Deluxe vs. Moderate

[5farmer]

I have read a lot about the different resorts and there is always fans of every resort. So my question is not whichis better but What is the actual difference between a deluxe and a moderate resort?

 

[juliesue]

The size of the room is the first difference. In addition, there are many more activities and more theming at the deluxe resorts. There is more "service" available, meaning room service, sit down restaurants, valet and bell service, and other luxuries.

Until we bought DVC, we stayed at the moderates. We really liked them, but now we stay and deluxes, and we love it.

 

[weluvpluto]

One other difference, deluxes all have indoor corridors - moderates and values are all outdoor.

 

[sjw4870]

One big selling point of deluxes is direct access to the theme parks. For example, Poly is situated on the monorail giving easy access to MK and Epcot; Yacht Club is walking distance (or direct boat) to Epcot and MGM.

Another difference between a deluxe and a moderate is that a deluxe has interior corridors while a moderate is set up more like a motel where your door opens up to an exterior corridor.

Deluxe rooms tend to be larger and come with private balconies or patios. Moderates and values have windows, but with the exterior corridor right there, I found myself shutting the curtains any time I was in the room for privacy.

Deluxes often have more sit down restaurants and more extensive room service. However, they have more of a snack bar type fast-food restaurant instead of a larger food court that you would find at a moderate.

 

[Leota]

Another difference in general is proximity to the Parks - either walking, boat or monorail (except for AKL which supposedly has better bus service) The other benefits we enjoy in the deluxe resorts are the fact most rooms have balconies/patios & the fine dining available onsite.

 

[heatherj]

We prefer the deluxes mainly for the balcony/patio, the direct transportation options (for most deluxes), and bigger rooms for the most part. We have 3 little kids and like being able to sit out on the balcony if they are sleeping. And easy transportation is also important to us as we can easily go back for a rest or afternoon naps, etc.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

We would love to stay at a deluxe and are hoping to in the future but for now we stay at the moderates. For us right now, being a young couple with no kids, we spend most of our time outside of the room, so the price of the deluxe hasnt been worth it. If we had kids, we would probably like the idea of being closer to the parks, with larger rooms, more amenities and that overall "deluxe" feeling!
I think that the deluxes definitely offer a lot of features that the moderates dont have. For now, we are big fans of Coronado Springs resort. Hopefully in the future, we will get to stay at one of our dream resorts-The Polynesian.

 

[etwinchester]

Right now I'm budgeting our next trip for CSR. I would LOVE to stay at the Poly though. I'm just trying to justify the cost. That's a lot of money for one night and we're going for 2 weeks. I thought about Resort Hopping, but once I'm unpacked, I don't know if I'd want to move. That would waste some park time...

 

[ihearttink]

I have stayed at moderates, CS, POR, CB and a deluxe, BC 2x, and I think the bus service is better. I have never had to wait for a second bus to get to a park. Maybe just lucky, but at the moderates sometimes the first bus would be full and we would end up waiting.

 

[ROBIN4NY]

Location, location, location. The deluxes are close to the theme parks.Depending on how old your kids are might help to decide where to stay for the deluxes.When the kids are really young being close to MK is a big plus.If your kids are a little older and you are going to spend more time at epcot or mgm you might want to choose a epcot resort that you can walk to or take a short boat ride.It is a real convenience factor.

 

[GIOny]

Right now I'm budgeting our next trip for CSR. I would LOVE to stay at the Poly though. I'm just trying to justify the cost. That's a lot of money for one night and we're going for 2 weeks. I thought about Resort Hopping, but once I'm unpacked, I don't know if I'd want to move. That would waste some park time...

If your going for 2 weeks, I wouldn't worry about wasting park time by resort hopping. You will have plenty of park time and resort hopping is relatively easy and does not take up that much time. The resorts can more your baggage for you. If you would really love to stay at the poly then I would go for it even for the last 2 days or so. You only live once!!

 

[etwinchester]

Maybe I will budget for the switch. Spend one week at CSR and one at Poly. Next year I want to attend Real Estate school so maybe I could take one of my commissions to use for the switch. Right now we're use to living off one income anyway. My money will feel like "play money". Although, the more you make, the more you spend...

 

[MAKMOM41]

My problem withthe moderates is the size of the resorts. They are so large. Getting to a bus stop or food court can be a journey, depending what building you are in. I also like that the deluxes bustops are the closest when you leave the parks.MGM

 

[ktink]

I would love to go Deluxe and we were booked for WL and Poly this year but were able to add dining to POR and come out cheaper, so it was worth the downgrade not to have to worry about meals. But I'm sad because WL and Poly are both dream resorts to me and I want to stay deluxe really really bad but I just couldn't justify the difference. But the upside is that we have only stayed value and moderate is an upgrade for us. Maybe next year. Deluxe resorts just have so many added bonus, for instance they have activities for the kids like the rubber duck race at WL and campfire stories. It seems the deluxe resorts are a vacation within a vacation. I'm hoping we'll enjoy our stay at POR and find it a very pleasent surprise.

 

[Alice Sr.]

Before I bought DVC we stayed at CBR and were very happy with it, after I bought DVC our touring style changed. I think once you get over the commando style of touring the parks, the deluxe's become more important. I really need the balcony (and a cocktail very relaxing and another dimension to WDW. I think that is why some people don't get why we would want to go 2 or 3 times a year, every year. We only spend 3-4 hours in the park a day if that. I think they conger up thoughts of long lines, hot weather and exhaustion. When I think about going to WDW I think of relaxing at a nice pool, good food and drink, and a nice environment. If you spend a great deal of your time in the parks then it's hard to justify the $$ for a deluxe IMO.

 

[manhattan]

Another difference is moderates have full size beds and deluxe have queen size beds.....which is one of the reasons we like to stay deluxe, even if it is the cheapest room at the WL (and of course the kids love the bunk beds!).

 

[tinkerbell60]

If you go after July 4th - the deluxe resort are on value season prices, that helps. We loved the interior corridors and the easy access to Roaring Forks at WL. My sister had stayed at POFQ and wished she had upgraded because of the distance from the parks. The room sizes at WL are not very big, but you get the deluxe amenities and a more reasonable price.

 

[Disney Spaz]

When DH and I went to POFQ this past Easter we thought full size beds not a big deal we can live. Well two nights of rolling around, yanking covers and bumping into each other we realized from now on we would either do Deluxe or spring for the second room for our two teenage sons so we all had our own beds.