Split Stay Strategy

[Bucketfoot]

We are starting to research our next stay. My wife really likes the idea of trying a split stay (I am less enthused with the hassle associated with doing this). We own at VGF and would want to do AKV as the second resort.

One recommendation that I have frequently seen is to book two separate reservations at your home resort at the 11-month opening and then modifying one to the other resort at the 7-month window. This way if the worst-case scenario happens and you can’t find something else at a second resort you still have a place to stay.

We would almost certainly be borrowing points for this trip. So, an issue that I am running into as I have started to investigate this is that we basically own at the most expensive WDW DVC property and depending on the room type we originally book and can book later at the second resort we risk borrowing more points that we will ultimately need and thus possibly losing points.

Ultimately I know it comes down to what is more important to us, but I’d sure appreciate any insight into if booking the way I mentioned makes sense for us or if we should just wait to book the 2nd resort at the 7-month window and risk not getting what we would want (AKV Savanna room).

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

One issue you will have if you borrow is that VGF is more expensive than AK, so you will end up with extra points. You would want to book a less expensive room if possible.

Depending on when you travel AK isn‘t crazy hard to get at 7m outside of club level or value studios.

 

[AdamsMum]

Depending on the type of room you're planning, and the time of year, you might not have to do that. AKV Kidani is huge and not hard to get at 7 months most of the time.

 

[Bucketfoot]

Just a little more on the details. We would want a 2-bed at both resorts. We would book standard rooms at VGF to minimize possible points loss and would want Savanna room at AKV.

The most likely time frames are in the two lowest point periods (either Jan or Sept 2024).

 

[Her Dotness]

You might enjoy our "mini-split" strategy.

We are "unpack and settle in" types so don't split for more than 1-2 nights. Anymore, we book another resort for arrival night most often. We drive to WDW and generally arrive around lunchtime which gives us several hours to explore a new-to-us resort or revisit favorites at a familiar one. We don't use a park ticket yet, mostly because we're tired from our 2-day drive and want a lowkey afternoon, dinner and a good night's rest.

It's worked well for us, also, to put our split at the end of our stay after using all park tickets. That forces us to find relaxing things to do so that we aren't too tired for the drive homeward.

Neither of us would enjoy a more even split, because we prefer our VGF home. Thus, we're only using another resort as a hotel, not home, and don't unpack more than essentials.

It's odd how a home vs. hotel mindset makes those 1-2 nights more enjoyable. Probably because we don't expect as much from a hotel stay as we do from VGF. Works for us, anyway,

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Just a little more on the details. We would want a 2-bed at both resorts. We would book standard rooms at VGF to minimize possible points loss and would want Savanna room at AKV.

The most likely time frames are in the two lowest point periods (either Jan or Sept 2024).

Never say never but you shouldn’t have a problem getting a 2BD in January.

FWIW I love split stays. We try to do at least 3 nights in each location to give us a chance to settle in and relax.

 

[gharter]

One recommendation that I have frequently seen is to book two separate reservations at your home resort at the 11-month opening and then modifying one to the other resort at the 7-month window. This way if the worst-case scenario happens and you can’t find something else at a second resort you still have a place to stay.

The few times we have intentionally done a split stay, this is how we have done it.
I'm not a fan of split stays just for the hassle of moving. To be fair, Disney makes split stays very easy. Pack, call Bell Services, they get your luggage, etc. When you get to the new resort, stop at Bell Services and they bring all your stuff to the room. Really easy.

 

[dcfromva]

What you could do is book two reservations at VGF at 11 months. One for the time you want to stay at VGF and another reservation for the time frame that you will modify at 7months for your AKV stay.

If AKV is available at the 7 month booking window--just modify the reservation to change the resort.
If AKV is not available, put in a wait list to replace the reservation at the VGF for the same time frame.
If AKV doesn't come through you could merge the 2 reservations at VGF back into one.

 

[Judique]

We are starting to research our next stay. My wife really likes the idea of trying a split stay (I am less enthused with the hassle associated with doing this). We own at VGF and would want to do AKV as the second resort.

One recommendation that I have frequently seen is to book two separate reservations at your home resort at the 11-month opening and then modifying one to the other resort at the 7-month window. This way if the worst-case scenario happens and you can’t find something else at a second resort you still have a place to stay.

We would almost certainly be borrowing points for this trip. So, an issue that I am running into as I have started to investigate this is that we basically own at the most expensive WDW DVC property and depending on the room type we originally book and can book later at the second resort we risk borrowing more points that we will ultimately need and thus possibly losing points.

Ultimately I know it comes down to what is more important to us, but I’d sure appreciate any insight into if booking the way I mentioned makes sense for us or if we should just wait to book the 2nd resort at the 7-month window and risk not getting what we would want (AKV Savanna room).

Do you come yearly or every two to three years?

Split stays are awesome for experiencing different resorts! It seems that you are set on which resort and the time frames you might want to visit.

Having borrowed points leftover seems to be your greatest concern.

What I would do if you are a yearly visitor and your Use Year cooperates is I would book the VGF room you know you are going to actually use at VGF with the borrowed points. The room you are going to use to transfer to AKV then has points that if not used, can be banked for your next yearly vacation. In order to bank points you need to be 4 months before the end of your Use Year, so take that into consideration.

There are other possible options such as booking a shorter VGF stay or a longer AKV stay to maximize your points use.

 

[BamaGuy44]

The most common way to do a split stay is the way you describe, that's the way we do it. But in your specific case of wanting the second resort to be AKV 2 BR and having the risk of having to borrow points you can't un-borrow... Personally I'd just book the VGF part and wait until 7 months to book AKV. 2 BR at Kidani are rarely full at 7 months, I'd say your risk of not getting it would be extremely low.

And you might like split stays more than you think. I've always hated switching hotels on vacation, but the way Disney does it makes it about as painless as possible. And since all the resorts kind of have their own "personality", switching is way more enjoyable than going from one Hilton to another or whatever. We actually prefer split stays now.

 

[RoseGold]

I'm assuming you're not traveling super peak. AKV savanna (kidani) is not exactly tough to get.

I'd book the second VGF reservation a day short and the modify to AKL at 7 months. It shouldn't be an issue. Worst case modify to SSR/OKW and waitlist the AKL. Don't borrow points you don't need to borrow.

The other option would be just waitlist AKL on the short VGF reservation if you cant book a 7 months. If it doesn't fill your trip is a day short, but no split stay.

PUT DIFFERENT LEAD GUESTS ON THE ROOMS. They have combined reservations I don't want combined on me. I starting using completely fake lead guests to prevent this. You can sort the lead guest out in chat in a few months when you have all the reservations you want settled. You can modify the rest of the guests without chat.

Another option would be to book two VGF studios on the second half. The problem with this strategy is that you have to cancel one at 7 months and hope you're fast enough to modify the second one in the morning when 7 months hits -- or a few days earlier to walk it. If AKL is booked, you can call member services and have them note on the waitlist you want to cancel both studios for the 2BR.

 

[RoseGold]

Check back with us at 7 mo + 1 week and we will know exactly what to do to prepare, based on availability then.

 

[sethschroeder]

AKV is a great resort but only to go to AK. I would simply book it for the start of your trip. Worst case if you can't get it for the first 1-2 nights then you either start your trip later or get a room somewhere else but honestly AKV is fairly easy to get.

Also with only doing AKV for 1-2 nights you won't have to do the whole unpack and repack which is the hassle of a split stay.