DLR is my home, I’ve been in and out of good shape (you reference being out of shape in your post), and I don’t mind split stays.
But I have some comments.
A longer stay goes well with shorter days in the parks. Most people can’t go commando style for multiple days and days and days. Shorten the days and you get more enjoyment.
The FP+ makes me nuts because who on earth knows where they are gonna be in 60 days?!
People who are planning a WDW trip know where they will be, because they are planning it.
First they’ve planned dining at the 6 month mark and then they plan rides. It is what it is. Until you know the parks well enough to wing it, this is how it is.
I find making dining arrangements fun, because I get to anticipate where I’ll be during that time. FPs aren’t AS fun, but if you flip how you’re looking at it then you can focus on the anticipation and not the ugh aspect of it.
We stayed at boardwalk, but I don't think we park-hopped much because we realized it took SO long!
May I ask *how* you were park-hopping?
we won't do anything over 20-30 minutes
You are 100% shooting yourselves in the foot with that rule. That barely even works for
Disneyland anymore. Drop that rule or fall in love with smelling the flowers and enjoying wandering. IMO.
We're stayed 3 days at wilderness, 3 days at boardwalk, and 3 days at animal kingdom.
Is there an overriding reason for this? Given your issues in the past trips I would encourage you to maybe not do that.
I like split stays, I like long trips (back when I had a husband whose travel paid for our airfare and who could take two weeks off no problem, sigh).
But I don’t have issues packing up or anything like those who don’t like split stays do. You might be increasing your difficulties without a solid reason.
that puts our "free day" on the same day we're changing resorts, so no where to lounge around.
Noooo.
You have TWO resorts on the change day to lounge around.
It’s the one time a non-DVC guest can pool hop, and depending on the resort even DVC owners can hop somewhere they otherwise aren't allowed to hop to. Swim in resort A, have a nice time, dry off, grab your day bags and go hit resort B.
If you have a car, just bring your luggage with you when you move to B. If you’re doing transportation, keep your day bags but let Disney move your main luggage for you.
I will say that swimming days exhaust me MORE than park days, but others are different.
Also, there is not really much of anything to spend an entire do doing when not in the parks. Why else would you go to WDW if not for the parks?
Since I’ve gone at least once a year since 2010, and other than one Moonlight Magic haven’t entered a park since 2015, I disagree. The resorts are fun, swimming is fun, riding the monorail is smelly but fun, etc.
I am looking forward to at least one park day (and maybe another MM) in February, but I’ve had a lovely time not entering a park at all for multiple trips.