Deluxe lovers.. Would you ever stay at a value resort if you can no longer..

[cpanagiotakos]

When I was younger we would always stay in the Grand Floridian. It worked out really well because my Mom would hop on the monorail and bring whoever the baby was back to the hotel to take a nap. (This was before AK was opened so everything was a quick ride away.) We went countless times when I was younger, the last time being when she was pregnant with my youngest brother. Seeing he was the 4th child (making our family a total of 6 people) we were now too big to stay in one room at the GF and they couldnt afford two. Instead of getting two rooms at a Value or a Mod we just never went again.

I have been back countless times and stay just about anywhere. I don't spend enough time at the hotel to care about any differences. (As a kid I hate the GF anyway, it was boring I always wanted to stay in one of the 'cool' hotels) But my DBro now 14 has never been to WDW.

 

[Missytara]

POR is my home away from home.

The last two out of three years, I have taken friends who don't make as much money as I do and cannot always afford even going moderate. Next year is no different.

I have been so lucky the last two times to snag free dining for my guests, and we have been able to stay at POR in a standard room.

Next year, I hope to snag a room discount for my friend; she is so dear to me and she is celebrating her daughter's graduation by bringing her, her daughter's friend, and her son.

I have told her that I don't mind staying at POP; I would welcome a change, but she really has her heart set on POR. If we don't get a discount, I am still not adverse to staying at POP. I think they will love both of them. It is their first vacation in their entire lives and just being at Disney is going to be good, no matter where we stay.

But I would love to be able to find some way of staying moderate with all those little extra amentities that make it that much more special.

 

[jvattes]

Wow.

Really?

Value - even moderate - is "beneath" this hypothetical person/family???

I think that's ridiculous, and I think that yes, if someone would be so snotty and entitled, their "punishment" should most definitely be no trip ...


EVER!

I'm still SMH... Wow.

 

[eliza61]

Wow.

Really?

Value - even moderate - is "beneath" this hypothetical person/family???

I think that's ridiculous, and I think that yes, if someone would be so snotty and entitled, their "punishment" should most definitely be no trip ...


EVER!

I'm still SMH... Wow.

It's not about being "beneath" anyone or any thing. it's about what is important to you in a vacation.

Now my family, Its me, my two sons and my dh. My sons and my dh are all over 6ft tall and my dh is about 260. We stayed in pop one time and after 2 days I seriously considered homicide simply to get more bathroom space.
Next, I don't like places where the front door opens to the outside. How is that snooty?. So the values already have two aspects that I don't like,

So tell me why would I waste money on pop again to be miserable? how is that snotty.
IMO, when you are on a budget, the object is to get the most from the money you have. If I'm staying some place I don't like isn't that a waste of money.
Now I do like the new look of art of animation but I want to check out the room size first.

bottom line if I can't stay where I want, I either wait and save up for it or I stay offsite.

 

[cpanagiotakos]

I am not defending my Mom because I personally think her refusal to go if we cant stay at the GF sucks. But growing up her family couldn't even afford to take a vacation. She never had been to WDW or even New York (she grew up in Western MA) until she married my father (who also didn't have very much but busted his butt and started his own business.) He was very porud to be able to take her to the GF for their honeymoon and we stayed there probably 6 or 7 times as a family.

My DM suffers from anxiety and doesn't like crowds or heat for that matter so WDW never really appealed to her. GF was perfect for her to slip away take a nap with the baby and I understand her from the perspective. The only thing that bothers me about it is that Dbro has never been. I know she doesn't enjoy the parks (I have no idea were my Disney obsession comes from) but she put that aside for me(24) and Dbro(20) Dbro(17) to enjoy the magic as kids. Why couldn't she do the same fro Dbro (14)

As PP mentioned I dont think that she thinks its 'beneath' her. Just easier and more enjoyable for her. I go back and forth on how I feel about it.

I have gone on either trips with friends, school, or with DBF and have stayed ASmovies, Asmusic, CB, and POR. I actually prefer POR to GF. I will be staying at POP in August.

I would love to be in a financial situation to bring DBro with me, but it is tough enough to save to go myself. DBro(20) is a lot like Mom but I would feel super guilty bringing DBro(14) and not DBro(17). My parents gave me a trip to WDW as graduation presents for both HS and college. I am hoping that in 4 years when DBro(17) graduates college and DBro(14) graduates hs I will be able to bring them both.

 

[*Fantasia*]

THIS IS NOT A DEBATE!! Please... It's a simple question.. only need a simple answer.. and would be nice to elaborate the answer.. We are not here to talk about "beneath" or above. Start your own thread if that's what you want to talk about.. Everyone is welcome to answer. BUT KINDLY PLEASE.. Don't mix any debates in this thread! Thank you so much!! And thank you everyone for posting! I enjoy reading everyone's answer! Now.. Back to our regular program! And please keep posting!.. It's all good!

Edit to Add: I am referring to one poster here.. who is off topic.

 

[Kae]

Yes & We have. WL is our Favorite Resort at WDW. But we loved POP & had a great stay. For us the biggest downside is Full beds. And I would also like to add like alot of folks I would like to stay at each resort at WDW at least one time. And I think AoA looks amazing.
Kae

 

[thej]

We've stayed at the Contemporary and AKL twice, and we love them both. CR for the location, views, and monorail. AKL for the theming & animals. Given our druthers we'd probably not stay anywhere else - except maybe BC once... I'm itching to try SAB!

We don't go to the deluxe properities for the room service, restaurants, spa, pool, inside corridors, luggage service, child clubs, or covered bus stops. If that was the case we could stay at Bonnet Creek, Gaylord Palms, or the DTD Hilton. We go because there's something great about CR & AKL that just any "deluxe hotel" doesn't have. I can't see the Electrical Water Pageant from Bonnet Creek, and there's sure as heck no giraffes outside the window at the Marriott World Center...

BUT all that said... I don't think I could go more than a year without my WDW fix. While I love CR & AKL, I'll stay in a moderate or value (and have) if that's what it takes to get back when the budget doesn't work.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Agree with you Kae.. about the full size bed at the value. I mean if I don't have to be on a budget.. believe me, I would be at WL or Poly.. I just love the location and have other means of transportation besides using the bus..

I'm a big splitter.. I usually split my stay with value resort and moderate or deluxe. It's the only way I can afford to stay deluxe resorts and even moderates.. Moderates is not that cheap either! As long as I can be at the Most Happiest Place On Earth.. I'm good!

Don't get me wrong.. I love the values too because I love that "in your face" Disney!! I think it's the most Disney-iest place! ...especially the ASMovies and the AoA!

 

[TandLMommy28]

Hmm...thats a tough one. I think we would stay off site instead. While we love being onsite and having a food court we are not thrilled with the smaller, noisier rooms or the cattle drive food courts.

People here always claim that the aversion to the Values/Mods are that the deluxe rooms are "so much quieter" but everything I have ever read elsewhere is completely opposite. I've read repeatedly that due to the fact that Deluxe rooms have doors that open to indoor hallways, they aren't weatheproof, and therefore aren't nearly as soundproof. In other words, deluxe rooms are far, far noisier than mods and values. I think it was Unofficial Guide that actually did sound tests and proved that theory.

 

[Sparkly]

I would stay anywhere onsite...just with a car, not at the mercy of Disney transportation! Getting a bus at home is stressful enough!

I think I would need more space though because I'm used to staying in a nice and spacious condo/villa! I also like rooms that get a lot of light in, and as nice as the values are, they seem a little dingy.

 

[MinnieMommy07]

I have learned that not going sucks more than staying value. Alot more because staying at Movies was AWESOME! Like I said we stayed value and enjoyed every minute. As long as the weather is nice. My husband actually asked the other day if Disney would notice us camping out by the pool with our bags.... um, yeah.... That's how much we found it doesn't matter where we stay as long as we get to go!

 

[thelionqueen]

I can and have stayed Value ..If I couldn;t do Deluxe it would be value.I think the mods are a waste of $$ , but that is just my opinion

I agree with this 100%! The only thing that would change my choice of a Mod over a value is the queen beds @ PO..otherwise to me mod's are a waste of $.

We've stayed at every WDW resort (except GF because it reminds me of the Titanic or a hospital and I just don't like it..lol) and each has it's own charm. YES the values are very small but I love the ambience and "Over the top" Disney icons and charm they offer. Not to mention the arcades and gift shops. The mods basically have a little more room (260 vs 340sq ft) a water slide and a TS option and POR/FQ have queen beds. My basic equation has always been that Values are price "A" Mod's price is "double price A" and deluxe are about 4X "price A." Of course this is completely generalizing, but overall is a good "ball park" figure.

By those prices, the different between a value and mod is huge while the amenities (IMO) don't equal the cost.

We also like to spend a great deal of time at the resort vs in the parks. We have always had PLENTY to do at a Value to keep us busy and engaged. There are obviously more options at deluxe or DVC like kids clubs, child care, poolside parties, etc. but more than enough to keep us happy at a Value.

For us it's either Deluxe or Value and honestly wouldn't mind either as long as we're at WDW. This trip we have kind of the best of both worlds..a price LESS than a value and the size/amenities of a Deluxe 2br Villa

 

[staceyatdisney]

We're big CR fans, but would definitely stay at a value resort if finances were an issue. After all, we'd still be at Disney World!!

 

[Planogirl]

Wow.

Really?

Value - even moderate - is "beneath" this hypothetical person/family???

I think that's ridiculous, and I think that yes, if someone would be so snotty and entitled, their "punishment" should most definitely be no trip ...


EVER!

I'm still SMH... Wow.

I agree that it's not necessarily that anything is beneath someone. I cheerfully stay at a mod but wild horses couldn't drag me back to the Allstars. That place didn't work for us on so many levels: no restaurant, noisy, terrible bus service with waits in the blazing sun, tiny room, plain pool, no boat ride to Downtown Disney (love this). This was just how it was for us and someone else's experience may be different.

I'll reserve judgment on the other two Value resorts but it makes me a little leery.

 

[tley]

 

[Me!Thatswho]

It's a hard question to answer, but, to keep it simple, no - we would not go back to values. Like others have mentioned, we have tried it - stayed at Music, Movies, & POP - and didn't really care for the crowds, the layouts, the noise, etc. If it really came down to it, we would probably opt for a mod. Additionally, we would also take other measures like cutting down on the number of days we visit, drive (from MA) as opposed to flying, and sacrificing other things throughout the year to free up cash for tour annual trip.

We once stayed at a mod - POFQ. To be honest, we fell somewhere between like and love with the resort, and would be willing to try another. Based on pics that I have seen here, CBR looks very nice as does POR.

And, as it turns out, we more than likely will have our chance next year (2013), thanks to my daughter being chosen by her dance studio to have an opportunity to be among the 100s of girls who get to dance in the parade for the annual TV special. Apparently all of the girls have to stay at the same resort and the last time the studio participated (2009) they stayed at POR. Subject to availability, it appears that the studio intends to do the sam when we go. I am actually kind of excited, because, when we booked POFQ, POR was my choice, but I was outvoted by DW 1-to-1.

 

[CheetoGuido]

I would say Yes in a heart beat, my hubby on the other hand would say no.

 

[*Fantasia*]

We're big CR fans, but would definitely stay at a value resort if finances were an issue. After all, we'd still be at Disney World!!

Exactly!! That's how I feel too! As long as I'm in Disney.. I'm good!! ...and I can't wait until I get there!! It's been a long time since the last time I was there! I'll take the short budget trip anytime!

 

[thelionqueen]

The Deluxe Hotels are nice. I enjoy them.

I bounce around, depending on what I'm looking to spend between value, moderate, and deluxe.

As I've gotten older I'm leaning more towards the choice between between deluxe and moderate.

One of the main things I really like about non-value resorts is that you don't have kids running up and down the halls at 2-4AM being unnecessarily loud. This happens fairly frequently at value resorts. I've never had it happen at a deluxe or moderate resort. This is well past when the parks have closed as I usually stay until the closing (including EMH). The kids are just running up and down the breezeways yelling for no reason.

My daughters are both grown (one 25 and one 18) and we still hit Disney but I'm not in the families with little kids running around and screaming category any longer and not staying at a value resort distances me from that. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with you and your kids being at Disney and having fun. I'm all for that. I'm saying that, as I've gotten older when I go back to the hotel I really appreciate a more subdued experience during the day and night (I'm only 42).

While I'm really there to be in the parks, in the middle of the day when it gets hot and busy and you want to take a break, it's nice to go back to a roomy, quiet hotel, grab some lunch, and take a nap.

Anyway, those are my main reasons for avoiding value resorts in the future. It doesn't mean I won't ever stay at one but generally speaking I see moderate-deluxe being my choices going forward.

Obviously you've never stayed at the Contemporary..lol. Of course I wouldn't like hearing kids scream up nd down the halls all night, but you're at Disney..no matter if it's Deluxe or Value, there are going to be kids having fun and being loud wherever you go.

All our stays @ values I've never ever had a problem with extraordinarily loud kids. We even stayed on a ground floor room right in front of the pool, and when the door was open it was loud, but when closed didn't even notice it.