Split stay? FWL and POR or CSR?

[JChoma]

We're planning to visit Disney the week after Thanksgiving this year, Sunday 11/26-Sunday 12/3. My fingers are crossed that free dining becomes available this week. If not, we may change our trip dates.

Regardless, I'd love to get opinions on staying half the week at one resort (likely POR or CSR) then a few nights at FWL. Currently we've reserved POR for our whole trip.

We don't have the budget to stay at FWL the entire week, which would be my first choice.
We're driving to Disney and will have our car, so transferring between hotels wouldn't be horrible; we'd probably check out of hotel 1, and keep our things in our car while at one of the parks, until it's time to check into hotel # 2 later that day.

If free dining is not a possibility for our trip dates, if we can get a decent room-only discount rate, then staying at FWL the whole time might be within our reach. But if we want free dining and are stuck paying rack rate for our resort(s), I'm debating splitting the stay. I don't know if it's worth the hassle, though- not just of transferring rooms, but of managing the logistics of 2 bookings.

If we DO split- we would likely do POR or CSR the first few nights. Kids are 6 (girl) and 10 (boy). Transportation (e.g. slow buses) isn't a concern, since we'll be driving to the parks.

Which would you choose? Any advice? Thanks!

 

[21stamps]

Your dates are very similar to mine in 2016.
I was there 11/25 - 12/4

Here's my advice. Don't plan on discounts. Some may become available, but they were extremely limited this year..and the maximum was 25% on a deluxe- with VERY LIMITED availability, as in 2 bedroom suites.lol
I didn't get any general public discounts. I ended up purchasing an AP to get 30% off at GF, but the discount was only good for 5 of the nights there, night 1 was full rack holiday rate.

The room was not available for all of my dates so we had to switch resorts for the final 3 nights. Here were my choices-
1. 2 bedroom at AKL.
2. Some ridiculously priced suite at the Boardwalk.
3. Wilderness Lodge bunk bed courtyard view. I wanted the view but not the bunk beds, but that was my best option of the 3 so I booked it.

Those 3 nights were not discounted.

I wasn't really paying attention to the values or moderates, but I remember checking the website and not seeing much when I scrolled.

I also remember checking availability for the cabins when we originally were only doing 1 night pre cruise there..they were sold out by June or July, so I'd recommend definitely booking one if that's what you want.

We took a bike ride at FW and it was beautiful!! It was so neat seeing all of the campsites and golf carts decorated for the holidays, and the place just had such a cool laid back vibe.

I also noticed that you can park next to your cabin..that's a great feature for people with a car!

I'm not trying to scare you, just relaying my experience. I know Poly and the Contemporary sold out sometime in March for the 1st few days of December, but a few rooms did open up closer to. Neither one of those ever got discounted either.

I had to changed my dates from 12/3-12/7 to 11/25-12/4 sometime in August or September. So that's when the whole headache came.lol

I was fine with a split stay, and would recommend it if you either can't get the entire week at the resort you want, or if you just want to experience 2 resorts. It was not a hassle at all...and we loved WL! I would have never stayed there if it wasn't my only choice..and I am just so glad that we did. It was gorgeous!

 

[Tuvalu]

Not sure what you mean by FWL.

There is the Wilderness Lodge, a deluxe resort; and Ft. Wilderness, which is the campground with cabins, a moderate resort.

 

[21stamps]

Not sure what you mean by FWL.

There is the Wilderness Lodge, a deluxe resort; and Ft. Wilderness, which is the campground with cabins, a moderate resort.

I assumed the cabins at first, but then edited my post to include good things about WL in case that's what she was talking about.

 

[Jess G]

No need to keep your things in the car. Bell services will come to the room when your ready to check out of the first resort and transfer your luggage to the next resort and drop off your belongings within like 2 or 3 hours.

 

[Jess G]

Between POR and CSR my personal favorite is Coronado at this point. The quick service there is very good and the grounds are very pretty.

 

[JChoma]

Thanks so much!! I thought the lodge was called Fort Wilderness Lodge; sorry for the confusion! It sounds like a split stay wouldn't be too difficult from a logistics perspective. Maybe we'll end up trying it! I'd love to experience 2 different resorts, especially if that's how we're able to afford a few nights at WL. And I didn't know bell service would transfer luggage....nice!

Both POR and CSR look like great options and I'm torn. The theming of POR seems more fun for my kids, but CSR looks gorgeous and I like the thought of a more updated room.

 

[MagicalMaci]

I guess I'll play devil's advocate, split stays are just not for me! I don't like the hassle of packing up and moving, I just end up never really feeling "settled" at my first resort. However, if it would result in significant savings I would absolutely do it again! I do love both POR and WL though, so I don't think you can go wrong with either! I think I prefer CSR just slliiiightly more than POR, just has a bit of more upscale feel to me. I'm sure whatever you choose will work out great!

 

[Jess G]

I guess I'll play devil's advocate, split stays are just not for me! I don't like the hassle of packing up and moving, I just end up never really feeling "settled" at my first resort. However, if it would result in significant savings I would absolutely do it again! I do love both POR and WL though, so I don't think you can go wrong with either! I think I prefer CSR just slliiiightly more than POR, just has a bit of more upscale feel to me. I'm sure whatever you choose will work out great!

I agree with you. We started getting into the split stays and I've found that if I don't stay at one of them for at least 4 nights it feels to rushed. We were blessed to be able to have 2 - 2 week trips in 2016 and both of them consisted of 3 hotels.... we've also stayed at 3 hotels in the course of one week and that felt to rushed.

 

[21stamps]

Thanks so much!! I thought the lodge was called Fort Wilderness Lodge; sorry for the confusion! It sounds like a split stay wouldn't be too difficult from a logistics perspective. Maybe we'll end up trying it! I'd love to experience 2 different resorts, especially if that's how we're able to afford a few nights at WL. And I didn't know bell service would transfer luggage....nice!

Both POR and CSR look like great options and I'm torn. The theming of POR seems more fun for my kids, but CSR looks gorgeous and I like the thought of a more updated room.

I'm a fan of the smaller resorts. We decided last minute to add 2 nights at the end of our 2015 trip. Last minute as is in- the day before we checked out. The resort we were staying at was booked, so I actually chose POFQ out of the available options.. we were doing Disney Springs the next day, and mainly the size of the resort was appealing.
It's the only moderate that I've ever stayed at, so can't accurately compare..but I highly recommend it! I think it's nice (especially with kids) to be on a smaller property.
Personal preference though.

 

[JChoma]

I agree with you. We started getting into the split stays and I've found that if I don't stay at one of them for at least 4 nights it feels to rushed. We were blessed to be able to have 2 - 2 week trips in 2016 and both of them consisted of 3 hotels.... we've also stayed at 3 hotels in the course of one week and that felt to rushed.

I wish we could go for 2 weeks!! That would be amazing. I think we would stay at the first resort (likely whichever moderate we choose- POR or CSR- Sunday through Wednesday, then WL on Thurs, Fri, Sat. All depends on the rates at the time....

 

[JS514]

I wish we could go for 2 weeks!! That would be amazing. I think we would stay at the first resort (likely whichever moderate we choose- POR or CSR- Sunday through Wednesday, then WL on Thurs, Fri, Sat. All depends on the rates at the time....

From a financial standpoint, it may be best to do WL first and then end with CSR..Fri and Sat stays typically have a higher rate than Sunday-Thurs. Could be wrong though. And it would suck to go from a Deluxe to Moderate, so I see what you're thinking.

 

[Jess G]

I wish we could go for 2 weeks!! That would be amazing. I think we would stay at the first resort (likely whichever moderate we choose- POR or CSR- Sunday through Wednesday, then WL on Thurs, Fri, Sat. All depends on the rates at the time....

I found 2 weeks to be a little too much. 9 nights is an awesome sweet spot lol