Switching Resorts in Middle of Stay

[JerseyBob]

That does it - I'm going to split resorts and experience all DVC has to offer twice as fast. I don't know where I got the idea that most people didn't favor splitting - the posts were clearly in favor of trying different resorts during one trip. That's what I like about this board - sound something out and it becomes clear. Thanks everyone!

 

[tjkraz]

I have a different sort of resort-switching question. DW and I are planning a short 4-day, 3-night trip next year without the kids. We had planned on getting studio simply because there's no way to justify the extra points on a 1B when it will just be the two of us. We'd rather use those points on a longer family vacation.

Anyway, I'm now contemplating surprising my wife with one day in a 1B at a different resort. It will be our first trip "home". We've stayed at OKW before, but we want to try all of the resorts at some point. My thinking is spending the first two nights in a studio at SSR, and then our final night in a 1B at another resort.

My only concern is whether it's really worth it to switch resorts for just one day. Being realistic, we probably won't get into the second resort until 4pm, and then would check-out about 18 hours later. Seems like too much hassle for a trip that short. Anyone disagree?

 

[Bella2000]

Originally posted by tjkraz
My thinking is spending the first two nights in a studio at SSR, and then our final night in a 1B at another resort.

My only concern is whether it's really worth it to switch resorts for just one day. Being realistic, we probably won't get into the second resort until 4pm, and then would check-out about 18 hours later. Seems like too much hassle for a trip that short. Anyone disagree?

We switch 95% of the time, but we typically have at least 5 night stays. In June we stayed for 3 nights and we did not switch. Our Dec trip will be an 8 night stay with - of course- a switch. Honestly, I would not switch if I were in your position as I think you will not have the time to actually appreciate that new location. However if you did switch I would still stay in a studio vs. 1 bedroom. I wouldn't use my points on a 1 bedroom for two people (I would save the points for next 1 bedroom trip with family). That's just my opinion - frankly only you know worth to you two. Our last night is usually spent repacking after afternoon running around with last minute "gotta sees". So personally I would not lose that time to switch for a short trip. Good Luck on your decision.

 

[gopherit]

Normally we are "grow where we're planted" type travelers; in fact, that's why we prefer the longer stays (as opposed to short frequent trips). We like to develop ROOTS!

HOWEVER... through a weird twist of events, our next trip will be a switch-o-rama. 1 night in a 2 br at BCV, then 8 nights in a 2 br at BWV, then back for 3 nights at BCV in a 1 br! (I'm lobbying hard to change the last 3 days, if it's availbale, of course, to SSR!)
We originally set the vacation as the 8 nts at BWV. We are bringing some family with us. THey wanted to arrive on a Sat -- we said, sure, but we don't have the pts for that Sat night stay. So they said Sat night was for cash on them. Since we were already planning to stay at BWV (Std view to stretch those pts), we thought they might enjoy some SAB fun, so we went for BCV. (We all stayed together last year at VWL and had a grand ol' time... it's fun trying new places but HARD to leave the places we love out of the picture sometimes! But SAB requires a BCV stay, so it's BCV for us this time!) MEANWHILE.... dh says, gee, one night at BCV isn't enough. We thought about adding the 3 daysto the front of our vacation, but couldn't (our son's baseball will interfere with that grand plan). So we decided to add the time to the rear of the vacation, after extended family guests have left, and use a 1 br at BCV for just our family! I even thought about HHI instead for the 3 days... but dh and kids want those 3 extra days at WDW this time. (They have lots of plans for WDW and the water parks, etc. and feel they need every bit of the 12 dyas to fit it in, I guess!)

One way we will strategize: our first day -- VERY MINIMAL groceries. Just a bit of milk and snack stuff. We will arrive after lunch and hit SAB (weather permitting!) and then hit one of the BW restaurants for dinner. The next am, I'll have PS for the character bfast at Cape May at BC. Then kids and company can head to pool while I walk over to BWV and check in. Adults will rotate w/ kids and during that day we will (a) get our stuff moved over and (b) get our groceries for next 8 days, all while continuing to enjoy SAB. Usually, around day 7 or 8 I need to do grocery shopping again. For this trip, I'll definitely hold off until day 8 and pick up stuff once we're in the next resort. Less stuff then for WDW to move. Also, because we drive down, we will have our mid-sized cooler with us. We wil use it to pack the fridge stuff so it's not in all different bags and such -- all in one place. Plus, after 8 days, 4 adults and 4 kids, I don't anticipate there being much left, anyway! When our guests leave, our little "move" will give our kids something to look forward to in the wake of their cousins leaving... and a nice little extension of our family vacation with just us chickens! I realllllly hope we could get SSR... it woudl just be ohhh too cool to hit 3 DVC resorts in one trip! And I'm so curious about SSR anyway!

So adios to "growing where we are planted" this time we're picking up our roots and taking them with us around the 'world!

 

[paults]

we always do. last May we did 3 nts VWL/6 nts Home BWV. This Oct 17 will do 2 nts Swan/5 nts home BWV. We don't use pts on weekends to much. We use codes or AP's to see the other resorts on weekends than pts during the week.
Others will disagree

Its not a big hassle just use the switch day as a pool day or something else you enjoy.

 

[Lexxiefern]

We have switched resorts once. It was very easy. Our next trip we are not switching resorts, but in January we are. 2 nights OKW studio and then 4 nights BWV 1 bedroom. We will move our own luggage that trip and then just leave the luggage (and groceries) with the bell staff.

Next Sept and Dec I think we will also switch resorts. We would like to try the Poly on one trip before BWV and AKL on the next trip before BCV. We will try out the other hotels on the weekend to conserve points. Can't wait!

 

[LIFERBABE]

We did a switch this past Labor Day. We spent Labor Day weekend at BC and on Monday moved to the CR. We had bell services move our luggage and spent all day at SAB! It was well past 4pm when we arrived at CR.

My tip is for moving groceries. I purchased one of those Cooler Grocery Bags from Sam's Club before we left. (We live in Tx. so I keep it in the car for Grocery Days when I want to keep my ice cream cold) It is soft and insulated but lays flat like a paper bag so it took very little room in the luggage. On move day I threw everything in the Cooler Bag and everything arrived cold that afternoon at the CR. I will definitely take it with us again if we are planning moves.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

Next May, we're contemplating spending 4 nights in VWL and 4 nights at BWV (we've already reserved BWV for the entire 8 nights at our 11-month window). But, given we'll be travelling with a 2-year-old whose naps are somewhat unpredictable, and sleeping in the stroller is generally not an option, is there any way to check out of one resort and check right into the other without waiting 'til 4:00 p.m. for a room? I'm just afraid DD will need a nap sometime in the afternoon, and we'll be "home"less... It is early May, so it is supposedly a slow season...Any thoughts?