Two Weeks in 2014: Not Allowed A Split Stay!!!!

[Royal Consort]

We're going to Disney World next year during crossover from Halloween to Christmas and have booked free dining through the UK site.

However, we're going for two weeks and we're not able to do a split stay. Disney say that because of the special UK 14 day tickets, I'd have to buy two lots of tickets attached to each resort if I wanted to split stay.

We're currently booked for two weeks at Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna room.

My question is - although this is a beautiful resort, is staying there two weeks, so far out going to be annoying by the end?

We're staying close at Wilderness Lodge for a week this year. Because both Wilderness and AKL are by the same architect I thought I'd give it a go.

Thoughts?

 

[plutolovr]

You could book your first week with the UK 14-day tickets and then book a room-only stay for the second week through the US site or through a US travel agent I would think.

 

[Royal Consort]

You could book your first week with the UK 14-day tickets and then book a room-only stay for the second week through the US site or through a US travel agent I would think.

That's possible but I would miss out on the free dining offer for the second week.

 

[abdgeek]

The only thing that might get old is allowing 90 minutes travel time for any TS meals that you have if they are after you have left the parks. If you plan on eating a TS at a resort, plan to leave the park and get on that resort bus. You can then go to any theme park to get your resort bus back.

I stayed at AKL and took the resort bus to signature restaurants for dinner. I usually took the bus to MK and then hopped on the resort bus I needed. Although it was ok for a weekend, I would think twice about doing it for longer.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You'd 'miss out' on it because when you stay at two different resorts, that's two separate visits. Despite this board's penchant for touting split stays, each resort stay is officially considered an individual visit - even if you don't go home (or anywhere) between hotels.

You'll have to decide: do you want to stay at two different resorts, or do you want free dining for your entire stay?

 

[Royal Consort]

The only thing that might get old is allowing 90 minutes travel time for any TS meals that you have if they are after you have left the parks. If you plan on eating a TS at a resort, plan to leave the park and get on that resort bus. You can then go to any theme park to get your resort bus back.

I stayed at AKL and took the resort bus to signature restaurants for dinner. I usually took the bus to MK and then hopped on the resort bus I needed. Although it was ok for a weekend, I would think twice about doing it for longer.

That's what I've been a bit concerned about.

 

[ArwenMarie]

What are your other choices?

 

[purple figment]

AKL is a beautiful resort with a lot to see and do, but...I would find it hard to stay there for 2 weeks because of the travel logistics, not just for meals, but also for getting to the parks.

Could you get the free dining offer at a more centrally located resort for 12 nights, then move to AKL with a room only reservation for the last 2 nights? You won't have FD, but your dining credits are good until midnight of the check out/check in day so you'll only have to pay OOP for one full day and your departure day. I'm not familiar with overseas packages so obviously this won't work if your resort stay and tickets have to be the same length.

 

[cheesemouse]

What other resorts are you considering if you don't keep AKL? Personally, if I had free regular dining, I'd stay somewhere where it was more convenient to do TS meals. I'd probably pick an Epcot resort with easy access to the restaurants at World Showcase and the close proximity to HS. Or possibly I'd consider a MK hotel with easy access to many fine TS options as well as numerous Signature restaurants. But, that's just my opinion.

 

[jcjen519]

What other resorts are you considering if you don't keep AKL? Personally, if I had free regular dining, I'd stay somewhere where it was more convenient to do TS meals. I'd probably pick an Epcot resort with easy access to the restaurants at World Showcase and the close proximity to HS. Or possibly I'd consider a MK hotel with easy access to many fine TS options as well as numerous Signature restaurants. But, that's just my opinion.

i love the idea of 2 weeks at the Polynesian but having easy access to Epcot for dining would win. what about bwi?

 

[Royal Consort]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I've taken them very seriously. We're really reconsidering our stay at the AKL. As we tend to like late dinners and visiting the resort restaurants we're thinking that after 2 weeks it will become irritating. Everyone has made good points. We're also more 'magic kingdom' people and spend more time there then I initially allocate.

We could possibly do Beach or Yacht club but they don't seem to be themed well to match our personalities. In terms of our other options - we essentially have Grand Floridian and Polynesian available for our dates.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I've taken them very seriously. We're really reconsidering our stay at the AKL. As we tend to like late dinners and visiting the resort restaurants we're thinking that after 2 weeks it will become irritating. Everyone has made good points. We're also more 'magic kingdom' people and spend more time there then I initially allocate.

We could possibly do Beach or Yacht club but they don't seem to be themed well to match our personalities. In terms of our other options - we essentially have Grand Floridian and Polynesian available for our dates.

If you like nice dinners, do Beach or Yacht Club...all of the restaurants right there in Epcot WS, which will be great over a two-week time! Of course you can't go wrong with the GF or Poly either.

 

[dminnie]

2 weeks seems like a long time at just one resort...How about staying for say 9 days at one place with free dining and get your 14 day tickets on that reservation. Load up on all your special/expensive meals during that time. The meal plan will be good until midnight on your check out day.

For the other 5 days stay at another resort, paying OOP for dining (but get a room only discount).

You may even be able to save money this way and you get to enjoy two resorts!

 

[cookieswithangel]

We just recently stayed two weeks at AKL club level savannah view, and while we were tired and ready to come home, we also enjoyed the quiet and relaxing atmosphere we feel at AKL.
I think it really depends on how much you want to do, because like others have said, it is a little difficult to do different dining experiences at resorts. Having AK so close is helpful, but you do have to leave time for traveling.
We really just loved how even when we came back to relax, we could be entertained by the animals on the savannah.
It's definitely not the best resort for 2 weeks if you want to go all the time, but we would definitely try go back again for 2 weeks just to go at a moderate pace.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I don't think they can do a split stay with this UK offer if I am reading the original post correctly.

 

[Missyrose]

What about renting a car for your late dinners at other resorts, then the travel to and from AKL isn't as cumbersome (though we didn't have any problem with the AKL buses). Or perhaps treat your two weeks at AKL almost like two separate stays:

The first week, really enjoy the parks and spend lots of time at them. Then rent a car for your second week and spend time exploring AKL and the other resorts you want to eat at.

 

[dminnie]

I don't think they can do a split stay with this UK offer if I am reading the original post correctly.

I think they could do a split stay though if they don't do the free dining for both of them. The FD offer requires theme park tickets for each stay, just like the US offers. If they get the 14 day theme park tickets with their first stay on FD, they could just do a separate room only stay(with room only discount) for the remaining days at another resort. If they do this, they might just want to plan their more expensive meals during their FD stay.

 

[Robbi]

We spent 2 weeks at the Boardwalk and we never tired of it. There's a lot to do and we walked to Epcot each night for a nice dinner.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think they could do a split stay though if they don't do the free dining for both of them. The FD offer requires theme park tickets for each stay, just like the US offers. If they get the 14 day theme park tickets with their first stay on FD, they could just do a separate room only stay(with room only discount) for the remaining days at another resort. If they do this, they might just want to plan their more expensive meals during their FD stay.

Oh, makes sense.

Then I would do a split stay of some type. Two weeks would be a bit too long for me at any resort!

 

[DJFan88]

Totally would stay at BC/YC or BWI -- near everything.