Splitting your stay between 2 DVC resorts

[JoEllen]

We are staying 10 days in May at OKW and I'm thinking about splitting the time between BWV and OKW instead. Our 12 yr old likes the excitement of the Boardwalk. DH thinks it would be a hassle to change resorts during our vacation.

Could someone share their experience at doing this? Is it a pain re-packing and moving all your stuff/grocieries? Did you think it was worth the trouble?

Thanks for you input.

 

[BobBrazeal]

I'll be able to tell you after the Christmas/New Years holidays as I will be doing it for the first time then and not just two resorts but all three DVC resorts.

Before that, I'd like to hear peoples opinions too about the relative hassle involved and any tricks to minimize it.

 

[ahoff]

We split our stay between BW and WL during our stay over Thanksgiving. Stayed at BW for the first part, other than the actual packing it was not a big deal. They told us at the desk that they would move our luggage, but we opted to just store it at the bell station, and spent the day at Epcot, until around 2. Picked up car and luggage and went to WL, when by the time we got there the room was ready.
A coworker and fellow DVC'er spent the same week at 3 resorts, starting at AK. I think it is a nice way to try the different resorts.

 

[PKS44]

The only real hassle is the groceries. Any milk or perishables you bought etc will need to be used up or thrown away before leaving the first resort and then you have to restock for the second resort...

 

[Zimbubba]

We have been splitting our last few stays between VB and OKW. It is a little different but it is still moving. It adds new dimensions to the experience.

 

[drusba]

Personally consider it a hassle although it is fairly easy to do. One thing to note is that if you do so, then you should likely not consider getting the length of stay pass even with the DVC discount. You would have to buy it at each resort for the stay at each resort. They will let you leave off one day when switching so that you do not pay for the same day twice--for example if you switch on a Tuesday from BWV to OKW, your BWV ticket will run through Tuesday and at OKW they will let your new one start on Wednesday. However, the problem is that the fewer days on a LOS the more costly it is per day. Thus a 7 day LOS is significantly cheaper than the combined cost of a 4 and separate 3 day LOS, making it cheaper to buy the 7 day hopper in such a situation.

 

[Sorcerer]

Regarding milk and perishables - you can check those with the bellhop - they have a refrigerated storage facility.

I've done it a few times to experience different resorts - it's fun and can add some excitement to your trip, but I don't know that I will do it too much in the future. It really takes time away from your vacation (unpacking, packing and unpacking again - not to mention the time between checking out and checking in).

But it was worth it to do it the few times I did it, I just wouldn't do it again. Everything is worth experiencing yourself - otherwise how do you know if you would or wouldn't enjoy it?

 

[Granny]

We're taking a different approach to "splitting our stay" next year:

VWL for 8 nights in May...... and BWV for 5 nights in August! Too bad about that move in between when we have to come back to reality for a couple of months.

Okay, it's a silly response. But we are so excited to be able to afford two trips to WDW next year!

 

[danicaw]

We enjoy moving to a new resort 1/2 way through our trip.
We havent gone from one DVC to another yet. Our next trip is split between the AKL and OKW (might be BWV?).

But for us the hassel isn't a big deal and we like getting to try more than one resort.

 

[EROS]

We've split OKW and BWV without any problem. We don't really cook at WDW so groceries weren't an issue. DVC would have transferred the bags for us, but we preferred to take them over in our rent-a-car. I find that we pack VERY LIGHT when going to Orlando so the "switch" really offered little hassle.

Good Luck,

 

[Lesley]

We like to switch! If you keep yourself organized and don't just throw stuff all over the room its easy to get unpacked/repacked. The hardest part for us in the past has been hauling everything from car to room, room to car.....we've decided that we'll take advantage of bell services this trip!

This trip coming up in Jan. will be our first one switching from one DVC resort to another....from a 1br at VWL to a st at BWV (pref. view) then to a 1br at BWV (stan. view). We wanted to stay as long as possible and try out a variety of DVC options as this is our first DVC trip. WE actually added the 2 VWL nights after doing an add-on last spring. My plan for perishables is to have a cooler to place them in for transport and ask for it to be put in cold storage if our next villa is not ready when we check in. No problem.

Actually I think this trip will be even easier than in the past because of DVC....we will be taking less clothing with us because we'll have a washer/dryer in our room most of the trip. I think 2 or 3 well layered outfits for each of us will work great (maybe an extra one or two for the baby!)

 

[JoEllen]

Thanks for all your replies. I've printed them out to share with the family opinion poll.

Danica, nice to see another Northwesterner who doesn't just think Disney is just Disneyland! (How many times do you get asked "Why don't you just go to Disneyland? What's the big difference?"

 

[MdmMim]

During my trips, I'm either switching from one resort to another, or I'm changing from a studio to a 1-bedrm and back again. (I'm nomadic!) Anyway, I pack a collapsible cooler in my suitcase, and when it's time to move on, I place my refrigerated items in it and check it with my luggage. Works great!
I don't mind switching, and Disney makes it so easy with handling the luggage.

 

[Regina]

We just did a split, three nights at VWL, three nights at OKW.

It's not that big a deal. We used the bellstaff to transfer the luggage, and they promised it by 3:00pm. (Since we were out until 11:00pm, I have no idea of what time it actually got there.) Within minutes of arriving at OKW that night, they had our luggage to our room.

As far as Disney's assistance, it was a perfect move. As far my own feelings, I would have preferred to stay in one place. I had tons of stuff with me.

 

[DisneyMim]

We always split our stays. No big problem at all. We don't cook so all we move is water. Give it a try, if it is too much just plan ahead your next time to stay put. I think in this issue peole either hate to move or don't mind at all. We've been doing it for years and have never had any problems.

 

[Terry S]

We have done this twice. As far as Disney goes, they do make it as easy as possible. We didn't even have a car, we just checked out of one resort, they bellhop took our luggage and asked what hotel we would be staying at. We got on a bus to Animal Kingdom and later that day, took the bus back to our new resort. Checked in and they brought our luggage up.

Now the time and the hassle of packing and unpacking was a different story, I have 2 childern and a husband so basically I did the packing and unpacking for 4, not much fun and a waste of about 3 - 4 hours of my vaction in total.

Its nice to see more then one resort, but I don't think I will do it again. You should probably experience it yourself and see if its for you.

This October we our staying at the ASMo on our arrival night to save money and points, but I don't even plan on un-packing. This is the only way I would do it.