Split Stays - Lowering Expectations

[Kid_@_50]

We are visiting WDW again during September in order to get FD.

I want to know if I can do the following:

Spend Sat-Sun-Mon-Tue-Wed at CSR in order to get FD. Get a 9 day park ticket.

Get a DVC point reservation for Thur-Fr-Sat. Use the remaining days on our park passes. Can DDP be added to our reservation (without either an annual pass or the purchase of additional tickets)?

The longer term intent is to purchase a small DVC resale contract then combine it with a split stay. FD requires the purchase of a park ticket so until we can justify annual passes this split stay appeals to me.

Next problem I have is balancing or establishing expectations which isn't going as well as I hoped. I am perfectly content to buy the cheapest resale points I can find most likely at SSR. When I mentioned a split stay to my DW she thought it would be wonderful to have animals for neighbors staying at AKL. She also thought it might be nice not to have to take the buses since the monorail was so nice. Staying in the tower so she could watch the fireworks from our room at BLT. We "require" a 1BR in order to get a King bed. (This is my fault as the first pre-paid room reservation she made after we were married had double beds. We have only booked king rooms since this weekend disaster.)

I am thinking for a split stay dealing with a studio unit with a queen bed is manageable for 3 nights. Comments on the forum seem to suggest that people can tolerate a studio for shorter stays but prefer 1BR for longer stays. If I put us in a 1BR unit our first DVC visit, then a studio is going to seem small by comparison.

If SSR is going to be our home resort, then the smart thing is to stay at SSR.
I am concerned that staying at AKL, BLT or BCV will increase the need to purchase a larger initial resale contract at a resort with a higher resale point value.

I've got to believe a queen studio at SSR is going to be comparable to or better than a mod king room at CSR.

We actually have a 10 night reservation beginning on Thursday. We might do a tri-split stay, checking into CSR for a few nights, then changing to 1 1BR for 2 nights at AKL, BLT or BCV, then the last 3 nights at studio SSR. This allows for a direct comparison of points: 2 nights in a studio = 1 night in a 1BR. We will be driving so I don't see transferring luggage to be a big issue.

Also, just to add to the confusion and stress of our September vacation my wife is hoping to change jobs later this year. So this entire example may be academic if she changes jobs and can't get the time off.

Assuming availability (a big assumption) how would you do a CSR - DVC split stay? how would you do a tri-split stay CSR -DVC -DVC?

Thanks

 

[vicki_c]

The answer to your questions up top - is yes, you can do what you're asking - you don't need to buy tickets with a DVC points rental to add the DDP.

As for the rest - I wouldn't do a 3 resort stay in 10 days (but I have) - it's too much moving. Pick 2 and leave it at that.

The studios at SSR are very nice, IMO. Nothing beats a 1 BR (or larger) though!

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

We did a three resort stay in 10 nights in 2008 (2 at YC, 7 at AKV Jambo, 1 at BWV) and it was one resort too many! That last single night was booked to take advantage of waaaaaay lower airfares the following day. Even though we gained an extra vacation day, it was still a major headache moving again----------------------and from a beautiful 2br savanna view with 3 bathrooms to a 1br BWV that smelled like someone's grandma's beach house......

 

[lily28]

I am doing a 2 resort 9 day stay in 8/10, the 2nd resort being animal kingdom. Originally I book a studio using my dvc points but orbitz/southwest are having a sale on disney room for 8/10-9/10. I just book a 4 night savannah view at animal kingdom for 4 night in 8/10 for $464; I will cancel my dvc reservation to save points for next trip given the great room price. You might want to price the room for 9/10; the savannah room has option of 2 queens or 1 king plus a daybed/twin bed.

The only thing is I am not sure whether you can add ddp if you book the room via a third party.

 

[Lynne M]

The one fly in the ointment that I see is that if you're looking to rent points for this September, you're going to find limited availability. You may get SSR or OKW, I'd be surprised if there were anything left at AKV, BCV or BLT at this late date. Most owners book 7-11 months out, so this is very short notice.

Since you mentioned that your plans may change because of your wife's job, you should also be aware that most owners have a no refunds, no cancellations policy when they rent points. DVC cancellation policies are complex, and the owner may lose the points if you cancel, or end up with points in holding, which severely restricts their use.

 

[Kid_@_50]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will shelve any notion of a tri-split for this year and the future. I am wrestling with Disney discounts and DVC ownership, this was primary intent of the question. In the future, sign up for the bounceback opportunity associated with the current trip, then attempt to add a DVC point reservation creating a split stay.

Renting points for this year is probably going to be next to impossible. We can't rent points until we know my wife can take vacation.