Does anyone else feel Deluxes are really out of reach now?

[DisFlan]

We have never been to WDW, have a week booked at Pop in Sept. After visiting lots of sites, looking at room photos, I don't know why anyone would pay deluxe rates.

You won't get the real feel of the resorts from the pictures or the descriptions. After you get checked into Pop (which is a fine place), go for an excursion through a couple of the deluxes like the Grand Floridian, AKL or the Poly. Check out the "pool" at the Beach Club. There IS a difference. You're getting more than just the room. You won't have a giraffe looking into your balcony at the Pop like you might at AKL. You can't watch the fireworks or the castle change colors or see the electric water parade from your room or balcony like you can from the monorail resorts. You can't take a short stroll to the MK like you can from the Contemporary. You also won't have the options of more/better dining choices, wider choice of room types, concierge, room service, marinas, boats or monorails to the parks, fitness centers, spas, in-room amenities, projects for children, personal services or valet parking. But those may not be important to you.

The WL isn't my favorite, but it isn't "just a knock-off" of Yellowstone. The lobby alone is worth the trip.

DisFlan

 

[Bete]

I do feel the value resorts are the best deal Disney offers but it's a basic room, no frills.

When the time is right I even like doing concierge but right now the time is not right. I was spoiled by the prices over the last few years, too and it's sticker shock at this time. I won't do a deluxe at Disney, right now.

Our last three trips with Disney has been with value resorts and I will stick with a value resort for now. We are retired and we are able to travel more, now. I rather take more trips than stay at a deluxe and take fewer trips. This is our vacation mode, no matter where we go. We have a certain amount to spend each year on vacation and I will stretch our money; so, we can take more vacations. We do so much with our day where ever we go that I could sleep on the floor by the end of the day; we just don't need a deluxe. We are not at the resort enough to justify the higher prices, either. I feel other than the pool, I can visit and enjoy all resorts at Disney; so, I won't pay the price for a deluxe. I rather save the dollars on a deluxe room and go to better restaurants, park tours, special shows like La Nouba, etc. We are not snobs and we grew up the hard way; so, we can handle this mode better than some others could.

I won't pay for anything but an inside cabin on a cruise, too. I have use of the ship no different than the one paying for a suite. I suppose, if I was very rich I wouldn't care but a dollar still means something to us; so, we won't just won't pay for a higher priced room, anywhere.

I do like a good deal and if one presents itself, I will treat us to a better room but it has to be a good deal.

I'm happy Disney offers all options, now.

 

[DISUNC]

I understand why people pay the $$$$$ for the deluxes! Actually there are 100 of various reasons. If they are truly deluxe hotels! For 10 years I traveled extensively for biz all over the world, and stayed in some of the finest hotels that excist! BUT my company paid for them...NOT ME! To be honest I never stayed anywhere that I thought was worth what my company was paying.

If I were to pay more than 200.00 a night to sleep on dis property, TRULY DELUXE for me would be the CM's would carry me around the parks, and I get to go to the front of every line. It all depends on the individual, and what "deluxe" is for them.

I'm a "at the parks all day kinda guy"...so the POP is great for me! And I also thinks its one of the most FUN & Disney like resorts WDW has.

What I dont get are the moderates?????? What do they have that cost more than 50.00 a night over the values???????????????

 

[montblanc]

The deluxe resorts are very expensive and the year I get my annual pass the discounts were not as deep (only got discount on Poly, not Coronado). I can't really afford 9 nights at a deluxe resort so I split it up between that and a moderate.

 

[disneyholic family]

it's simple economics...
charge what the buyer will pay...
clearly people are willing to pay a lot, and so that's what's charged...

 

[Blogreader]

If I were to pay more than 200.00 a night to sleep on dis property, TRULY DELUXE for me would be the CM's would carry me around the parks, and I get to go to the front of every line. It all depends on the individual, and what "deluxe" is for them.

This made me chuckle thank you.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

What I dont get are the moderates?????? What do they have that cost more than 50.00 a night over the values???????????????

I think others could answer with a lot more reasons (better pools maybe? I dunno...) but I'll tell you one reason... can't stay family of 5 in value therefore if you are a family of 5 you're looking at 2 value resort rooms vs. 1 moderate (if you get one that can take 5 people- like POR with trundle bed). Even at $50+ more a night at moderate- it's less than TWO rooms at value. Poor families of 5..... (like myself) LOL

(this would halfway explain why our last trip and upcoming trip are minus daddy.. can still stay value resort. LOL But really he'd rather work & not take that much time off than take that many trips to Disney... he's not a Disney lover like we are. LOL)

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I don't feel they are out of reach. Speaking ONLY for my husband and myself, we just aren't at a resort enough to justify spending the money for a deluxe. We get up, eat, go to the parks, come back for a brief nap/change of clothes, go eat at a sig, restaurant/go back to a park, then come back to sleep.

Make any sense?

 

[DISUNC]

This made me chuckle thank you.

ANYTIME! You welcome!

 

[DISUNC]

I think others could answer with a lot more reasons (better pools maybe? I dunno...)

Maybe they are filled with dasani water?????

..can't stay family of 5 in value therefore if you are a family of 5 you're looking at 2 value resort rooms vs. 1 moderate ....Poor families of 5..... (like myself) LOL...)

Yeah thats a shame....Disney didnt really think that through! There really should be some bigger rooms at the Values for families of more than 4. I have friends with 4 kids, they always stay offsite. Maybe if the rumors are true...the yet unfinished Legendary Years @ the POP will have bigger rooms? Lets throw some WISHES

...upcoming trip are minus daddy....But really he'd rather work.....

OK! we'll go with that!

 

[cm387]

we too are a family of 5 which makes things difficult. our kids are 5, 4 and 2 and we stayed in ASMu when there was just 4 of us and with suitcases, a double stroller and a play pen it was way too crowded! We could barely walk through the door. Thank God we had rented a car that trip or we would have had to store car seats too. We are going next month so it's still value season for the deluxes and regular for the mod and value. With discounts being what they are we got a room at AKL for $25 more than a room at a mod ($124 vs $99). (so praying for an upgrade, but I'll live with the parking lot view if I have to) We still need the pack n' play so the extra room is better for us. The price difference in this case made it a no brainer for us. Next time it might be 2 rooms at a value...we'll just have to wait and see. We don't have to stay at deluxe, but it sure is nice. We've stayed at all levels of the resorts including DVC and it's all about personal needs, budget and tastes. That's why they have different levels of service!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

This is the very reason we became DVC members. We did the math and found out that it makes sense cost wise. The rooms go up in price every year and we like knowing that we'll be in deluxe resorts each time we go. It's easier for us to pay a little each month for MFs than it is to come up with $$$$ for rooms. Disney is an expensive vacation. We feel, however, that it's worth every penny.

 

[chyam]

'cause the WL is at Walt Disney World...

Also the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone does not even have a phone in the room or a tv for that matter and if you are lucky and stay in the old building you don't even have your own bathroom..........no comparison. But I also remember staying at the WL for $99.00 a night and as much as I love it I will not no matter if I hit the lottery pay $250.00 a night for that kind of room, the moderates may not have the inside corridors but they have a much larger food court and many have more less crowded pools.

 

[TDC Nala]

I have DVC, but when I am not staying there, I'll be at Pop Century since the nonrefundable deposit thing came out for AP holders.

 

[DiszyDean]

I think it has to be said that staying at a deluxe on WDW property is also a status thing. Like it or not and most will not admit to it.

I will be staying at POR in August. I have traveled extensively and have stayed at some very nice hotels. The rack rates for what you are getting at the deluxe resorts is outrageous. Its all about status and location and Disney knows this.

Moderates are much better deals all around.

 

[gonga]

I think it has to be said that staying at a deluxe on WDW property is also a status thing. Like it or not and most will not admit to it.

I will be staying at POR in August. I have traveled extensively and have stayed at some very nice hotels. The rack rates for what you are getting at the deluxe resorts is outrageous. Its all about status and location and Disney knows this.

Moderates are much better deals all around.

I don't agree

When you are in the parks or in a restaurant, do you know where anyone is staying...UM NO. We are all the same in the parks or restaurants, status has nothing to do with it. There is no special treatment for paying more money for a hotel room. It is a matter of personal preference, not a matter of status. It is a matter of personal choice. That is why WDW offers so many hotel choices, to make suit all tastes and budgets. Everybody is happy.

If there was only 1 kind of hotel on disney property, it is a sure bet you would piss off somebody. It always surprises me how people post about not understanding the "deluxe resorts" but it is never the other way around. Personally my thought is who really cares where you stay, as long as you are happy and your family is happy and you have a great time.

Not everybody is concerned about "great deals" What is a great deal anyway? To some paying extra to not have to take a bus to the parks is great deal, to others it's about staying in the most inexpensive resort and bringing a fridge. As long as your happy understand status has nothing to do with it.

 

[d-hlaw]

I have stayed in only deluxe resorts for the past few years. As a youngster my grandmother would take me to the CR and to the park for weekends and it left a lasting impression on me. I feel the magic, I feel her presence and I feel that same warm feeling I did as a kid..... which is something that is fleeting in my line of work. I get discounts on deluxe rooms but lately I have been staying in suites where there are no discounts. I have never felt bad about my expenditures nor have I felt that I paid too much. In fact, as I sat in the Vice Pres suite this past week at AKL with my family and friends talking into the late hours of the night I felt as though there was no price too high! For $ a night am I getting the best treatment?? No, I get better in New York or Chicago but........ New York and Chicago arent on Disney property. Nuff said.

 

[d-hlaw]

By the way, the family accross from me in the Pres Suite were my age (late thirties) and had been there for 20 days and still had another week to go. I calculate they spent about $75,000. The scary part is that the high end suites are often sold out for months in advance...... I have the WL Pres for 5 days over christmas!!

 

[DiszyDean]

Wow...$2100 a night....now that is out of reach....

As far as staying at a Disney deluxe hotel, I suppose it is a matter of perspective...If all you have ever stayed in is a Motel 6 and Disney Deluxe Resorts, you may think you are getting what you paying for. If you have stayed at other 4 or 5 star hotels, you would realize that the Disney experience is way over priced and the rack rates are probably out of the range of your average 9 to Fiver.

I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying a deluxe or going to whatever hotel suits them. If you have seen the amount of "hotel" snobs on the board, that is what I mean by a status symbol. There are people who would refuse to try a mod or value hotel just because of the "stigma" of actually having to budget a trip. Keeping up with the Joneses and all that.

And if you get discounts and want to stay at WL or some other deluxe....fantastic....but lets not pretend that the rack rates at Disney World deluxe hotels are either comparable with the actual ammenities they are providing or within the reach of your average middle-class family.

 

[disneyfan61]

I've said it before & I'll say it again. Right now with my two DS's ages 16 & 12, we just do not spend enough time at the resort to warrant the $$$$ for deluxe. We use it to shower & sleep. That is it. Now when my DH & I go someday by ourselves would we like to stay at a deluxe-YES & hopefully we will be able to afford it. However I do agree they are VERY pricey. I have no
problems with values. We stayed at ASMo the first time we went & had no
problems. Last year we stayed at CBR & although the property was beautiful the buses are another story. Stopping at every section was a PAIN. I probably will not stay there again for that reason. Next year POP here we come!!!