Please Help Me Decide On Resorts

[Princess Michele]

I am having a hard time planning my next trip and need some advice and direction. My DH, DS11 and I will be returning at the end of July to pick up our DD when she finishes working in the DCP. We are looking at splitting our stay between GF, WL, and BC/YC. Of the three we have only stayed at BC previously. GF and WL are resorts that I have wanted to stay at and my son wants to enjoy Storm Along Bay again. This trip will be different than past trips and we will not be at the parks all day and instead spend more time at the resorts and probably hit the parks in the evenings or half days.

I cannot decide between the following scenarios:

1. 3 nights at each resort.

2. 2 nights at GF or WL, 4 nights at BC/YC, and 3 nights at the third resort.

3. 2 nights each at GF and WL and 5 nights at BC/YC.

BC/YC would either be our resort in between GF and WL or the last resort for all three options.

If we decide to stay at all three on this trip which would you do first, GF or WL? Which would you suggest for the last resort between GF, WL, and BC/YC?

I cannot decide whether it is worth it to try and stay at all three resorts or if I should just pick two. Are 2 days enough at GF or WL or are 3 days better? If I pick two I can stay at BC for 6 nights and WL CL, WL WV. or GF for the last 3 nights. Is WL CL that much better than staying GF GV? We do not drink alcohol so I am not sure how much value the club level would be to us.

This will probably be our last trip until 2020 or 2021 at the earliest and who knows what the prices for the deluxe resorts will look like then. This could be our only time to stay at GF so that is making this decision even harder. For those who have stayed at these resorts and done split stays please let me know what you think. I am open to your advice and wisdom. Thank you.

 

[Shellyb84]

I would not do 3 resorts in 9 nights. I've stayed at all of the resorts you have in mind, personally I would choose GF and then BC/YC (BC is our fav but YC is great too). 2 nights isn't enough time to really get a feel for a resort. I would probably do a 3/6 or 4/5 split.

 

[Shellyred8]

I would only do 2 resorts. We've done split stays before and moved every couple of nights and I just didn't feel like we got enough time at the resort. So, I would recommend doing 3 nights at GF. I would recommend doing GF and BC for this trip. WL prices are usually lower than GF, so you could do that one at a later time. We did AK CL during our last trip and I didn't think it was worth the extra cost (we don't drink much alcohol either).

Have a great trip!!

 

[Puffy2]

I've only split resorts once and swore I would never do it again. The process of packing up and moving mid trip "took me out of the magic" and was a hassle. Since you have done BC, I"d go with GF of the resorts you mentioned. Personally, I was disappointed with WL. But everyone is different.

 

[DJFan88]

We love split stays, and for your circumstance, the 3/6 split works great, or a 4/5. Id do the one your staying at longer 2nd. Then pick which of the other 2 has caught your eye more. Were doing a 4/6 split this year, and I wouldn't consider a 3 way for 9 days, you lose too much time in the transfers if you ask me and since you have to check in and out at later/earlier hours respectively you don't actually have full days anyway.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I am having a hard time planning my next trip and need some advice and direction. My DH, DS11 and I will be returning at the end of July to pick up our DD when she finishes working in the DCP. We are looking at splitting our stay between GF, WL, and BC/YC. Of the three we have only stayed at BC previously. GF and WL are resorts that I have wanted to stay at and my son wants to enjoy Storm Along Bay again. This trip will be different than past trips and we will not be at the parks all day and instead spend more time at the resorts and probably hit the parks in the evenings or half days.

I cannot decide between the following scenarios:

1. 3 nights at each resort.

2. 2 nights at GF or WL, 4 nights at BC/YC, and 3 nights at the third resort.

3. 2 nights each at GF and WL and 5 nights at BC/YC.

BC/YC would either be our resort in between GF and WL or the last resort for all three options.

If we decide to stay at all three on this trip which would you do first, GF or WL? Which would you suggest for the last resort between GF, WL, and BC/YC?

I cannot decide whether it is worth it to try and stay at all three resorts or if I should just pick two. Are 2 days enough at GF or WL or are 3 days better? If I pick two I can stay at BC for 6 nights and WL CL, WL WV. or GF for the last 3 nights. Is WL CL that much better than staying GF GV? We do not drink alcohol so I am not sure how much value the club level would be to us.

This will probably be our last trip until 2020 or 2021 at the earliest and who knows what the prices for the deluxe resorts will look like then. This could be our only time to stay at GF so that is making this decision even harder. For those who have stayed at these resorts and done split stays please let me know what you think. I am open to your advice and wisdom. Thank you.

I generally don't recommend a 3 resort split, but with 9 nights plus the fact you won't be back for a few years, I would do it.

I've stayed at all resorts you mention. I would do WL for two nights and, perhaps, not do any parks during those first two night. On arrival night, enjoy dinner at one of the WL restaurants, the next day you can swim, tour the resort (ask concierge for their handout that describes the architecture and decor of the resort), walk over to the BRV sitting room to see Walt's trains, take the boat to Ft. W to see the stables and even consider going to HDDR (or the other WL restaurant or even boat over to CR for Cali Grill). Next morning, perhaps have breakfast at WCC and, honestly, at that point, you will have experienced WL.

I love WL CL, but to save money, I would forego it. Geyser Point and Roaring Forks are excellent QS (we especially like GP) and does the trick for us for breakfast and lunch.

Then do 4 nights BC/YC and 3 nights GF and do your park touring then. That way, you get all 3 resorts in and have enough time to experience them!

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

We did a 3 resort split stay over 6 nights on our last trip (1st night POP, 2nights SSR & 3 nights VWL). We swore never to do 3 resorts again. The "switch days" left us homeless for longer than we wanted since our rooms were never ready before 2:30. Since we had laptops and other important items we didn't feel comfortable leaving with bell services, I had to tag them along with us so it limited our activities. I would probably recommend limiting it to two resorts or go with your 3rd option leaving you with 5 nights at the final resort. It wasn't until our last switch that I felt like I could really get comfortable so it's nicer to have that be a good length of time.

 

[yaksack]

I love the WL. My kids, 17, 13, 8 love the Beach Club. The pool is awesome.

 

[justme0729]

I wouldn’t do 3 either. I would do BC for 5-6 nights while you do Epcot and DHS and then GF (or WL if want to save costs) for 3-4 nights while you do MK and the MK area restaurants.

 

[GPC0321]

I've never done a split-stay, and don't really have any desire to, but if it were me, I'd just split between GF and BC/YC. I'm sure Wilderness Lodge is great, but to me a major part of these deluxe resorts is their proximity to a park. This way you'd be very close to MK for half of your trip and very close to Epcot (and fairly close to HS) for the other half of your trip.

I'll add that one of the things I like about finding a "home" resort is that it becomes familiar. It takes a period of adjustment when going to a new resort, especially one you've never been to before. You have to figure out where everything is, how long it takes to get from point to point, etc. I've only stayed at WDW resorts three times now. Twice at Coronado, but with 17 years between those stays, and once at Grand Floridian. I'll be staying at Kidani in June, and while I'm excited about it, I'm even more excited to return to the Grand Floridian in 2019. A big part of that is being at a resort that I feel very familiar with. We were only there for three nights, but it was such a lovely stay that I can't wait to be "home" again. There's a comforting feeling about being in a familiar place.

So, if splitting, I'd go half at the Grand and half at BC/YC. I'd save Wilderness Lodge for another trip.

 

[Monykalyn]

Personally I would do 2 resorts-maybe GF first, 3-4 days and end at BC. There is a thread on split stays that has some really great tips in regards to packing, moving days etc. I LOVE split stays, the family could take or leave them. We once did 4 resorts over course of 2 weeks (onsite and off, plus universal) and DH made me promise not to do that again.

OH-and just be aware-Disney depression for the DCP is real. Even if you don't think it will hit. My oldest did Fall 17-and she had a blast, but wasn't upset at leaving or really missing Disney when we picked her up in January. It took 55 days and I got the "I miss Disney" text. We are leaving in 8 days for a very quick F&G trip LOL. She also applied for summer alumni this summer...