We are headed back to WDW next month, and are veterans at this, but I am waffling on one issue. We decided to fly down a day before our package at CSR starts, to get the travel out of the way. We arrive in Orlando late on a Thursday afternoon. Currently the plan is to pick up a rental car at MCO (I have a free day available with National), make a grocery store stop, and then stay offsite one night at a Springhill Suites using Marriott points. The next day we are planning on a late breakfast at Kona Cafe, followed by DAK in the afternoon, so the plan is to drop our luggage at CSR, drive to the Poly for breakfast, return the car at the CCC and take a shuttle to DAK.
I am now considering an alternative. I could use about 26k SW RR points to stay at the Swan the first night. We could still pick up the car & do the grocery stop, but then after we check in at the Swan I could return the car at the Dolphin, so we don't have to return it the next morning. In the morning we could leave our bags with bell services to be transferred to CSR for us, take the bus to MK then monorail to Poly (or just uber to Poly), then take the bus from the Poly directly to DAK.
I know that using SW RR points for things other than flights isn't very economical, and I will be getting much less value out of them than if I saved them for flights. But, I am tempted by the convenience of it, as well as the idea that we will be on property from the first night, and could enjoy an evening at the Boardwalk rather than sitting at some offsite hotel. What do you think - is it worth "wasting" some of the value of the SW RR points? (I don't have enough Marriott points to cover a night at the Swan or Dolphin.)
I am now considering an alternative. I could use about 26k SW RR points to stay at the Swan the first night. We could still pick up the car & do the grocery stop, but then after we check in at the Swan I could return the car at the Dolphin, so we don't have to return it the next morning. In the morning we could leave our bags with bell services to be transferred to CSR for us, take the bus to MK then monorail to Poly (or just uber to Poly), then take the bus from the Poly directly to DAK.
I know that using SW RR points for things other than flights isn't very economical, and I will be getting much less value out of them than if I saved them for flights. But, I am tempted by the convenience of it, as well as the idea that we will be on property from the first night, and could enjoy an evening at the Boardwalk rather than sitting at some offsite hotel. What do you think - is it worth "wasting" some of the value of the SW RR points? (I don't have enough Marriott points to cover a night at the Swan or Dolphin.)