Need Advice on Potential WDW/VB Split Stay (AKA How long is too long at VB?)

[FinnFogg]

We are taking our kids (12, 10 and 8) and my retired parents (70s) on a 2-week WDW sty next March. We are DVC, and myself, DH and the kids know Disney well (2 WDW trips, 6 DL and more Aulani than I can count). My parent have never been to a Disney park, but have joined up at Aulani.

I have 14 nights booked at OKW and AKL (our WDW home resorts), but the 7 month booking window is fast approaching. Right now we have:
- 5 nights at OKW
- 4 night placeholder at OKW
- 5 nights at AKL

For the 4 night placeholder in the middle, I an trying to decide between staying at Walt Disney World, or driving down the Florida Coast and staying at Vero Beach Lodge. My parents enjoy the ocean and have really enjoyed their time at Aulani.

My questions are:
- are we biting off too much with 3 resorts over 14 days?
- if we do decide to split things up with VB, is 4 nights at VB too many? We would likely check out Kennedy Space Center on the way down, and maybe some of the Treasure Coast sights while down there, but otherwise expect we would just be relaxing at the resort.

Any advice or feedback would be appreciated!!

 

[princesscinderella]

We are taking our kids (12, 10 and 8) and my retired parents (70s) on a 2-week WDW sty next March. We are DVC, and myself, DH and the kids know Disney well (2 WDW trips, 6 DL and more Aulani than I can count). My parent have never been to a Disney park, but have joined up at Aulani.

I have 14 nights booked at OKW and AKL (our WDW home resorts), but the 7 month booking window is fast approaching. Right now we have:
- 5 nights at OKW
- 4 night placeholder at OKW
- 5 nights at AKL

For the 4 night placeholder in the middle, I an trying to decide between staying at Walt Disney World, or driving down the Florida Coast and staying at Vero Beach Lodge. My parents enjoy the ocean and have really enjoyed their time at Aulani.

My questions are:
- are we biting off too much with 3 resorts over 14 days?
- if we do decide to split things up with VB, is 4 nights at VB too many? We would likely check out Kennedy Space Center on the way down, and maybe some of the Treasure Coast sights while down there, but otherwise expect we would just be relaxing at the resort.

Any advice or feedback would be appreciated!!

I actually think your plan sounds great! Going to VB in the middle will give you some time to relax, whereas at WDW it’s more hectic.

 

[ray3127]

We've done 4 at VB followed by 4 at BCV & 4 more at BLT (twice actually!)... So similar to your plan! We've loved it. We have family in Vero and south a bit in Delray, and without day trips to visit them we'd probably have been okay with 3 nights at VB. But I could see 4 being just fine.

For us, it made sense to do VB first, then be in WDW mode for the remainder of the trip. We also just rented a car for the first 4 days, then returned it at the Car Care Center and used Disney transport (actually mostly walking) for our WDW time. But I see the argument for having VB in the middle, and if that works for you then go for it.

Overall I think it's a great approach.

 

[PalmettoPath]

We regularly do Vero Beach and Walt Disney World in the summer. Four nights is not too long at VB for us at all. There is so much to do in the area, that we are never bored etc. My wife would stay the entire week there if it were up to her (noseeums being the only issue), while the rest of us like to add a little WDW magic. We do VB first and then WDW so that getting to MCO is easier on the way home. So it will depend on your family to some degree, but for us, four nights at VB is our usual stay.

 

[ray3127]

One more "bonus" to doing VB first and a split stay at WDW is bell services will move your belongings between resorts, including food (even refrigerated stuff). They'll pick up at your door at resort 1 and drop off to your door at resort 2 once you and the room are ready. So that makes one of the moving legs a lot easier.

 

[Stargazer65]

- are we biting off too much with 3 resorts over 14 days?

Not IMO, I would do it! 4 days at VB is great. Last February we did 4 days at Daytona Beach, followed 2 days at VB...wonderful drive. Then 4 days at SSR at WDW, then 2 days at HHI resort. I know it's more work to move around but it's memorable and fun.