Did you feel that WL was as "deluxe" as Poly?

[aprilbabes]

We've only stayed at the poly and are planning on staying at WL in May. Just wondering of you get that "deluxe" feel there. It's lacking the monorail and the rooms are smaller so I'm hoping I don't have may regrets!

 

[alecshawn]

Of course...WL is one of WDW's best resort.

 

[Havana]

Yes, I do. With everything being under one roof, and the magnificent lobby and courtyard, it is a very nice! The boatride to the MK is often more convenient than the crowded monorail in my opinion.

 

[grimley1968]

I think so. Keep in mind WL is significantly cheaper than Poly. So even though both are considered "deluxe", you're definitely paying more at Poly, and getting a little more in return, like larger rooms and monorail access to 2 parks.

Generally what makes a "deluxe", well, "deluxe" are a few things: balconies or patios on rooms, inside hallways, more extravagant theming in lobbies and rooms, non-bus transportation to at least one park, nicer restaurants, among other things. The exception to non-bus transportation among deluxes is AKL, which requires a bus everywhere.

Keep in mind that WL offers boats to MK. There are some, and I'm one of them, who prefer the boats to the monorail. No other WDW resort offers monorail access to MK and EPCOT, so no place can match Poly in that regard. But we actually prefer the overall theming of WL over the Poly. The Poly has no hot tub. WL has 2 hot tubs. Poly has a better slide than WL. We prefer WL's restaurants over Poly. To each his/her own as to what value each offers I suppose.

 

[outahere]

We've only stayed at the poly and are planning on staying at WL in May. Just wondering of you get that "deluxe" feel there. It's lacking the monorail and the rooms are smaller so I'm hoping I don't have may regrets!

My opinion would be no, we don't feel it is as deluxe as the Poly. The decor and the lobby and public areas are very nice and do have the "deluxe" feel, but the regular rooms (not the deluxe club level rooms) are much smaller than the rooms at the Poly. The last time we stayed there it was me, DW and DS who was 12 at the time, and we really felt cramped.

I seem to remember reading once that WL was originally going to be a high-end moderate resort, but I don't know if that is true or not. However, having stayed at the Poly and YC (and the GF next month) in my mind it is a high-end mod or low-end deluxe. It usually is the least expensive of the deluxe resorts, probably because of the room size.

Just my $.02 worth......

 

[RAD]

Wasn't WL considered a moderate resort when it first opened?

 

[grimley1968]

Wasn't WL considered a moderate resort when it first opened?

I don't think so, but it's always been priced closer to moderate pricing than to Poly or GF pricing. It can often be less than $1,000 more to stay at WL for a week over, say, POFQ, but the Poly could be $1,500-$2,000 more for that week than WL.

 

[RAD]

I don't think so, but it's always been priced closer to moderate pricing than to Poly or GF pricing. It can often be less than $1,000 more to stay at WL for a week over, say, POFQ, but the Poly could be $1,500-$2,000 more for that week than WL.

OK, just seem to remember that we stayed there right after it opened and picked it because it was a moderate over a deluxe.

 

[pixarmom]

We've stayed at WL twice and Poly many times. We like both and prefer Poly. But other than room size and monorail access, we don't find Poly "more deluxe" than WL. We're likely to continue to choose Poly because it's easier to be on the monorail and a standard WL room no longer accommodates our family of five. I actually prefer the WL lobby. Pools are both fun, and WL has a hot tub while Poly does not. I think WL is appropriately priced relative to other resorts because it does have a deluxe feel, but the transportation options are only slightly better than the mods.

 

[Tink415]

IMO yes, WL is as deluxe as Poly. Yes, the rooms are noticeably smaller, there isn't any monorail access, and you can't walk to any parks. But to me, the location is more peaceful, there is a boat to MK, there are great hot tubs, and you can walk, bike, or take a boat to FW.

The regular rooms everywhere on property seem small to me except for Poly, CR, and OKW. I really wouldn't want 5 in any of the rooms because of storage issues, but could squeeze in happily with the right people

When we've gone with 3 adult size people and 1 child size person its been fine everywhere including values. Have yet to see how I feel when its 4 adult size people in one room!

 

[tiger4me2]

Wasn't WL considered a moderate resort when it first opened?

No it was always a deluxe. It is not as big as the Poly in rooms but each to their own. I prefer the BWI but would go back to the WL or the Poly in that order

 

[mickeynut1]

We've stayed at the WL twice and the Poly once and even though the Poly is our favorite of the two, we feel the WL is just as deluxe as the Poly. The rooms at the WL are smaller, but both are great resorts and we love them both for different reasons. The WL isn't on the monorail, but we always enjoy taking the boat to MK and we have never had any trouble with the buses.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I feel the WL is a deluxe, it is just not AS deluxe as the Poly. The WL blows me away, until I get in the room. That part is underwhelming.

 

[firstwdw]

Keep in mind the rooms at WL were just all redone!

 

[princessallegra]

In short, absolutely YES no doubt whatsoever. We have stayed Poly CL and WL, and WL standard. We love WL and it is extremely relaxing and "deluxe". We havent been back to Poly but would go back to WL in a blink.

 

[aprilbabes]

Keep in mind the rooms at WL were just all redone!

Were all the rooms redone or just certain sections?
Also, how important is the view at WL? It's a little more for a woods view but I'm not sure if it's necessary.

 

[firstwdw]

Were all the rooms redone or just certain sections?
Also, how important is the view at WL? It's a little more for a woods view but I'm not sure if it's necessary.

I believe ALL the rooms in the Lodge were redone-not the Villas. We had a Woods View and requested highest floor without an enclosed balcony and a view of wishes. We were over a nice pond and could see the lake all the way to the right. We could watch the higher fireworks from Magic Kingdom from our balcony every night! I think the Woods View was worth it! I loved the location of our room! It was so private-we could have our sliding balcony door open and get nice fresh air without anyone seeing in!

 

[Mousemommy1]

All of the rooms were done, and they look wonderful.

Here are some pics of a bunk bed room

Here was our "woods view" (we were on CL but this is still possible from high woods view floor)

We absolutely LOVED the WL
We honestly felt that the vibe and decor there was more "deluxe" than the Poly.

 

[alecshawn]

WL has that great Americana feel to it...just like its supposed too..the whole national parks vibe. We love it!! Even though, we arent staying there thius April...we wil certainly visit!!

 

[Karabee]

I agree that WL still feels deluxe. I think while the monorail resorts might be what many think of when they think "deluxe" each Deluxe gives off a great feel that's not captured by the Mods or Values (just personal opinion). In fact, I felt the most "deluxe" while at SSR so you never know! The lobby at WL alone feels Deluxe