If your budget was...where would you stay?

cnunley424 · Feb 7, 2016

Ok we are going in September this year and budgeting about $225 a night for the resort. Which one would you choose keeping that budget amount in mind? We have stayed ASMU and loved it. We just came back from SSR and it was ehhhhh. Wouldn't stay there again.

Haygar2 · Feb 7, 2016

How many in your party? And, if children, what age(s)?

Sue M · Feb 7, 2016

I would stay at BC or YC. With kids BC, adults, YC.

lockedoutlogic · Feb 7, 2016

Sue M said:
I would stay at BC or YC. With kids BC, adults, YC.

And how would you do it for $225? It Would have to be severely discounted even in September.

I don't recommend moderates...I think they are the worst deals on property at current prices. I used to Always recommend wilderness and animal kingdom...but those prices went too high several years ago.

I would suggest pop or AoA mermaid rooms to SAVE Some money that is otherwise wasted. Or contact some online agents that maybe be able to get you steep room discount for that time in other categories/options. Never hurts to investigate.

KT0191 · Feb 8, 2016

I, personally, love CBR. It's my favorite resort. It's a big resort but if you can spring for a preferred room then I would. If not, a standard is great too. It easily has one of the best pools on property and the Caribbean vibe is so relaxing. It's a beautiful resort.

minnie mum · Feb 8, 2016

There should be a decent room discount in Sept. Contrary to a PP, my choice would be one of the mods, given your budget. While you could save money by staying at a value, I hate the cramped rooms, the noise, and the small beds. At least 2, and possibly 3 of the mods will have discounts. Of those, CBR would be our first choice.

Clare Voince · Feb 8, 2016

Swan or Dolphin can be had at that rate, depending on when you go. If you have to be at a Disney owned resort, you might be able to get WL or AKL for that with a discount.

burne99 · Feb 8, 2016

What dates in sept? Look around, I got the GF for $240 a night the first week in September. It's slightly over, but skip a snack each a day and it's doable...

Chrelaine · Feb 8, 2016

Personally, for my family and how we like to vacation, I would choose a Moderate and have a little left over for food, treats, etc. My personal choice would be CSR or PORFQ because we have never stayed at either one. If you are comfortable in the Values, even better. You would have more left over for other things!

buzznina · Feb 8, 2016

I have to disagree with a PP, I actually think the Mods (with discount) gets you more for your $$, heck just the Queen beds vs full is a big plus. But, we have also enjoyed staying at values. Since you enjoyed ASMU, it just comes down to are you going to be at the parks the majority of the time, if yes then why spend extra $$ on something you will not use and stay at another value resort.

burne99 said:
What dates in sept? Look around, I got the GF for $240 a night the first week in September. It's slightly over, but skip a snack each a day and it's doable...

Can you elaborate on how you got that great price?

HopperFan · Feb 8, 2016

IF that is your absolute top price then I think you will have to look at the moderates. I would likely be looking at CSR and POR. If I could somehow get it discounted close to that I might do Business Class at CSR and have the additional snacks and drinks. At POR I would probably aim for a Royal Guest room.

saskdw · Feb 8, 2016

Completely disagree with the PP that said Mods aren't a good value. IMO Mods are the best value at WDW. CSR in particular with all its deluxe amenites is an extremely good value, especially when combined with a FD promo.

One thing I learned very quickly on our very first trip to WDW is that you aren't paying for the room itself you are paying for whats outside the door. Our first trip was a 10 day stay in Dec. 2008. We stayed in a preferred room at CBR. The room itself was nothing special, just a basic hotel room. However when we opened the door and stepped outside it was paradise!! We had a great room in Martinique 25 facing the lagoon and Port Royale. The resort was beautiful and with the outstanding room location everything important was just steps away. We had a great stay and no one cared that the room itself was very basic.

Even at the deluxe resorts most of the rooms are nothing special compared to what you could get for that kind of money elsewhere. It's what you get right outside your door you are paying for.

Tigger's ally · Feb 8, 2016

For that price, you could rent a studio from David's at just about every deluxe (standard view). Once again, don't know if that fits your family makeup. If you just have one child, a studio would work nicely.

lockedoutlogic · Feb 8, 2016

saskdw said:
Completely disagree with the PP that said Mods aren't a good value. IMO Mods are the best value at WDW. CSR in particular with all its deluxe amenites is an extremely good value, especially when combined with a FD promo.

One thing I learned very quickly on our very first trip to WDW is that you aren't paying for the room itself you are paying for whats outside the door. Our first trip was a 10 day stay in Dec. 2008. We stayed in a preferred room at CBR. The room itself was nothing special, just a basic hotel room. However when we opened the door and stepped outside it was paradise!! We had a great room in Martinique 25 facing the lagoon and Port Royale. The resort was beautiful and with the outstanding room location everything important was just steps away. We had a great stay and no one cared that the room itself was very basic.

Even at the deluxe resorts most of the rooms are nothing special compared to what you could get for that kind of money elsewhere. It's what you get right outside your door you are paying for.

There is far less differentiation between values and moderates as far as amenities as there is between moderates and deluxes - especially food options and location.

I like Coronado a lot...but "deluxe amenities" isn't quite accurate. You get a little more than say Caribbean because of the convention center - no doubt.

One thing where my view has changed is That the values have gotten closer to prices of moderates...making moderates a "better deal". But not as good as some of the cheap deluxe rooms in my opinion. And my opinion has changed over time.

There was a time when a $124 rate at Caribbean equated to a $169 at wilderness lodge...those days are gone and the lines are blurred.

Do I think Boardwalk/beach is worth $500 a night? Poly or contemporary $600? Gf $700?

Hell no! Never will be. But as many have pointed out...we are in the era of "kohls pricing"...Disney does a near standard 30/20/15 discount on the categories if you dont blindly book a package or go for a less than stellar dining hook...

At those discounts...I could justify the deluxes more in my mind. But even moreso at the travel agent rates that are out there for deluxes.

Just what I have seen over time.

texasroni75 · Feb 8, 2016

We would stay at Port Orleans Riverside. It's our favorite Mod.

DisneyFirstTimer10 · Feb 8, 2016

cnunley424 said:
Ok we are going in September this year and budgeting about $225 a night for the resort. Which one would you choose keeping that budget amount in mind? We have stayed ASMU and loved it. We just came back from SSR and it was ehhhhh. Wouldn't stay there again.

What did you like about ASMU and what didn't you like about SSR? That will help make suggestions I think

saskdw · Feb 8, 2016

lockedoutlogic said:
There is far less differentiation between values and moderates as far as amenities as there is between moderates and deluxes - especially food options and location.

I like Coronado a lot...but "deluxe amenities" isn't quite accurate. You get a little more than say Caribbean because of the convention center - no doubt.

One thing where my view has changed is That the values have gotten closer to prices of moderates...making moderates a "better deal". But not as good as some of the cheap deluxe rooms in my opinion. And my opinion has changed over time.

There was a time when a $124 rate at Caribbean equated to a $169 at wilderness lodge...those days are gone and the lines are blurred.

Do I think Boardwalk/beach is worth $500 a night? Poly or contemporary $600? Gf $700?

Hell no! Never will be. But as many have pointed out...we are in the era of "kohls pricing"...Disney does a near standard 30/20/15 discount on the categories if you dont blindly book a package or go for a less than stellar dining hook...

At those discounts...I could justify the deluxes more in my mind. But even moreso at the travel agent rates that are out there for deluxes.

Just what I have seen over time.

CSR is our resort of choice.

As far as Deluxe amenites it has pretty much all of them other than a balcony and indoor hallways. It has a Fitness Center, Spa, salon, sauna, lap pool, night club, and 2 table service restaurants.

Things like Business Class rooms, largest hot tub at WDW, and 2nd longest water slide at WDW also add to the value.

Comparing to the values there are bigger rooms, queen beds, as well as everything listed above. For me the atmosphere there is much better suited to our vacation style compared to the values.

As far as price I look at the total package cost not $ per night for the room.

Example:

Last trip was 16 nights Dec 2014. Booked 2 nights RO 20% discount and 14 night package with FD/10 day park hoppers at CSR. All in a Business Class room.

Same trip at one of the BW area resorts was $3500 more. AKL was about $2500 more.

Both very nice resorts but no way I could come up with $2500-$3500 of extra value over CSR.

We don't do these little 4 night trips like a lot of people so the cost difference is huge and the value difference is minimal. However it was very easy to come up with $1000-$1500 of value over the value resorts.

DisDadDVC · Feb 8, 2016

lockedoutlogic said:
And how would you do it for $225? It Would have to be severely discounted even in September.

I don't recommend moderates...I think they are the worst deals on property at current prices. I used to Always recommend wilderness and animal kingdom...but those prices went too high several years ago.

I would suggest pop or AoA mermaid rooms to SAVE Some money that is otherwise wasted. Or contact some online agents that maybe be able to get you steep room discount for that time in other categories/options. Never hurts to investigate.

Rent DVC points

lockedoutlogic · Feb 8, 2016

DisDadDVC said:
Rent DVC points

I was thinking in terms of a traditional booking...

Renting DVC is not. Though it is an option.

MrsDuck · Feb 8, 2016

$225 is perfect for a mod or AoA suite. I'd probably go AoA suite or POR Riverside!

If your budget was...where would you stay?

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