Which Resorts, in what order would you stay?

[Chili327]

So i am in the planning stages of my first trip to WDW (possibly Oct, but most likely Jan/Feb 2024), & i always hear (and know it makes sense) to stay at the cheaper, less appealing resort first so your trip only gets better as you go, rather than staying deluxe then moving to value to end your trip.

With that said, which DVC resorts you would select for a trip that you plan on trying 2-3 (maybe 4) different locations.? (possibly 1 in each park location, AKL, BW/BCV area, MK/WL area)

I was thinking id start at AKL for a couple nights, than move to BRV for the bulk of the trip then maybe finish off at BW/BC or Poly, but curious what others might suggest, because that may not even be possible, or maybe I'd be missing out on something worthy.? (feel free to suggest moderates or anything else, not just DVC.. if seems appropriate)

*edit*
Boulder Ridge is my home resort, so I assume I'll want to stay there the longest, but i really want to check out all of WDW, not just the parks. (to determine if adding on at WDW or VGC/VDH is the better option)

 

[Redsred3]

We did a split stay for our first trip this past year between Boardwalk and Animal Kingdom lodge. We planned our park days around which hotel (we did Epcot and HS when we stayed at BW, and AK when we stayed at AKL). We loved both resorts and are now wanting to buy a DVC contract at one of them.

BW was my personal favorite due to location, ambiance and food options. My husband like AKL better. But both were amazing. However, there is a renovation going on early 2024, if that is when you are looking.

 

[tom1944]

I think if I ever did a split stay it would be a 4/4 split.

I would select a very close to park resort and a second resort on the outskirts

So some combination of BLT, Grand Floridian, Poly, BCV or BWV for 4 days and the second 4 days would be AKV, BRV,CCV,SSR or OKW

No more than 2 resorts

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Agree - love to do split stays, but would not do more than 2 resorts. It just becomes too cumbersome and you actually spend too much time with no room on transition days! For us, it's about which parks we favor. We really enjoy a BC/AKL split, so we can enjoy the ease of walking to EP/HS, and then enjoy AK and time at the AKL resort. Obviously, you can tell we do MK much less these days since our kids are older. If MK is an important attraction for you, then perhaps consider the BR/CC or Poly option for one of the stays.

 

[Chili327]

Good info, thanks!!

I'll add, that Boulder Ridge is the home resort, so most likely will stay there at least for part of the trip.

 

[matt and beth]

1. Boardwalk
2. Beach Club
3. AKL
4. Poly
5. Wilderness Lodge
6. Grand Floridian
7. Riviera
8. Bay Lake
9. OKW
10. SSR

 

[Chili327]

1. Boardwalk
2. Beach Club
3. AKL
4. Poly
5. Wilderness Lodge
6. Grand Floridian
7. Riviera
8. Bay Lake
9. OKW
10. SSR

That's great, because i feel like i will love the top 5. (5 being my home resort, i'll just have to wing it at 7 months to try the rest, or rent if i have to)

 

[trublulgc]

Poly & CCV have been my favorites so far, BCV this summer - can't wait!

 

[zackiedawg]

With that said, which DVC resorts you would select for a trip that you plan on trying 2-3 (maybe 4) different locations.? (possibly 1 in each park location, AKL, BW/BCV area, MK/WL area)

*edit*
Boulder Ridge is my home resort, so I assume I'll want to stay there the longest, but i really want to check out all of WDW, not just the parks. (to determine if adding on at WDW or VGC/VDH is the better option)

If your trip isn't going to be just visiting the parks, but also visiting other resort areas, don't worry too much about which one you're staying at - a split stay between two resorts is plenty, as you can still see other resorts while you're there very easily. Disney transportation is free - so you can always bus, boat, monorail, or skyline to another resort to check it out.

If you're staying at Wilderness Lodge for example, it's very easy to visit Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian by simply taking the boat to Magic Kingdom, then transferring to the boat or monorail to see those other resorts, and still easily get back to Magic Kingdom for the rest of the day.

If you're staying at Boardwalk, you can walk around the bay to Beach & Yacht Club, Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin resorts, take the Skyliner over to Riviera, Caribbean Beach, and Pop Century...and still walk into both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Even staying at one of the 'far out' resorts like Saratoga Springs and Old Key West will give you tons of flexibility to see any other resort property - from Saratoga, walk or take the boat to Disney Springs, and from OKW take the boat to Disney Springs, and from there you can hop a bus to every other resort on property.

 

[KSL]

I agree that a two-resort split is probably best rather than going for a triple or quad split.
If you're splitting non-DVC and DVC, I agree you should do the non-DVC resort first, then the DVC.
If you're staying DVC for both, stay smaller and then larger villa size.
If you're staying same villa size for each split, then I'd probably go by less convenient location first, and then more convenient location. (so, for example, OKW/SSR first, then Poly/BWV/VGF/BCV,BLT second)
We have home resorts at BLT and BWV for location and love them both. Any combo of MK-area DVC and Crescent Lake-area DVC is great. Or, a combo with AK if your family loves that park as it's further away. The WDW outliers are great, too, though, and some multi-resort owners prefer one near parks and one away (SSR or OKW).
Have a great time exploring all the options!!

 

[E2ME2]

So i am in the planning stages of my first trip to WDW (possibly Oct, but most likely Jan/Feb 2024), & i always hear (and know it makes sense) to stay at the cheaper, less appealing resort first so your trip only gets better as you go, rather than staying deluxe then moving to value to end your trip.

With that said, which DVC resorts you would select for a trip that you plan on trying 2-3 (maybe 4) different locations.? (possibly 1 in each park location, AKL, BW/BCV area, MK/WL area)

I was thinking id start at AKL for a couple nights, than move to BRV for the bulk of the trip then maybe finish off at BW/BC or Poly, but curious what others might suggest, because that may not even be possible, or maybe I'd be missing out on something worthy.? (feel free to suggest moderates or anything else, not just DVC.. if seems appropriate)

*edit*
Boulder Ridge is my home resort, so I assume I'll want to stay there the longest, but i really want to check out all of WDW, not just the parks. (to determine if adding on at WDW or VGC/VDH is the better option)

We visit regularly from Jan to Feb, and often bounce between SSR/AKL/BCV/BWV. Our preferred order is to hit AKL first. We schedule DAK days for that portion of the trip, and January weathet is ydually decent for Animal Viewing. Then it’s a toss up as to whether we hit SSR next, or BCV/BWV area. BWV points can be a bargain in early Feb., especially if you can get Standard view. However, if you like to use the pools, late Feb. iusually brings very nice weather for Pool Days & Nights.
Good Luck deciding;
We will, no-doubt, cross paths next winter!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'd do it a bit differently and do the shortest stays together then the longest. Once you settle in on a longer stay it's more difficult to move.

 

[Her Dotness]

I'll suggest a "bookends" split stay, because 1 night can be available various places whereas 3-4 may not for the near-park resorts. In Oct., 3-4 nights at any of the Epcot resorts could be impossible due to Food & Wine.

Book your arrival night somewhere you don't think you're that drawn to, move to BRV for the bulk of your stay and then add 1-2 nights somewhere else.

That way, you're not stuck for very long in a resort you find you dislike (yes, 1 night in a Poly studio was more than enough for us). In late Jan. to early Feb., you might even be able to add a night if lucky.

Also, don't disregard the "for cash" listings for an extra night. Those are separate from points inventory so might occasionally offer you a night or two. You'll get service like a regular room guest with a discount as a DVC Member staying in a DVC resort on cash. We did that once at BRV and found it a great way to add 2 nights.

 

[Chili327]

We visit regularly from Jan to Feb, and often bounce between SSR/AKL/BCV/BWV. Our preferred order is to hit AKL first. We schedule DAK days for that portion of the trip, and January weathet is ydually decent for Animal Viewing. Then it’s a toss up as to whether we hit SSR next, or BCV/BWV area. BWV points can be a bargain in early Feb., especially if you can get Standard view. However, if you like to use the pools, late Feb. iusually brings very nice weather for Pool Days & Nights.
Good Luck deciding;
We will, no-doubt, cross paths next winter!!

Yes Jan is more likely, but Feb is definitely possible. (I hate humidity)
Interesting you don’t stay in the MK area ever?
Would be funny if everyone from this board wore a name tag or wristband or something, i bet we all criss paths way more often then we think.

I'd do it a bit differently and do the shortest stays together then the longest. Once you settle in on a longer stay it's more difficult to move.

Yep, i’m thinking 2-3 nights at AKL then 5 at BRV.


@Her Dotness yes adding a night or two at Poly is a definite possibility.!!

 

[Chili327]

Also, don't disregard the "for cash" listings for an extra night. Those are separate from points inventory so might occasionally offer you a night or two. You'll get service like a regular room guest with a discount as a DVC Member staying in a DVC resort on cash. We did that once at BRV and found it a great way to add 2 nights.

For cash “Listings” ?
Where do you find/see these?

 

[E2ME2]

Yes Jan is more likely, but Feb is definitely possible. (I hate humidity)
Interesting you don’t stay in the MK area ever?
Would be funny if everyone from this board wore a name tag or wristband or something, i bet we all criss paths way more often then we think.


Yep, i’m thinking 2-3 nights at AKL then 5 at BRV.


@Her Dotness yes adding a night or two at Poly is a definite possibility.!!

MK is our least visited park, so the MK resorts don’t hold that much sway with us. EPCOT & DHS are our favorites, so BCV & BWV are our top picks.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

Due to last minute plans; we had to do a four resort split stay. While it was interesting to be in different areas in one trip (PVB, SSR, BWV, AKV); I would never do that again lol. Our general rules for split stay trips are usually based on the length of our vacation.

5 days and under — One resort
6 to 13 days — Two resorts max
Anything over 2 weeks — Three resorts max

Optimally, we like to bounce between MK and Epcot resorts — BWV or BC and then BLT or GF. We moved from GF to BLT one time; and it just wasn’t as fun as going to a completely different area. For our longer trips, we like to “try” a different resort or room type for the first couple days, then Epcot area and finish in the MK area.

 

[Her Dotness]

For cash “Listings” ?
Where do you find/see these?

I should have said they don't appear often in regular room rate listings but may on occasion. DH checks for those regularly in case we decide to add a night on cash and save our points.

You'll just see "Deluxe VGF studio (or whatever's offered)" with the rate as though it's any other resort room.

I've read that you can call MS and ask if any for-cash villas are available for the date(s) you want. We've never tried that, though, as ours were an impulse when DH saw a listing.

They're generally less costly than a comparable Deluxe room, and you get the member-staying-DVC-for-cash discount besides. We once got a BRV 1br for 2 nights for what a club level GF room cost for one night. Decided at that rate we could "suffer" another couple DVC nights instead of having the club goodies.

Very nice if you score one because you needn't mess with renting points and the associated drawbacks that can have. You can cancel a for-cash DVC stay as easily as a regular room one.

 

[LilyJC]

We frequently do split stays between our MK/Epcot home resorts, but just did a three resort stay over our spring break (only because I found a couple nights at AKL 1 bedroom club level). We started at BCV, then AKL, and finished with a longer stint at CCV. The only thing I personally would change is ending with BCV since Epcot is our favorite. My youngest isn’t a huge fan of BCV though, so she loved ending at CCV. DLR is our home park, so MK and HS are our least favorite WDW parks since we basically prefer everything similar at DLR. Oh, and having a rental car is a game changer for us on split stay moving day!

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

I agree on only two resorts in a week. That's plenty! We love to check out other DVCs, and that's tons of fun non park time. Our goal is to check out all the newly-renovated resorts, so I would try for BW/BC and BR. SS is still in decent shape, I think, from their major refurb a few years ago. Touring has added AND subtracted some resorts on our bucket list, which is helpful -- and surprising! You don't know until you go if you're going to hate the layout of something or lack of food options, etc.