Split Stay or No?

[kes601]

So, we are planning on a 19 night stay next summer. We plan on the first 12 nights at POFQ but then are planning to move to a Boardwalk hotel (currently Boardwalk Villas given availability the first week of July). We love POFQ so I am wondering if we should just stay all 19 nights there given the savings would probably be about $1000-$1500 once passholder room only rates come out.

That leads me to this -- if it were you, would you stick with one hotel the entire time or split it?

 

[kes601]

I will be staying at CBR for the first time in February 2020. I know nothing about the resort other than the Skyliner is now there. When did you stay and what were your issues with it?

We stayed there in June of 2019. Main issue was that the transportation was awful. We were in the Aruba section and buses would skip our section even if not full (how do I know this, we walked to the main bus stop once and it skipped Aruba even with only 10 people on the bus). Obviously the skyliner is available now so that may help, but after our stay there we will never give it another chance.

 

[Hula Baloo]

We stayed there in June of 2019. Main issue was that the transportation was awful. We were in the Aruba section and buses would skip our section even if not full (how do I know this, we walked to the main bus stop once and it skipped Aruba even with only 10 people on the bus). Obviously the skyliner is available now so that may help, but after our stay there we will never give it another chance.

I have heard other people complaining about CBR as well so I'm a little worried about it. However, my goal is to try every resort at least once and the Skyliner was a huge draw for me.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Thanks all. To those who have rented DVC points can you direct me to the sites you have used? Want to use something reputable. Thanks.

We used David's Vacation Rentals for our three prior rentals. Twice I made inquiries with The DVC Rental Store (equally reputable) and would have been comfortable renting from them, but they just didn't happen to have the points we needed when I asked. Both companies have great customer service, and if you call or e-mail, you'll get ahold of a real, live employee of the company (not a random person in a foreign-based call center) who can help you with any questions you may have.

More recently, we rented directly from a DVC member on the MouseOwners boards. However, I wouldn't recommend this for a first-timer, as it requires a bit of additional legwork to vet the person, check their references, confirm their ownership, and enter into a written contract. With David's or the Rental Store, they do all of that work for you, and assume the risk, so it takes much of the worry out of it.

 

[Think Tink]

I am planning a split stay in April/May to celebrate the end of my semester. I’m thinking just 1 or 2 nights at a monorail resort because I’ve never tried one and then 3-4 nights at the Yacht Club because it’s my absolute favorite so far.

I wish I could rent points but we tend to stay club level to get the 90 day fast passes. I did my first split stay in October. I thinks it’s a great way to try new places!

 

[kes601]

I'd forgotten about this thread. We have settled on 12 nights at POFQ and 7 nights at POR. Close enough to make it a simple move, but two really different resorts. Not to mention, our favorites.....

 

[BoarderPhreak]

We just did an "involuntary" split - basically, extended our stay from one week to two. Luckily, we were staying at the Dolphin and didn't have to wheel our single suitcase and other bags farther than the Boardwalk Inn, practically next door. Got to experience two resorts!

Depending on how much you pack and/or if you live out of your suitcase, but I generally wouldn't consider short stays of only a couple of days or switching more than once. YMMV...

 

[Simba’s Mom]

I'd go with the split stay, but I'd recommend doing Boardwalk first, since you know you love POFQ. That way, if you like Boardwalk, you can always plan another trip there a different time. But if you don't like it, you can at least know that it's "only for a few more days, then we'll be at the resort we really love, POFQ." Whenever I do a split stay, I always plan on the "new" resort first for that reason. Last time it was really a Godsend-I didn't like the first resort I stayed at, but I knew that in a few more days, I'd be going over to the one I'd been at many times before and loved.

 

[Hcalvert]

Split stay question: I have several split stays coming up, but the one that concerns me is in January 2020 at Poly. I booked 3 nights at the 11 month window and then my flights changed and had to book an additional night before the original reservation. They are all through DVC and through two different owners (so the reservations could not be merged). Both are for the standard view studio. My question: What is the chance of being assigned the same room for the entire stay or will I most likely have to give my bags to bell services after the first night and be assigned a different room? Not a big deal, just wondering if there is anything I can do to prevent that.

 

[Think Tink]

Split stay question: I have several split stays coming up, but the one that concerns me is in January 2020 at Poly. I booked 3 nights at the 11 month window and then my flights changed and had to book an additional night before the original reservation. They are all through DVC and through two different owners (so the reservations could not be merged). Both are for the standard view studio. My question: What is the chance of being assigned the same room for the entire stay or will I most likely have to give my bags to bell services after the first night and be assigned a different room? Not a big deal, just wondering if there is anything I can do to prevent that.

I would try calling Disney and have it noted in both reservations. They almost never guarantee it but may be able to help if both reservations have the other listed in the notes.

I just booked my split stay for the Contemporary and Yacht Club. Excited to try it!

 

[Club Cooloholic]

So, we are planning on a 19 night stay next summer. We plan on the first 12 nights at POFQ but then are planning to move to a Boardwalk hotel (currently Boardwalk Villas given availability the first week of July). We love POFQ so I am wondering if we should just stay all 19 nights there given the savings would probably be about $1000-$1500 once passholder room only rates come out.

That leads me to this -- if it were you, would you stick with one hotel the entire time or split it?

I love split stays. Call me nuts but that length of time I would sprinkle in a few nights at AKL and do 3 hotels or even head to Universal for 2 nights.

 

[kes601]

I love split stays. Call me nuts but that length of time I would sprinkle in a few nights at AKL and do 3 hotels or even head to Universal for 2 nights.

While that could be fun, I think one move is enough for us. We also got very good bounce back rates at both POFQ and POR so are happy with the reservations. I think when I figured it out we got 30% off at both. With the Thomas Cooke collapse Disney now has to offer us non-Europeans good discounts at POR and POFQ

 

[kes601]

So we've changed this stay probably about 25 or 30 times and just can't settle on what we want. Right now we have it as 6 Nights at French Quarter, 7 nights at All Star Music (to save a bit of money), and then 7 nights in a king room at Coronado Tower. I was super excited about the tower, now I'm not sure I am. That portion is sort of a birthday "trip" within a trip for me. What would you do -- $250 for the tower, $280 for a standard at AKL, or $282 for Saratoga Springs? Or save money and go back to Riverside for $210?

 

[nickys]

So we've changed this stay probably about 25 or 30 times and just can't settle on what we want. Right now we have it as 6 Nights at French Quarter, 7 nights at All Star Music (to save a bit of money), and then 7 nights in a king room at Coronado Tower. I was super excited about the tower, now I'm not sure I am. That portion is sort of a birthday "trip" within a trip for me. What would you do -- $250 for the tower, $280 for a standard at AKL, or $282 for Saratoga Springs? Or save money and go back to Riverside for $210?

AKL without a doubt!

There is just so much going on at that resort, lots of activities as well as the obvious animal watching. And you’ll have time to schedule a couple of afternoons at the resort (most activities are in the afternoon or early evening).
Have a look at this for an example of everything that goes on:

Resort Experience Guides

Daily news, rumors, and photo-reports from all of Central Florida's theme parks, water parks, minor attractions, and more!

www.orlandoparksnews.com

That site publishes resort activity calendars for every resort each month.

You have two pools to choose from and three great restaurants. Easy 10 minute walk between Jambo and Kidani, or there’s a shuttle bus between the two.

The only drawback is that it’s buses to all resorts, but we found it was a good service.

 

[kes601]

AKL without a doubt!

There is just so much going on at that resort, lots of activities as well as the obvious animal watching. And you’ll have time to schedule a couple of afternoons at the resort (most activities are in the afternoon or early evening).
Have a look at this for an example of everything that goes on:

Resort Experience Guides

Daily news, rumors, and photo-reports from all of Central Florida's theme parks, water parks, minor attractions, and more!

www.orlandoparksnews.com

That site publishes resort activity calendars for every resort each month.

You have two pools to choose from and three great restaurants. Easy 10 minute walk between Jambo and Kidani, or there’s a shuttle bus between the two.

The only drawback is that it’s buses to all resorts, but we found it was a good service.

We stayed at AKL for 5 or 6 nights at the end of our trip last summer. I think I enjoyed it, however when I got home I had a 103 degree fever so I honestly don't remember a ton about it other than we spent a lot of time in the room once I finally admiitted I was sick