Resort hoppers: will I be bummed if I don't split stay?

[TWOOD]

My DD & I have split our stays the last 7 out of 8 trips. We've currently got 8 nts. reserved @ POR 7/28-8/5. I'm starting to worry that we'll get restless there and wish we were splitting our stay with a deluxe. Who has resort hopped and then stayed at only one resort? What are your opinions on this? Thanks!

 

[Juliet25]

I much prefer to stay at one resort. My husband and I resort hopped during our honeymoon (2 nites @ AS and 5 @ PO). This past year we stayed 7 nights at WL and it was SO much more relaxing to be "home" for one straight week. I'll only resort hop if I have to (ie, to save money b/c of the "seasons")

 

[epcotfan]

I have mixed feelings over it. One trip we spent 10 nights at the All Star Music (which was fine) but then had three night at Old Key West. Unfortunately I was ill and didn't enjoy the second resort at all. I barely remember anything about it because I was so under the weather. The worst thing was we had to switch resorts the day I was sick. I would have been better off staying put.
I guess what it comes down to is how long you have. If you think you don't want to pack again then I suggest staying in one place.
I'm making my first trip to Coronado Springs in August. I'm constantly tempted to divide our stay with another resort, but on the other hand if I really like it there then I will want to stay put.

 

[kimmar067]

I guess it DOES depend on how long you will be staying at WDW and which resorts you are splitting. If you are staying at 2 mods, 2 dlxs, etc, I'd say don't switch. However, if you want to experience a dlx but your budget won't allow it, stay at the less expensive (and that could mean off-site, as well) resort first, and splurge on the last few days at the dlx. That is what we will be doing this summer. It's 5 days at CBR and then it's off to 6 days at WL!!! Of course, we will be driving to WDW in a conversion van, so it will definitely be easier to transfer our belongings to the other resort.....(BTW - we chose these "opposite" resorts so it could almost feel like TWO vacations instead of one!! )

Countdown to WDW:
1 month - 18 days - 4 hours - 53 minutes - Woohoo!!

 

[MdmMim]

After several years of switching resorts during vacation, I have reached the point where I just want to stay put. I don't like being without a room midday, and I don't like having to pack everything up just to move and unpack again. I enjoy settling in and relaxing... (Maybe I'm just getting old!)

 

[wdwnut61]

My DH and I must be getting old too! We hate to pack the first time....let alone do it all over again once we're settled in...LOL. I agree with the previous posters, it's so much more relaxing to get all settled in and have everything unpacked. Then you can enjoy your time there and not have to worry about packing up and moving again.
When you're on vacation at Disney you do feel like your home once you're settled into you're resort. It's funny but when we are out all day at the parks...etc we always say lets go back home( our room). It just feels like our home and we very much like to stay put till we have to really go home.
It's your vacation, whatever is going to make you feel the most comfortable and happy...that's what you should do.

 

[stephcm]

I would stay put, only because I think that it makes the trip seem shorter when you have to move.
However, we are DVC members, so we do often split our stay because the points are so high on the weekends. I also think that it depends on the time of year you are there, as stupid as it sounds. In the summer, we pack very lightly - bathing suits, shorts, etc., so it is easier to pack up then than it is in February when you have to pack for hot and cool weather.
This August we will be staying 5 nights at BCV, then 4 at the YC concierge, so we won't have far to go at all!

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by TWOOD
My DD & I have split our stays the last 7 out of 8 trips. We've currently got 8 nts. reserved @ POR 7/28-8/5. I'm starting to worry that we'll get restless there and wish we were splitting our stay with a deluxe. Who has resort hopped and then stayed at only one resort? What are your opinions on this? Thanks!

We resort hop every trip but never split our stay between two or more resorts on one trip.

We stay at one resort the entrie trip becuase the thought of having to pack and unpack anymore then needed is upsetting to us But we always take a day and resort hop just walking around and maybe grabbing lunch and or dinner at different resorts.

For those of you that do split your stay isn't the packing and unpacking a hassle and what about the checking out and in more then once?

 

[stephcm]

>>>For those of you that do split your stay isn't the packing and unpacking a hassle and what about the checking out and in more then once? >>>>

I think it is, IMHO. It almost feels like you lose that checkout/in day, especially if your room isn't ready at the second resort when you check out of the first (which, most times is the case...)!

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by stephcm
>>>For those of you that do split your stay isn't the packing and unpacking a hassle and what about the checking out and in more then once? >>>>

I think it is, IMHO. It almost feels like you lose that checkout/in day, especially if your room isn't ready at the second resort when you check out of the first (which, most times is the case...)!

Thanks for the reply stephcm,

I think we will continue to resort hop during our stays but never do a spilt stay.

 

[kimmar067]

The day we are checking out of resort #1 and into resort #2 is planned as a "free" day, anyway. We definitely need time away from the parks, so this is the day that we just "veg" out by the pool, rent Water Mice, go shopping, just doing "laid back" stuff. It kinda gives us our "second wind" for the 2nd part of our vacation. We find that, if we stay in one resort, my DH has to do everything "marathon style", so the move to another location forces us to relax for the one day. Besides, I do 2 or 3 loads of clothing the night before, and pack everything right back into the suitcases. Yes, it also depends on the time of year you go to WDW. It is definitely easier in the summer. Split stays are not for everyone - but if your stay at WDW is a long one, try it at least once!!

 

[melindaandrob]

I have been debating this issue myself. We arrive Jan. 1 and it is dd's birthday, we're having dinner at Chef Mickey's to celebrate and I thought it would be great to stay 1 night at the Contemporary, close to MK and the restaurant, if we were REALLY lucky they may have fireworks on New Years Day! I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle, the extra $$, but what if it is!!!! We have always wanted to experience this resort!

 

[DeeP]

I am a DVC member and we often switch resorts to save the very high weekend night points. It is nice to be able to experience so many different WDW resorts, we have stayed in all but 2, but it is a pain to have to pack and unpack and not have a room for a portion of the day. However if you plan for it, Disney does make it very easy for their guests to switch resorts. The first few times we switched resorts I hated it but now we have done it so many times over the years it doesn not bother us at all. We usually make the day we switch resorts a pool and relaxing day and then go to the parks at night once we are settled into our new room.

 

[Ricola]

We're resort-hopping fans. The only time we've stayed at a single resort was short trips (3 nights) or when we traveled with SIL and her family, first-time WDWers with 2 young kids. It would have been a nightmare trying to switch with that gang!

Since we love resort-hopping, I think we would miss it if we planned a long trip and didn't swap. We never think of it as much of a pain, and certainly don't feel like we "lose" as much as a day. We pack up the night before while the kids are sleeping, check our bags with Bell Services, and check in to the next resort when we feel like it (usually 3 or 4 in the PM.)

Good luck in planning!

 

[TWOOD]

We've decided to split it: 3nts. @ WL for easy access to FW campfire, MK, & CR (Chef Mickey's & arcade that DD loves), and 5 nts. @ POR. We love both resorts and we pack very light, as I do laundry the day before we split. Now that I have to buy new mugs, we won't need our tote bag - LOL Thanks for all of the advice.

 

[LKS]

We are doing 6 nts. CR because we know we like it, and for the convenient location, then switching for 4 at AKL because we just wanted to try it, but didn't want to commit to it for the whole vacation. It started out 6 and 2, but keeps growing. Anyway, I wouldn't do it just to do it, but only if there was a good reason, which we think we have.

 

[Wenlitz]

We never resort hop!! I hate packing and unpacking..
I do have a question ... What are the laundry facilties like at WL??How expensive is it and has anyone used the dry cleaning services?? Thanks for any info.
Cant wait to get there!!!

 

[Pumbaa_]

January was the first time we resort hopped. We spent 2 nights at the ASSp and 3 nights at the BWI. Price was the key factor, we got the $49 rate at ASSP and $186 at BWI. Couldn't do all 5 nights at the BWI, and didn't want to spend all the nights at the ASSp. What we did was split the clothes between 2 suitcases for the stay. All the things we would need for the first few days in one suitcase, everything else in the other. Worked really well for us!

 

[spiceycat]

I love to resort hop - I am DVC member too and on my december trip I am staying at OKW and VWL (maybe BWV,too) - even on a short trip 5 days or less will generally resort hop the last day or two - I like to feel like my vacation is starting over - pack the night before after returning from the park and then the next morning after my walk go check in to the new resort at 7:00am - then either move my luggage or go to the park (have bell service move it later) - or if I really love the new hotel visit my favorite places (WL/VWL) or go swimming.

 

[DisOrBust]

I am planning on resort hopping for the first time this Jan and my family is already complaining. I do prefer to stay at one resort. We usually do 2 days at the beach then wdw. I always come back saying we should have stayed at one resort at wdw! My DH now insists that we stay at AKL, he loves it. I am dying to try the Poly so the compromise is a split 5 day poly/4 day AKL, I won the extra day lol!