Is multiple split stays crazy???

[Jnbm63]

Hi, Right now we are booked at the beach club standard room for 11/29/15-12/4/15 for our first Disney trip! We are driving and going to Gatorland the morning of 11/28 and were planning on getting a DT Disney hotel for that night. I have reservations at DT Rainforest café for dinner. After doing some research and if you factor in resort and parking fees for a 5 occupancy room in walking distance of DT, it is the same price or cheaper to stay at Port Orleans riverside and just take the ferry to DT Disney. Then the next morning we would get up and drive to Beach club resort to start in the parks. I don't think that split stay is too crazy. But... I'm also thinking of staying at a 1 bedroom Animal Kingdom villa our last 2 days of the trip. My husband and kids really want a Jacuzzi in the room, I want laundry in the room, love animals and the last 2 park days are MK and AK and are more relaxed.

So... Is this crazy? Or just stay at Port Orleans or even OKW first night for DT Disney transportation and Beach club the rest of the stay. I'm sort of waiting for the sales to come out to make my final choice. I would love to hear opinions!

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think for a week's vacation, one switch is all I would want to do. Could you make the first night BC and then only do one switch to AKL? If not, I think I would pick and either do BC or AKL the whole time after the DTD hotel (I would go with DAK for the space/laundry!)

Good luck deciding!

 

[Dano13]

I think you will spend way too much time packing and unpacking and waiting for Alerts that your rooms are ready. And if this is your first trip to WDW it can be overwhelming and you will be spending tons of time at the parks too. At max I would do 2 but probably stick to one. Especially if you have a car. I always use a car at WDW and it saves a TON of time.

 

[DisBuckMan]

The only crazy part I see is that you plan on doing laundry on a vacation of less than a week.

 

[loves to dive]

Doesn't look like a problem to me, especially since you have a car. I always drive down and am getting ready to do my third split stay. Like you I just didn't want to pay for the first night at a deluxe since I knew I wasn't getting there until around 2 so I'm doing a value the first night then moving over to Yacht Club. I've done two nights in a value and 3 nights in a deluxe, 2 nights in a moderate and 3 nights in a deluxe, 2 nights at AKV, 3 nights at BWV then switched rooms at BVV for a 4th night (that one was a last minute we need one more night thing). I pack two bags so I don't have to pack unpack on the first split. I always have a travel toiletry bag and I just transfer it from bag one to bag two or use a smaller carry on/tote bag and take it and my small laptop in it. On transfer day, I check out of hotel one and drive to hotel two, check in and if my room isn't ready, no big deal I either store my luggage with bell services or leave it in my car and go to the parks. Easy/peasy.

 

[HopperFan]

I will often book a couple nights at the front or back of a week stay somewhere but after trying a legit split stay, few nights here, few nights there - I didn't like it. I felt the packing and unpacking were a great loss of valuable vacation time.

For some I know it's fun and maybe if my visits to Disney were limited and I was trying to check resorts off my bucket list. But I prefer to spend the bulk of my trip in one place and balance each end with a night or two at something new or lower priced if just for sleep.

 

[Jnbm63]

Thanks!

 

[Fastpassminus]

I would book the whole trip in a 1 bedroom at Saratoga Springs. Easy walk to DTD, jacuzzi & laundry in room & you have a car so no worries about busses.

Renting points could make this easily an affordable option

 

[Jnbm63]

I already have my dining reservations and park days figured out, so I want to stay in Epcot area for at least the first 3 days9(11/29-12-2) and I can't afford the 2 bedroom villas in the area. My aunt, uncle and cousins stayed in 2 bed SS over spring break and loved it. Maybe next time I can rent points and book a villa if it doesn't work out this time.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you do the AK villa stay, since the jacuzzi tub is the reason, at checkin make SURE you do not get a handicap accessible room. No tub at all. Roll-in shower only.

And I agree with the question about laundry on a 1 week trip when you're driving (not flying), but maybe your kids go through more clothes.

 

[sunflowerblooms]

Depends on your travel style. My family's style is wanderlust.
Call me crazy - we did 4 different rooms for a 10 day Disney vacation. I say if you are an organized packer, your family doesn't mind moving (mine never grumbled once), and you are up for it - go for it. It's your vacation. Just think of it as a Disney Road trip. You aren't exactly putting miles on your car but you get to arrive at a different destination 3 times on your trip. How brilliant is that!

 

[wdwloverz]

DH & I do this all the time, we LOVE it but it is always just the two of us. On our upcoming trip we will start in a DTD resort,then an off property villa and finish with our last two nights at AKL DVC club level! With kiddos I don't think I would want to move more than once but if you are up for it then AKL is ahhhhhmazing!

 

[CynBeth]

Just to give you a heads up when booking dining you can no longer book for the entire trip at the 180 day mark. We are doing a split stay in November and could only book for the days we would be at the first resort and then had to wait until the 180 day of the second resort to make ressies for the second half of our week so that is something to consider while you are trying to figure out what to do.