Going from Deluxe to Moderate?

[ewalshslp]

Our last 2 trips we stayed at BC and WL. Before that POR and CB. We love the deluxe resorts, but I'm wondering if it's worth the extra cost. Our kids are getting older and want to be in the parks ALL DAY, which is fine with us! This last trip, I kept feeling guilty that we weren't spending more time at the resort.
So my question is, we're you ever diss sponged going from deluxe to a mod?

 

[ewalshslp]

Can't figure out how to edit from my iPhone.... Supposed to say disappointed!!!!

 

[princessap]

I am curious to see people's responses to this as I am wondering same thing. We have only stayed poly and I am thinking we will be deluxe only but how will I know without trying other resorts?!

But the price difference is always enticing!

 

[ewalshslp]

We've done both, and there were a lot of things we liked about the mods!

 

[Aliceacc]

We're a family of 5, so for us the moderates aren't an option. (No, my son would NOT fit into the trundle/Murphy bed at POR.) And we ADORE both the Poly and Beach Club!!!!

But I can certainly understand that as a family grows and changes, their needs and wants would grow and change as well.

Would you consider a split stay-- first the mod, then the Deluxe?

 

[CoolPool]

Two years ago we tried CSR after staying deluxe almost exclusively for many years. It was okay. It was doable. But we are non-commandos. So we missed some amenities and we have decided its deluxe or non-Disney trips in the future.

 

[donnaf516]

We usually stay in the mods but I always wanted to stay at the BC for SAB so we did last August. We had a great time but it was exhausting keeping up with my kids in the pool! The resort was nice and you can't beat the convenience to Epcot & HS but I really don't think it was worth the extra $. We spend most of our time in the parks so this year we decided to go back to the mods and try POFQ.

 

[mickeynut1]

Our last 2 trips we stayed at BC and WL. Before that POR and CB. We love the deluxe resorts, but I'm wondering if it's worth the extra cost. Our kids are getting older and want to be in the parks ALL DAY, which is fine with us! This last trip, I kept feeling guilty that we weren't spending more time at the resort.
So my question is, we're you ever diss sponged going from deluxe to a mod?

Our first onsite stay was at CBR and we loved it. With that said, the following year we tried a deluxe and we haven't stayed anything but deluxe since. I have considered a moderate on a few trips to try and cut costs, but I always find myself going back to booking a deluxe. A lot of people flip flop between staying moderate/deluxe (as well as value) depending on what kind of trip they're taking, but we spend a lot of time at the resort (probably more time than at the parks) so we definitely get our fill of the deluxe resort amenities to make it worth the money. Good luck.

 

[trishadono]

I am curious to see people's responses to this as I am wondering same thing. We have only stayed poly and I am thinking we will be deluxe only but how will I know without trying other resorts?!

But the price difference is always enticing!

I have bounced from value-mod-deluxe back and forth. I truly enjoy trying different resorts and revisiting them too. I will choose a resort based on several factors. What month(swim or not) who will I be with, what discount or lack there of is available. Considering I have stayed at GF,POLY,CR,WL,OKW,AKL AND YC you would think I would never go back but just last Nov. I went back to Pop! It was my 8th time at Pop and it is still fun. I was going with my aunt alone without my family and I knew she would be in the parks most of the time and funds were an issue. She loved it. I gave her a tour of some resorts and she would like to try CSR next time and someday Poly!

If you will be spending time at the resort a moderate has lots of options. If you save money by staying at a mod or value you can either come back sooner or splurge on a dinner etc, shop, try the water parks etc.

One thing I do is stay cheap (val/mod)and buy annual passes. Then next trip (before year over) since we don't need tickets I splurge on a deluxe

Hope that helps! Yes, I enjoy all the resorts and recommend trying as many as you can. The details at the resorts are really quite amazing! Pictures can never do the resorts beauty justice.

 

[jjas]

We have always stayed at deluxe resorts (mostly the Swan or Dolphin) and for our last trip it was just my daughter and I for two nights so I thought we would do a value so we stayed at POP for two nights.

There was a much bigger difference between the deluxe and value than I expected - of course I knew there would be a difference, I'm not dumb, but it was just a lot more than I thought.

We have never tried a mod, but I would probably be reluctant to now. I'd say it all depends on what you can afford.

 

[disneynanacat]

One thing I do is stay cheap (val/mod)and buy annual passes. Then next trip (before year over) since we don't need tickets I splurge on a deluxe.

Very smart! Love it!

 

[eagillinois]

After several stays art WL, we last stayed at POFQ and we were not at all disappointed, I can honestly say it was my favorite resort. Rooms were nice and resort size is smaller so never a long walk anywhere. Our next trip we are trying POR because the discount for POFQ wasnt available. Enjoy your trip!

 

[cleophus12]

We go back and forth all the time. In fact, we usually go back and forth between deluxe and value skipping the moderate altogether. We love the deluxe, but we know what we are getting with the value also and we just know to expect a different experience. Different doesn't necessarily mean less or worse, just different. And we are never disappointed. We are at Disney! (However, I will confess that every time I walk past the International Gateway at Epcot, I miss the Beach Club a little.)

 

[ThreeKMom]

Last trip we stayed at POR in a princess room, it was great! We really liked the resort and spent some time at the pool. However, we usually stay at the YC or Boardwalk and they just seem to fit our vacation style better!

Let me explain, we don't like to get up too early to rush off to rope drop but we do like to get there somewhat early - so waiting for a bus in the am just cramped our style - if we did our usual wake up routine we didn't get to a park till around 11:00 when we stayed at POR. If we are in an Epcot resort we will usually be in the park by 10:00.

Also when we are at an Epoct resort we always head back to the resort either just before lunch or just after and relax at the pool, then take showers and head back to a park for dinner - when we stayed at POR this was just not possible.

So for us while we loved the feel of POR having the transportation issues would make us think twice about staying there again! Don't get me wrong we didn't have any issues with the buses, it just takes too long to go back to the resort in the middle of the day.

 

[trishadono]

Very smart! Love it!

Thank-you!
Ps I see you will be staying at BLT soon. That is my go to resort when all 4 of us go. dd17 and ds15 so 1bdrm villa is very handy. I finally got availability for the 2bdrm last Thanksgiving (after 3 1bdrm stays)and that was awesome. I enjoyed the CR pool and hot tub better than BLT area. also the 2nd pool overlooking the water at CR was usually empty and very warm which was surprising for a holiday weekend. Love the talking elevators"going up!"

 

[bookgirl]

I've stayed all three levels including split staying at a deluxe then a mod. I loved the BC and would like to stay there or at AKL or Poly sometime, and I can tolerate the values (not my fav but ASMu is fine and been there twice. Liked it better than AoA), but I think I am going to be a Mod first visitor.

For the best $value, location, amenities that I actually use ratio I am right there at the mod level.

Pro of deluxe for me is location. Con is the price. To get what I would consider a true Deluxe stay I'm looking at 400-500 + a night.

Pro of the Value is the price hands down. Con is the fact that I hate the huge icon decorations, and it is just a hotel stay. No true resort atmosphere for me.

So a mod fits me. For the price I'm paying I get a decent resort type atmosphere, they are more centrally located and in the case of POFQ boat transportation to DTD and a sister resort to go to as well.

I'm not a pool person and I actually have some food issues that make a basic food court on site a better fit for the few meals I eat at the resort. I mostly eat at the parks though I do hit up the deluxe s for TS meals no matter where I stay. Love eating at Epcot the best, so BC was great there.

If I was more into pool lounging or staying club level or would only eat TS meals I might limit myself to Deluxe, but I'd look at the mods if you wanted a nice mix of park commando only need a bed level and I have to have a true resort relaxing vacation.

 

[ewalshslp]

Thank you all for the replies! I really appreciate it! We have a lot to think about. Unfortunately, my DH is no help! He's a deluxe guy all the way!!!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

We always stay Deluxe, but are staying at the FW Cabins this time for a change of pace. FW isn't really a resort in the way the other mod resorts are, so we aren't going to be getting the typical experience. We don't do a lot of hanging around the resort, but are looking forward to having archery/horseback riding and other unique things that even the Deluxes don't have.

 

[AliceIn]

I've stayed mostly deluxe, but had my first value stay last year. My family had an awesome time, and that's opened my eyes to all sorts of possibilities at Disney. I think all the Disney resorts are lovely places to stay. There's something cool and exciting about every single one. I wouldn't hesitate to stay anywhere on Disney property.

Good luck with your decision! There are really no bad choices.

 

[karly05]

I love the BC, especially for the lovely stroll to Epcot. Poly was nice, but if I'm spending for Deluxe, BC is my choice. That said - in the interest of going more often (aka saving money), I tried POFQ this year and really loved it. I would happily stay there any time.

I'm not a pool person, so that wasn't a factor. I had my qualms about the "exterior corridors," but ended up perfectly comfortable with them. I'm more of a "Theme Park Commando," so I don't really need the deluxe amenities for my vacation style.

The main thing I missed about BC was the location, the walk to Epcot, the boat to DHS, and the convenience of going back to the resort during the day when at Epcot or DHS.

POFQ is pretty and charming, there was a room refurb in recent years, and my room was nice, clean and comfy. It is small and compact, which is why I chose it among the mods. One thing I really preferred about POFQ was having the food court for breakfast. When I stayed at BC in 2012, the BC Marketplace had very limited breakfast options; I ended up eating breakfast at the Captain's Grille at YC 3 out of 4 mornings that trip. POFQ has a wide variety of hot and cold breakfast selections, including Mickey waffles!

The point of this novel is, I had my doubts about going from deluxe to mod but ended up being very happy with my choice.