Split-Lodging

[rowbear]

I wonder who might want to chime in on staying at 2 different resorts in the same vacation.

My advice is don't do it. I have done it twice and regretted it both times. I have friends who have done it and regretted it. When you first get your DVC membership it feels like a sprint to experience Disney but after a few years you realize that each time you go it still seems like a new experience and it is always fun to pepper in some new elements. After 8 years there are still restaurants we haven't visited and despite planning to do it at least 6 times we still haven't been to see Cirque de Soleil. There are a few other things we have yet to get around to as well.

Changing rooms is more hassle than it is worth IMO. While you do get to have 2 experiences you lose so much time and you are essentially homeless for several hours right in the middle of your vacation.

 

[bobbiwoz]

OK...I'll chime in, and I like to book 2 resorts. However, I do not have children...when the DGC and family are with me, we stay at one resort, because that is easier with them, and with food. Often if DH and I arrive ahead of time, we will stay at a different resort, for instance in November, DH and I went to BWV, BW view, just to try one of those views out before our all family BCV stay.

When I anticipate nice, swimming weather, I often book a BCV/AKV vacation, and in cooler weather it's VWL for sure, maybe one other. We own at 5 resorts, I book usually at 11 months, but I sometimes tweak the number of days at 7 months or less.

Our last all family vacation was in May, 1-4 nights at BCV, 3 night DCL, 1 night AKV, it was great! The cruise made it definitely worth while to change resorts, and yes, we were homeless, but what a great time!

Bobbi

 

[MdmMim]

I do extended stays in the same resort, same room (up to 30 days), and I do shorter trips, sometimes switching resorts. In May, I switched 4 times in a week. In Dec, I'll be at BCV, BLT, and then AKV.

I am often solo, so picking up and moving is not a challenge for me.

Different strokes...

 

[SFD998]

The first time I tried this was in February. It was a last minute trip and changing resorts was the only option (since not going is NEVER an option). The first night was BWV studio, the second was BWV 1BR, the third and fourth were OKW studio, the fifth was back to BWV 1BR and the sixth was OKW 1BR. I would stongly recommend against doing this. The hassle of changing rooms is one thing, but it was actually more difficult to keep up the dining plan so we didn't lose anything.

The second time we did it was in April. We were originally booked for OKW 1BR for the length of our stay. We decided to drive down and transfer the airline tickets to October to be able to add another trip. This resulted in us changing our dates. Therefore, we had to change resorts again because they didn't have the first two dates available at OKW. Our first two days were at SSR 1 BR and the remaining nights were at OKW 1 BR. This was not too bad and we got to stay at SSR which we had never done before.

All in all I would not be opposed to changing resorts, but I would prefer to stay in one place.

 

[rowbear]

The first time I tried this was in February. It was a last minute trip and changing resorts was the only option (since not going is NEVER an option). The first night was BWV studio, the second was BWV 1BR, the third and fourth were OKW studio, the fifth was back to BWV 1BR and the sixth was OKW 1BR. I would stongly recommend against doing this. The hassle of changing rooms is one thing, but it was actually more difficult to keep up the dining plan so we didn't lose anything.

YIKES! I don't know about the not going option. If I were faced with that I might rethink the vacation.

 

[Tara]

YIKES! I don't know about the not going option. If I were faced with that I might rethink the vacation.

I hear you - that amount of moving doesn't sound like a vacation to me!

To the OP - I think it depends on the circumstances of the trip. Certainly with small children, the move can be more difficult, particularly if being "homeless" will impact nap/rest time that the children (or adults!) need.

For me, the bigger issue is food. Sure, I can live out of my suitcase or pack everything back up, but it seems like a MUCH bigger hassle to have to gather up and move food, too. I know bell services will store stuff in cold storage, but bagging everything up seems like more trouble than it's worth. (And I don't like to leave things out - I like things to be neat and put away.)

If it were just a regular hotel stay (with no food/kitchen items - I've done split hotel stays at WDW before) OR maybe a move after 1 night so that I could just delay grocery getting until day 2, then I'd do it. But moving in the middle or moving multiple times - nuh uh.

 

[vicki_c]

We don't mind split stays at all, we find Disney makes it very easy. I might give it more thought now with the new dining system that won't let you make all your ADRs based on the first stay, but makes you call back for each reservation. But we've never been inconvenienced much by it - we leave our luggage with bell services to transfer, go to a park, go to the new hotel when our room is ready and call for our bags.

 

[Alexander]

I am the self-proclaimed queen of refusing to do split-stays! I hate the hassle of packing and unpacking, being homeless for a few hours, etc.

Now--just this morning I took my perfectly good BCV 7 night stay and dropped the last 3 nights for AKV-Kidani!Kids really want to see the animals and check-out the new pool area. So we'll be moving! However...We are only staying in a studio, and doing the dining plan, so I won't have to unpack/repack a whole kitchen of stuff.

 

[rowbear]

I am the self-proclaimed queen of refusing to do split-stays! I hate the hassle of packing and unpacking, being homeless for a few hours, etc.

Now--just this morning I took my perfectly good BCV 7 night stay and dropped the last 3 nights for AKV-Kidani!Kids really want to see the animals and check-out the new pool area. So we'll be moving! However...We are only staying in a studio, and doing the dining plan, so I won't have to unpack/repack a whole kitchen of stuff.

I imagine AKV makes a number of people drop their normal policies. I know staying at the lodge was one of the reasons I did it. I still didn't like it but since I can't imagine spending a week over there I suppose if I ever got the bug again it might make me reconsider.

 

[Sandisw]

We are going for our first DVC stay for 7 nights in Augus tand trying the split stay this time. We have done it before when we stayed at the resorts, more so because I tried booking at a different place than the CR. I got to Disney, missed the CR, and switched the rooms mid trip.

Anyway, DH is not coming, just me and the kids (DH20, DD16 & 13) so its a good time to try things like this! We are staying at the BWV and VWL. I am also switching room types at BWV, so that I could do just 2 nights of the DDP (and the rest of the trip at QSDP), but I don't think it will be that bad.

We will also be in a studio and won't have the groceries, etc. But, we usually head to the parks in the AM, stay until 3:00 ish or so, and then go back to the resort. My hope is that our rooms will be ready when we get back--if not, we will just swim until they are! We will have a car during the splits so we will have a place to keep our suits and towels on those days (and won't have to lug them to the park).

 

[rentayenta]

We did a split stay and while I thought it might be a hassle, it wasn't in the least. We stayed at OKW for 5 nights, AKV for 3 nights, and POR for 2 nights. I would do a split stay again without hesitation.

 

[Redbudlover]

We don't mind split stays at all, we find Disney makes it very easy. I might give it more thought now with the new dining system that won't let you make all your ADRs based on the first stay, but makes you call back for each reservation. But we've never been inconvenienced much by it - we leave our luggage with bell services to transfer, go to a park, go to the new hotel when our room is ready and call for our bags.

I agree completely. Disney makes it really easy. A child needing a nap when the room is not ready would keep me from it probably, but otherwise it is great. I just did this in May. Went down by myself and stayed at the Swan for 3 days and then moved over to OKW when my friend arrived. I check out of the Swan in early am. Went to MK and went over to OKW when my friend called me saying she had just arrived. My bags were there - we checked in and it was great.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I will chime in too and say that we ALWAYS do split stays!!

Last year we had a 5 way split stay and that was with a 4 year old and a 9mth old baby!!

We do travel for 3 plus weeks so that makes a big difference, and next year we will be doing another 5 way split, but this will be over a nearly 4 week period.

A lot of it comes down to planning and packing - for instance, we will be switching from BLT to BC, so that day we will go to Epcot on the monorail and then just walk over to BC (we will let Bell Services deal with the luggage)

Then when we trf from BC to AKV - that day we will get a bus from BC to Animal Kingdom for the day and then when we finish we will just get the bus to AKV instead!! No wasted time for me - worst that can happen is that we get to chill out for a while in the lobby or by the pool until our room is ready - no big deal for me at all.

I'm also the one who unpacks/packs - so it doesn't affect the others, and I am the one that likes to do the split stays so I am quite happy as well. I often make packing a little easier by labelling bags for different parts of my stay and then only open the ones I need (eg I have a DCL bag containing formal wear and pirate stuff etc, that don't get touched until we are on the ship).

Another plus for us this time, is that we want to try the dining plan for a few days (to cover off our character meals and hopefully the candlelight dinner package too) and as we are staying at BLT for the first 5 nights we will have the DDP there and then won't bother everywhere else (as we will then have a car and eat offsite or buy food to eat in villa). If we were staying at one resort for say 10 -12 days, the DDP wouldn't be an option for us as we like to eat offsite and in the villa rather than just in WDW restaurants.

I can see both sides of the arguement - but just wanted to say that there are people with young children who LOVE split stays too!! - I think its all about what works for you!!

 

[queenie82]

We are doing it and although I have never done it before at Disney having travelled in europe you are constantly shifting location and it doesn't bother me except in that we had to constantly weigh our bags to check it stayed under the airline limits.
This will be a breeze. We always live out of a suitcase out of habit I guess.
Being homeless for a few hours? We plan to be in park, shopping or dining during the transfer....
And we can always store stuff in the car that we might want during the transfer.

 

[allshookup]

I would never voluntarily do a split stay. I don't really see the point. We go back at least once a year if not twice so I'll eventually get to see all the resorts. We like to settle in buy groceries, unpack, etc. I can't stand the thoughts of unpacking/packing.

Now here I go doing a split stay for NYE! Not by choice mind you, but we check in at BLT on the 30th & we couldn't get anything at all for NYE so we'll probably have to go off property & we couldn't get the same 1BR at BLT for the following nights so we actually have to move twice in 5 nt period unless our waitlist comes through. Not looking forward to it at all, but we don't plan on buying any groceries this time.

I imagine AKV makes a number of people drop their normal policies. I know staying at the lodge was one of the reasons I did it. I still didn't like it but since I can't imagine spending a week over there I suppose if I ever got the bug again it might make me reconsider.

I would definitely stay there for a week & I'm sure we will in the next few years or so. To me the villa is my home away from home & we get up have coffee, lounge around, etc. and having the animals outside my window will just be a plus!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I imagine AKV makes a number of people drop their normal policies. I know staying at the lodge was one of the reasons I did it. I still didn't like it but since I can't imagine spending a week over there I suppose if I ever got the bug again it might make me reconsider.

I totally understand that some people have different preferences, but I don't see why Animal Kingdom, any more than any other resort, would make people do split stays??

Out of any resort, I would guess at BLT encouraging more split stays - purely down to the high points it demands.

I would definitely stay there for a week & I'm sure we will in the next few years or so. To me the villa is my home away from home & we get up have coffee, lounge around, etc. and having the animals outside my window will just be a plus!

I agree!!!

 

[vicki_c]

Now here I go doing a split stay for NYE! Not by choice mind you, but we check in at BLT on the 30th & we couldn't get anything at all for NYE so we'll probably have to go off property & we couldn't get the same 1BR at BLT for the following nights so we actually have to move twice in 5 nt period unless our waitlist comes through. Not looking forward to it at all, but we don't plan on buying any groceries this time.

Last Christmas, we stayed at WL one night (just to see it for Christmas) with an AP discount, moved to BCV on points for 8 nights in a 1 BR, moved to the Beach Club for ONE night on cash (a day we added later), then moved back to BCV on cash for 2 more nights (also days added later)! It was definitely a little bit crazy and I didn't enjoy packing up our 8 days worth of stuff, Owner's Locker, etc. So I agree, it's not ideal - but it's better than not being there!

 

[Redbudlover]

I totally understand that some people have different preferences, but I don't see why Animal Kingdom, any more than any other resort, would make people do split stays??

Out of any resort, I would guess at BLT encouraging more split stays - purely down to the high points it demands.

People do split stays at AKV because it is so neat to see giraffes out your window and see all the animals on the savannah. However although it is close to AK, it is not on the monorail or within walking distance of EP or the Studios and is a long way from MK by bus. So people stay there for a day or a few days for the savannah and then split their stay with another resort more centrally located.... A lot of people do not want to be so far away their entire vacation...

 

[Alexander]

I would definitely stay there for a week & I'm sure we will in the next few years or so. To me the villa is my home away from home & we get up have coffee, lounge around, etc. and having the animals outside my window will just be a plus!

DH and I did stay at AKV for a week last summer, and frankly, we were bored out of our minds after just a couple of days. I am going to throw caution to the wind, and with the opening of Kindani, hope that there is more to do. Even so, I've only booked 3 nights there to give it a whirl.

 

[yandbfan]

We are spending time at AKV and BCV later this month. I am planning to rent a car the day we switch to cut down on some of the hassles. That will also be our one day outside of the parks. We plan on going to Cape Kennedy that day as well. Hoping for early check-in at BCV. Maybe a little ambitious?