Bummed about deluxe resort rates

[1rockinmamato2]

Honestly, I have no idea how so many people are able to spend $300 or more a night for a week at a Disney resort. I suppose I'm a lot poorer that I thought I was.

We're doing good to be able to make it there at $179 for a family suite at All-Star Music.

How on earth will I EVER be able to afford for my family to spend time at one of the deluxe resorts? I just can't imagine! I guess many people are spending way more than we are on our upcoming trip and it's not cheap!

I suppose I need to start playing the lottery!

 

[binky]

Honestly, I have no idea how so many people are able to spend $300 or more a night for a week at a Disney resort. I suppose I'm a lot poorer that I thought I was.

We're doing good to be able to make it there at $179 for a family suite at All-Star Music.

How on earth will I EVER be able to afford for my family to spend time at one of the deluxe resorts? I just can't imagine! I guess many people are spending way more than we are on our upcoming trip and it's not cheap!

I suppose I need to start playing the lottery!

I'm with you! We've stayed at moderates twice, and I think it was a reasonable price for a hotel room. The deluxe prices are way too high for me. We COULD do it; I mean we wouldn't go hungry, but I just can't justify it. I'm too money-conservative ((cheap))

 

[TheLastPrincess]

Don't feel bad. We would NEVER have been able to stay at a deluxe resort when I was growing up (had they not been offered to us for nothing). My parents never had much money, and we were stretching it even to stay a moderate these past few years.

Now, because I'm having a simple wedding, my DF and I are taking all the money we've saved on not having a big, expensive wedding and splurging a little on a deluxe resort. However, we still can't afford to stay at the GF, Poly, or any of the really super awesome deluxe resorts. Just the cheapest one they're offering right now with free dining, with a standard room, the AKL.

The best thing about Disney, however, is that they don't discriminate based on where you're staying. Value Guests and Deluxe Guests still have access to all the amenities of staying at Disney. Disney is Disney!

 

[AmberI]

I know how you feel. We have the money to stay the whole time AFL, but I can't bring my self to spending that much when I can have 2 trips at a value resort. Grrr, but we will be staying one night at the AKL the last day we leave.

 

[lulugirl]

I hear ya! We typically stay for 8-10 nights, there is no way I can justify the expense for a deluxe I would really love the stay at one of the Epcot resorts but w/ out a really great discount, not gonna happen.
It's a good thing the family and I love the moderates!

 

[ronirp]

The way I do it (well this is the first time), is by splitting the stay, and staying 3 nights at a deluxe. We are staying during value season which helps, and for 3 nights it is expensive but doable. We are staying 5 nights at a moderate.

 

[minnie61650]

....The best thing about Disney, however, is that they don't discriminate based on where you're staying. Value Guests and Deluxe Guests still have access to all the amenities of staying at Disney. Disney is Disney!

I agree Disney's value and mod resorts are a total bargain. You get so many perks (Disney themeing, Disney transportation, and EMH)
Any of Disney's resort guests (even those staying at a value or mod) are allowed to shop, rent bikes at FW, Surreys, boats, dine, use the transportation or spa facilities at any of the Disney Resorts. (Of course pool hopping is not allowed.)

 

[minnie61650]

I hear ya! We typically stay for 8-10 nights, there is no way I can justify the expense for a deluxe I would really love the stay at one of the Epcot resorts but w/ out a really great discount, not gonna happen.
It's a good thing the family and I love the moderates!

If you would like to stay at an Epcot resort with a great discount watch for specials at the Swan & Dolphin resorts.

The Swan & Dolphin resorts offen have great rates that cost about as much as a Disney Moderate.

They are real 4 star hotel.

Deluxe but not as expensive as Disney's deluxe resorts.

The heavenly beds are ...well heavenly.
The Grotto pool and hot tubs are fun and relaxing.
Plus Epcot and MGM are just a short boat ride or walk away!
From Epcot hop on the monorail and head on over to the MK!

*note photos are from allearsnet

Have fun at Disney !

 

[chasgoose]

We don't go to Disney World that often and when we do its usually only for 6 days at most (any longer and we would probably go crazy. we love disney, but if we stay too long we start hating it). So when we do it is worth it to stay at a Deluxe and get the best experience we can.

 

[PamNC]

The way we manage a deluxe resort is we never pay rack rate, we always get an AP discount or a discount of some sort. Sometimes we stay at the Swan or Dolphin because, like another poster said, it truly is a 4 star experience. I think the other reason we can do it is because we don't have kids, it's just me and DH. I'm sure it's major expensive for families with 1, 2, 3or more kids to go. If we had kid(s), I know we couldn't go as often or stay deluxe every time.

PamNC

 

[CinRell]

Heck I can't even afford to go and stay in a value resort

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Here's how we did it -- we booked a land/sea package, and since our room had a balcony on the ship, we automatically had to stay in a deluxe room! We had our choice of the BC, AKL or CB, and chose the Beach Club.

Without a compelling reason to stay Deluxe, I think it can be hard to justify. We only take one big vacation a year, and it's not always at Disney. When it is, if there is a good reason, I plan to try to stay Deluxe.

But I agree, the rates do seem sky high...

 

[C_leen]

I'm sure with the rate of exchange, many international visitors are having wonderful visits 'on the cheap.'

 

[mylightshines]

Honestly, I have no idea how so many people are able to spend $300 or more a night for a week at a Disney resort. I suppose I'm a lot poorer that I thought I was.

We're doing good to be able to make it there at $179 for a family suite at All-Star Music.

How on earth will I EVER be able to afford for my family to spend time at one of the deluxe resorts? I just can't imagine! I guess many people are spending way more than we are on our upcoming trip and it's not cheap!

I suppose I need to start playing the lottery!

We are are value rate family. We love Pop Century (for the hotel and the rates). This year we got AP passes. We are going in July and staying at Boardwalk for $194 a night. We wanted to stay 8 nights, but decided to trip it down to 7 nights to save a little money. We decided since it was going to be extremely hot in July, it was better to spend a little more money and be able to get back to our room more quickly in the heat and not spend so much time traveling and/or waiting in the long Pop Century lines.

 

[peyjax]

Congratulations on your trip with your new family! We adopted our two sons as well, and i am sure you know that is not cheap. We are taking both our boys this September and are so excited! We took our 2 year old last year and we rented points from a dvc owner and stayed at the Beach Club Villas.This makes it so much easier to afford. Basically it ended up being the price of a moderate. We had the best time. THis year we are staying at a moderate and I am sort of wishing that we rented points again. However with free dining it is a better way to go! We are still very happy with our choice and with the four of us, my family, my husbands family, and several of our friends we are sure to have a great time! Wherever you stay, just remember you are at disney and as a PP mentioned Disney does not discriminate! (hi Colleen!)

 

[SnowWtch]

The only way we can afford a Deluxe is that we booked last Oct for this Dec for a Standard room with the AAA discount. We're scrimping and saving to pay for it. It's hard but booking that far in advance for a room helps. Hoping to change that to an AP rate at some point in the future too. We've never been able to stay in a Deluxe before so it should be fun.

 

[AmberI]

Very true, some people can't afford to go to disney at all. I guess i'm lucky to even be able to stay at a value and not worry about the cost.

 

[kapoof]

we go only once a year, that how we afford it. you can check out wl and akl the standard room is like 215 a night a bit less expensive, or like someone else mention the s/d. i have seen rates there during a special time as low as 125 a night!

 

[txmomto1]

I was really thinking of upgrading to a moderate from POP this September, but have decided against it. It would be $350 more total.... I'd rather use that money elsewhere. Plus, the value resorts are so cute, and really ideal for my DS who is 4.

I've always been the sort of person that would rather spend less on a room, but travel more frequently... like going twice this year, for what we have paid we could have easily done a deluxe, but I'd rather go more often.

I'm also the person who slept in train stations in Germany and slept on bunk beds at hostels during college.

WDW does not seem like a relaxing vacation to me.

 

[HayGan]

On my first trip to WDW (that I paid for), we stayed at the POLY. It was always my dream to stay there so we did and we LOVED it! What I didn't love was paying $300 a night for a room. Since then we have rented points and stayed at OKW as well as a couple trips to POP. While I really enjoyed the more layed back atmosphere of the POLY and of course the monorail, I have a hard time justifing stying there where we go so often. I'm sure we will stay deluxe again but it won't be all the time and it will only be when we find a good deal! I'll never pay rack rates for a deluxe resort