To split stay or not split stay....

[TagsMissy]

Hi all... the gist of it is that my hubby and I are torn as to what to do for our next vacation and are simply curious as to what you would do/what you have done in the past... We own at BLT and our next trip will 99% be just hubby and I so we'll probably just go for studios and stay 10 days or so. We have stayed at the following places so far: AKV Kidani, SSR and BLT

Our dilemma is this:

1) Stay at BLT the whole time
2) Try a resort we've never stayed at the whole time
3) Split Stay between BLT and a resort we've never stayed at.
4) We really loved AKV and would love to return there one day so we are thinking of a BLT/AKV split

 

[DenLo]

We decided to split our 09/30 - 10/8/10 trip between BLT and Kidani (we haven't stayed at Kidani as yet). We also decided to try out a STD view 1BR. We will be staying in an MK view in March. However, since we do have a family gathering in June 2010 which will probably be at Kidani, we are considering switching the Kidani portion at the 7 month mark to another DVC resort that we have not stayed at as yet. That will depend on availability.

We do hope to eventually stay at all of the DVC resorts, but since it would take years if we only did one resort at a time, we'll probably do split stays. I would hate it that it would years before I returned to my home resorts.

 

[wdrl]

Like you, we are DVC rookies. We joined in May, and our first trip is 3/1-3/8 at BLT. For our second trip beginning 9/30/10, we are doing a split stay: 2 nights BLT and 5 nights AKV-Kidani.

To me, one appealing aspect of DVC is being able to stay at different resorts. Our plan is to try out all the resorts sooner or later. If I was in your position, I would probably do a split stay with 5 days at one resort and 5 at another resort. Good luck on your decision!! And remember, since you'll be at WDW no matter which resorts you pick, you are in a no-lose situation!

 

[TagsMissy]

I am starting to think the way you guys are talkin' check out my home and one other place I've not been to.

 

[photobob]

Personally I don't care for split stays, I only want to check in and unpack once. We driver so we take a lot of stuff and packing it back up would be too much of a hassle. If you just live out of a suitcase on the trip then it would be much more appealing.

As to which resort to stay, I'd say give the Epcot resorts a try, either BWV or BCV. The locations are great and it doesn't look like you have stayed at either yet.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I wouldn't want a 10 night stay in a BLT studio, so I voted split stay. BLT and AKV (savannah view).

Bobbi

 

[Sandisw]

I voted for a split as well. We bought at BLT and will always do at least part of our trip there.

But, as new members, we did want want try out the other resorts so we had some other info. Last summer, we did VWL and BWV. This summer, we are trying BCV.

Good luck1

 

[snowhyte]

I love split stays! A ten day trip would be a perfect time to try another resort. You will feel like you had two vacations in one and will have time to get to enjoy each resort. I say, go for it!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Hubby and I would not do a split stay..we love to unpack and make ourselves at home....we'd rather try all the resorts one trip at a time

 

[iwannbindisnee]

we've done a couple of split stays. One out of necessity b/c we could not get all one resort for a 4 night stay!! (we had to go between BWV & SSR) Even that wasn't bad b/c we got to stay at SSR in a 1bdrm-that was wonderful!! As long as you don't mind packing/unpacking-try to experience a new resort. We ahven't stayed at all the resorts either & look at it as vacation within a vacation! Have a wonderful time! Deb

 

[El&Asmom]

We do split stays almost every trip. We don't mind them as Disney makes it pretty painless taking your luggage from one resort to the other. (We do it with 3 kids under the age of 6, and still don't mind it).
I would do a split between BLT and either BWV or BCV. We love the two EPCOT resorts and it looks like you haven't been there yet. AKV is also an awesome choice. It just depends on what kind of vacation you are looking for.
Have a great trip.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'd pick one resort for the whole time. Which one? That's up to you.

 

[danielle782001]

If you decide to do a split stay and the DDP remember you will get to sets of credits and you must use all the credits from your first stay before the end of the day you move or you lose those credits...

We did a split stay last July and are doing it again...I would only do it on long stays such as yours...We did not mind packing up and moving...

We checked out of one, had a great breakfast at the Poly, spent a few hours there, then moved over to the second....Worked out well...This time we will check out, go to a park for a few hours then head over to the second.

 

[Deb & Bill]

One resort for the entire trip. Unpacking/packing and moving is a big pain.

Instead of ten nights in a studio - go for one bedroom instead. A BLT studio for ten nights would be my idea of a nightmare.

And as a DVC member, you will always get to try out the other resorts. Why rush it?

 

[mamaprincess]

We're doing a split stay for our 10 day Dec. 2010 trip and will be doing them for the forseeable future. Our trip will be a 6 day THV, 4 day AKV split. We're doing it because we wanted to do the THV but didn't have enough SSR points to stay there for our entire trip and my mom wanted to stay at Kidani for a portion of the trip. Hubby and I will be at Jambo since we have been wanting to try that since it opened. We really fell in love with Jambo when we gave mom 3 nights their as a gift in Dec 2009. Mom fell in love with Kidani. I think if you are super curious about another resort and are staying enough days to make changing resorts worth it, then you should go for the split stay. I am personally psyched about having 2 different vacations in one.

 

[lisah0711]

We did our first split stay in December -- 4 nights at VWL followed by 4 nights AKL Jambo savanna view. We had five people and two bedrooms so we could spread out. We liked the split stay. Yes, it was bit of a bummer to pack on moving day but our AKL room was ready early so we didn't feel homeless for long. Disney moved our luggage without a hitch.

If it were me I would start out at AKV and then move to BLT. We saw the BLT models in December and they are lovely.

If you want to try a new resort, I would try an Epcot resort and BLT split stay.

Whatever you decide, have a great trip and fun planning!

 

[dismedvc]

We decided to split our 09/30 - 10/8/10 trip between BLT and Kidani (we haven't stayed at Kidani as yet).
We do hope to eventually stay at all of the DVC resorts, but since it would take years if we only did one resort at a time, we'll probably do split stays. I would hate it that it would years before I returned to my home resorts.

We bought BWV in 1999 and BLT in 2008. Over the years we have stayed in all the WDW DVC resorts, and it is definitely worth trying them all. (We have also used our points to stay at VB, HHI, DL and Disney Paris)

We primarily go to WDW to "hit the parks" and have found that we get the most done if we get to a park right at opening, stay until it gets crowded, go back to the room and relax, swim, or take a nap, and then go back to a park in the evening and stay until the park closes.

JMO, but if that is how you plan to do the parks, I think being able to walk between the park and your resort (avoiding the bus) is critical. The early morning buses always seem to require you leave an extra hour early to make sure you get there right at opening, and the late night buses are exhausting, especially if you have to stand. If you have a car, driving is an option, but that is also somewhat of a pain.

For that reason, in the future, we are generally going to follow the plan we used on our last visit. That is to stay a few nights at BLT so we can walk back and forth to the MK. (EMH went until 3 am and the park was almost empty the last hour). Then move to BWV where we always walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios (We can leave 15 minutes before park opening, and are back in our room 15 minutes after park closing, although we do walk fast). We visit AK the morning we arrive, the morning we leave, or the morning we are switching resorts. (we do have a car)

AKV are nice, but if you are primarily interested in the parks, you have to take a bus everywhere, even to AK, and it is a long bus ride back for a mid-day break, especially from the MK.

Below is a link to another post the shows the Epcot resort area.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=27403772&postcount=2

All of the above is obviously JMO, but I hope others, like wdrl (got the name right this time) find this helpful. I still owe him for all his work on the other thread. - ken

 

[TagsMissy]

Interesting comment about being at walking distance. I had never thought of that very much. Granted I don't think hubby and I have ever made it to rope drop in 4 visits

I guess part of it is that we come from the west coast and getting up that early, especially at the beginning of the trip is tough and we generally stay up later at night. A 3am closure for MK is only midnight for us so it doesnt feel as bad as waking up at 6 or 7am eastern having it feel like 3 or 4 am

Hubby and I have been eyeing BWV and WLV but you may be right. Maybe try an Epcot resort which we can walk to 2 places or are at least close to 2 places.

 

[franandaj]

Depending on the focus of the trip, I really like split stays. It gives you two distinct parts of the vacation and you get to try neat places.

On our last trip, it was VERY good that we had two reservations. We had a THV for the first five days and Kidani 2br Sav view for the next five days. While I loved the THV, DP hated them, there were no chairs for a person with bad knees and the interior was very dark, which is not good for someone who suffers from depression.

We didn't visit the parks a lot (only half of the days of our trip) and mostly went to the AK when we were at Kidani, but I would pick the second resort you switch to based on what you want to do on the trip. BWV and BCV are great for Epcot and DHS.

Let us all know what you decide!

 

[kristie03]

I'm a new DVC member and have a question...I see a few people mention that Disney makes it painless as far as luggage to do a split stay...

how does it work?

Do you pack at resort #1, leave bags at bell services, then pick them up at resort #2 bell services, then check in at resort #2?

Thanks!