Splitting My Stay...Opinions wanted...

[kristenrice]

Brief background....

October 15-22, 2016, my family of 4 (Me, DH, DD13 and DD11)

=>My birthday is the 16th
=>Traveling with my parents and my sister's family (Sister, DBiL, DN8 and DN4) who are booked in a 2BR at BWV
=> We have 194 points available to cover our lodging for the week, but reservations cannot be booked until 7 months out (AKV and HHI points)
=> All options presented are based on today's availability and I know that they may not be options when booking time (March 15, 17) rolls around
=> We do split-stays even on our 5-night trips so this is not an issue

Option #1: First two nights in a studio at the Poly (prefer standard, but have enough points for lake), followed by 5 nights in a 1BR at BCV

+ We've never stayed at the Poly and due to high points (and small contract!), probably never will again
+ We want to eat at O'Hana for my birthday dinner
+ DH and DD11 LOVE sushi (I think there is still a sushi bar there, right?)
+ Close walk to the TTC to catch the Epcot monorail (when it's running) making it easy to meet up at Epcot with the rest of the group
+ Easy monorail ride over to BLT to go to TOTWL for birthday drinks

- Two nights in a studio (even though it is a BIG studio)
- Would have to unpack a little
- We couldn't ride the DME together (This is assuming that BWV and BCV share the same DME bus) which is a huge deal for my dad...he is big into the nostalgia and really enjoys "making memories"

Option #2: First night in a studio at BCV followed by the remaining 6 nights in a BCV 1BR

+ No need to unpack on arrival day
+ No need for luggage to switch resorts (we won't have a car)
+ Close to the rest of the family for the entire trip
+ Only one night in a studio

- May never get the opportunity to stay at the Poly again
- Already planning the last part of the trip at BCV and staying at the Poly would let us try two new resorts on one trip

So there it is...I was hoping that putting it out there would make the decision easier, but I am still completely torn...both options are equally appealing.

Help me out, fellow members! Vote and explain

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Poly will be there...save it for when the girls are older and staying with the grandparents or are at university.
Seriously, BCV has easy access to EPCOT and you have minimal time in a studio, which with 2 DDs is more likely to lead to peace and harmony. If you can't get all nights at either BCV or BWV 1BR (consider one-time points if you are short), then option 2.

 

[DenLo]

It sounds like you really want to try PVB and eat at O'Hanas for your birthday. I would go with that. And yes they still serve sushi at a separate bar outside Kona Cafe as well as at Kona Cafe.

Although for the second segment, I would stay at BWV with the family and skip BCV because your niece and nephew could not join your children at SAB.

 

[kristenrice]

Although for the second segment, I would stay at BWV with the family and skip BCV because your niece and nephew could not join your children at SAB.

Yes, that was the original plan...but there is no availability at BWV right now. I doubt availability will change in the direction of something opening up, but it is the obvious first choice.

 

[Kidanifan08]

If BCV is available, I would vote for option #2, as I am personally not a big fan of Poly or O'Hana. Though honestly, I think you need to come up with your own option #3, which does not include a near Epcot resort. I suspect getting 5-6 consecutive nights at BCV or BWV during that week will be difficult, even though you are looking for a 1BR. There are quite a few schools with fall breaks during that time of the year, and I have a feeling there will be some major competition for you.

Good luck!

 

[lovin'fl]

I went with option 2. Easier to switch rooms at same resort and your family will be nearby. Also not sure if that sushi counter is still at Poly..'think its a coffee bar now.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I went with option 2. Easier to switch rooms at same resort and your family will be nearby. Also not sure if that sushi counter is still at Poly..'think its a coffee bar now.

It's the location they have the coffee bar in the morning. That's been added to all the resorts in some way or another. But it's sushi at night.

 

[Anal Annie]

I voted 3rd option. If you have 194 points available then you have more than enough points to just stick it out in the Poly studio for the entire trip in either the std. or the lakeview - no moving / lost time required for once. Monorail access to TOWL & Epcot as you already mentioned + the O'hana & sushi bonus. And then you'd still have points left over to use on your following trip (which I would then plan for BCV). The studios sleep 5 (you are 4) and have 2 bathrooms.

I also personally think that by the time you're able to book in March that your BCV availability will dwindle and may not even exist (isn't that F&W time)?! The Poly studios seem to be available at 7 months and slightly beyond so I'd rather plan for more of "sure thing" than complicate things with a split stay. JM2C.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I vote with trying to be closest to the family, especially since it sounds like that would have great importance to at least one in the group.

 

[kristenrice]

Though honestly, I think you need to come up with your own option #3, which does not include a near Epcot resort. I suspect getting 5-6 consecutive nights at BCV or BWV during that week will be difficult, even though you are looking for a 1BR.

Good luck!

Our "backup" plan is to do the whole week at our "home"...a 1BR standard at AKV Kidani. I'm fairly confident that it will be available at 7 months if the other options fall through.

 

[Sandisw]

I'd go with Option #1 if you can get it and then try for the 1 bedroom at BWV or BCV for the remainder of the trip. You can all make the first few days of the trip MK days and it might be nice having something near there to go and rest up mid day. Then, the remainder of the trip everyone will be in the same area. Since the back up could put you at Kidani anyway, I'd say go for trying Poly!

 

[Hopefully]

I voted 3rd option. If you have 194 points available then you have more than enough points to just stick it out in the Poly studio for the entire trip in either the std. or the lakeview - no moving / lost time required for once. Monorail access to TOWL & Epcot as you already mentioned + the O'hana & sushi bonus. And then you'd still have points left over to use on your following trip (which I would then plan for BCV). The studios sleep 5 (you are 4) and have 2 bathrooms.

I also personally think that by the time you're able to book in March that your BCV availability will dwindle and may not even exist (isn't that F&W time)?! The Poly studios seem to be available at 7 months and slightly beyond so I'd rather plan for more of "sure thing" than complicate things with a split stay. JM2C.

Poly studios have 2 "bathing spaces" but one toilet. They DO NOT have2 bathrooms.
I voted option 2.
Good Luck

 

[Anal Annie]

Poly studios have 2 "bathing spaces" but one toilet. They DO NOT have2 bathrooms.
I voted option 2.
Good Luck

OK, so let me rephrase. Two people can't go number 2 at the same time BUT 2 people COULD shower and "get ready" at the same time ("do hair" or makeup or whatever).

 

[disfanforlife]

It's your birthday, do what makes you happy. Staying at the poly seems like what will make you happy. Go for it!

 

[Starshine]

- We couldn't ride the DME together (This is assuming that BWV and BCV share the same DME bus) which is a huge deal for my dad...he is big into the nostalgia and really enjoys "making memories"

In case this impacts your choices, BWV and BCV do not always share the same DME bus. We stay at both on a regular basis, and it tends to be a crapshoot whether the bus will go to both or just one or the other.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

I voted for Option #2.

When split stays are necessary, which are typically 1 - 2 nights before or after our main reservation, I book within the same resort because we find the move to be a pain.

 

[nolanboys]

I vote for option 1. We are also doing a split stay with the Poly for 2 nights followed by BWV for 7. Our family loves split stays as the resorts are a huge part of why we love wdw. We have done numerous split stays and I find them effortless as Disney takes care of moving our luggage. I plan on packing one suitcase for the first 2 days so we won't even touch or unpack most of our stuff. If the Poly is what you want for your birthday, then go for it

 

[PlutoFan10]

Sounds like you would be disappointed if you didn't try Poly. That said, a split stay with less than 3 nights at a resort can make you feel that you didn't really get time to enjoy the resort. One day is your check in day (4pm-ish) and one is your check out day.

 

[kristenrice]

And the plans keep a'changing...

I knew that availability would change so I have been monitoring the availability tracker. As I suspected, the BCV 1BR is now unavailable for two nights in the middle of our week so that option has been put aside. Now, the BWV preferred view has opened up!

So, based on today's availability, I am tossing around two totally different options....

Option #1A...First two nights in a Lake View Studio at the Poly and next 5 nights in a P/G 1BR at BWV. I figure that even though I would have to spend the $15 to acquire 1 OTU point from DVC, we might as well get the lake view at the Poly since we will probably never stay there again as a family. Even though I go back and forth, this is really the option that I am leaning toward. I don't want to get my hopes up since this can all change over the next six weeks, but I want to be ready to go through with my plan when that window opens. I would be perfectly OK with standard view as well.

Option #2A....First night in a standard studio at AKV (already booked) followed by the next 6 nights in a P/G at BWV. This option would put us with the rest of the family for most of the trip AND it would not require us to purchase any additional points.

With #1A, I could only book the first 4 nights of the BWV portion online at 8am. Then, I would have to call back at 9 because I would not only have to purchase the OTU point, but I would also have to use the 1 transferred point that I still have in my account. With #1B, I would be able to book the entire thing online, using all of my own points.

 

[lovin'fl]

I'd go #2A but we are AKV lovers. In Aug we did 1 night at AKV-Jambo and then switched to BWV for a week with SIL's family. Worked well. We ate at Sanaa the night we were at AKV and then had Boma for breakfast buffet before we checked out to go over to BWV.