what split combo would you pick? -12/23 update with change

[lovin'fl]

Doing first week in Aug. DH, me and 4 teens in our 2BR villa. Some friends of ours are also going and staying in their Vistana timeshare...they have 2 teens. I used my home resorts to book 3 nights at BWV in BW view and 3 nights at AVK in club level...but then friends couldn't get that week (2nd week in Aug) so we bumped a week sooner and lost club level and BW view...now have BWV standard view for 3 nights and AKV savannah view for 3 nights (but want to add a 4th at on resort at 7 month window with some HHI points). Want to change things up at 7 month window, but will end up with a 4/3 or 3/4 nights split stay. DH has preference and I have different preference and our 3 teens are saying they don't care where but none of us want OKW (our 4th teen is DS's GF who has never been to WDW and the 2 of them will have just graduated HS). What would you pick?

Teens ages will be: DS-18 and his GF-18, friend's DD-17, my twin DDs-16 and friend's DD-14.

 

[bnk1120]

I voted for BW and SSR. BW has the easy access to Epcot and DHS and the boardwalk. Then when you move to SSR you are close to DTD.

 

[CarolMN]

Thinking the kids will want to spend most of their time in the parks and the pool. So voted for BLT and BWV for easy access to MK & DHS. BCV would work too, but may be more difficult to get at 7 months than BWV.

 

[lovin'fl]

Thinking the kids will want to spend most of their time in the parks and the pool. So voted for BLT and BWV for easy access to MK & DHS. BCV would work too, but may be more difficult to get at 7 months than BWV.

This is my preference as well. And my kids have never stayed at BLT, just DH and I for 3 nights. But DH prefers VWL as it has more theming to him (that's why I put AKV and VWL as a choice since those are the best 2 themed resorts to us).

I have BWV booked as it's one of our home resorts. I like BCV a tad better and it is still available (7 month window opens in 2 weeks). But I have standard view booked and that is saving us some points.

And none of us have stayed at VGF...but that would really eat up our points.

 

[DenLo]

I would do three nights at BWV and four nights at BLT. Or if you reverse it always have the four night last--have the longer stay at the end.

Ask your teens what parks they really prefer. If MK is the park they prefer to go to more often, then do the four nights at an MK resort. I would reconsider BWV and go with resorts that have more bathrooms like, AKV Kidani, BLT and VGF might work with the split bath with a separate shower and tub area. Getting teens out of the villa quickly can be tricky with not enough bathrooms.

 

[lovin'fl]

I would do three nights at BWV and four nights at BLT. Or if you reverse it always have the four night last--have the longer stay at the end.

Ask your teens what parks they really prefer. If MK is the park they prefer to go to more often, then do the four nights at an MK resort. I would reconsider BWV and go with resorts that have more bathrooms like, AKV Kidani, BLT and VGF might work with the split bath with a separate shower and tub area. Getting teens out of the villa quickly can be tricky with not enough bathrooms.

I was thinking about the bathrooms too...and what about the sleeper chair, we might need that so which resorts have that again?

 

[wdrl]

The Polynesian Villas & Bungalows should be open before August 2015, so that is another option you have to throw in the mix.

 

[lovin'fl]

The Polynesian Villas & Bungalows should be open before August 2015, so that is another option you have to throw in the mix.

Ha! Had considered that and was on the fence about buying there...but NOT at $180pp...nope!!!! And we'd need 2 studios with 6 of us...or the bungalow and I'm just gonna assume I don't have enough points for either option.

 

[lovin'fl]

DH is out of town so I sent him an e-mail stating that we'd have an extra bathroom and the sleeper chair if we did a AKV/BLT split. His reply was that we wouldn't need an extra bathroom if we fell off the skyway bridge. We took our DDs up to TOWL a couple years ago and they were all nervous on the skyway bridge (DS, 16 at the time, wouldn't even go on it and come up with us). DH and I stayed at BLT for 2013 F&W for 3 nights and he was fixated on that bridge...our room was first studio off of it. I don't see what the fuss is all about. The wall seems high enough...DH says it's too low and one could easily stumble off .

Just thought I'd share as I find it kinda funny.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I voted for the AKV and the BCV split. I've done it several times and I love it. I go to the AK and MK while staying at the AKV, then the DHS and Epcot while staying at BCV. Where to do 4 and where to do 3 depends on which park(s) you prefer to spend more time in.

 

[MulanMom]

I voted for BLT and BCV split. As a parent of teens, these are two of my kids' favorite resorts. For summer, access to Stormalong Bay via BCV trumps an extra bath. And the walk to the International Gateway entrance at Epcot is so short, it makes it easy to pop in for a quick visit to World Showcase for dinner/nighttime fun. Never expected BLT to be a favorite before our first stay there....but we love it.

 

[DenLo]

The Polynesian Villas & Bungalows should be open before August 2015, so that is another option you have to throw in the mix.

Ha! Had considered that and was on the fence about buying there...but NOT at $180pp...nope!!!! And we'd need 2 studios with 6 of us...or the bungalow and I'm just gonna assume I don't have enough points for either option.

Hopefully just staying there a few nights will not cost 180 points for 2 studios. But it would be nice if you could get connecting studios, which the Poly is supposed to have.

DH is out of town so I sent him an e-mail stating that we'd have an extra bathroom and the sleeper chair if we did a AKV/BLT split. His reply was that we wouldn't need an extra bathroom if we fell off the skyway bridge. We took our DDs up to TOWL a couple years ago and they were all nervous on the skyway bridge (DS, 16 at the time, wouldn't even go on it and come up with us). DH and I stayed at BLT for 2013 F&W for 3 nights and he was fixated on that bridge...our room was first studio off of it. I don't see what the fuss is all about. The wall seems high enough...DH says it's too low and one could easily stumble off .

Just thought I'd share as I find it kinda funny.

It sounds like your DH has a really bad fear of heights and the kids are inclined that way too. They would probably hate the balconies at BLT then.

Regarding the sleeper chair, you can find them at AKV Kidani, BLT, OKW, VB and possibly HHI. VWL, VGF, VGC and Aulani have the murphy beds. However, it looks like more will get the murphy beds after remodels in the next few years.

 

[lovin'fl]

Ok...so I think I want to stick with BWV for one part. We like Epcot and I am pleased with the standard view saving us some points. SAB is appealing to me but my kids haven't used the pools on our last several trips so I'd rather conserve points at BWV.

Now, the other part of the split. AKV, BLT or VWL seems to be what I go back and forth on. My kids love the late EMH at MK but it looks like they cut back on those and there will only be 1 night during our trip. Maybe we should stick with our home resorts (BWV and AKV). If so I'll add a 4th night at BWV. SSR is appealing as they can walk over to DtD but my DDs and I just stayed there this past Aug and they did say they prefer not to stay there again...they weren't super wowed and not thrilled with DtD in it's current state. And, yes, DH and DS aren't into heights and I wasn't as into BLT as I thought I'd be...it was a noisy resort....and it takes more points so I think I'll cross off BLT. So, now to stay at AKV or switch to VWL????

 

[MinnieGi]

Ok...so I think I want to stick with BWV for one part. We like Epcot and I am pleased with the standard view saving us some points. SAB is appealing to me but my kids haven't used the pools on our last several trips so I'd rather conserve points at BWV.

Now, the other part of the split. AKV, BLT or VWL seems to be what I go back and forth on. My kids love the late EMH at MK but it looks like they cut back on those and there will only be 1 night during our trip. Maybe we should stick with our home resorts (BWV and AKV). If so I'll add a 4th night at BWV. SSR is appealing as they can walk over to DtD but my DDs and I just stayed there this past Aug and they did say they prefer not to stay there again...they weren't super wowed and not thrilled with DtD in it's current state. And, yes, DH and DS aren't into heights and I wasn't as into BLT as I thought I'd be...it was a noisy resort....and it takes more points so I think I'll cross off BLT. So, now to stay at AKV or switch to VWL????

Since you are crossing BLT off the list, I'd stick with AKV since it has the extra bathroom! We just came back from there and I just loved that extra bath!! We only stayed in a one bedroom but that extra bath became my 14yo DD's bathroom and DS, DH and I shared the master. It worked great!!

Now that is one of the reason I really like BLT too, that and walking to MK!!!

I would keep BWV too, you just can't beat that easy access to Epcot and DHS!

 

[lovin'fl]

We decided to keep BWV for 3 nights and AKV for 4 nights.

Then...today we got to talkin' and we just might switch up everything and do a 3BR GV at OKW for the entire week. We have the points. We are not super fond of OKW (we own there) but the 3 BR will allow us to have 10 guests on our resie.

We are a fam of 5 and DS might bring his GF for 6...then our friends who are staying off-site is a fam of 4 and we'd like to do FP+ with them and the teens would all like to do late EMH together...plus we can trade off sleepovers with the 4 girls (our 2 and friend's 2).

We spent 360 points on the current resie and the GV at OKW would be 477 for the week. I still have 131 total 2015 poins left to use (at all 4 resorts we own: OKW, AKV, HHI and BWV...only 80 at OKW so I can't book now). I have 2 UY, so I'd have to do a split and link it (we've done that before, so no biggie). I'd have to grab it on Jan 1 at 8am online. It is currently still available as is half of July (and ALL of Aug) so I think we'd be ok.

So, would you keep a 2BR at BWV (stand view) and AKV (savanna view)...OR...would you do a 3BR GV at OKW all week????

 

[guppy1013]

We did not like AKV. It felt so far from anything. LOVE Boardwalk for location. Unless you actually need the 3 bedrooms, seems like a waste of points (said the family that is in a constant state of borrowing! Lol)

 

[mjillard]

We decided to keep BWV for 3 nights and AKV for 4 nights. Then...today we got to talkin' and we just might switch up everything and do a 3BR GV at OKW for the entire week. We have the points. We are not super fond of OKW (we own there) but the 3 BR will allow us to have 10 guests on our resie. We are a fam of 5 and DS might bring his GF for 6...then our friends who are staying off-site is a fam of 4 and we'd like to do FP+ with them and the teens would all like to do late EMH together...plus we can trade off sleepovers with the 4 girls (our 2 and friend's 2). We spent 360 points on the current resie and the GV at OKW would be 477 for the week. I still have 131 total 2015 poins left to use (at all 4 resorts we own: OKW, AKV, HHI and BWV...only 80 at OKW so I can't book now). I have 2 UY, so I'd have to do a split and link it (we've done that before, so no biggie). I'd have to grab it on Jan 1 at 8am online. It is currently still available as is half of July (and ALL of Aug) so I think we'd be ok. So, would you keep a 2BR at BWV (stand view) and AKV (savanna view)...OR...would you do a 3BR GV at OKW all week????

I would do a GV for all the reasons you said. It sounds like it would really make it easy to plan along with your offsite friends. I guess it would depend on how much you were looking forward to BWV.

 

[lovin'fl]

I love AKV for the stunning resort and wanted to WOW DS's GF. And we love the BWV for location but we own there and can stay there plenty (already had 3 trips there and 2 at BCV). So, we might just go for the ease of planning and the space will be nice with 2-6 teens staying there at any given time. I find OKW to have the best busing...but that's when we stay in the HH section and all the HH GV's are booked. I would like to request Turtle Pond...that pool has a snack and drink bar/counter, right??

 

[Flossbolna]

I love AKV for the stunning resort and wanted to WOW DS's GF. And we love the BWV for location but we own there and can stay there plenty (already had 3 trips there and 2 at BCV). So, we might just go for the ease of planning and the space will be nice with 2-6 teens staying there at any given time. I find OKW to have the best busing...but that's when we stay in the HH section and all the HH GV's are booked. I would like to request Turtle Pond...that pool has a snack and drink bar/counter, right??

I am pretty sure your DS's GF will be wowed by a OKW Grand Villa as well.

And I think your reasoning for why you go with OKW makes a lot of sense, especially with all the teens and the ability to include your friends in the onsite benefits! good luck with getting it booked!

 

[Pirate Granny]

I love BCV, but your friends will be unable to swim as they very carefully check the magic bands. OKW GV is killer, a wonderful unit...we love it. GF 2 bedroom lock off was nice, but hard to get at 7 months. I would rent points if you want to stay there and rent out your points to partially offse the cost.