Opinion needed - would you move resorts during a 5 night stay?

[luckytso]

Due to the AP and the cheap airfare I just found, we are going in late August (Labor Day weekend) to WDW as our 3rd trip this year.

With a good come-back rate, I booked WL for 5 nights. However, I am debating if I should move to a 1-br DVC resort for the last 2 nights (Sun & Mon).

We want to try the hotel side, plus the rate is decent, that is why we definitely would start at WL, but move or not move........

I sort of looking forward to the 1-br villa, but I hate to unpack and pack to go through the hassle just for another 2 nights.

Any suggestions? Thanks very much.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

I know a lot of people move, but I would not do it - unless of course I was going for 2 weeks, I might move after the first week!
To me it wastes too much time to pack and unpack.

 

[FredS]

Originally posted by luckytso


I sort of looking forward to the 1-br villa, but I hate to unpack and pack to go through the hassle just for another 2 nights.

I think you answered your own question. Some people pack lightly and quickly and don't consider moving a hassle, so it would be a good idea for them. If you already considering that to be a pain, then just stay put. Otherwise, your dread of the move may put a damper on your first three days.

Have fun!

 

[eva]

It's hard to say. For me I think that I would stay put even though I hated staying at WL last year. After staying in 1 and 2 bedrooms the regular resort rooms at WL left me very unimpressed. The rooms to me are very dark and cramped, even though it was just DH and myself. The only thing that I liked about the room was the view of the courtyard from the balcony. Unfortunately we had to stay there because my husband was on a business trip and it was the only resort that was about the same price as the Dolphin, where the conference was. We stayed at the Dolphin the time before for the same conference and wished we had this time too. With all that said and done, I probably would think twice about moving because I hate moving almost as much as staying at WL. Now all of you WL fans can flame me.

Note: I did not say anything about WLV. I have never stayed at the villas.

 

[donald@home]

Before I was a DVC member, we split a 5 night trip (3 nights at Dixie Landings and 2 nights at the WL). Moving was not a hassle at all as Disney moved our luggage for us. We went to a park in the morning from DL and went back to the Lodge in the afternoon and checked into our new room. We pack light so packing and unpacking was not a problem. For us it made the short trip seem longer, like 2 vacations in one. If you HATE to pack and unpack, then I would think twice, but for us it worked out fine.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

No way!!
When we became a displaced cruise 11/30 the only place Disney could put us up w/only a 22hr notice over Thanksgiving wknd for 8 consecutive nights was Port Orleans/French Quarter. I would have much rather preferred our "home" Wilderness Lodge.

Yes we could have hotel hopped but DH said no way!

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by luckytso
I sort of looking forward to the 1-br villa, but I hate to unpack and pack to go through the hassle just for another 2 nights.

We made 2 changes back in December. Although it wasn't bad, it just didn't have that homey feeling and we won't do it again. For us, packing up was a hassle, just like you've already thought it might be. I usually go with my gut feeling on these things. Sounds like you might want to also.

 

[jel0511]

I've now moved twice during a WDW vacation. The first time was during a 10 night stay, and it was definately something we needed to do, since we were there so long. It helped keep the vacation fresh and fun. Now, on my last stay, I was there for 6 nights andswitched after 4 nights for the last 2 nights. I'd NEVER Do that again!!! I had MUCH more luggage the first time, and had to pack even more, but for such a short stay, I'd just stay where I am. I was SO annoyed at moving this time, I added on more points so I'd have 7 consecutive nights in a one bedroom during the summer (our usual time to travel to WDW). If we stay for longer than a week, I'd move because I'd need to, but for anything shorter, I'd just stay put.

 

[luckytso]

Thanks for all of your replies.

Eva's comments about the room kind of put me off a little bit. I have to check out prices on Poly and GF to see where we will end up staying. But we probably will not move, just stay put. Thanks again.

 

[eva]

Sorry, I didn't mean to make you change your reservation. Some people love WL. I really liked the resort itself, but hated the rooms. As a matter of fact my favorite restaurant, Artist Point, is there. If you will not be in the room too much it may be just fine for you. If you are used to 1-bedrooms do beware, you will probably feel cramped. I hate to say it, but the room we had at the Dolphin was much bigger and brighter and it didn't bother me as much as the room at WL. I guess that I am really spoiled. I have a tendency yo compare everything to a 1-bedroom at OKW.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just wanted to offer to stand next to you eva for support. You're not the only non-fan of WL rooms. And when we joined DVC, VWL was our home resort-expected to like that far more than WL rooms (do love the lobby, AP, Iron Spike room). Wrong! So eva, you're not completely alone.

 

[luckytso]

We chose WL for August because DH always wants to stay there. He thinks it has the most impressive lobby among all Disney resorts. We checked out AKL also but still feel WL's lobby is more impressive.

We are thinking about going to Fort Wilderness to check out the activities at night, camp fire (maybe too hot still?), petting zoo, pony ride, that sort of things. DH wants to try out the watermouse.

I think when we go in May, we will stop by WL and WLV and see if we can ask the CM to show us the rooms, if they are not busy, so that we can take a peek. Hopefully, we can run into CMs who can be as nice as the ones we met at OKW.

(OKW has really nice CMs, when we went 2 weeks ago to check out the resort, they gave us a personal tour and gave my kids baloons and were really accomodating).

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I love VWL and I believe I would enjoy WL...after all I liked AKL.

Anyway...I've moved after 4 nights and didn't find it to be a problem. The key is to stay fairly neat during your stay & to have a plan to be out all day the day you move. I don't think I'd split a stay 3 & 2. It's on night 3 that I get really comfy in the bed.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Is it 5 nights, plus 2? That doesn't sound bad. If it's three nights plus 2 nights, that's too much moving. Might as well get comfortable.

 

[luckytso]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Talked to DH and he pretty much has his mind set on WL.

When talking to my sales guide, he said that WL has the highest returning customer rate. They must be doing something right. We will give it a try for the trip, and check out WLV.

CaptainMidnight, it is 5 nights in total, wish could be longer but have to get back home to get ready for DD's first kindergarten day

 

[Lesley]

I am the queen of the resort switch....my advice is to stay in one place.

Having switched resorts many times in many different situations, I've decided that the minimum number of days in any one place should average 4. And the shorter stays should be at the beginning of the trip, not the end.

What I would do...see if I could somehow take the entire 5 nights in a 1br....or even go to 4 nights in a 1br. Or....just keep things as they are.

We spent 5 nights at POR last summer....it was great! We did miss having a fridge and microwave though!