What has been your best DVC split stay?

[DISNEY FIX]

I was contemplating a split stay next year. Maybe 2-3 days at AKV then 5-7 days at BCV/VWL. Has or is AKV conceirge a possible get at 7 most since I don't own there. I was thinking around Sept./Oct. or for Thanksgiving time.
What are the hidden downsides of a split stay that you have experienced?
Thanks
Chris

 

[alldiz]

I've done split stays....not DVC yet...

Biggest downfall....is repacking and moving your stuff.....
If that dosen't bother you.....no biggie...

Only other thing is sometimes you'll love the 1st place....
and not want to leave....

I want to try them all.....so split stays gets me there
faster

Aug....I'm doing a 3 way YC, BCV and POFQ...
Kerri

 

[DISNEY FIX]

I want to try them all.....so split stays gets me there
faster

Aug....I'm doing a 3 way YC, BCV and POFQ...
Kerri

Long Islander girls ....

Hi Kerri let me know how it goes, the trip part.

Chris

 

[alldiz]

Long Islander girls ....

Hi Kerri let me know how it goes, the trip part.

Chris

Kerri

 

[DVC Grammy]

We do split-stays for our January trips because they're usually @ 2+ weeks, and by moving, we get to experience two different vacations. We tend to choose very different DVCs to make each experience feel unique (BWV/OKW, VWL/SSR, BWV/AKV, etc.). For @ a week or less, we don't usually move (except when it's a last minute "impulse" trip and we must get our WDW fix at any cost or inconvenience!
The bell service staff at all the DVCs have made the switches very pleasant and easy. By now, one of the most enjoyable parts of planning our longer trips is the choosing of which 2 DVCs we'll be visiting!

 

[mbhoxsie]

We've done quite a few split stays... My favorite has to be the Pop Century / FW / CBR / HHI a few years ago...

We usually try to split some time onsite with some time offsite.. That being said, there are a few times where we've had to get our AKL fix a few days before we check-in or after we check-out of our DVC resort..

 

[Paul in CT]

My DW and I have split stays between POR or POFQ and BWV and OKW. We usually rent a car so moving is easy, but we have also had the resort move the bags for us. We leave the bags with Bell Services, go to a park and when we check in at the new resort, they deliver the bags to our room. As already mentioned, the only drawback is having to repack for the move. We aheva n upvoming stay with stops at OKW, BWV and AKLV.

 

[DisneyBB]

We tend to try a few days in a new resort and then move to OKW for the rest. This Christmas we will have AKV con for 3 nights followed by okw for 16 nights. We have We have done lots of moves one holiday, BWV, OKW, Royal Pacific (US), OKW and VB. That was a bit to much, but it did make the holiday seem really long. I tend to unpack if we are there for more than 2 nights. Also I make sure our bags are not to full as this makes it easier to pack when we have to move. Moving is easy with a car and we would go to our new resort and check in, leave our luggage and then we are off for the day. I don't like moving to much at Christmas as we tend to put a tree up etc and it is a real pain to move it all.

 

[mello]

I want to try them all.....so split stays gets me there
faster

Kerri

That's my motivation too... can't pick just one when there are so many still to try!

We've done split stays both trips so far. One trip was 14 days the other was 5 days. The longer one was a harder move because we had the entire family and we'd been at CBR for 10 days before we moved to Poly so it was a ton of packing. But it was worth it for the upgrade in accomodations! And the resorts made it very easy to do the actual move part. The second trip our move was a piece of cake because it was just dh and I and we only stayed one night at BWV before moving to SSR, so didn't unpack the first night. I think I'd put the shorter stay on the front next time to make packing up easier.

Now I'm trying to narrow it down for this next trip. So far my two favorite places are Poly and SSR, and I want to go back to both. But we also want to stay at BCV this trip (we're booked there already), and would like to try OKW as well. And then there was that lovely report on AKV by Starbox that makes me want to go there... Ah, decisions decisions... it's all part of the fun.

 

[starbox]

Now I'm trying to narrow it down for this next trip. So far my two favorite places are Poly and SSR, and I want to go back to both. But we also want to stay at BCV this trip (we're booked there already), and would like to try OKW as well. And then there was that lovely report on AKV by Starbox that makes me want to go there... Ah, decisions decisions... it's all part of the fun.

Try AKV!!!

We to split stays with Vero - we did 6 nights BWV/5 nights VB/and 1 night SSR last year and it worked out GREAT - we did laundry right before we left BWV and again before we left VB - which made packing easy. The year before we did OKW/Vero/SSR.

We drive from Atlanta, and Atlanta to Disney is very do-able (and probably just as quick as flying would end up being) - but Atlanta to Vero would be pushing my driving tolerance - so a split stay is GREAT!

This year I already have 5 nights AKV booked at the top of a June trip and 3 nights at the end - I am just waiting to add VB to the middle. In 2009, I'd like to try a similar trip with one or two days concierge at the end - just to try the famed concierge safari.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've done split stays many times-often to try out a new resort for one night, before transferring to one I know I'll love, usually BCV. The easiest one was my BWV/BCV split. When I checked out of BWV at 10:30am, I just rolled my suitcase across the Boardwalk and into BCV, where a room was ready for me. At SSR, they said they'd come and get the luggage and they didn't show up when they said they would, so then they said to just leave it inside the room and they'd tranfer it after we left. That was a little stressful wondering if we'd get our luggage (we did). OKW to FW wasn't bad-they not only transferred our luggage, but our cold items were already in the refrigerator of our cabin when we arrived.

 

[Muushka]

We did a great split 3 way Disney in '05.

4 Nights at BCV, 4 nights at VWL and topped off with a 4 night DCL. By far the best vacation we have ever had.

We love split stays and are very comfortable doing it. I think it actually helped that we stayed at a studio first then off to the 1 BR. That way we were not schlepping everything into each resort. Of course it didn't help that on moving day my poor husband got vertigo and could not move without tossing his cookies, but we were grateful that he did not get sick like that for the cruise.

 

[Mahusky]

We too do a lot of split stays... most of the time split with VB as well.

Best so far was last year AKL 1 night/BWV 6 nights/VB 6 nights! This year it is WL 1 night/BWV 6 night and VB 6 nights.... it is coming up VERY soon! Cant wait!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think our best split stay was in '06. Just one night at BCV studio, then 4 nights OKW 1 bedroom, then we headed to the beach, Hutchinson Island. That was a great vacation, and if we ever stay at OKW again, it will HAVE to be in a 1 bedroom!

Bobbi

 

[ACDSNY]

Our best was adding VB to the end of our WDW trip. If I could add 3 nights at VB after every WDW trip I'd be in heaven.

 

[MinnieGi]

Our best DVC split stay was BWV/OKW. We spent a week at BWV in the middle of the action and then moved to OKW for a two day relaxing end to our vacation. It felt like such a world away and was a great way to wind down after lots of action and activity at BWV. We did one bedrooms in each stay so it felt like an upgrade going to OKW with all of ITS room.

 

[Paul in CT]

Try AKV!!!

We to split stays with Vero - we did 6 nights BWV/5 nights VB/and 1 night SSR last year and it worked out GREAT - we did laundry right before we left BWV and again before we left VB - which made packing easy. The year before we did OKW/Vero/SSR.

We drive from Atlanta, and Atlanta to Disney is very do-able (and probably just as quick as flying would end up being) - but Atlanta to Vero would be pushing my driving tolerance - so a split stay is GREAT!

This year I already have 5 nights AKV booked at the top of a June trip and 3 nights at the end - I am just waiting to add VB to the middle. In 2009, I'd like to try a similar trip with one or two days concierge at the end - just to try the famed concierge safari.

We have split stays between VB and BWV or OKW several times, too. It's a great way to go. I like to do 2-3 nights at VB then end with 5-7 nights at WDW.

 

[lisareniff]

We've done a couple split stays. Some have been better then others. Our trips are usually about 8-9 nights so the ones that we have enjoyed more are those that are 2-3 days in smaller accommodations then move to our larger villa for the rest of the trip.

AKL Con. 3 nights/BCV 6 nights - This was the best!

Poly 3 nights/ VB 5 nights - Another great trip


I don't think our trips are long enough to enjoy a true split since we still have young children with stuff to pack and like to get groceries for the kitchen. The one time we tried it we never felt like we settled in at either resort.

VWL 4 nights/ BWV 4 nights - we would not choose this again

 

[edk35]

WE are doing a split stay for our first DVC stay. WE arrive Aug. 15th at SSR (home resort) for 5 nights and then switch to BWV for 3 nights. We wanted to experience BW area since we have never been and we love EC and so do our kids. SO we thought we would try it. In Nov. we are at SSR for our trip unless my last two nights don't come through then we move to SOG for our last two nights.

 

[DVC Mary]

VWL then VAKL

Our favorite split stay was VWL b/c the kids want to get to the parks right away & get their fix. Then ending at AKL which will now be VAKL, especially if you can do Concierge & time it w/ special events such as family tours of AK or couple tour w/ dinner at Jiko.

This was so relaxing. We only visited AK while we stayed at AKL & mostly hung out by the pool & enjoyed all the activities for the kids. My DH loves this method b/c he feels like he goes home better relaxed than when he's pounding the pavement at the parks until the very end. Ok.....we do go over to MK in the evening for our last night for a few hour---it's a tradition.

Bell services gets your bags over w/o a problem.

My best tip is to pack 3 bags.

#1 The stuff you need every day: tolietries, park stuff, etc.
#2 Clothes for your 1st resort
#3 Clothes for your last resort

This made packing MUCH EASIER when we had to move b/c we hadn't opened Bag #3.

We also mailed our dirty laundry home w/ our initial souvenier purchases before leaving the 1st resort. We did this before the cruise too! You can get a box from the hotel gift shop. Ask the desk for packing tape to put it together & take it back down and they will help you mail it. Magic!!! We mailed it to my Mom to be safe & w/o us asking....she washed our clothes for us. More magic. Wow!

Please note we stay in studios & I don't do laundry or cook on vacation. Breakfast or sandwiches in the room is as far as I go.