Multiple Resorts, One Visit

[DisneyDaze36]

I am sure this is quite common but I am wanting to hear stories related to DVC members using multiple resorts for one trip; i.e 8 Day Trip - 4 days BCV, 4 days SSR. Is this worth the trouble? Does it enhance the "magic"? Thanks Everyone!

BTW: Not yet a DVC member but DW and I are looking to buy in this month!

 

[disfountainofyouth]

We'll be splitting time for the first time this coming February.
1/2 week at BCV and 1/2 week at VWL. I'll be watching for the
tips from those who do this often.

 

[byoung]

We split a lot on weekends, staying with our AP discount. Have no problems doing it, Disney moves the bags etc for you.

 

[Magic4Four]

We split our stay in February between OKW and SSR. With two small children, we found it to be somewhat of a hassle to repack all of our things
back into the luggage, check it with bell services and be out of the room by 11. Also something to consider, that we didn't realize, was that the dining plan was also effected by the split stay. We had to use all of the credits for the first stay by the time we left OKW and then the new credits were issued on our new key to the world cards that we were given at SSR. In other words, what ever credits we did not use from our ressies at OKW could not be put onto the SSR ressies. I don't think I would do this again unless it was just DH and myself or the kids were much older and could help with the move.

 

[darby74]

Thanks for the comments poster #4. We have a trip planned with our 2 yr old, my mother and my sister to BWV in March and are considering switching to a 2nd resort during the trip - i think we will avoid the hassle entirely and stay at one resort!

 

[kimberh]

Last year, we stayed at 3 resorts, we drive, so that does help. We can leave luggage in the car until the room is ready. The DDP credits can become a little confusing, they do have to be used by midnight of the check out day. I managed to keep them straight, and we used all the credits with the majority being used on the last day.

It was fun being at 3 resorts, I did not do this on purpose... had to do it to find availability. We really try to be flexible so it was a fun trip for us.

 

[DisneyDaze36]

Thanks for the info everyone. A few more questions. How efficient is the luggage transfer process? Can you expect your bags at the next resort on time? Also, If buying the DDP do you need to purchase for the full trip or is it per resort ressie? Thanks again!

 

[sue]

We stayed at SSR for 3 nights and then OKW for 2 nights last October. One word of advise..... It can be a big hassle if you have groceries too. They will hold all of this for you at the new resort until you get your room, but we found that we wasted most of the day trying to get resettled at the new resort. I wouldn't switch again, unless I were staying for 2 weeks or more. The last thing I want to do, is start packing and then unpacking mis-stream into my vacation.

 

[sue]

If you are buying the DDP you just have to have it for the entire length of your reservation at ONE of your resorts. We bought our own meals and cooked while at SSR and then bought the DDP for our remainder of our vacation at OKW. The luggage transfer was smooth. You will need to call the front desk the day before you transfer, to arrange a time for them to pick up your luggage. We had them come around 8:30 am. They hold it at the first resort until they get a chance to transfer it over to the second resort. Your luggage may not show up for a few hours, so beware of that. Also if you have food that you want transfered, make the front deck aware of that too.

 

[ebenmax]

We just did this about a month ago - 3 nights BWV and 2 SSR. Our purpose was to try out two completely different styles of resorts so we could see the advantages of both. Plus it was our first trip home and we really wanted to spend some time at SSR. We did accomplish our main goal - to compare.
We now know why/when and for what reasons we would return again to BOTH resorts.

BUT while we didn't mind switching and it wasn't a huge hassle (Disney moved our bags with no problems), I would say we weren't really there long enough to do that. Your stay is a little longer, but for us we just felt settled and then packed to move. It really didn't disrupt our trip because the day we moved, we had also planned a day away from the parks. But you do feel a little homeless for awhile.

HTH

 

[Mahusky]

Last year, we stayed at 3 resorts, we drive, so that does help. We can leave luggage in the car until the room is ready. The DDP credits can become a little confusing, they do have to be used by midnight of the check out day. I managed to keep them straight, and we used all the credits with the majority being used on the last day.

It was fun being at 3 resorts, I did not do this on purpose... had to do it to find availability. We really try to be flexible so it was a fun trip for us.

We have done this many many times....... luggage transfer works great. Leave your bags in your romm and call bell services and then go to the parks.Bell Services picks them up and ships them to your resort. Usually about 1PM. I also leave a bag in my rental as an emergency bag for the just in case items.

I also get up early on the day of the transfer and check in at the resort we are heading to while the family is getting showered and ready. This is great because NO LINES!!!

At parks I call and check to see if our room is ready sometime after lunch.

Once in new room call Bell Services and boom your done.

Very Very Easy.

 

[rubbergypsy]

too much trouble for me to pack all the bags and move, plus with groceries, a big pain. we moved up one floor going from a one bdrm to a studio last week at ssr (from points to ap discount for weekend) never again, i will pay the extra points or continue in same room on cash. keep in mind we had to wait until 3 to get into the new room and had to be out of old room by 11, we had our bags picked up around 8:30 am.

 

[PEANUT1]

We are doing a split stay for our first DVC trip this October. We are going for 12 nights and were originally going to do all SSR. Then we had the option of doing AKV so we jumped on it. Then, my hubby thought it would be fun to try VWL....so we are staying at 3 places for 12 days.
2 nights VWL
5 nights AKV
5 nights SSR

Originally I had no interest in doing this, but my hubby convinced me tha it would be fun and adventurous...the other goog thing is that we will have 3 brand new clean rooms. We are doing the DDP and so we won't have food and all to move and we will have a rental car. I organized our reservations so we will use all of them before we leave each resort.

I will be sure to post a report after the trip with my opinions on splitting stays.I for one am excited about seeing 3 of the DVC resorts on one trip.

 

[kittylady1972]

Wow, this has answered all kinds of questions for me about our upcoming trip.

We are staying at a 2BR at OKW for 4 nights, then spending another 4 nights at SSR in the Grand Villa. I really wanted to get the DDP this time, but wasn't sure how it would work and thought it would be nice to try it for only half of the stay. So I'd like to get the DDP on my first 4 nights, then not get it at the SSR resort for the last 4 nights.

I hope it's true that I have until midnight on that last day (the morning I check out of the OKW resort) to use my credits. We were planning a dinner for that night where I wanted to use them, but wasn't sure exactly when they would expire.

I know it may be a bit of a hassle about the move, and I was also wondering about the food. Disney will move that for us? Do I need to pack it in my own cooler? I'm going to try not to keep too much at the room, but I know with 3 kids we'll have stuff like milk and drinks that may need to move to our new location.

I'm looking forward to trying out both of these resorts for the first time though!

 

[vandy]

Four days at each would be the minimum I suggest. Any stay shorter than that you never feel settled into your home.

We split 5 days at SSR, then 5 at OKW. Spent one night inbetween them at Kennedy Space Center so Disney did not move our bags. We purchased groceries to last the one week so had just a little leftover and took with us. Came back and bought another weeks worth of groceries which didn't bother us because those two days were days off from the parks giving us time to do something else and feel fresh. With packing up our mini-van and unpacking it, I thought it would be more of a hassle, but it actually felt like two vacations instead of one. My opinion is though I can't really seeing it being good on stays shorter than 4 days at each UNLESS you are in a studio or do not use the kitchen, then maybe 3 days each.

 

[starbox]

We do a long trip and split the stay with time at VB. Because we drive, home to Orlando or vice versa in one day is doable, but I would not want to drive through to Vero.

This year we did 6 nights BWV, 5 nights Vero, 1 night SSR. The year before I did a OKW/VB/SSR combo. I've already booked 5 nights AKV for 08 at the front and 3 nights at AKV the end - we're just waiting on the 7 month window to fill in the middle @ VB.

I'm not sure if I'd want to switch just while staying at WDW, but it works great for the Vero trip!

 

[kimberh]

Wow, this has answered all kinds of questions for me about our upcoming trip.

We are staying at a 2BR at OKW for 4 nights, then spending another 4 nights at SSR in the Grand Villa. I really wanted to get the DDP this time, but wasn't sure how it would work and thought it would be nice to try it for only half of the stay. So I'd like to get the DDP on my first 4 nights, then not get it at the SSR resort for the last 4 nights.

I hope it's true that I have until midnight on that last day (the morning I check out of the OKW resort) to use my credits. We were planning a dinner for that night where I wanted to use them, but wasn't sure exactly when they would expire.

I know it may be a bit of a hassle about the move, and I was also wondering about the food. Disney will move that for us? Do I need to pack it in my own cooler? I'm going to try not to keep too much at the room, but I know with 3 kids we'll have stuff like milk and drinks that may need to move to our new location.

I know for a fact that the DDP is good until midnight of your check out day, as long as you still have credits, of course. I even reverified this with Member Services, 2 weeks ago. I am sure if you have food, you need to be the one to pack it up. The bell service is who comes up and moves the luggage. The thing that confused me was using all the credits off of one KTTW before I started using the new one.

 

[Honeymooner04]

Thanks for this thread, it has also answered a lot of questions for our upcoming trip.

 

[CarolMN]

We are doing a split stay for our first DVC trip this October. We are going for 12 nights and were originally going to do all SSR. Then we had the option of doing AKV so we jumped on it. Then, my hubby thought it would be fun to try VWL....so we are staying at 3 places for 12 days.
2 nights VWL
5 nights AKV
5 nights SSR

Originally I had no interest in doing this, but my hubby convinced me that it would be fun and adventurous.........

I hope that "fun and adventurous" means your DH will be helping with the packing & unpacking and the kids (who are very cute, BTW).

I'm looking forward to hearing how this all works out for your family. I wouldn't want to move with younger children - being without a room can be a pain.

 

[worldfamous]

I'm so glad I read this thread. We have a split stay coming up and I need to move one dinner.

Quick question...okay, if your credits come on your Key to the World card....Check in may not be until 4. Can you go early and get your cards so that you can access your new credits on transfer day?