Not thrilled with the Beach Club at all...

[HauntedMansionFan]

So I just got back from my stay, I spent one night at the Beach Club, yes only one night - huge e-night fiasco, but anyway... for what I paid I wasn't really that impressed. The hotel itself was beautiful, or room was a decent size and Stormalong Bay was great, but as far as the quality goes I really wasn't that impressed. I just had the feeling that I would have recieved the same level of service and quality even if we stayed at one of the moderate or value resorts. It is Disney after all. The only reason I knew I was staying at a "deluxe" resort was because it said it on my reservation ticket. We had a room with a king size bed which was really quite uncomfortable, the bed itself almost looked like it was the type of bed that could be pulled down from the wall. As I spent both days there, I kept asking myself what I paid $250 for. Did I miss something? Should I have stayed longer? Did I just get a bad room? Did I go in with my expectations to high? Help!!!!

[danacara]

Dude, what was the fiasco with e-nights? Sounds like a good story!

[Kay1]

We stayed there once several years ago and had similar thoughts. Nothing bad but the only thing to justify the price was Stormalong Bay, and we only paid $132!

[hoosll]

One of the reasons BC is considered a deluxe is the easy (i.e., walking, boat or monorail) access to at least 1 park. The closeness of BC to BW, Epcot and MGM are really what you are paying for plus a kid's club, and other high end amenities such as fitness facilities, close proximity to sit down dining, super pool....

I'm guessing that you stayed off site for the rest of your stay and hoped to enjoy enight by spending a night on site. The different levels of accomodations relate to the on-site resorts. It is really hard to compare the room to one you might rent at a deluxe hotel somewhere else.

Just my thoughts.

[daannzzz]

If it looked like the bed pulled down from the wall it is possible you got asigned one of the few rooms that has that configuration. It is called a Sico bed. I saw a picture of one of those rooms and it made it look like a motel.

[musicfan]

I always think that when I stay at a deluxe.

[Kaitysmom]

This is good to know! I was thinking about upgrading from a moderate to BC, but have a hard time justifying the price. I wasn't all that impressed with GF when I stayed there. It almost seems like bragging rights only as we spend so little time at the hotel anyways. (Last time we stayed at the Poly and got upgraded to a castle view room - that was cool but not worth the rack rate!)

[Gillian]

It does sound like you had a king sico room, where the bed DOES pull down from the wall! Did you have a refrigerator?

Although I have not stayed in all of the Disney hotels, it seems to me that in general you don't get a lot for what you pay. Hotels in other areas are less money for about the same thing. I'm not talking about offsite, but rather other cities & tourist areas.

Thanks for letting us know about your experience! Sorry about the May e-night cancellations (is that what you meant?).

[HauntedMansionFan]

Yeah... I was referring to the cancellation of E-nights when talking about the fiasco. But anyway.... the room did seem a little "motel" like, I wasn't impressed at all. There wasn't a refrigerator in my room, I saw someone ask that. The hallway that our room was located smelled like urine also, it just wasn't a pleasant experience. I did stay off-site for the rest of my stay as I own a house in the Bay Lakes area. So after the cancellation of May e-nights and the lackluster thrill of the Beach Club is certainly going to prevent me from staying on-site again. I didn't feel that the magic was there at all, I felt like it was almost like having bragging rights like someone said.

[HauntedMansionFan]

I must admit that the Boardwalk was nice, I had never been there before, it was beautiful during the sunset.

[WDWguru]

Originally posted by Gillian
Although I have not stayed in all of the Disney hotels, it seems to me that in general you don't get a lot for what you pay. Hotels in other areas are less money for about the same thing.

Location, location location! That's primarily what you're paying for on-site at Disney. That and easier access to parks and facilities, little touches you don't get offsite, etc. Not everyone "gets it" or utilizes the perks, though, and that's okay imho. Everyone will have a different comfort level and be looking for a different experience. That's why there's such a range of accomodations in Orlando - even just on Disney property.

[susy]

I had a similar experience at CBR. We had no problems- got all our requests, great CM's, great mousekeeping, BUT we got all that at the ASMo for almost half the price!

The room at CBR was beautiful (just refurbished )and large. However, I didn't really use any of the extra amenities. I did go down the slide at the pool once, but my 4yo is not ready for that. I like the food court at the ASMo better, as well as the bus transportation. Considering a deluxe (AKL) for Sept, but I'm hoping I will not be disappointed. I will wait for FL Res rates and will not pay for more than a standard view, because I don't want to spend the whole time at my balcony trying to see what I'm paying for and being upset if I don't!

[cindala]

If I took a standard room at the BC or YC, and put it down by the Jersey shore, that room would go for upwards of $400 a nite. So my rate of $189 is reasonable to me to be on Disney property. Personally, the benefit of having interior corridors alone,(which are MUCH safer than outside corridors) is worth the extra money that I pay for a deluxe. And with some of the mods going for $150 at times, it's not even a topic up for discussion.:eek:




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[Peter Pirate]

One thing to kep in mind is the targeted demographic. Those of us who have to continually evaluate financial considerations, the "is it worth it" scenerio, are not the primary group of individuals being targeted.

The smell of urine commet caught my attention though. This seems very unusual...
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[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by Peter Pirate
One thing to kep in mind is the targeted demographic. Those of us who have to continually evaluate financial considerations, the "is it worth it" scenerio, are not the primary group of individuals being targeted.

Peter Pirate, I tend to agree with you on this, and I won't elaborate because I'm afraid my comments could get taken the wrong way!

[susy]

Even if you have scads of money to throw around (now) you should still get you what you pay for. The Beach Club is adverstised by Disney as a deluxe hotel. I would hate to come away disappointed from a deluxe when I Know I can stay at a value or mod and feel like I got a good deal.

[Demosthenes]

I have to agree with sea spray and peter pirate. I think that if you're asking yourself "Is it worth it?" The answer is probably not. I happen to really like Deluxe resorts @ WDW, and for me it is easy to justify the extra cost, but if it's a concern for you, definately don't spend money you will end up regretting.

[nwdisgal]

I think that I would mention the urine smell in the hall to the front desk, or maybe the GM of BC. One of the reasons I like Disney resorts, vs. offsite is because of the outstanding mousekeeping. I definately think they should pay extra attention to that because room cleanliness seems to be a frequently mentioned reason for staying on-site vs. offsite for all their resorts - whether it be Deluxe, Moderate or All Stars. It is an expectation of their prime demographic.

[HauntedMansionFan]

One thing to kep in mind is the targeted demographic. Those of us who have to continually evaluate financial considerations, the "is it worth it" scenerio, are not the primary group of individuals being targeted. I realize that at 24 I may not be the targeted demographic for the Beach Club or the deluxe resorts at all. Without trying to sound snotty, money isn't/wasn't the issue, I have my own home in Orlando. 10 minute drive to the parks, 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, screened in swimming pool and jacuzzi. Again, not trying to sound snotty but for the price paid I expected a little more.

[susy]

Even though I still think you should get what you are paying for (Disney says it's deluxe and that's what you should get), I do agree with seaspray and Demosthenes. When we stayed value ($49) or mod ($84), we knew it was well "worth it". With just DH working right now, a deluxe would be a "treating" ourselves and is not the norm. I guess the bottom line is that whether or not you are treating yourself , no hotel is perfect all the time and all of our expectations are different anyway......

[Gillian]

Originally posted by WDWguru
Location, location location! That's primarily what you're paying for on-site at Disney.

WDWguru, the sentence right after the one you quoted from me (not sure how to "double quote") says I wasn't referring to offsite, but hotels in other cities or resort areas :) It's really hard to compare cost of onsite to cost of offsite in the Disney area, and that wasn't what I was talking about.

I just feel that the deluxes aren't really all that special and they aren't worth the money. That doesn't mean I won't stay there, it just means that I don't feel like I'm getting a good deal. And I would probably never pay full price.

For some people, the more they pay, the better they feel about the experience. I have friends who are like this. I also have friends who can afford to stay anywhere, but choose to search out a good deal. I tend to focus more on the value of the money spent. And I feel better about hotels that are a good value.

It's easier to overlook little faults when you don't feel you are getting ripped off to begin with!

[Luv 2 Cruise]

<font color=blue>re: "I have my own home in Orlando. 10 minute drive to the park."</font color>

I remember the first time we went to WDW and stayed at a relatives house in Orlando. It seemed like we drove for over an hour to get to the Magic Kingdom. </font color>Of course this was from the perspective of an impatient teenager. I never realized it was only 10 minutes from Orlando to WDW.

Way back then it seemed like it would be heaven to stay on site. As a young adult I always stayed on International Drive and it still seemed like the drive to WDW took forever. We really hated dragging ourselves out to the car and hitting the highway after a magical day at the parks.

Now we are able to stay onsite when we go to the World. We have stayed in moderates and deluxes. I agree that the price paid for the room you get seems out of whack. But you need to factor in the location and amenities.

Our last stay was at the Beach Club and we loved it. For us nothing beats being able to walk into Epcot minutes after leaving your hotel room!!! And the quick walk back after the fireworks.

[Disneyhappy]

My sentiments are those of Luv 2 Cruise. I've stayed off site every visit as a child (7 times) and several times as a young adult. Staying on-site one time determined that as long as we have the means, we would never stay off-site again. We love the Epcot resorts for there location and convenience. Do I think Deluxes are a bit overpriced? Absolutely but I am usually able to get a discount to soften the blow. It is just a choice we make because we have found that it has made our vacation more pleasurable and relaxing to be so close to Epcot and bus service to other parks. But at the same time, I totally respect anyone else who does not share the same feelings. If someone enjoys staying off-site more than on-site, more power to you as you will have more money in your pocket at the end of the day!

[Peter Pirate]

Didn't mean to be controversial, nor was I (or could I) talk about your pesonal situation HMF...

I just mean that (generally) folks plannng & spending their hardearned vacation dollars on a deluxe resort will look at things diferently than someone who has no concern over the price. Just look at all of the threads and comments regarding Concierge service - "is it worth it?". We have lots of people wanting the best deal yet also wanting the big-shot perks. Therefore when they shell out the (relatively) big bucks and then find the maid didn't make the towels into cute little animals they are hurt and angry that they didn't get their monies worth.

The BC seems like a fine deluxe to me and heck, SAB makes it practically worth the price all by itself...But that' just my opinion...

However, the urine in the hall smell STILL bugs me.
:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

[The Pluto People]

Haunted Mansion Fan: I suspect that at age 24 you are able to own a great home because you have the ability to make good decisions on cost versus reward...congrats and more power to you!:D :D :D

[HauntedMansionFan]

Thank you The Pluto People... what a nice compliment. I do pride myself sometimes on my decision making capabilities (yes, that was inflating my own ego, lol). After reading your second post Peter Pirate I couldn't agree more with what you said. I think I might have mis-read your first post. Like I've said all along, I take this as a lesson learned. From the door of my house I can be to MGM and Epcot in about 10 minutes, and AK and MK in about 15/20, I don't mind the drive as I go back roads and avoid the highway. It gives me a chance to see the area and all the little sights I enjoy as I drive by.

[Lisa F]

My husband and I love to stay in deluxe hotels. For our honeymoon we stayed at the GF in concierge and since then we have stayed at the contemporary (both tower and wings), Boardwalk Inn, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, and the Beach Club. 3 years ago we bought into DVC at the boardwalk and have also stayed in every size unit except for grand villas at every DVC resort. We are definately the type who see the value in them.

That said, the only hotel that we stayed in that we extremely disappointed in and questioned the value of was the Beach Club. We paid full rack holiday rates to stay there for 3 days around NYE before moving to our DVC unit and I had to keep telling myself that it was worth it for the fact that after the fireworks we could walk back to our room. I found the hallways to feel very dark and dingy (though no urine smell, it definately didn't smell "fresh"). We had a standard view, but I kept calling it the "substandard view" because we basically had the view of the top of a lower building. It was the worst view I have ever had at any hotel anywhere. People constantly complain about the long halls in the BW but we were probably one of, if not the furthest rooms from the lobby of the beach club and the hallways were so oppressive I just hated the walk. I also thought the decor was tacky but that is just a personal pet peeve and I'm sure everyone has their own opinion about the decor at the various resorts... but whenever I think about it, I was so disappointed by our stay there that the decor didn't help any (I couldn't say "at least it's a beautiful room!").

Just an agreement from the point of view of someone who DOES enjoy deluxe hotels, I definately found the BC to be sub par compared to the others on property.

Lisa

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Gillian
Although I have not stayed in all of the Disney hotels, it seems to me that in general you don't get a lot for what you pay. Hotels in other areas are less money for about the same thing. I'm not talking about offsite, but rather other cities & tourist areas.

I have to really disagree with this statement.

We travel quite a bit, and use WDW deluxe resorts as the benchmark for comparision.

Just spent a long weekend in Lake Placid at a fine resort there. The room was a bit larger--we've found what we call a "Secret Porthole" room there...it's larger because of the location, but not many realize it! The furnishings and amenities are similar. The price is comparable to a lagoon view room at the GF, as is the service.

In February I stayed at Treasure Island in Las Vegas. The room was smaller than a room at the BC, service was about the same, and I paid the same nightly rate as I had a year earlier at the BC.

I just booked a room at a hotel in Alberta for NEXT summer, and depending on the exchange, it will cost me the same or considerably MORE than a room at the GF would during that same period!

To stay in a comparable hotel in NYC, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, or Chicago will mean either a higher room rate or lower standard of service. In some of these cities there is no such word as service.

I'm not saying WDW resorts are without their faults. I could pick something apart on each one. However I've found that the rates are comparable to comparable properties at major resorts and upscale hotels in major cities. Remember, parking is free, transportation throughout WDW is included, and the deluxes include many amenities that are often not taken advantage of by guests.

Anne

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Demosthenes
I have to agree with sea spray and peter pirate. I think that if you're asking yourself "Is it worth it?" The answer is probably not. I happen to really like Deluxe resorts @ WDW, and for me it is easy to justify the extra cost, but if it's a concern for you, definately don't spend money you will end up regretting.

This is very sage advice.

A couple years ago I purchased a beautiful blouse and paid much more for it than I normally would. Every time I wore that blouse, I thought of how much I paid for it, and it ate at me. It actually diminished the enjoyment of the blouse, which was very nice, but not worth (in my mind) what I paid for it. It got to the point where I actually would no longer wear the blouse, because it just ate at me that I had paid too much for it.

One of my best friends owns several blouses by the same designer, and loves them. She perceives them as a good buy, as they were "in her price range".

It's very subjective. But the advice of Demosthenes is very, very good. Don't spend more money than you are comfortable spending. If you are uncomfortable spending the money, no matter how good the experience is, it will never be good enough to justify the amount of money you spent to begin with.

Anne

[Kay1]

For us it wasn't so much the money as we didn't pay that much, it was just a disappointment. My husband had wanted to stay there for years and had very high expectaions. Also, we split our trip in half, the first half being at a one-bedroom BW villa which was brand new and a tough act to follow. Our BC room had a nice view but it seemed dingy with a stained carpet, missing furniture knobs, and holes in the bedspreads. I would stay there again, though. But only in the summer for SAB and the easy walk after Illuminations.

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by susy
Even if you have scads of money to throw around (now) you should still get you what you pay for. The Beach Club is adverstised by Disney as a deluxe hotel. I would hate to come away disappointed from a deluxe when I Know I can stay at a value or mod and feel like I got a good deal.

I agree. The Yacht and Beach Club have all of the potential of being a 4 star resort; they have restaurants of varying quality and price, although two are closed, the decor, the lobby, certainly the pool but yet, they are only a three star resort. It is disappointing because if you are paying four star prices, you should expect a four star resort.

[ducklite]

According to AAA they are four diamond...

Anne

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by ducklite
According to AAA they are four diamond...

Anne

They were not the last time I checked. Also, they are not under the Mobile Travel Guide. The only four star resort at WDW is the Grand Floridian.

[eeyore0062]

Did you ask to change rooms? If the hallway smelled of urine, and the room had a pull down bed, I sure would have tried!

[nwdisgal]

Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall with Disney and figure out how/when they determine to renovate their properties? I wonder if it has to do with number of bookings or when they see a drop off in business at that particular resort, or is it cyclical, how much mold grows on the walls, what's the point they make the decision to freshen the place up? We were at Cape May last year for brunch and I saw significant wear and tear on the carpets in the lobby at the YC. I don't know why that bugged me, but I thought for this price point, that stuff should be kept up to date. It kept me from booking a room there, even though I love the theming and the proximity to Epcot. I ended up with AKL because of the newness of the resort and the room condition. I noticed when we were at AKL this last April, that they were revarnishing the stairs to keep them looking fresh. As a person who was paying peak rates (under mild duress) at the time, that attention to detail pleased me. I think that people will always stay in deluxes for location, but I also know that people want to get what they pay for. At any of the deluxes, attention to detail (room condition, fresh paint, etc.) is especially critical. And from hearing the complaints on some of the MODs, especially pre-refurbishment at CBR, it is important to buyers in the moderate range price point (which at peak season rates without a code, isn't "moderate"). This spring after returning from a nice clean, refurbished room at a CBR, I was sold on the Disney experience and the benefits of staying on-site. I am not sure I would have come back with that if the room had been dingy and sorely needing renovation.

[macs4us]

They really do want to know - even if it is after your stay. Most mangers I have encountered will do what it takes to make it better, even when you are not asking. They will discount or comp your room, buy you a meal, give you a future discount - whatever is appropriate. It is a tough business, and managers want to keep your business at their establishment.

We travel quite a bit as well, and most of the time stay in 5 star hotels - I believe Disney overcharges in general (both WDW and DL). They are not of the caliber of a Four Seasons, period. I would have to say my best stays were in Home Away From Home resorts (OKW, BWV and FWC), and for the most part I felt I got what I paid for, but I have NEVER paid rack rate. Service is somewhat spotty - wonderful castmembers at times, snotty and unhelpful at other times. It is getting like that everywhere, but you really want more "Magic" from Disney. It doesn't matter how much money you have, you should get what you are paying for - not strange urine smells in the hallway. :rolleyes:

I am so very sorry your stay was not up to par - Disney needs to know.

[cindala]

Originally posted by DawnCt


They were not the last time I checked. Also, they are not under the Mobile Travel Guide. The only four star resort at WDW is the Grand Floridian.

I am looking at my AAA guide book right now, and the YC, BC, GF, and WL, are all 4 Stars, the CR, Poly, and all the mods and values are rated 3 Stars. Personally, I highly value the AAA rating. Also in all my stays at the YC, I have never once been disappointed. Like I said earlier, the same standard room of the same quality at the Jersey shore would be upwards of $400 a night.

Of course I do prefer the YC over the BC anyday!:D




:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[macs4us]

Just an FYI...

Assuming that the website has the "latest" ratings, here is what AAA has:
4 Diamonds: BW, GF, YC, BC, Swan/Dolphin
3 Diamonds: AS, AKL, CR, CBR, CSR, FW, OKW, Poly, POR, WL, DI

Mobil Website Ratings:
4 Stars: GF
3 Stars: BC, AKL, BW, CR, CSR, POR, Poly, WL, YC, DI, Swan/Dolphin
2 Stars: AS, CBR, FW, POFQ

In general, AAA is not as tough as Mobil. Often a rating reflects amenities available, so you may have a better room at a 2 star but the hotel does not have the amenities that a 3 star with a smaller room has available. Of course ratings are subjective - I would disagree with Mobil's rating that POR and CSR are in the same class as BW. Still, a AAA 4 Diamond resort should not have worn carpet or urine smells in the hallway.

[Gabrielle]

I feel the same way...the deluxes aren't worth it.

[SamanthaL]

:o Don't flame me but I disagree that the deluxes are not worth it. I have stayed at the BC ( and all the other deluxes) on several occassions and everytime I don't ,I miss it. I have never had difficulty with my room, I have always been upgraded to a water view, and never noticed a urine smell. I guess what I want to say to HMF is, it may have been a bad first impression. It sounds like you got a Sico room which I would not have liked either and would have asked to be changed. As far as the smell in the hall, a call to the manager would have given you some satisfaction I am sure. It may still be worth dropping them a line about this. Who knows maybe they will offer you a chance to give BC another try. I really do think that the BC just had "a bad day". I really am PICKY about where I lay my head and I would never keep going there if this was the norm. Samantha:)

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Gabrielle
I feel the same way...the deluxes aren't worth it.

That' subjective. To me, I'd rather spend the extra and get the little extra touches. Plus there's one HUGE reason I will only stay at a deluxe...

DH and I sleep in a king bed at home. We can manage in a queen, but neither of us gets any sleep in a double. The deluxes have queens, the moderates have doubles. End of story.

A few months ago I posted a long comparision between the deluxes and other resorts. I'll try and find it and post the link.

Anne

[susy]

Anne,
I never thought about the bed size thing before. When we are on vaca, my DH and I never sleep in the same bed. We each get a bed to ourselves. If DS is along, I still get my own bed. I know,I'm horrible!!!!!

[KaterBell]

Haunted Mansion Fan, did you sleepwalk again and pee in the hallway? :) j/k What's up with the Urine smell? Ew. I definitely would have complained to the mgr on that one..

We've talked about this before, but I do really think you got a bad first impression. Maybe you didn't put a special request in on your room, or know that you could? If I saw that same type of bed when I walked in, I would have requested something else....

Maybe when you come visit us at BCV or at the GF sometime, you can see what "is it worth it" is all about. :)

[HauntedMansionFan]

Haunted Mansion Fan, did you sleepwalk again and pee in the hallway? j/k You caught me KaterBell... I always drink to much water before bed.

[disneydeb]

my family and i spent 2 nites at bc sept 23rd and 24th and i did not care for it, i would not go back to it heres why, we arrived there at 3 pm by the time we got to our room got unpacked and went for dinner we ate at yactchmans steakhouse very good but expensive 100 fopr 3 of us , i justified that because we had traveled and had not eaten all day so it was good, by the time we finished it waand went to go swimming at storm a long bay it was closed, that was the main reason for staying there after thatat the next day the kids went to parks so by the time swe got back pool was closed again, did have breakfast character one was good, but there was alot of constructions going on not very pleasant i expected more, spent rest of vacation next 4 days at contemporary resort and loved it.we had view of space mountain but i liked the room better.

[macs4us]

It's like that in Vegas too - and in Vegas in July at 11 PM a swim sounds great!!! I was impressed that the CSR pool was open until 11 PM or so when we were there. Disney just doesn't want to pay for staff after a certain time, and doesn't want the liability of slide use without proper staff (which bums me out, 'cause I am a Certified Lifeguard - I wanna go on the slide :p).

But I am curious - what "little extras" are people talking about that the deluxes have? I guess I am missing something...I know when I stay at a Disney Deluxe, if I am not staying at the concierge level, the concierge doesn't want to help me. When I stay at the Four Seasons or another 4 or 5 Star/Diamond hotel, the concierge staff helps everyone. The rooms may be a little larger, but that depends on the deluxe, and what room you get. Personally, I have yet to sleep in a comfortable bed at Disney - they are just average. Thus far, I think the suites I have stayed in at Disneyland have been nicer than the ones at WDW, but I haven't stayed at all of the resorts at WDW. So, it is all subjective - but I am curious about what people consider "extras" that the deluxes have...

[susy]

I think with the heat and crowds, proximity to the parks and ease of transportation plays a HUGE role.

Well ya'll.......sense and sensibility has gotten the better of me (like it always does) and my deluxe B-day trip (Labor day weekend) will be happening at the ASMusic! We only go for a few days at a time and always drive, so transportation is no big deal .We really want this trip to be relaxing and fun and not have to worry that I'm not getting to do all I want at the resort and getting my money's worth. We also are staying an extra night . Since it's so cheap, I will pay for preferred and ask for the quiet side. This thread has actually been very good for me.

My dad is going to Vegas in a few days. His DW has a jewelry show. They got married there nine years ago and stayed at the Mirage. Thye will be there for their anniversary this time. they love it there and go all the time!

[Gabrielle]

Hi Anne (Ducklite),

I hear you about the king bed but I still don't think the deluxes are worth it. I travel a lot in my job and I think any Marriott is nicer than a Disney dexlue - and, about half the price.

I think moving up to a Moderate from a Value is money well spent - but, I don't feel the same about going from a Moderate to a Deluxe. 2x the price but not 2x the amenities.

With a Moderate you get a food court to make the mug worth it - close parking - and swimming in the main pool after 10 - which you can't do at SAB.

We've stayed at the Grand Floridian (2 weeks), the Poly (1 week) and the Yacht Club (1 night). I'd go again for a night or two but that's all, out of a week at DWorld.

But, to each his own! :)

[JudyVC]

First off, I love the Disney moderates and the way they're landscaped. I've stayed at Port Orleans, Dixie Landings (which are now combined into one resort but I stayed at each one) and the CBR. They are just so beautiful walking around especially at night.

And I've stayed at the Poly, the BC and now own points at the Boardwalk Villas. I love the public areas of the BC but I too was disappointed with the room. Yes, we were close to the Epcot entrance but I didn't feel the room was worth the money. I don't feel that way about the BWV but then the rooms have kitchens or a least a microwave and fridge.

That said my 12 year old neice says the BC pool is the best pool on Disney property.

Judy

[antmaril]

I would like to put my two cents in on this subject. We stayed at the Beach Club last June. The first room they gave us had two double beds and did not have a full balcony. I had requested a room with queen beds and a full balcony. My husband complained about this and mentioned that we were celebrating my birthday (a big one I might add) on this trip . They then upgraded us to a concierge room. Now, because we had concierge for free, we saved quite a bit of money on breakfasts, water, sodas, snacks, etc. I was very happy and grateful for that upgrade. That said, I think the rooms are really nothing special. The rooms are small and the bathrooms are tiny. They are getting a lot of $$ for those rooms and if you've traveled at all in nice hotels, they don't compare. The resort itself is lovely and we had a good time. The location can't be beat and that's what you're paying for. However, I would not stay at BC/YC again unless they offered a very good rate.

[Peter Pirate]

I think it's very little of the room that you're paying for at a Disney deluxe, unlike competing hotel chains. For example, the YC/BC offer the proximity to two theme parsk and a fantastic pool. If neithr of these things are important in your plans then te BC?YC rooms may tend to be a let down. The AKL offers a fantastic African environment & wonderful zoo surrounding you. If animals and African culture don't thrill you then this room will probably be a let down as well. The Poly offers a trip to Polynesia and the monorail to the MK. If you prefer AK or MGM as parks and prefer modern or traditional lodgings, then the rooms at the Poly will probably dissappoint.

I guess I'm just reiterating what's been said. A lot of this is really subjective depending upon personal tastes...But it's always good to hear both sides...Particularily if i might involve urine smells!
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[TigrLvsPooh]

Just thought I'd throw my hat in the ring.... LOL :p

WDW resorts are overpriced (IMO) but we stay on-property anyway because it's close to the parks. We have 2 small children, so location is #1.

We stayed off property once, Westgate Lakes Resort, and it was a nightmare! Driving to the TTC and waiting for one of those trams!!!! Never again....

After staying in quite a few different Disney resorts we finally tried a DVC resort. We LOVED it and will probably never stay in one of the deluxe resorts again (unless dh and I go alone).

It's a learning experience. Try out different resorts, find the one you love, and stick with it. There is something for everyone. ;)

[Tiffany]

Hi,

I am also going to add my 2cents:)

Whether a deluxe is worth it or not is very subjective. Why we have chosen deluxes since 1998 has mainly been for location and in 2001 we went with the AKL for the thrill of the animals and we do love the AK park.

Our rule of thumb is this. We do not want to pay more then $200 a night including tax for a room. Since 1998 we have been able to get discounts to achive this. I believe the location of the BWI,YC/BC and Swan/Dolphin is what you are paying for.

We will be at the Dolphin this upcoming Aug because we did not want to go with a Standard View room at the AKL and we were able to get the Dolphin for 50% off.

The bad smell in the hallway would have generated a call to housekeeping from me. You cannot count on the housekeeper noticing it because not everyone's sense of smell is the same. My husband cannot smell much of anything.

[hmp2z]

Hi! Another view...
My first trip to WDW was at the All Star Sports, second trip was at the GF. What a difference! I loved knowing that when I left the parks, I was coming home to a fairytale castle :) I think that the GF is just beautiful, and always get that feeling of "coming home" when I get there. We went on our wedding planning trip last month and stayed at the CSR. It was okay, but we actually ended up spending much more time just wandering around the GF. Our favorite restaurants are there; we love the shops; we love the lobby; we love the orchestra; we love quiet walks along the beach; we love the view of the castle and the Wedding Pavilion. Staying at a moderate after having been at the GF, I really missed the peace and quiet of sitting on our own balcony. It's probably what I enjoy most about our room at the GF, so for us, it is definitely worth the extra money to have all of these wonderful feelings while we're vacationing at WDW.
For us, it has less to do with the "prestige" and more with just being absolutely in love with the resort itself. Also, when we stayed at the AS Sports, there were kids everywhere. We saw significantly fewer at the GF, which is a plus for us. We're both the kind of people who are bothered by small children running dripping wet in bathing suits through the beautiful GF lobby - seems like sacrilege! :) Not that we complain; their parents are paying the room price, and I am sure not everyone has the same reverence for the GF that we do.
Anyway, the point is that we pay the money so that we can stay in the most magical place in the world, to us, so we find the price well worth it.
Cheers!
Heather P

[susy]

Well spoken, Heather!!! I love this thread. Choosing our resort is probably one of the biggest decisions we make regarding our vacation. We should be happy with what we pay for and I think that's really the whole point. I loved CBR, but since I didn't use the extra amenities I probably wouldn't stay at another moderate for a while. I do have my heart set on AKL (for the animals and theming). We love AS and it suits our purpose for WDW. Having our own transportation makes a big difference, though.

[Gabrielle]

I'm not saying you don't get some value for your money at a Deluxe - I just don't think you get it in the amount you pay. We always rent a car to get around to visit the other resorts - which, I think is half the fun - so we do everything at the Deluxes except sleep and swim. I'd rather use the extra money for meals, etc.

[cindala]

Maybe everyones subjective opinion on this thread is determined by where they live, and the prices they are accustomed to paying in their home area.

We live 14 miles from NYC, in Bergen County, NJ, one of the most expensive places in the country to live. With a discount, I always get the YC under $200, and in my neck of the woods, that is a bargain for the quality received. Heck, a HoJo's by us would be over $100 a nite! :eek:

In areas of the country where it is less expensive to live, the value of the deluxes and their location, may not be appreciated, because a comparable resort in that area may cost less. :):D:)




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[losthat]

Interesting thread! Just back from BWI and cannot tell you how happy I was. I found just sitting on the balcony overlooking gardens with Epcot dome and eiffel tower in view wonderful. Room must have just been refurbished...bright, warm and inviting. Theming superb! But just sitting on the balcony listening to the sounds of England and Canada, or watching the fireworks made my visit. Did visit the Y&BC and did not get the same warm feeling - it seems run down and overrun with small kids. (I love kids--and if my kids were little it would be a choice for me.) But this trip was to unwind from a stressful year of teaching and the BWI was a perfect place to do that. So, transportation to parks was a perk;but for just relaxing and dining nearby, I'll return to the BWI and hope it's staff and welcoming ways are as great as this trip. My return will be primarily to unwind, and I may not even visit any part other than Epcot. If you're going to be in the parks day and night, maybe a deluxe isn't worth the money, but for me it was a wonderful experience.

[hmp2z]

I completely agree that the hotel prices where you live, and where you're used to vacationing, probably play a big role in what you view as "value for the money."
We love vacationing at Nags Head, NC, for instance, and can stay in a beautiful hotel there for $35/night (we go in off season). But when we got a hotel by JFK airport in Queens, it was over $100/night for a kind of shady place.
In my opinion, the prices for deluxe hotels at WDW are high, but then again, we are so perfectly happy when we stay there that we pay the money gladly. It all depends on what you look for in a hotel and a vacation, I think. If I'm taking a leisurely, splurging vacation (which is what we do when we're at WDW), I want a hotel that matches my mood, and for all the reasons I mentioned in my last post, I would gladly pay rack rate at the GF to be able to stay there. A discount is always nice, but if none were available, I'd still pay the premium to be staying in this beautiful castle, with peaceful balconies, lovely view, orchestra, quiet beaches, wonderful restaurants, etc. etc. etc. :)
Cheers!
Heather P

[Gabrielle]

Losthat, your description sounded wonderful!

But, it makes me wonder how many people go to WDW to relax.

I think I might be getting to that point. I told my kids the next time we go, they'll be old enough to run around on their own so that I can do what I've always wanted to do - spend the whole day at Epcot doing what I want - not what everyone else wants. :)

Up 'till now, we've always gone at full tilt - making sure we get on all the big rides - going to our favorite restaurants. It's not what I would call a relaxing vacation - in fact, it gets exhausting. I'm looking forward to that day when my husband and I sit in rockers all day on Main Street. :)

[PlutoPal]

YC and BC are two of my favorite resorts. Stormalong Bay is absolutely amazing and the decor is awesome there!

[BeckyV]

We always go to Disney to relax. Last summer for three nights in a studio at BWV and we pool hopped. Over New Years for six nights and only two in the parks. We were in a studio at BWV for two nights and a one bedroom at VWL for the rest of the time. We shop and explore the other resorts. We always stayed in budget or moderate resorts until we joined DVC. The best value is DVC especially during the week. The points range from 12 to 19 for a preferred studio at BWV. Less for standard or OKW. During the summer one can stay at BWV for 14 points. My cost for over 40 years is about $85-$90 a night which includes tax. If you rent from a DVC member on the rental board for the going rate of $10 a point, then it will cost you $140 including tax. Not bad for a studio with microwave, refrigerator, and preferred view at BWV, VWL, or BCV. Other times would be less or more at Christmas. Even New Years is only 19 points during the week. If I was not a member and wanted to try a Deluxe hotel, this is what I would do unless you could find a good discount.

[Gillian]

BeckyV is right! Renting DVC points is a great way to save on a deluxe. We are renting points for a BCV studio in september. With just us & a toddler in a pack & Play, the layout (1 bed + sofa) is perfect. The free fridge & microwave are are nice bonus. The price is the best thing - $120 per night with no tax!

[KaterBell]

And...if you do the math, buying into DVC is a HUGE money saver over the next 40 years... that's why we bought in! :)