Torn about upcoming Vacation

[mrslisadawn]

I am trying to figure out what to do. I am planning a trip to Disney March 17-22. Going is me (Many trips to Disney), My mother in law (1st trip), My son 17, my middle daughter 13, and my youngest daughter 10 (will turn 11 at end of trip)

I had planned:
17-21 Grand Floridian (first visit to this hotel)
21-22 Staying at another hotel (Maybe Beach or Yacht Club)

However, been thinking of doing:
17-19 Grand Floridian
19-21 Beach or Yacht Club
21-22 Animal Kingdom Maybe Kadani and renting points?

or
17-20 Grand Floridian
21-22 Beach Club

Also trying to decide between a 3 day hopper and 4 day.

So confused as what to do!

 

[a1tinkfans]

That’s a lot of checking in, checking out, packing unpacking and plain moving about. Personally been there done that and won’t repeat it. They are all good choices individually but running about with rooms .. I’d rather grab ride, attraction or yummy food times instead, lol.

I’d check ur dates/hours for which park.. and figure where you want to be.. then choose best resort to make it easiest and smoothest with ur family dynamics.
As far as hoppers... a personal choice. We no longer hop, even with past annuals. Fortunately we spend enuf time so not much of running about and we thoroughly enjoy a full day/nite at each park. Then return another day if need be.
Wishing you all a very Magical visit making memories!

 

[mrslisadawn]

Thanks! I have been considering dropping it down to just the 2 stays, and doing the GF and BC/YC. If I do a longer stay at GF I don't get a good deal, but wanted a cool pool for the free day. Also figured there was a lot to do at that location with boardwalk being there and being able to watch fireworks from Epcot Which is my fav! Figured may even get to watch HS from there. We have a 2 day drive before and after our trip so we would be staying one night on way there and on way home somewhere!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Enjoy... and safe travels!!

 

[kateandy08096]

Im in the same boat. We are DVC members and taking our 2 year old grand daughter. I wanted to try the tree houses but DH doesnt want to split stay. We have 6 days at Saratoga Springs (he is a golfer) and 3 at Polynesian. If our home resorts Animal Kingdom or Old Key West open im jumping on it

 

[FSU Girl]

I would stick to just two hotels. I’ve done a split stay that way and it was perfect. I think if we had shortened them and added a third hotel we would have been exhausted from all the moving.

If you do Animal Kingdom Lodge I would only go with a savanna room. They are amazing and unique and great for a rest day to just watch the animals. But I do feel like the hotel is far from a lot.

When I did my spilt stay we did Grand Floridian and then Boardwalk. We went to Epcot and Hollywood Studios when we were at the Boardwalk and it was great walking to two parks.

Have a fun trip!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I am trying to figure out what to do. I am planning a trip to Disney March 17-22. Going is me (Many trips to Disney), My mother in law (1st trip), My son 17, my middle daughter 13, and my youngest daughter 10 (will turn 11 at end of trip)

I had planned:
17-21 Grand Floridian (first visit to this hotel)
21-22 Staying at another hotel (Maybe Beach or Yacht Club)

However, been thinking of doing:
17-19 Grand Floridian
19-21 Beach or Yacht Club
21-22 Animal Kingdom Maybe Kadani and renting points?

or
17-20 Grand Floridian
21-22 Beach Club

Also trying to decide between a 3 day hopper and 4 day.

So confused as what to do!

Of the three, I would do 3 nights GF, 2 nights BC or YC. IMHO, you don't get the full benefits of a resort by only staying one night. Two nights would at least give you a chance to settle in a little and really enjoy what the EP resort area has to offer (great pool, Boardwalk entertainment at night, walking/boating to two parks). If you did this split, I would focus on MK and AK (if you are going there) during your GF stay and EP/DHS during your BC/YC stay. It makes park touring quite convenient.

The tickets are a tough one for me. I really prefer having a hopper when staying in the EP resort area as I love walking into EP in the evening for dinner, but there are a ton of good restaurants in that area, as well, that are in the resorts and won't require a park ticket. I would think about which attractions are must-do's and go from there.

 

[heidijanesmith]

I agree with the other posters, I would go with only two resorts: GF and YC. I think your getting the best locations with this stay.

We like YC better than BC as a full balcony or patio is a must for us. BC has many rooms with out a balcony or one of those tiny Juliette balconies.

We always use park hoppers. We like to go early to a park, try for early EMH. Then take a nice long break and then back to another park for evening touring.

 

[DLgal]

Just pick one hotel and stick with it. Split stays are a pain. The Grand has a great pool area. Just stay there the whole time.

 

[Sue M]

For a short trip I wouldn’t split stay and just pick 1 resort. I’d also get length of stay ticket and not do a free day. Just take afternoon breaks.

 

[CynBeth]

I agree with staying at 1 resort since it is such a short trip and no free day.

 

[Hopefully]

Another vote for just one Resort. You are basically “ homeless “ on the move day or a split stay with no ability to go back for a rest.

 

[Babsy]

So, are you staying there on the night of the 22 or checking out that day? If you have 6 nights, then I would stay 3 in the GF and three in the YC/BC. If you only have 5 nights, you could do a split stay, but I usually wouldn't. My rule of thumb for enjoying splits is a minimum of three nights per resort. Anything less and it isn't worth moving, IMO. You just don't get enough time to relax and enjoy the resort with only 1-2 nights. Again, JMHO, of course.

That said, if you have 5 nights and really want to experience the two resorts then I would definitely stay at the GF for three and the YC/BC for two nights.

Whatever you choose, have a great visit!!!

 

[mrslisadawn]

My first plan was this:

17 Arrive and spend time at hotel (Grand Floridian)
18 Animal Kingdom/ HS/ Animal Kingdom
19 Epcot late night
20 MK late night
21 Free Day to swim and then leave to go to hotel by Universal (We were going to do universal but have decided just to have easy day)
22 We would leave around 930 to go to Holy Land Experience and then head home

If we do a 4 day hopper and switch hotels: This would be a very laid back schedule with long afternoon breaks since we have my mother in law
17 Day At Grand Floridian
18 Animal Kingdom/ MK / Back to Animal Kingdom
19 MK/ Epcot late night
20 Epcot/ Switch hotels to YC/BC / MK late night
21 Epcot/ HS
22 Leave to go home

So right now I have the GF for 17-20. What I had pretty much decided was GF 17-20. YC/ BCV from 20-22

So we could go to HS/ Epcot if we wanted or if just kids and I wanted to pop in and get something to eat or a yummy snack from World Showcase we could. But could also see fireworks from hotel. I have always wanted to stay at an Epcot hotel, so this was kind of a wish thing! At Grand Floridian we have a Theme Park View Room so we would watch MK fireworks from room if we wanted. We just decided we weren't going to do Universal and give us a free day time so was trying to do with hotels, but if I go one day at BC/YC price is over 1700 due to only a 2 bedroom being available. Also with having 2 teens and one 11 year old and their and my fav park being Epcot, thought it might be nice to do an Epcot hotel since it may be awhile before we get to return.

 

[mrslisadawn]

OK If I were going to change it and do all 5 days at the same resort here would be my options.

I could stick with Grand Floridian Theme Park View for all 5 days with a 3 day hopper. (This is most expensive)
I could go to the Contemporary Theme Park View for all 5 days with a 3 day hopper. (This would be a little cheaper)
I could go to Yacht Club Garden/Wood View for all 5 days with a 4 day hopper. (This would be cheaper than what I have now)

Right now I have a Grand Floridian Theme Park View for 4 days with a 3 day hopper.

Remember I have 17 DS, 13 DD, 10 DD and my mother in law and I. My fav park is Epcot.

Any Suggestions?

 

[mrslisadawn]

Im in the same boat. We are DVC members and taking our 2 year old grand daughter. I wanted to try the tree houses but DH doesnt want to split stay. We have 6 days at Saratoga Springs (he is a golfer) and 3 at Polynesian. If our home resorts Animal Kingdom or Old Key West open im jumping on it

I wish we were staying that long but this was a last minute trip and since we are driving we will spend 4 days on the road 2 at the beginning and 2 at the end.

 

[Babsy]

OK If I were going to change it and do all 5 days at the same resort here would be my options.

I could stick with Grand Floridian Theme Park View for all 5 days with a 3 day hopper. (This is most expensive)
I could go to the Contemporary Theme Park View for all 5 days with a 3 day hopper. (This would be a little cheaper)
I could go to Yacht Club Garden/Wood View for all 5 days with a 4 day hopper. (This would be cheaper than what I have now)

Right now I have a Grand Floridian Theme Park View for 4 days with a 3 day hopper.

Remember I have 17 DS, 13 DD, 10 DD and my mother in law and I. My fav park is Epcot.

Any Suggestions?

It is just my opinion, but I would go with the YC for 5 nights and the 4 day PH. You have said that you always wanted to stay in the Epcot area. Your children sound like they would really enjoy afternoons at Storm Along Bay, YC is just a few minutes walk from Epcot - your favourite theme park, it is the least expensive option, SAB is also a nice place to relax for Mom and there is lots to do walking around the lake at the 5 resorts in the Epcot area when you want to get away from the parks. With hoppers, you can pop into Epcot WS every evening for dinner or a snack to finish the day, just on a whim. (You can still watch fireworks from the GF and use a little of your savings to take a Minnie Van 'home' to the YC afterwards, if desired.)

Personally, we prefer to be able to go in to the theme parks everyday for shorter periods of time and have lots of time at the resort every day, rather than stay longer in the parks each day and have a complete day off. But you may like it better the other way around. Some people enjoy a full day to enjoy the resort and SAB would be awesome. (I just find it hard to be in WDW and not be able to go into a theme park, even for one day. Yes, I've got it bad! LOL)

 

[MomOTwins]

OK If I were going to change it and do all 5 days at the same resort here would be my options.

I could stick with Grand Floridian Theme Park View for all 5 days with a 3 day hopper. (This is most expensive)
I could go to the Contemporary Theme Park View for all 5 days with a 3 day hopper. (This would be a little cheaper)
I could go to Yacht Club Garden/Wood View for all 5 days with a 4 day hopper. (This would be cheaper than what I have now)

Right now I have a Grand Floridian Theme Park View for 4 days with a 3 day hopper.

Remember I have 17 DS, 13 DD, 10 DD and my mother in law and I. My fav park is Epcot.

Any Suggestions?

I would definitely do YC for the entire stay and park hoppers, since you like Epcot. You can really enjoy the World Showcase that way. Your kids are old enough, they will want to be in the parks for nighttime shows, so the value of a theme park view at GF is less because you won't be in the room to see the fireworks. Plus, at that age, kids seem to prefer parks other than MK, which skews toward a younger crowd, so I think they would enjoy having the boat option to Hollywood Studios and walk to Epcot at YC. And, Stormalong bay is so fun, I think if you spent most of the trip at GF and then only switched to YC for two days, you might wish you had been there longer to use the YC pool for mid-day breaks from the heat.

 

[100acreHiker]

Chiming in to agree with previous posters; 5 nights is not long enough, in my opinion, to waste half (or more) of a day dealing with moving and settling in to another resort. If you were there for a week, I'd go for it, or if there just wasn't availability, then yes. But for the heck of it on a stay that short I would not bother. I love the Grand and I love the Epcot resorts--all of them. You will have a great time at any of those hotels, I swear, and won't be missing out by staying put and taking advantage of your otherwise precious time!

 

[snappy]

I love split stays when solo or just traveling with my husband. However, have stayed at least 7 or 8 days total when doing a split stay. Split stays invariably feels like 2 vacations in one, and getting a room with a less than ideal view of location incurs less “pain.” I wait and order food and drink delivered on the second half of a split stay.

Best aspect of a split stay is to stay within walking distance of a park on each leg. And I prefer to end the trip with my favorite resort, the one I look forward to the most and I stay there longer.