Are WDW deluxe's worth the $?

[mark smith]

We are fast approaching our 5th trip in less than 4 years. (9 nights 10/28-11/6). We have always stayed at the GF(LV&GV) and one split stay at the AKL. Love the GF and enjoyed 2 nights at AKL(but would not want to stay longer, as we love the convienence of the GF). We have always traveled in value season prior, and have been fortunate to enjoy AP or other discounts for all of our past trips.

We travel extensively and fortunately can afford high end properties, so we are used to high room rates(although I do enjoy searching for deals, as long as they do not compromise the enjoyment of the trip). At WDW we find ourselves(like most) at the parks during the day, a swim in the pm, often dinner at the resort and then to bed and all over again the next day.

We have never been disapointed in the GF in any way, but I am having trouble feeling comfortable w/ the$400+/night rates for this upcoming trip. We love WDW(and GF, as noted), but I think Subconsciously feel the costs for deluxes(particulary during regular season, without real discounts just dont make sense and/or compare to other 4 or 5 star resorts we stay at in comprable regular seasons in other destinations(often at equal or greater cost than WDW, but sometimes even less).

Sorry to ramble, but does anyone else feel this ambivalence? And if so what do you usually end up doing? Thanks.

 

[henrylovespooh]

I absolutely understand where you're coming from. I struggle before booking each trip, especially now that DH and I have two toddlers. I always start out looking at the deluxes and then end up going with a moderate, and more recently, a value resort because I just can't justify spending the money on a place we're never at for very long.

There are trips where DH and I relax and enjoy the hotel we're in. That is not the case at Disney - our room is a place to sleep and shower. So now when I book, I think of the money I would spend on a deluxe and what that money could be used for instead. And our kids really like ASMo because of the disney character stuff there, so it's worth it for us.

When WDW ran a special where you bought four nights and got three free, I went Deluxe without hesitation. If a special like that were to come along again, I would do it again, especially to be on the Monorail route. But until something like that happens again, we'll be staying in a moderate or value and liking it just fine.

 

[shelly3girls]

Have you tried for a AAA discount? We always check out the GF and the Poly to see which one we can get a discount. We have also stayed at the WL and enjoyed it even though it was not on the monorail. We felt the same way about the AKL as you did. In the end we always split our stay between the GF or Poly then the BCV. It is very pricey at times but worth it for us.

 

[Sammie]

To me it is worth it, if I can pay the price and sleep good at night. If I am constantly trying to justify the cost to the point it makes me uncomfortable, I book something less expensive.

I love the Grand Floridian, it's my favorite resort. But when the cost is too much for my budget I stay at the Yacht Club. Same luxury with a little less cost.

 

[Tigger113]

To me it's worth it as a treat. If you go to Disney every year just stay at a moderate or value once in a while, But I do LOVE to stay at the Deluxe hotels. (The poly. is my favorite!)

 

[*Fantasia*]

I think it's worth it to stay in deluxe resorts. However.. if I'm on a tight budget and it's going to leave a dent on my wallet and not be able to enjoy Disney... then there's no resort that is worth that much. I mean I'd rather stay deluxe however...if my budget doesn't allow me.. then I need to change to moderate and I am fine with that because I do have a favorite moderate which is POFQ!

 

[tomerin]

our switch to deluxes and then to DVC really had to do with 2 things: we are now able to afford a deluxe resort and that is good because my 2 DS are now quite the growing teens who need the room. cant sleep together so it is either bunk beds at the WL or sleeping on the floor on the aerobed and the other one on the couch at SSR. the cost is worth it for us.

 

[Frankiesmom]

we stayed @ akl

 

[Frankiesmom]

Sorry-hit the submit button-We stayed @ AKL our 1st trip for 5 nites-we loved it! We just returned last week from a 1 nite post cruise stay @ all star movies-we were not really impressed. We are doing a land/sea in jan. and we are going to try POFQ-Have heard nothing but great things! But maybe staying @ a deluxe for our 1st trip has spoiled us?! We'll just have to see!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Interesting question....

While I think the Deluxes are wonderful, I just can't get my mind around spending that much for one night...especially at GF.

It's gorgeous and everything and I would love to be on the monorail line, but I always think of all the other things I could do/buy at Disney with the extra money and I go moderate.

Everyone has their limit though, I'm sure there are people who stay at the Values because they can't imagine spending the extra for a moderate!

I would love to stay at the Poly again one day, it's actually my favorite, but they are definitely over my "comfortable" about spending it limit. I've even thought about saving up up for a stay at the Poly, but I'm afraid if I did stay there, I'd probably wind up spending my whole time at the resort and not go to the parks to make sure I felt like I was getting my money's worth!

 

[JudimouseNC]

Hubby and I love thw WL and have stayed there many times, but only when we could get a good rate. This coming trip we are staying at All Star Movies for the first time. Alot of factors went into this decision, money and lack of AP discounts being two of them. the fact that we have custody of our two grandchildre, ages 3 and 19 months, is the main factor.

The WL has alot of nice amenities and we love the stmosphere. When the two of us go, we spend alot more time at the resort....but on a trip like the one we have coming up, we KNOW we will spend less time at the resort. So, we will save the $$$ and buy more Mickey Ice Cream Bars!

Are the deluxe resorts worth it? Most definately if the cost is something you can bear without worrying aobut it.

 

[thumpersfriend]

This is a good question- I too worry about spending that amount of money on a delux. Mostly because I have to save for several years in order to do it. I also have to have 3-4 rooms so imagine the cost of that! I also think (although it is different) that when we went to Las Vegas the whole package was $600 per person to stay at the Mirage. That was plane fare and everything. So I would say that yes the deluxes are overpriced but they are also part of the whole fantasy of going to WDW. I know I think of the resorts and where we will stay much more than thinking about going to the parks.

 

[mark smith]

Just checked responces this am, thanks for the time and insights.

 

[Starrin]

We have always stayed in Deluxe accomodations. Our last trip in Jan at GF ... I really questioned what the heck we were spending our money upon.

Our day was to eat breakfast in the room, go to the park before it opened and we would leave at park closing. So when when we got home all of us just hit the beds and woke up and started over again. The only time we saw the lobby was during check-in/out and when we walked to get to the mono-rail.

So we are heading back to GF this last week of Sept. .... this time we have a 4 month old coming with us. I have a feeling we will spend more time at the hotel.

I share your thoughts on is this the best place to put the money. For now, we will continue doing the Deluxe ... if anything the mono-rail is what keeps us going back as we absolutely love the idea of always being within minutes of the transportation and hotel.

 

[minnie61650]

Actually the GF , Poly and CR are only rated 3 star most of time with the exception of the AAA rating of 4 dimonds. The deluxe resorts do not have 4 star sevice. The cost is that of a 4 or 5 star resort but guests are paying for location and admenities not service.
If a certain location or view is very important to you then it is worth it.

I am 55 years old and travel several times a year. I also often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe resorts do not have anything special for me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.
To me its like being in the middle of a Disney movie Fantasyland.I love watching children having so much fun there. It is almost as much fun as the MK. JMHO


I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theaming is pure Disney.
My last 4 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we take dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we are staying at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?
Have a great time at Disney!
Linda

 

[minnie61650]

We have always stayed in Deluxe accomodations. Our last trip in Jan at GF ... I really questioned what the heck we were spending our money upon...........

I share your thoughts on is this the best place to put the money. For now, we will continue doing the Deluxe ... if anything the mono-rail is what keeps us going back as we absolutely love the idea of always being within minutes of the transportation and hotel.

We absolutly love the fact that bus rides are very short from the All Stars.
It only takes 10 minutes to get to Empcot,MGM and AK and it takes 20 min. to get to the MK. That's the same amount it takes to get the MK by monorail.
Plus we don't have to go to the TTC to get to Epcot!
Linda

 

[10drum]

I think the main advantage to a deluxe is, location and/or transportation.

In '04 we went at Easter(no codes), and to save money we stayed at CSR. It was great, the pool was great, food was great, and the bus service was better than BC/YC.

We went in '04 and went back to the BC($179/nite), mainly for location to Epcot and MGM. We have always had a good discount code when staying deluxe, and used AAA at CSR.

I don't see how anyone can justify rack rates at a Disney resort.

 

[Viki]

We're totally spoiled by the deluxe resorts and we are almost always back in our resorts by the early afternoon so that we can rest and enjoy them, before making our way back out in the evening (or not!).

Like another poster mentioned, that's one of the reasons we joined the DVC.

But we are still always on the lookout for a good deal for an extra trip here and there.

 

[thumpersfriend]

When my DD and I stayed at the Poly in April the biggest 2 things I remember were that we couldn't even get in the volcano pool at the Poly because it was so busy. Also, no place to sit out of the sun,all the chairs were taken. I was very dissappointed but we dealt with it. We used the quiet pool though, but I bet the moderate resorts pool was better than that. Another was I didn't think the transportation for MGM,AK or DTD was so special. It took us so long after dropping off at other resorts. So, I made up my mind that a deluxe at rack rate is not such a good deal. If I got a special code or somthing I would. I know people say that if you have children it is great for the transportation ,but if I went with my little granddaughter and couldn't use the volcano pool ,I would really feel stupid paying that amount of money.

 

[DisFlan]

Sorry to ramble, but does anyone else feel this ambivalence? And if so what do you usually end up doing? Thanks.

Definately check out the Disney Vacation Club.


DisFlan