ASMU or deluxe. . .

[nurse.darcy]

Here is the deal. . .

I can go for nine nights (10 days) at ASMu for a minimum of $1,000 less than any WDW deluxe property. The problem is I love deluxe. HOWEVER, I went to ASMu last year and really had a blast. . .it was my first trip to the World. Anyway, my son really wants to go to the contemporary. . .garden view is not available, only MK tower view. Would you spend the extra money? Would you spend the extra money for ANY Deluxe? (I happen to like BC/YC because of the lazy river in SAB. . .).

 

[720L]

I would do a split stay. Stay at the Contemporary for a couple nights. As much as I love deluxes, I don't want to spend all my money there. The Contemporary is wonderful btw!

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I love the deluxe resorts --- but always have trouble spending that extra cash. It just seems so hard to justify when our family actually spends so very little time in the room or at the resort. Maybe a moderate would be the way to go......

 

[Eeyore1925]

We have stayed at Value, Mod, & Deluxe. I have to admit, I much prefer the deluxe but have a hard time justifying the cost.

We are arriving at WDW in 24 days . Will be staying at ASMu. For less than the cost of 1 room at a Deluxe, we can have 2 rooms and spread out at ASMu.

Any way you look at it, you are at WDW and get all the perks of being onsite.

 

[typhoonlagooner]

Couldn't agree with past posters more...

We're planning on going in Sept and my original goal was to stay at the Y&BC. After our stay at ASmu, I'm having a very hard time justifying the cost and the sacrafices I may have to make during our vacation.

We love the extra things like minature golf, boat rentals, shopping, tours, etc. and when paying over $300 a night for a room... it limits what we can do. I guess it really depends on what kind of vacation you enjoy as well. We had originally chose Y&BC for the location and pool... but soon realized there'd be no extra "frills" for us with that price tag.

If money truly wasn't an issue, we'd stay deluxe in a heart beat and really enjoy everything it has to offer... but for us... we look at where we can get the most for our money and vacation. For right now... that's the value resorts. I'm hoping my upcoming stay at the GF won't taint me

 

[pepe of ohio]

We have no problem justifying the cost of a deluxe, we're only going around this life once and relaxing and enjoying a hard earned vacation is important to us. We do spend alot of time at the resort. We're not, stay in the parks from open to close people, we've been to WDW, 40X, to have did and seen just about everything and enjoying our time on property and relaxing is prime to us. We do not like outside corridors at the resorts, we like being pampered and waited on, we like the deluxe feeling of the themed pools and grounds and we especially like the closeness to the parks that the deluxes provide, and we don't have any complaints paying for the convenience. Now I can't see paying the huge rack rates of the GF, Poly or CR unless a super discount is available, but there are a couple of lesser priced deluxes around the World, AKL, which we don't like and WL, which has become our favorite, stayed here for the last 5 or so trips. Its hard to pass on 185.-200 dollars a night for the likes of the Lodge and being a boat ride from the MK and we feel the best looks is on the lakes around the MK. We spend some time in FW and thats a boat ride away and a boat ride to CR gets us on the monorail to EPCOT. Everyone has their own take on spending their money, so use the resorts just to sleep but we enjoy our resort as much as the parks and we also enjoy all the transportation services Disney provides as a part of our stay, we never rent a car either, another unnecessary expense we feel. Everyone does Disney in their own way, for our hard earned bucks, it deluxe.

 

[msr709]

My 2 cents on this would be that it comes down to how much time do you spend in the room? If you are spending a lot of time at the resort, I would go deluxe, if not, the value or moderate. I would love go the deluxe way every time but I'd rather spend more time at WDW at a value or moderate then less time to just stay at a deluxe. HTH

 

[nurse.darcy]

Okay, here is the deal, I can afford the deluxe no problem. However, keep in mind that my son is 15 and will probably spend ALL his time in the parks and water parks. . .and as his mother I find it is my "duty" (lol) to accompany him (unless his friend gets to come with us, then this discussion is moot because we WILL stay deluxe to have 2+ beds (the plus is for the day bed/couch which my son always thinks is better than a bed). My reason for asking is that for that $1000 difference we can eat at better restaurants (which my son DOES care about), take special tours, buy more pins (my son loves to pin trade), etc. We would do these things anyway but this would just mean we could do MORE. . .

The hardest part is I am a deluxe girl through and through. However, had a great time at ASMu last year (son's father would not CONSIDER going deluxe) and had no issues with the busses. . .Oh what's a spoiled girl to do. . .lol.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Given your scenario, if its just you and your son I would go with Music. I am much like you, I can afford deluxe but always think about the other things I could do with the difference. I too am sort of deluxe girl but I am also sort of cheap! And while we do have our DVC, we are always short on points and each year have to do some sort of offsite stay for that extra trip we always seem to end up taking! And almost always we end up doing value or maybe moderate. And never regret that one bit. Several times I have booked deluxe only to change it to value because in the end I just cannot justify that high cost. As long as I am onsite, I am happy!

I had this same dilemma for our upcoming trip in April. As you can see by my sig, I chose Music.

I do agree that if the room is where you hang out, then deluxe is your best bet, not only for the space but the balcony. However, I find that hanging out at the pool, a value pool is just as fun as a deluxe pool. No hot tub or slide but I can live with that and so can my kids. I just get my usual fruity pool bar drink, my book and tell my kids to hop in and have fun! That works just as well at a value as deluxe and we always spend a minimum of one resort day at the pool regardless of level.

If the friend comes, you are smart to do as you said!

 

[fall08CP]

So why not a mod? You get a little of both worlds.. save some money but a little nicer than a value.

 

[kscottiemom]

We don't spend lots of time in our room, but when we are there we prefer for it to be QUIET, without noise in the halls, and we want insulation in the walls so that we don't hear the people next door. This happened to us at AKL where I think the walls are made of tissue.

Also, when I am ready to go to bed I want to be undisturbed, so the All Stars wouldn't work for us. I really like Magnolia Bend at POR.

Of course money is an issue, be real, but so is comfort.

 

[nurse.darcy]

So why not a mod? You get a little of both worlds.. save some money but a little nicer than a value.

I am thinking about a moderate, but for just a teensy bit more money than a moderate I can stay at the Dolphin (nurse discount) and be near the boardwalk and 2 parks. No, if I don't do a deluxe, I will probably go back to ASMu.

 

[vbarry]

I think the Dolphin would be a good choice. Your son's age is perfect to be close to Epcot and the Boardwalk!

 

[valley526]

I agree with other post. make the most of your vacation time. my husband and i both agree that the transportation is important. we stayed at WL this yr. loved, loved it. the transportation was easy. waiting around was not part of our itinerary. we would rather pay the extra money, and have easy access to the parks. my husband's motto, is you pay for what you get. and i never like to hear him say i told you so! WL was very friendly , accomidating, and quick check-in. of coarse we used magical express, which was great. we also like the indoor corridors, i hate outside. it was not noisy , like i have heard some of the other value resorts talk about. people were reading, relaxing in the Lobby. i am not sure if you could do that there at value . i would recommend deluxe, we are no means able to afford everything. but staying in a deluxe makes you really feel better, and that we were on vacation, instead of waiting in lines for everything, especially if you have children. the deluxe seems ready and able to accomidate, more than a value. they would help you decide which room size would best suit you for you and your family.

 

[mpbs]

I used to do value when my children were small, now that there teenagers I prefer deluxe. I like what they have to offer in convenience. Me personally that is in part what makes it a vacation for me.

 

[iloveeeyore]

I am thinking about a moderate, but for just a teensy bit more money than a moderate I can stay at the Dolphin (nurse discount) and be near the boardwalk and 2 parks. No, if I don't do a deluxe, I will probably go back to ASMu.

I was going to suggest this. Why not stay at the Swan or Dolphin with those great nurses' rates? Seems like the perfect compromise. Deluxe accommodations at a more moderate price! MUCH more affordable than CR MK view, no? And in a fabulous location. You could even book or get upgraded to a theme park view! I think it would make everyone happy.

FWIW, that view of MK from CR is really something special...you can appreciate it by dining at California Grill, even if you stay somewhere else.

 

[mr.mike]

We have done split stays with POP or All-Stars and the monorail resorts.


What I can't justify is the moderates. If i want to save money the values it is but if im going to spend more I dont want to depend on buses only and will stay deluxe.
What we used to do was go to MGM or AK while at the Values and then go to EPCOT and the MK went at the deluxes.