DTD Hotels vs. On-site (Value)?

[dpware]

How would you rate staying at a Downtown Disney Hotel (most likely the Hilton) vs. staying at a Disney Value Resort? Obviously it seems you get more Hotel for your money, but what about things like complimentary Transportation?

Any thing else I should consider?

 

[MiknMinMouse]

I've heard that DTD hotels offer transportation to the parks. My thing though is that even though you get more hotel for the money it's not Disney. When you stay on site you get the whole theme, the whole experience. I'd rather stay at an onsite value than a DTD deluxe. Just MHO.

 

[ccw]

For a spur of the moment trip a a couple of years ago, my teenage son and I stayed one night at our home DVC resort (OKW) because our first night was a Thursday (cheap points!) and then we spent the next two nights at the Doubletree Suites in DTD. Huge suite with large living room and separate bedroom with two beds. Three t.v.s if I am remembering correctly. It was colorful and whimsical and, for $100/ night, it was wonderful. Keep in mind that (1)we had a car so lack of official Disney buses was no big deal, (2) it was early December so it was a quiet time everywhere, (3) no little kids now so the lack of Disney touches didn't phase us, and (4) this was about our tenth trip and every other time we had stayed on Disney property so didn't feel we had necessarily missed anything by staying off site this one time. Wasn't our first visit or our last. Really, it was just fine and I would stay there again under similar circumstances. But for my trip ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, I will be in an Grand Villa at OKW!!! And have wiped out all of my DVC points for that celebration so Downtown Disney hotels will likely see me as a guest in '06! Have fun!

 

[vickyBaby]

Since I loathe the Value properties (it's a motel), I'd pick the Hilton over a Value. The DTD hotels have their own bus transportation.

 

[Harmony]

I'd say go Value! Esp if you have kiddos! Anything on Disney is worth it! Have fun!

 

[DrTomorrow]

How would you rate staying at a Downtown Disney Hotel (most likely the Hilton) vs. staying at a Disney Value Resort? Obviously it seems you get more Hotel for your money, but what about things like complimentary Transportation?

Any thing else I should consider?

Make sure that you know the limitations of the DTD Hilton transportation. While I don't know any details, I've heard that their buses run at irregular times, and if there are more folks going home than the bus can handle, it can be a loooong time before another comes. I thought that some of the DTD hotels used Disney Trans, but some don't....

 

[minnie61650]

Try the All Stars!

I am 55 years old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe resorts do not have anything special for me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.

All Star Music is my favorite.It is quieter because more couples stay there. I love staying at the Clypso building. It is closer to the pool,food court and bus stop.

Here is a site with a map of All Star Sports and All Star Music.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmap.htm
Scroll down.All Star Music is at the bottom of the page.
The Calypso buildings at All Star Music are #1 and #10 are nearest to the food court and bus stop.
They are the preferred buildings and cost about $12 extra per night.
The Calypso pool at ASMU has Donald Duck.

Here is the map of All Movies.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmovie.JPG
The Fantasia Buildings are the preferred buildings.
The All Star Movie Fantasia pool has Mickey.
It is a great place to stay .
Preschoolers love it.
It is like being in the middle of a Disney Movie Fantasyland.

The buses are wonderful.

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot,MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.

I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theaming is pure Disney.
My last 5 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we took dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 for 8 nights we stayed at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?
Have a great time at Disney!
I know we did!