What would you do?....regarding split stay!

[WoodysRoundup]

Our next trip will be our longest ever AND our first as DVC owners. That said, if we split our stay, it can only be for 2 nights b/c of plans we have w/ another family. We have 3 kids (age 6 and under). We've never split a stay before. Heres' the situation......We bought into AKV sight unseen. We're concerned about missing the atmosphere of the monorail resort area. We're concerned that if we stay the whole time at AKV, we'll feel like we're "missing something". However, is it feasible to only stay at another resort for just 2 nights? Will it be too much of a hassle to stay for 2 nights and switch w/ 3 kids? We will have a rental car. Please help with advice/experience! Thanks SO much!

 

[CarolMN]

Changing resorts mid-stay is such a personal decision. Some actually do it on purpose and some will cancel the trip rather than switch.

FWIW, if you have 3 small children, I'd advise against it. You will be without a room between 11 am and 4 pm on the day you switch. Packing and unpacking can take a lot of time. If you buy groceries, you have those to worry about as well.

Now that you are DVC owners, you know you will be returning many times - if you "miss" something, you can just plan to do it next time. Maybe this trip is the one you start spending more time at the resort - enjoying the many activities available and less at the parks. The kids will be happy swimming or just hanging out with Mom & Dad.

In the end it's up to to you - it's your vacation. Have a wonderful time.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Changing resorts mid-stay is such a personal decision. Some actually do it on purpose and some will cancel the trip rather than switch.

FWIW, if you have 3 small children, I'd advise against it. You will be without a room between 11 am and 4 pm on the day you switch. Packing and unpacking can take a lot of time. If you buy groceries, you have those to worry about as well.

Now that you are DVC owners, you know you will be returning many times - if you "miss" something, you can just plan to do it next time. Maybe this trip is the one you start spending more time at the resort - enjoying the many activities available and less at the parks. The kids will be happy swimming or just hanging out with Mom & Dad.

In the end it's up to to you - it's your vacation. Have a wonderful time.

Pretty much what my "gut" is telling me. Why am I tied so much to that darn monorail!?? Will there be enough to keep us busy for 9 nights at AKV? What are the nightime options at the resort?

 

[starbox]

Will there be enough to keep us busy for 9 nights at AKV? What are the nightime options at the resort?

Night vision animal viewing.
Main savanna overlook stays open and staffed by a safari guide (I think 24/7 - we always saw someone there)
Pool/slide is open and staffed by lifeguards until 10pm - pool does not close.
Nightly African storytelling at the outdoor fire pit.

We found AKV to be just as interesting and lively at night as the boardwalk area was, just in a different way.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Night vision animal viewing.
Main savanna overlook stays open and staffed by a safari guide (I think 24/7 - we always saw someone there)
Pool/slide is open and staffed by lifeguards until 10pm - pool does not close.
Nightly African storytelling at the outdoor fire pit.

We found AKV to be just as interesting and lively at night as the boardwalk area was, just in a different way.

Thanks Starbox! Great news about the pool!

We just finished dinner. We made the mistake of asking DS (age 6) if he would care if we skipped the Poly this next trip. He started quietly crying! I'm EXCITED about AK, but OH NO!!!!!!!

 

[TLSnell1981]

When my children were small, we always stayed at the Poly. The BWV were built and we enjoyed it also. We also stayed in what were the Treehouse Villas. Loved them too!! Just take the time to plan around where you stay.

When my granddaughter was 2, her favorite "ride" was the monorail. More than a few times we would ride around on the monorail because she enjoyed it so much.

Good luck and remember change is good sometimes!

 

[Caskbill]

As I'm sure you're aware, there are no DVC resorts on the monorail.

VWL is closest to MK, and you can take the boat from there.

BWV and BCV are closest to Epcot and MGM, and you can take the boat or walk to those parks.

OKW, SSR, AKV only have bus service to the various parks.

Also, using points at a non-DVC resort can be expensive (both point wise, and beginning 1/1/2008, a $95 fee besides). While the Poly is nice, it's just a hotel room, and will cost about the same number of points that will get you a 1-B/R villa at the DVC resorts.

IF the CRV is built, then you'll eventually have that as a monorail resort.

 

[buzz5985]

I like to move around when I'm at Disney. I don't find it any great deal to throw my stuff in a suitcase and have someone else move it. That being said - some of things we have done - gone over to our next resort and checked in really early and left a small day bag with things we may need during transition. Went to the parks for the day. Show back at the new resort. We love change.

About your DS missing POLY - he may just think that you can't go to MK?? Once they get used to all the room with DVC - it's hard to go back to just a hotel room.

Our last trip - we splurged a little and stayed at WL conceirge level. My DS 10, threw open the door and yelled - I get first dibs on my bedroom. He stopped and turned around and said - "wheres the rest of it??" So they get spoiled quickly.

Janis

 

[DVCLiz]

As Carol said, there are 3 issues - packing and unpacking, being without a room for the middle part of the day, and groceries.

Personally, none of those are reasons for me not to move, even when I have my children with me. We never have so many cold storage groceries that we wouldn't either finish them up or sacrifice them for the move. I'd rather pour a gallon of milk down the drain than miss a resort experience. We don't mind being without a resort on moving day - there are four theme parks to entertain us!! And we find packing and unpacking to be fairly easy - it's just putting stuff in the same suitcases and bags you brought them in. Not a big deal to us. Especially since bell services will put them in our car for us!!!! I might be a tad more concerned if I had to wait on the inter-resort delivery service, but we always have a car so we retian control of where our luggage is.

Next week I'll be at WDW for 6 days. I'm staying in THREE different resorts! Of course, its' just me, so it's a quick and easy move for me alone.

I'd make the decision based on those tears instead of the possible inconveniences - if you are DVC members you'll have plenty of opportunities to do it differently when your kids are older and don't have an emotional reaction. There's no real need to be torn about it if you have the luxury of staying at both resorts, in my opinion!!!

 

[Lisa P.]

We made the mistake of asking DS (age 6) if he would care if we skipped the Poly this next trip. He started quietly crying! I'm EXCITED about AK, but OH NO!!!!!!!

Keep in mind the way children think, very concretely. They cannot imagine going to a new, fun place and having as much fun there as they've had somewhere else that they loved. Perhaps you could bring up an online photo gallery of AKL on your PC. Without saying anything about Disney, the Poly, the monorail or the MK, just show your son the photos and ask if it looks like a fun place to visit. Chances are, he'll say yes. Then you could tell him you are looking forward to all having a great visit there. Again, avoid any comparisons with the Poly. A child is not able to visualize anything good coming of that.

Maybe you could plan for a nice dinner at the Poly toward the end of your trip, to coincide with a pool-hopping visit! Once your children have had the chance to actually experience all the fun things at AKL, even if they prefer the Poly, they won't be tearful about visiting rather than staying there, IMO. And you'll be better informed about your family's preferences to plan your next trip after this one.

 

[Kurby]

personally i don't have a problem staying at 2 resorts in one stay.

mind you our stays seem to be a lot longer then a lot of you because we're comind down from Canada and don't feel it's a vacation to drive all that way unless we're staying at least 10 days.

we're planning a Jan 09 stay right now and may split between AKL and OKW because i want to see both places.

we will have 2 kids then - one just turned 3 and one under 1 (at least we hope so we're waiting to hear any day now )

we also have a mini van so packing up and putting it in the van while we are at a park isn't too hard for us (i say that now haha)

like others have said - it's a personal choice that is based more on the moving part (i think at least) then the resort part.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Keep in mind the way children think, very concretely. They cannot imagine going to a new, fun place and having as much fun there as they've had somewhere else that they loved. Perhaps you could bring up an online photo gallery of AKL on your PC. Without saying anything about Disney, the Poly, the monorail or the MK, just show your son the photos and ask if it looks like a fun place to visit. Chances are, he'll say yes. Then you could tell him you are looking forward to all having a great visit there. Again, avoid any comparisons with the Poly. A child is not able to visualize anything good coming of that.

Maybe you could plan for a nice dinner at the Poly toward the end of your trip, to coincide with a pool-hopping visit! Once your children have had the chance to actually experience all the fun things at AKL, even if they prefer the Poly, they won't be tearful about visiting rather than staying there, IMO. And you'll be better informed about your family's preferences to plan your next trip after this one.

Wow! I didn't realize we could pool hop at the Poly!!?? I thought we could only pool hop at other DVC resorts. How would we do this at the Poly? (And I know you can't hop to SAB).

Thanks for all the great points from everyone.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd do the whole thing at the AKV and break the Poly habit "cold turkey".

Seriously, while I have moved and don't mind doing so, it is sort of a pain. Seems like it would be more so with kids involved...just more "stuff" to have to pack up and keep track of.

As an aside to the poster who comes from Canada in a minvan...one time we were at the Boardwalk waiting for our car from valet and these people pulled up in a minivan and took out 4 Rubbermaid containers & a cooler...one for kids clothes, one for parents clothes, one for non-perishable food, one for the other stuff (towels, swimmies, goggles etc.) and the cooler for perishables (I asked). Very unlike some cars that pull up and they have 52 suitcases and bags and backpacks and whatnot. Plus, the containers stack inside each other once you empty them out, so not a ton of space gets taken up. It just seemed like such a great way to do it if you have a car that has the room to hold the containers. They stacked easily on the baggage cart and off they went. I made a note of it for when DH & I retire and travel the country on our driving trip.

 

[Safari Queen]

Lisa P, you're dead on. A 6 year old can't imagine the new experience -- he wants the familiar. But AKL is fabulous for kids and he'll likely love it once he sees it.

 

[Lisa P.]

Wow! I didn't realize we could pool hop at the Poly!!?? I thought we could only pool hop at other DVC resorts. How would we do this at the Poly? (And I know you can't hop to SAB).

It's been so many years since we were DVC members that I don't remember a lot of detail about this. So if my info is outdated, someone please correct it?!?

IIRC, DVC members may pool-hop when staying at a DVC resort on points. This was not permitted to Y&BC/SAB nor to AKL. I don't recall seeing whether they've eliminated it to any other WDW resorts.

To pool-hop to the Poly, we just took our swimsuits, sun lotion and books, and drove over to the resort for a few hours. We told the gate attendant that we were there for a visit, as DVC members. It was no problem. We got changed in the pool area restrooms. We got poolside towels the same way as everyone else, by showing our room key, which said "DVC Member" right on it. We did this to pool-hop to several resorts, when we were staying at OKW or BWV. Our children were young and they loved to try the different pool slides. HTH.