was always on my bucket list. Last trip I did a split with Poly and BC (first for both). I absolutely fell in love with the Epcot area resorts. So much so that our next trip will be at BWV. We are doing two nights at POFQ before our week at BWV so those first two days are concentrated mostly at MK with some AK time.

This sounds great. What is BWV?

 

[jettagirl]

This is the only thing that concerns me - the time lost packing up and getting re settled elsewhere. Tell me more about your split stays with little ones!

When we arrive at the first resort, I try to only unpack the things we will need for the 3 days we are staying there. It doesn't always work out that way, so I just make sure to pack up what I can when the kids go to bed on our final night at resort #1. On the morning that we are checking out of resort #1, we take our bags down to bell services and ask to have them transferred to resort #2 (you can also call and have bell services pick up your bags from your room...we just drop them off when we are on our way to breakfast). For our last split stay, our kids were 5 and 2. My youngest was still napping at that point so we had to improvise on our switchover day. If I remember correctly, we were at MK and we stayed at the park past her nap time (she may have had a short stroller nap) and then went to resort #2 around 3 or 4 PM and our room was ready.

If you live in the US, you'd probably get a text stating that your room is ready (we are Canadian and never get those texts, unfortunately) so you'd know when you could head over to resort #2.

I hope this helps - let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Since we are discussing pros and cons, I cannot let the pool go. It's awesome. It's unique. It was also the biggest stresser for me. That is one huge pool, and there are so many curves and areas that block vision. I know your child is younger than my grand daughter was, but I was a nervous Nellie there. Kady was a strong swimmer, and the life guards are vigilant, however I was not always able to keep eyes in her.

I would suggest you look at why you would choose any resort: convenience, transportation, theme, amenities, and grounds. Of those, what will you use?

My family prefers the MK resorts, they love the Poly. For all the above. Walking into Epcot matters not to them, and while they like the Boardwalk, it is incidental to them. SAB is nice but not their deal breaker.

I really gravitate towards the BC. I live the Boardwalk area and the easy acces to Epcot. The pool is a non issue, itvis too crowded for me.

I suggest you look at all of this, decide what you will use, appreciate, and what cons are in store for any resort. They exist at each one, so the pros need to trump the cons.

Then decide. I will say that I consider wilderness lodge a MK resort, even though it is not on the monorail line. If you are looking for a change in atmosphere but do not want to give up convenience, consider it among your choices.

WL is our next planned stay, but wondering if i should spilt that with BC.

 

[jettagirl]

This is my worry, regretting my choice. Which is why I would have to "end" our trip with the stay by the MK and start the trip with the new resort by Epcot.

This is what we do - we start at an Epcot resort and then end our trip near Magic Kingdom (this is when we also go to Animal Kingdom too...that way we aren't doing 3 days of MK in a row).

 

[NickC]

MK is our favorite park, and we like to stay at the Epcot resorts. When we do MK, we are there all day. We might eat at a monorail resort, or take a boat to Hoop Dee Doo, but we generally stay in the area. When we do HS and AK, we will typically do a half day. So, the big draw to the Epcot area resorts is that we can walk over for a nice dinner, or a drink on non-MK days and even on our arrival day. Of course, if you take mid-day breaks and visit MK over 50% of the days, then my reasoning might not be enough...but it works for us.

 

[KevM]

What's BB?

Blizzard Beach.

 

[FSU Girl]

Something you could do with the split stay is do a pool day on your turnover day. You can pack a day bag and enjoy the pool, have lunch by the pool and then when your room is ready go to it. You don't need to be out of your first room until 11am so it doesn't have to a rush to leave.

 

[Shellyb84]

Something you could do with the split stay is do a pool day on your turnover day. You can pack a day bag and enjoy the pool, have lunch by the pool and then when your room is ready go to it. You don't need to be out of your first room until 11am so it doesn't have to a rush to leave.

That's typically what we do on our turnover day as well.