Advantages to higher priced hotels?

[kmurch]

Other than the obvious (nicer decorations and furnishings), or there advantages to staying at the higher priced hotels within WDW?

For instance, are there extra privileges at the theme parks for those staying at a deluxe hotel versus a value hotel?

 

[ireland_nicole]

Other than the obvious (nicer decorations and furnishings), or there advantages to staying at the higher priced hotels within WDW?

For instance, are there extra privileges at the theme parks for those staying at a deluxe hotel versus a value hotel?

No. Unless, of course you're staying at a resort on the monorail system (i.e., poly, Contemporary, or GF) which makes it possible to not need a bus for MK and Epcot, or WL which provides boat transportation to MK, or hotels in the Epcot area where you can use the international gateway (between Future World and WS) to enter Epcot on foot.

Also, the pools will have nice water slides,(at the yacht/beach club there is actually a small waterpark basically storm along bay) there will be more restaurants, generally of a higher caliber, concierge/club level services available; valet parking avail., etc.

 

[Jdougherty]

as the pervious poster mention the "villa" and deluxe levels hotels don't offer any additional perks in the park but they do offer better locations and transpertation. After experiencing CBR and the BWV there is a noticeable difference. MGE was less crowded and the busses where less crowded. For a clostrafobe like me that's a big issue. Also the BWV AND BCV are walking distance to Epcot and a short boatride to DHS.

I like CBR but it was alot of walking and you where always at the mercy of the busses. An additional plus of the villas is the one bdrms have kitchens, not dinky little but full working kitchens and a washer/dryer. I have two small childern those items are such a plus.

If you want to avoid mass amount of people on the busses and or taking busses all the time go with a villa, like BWV, BCV or one of the resorts that the monorail serves.

I vote for BWV.

 

[woodkins]

We prefer the deluxe level rooms for a variety of reasons (we have stayed all leves & most recently the Poly, POFQ, GF & POP). Dlx rooms are larger, have queen size beds, and interior corridors most rooms having private balconies. Locations are generally better as well. Food court/quick service restaurants generally also have an easier setup, you can order all of your food at one counter, not stand on 1 line if you want burgers, another line if someone wants chicken etc. At the poly you type your order into a computer kiosk and get a buzzer at Pop I had to stand on 3 lines to get eggs, pancakes and pastry for breakfast. The pools at many of the dx resorts have larger water slides, zero entry and are "nicer". The real question is if you are willing to pay the difference to get the difference, what is it worth to your family.

 

[SGMCO]

It would be really nice if everyone could stay at a Monorail resort
but it's not in everyones budget.
We've only been able to stay at MODs because it was reasonably
priced and the bus system was not bad at all.
We've seen plenty of families with small
child (in strollers) staying at the MODs and riding the bus--
they all looked very happy to be a WDW.
I think any resort you are able to afford Value, MOD or Deluxe
will be a great place to stay because you're at WDW.
A family that stays at a Deluxe won't automaticly have a
better vacation than a family staying at a Value--it's all in
the attitude.

 

[okeydokey]

I think the walls in the values are a bit thinner, at least it seems much noisier than at the others. There are also lots of large groups at the values due to the price, so they tends to be quite busier.

 

[surfgirl]

simple. 5 people... not an option at the values.

 

[Roccosmom]

I agree with SGMCO- its all in the attitude!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Bus service is not always better at Deluxe resorts. We had amazing buses at POP but not at WL.

 

[So_Money]

Deluxe hotels in Disney are not deluxe in the real world.

 

[ms_missy66]

Deluxe hotels in Disney are not deluxe in the real world.

True, true!

We've stayed at all levels and what I like about the deluxe resourts is their closer proximity to something and food opportunities without leaving the buliding. I also like the pools.

The room sizes just aren't that big of a difference, IMO. I can remember staying at the ASMu one night and WL the next. When we walked into our WL room, I was like, "really? This isn't much different." The only true nicer part is the bathroom area. The sink area in the Values is barely adequate.

Hope that helps!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Bus service is not always better at Deluxe resorts. We had amazing buses at POP but not at WL.

I have to agree. The bus service is usually not as good at the deluxes.
As for it being a state of mind that has nothing to do with it. Sure, I would be happy at any resort at WDW but the reality for us is that we like the monorail and the boats. We have small children and it is much easier for us to travel that way. Now we love the POP and their bus service is great- but the rooms are small and to be honest we like to limit our bus time. We travel with a double stroller and a single stroller. Folding those up every single time we get on a bus can be tiresome. Rolling right onto the monorail or boat is priceless to us. We also like to stay in a larger room. The Deluxe rooms are larger and we like a room with a balcony or patio.

As for pools, well the Yacht Club has an awesome pool. I would stay there again just for the pool. We had so much fun! The POP also has great pools and the Goofy Fountains which are a riot to play in with the kids. The moderates have nice pools as well but again, I really like the zero entry of the Poly and the different depths of water at the Yacht Club. It is much easier for us since we have children of all swimming levels. I also like the view from the pools. It is very relaxing to us.

The food court at the POP imo is the best. There are so many choices that everyone is happy. The quick service at the deluxes imo is lacking. The choices are few. The plus is though that you have sit down restaurants right at your resort and full room service. Room service can be wonderful! We order lunch when we are all tired or the weather is yucky and we sit and relax and eat while watching a movie and then usually take a rest/nap. It gives us all some down time.

I think any resort can be great and we have had fun at all the ones we have stayed at, but only you can decide what it is worth to you. For us, the amenities at the Deluxes for our family are worth every dime. We like the Values but to be honest would rather pay more so our trip is easier for us.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Deluxe hotels in Disney are not deluxe in the real world.

This is also very true. You pretty much are paying for location.

 

[ireland_nicole]

As far as the noise issue, I don't know that I'd agree that the value/mods are noisier. Because of the interior hallways in the deluxe resorts, it is often noisier, especially if someone's coming in late down the hallway, and especially if they've got the wrong room after, say, inbibing too much at F&W festival. YMMV.

 

[mom2rtk]

The deluxe resorts charge what they do for 3 reasons: LOCATION, LOCATION and LOCATION!

The rooms are a little nicer, but not enough to justify the cost IMO. We stayed at the Contemporary when my daughter was in a stroller and the ability to roll on and off the monorail was PRICELESS! But alas, that was years ago, and the prices have done nothing but skyrocket. Back then you could not reserve a Magic Kingdom view, but we requested one on two occasions and loved it. I recently priced it with a reserved MK view and was SHOCKED at the price, even by Disney standards.

Once you get into the parks, there is NO difference, which I think is the way it should be. At Universal, I know you used to get Front of the Line priveleges in the parks if you stayed at one of their hotels. I'm not sure if it's still a free perk there or if you have to pay for it. That is not available at Disney, nor do I think it should be.

 

[fireflymedic]

bigger room and better soap but if you opt for the swuites than you do get a lot of extras.

but dont ever stay in a two bedroom. you can never go back. Man having that kitchen, full size frig, washer and dryer and 3 baths has ruined me.

 

[mcgypsy]

The poly is the only food court with a dole whip machine! That's the best
advantage I can think of!!!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Not just at WDW but everywhere.

There are fewer people so guest services is more attentive.

Fewer people = less noise (often they actually have a quiet section)

Fewer people = better security

Fewer people = cleaner facilities

The monorail line means easy access & less crowded transportation with more transportation options

Better restaurants

Bigger rooms


Some people say "I'm only in there to sleep" and if that's where someone is coming from I get it. But to me, it's not just the place I sleep, it's the place I wake up and come back to and it sets my mood for the entire stay.

 

[happymommy]

I have never stayed at a value or moderate Disney resort, but did stay offsite very budget with my (now) DH the year before we got married (at a Residence Inn in Kissimmee, which is now some super cheap hotel). We did have a great fun vacation! It was his first one ever in his life.

I like having:

a balcony,
queen beds (not double) or a king
room service
a pool with a slide for my kids
and interior corridors.

I go frequently alone with my kids, and wouldn't feel so safe without interior corridors.

I need the balcony for my morning coffee, so I don't wake the kids. Now, I can and have done the go into the bathroom thing when they were younger, but I do like a balcony. Also, DH has asthma, so I have to have some fresh air.

I do not like being on the monorail (although we did love our stays at the GF), as the MK isn't our favorite theme park. We love Epcot, so really my ideal place to stay is the Swan and Dolphin (the pool is great, the service is good, and the price is very low) or the BWV (love having the space and the washer/dryer, and the location).

We usually order room service a few times, as sometimes we're tired late at night. I also love that at the Swan and Dolphin, you can order movies on demand. I wish Disney had better tv choices like that! It's not like we watch a ton of tv, but it's nice to have something either at night with some snack, or when they were younger to watch while I got us ready in the morning.

 

[katied]

I agree with LOCATION! From Boardwalk, and Beach and Yacht Club, you can walk to Epcot and DHS. From Contemporary, you can walk to MK or take the monorail to Epcot. GF and Poly also have the monorail to MK and Epcot. That's key for me.