Deluxe or Moderate...cant decide

[momimouse27]

We are planning a trip for the first week in Oct this year. We have been to Disney quite a lot but have only done a deluxe once and I'm sold on deluxe with our stay at the Beach Club...awesome! But I keep adding the numbers and just don't know if I can justify paying deluxe prices since I am on a budget. I can do it, but it will be hard.

Since I haven't had the Moderate experience, I need some feedback. I like the themed resorts alot, so I was thinking of doing CBR. Anyone have any experiences with this resort? I keep thinking I can do WL for not much more and cant make my mind up!!!


Oct. 2005 ???
2004 Pop Century
2003 Beach Club
2002 Off site
2001 All Star Music
2000 All Star Music
1999 and before- off site

 

[disyady]

Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge are the "moderate deluxes" and the discount code rates for them can be fantastic. I think my friend paid around $130/night at AKL last summer. Deluxe at a moderate price! They are also the two top favorite resorts of people polled by Disney Magazine last year. Check mousesavers.com everyday for discount codes for the dates you're going. Good luck and have fun choosing!

 

[DisneyPhD]

One problem with Deluxes is they spoil you and it can be hard to go back.

One major difference I see if the Mod resorts can be rather spred out and there is alot of outside walking. If you are young and able bodied this isn't too bad (it was always fine for us in our pre-kids days.)

If it rainy and you have small kids, go for the closer together and interior coridors of the Deluxe. (Also some mods don't have elevators and if you have stroller that can be difficult too.)

Mods have food courts, most people like that. The themeing is still great at all the mods and the busses are fine. The rooms are nice too and now all mods and deluxes have refridgerators in the room for no charge. That is good!

We will be staying at PORS in May for a few nights before heading over to Vero Beach. This will be our 1st back to a mod after having kids. We did stay at OKW and it was a lot harder for us then VWL and BCV. We will see how we do. No rain will help. Either way any resort (Value mod or Deluxe) is better then not being at WDW.

 

[ciera321]

disyady made a great point, AKL and WL, especially with a code, are really good deals!!! I've stayed at both and love them, but I'm partial to AKL. We do stay in moderates during the summer when the parks are open later and you don't spend as much time in the room. Just can't justify the extra cost of the more expensive deluxes when all we do is shower and sleep at the hotel. Our upcoming trip is at the POR and I've really great things about it, but wasn't really crazy about CBR. We were sooooooo far from the pool and food court and I just didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Have a great time where ever you stay!!!

 

[alecam]

I, actually, went "deluxe" and am going back to moderate! I just didn't feel the extra money was worth it, and we spent alot of time in our room napping and eating. I am quite happy to return to POFQ this December (hopefully )

You'll find that my opinion is rare,though!

 

[cruise-o-matic]

We definitely enjoyed our stay at CSR in November. The pool is really cool and the Pepper Market is great. And no complaints about the bus service either. We liked it a lot, lot better than CBR.

But we joined DVC, so I doubt we'll stay anywhere else but DVC from now on.

You may want to look at renting points from a DVC member. You get deluxe type accomodations w/either a kitchenette w/studio or full kitchen and w/d with a 1-2-3 BR villa. Check out the rent/trade board on the DVC forum.

 

[Buzz2001]

Went deluxe with the Contemporary and I will gladly keep visiting CSR. Not worth it IMO. Check out my CSR website below for a great moderate.

 

[WDW LOVR]

That's why we joined DVC. It allows us to stay at a deluxe for the cost of a moderate.

And if enjoying the feel and pampering you get at a deluxe makes us snobs, so be it. But I know what you mean, we observe snobs at the deluxe resorts everytime we go, but don't let that bother us, We're at Disney!

 

[Nolcrest]

If you want the deluxe feel for the moderate price it seems that CSR is the way to go. I've never stayed there but there are always rave reviews written about it.

For moderates, I have stayed at CBR, POFQ, & POR. CBR is the one resort I will not return to. Nothing bad - just overall wasn't impressed.

 

[TLinden16]

Welcome to the DIS, Momimouse27!

I think you'd be happy at a moderate! I've stayed at 13 different Disney resorts over the years at all different levels (including all Deluxe resorts except the GF and the AKL), and I have to say that I still prefer to go back to my favorite resort--the POFQ. The rooms at the moderates are very nice, and the grounds at all the moderates are beautiful.

How much time to you spend at the resort when you go? I don't really spend that much time at a resort, so I always felt bad about paying the extra money for a deluxe resort when I didn't really use the amenities of one.

If you are having trouble deciding, did you consider splitting your stay between a moderate and a deluxe? Disney helps make it pretty easy to switch resorts (you just pack your things, call bell services, and Disney will move your luggage for you).

Justa thought.

Karen

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

We stayed at CBR on our first trip to WDW and LOVED it! We had a room in Jamaica and it was a short walk to the buses , we were very close to the quiet pool and a nice walk to the mainpool and food court. I want to try the other resorts but I would not hesitate to go back to CBR. It was very nice!

 

[Leota]

We stay mainly at Deluxe resorts. In 2001, I added 4 extra nights to our trip & they were at CSR - I was prepared to be less than impressed as we were coming from 8 previous night Polynesian Concierge -

I have to tell you, I was surprised to find out how much I loved CSR! I was kind of kicking myself for paying triple per night at the Poly - I would definately stay there again. CSR is really like Deluxe Light & I found the amenities to be very comparable to what I experienced at WL.

I will definately stay moderate again in the future. That said, the only WDW resort I have little intrest of trying (aside from any more stays at the All-Stars, which I consider last resort resorts) is CBR. I have just heard too many negative things about it. For the money, I would choose CSR or POR/FQ.

 

[cbrfan]

We base our Moderate/Deluxe decision on how much time we'll be spending at the parks. We stay in a Mod during the week when we're only in the room to shower and sleep. Then we move to the Deluxe for the weekend and spend our time enjoying the resort amenities.

 

[momimouse27]

Thanks to all the responses to my post. I have sooo much to think about. Some people say that its no big deal, its "just a place to stay" but to me which resort you stay in just sets the tone for the whole trip, ya know?

One of the posters said something that was so true...once you stay deluxe you kind of get spoiled. I mean, we are definitely not "snobby" about it, but once we stayed in BC and we could walk right to Epcot and play at Stormalong Bay, I having real trouble with going back--we just cant afford BC again right now.

I am really happy just to be able to go at all. But also, I have my brother and his new wife going for the first time EVER and I want them to have a great experience, you know, get that WOW factor

With the codes on WL(where I really want to stay) I cant wait until the end of the summer to book , because I need to be paying for the room over time. I know most of these codes don't come out until about three months before. But I did get a AAA rate of $169 at AKL. That may be doable. I want to book by early March, but you all have really given me something to think about. French Quarter is really sounding good as well....

 

[Cmbar]

Just wanted to let you know that we just came back from the POFQ(3 nights) and Boardwalk Villas (3 nights). It was super easy to split that stay and we were a party of seven. You could have Disney move your luggage or you could hop in a taxi at POFQ to the Beach club or boardwalk, It was a fare about 6.00. WE loved both resorts! French quarter is delightful! If I go moderate again I will definitely stay there. The Boardwalk, however just has a great location and beautiful views. We were blessed to get a boardwalk view and a were able to see some of the fireworks.

Just curious what your party size and if you can make do with a Studio at BCV or BWV? The are so easy to rent if you get a good renter and they can be around 90 to 120 per night (Sun-Thur) depending on the nights you stay. The weekends are more expensive with 21-23 points during October. We spend the weekend nights at POFQ with code for 76.00 a night and then rented points at BWV for a Tue, wed and THur for 13 points per night (which we rented for $10 a point, therefore making the room 130.00 per night.) Also no tax on top of that amount. Seriously, If you want to stay deluxe and spend half as much feel free to pm me and I be happy to tell you about how it works. Perfectly legit and a delightful way to stay Deluxe at moderate prices.

Chris

 

[*Fantasia*]

I've done the value, moderate and deluxe at WL. WL is definitely worth it especially if you got the courtyard view! I love the queen size bed, that's what I am used to. And I love to be able to sit outside our balcony and just enjoy the ambience of what WL has to offer. It was a great stay. I think I will only stay at deluxe when I can get a discount, other than that, I think I would opt for moderate (CSR) or even value (ASMo or PoP).

 

[ptrbryant]

I've been saying for months that we'll have a split stay with POR or CBR and WL (our great WDW love!). It's just DH, DS9 and myself, but the more we thought about it, the price difference between a MOD and WL or AKL makes the MOD less appealing.

As Fantasia said, at a MOD, you have double beds---we have queen size at home and that's what we're used to. Also, my DH and I just have a hard time mentally thinking of no interior corridors as anything other than "motel" like. I also like that in a Deluxe, you have kind of a private bathroom area away from the bedroom. I know the MODs have a curtain dividing the sinks from the bedroom, but that also seems a bit off...Also, I like having the curtains open in our hotel room and enjoying the view, not having people walking by while I'm in my pjs!

I know that none of the on-line photos do any of the resorts justice and that most of the MODs are probably great. But, it's our one big vacation of the year and, for us, it's not JUST about the parks. It's also about relaxing in lovely rooms and surroundings.
Everyone has their own opinion!
KARla B.

 

[dtsaos]

I think WL is a great way to go, especially if you can get the lower rate for it. WL is absolutely georgeous and really makes me feel like I'm in a totally different place when I leave the parks. IMO, I wouldn't do CBR, we stayed there last spring and were very disappointed overall. It's not horrible, it's just not very impressive..but it seems that people either love it there or really dislike it so I guess it depends on your style. Good luck deciding! - which resort to stay at has always been our biggest decision too.