Delux v. Value. Is it worth it?

[preschoolmom]

Don't know if this is going to make sense to you at all, but I'll try....

For our family it is either Deluxe or value. We have stayed at mods and that is where I can't justify the cost difference. IMO, values are more "fun" type resorts and deluxes are top notch for themeing and amenities. The mods get caught somewhere in-between (obviously), but I do not like the size of them or just the general "feel" of them as compared to the values or the deluxes.

For example, we are staying at Cr for our upcoming trip and decided to go back to a value (ASMu) for our trip in Nov. Mod was never a choice for us. We tend to bounce back anf forth between Deluxe and value. For the convienience and a longer trip ( if you can swing it financially) I would highly reccommend a deluxe and say it is very worth it. For a shorter trip where most time is spent in th eparks a value serves the purpose just fine.

I hope I helped and didn't confuse you more - Best wishes in your decision making.

I TOTALLY agree with this. The Deluxes and the Values appeal to me - the moderates really don't..

 

[Vivianne]

We're just two adults that have stayed only at Mods and Swolphin. I've used the gov't discount.

I've considered staying at value or deluxe but it all comes down to timing and your particular circumstance. Each has their own advantage.

I would like to try the CR.....one day.

 

[GS67]

Well, I hope you have the same experience we had at Pop. We went during off season so it wasn't crowded, which I think helped and everything just went very smoothly. The rooms are very small, but were only there to sleep & shower so it really wasn't a problem for us. I also faxed over a room request a few days before we arrived requesting a room in the 50's building, top floor, lake view (see Epcot fireworks)....a quiet room. I am a light sleeper and I did not want to be near the pools, nor have people above me. We were in room 2442 (50s) and it was great. It's farther from the main building where the food, buses, etc. are, but we didn't mind the walk.

are all the rooms in the 50 buildings with epcot it sight a ways from the food court/busses area??

 

[PrincessNoelle'sMom]

I TOTALLY agree with this. The Deluxes and the Values appeal to me - the moderates really don't..

Someone after my own heart - I always feel like a fool when trying to explain this.

 

[poolex3]

We're just two adults that have stayed only at Mods and Swolphin. I've used the gov't discount.

I've considered staying at value or deluxe but it all comes down to timing and your particular circumstance. Each has their own advantage.

I would like to try the CR.....one day.

Vivianne,
What type of Govt discount did you get? Can this be used for any of the Disney locations?

 

[bas71873]

are all the rooms in the 50 buildings with epcot it sight a ways from the food court/busses area??

unfortunately yes. but, it's not THAT far. maybe a 2 minute walk (5 with a kid) to the main hall. We never found it to be a pain and it was worth it to me to get some sleep at night and not be on top of a pool or where early birds gather in the AM

 

[GS67]

unfortunately yes. but, it's not THAT far. maybe a 2 minute walk (5 with a kid) to the main hall. We never found it to be a pain and it was worth it to me to get some sleep at night and not be on top of a pool or where early birds gather in the AM

thanks. it there a better spot to see epcot from the 50s building or are all the rooms pretty much the same view? is this a perferred location? we did not book a perferred

 

[Vivianne]

Vivianne,
What type of Govt discount did you get? Can this be used for any of the Disney locations?

No, it's a Starwood discount for Swan and Dolphin hotels. I find the requirements to be less restrictive than some other govt discounts. I've gotten the gov't rate at both hotels.

From their website:

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/support/faq/faq_detail.html?obj_id=0900c7b9805c8958#13Can I book Government Rates online?

Yes. Government rates can be booked online for Government employees on individual (non-group) government business-related travel. The eligible employees are U.S. Federal and State employees, National Government employees, active military personnel, Amtrak employees and Canadian Provincial employees. You will be required to provide the appropriate identification at check in. Please note that only one room can be booked per government employee.

 

[twinklebug]

Even the Deluxe resorts share Buses & they can get *very* hot & crowded at the end of the day. One of the best laughs I've had was when I was sitting next to a newlywed(?) couple staying at the GF who complained bitterly to each other the entire ride about all the kids on the bus who had been picked up from WL and FW.

I think there are a great variety of people who book value rooms and their reasons for doing so are just as diverse. Some people just want a bed & disney transportation. For them, no, upgrading will not be worth it. Others want the best experience possible, but can only afford the value for the time being - for them, yes, when the time is right they will enjoy the upgrade. Still others use the values for the iconic eye candy which to them *is* Disney. The value of the upgrade to a peaceful environment might be a step away from what they want. There are many many more reasons folk might stay at a value resort.

Question is, what do you want out of your Disney experience? Figure this out and decide from there if it's worth it to you to pay the extra for the room.

For me, growing up in Fort Wilderness I prefer the quiet & seclusion of WL. I also love the FW cabins, but as we tend to go during hurricane season it gets a little hairy evacuting from there when the weather turns (been there - done that!) POR is a fairly close match feel-wise to WL if you don't mind walks between buildings & no private balcony. I love the boats & their captains to/from the MK though - they're the happiest bunch of Disney cast members you'll find anywhere!

 

[blue_eyes5212]

We've always stayed at a Values and wouldn't think of doing a deluxe at this point I just can't see spending that much money on a room and "supposed" higher service. Plus, DH would have a fit We'd rather have an entire vacation without any spending limits than all the $$ on the room and then having to economize on everything else. We eat where we want, buy what we want, etc. ASMo will again be our homebase in June

I'm with you on this! I would rather use our budget being able to eat where we want and buy what we want. One day, I would like to stay at CR and Poly, but we are just not at a point where those are options if we want to continue to go every year (too long between trips makes blue_eyes5212 a sad girl ).

We were going to stay at CBR in December, but we have a couple of people going with us that need to stay at a value, so we are staying at a value as well. I would rather do that than stay separate. I love the values and my desire to stay at CBR just means that we have to plan a trip for 09!!!!!!

 

[abrock]

My answer a few years back would have been yes, it's worth it. DH and I enjoyed many trips to the deluxes. But now with kids and a "get real" financial plan I would say no. I now know what the deluxe hotels really cost in terms of retirement, college savings, etc. I just can't make a room, nice pool and food options worth that. We have recently stayed at the swan/dolphin and I would say, with a teacher rate, that is the best deal on property at $149 but now that it is up to $199 we will be staying mod or value. I can take a taxi to the deluxes for dinner or water craft and still come out WAY ahead. If I want a real resort hotel to relax at I will go to one but it would be half the price and not at disney (Westin La Cantera Resort is 2 miles from my house and the Hyatt Hill Country is about 12 miles and they are real luxury). It would not be a sacrifice in the here and now just in future terms, although we did not qualify for the tax rebate check. Maybe if we got that I would change my mind and stimulate the economy?

Monica

My husband is a teacher. What is the teacher discount?

Amber (29) DH (30) DD (3) DD (3 mos.)

 

[Liltx]

There is a teacher rate actually it is a teacher/nurse/ or anyone who works for a school discount. Used to be $149 for a view room but is now starting at $199 a night for the swan or dolphin resort which are just fantastic IMO. Still too much for me to spend now.

Monica

 

[disneydreamin247]

Granted I have yet to stay in ANY Disney resort, the reason I chose deluxe over mod or value is because of a few factors. I want to be on the monorail, I like the idea of a balcony or patio, I like the extra space. To me values and mods look like they have a motel setup in relation to the bathroom setups and such. I also like having a restaurant in the hotel. To me these things are worth the extra $$. To someone else they may not be. It depends on your own budget and what you're willing to spend and what you like your room to be.

 

[thesupersmartguy]

The Deluxe hotels are worth it!

The Yacht/Beach Clubs are the best you can get quickly to Epcot by walking and MGM (Hollywood Studios) by boat, and it's only a 5-10 minute bus ride to MK.

We have stayed at the values and planned on saying at the Port Orleans Riverside, but felt we should stay with the deluxes.


Hope this helps.

 

[joech]

We stayed at AKL for 2 weeks last Christmas and we have a hard time to decide whether or not to try value or mod for our next trip in Christmas. We should have bought the DVC when we were at Disney.

 

[morgy827]

The choice for me is between staying at a deluxe resort once every 2-3 years or staying at a moderate resort every year...the choice is obvious...I can;t be away from disney for that long!! But hey...if I had the money I would be at AKL savannah view every year!!

By the way...we love POR! I think the theming is great, bus service is reliable and reasonablly fast and we love the food court and Boatwrights. I think a moderate has some of the best points from the values and Deluxes.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We prefer the values given the price differences.

We're hardly ever in the room. So size of the room just doesn't matter. And the best part of the other hotels are the restaurants, the fancy entrances, and the like, and at AKL, the Savannah. But we are allowed to go over there and do all that stuff and we don't have to stay there. We can't use the better pools they have but we do the water parks. We did the pool at our hotel maybe once or twice. It's just not all that big a deal. We're always out to different restaurants at different hotels. So the fact that our particular hotel may not have one isn't all that big an issue for us. Other than the Pepper Market, the Values have the best food courts. We like pop the best because it has the inside bar area. We also like the Disney theming at the values. It's cute. The buses aren't really too bad unless you're caught after hours at another resort and have to route through DTD. The walk from the room to the bus can be a hassle, but it's not really that big of a bother.

 

[jaw737373]

What the heck is rope drop?

 

[DiznEeyore]

What the heck is rope drop?

Refers to when the park opens and you can actually start going on rides.

 

[kapoof]

is it worth it really depends on what is important to you. do you not mind mind long bus lines and walking a LONG way to your bus stop at the end of the day? deluxes are close to one of the major parks. so less time sitting on a bus, and waiting for one. do you not mind pools that are very nicely themed but have no slides? do you want signature dining or a food court grab and go meals? also the values are HUGE so you will be on vacation with a whole lot of people. values also have no covered bus stops and no coffee makers (except the suites at the asmu) the price is very attractive at the values however, and lots of people love them. i drove past pop never been in pop just drove by it and it looked loud and crazy, some people like the party like atmosphere, some don't. i have only stayed deluxe and really enjoy what the deluxes offer. on vacation i want more than just a bed and shower i really enjoy all the extra nice things... so to me yes they are worth it but to some no all that isn't worth the extra $.

wl and akl are the least expensive deluxes and are great resorts, you might think about one of those to try!