To split stay or not split stay....

[Petraman]

We will be doing our 3rd split stay in March (AKV Kidani & BCV). We usually stay in a studio the first couple of days (save points). Then on moving day, we get a cab to take us to new resort (usually book 1 or 2 BR so we can wash clothes), drop luggage at bell services and go hit the parks. We absolutely love doing it this way because we get to experience different resorts and their uniqueness.

Try BCV .... Maybe even WLV ( I hear they are nice). Try something new, who knows you may find a new fav

 

[franandaj]

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!

Basically that's it, and Bell Services comes and picks it up at the 1st resort and brings it to your room at the second. Of course you do have to tip them. When we moved on our last trip, we had a total of 28 bags, six suitcases, six carryons, an owners locker, and a WHOLE LOT of groceries. You let them know which ones need refrigeration or freezing, they will bring you the bags to pack them up into and they transfer and store everything for you until you arrive at your new resort.

 

[Petraman]

Basically that's it, and Bell Services comes and picks it up at the 1st resort and brings it to your room at the second. Of course you do have to tip them. When we moved on our last trip, we had a total of 28 bags, six suitcases, six carryons, an owners locker, and a WHOLE LOT of groceries. You let them know which ones need refrigeration or freezing, they will bring you the bags to pack them up into and they transfer and store everything for you until you arrive at your new resort.

This is so cool! We have done multiple split stays and I never even thought to ask if they would do this. We usually rented a taxi or rented a car for the day.... So we sould just call bell services at our 2nd resort and let them know they need to pick them up or just tell the 1st resort and they will take care of it?

I am going to give this a go in March, thank for the info

So for those who talk about the hassle of moving, there really is no negative except packing and unpacking (which IMO is really not that big of a deal)

 

[franandaj]

When the Bellman come to pick up your bags at the 1st resort, tell them where you are transferring to and they take care of everything. It may take a few hours before your bags show up at the new resort, but you can go to a park, have lunch whatever you want to do and once you check in at the 2nd resort, just call Bell Services there give them your name and claim check # and they should be able to bring your bags to the room.

It's very easy!

 

[Petraman]

Awesome! I can't wait to give it a go! Disney drops the ball every once in awhile, but face it, they still no how to make your trips "magical".

 

[dsneygirl]

We've done a lot of split stays for 8 nights or more and are doing VWL and BCV in Sept. I like getting the perks of more than 1 location. For VWL we get the boat ride to MK, Ft Wilderness activities and the cozy feeling of the lodge.

For BCV you get SAB, able to walk to 2 parks and lots of great food options in walking distance.

My DS loves the animals at AKL but for me it would be a pain to be on the buses for 8 or 9 nights so we usually stay only 3 or 4 nights and then somewhere else.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

I voted to try a new resort. I don't like blowing a 1/2 day on check-in, so I'm not a huge fan of split stays. Aside from checking in/checking out, when we first joined, we decided to try all of the DVC resorts on property until we had stayed at them all. We only have BCV (staying there in April) and BLT remaining.

FWIW, I'm so glad we did. What we found out...DH likes the hotel-style properties, and I love the condo-style! We will continue to rotate, as each property has so much to offer and the "likes" far outweigh the "dislikes."

 

[franandaj]

DH likes the hotel-style properties, and I love the condo-style! We will continue to rotate, as each property has so much to offer and the "likes" far outweigh the "dislikes."

I'm guessing that SSR & OKW are the condo style, BWV & VWL are hotel style. What do you consider AK and GCV? Are you including HH and VB? Just curious, we've only stayed at SSR, THV, BWV and AKV so far, we're looking forward to trying all the resorts, but next time we're going with what we know SSR just because the new resorts on our last trip had some surprises we didn't expect.

 

[Petraman]

I voted to try a new resort. I don't like blowing a 1/2 day on check-in, so I'm not a huge fan of split stays. Aside from checking in/checking out, when we first joined, we decided to try all of the DVC resorts on property until we had stayed at them all. We only have BCV (staying there in April) and BLT remaining.

FWIW, I'm so glad we did. What we found out...DH likes the hotel-style properties, and I love the condo-style! We will continue to rotate, as each property has so much to offer and the "likes" far outweigh the "dislikes."

It is great to try them all.... they each have unique value, don't they?

FYI, now that you can go ahead and do advance check-in online, we have never spent more than 1/2 hour checking into the second resort... no more wasting the day. Also, remember, you can have bell service transfer your bags to new resort (you can also have new bell service actually take your bags to your new room for you so they are there waiting) and go to your "park for the day", then simply go to your new resort when you are done for the day... no wasted time at all.

 

[TagsMissy]

there may be a new wrench to the plans... and i don't mean my hubby Wrenchy ... My niece has decided over going away with her Dad or going away with her Auntie and Uncle she's chosen us... ((LOL OK honestly she's chosen Disney World but I'll pretend it's us. She sees her Dad every day )) So our plans may alter to a 1BR and cut back the days a bit to 7 or 8 rather than 10. We'd be fine with a studio but I am certain she'd like a bit of privacy as much as we may want a bit of privacy. When we all went as a big family this past summer she fell in love with BLT so we may need to split it up between BLT and ??

We were looking at some pictures today of various villas and were checking out BWV -- she is a hockey player, not a girly girl and was concerned with all the pink in the pictures.

I'll need to get a notarized letter probably ((we are travelling from Canada)) so I've got some planning to do before I plan too far ahead on this one

 

[dvcdisney]

I voted for trying a new resort. My suggestion would be BCV or VWL. Our favourites are BCV, VWL, and AKV (both Jambo and Kidani). We are hoping to add BLT to the list when we stay there for the first time in March.

 

[magicmommy]

I love split stays and we do one almost every trip if it is just DH and I or if it for longer than a week. We will be doing a stay in April that starts with 5 nights at AKV club level, then 4 nights at SSR and finish it off with 7 nights at the BCV. We feel like each move is a new vacation and gives us an opportunity to enjoy what we love about each of the DVC resorts.

 

[Anal Annie]

Personally, we prefer to stay at a different resort each time we go so that each trip is completely different from the last. I voted to stay at a resort you never tried before but then I realized you were going for 10 days. We usually go for 7 nights and I don't want to bother moving but for 10 days I might consider 5 & 5... Then I saw you had a choice for a split between BLT and a different (new) resort - so I should've picked that one. We have not stayed at BLT yet but we DO use studios & that is one thing that has me concerned about at BLT. The wonky studio layout & small size would NOT be a good thing for us for 10 days. But you should definitely pick a new resort to try for either all or part of your trip. You may find a new love! I can't wait to go back to VWL... But we're not done trying all of them yet! Once we're done trying all the others VWL is first on my list to try again! Of course DH & DS loved BCV (read: SAB) and that would be THEIR first choice to go back to!! But since I do all the booking & planning...

 

[liznboys]

Just you and your dh for 10 days? I would do a split stay, and try out 2 new places.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Frankly, I would NEVER stay 10 nights in a studio ANYWHERE! I'd do a minimum of a 1 bedroom. I don't mind split stays, and often we do a split stay with a night or two in a studio before our "real" trip begins, but I think if you are new DVCers, I'd stay in a 1 bedroom the whole trip at your home resort this time, and worry about seeing the others once you have that under your belt.

 

[Melani]

You should really try BWV or even BCV, since you've never been.

We love BWV so much, even though we could make the whole trip at BLT we have our 2 upcoming trips booked as split stays betweeb BLT & BWV.

I just couldn't see not trying the Boardwalk at least for 2 or 3 nights .

 

[SuzanneSLO]

In our 5 DVC trips so far, we have intentionally done a split stay once (2 nights AKV CL to do the tour followed by 9 nights BWV BW view) and unintentionally once (1 night in a PV BWV -- upgraded to BWV view, followed by 9 nights SV BWV, when the WL for the added night never came through). I have also done a couple of non DVC splits stays: 4 nights Cont, followed by 7 nights off-site timeshare; and 1 night Pop, 7 nights off-site timeshare, 3 nights WL).

We found that doing a short stay at another resort at the beginning could be very enjoyable, but not so much with the short stay at the end. Packing when you only have 3 nights left feels to much like the vacation is already over.

We liked having a short Cont stay before going offsite. While at the Cont, we went crazy visiting the MK the whole time, and then, even with my 2YO niece and PHs, only went back to the MK once more during the whole stay!

We own at BWV are are generally perfecting happy staying there for each and every trip to WDW, so I am no help when it comes to trying other DVC resorts. Best of luck in making your decision -- Suzanne