Split US/WDW Stay - Better to switch hotels at end or beginning of day?

[wallyworld74]

6 of us (wife and I, 7-year old son, 3 grandparents) are planning on spending a total of 8 nights - 2 days in the parks at US and 5 days at WDW - in December 2018.

Current plan:
- Fly in late on Saturday Dec 8th, checking into 2 Cabana Bay Family Suites for 3 nights (we'll be renting a car for the whole trip).
- Hit the Universal parks for two full days on Sunday and Monday.
- Check out of Cabana Bay on Tuesday morning, then head over for a full-ish day at WDW.
- Check into AKL on Tuesday, staying there for 5 nights (I've already booked 2 AKL studio villas using rented DVC points).
- Check out of AKL on Sunday and fly back home.

When I initially booked the rooms I must have had it all figured out, but now I'm doubting myself. So I have two questions:

1. Based on your experiences, do you think it would it be better to switch over to AKL on Monday night instead (at the end of our last day at US), or just keep things as-is and stay that 3rd night at Cabana Bay?
Moving over on Monday night obviously lets us get an earlier start on that first day at Disney, but I kind of wonder if taking things slow that last night in Cabana Bay (and the next morning as well, I suppose) might be a nice way to make the transition to the second portion of the trip.

2. If I do make the change, and book that separate reservation at AKL for the 1 extra night, does it mean that we'll likely have to switch rooms after the first night at AKL? (I've checked, and there is availability, but I understand that the extra night will count as a separate reservation since it will be using a different DVC member's points).

Thanks!

 

[disneydreamer1980]

1. This is up to you, but I’d do the extra AKL day if it were me ( more Disney time the better), you could use this day to explore AKL.
2. They’ll try to let you stay in the same rooms and most likely will, but it’s not guaranteed

 

[CJN]

When we switched we did it in the morning although we were half-packed the evening before. We felt it worked well if for no other reason than it gave us a more peaceful evening after a tiring day and we felt more energetic about moving in the morning.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

Last May we transferred over very early morning, I think around 6:30AM, our first picture is at 7:38 am for AK EMH rope drop. We used a car service for transfer and left our bags at luggage services and hopped the AK bus. This was before Pandora opened, so none of the madness that is there now at open.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We did the last two days of our trip at US but we transferred to AoA instead of a Universal hotel for 3 nights after our 10 nights at ASMu. We spent our check in day swimming and checking out AoA (kids LOVED it). Thinking about staying at a US hotel for1 night during our upcoming stay to take advantage of the 2 days of express passes.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

6 of us (wife and I, 7-year old son, 3 grandparents) are planning on spending a total of 8 nights - 2 days in the parks at US and 5 days at WDW - in December 2018.

Current plan:
- Fly in late on Saturday Dec 8th, checking into 2 Cabana Bay Family Suites for 3 nights (we'll be renting a car for the whole trip).
- Hit the Universal parks for two full days on Sunday and Monday.
- Check out of Cabana Bay on Tuesday morning, then head over for a full-ish day at WDW.
- Check into AKL on Tuesday, staying there for 5 nights (I've already booked 2 AKL studio villas using rented DVC points).
- Check out of AKL on Sunday and fly back home.

When I initially booked the rooms I must have had it all figured out, but now I'm doubting myself. So I have two questions:

1. Based on your experiences, do you think it would it be better to switch over to AKL on Monday night instead (at the end of our last day at US), or just keep things as-is and stay that 3rd night at Cabana Bay?
Moving over on Monday night obviously lets us get an earlier start on that first day at Disney, but I kind of wonder if taking things slow that last night in Cabana Bay (and the next morning as well, I suppose) might be a nice way to make the transition to the second portion of the trip.

2. If I do make the change, and book that separate reservation at AKL for the 1 extra night, does it mean that we'll likely have to switch rooms after the first night at AKL? (I've checked, and there is availability, but I understand that the extra night will count as a separate reservation since it will be using a different DVC member's points).

Thanks!

I would add the extra night at AKL. Two full days at US is plenty and you will have two nights there to do evening things as well (City Walk, etc.) if interested. US is so small compared to WDW. You really can get it all done in two days, IMHO.

 

[KrisM]

We're doing Disney first and then Universal, but plan to move in the morning and do the afternoon/evening at Universal. The night before is a long, full day of Disney, so I think sleeping in a bit will be good. We'll be moved by lunchtime or so, so we'll have time still.

 

[buzznina]

I would relax and stay at Cabana Bay, their pool is sooo much better than AKL and most of WDW resorts. They have a cool bowling alley and their arcade and QS is also better.

 

[Disney Khi]

I agree with the last poster. I was actually going to post the same thing. The pools and lazy river at Cabana Bay are great. You can have a very relaxing last evening there. I’ve actually spent a week at CB on two separate occasions. (One was for DD’s 6th bday per her request.) The restaurants at City Walk are varied with good food, and the food court area at Cabana Bay is actually really good- I’ve always found it to be better than any resort food court at WDW. There is a lot to see and experience at Universal. I’d stay the extra day and make the most of it. You’ll still have plenty of time at AKL and won’t feel rushed at Universal.