Are Deluxe and Moderates really worth it?

[Mur]

This question is more for those who have stayed at one of the Values and one of the Deluxes/Moderates. I understand everyone's financial and family situations are different, but I'm just wondering if the price difference was or was not really worth it for you. Sorry if this has been asked before!

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

IMO,
Absolutely! Only though at a good Discount. I won't pay rack (for anything!). I cheap out on other things to save more money for Disney and I find it makes vacations more enjoyable when I can get something nice. However as much as I love deluxe, if I can't get a good price, I will just go to Pop. So it's all price for me.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

Here is how we determine which category resort we will be staying at when we book; can we pay it all off without paying any additional interest charges when we get home. It is really that simple for us. We have stayed in all categories including value, because that is what we could afford at the time. It is getting harder and harder for us to stay in a Deluxe as much as we would like to. In our upcoming (2016) WDW stay we will be at POR but I was really hoping for either WL, Poly, or AKL. None of those three are going to work. I really do believe that you get what you pay for. Better dining choices, theme/landscaping, more choices for transportation (in some cases), extras like rentals; surrey bikes, water mouse, fishing. Of course you could hope into your car of Disney bus and get to those but sometimes I am just feeling lazy.

But I can honestly say, that I am okay with a Moderate (value if it ends up being that in the end). Because we really have had great experiences at each of the resorts that we have stayed at. From Cleanliness to the GREAT Cast Members.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I agree with PP about never paying rack rate no matter which category you choose. Yes, I think that especially mods are worth it. Maybe deluxe, depending on what kind discount you can get.

 

[raddisneyfan]

MY OPINION--Value, nice room, nice theming; Moderate, nice room, better theming; Deluxe, better room, better theming. Basically, the deluxe gives you both better theming (a lot of the moderates have great theming too) and definitely nicer and bigger rooms than both the value and moderates. Is it worth it, I don't think anyone can tell you that. I think you can only decide by experience. If this is your first time and you stay at a Value--you'll see--plenty of people love them. I'm older and am lucky enough to be able to stay at Deluxe resorts, but love the moderates just as well. I probably wouldn't like the Values that much because of the theming compared to the other resorts and since I've been to Disney so many times now, I really do spend more time in the rooms. If I'm going to stay at Disney, I really want to feel immersed in the experience. I must say though, if money is a real issue, that for even the price of a Value, you can get something much nicer off-property. I always feel kind of like a crazy person for staying at Disney as much as I do, because you can get some really good deals offsite--much larger accommodations and some pretty good theming out there as well. Of course, there is the tradeoff--you don't get to use Magical Express, you have to pay for parking at the Disney parks, you don't get to get in early or stay late at any of the parks--extra magic hours, you don't get to do Fastpass as early, etc. You also might want to judge by where you would normally stay when you travel in general--do you normally stay at Motel 6, Sleep Inn, Travelodge or, are you more like to stay at say Marriott, Hilton, or Hyatt. If you've stayed at both types, then you'll know what the difference is between a Value and Deluxe property at Disney. Hope this helps--and again, to you and to all who may comment on my comments--this is ONLY MY OPINION. No matter what you do, you'll have a great time--it's Disney after all!! Time to celebrate!!

 

[gtpoohbear]

We've stayed at every resort level at least twice. And as far as whether it is "worth it" for the deluxes and moderates, for us it depends a lot on how much we will be in the room or at the resort. If the trip is going to be more park-focused and we'll really just be in the room to sleep, then I wouldn't pay for more than a value. If it is to be more of a relaxing vacation where we spend time at the pool, eating TS at the hotel, etc, then I'm willing to splurge for the mod or deluxe.

It also seems to align with the trip length, but that may also just be because it correlates to how we are going to spend our time. On short trips, we tend to do marathon park days, since we aren't having to pace ourselves, and therefore are more likely to stay in a value. On a longer trip, we want to have time to relax and will stay deluxe. It's never been the primary reason for the decision, but I also wonder how comfortable we would be in a value for a whole week. We've never stayed more than 2 nights in one, and the rooms are a little cramped.

 

[emsstacey]

I haven't stayed at each category but have visited and researched and here are my selling points for going mod or deluxe... our kids are tween/teen and we need the bigger beds. We also appreciated the pull down bed so the kids could each have their own spot and not fight when tired at the end of a day. We also wasted a lot of time waiting for buses and that was not fun... we agreed that we will stay at a monorail resort or BC/YC where we can walk to Epcot. Disney is never cheap... so when you spend that much money, we feel you might as well spend the extra to have those conveniences. I found some good deals, too... would never pay rack rate (I think it's too much to pay $400/night or more for a hotel room that doesn't even have breakfast. lol!)

 

[Micca]

Only stayed at a value one time, didn't care for it. We thought CSR was a big step-up from value and well worth it.

 

[AndiSlamberg]

I think this comes down to personal preference and what you're looking for in a hotel. We've been all over the map POP, Boardwalk, AOA, Coronado Springs, CBR, Port Orleans French Quarter. Honestly we prefer POP the best. We love the food court, the bus system, the price point. We don't spend a lot of time in the room, pretty much just to sleep.
I will say the best perks about the deluxe resorts are their locations. Loved the quick walk to Epcot from the Boardwalk and the boats.
So really you need the weigh the needs/wants of your family and decide if they are worth the price you're going to pay.

 

[Kristibo42]

Not worth it. I stayed at POR it was nice. But we love POP. The food court is opened late and I don't go to DISNEY for the resorts. I can visit all of them and don't have to pay the price. I have even used there pools with no problems. I would rather use the money for other things.

 

[porschegrl]

I will say the best perks about the deluxe resorts are their locations.

+1

 

[baldy6060]

Out first stay on property was POFQ. It was awesome! The next year we spent our honeymoon at WL. Amazing! Felt like home. But I thought that POFQ was the better value. I thought I didn't get enough more to justify the cost. So the next trip we went back to the moderate level at CSR. Unfortunately, we just didn't like the resort. To make matters worse, we revisited WL for dinner and breakfast during that trip. We missed "home." We have been looking to buy a home recently so our last trip was, GASP!, a value resort! After 2 moderates and a deluxe?! So we stayed at Pop with my teen son and then 18 month old. It was incredible! And for the price difference, unbeatable! Sure, we would love the bigger room, the detailed theming, the "home-y" feel but Pop was more than sufficient. Our next trip we are renting points and staying at VWL and AKV but our arrival night will be back at Pop and I'm excited to come back. I described my feelings to my wife the other day. I said "It would be nice to live in a mansion but it's not necessary. Sometimes a nice cabin in the woods sounds perfect but it's more than we need. Really, just a quaint house is all that's necessary and it can still feel like home."

 

[limabeanmom2003]

We have stayed at all levels and they are all good! My kids loved the all stars when they were little and we loved staying there because of them. I have great memories of being at the all stars when they first opened with my parents. That being said, there are great deals to be found at the deluxe resorts and the level of service you get there is worth the price difference.

 

[Disneyhenry]

It depends, if you are going to use the room just to sleep in or if you are going to take time and enjoy your resort. I can't go non stop to the parks, I enjoy relaxing time at my resort and so a deluxe is worth it to me. We also like our balcony so just another reason we like deluxe, I know not all deluxe's have balcony's but we try to choose ones that do. I have stayed at PoP it was nice, just not as relaxing.

 

[Babsy]

Yes.

 

[Spoiledraf]

We have stayed at values several times for one night to get a jump on our stay when we arrive late in the day an one night at POR. We wait until we can afford a deluxe. We've had a few bad experiences with other guest at value. Noise level from other guests was also annoying. Convenience of many deluxe resorts is a real draw. Walking to Epcot or DS from the Epcot resorts or the monorail from MK resorts is hard to beat. Food options are so much better. Rooms and beds are so much better. And I like the interior doors. Plus deluxe rooms are the only way my wife will let me go to Disney so....

 

[dkrauss]

To me the question is so subjective. Everyone has a different point of view and that's what works for them. My wife and I are older and we love the amenities, resturants and park access that the deluxe resorts offer. However I do agree that paying rack rate is a no-no (at least for us). We've both done PORFQ and enjoyed it because it was with our children (when they were younger) but that was based on cost then.....when that was the least expensive place on site. Doing LM room in Dec because we like the theming of AoA. So even in our own little world we have different thoughts depending on the situation at the time.

Do I think deluxes are worth it.....YES....YES I DO! Are mods better than values......I dunno? The mods seem to be much more spread out as a general rule (except for PORFQ). Look at CBR or CSR how spreadout they are......they would be a negative for me........for me tho. So for me......I'd go with the value and save the money.

But again all this is me

Doug

 

[emilyann415]

Not worth it. I stayed at POR it was nice. But we love POP. The food court is opened late and I don't go to DISNEY for the resorts. I can visit all of them and don't have to pay the price. I have even used there pools with no problems. I would rather use the money for other things.

I don't know if this is just someone trying to start a heated debate for fun...if so I will simply say and I'm sure you already know.....you aren't allowed to use the pools at the resorts you aren't staying at. So plan on using the pool at the hotel you are staying at. That aside....I view the different levels of resorts as being better at each level with their theme. At the values they are fun but in a cartoonie kind of way....I love them but they just don't immerse me in the theme like the moderates and deluxes do. Port Orleans Riverside, I feel like I am in a southern plantation, Poly I feel like I'm in Hawaii, etc. Just my opinion.

 

[hamilkm]

I agree with what many here have already said. It really depends on the trip. When just my mom and I go, we usually stay at a moderate because we like to spend afternoons at the resort and appreciate the better landscaping/pools. We are trying a deluxe for the first time in less than 3 weeks because we got an amazing deal, and I am very excited! We are also planning a stay at POP in January because we are taking family/friends who will be experiencing their first Disney trip and with shorter park hours know we will be doing the parks open to close. I also agree to never pay rack rate!

 

[Accident]

There is so many ways to get discounts that many that stay at the higher ends aren't paying much more than a value or moderate for it.

We stay at a value if we're traveling with someone that can't afford anything except a value. Generally they also can't stay as long so we'll consider resort hopping but we've never actually done it. We prefer to stay at a moderate when budget allows, room wise it's usually not much more than a value if your staying in a standard room. Food wise, there tends to be a lot more options. This might seem trivial but we had a medical need last year that we stayed at the resort for 3 days (OR) we're taking trips so long that a single, lower end food court is just not enough choice for us.

We also like that moderates tend to have much better bus placement at the parks. With the right discount it tends to be almost the same cost as a value a lot of the time. For example we're saving money at a moderate and free meal plan this next trip because it was a better meal plan that fits how we intend to visit the restaurants this trip. The free meal plan offered at a value, even if upgraded, came out a few dollars more a day than a moderate and not upgrading the meal plan. We're not a huge family though so if we had 1 more person with us, this wouldn't be true.

As far as deluxe, it's special occasions for us. We're doing a father/daughter on our birthday trip this spring and we plan to be at my daughters dream room for a couple days for her birthday and do a value or moderate to offset the cost the rest of the trip. We like staying no less than a week and a deluxe for a week wouldn't allow us to be there a week or visit as often as we do. If we come does for december again, that might be the special occasion where we just go deluxe the whole week. Some of the deluxe resorts are really decorated and feel like the holidays much more than others.