Deluxe vs. Moderate questions

[**pixiedust**]

We are going in May 06. We can stay at AKL or POFQ but AKL will cost $800 more. We've never stayed deluxe, just moderate. I am wondering how everyone feels about the differences. Is your experience in a deluxe that much different? Is it really worth the extra money? I just don't know what to do. I have always wanted to stay at AKL but I can't decide.

Can you tell I'm confused?


Can I get some opinions on how much your experience has differed in a deluxe resort vs. a moderate? Thank you!

 

[bicker]

AKL savannah view rooms are IMHO that best experience available at WDW -- not to be missed.

Beyond that, we definitely feel like we get a much better experience at deluxe resorts. We specifically derive a great deal of value from the availability of valet parking, interior hallways, finer restaurants, larger rooms, larger bathrooms, and balconies. AKL has its own special charm, being located on a nature preserve. The other deluxe resorts all have a very specific location advantage -- superior proximity to one more more parks -- which we value very highly as well.

 

[jcriket]

I love AKL thats my favorite deluxe, its so relaxing and nice to wake up to animals outside your window. But saving $800 is really nice also, my favorite moderate is POFQ so either way they are both nice resorts.

 

[princess-rn]

Our favorite resort, without question, is POFQ (as you can see below). We would LOVE to stay in a deluxe though. I would say that if you can swing the $800 without problems and without cutting into the "fun money" then I would say go for the deluxe. IF you decide you want to save the $800 then POFQ is the best moderate to choose. You will love it. Good luck with your decision!!!

 

[**pixiedust**]

We could swing the $800 if we really wanted to but we would then have to be careful with what we spent while we were there. If we went to POFQ, we could then do whatever we wanted and not worry about it. And I know my DH will want to add to his collection of Mickey wine glasses

Part of me also feels guilty spending that much money for a room at AKL. I"M SO CONFUSED!!!

 

[Lou-Ann]

While we LOVE WL we actually found we were not missing much by staying at POFQ. Who is to say you cannot go to AKL and spend part of a day or go there for a lovely dinner? The $100. difference a day can buy some darn nice meals...... That is what we plan to do. You do not have to be staying at a resort to enjoy it. i am not saying to use their pools or any ammenities meant for their guests, but you could surely go to Boma for a grand breakfast, stroll around, enjoy the scenery and then go to MGM for the day which is a smaller park and takes less time....... or.Do AK and when you leave, go to AKL and see the sights and have dinner at JIKO....... You can have your cake and eat it too......Have fun.

 

[MNSusan]

We love the Animal Kingdom Lodge. If I could afford it, I'd stay there every time. Think of it almost like an attraction... the animals are all right there, the sounds and aromas of the lodge are amazing. There's plenty to do without even going to a park.

We also like POR and POFQ and stay there on short trips and when $$$ is more of an issue.

I think its definitely worth the $800 to get up, look out your window and see giraffes and zebras and more. Sitting on the balcony and sipping a cup of coffee in the morning is just wonderful. Its also a nice, peaceful place to come back to in the evening.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[kmkja1]

If money is an issue (it is for us) you must look at it like this. Which would I rather have: either the "step up" in amenities (looking at giraffes, ncer rooms) or all the other things you will be doing (nicer meals, more suveniers) with the same money. I would love to stay at AKL and we can afford, I would just rather not give up the other things we would have to sacrifice. Whatever you do enjoy it to the fullest!

 

[princess-rn]

While we LOVE WL we actually found we were not missing much by staying at POFQ. Who is to say you cannot go to AKL and spend part of a day or go there for a lovely dinner? The $100. difference a day can buy some darn nice meals...... That is what we plan to do. You do not have to be staying at a resort to enjoy it. i am not saying to use their pools or any ammenities meant for their guests, but you could surely go to Boma for a grand breakfast, stroll around, enjoy the scenery and then go to MGM for the day which is a smaller park and takes less time....... or.Do AK and when you leave, go to AKL and see the sights and have dinner at JIKO....... You can have your cake and eat it too......Have fun.

This is really a GREAT idea!! This is what we do when we go to WDW. We have dinner at various deluxe resorts and just stroll around and look at the scenery and people watch. (Hey..everything but the dinner is free ) As much $$ as we spend at Disney we COULD afford to stay at a deluxe...but we choose to set a limit as to what we spend for a resort and have the rest of the $$ to use freely as we choose. Who wants to be on a small budget on vacation if you don't have to? Also..something to consider (something that we may try next year) is splitting your stay between POFQ and AKL. That way you will save a little $$ than if you were staying at AKL the entire time.

Have a great trip!! Let us know what you decide.

 

[serene56]

. I have always wanted to stay at AKL but I can't decide.

That sentence alone should cinch the decision. Book the AKL coz you always wanted to stay there. Not knowing what tomorrow will bring-- take care of YOU sometimes.. Do it.
As far as it costing $800.00 more--Im sure you can spend that 800 on stuff that you dont really want.

 

[Leota]

Since we have been to WDW a number of times, we are no longer Park Commandos. We really do spend a good amount of time at our resort now. We enjoy the extra amenties & better dining options & Park proximity. The deluxe experience is important to us because the resort is as much a part of our vacation as the Parks now. Particular to AKL, we really love the Savannah view balcony experience & spend hours everyday watching the animals. We sometimes find it hard to pry ourselves away from that to do the Parks.

If you are still in a Commando style of touring & not spending as much time at your resort, a moderate is fine (I would caution against value unless it's the only way you can get to WDW) I have enjoyed both CSR & POFQ.

That said, there are many discounts available for the Swan & Dolphin resorts - both of which are wonderful Deluxe resorts. In fact. they are our Favorite Deluxe resorts. Usually these discounts make Sw/olphin very comparable in price to moderate but with sooooo much more bang for your buck amenity-wise.

 

[DrTomorrow]

IMHO, it's a very personal choice. Are you the kind of folks that appreciate valet, turn-down service, multiple-table-service dining? Or are you more of the 'I don't go to WDW to sit in my room' folks. Going to Las Vegas actually requires the same decision.....

 

[Cinderella]

Work out how much time you would spend in your resort, and how much you would use the extra amenities to calculate whether it would be worth it.

To me, being able to view animals from my balcony would be worth much more than a heap of souvenirs that i would forget i had once i got home. To some, a balcony with a view would be a waste of time, if they didn't have the time to spend sitting on it.

Only you can decide how you would spend your holiday.

I have stayed at POFQ before, whilst it was lovely, I didn't feel that it compared to the deluxes and got moved to WL. It was not awful at all, but I was visiting during extremely cold rainy whether, and I hated having to go outside to get to my room!

As another poster stated - you have always wanted to stay there, so maybe you should just do it. Do you have to cut back on other things you would enjoy whilst at WDW? Is there nothing you could cut back on before the trip, or any extra work you can do so that the extra dollars aren't coming from your current income. Why not make the extra dollars by selling stuff you don't want on ebay, then you won't feel as though you've spent any extra at all, then you can't feel guilty.

You know, travel is what i spend more on than anything - i work hard, and can afford it, but i still feel guilty. But, the way i see it is this - if i found that i was going to die tomorrow, I wouldn't be feeling guilty on what i had spent on travel and better hotel rooms, and i definitely wouldn't be regretting it. I think you should go for it and stay at the AKL - i would love to stay there one day - it sounds more like an experience than just a hotel.

 

[tinkermell]

Can you split your stay and have the best of both worlds???

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

We are going in May 06. We can stay at AKL or POFQ but AKL will cost $800 more. We've never stayed deluxe, just moderate. I am wondering how everyone feels about the differences. Is your experience in a deluxe that much different? Is it really worth the extra money? I just don't know what to do. I have always wanted to stay at AKL but I can't decide.

Can you tell I'm confused?


Can I get some opinions on how much your experience has differed in a deluxe resort vs. a moderate? Thank you!

So you are there 8 nights? Why not 3 at POFQ and 5 at AKL? That's $300 toward souvies!!

We've done it at POR and then to WL. We had a blast! It was me, DH, and two DD's. They loved both. In our opinion, it didn't take much effort on our part to make the switch and I got what I always wanted........to stay in a deluxe and I didn't have to break the bank!

Good luck with wherever you decide to stay.........I think your choices are great places.

 

[minijeanie]

I totally agree with above 2 posters. Split your stay...that way the sting is not so bad...Stay at POFQ first and then stay remaining nites at AKL

You will be a bit more tired and will enjoy hotel, amenities more. Do no miss out on doing the hotel you long for...

I feel it is your vacation, and you deserve it!!!!!!!

GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mamu]

There's a fine line here for a little more comfort.
There's nothing wrong with moderates there theming is awesome, great food courts, good transportation.

Back in 2000 we made the jump to deluxe, but we spend more time at the resort and less time at the parks. Two years ago we jumped to concierge, and I'm not looking back. Yes it cost me double. Is it worth the extra money, each family needs to weigh their options on whether a deluxe is worth the extra money. To many it's not worth the extra money for the few convinces. I love the monorail line resorts.

The one thing I've noticed is the deluxe's have lousy food courts, except AKL. I also like the little extra room, and the queen size beds. I travel with my GC and need the daybed. 15 year old boy do not want to sleep with their Grandfather.

We just returned from a Poly Concierge stay, Myself, DH, DD and 2 8-year old Grand-daughters. I could get 2 rooms at a value or moderate, but prefer to stay at a deluxe.

I know when I was raising my family $800 was a lot of extra money. We could eat for a whole week on that money. Will spending they extra money cramp your vacation, if so maybe it's not worth it at this time.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I know when I was raising my family $800 was a lot of extra money. We could eat for a whole week on that money. Will spending they extra money cramp your vacation, if so maybe it's not worth it at this time.

I want to live in your house! We spend that in a month and a half!!

While I'm at it, can "I" be adopted as one more of your grandchildren?? Is 41 too old??

Just kidding. And I agree with your post Mamu. You have to decide what you like. I think everyone should try deluxe at least once to see what it is like.

We found out that we love the deluxes but need more room......and can't afford the DVC resorts. So we are offsite in 2 bedroom condos, very nice condos. In this time of our lives, that is what makes us happy.

 

[allisonswonderland]

Hey- My first return trip to Disney as an adult was 2 summers ago and we chose French Quarter- I liked it a lot but the mousekeeping.....notso much, our bathroom was not cleaned and even after several requests it was not taken care of. Last summer we stayed at the Beach Club....I will never stay anyplace else. The location was fabulous, at Port Orleans we spent so much time on the bus or at the parks because it seemed so out of the way to run back. Of course, they upgraded us to conciereg level but we would run back to the room all of the time. The beds are better, too- but if you do not plan to spend myuch time in your room and do not mind the bus ride stay at PO, we are planning a wedding at Disney next Nov and the moderate resort we choose for guests may be POFQ-

 

[tinagirl]

Faced this very decision recently.

Go to POR, or go to WL.

Finally decided to rent points from a DVC member on this board, and try the WLV. All the glory and fun of WL, but only $120 a night, (with no "extra" fees tacked on).

We still wanted a good package, so we're doing 3 nights all-star music, and 3 nights WLV. Got a 7 day park hopper + water with the current deal, as well as 3 days dining plan, 4 days off.

We feel this was a good decision.

Are there any VIllas that you like as much as AKL? Renting points is one of the best deals out there, in my opinon.

_tina.