Going Deluxe to Value

[BraveLittleToaster2]

We always stay in Deluxe or Moderate resorts and are due to stay at BLT later this year. I was playing with the idea of changing to Art of Animation, I think my 3 year old who love Cars would enjoy the theme.

I am concerned however about whether we wont enjoy it. What I love about the Deluxe resorts is they tend to be quiet, transportation is never too crowded (at least during the times of year we go), food courts aren't usually packed full of people, and I've always found the rooms clean (I'm a germaphob).
I also have always loved how I cannot hear people in other rooms. One stay at POFQ and we could hear the people in the room next to us VERY loudly. The inner hallways at Deluxe resorts are always very quiet after hours as well.

Will i be disappointed in a Value when used to a Deluxe or do you think I will be pleasantly surprised? Any info would be appreciated!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think you've been lucky on your Deluxe stays, to be honest, especially with the "quiet hallways." I have experienced otherwise at several resorts...

Family Suites have indoor hallways and are roughly the same for noise as Deluxes, IMO.

 

[buzznina]

I have to conquer with _auroraborealis_. We have sometimes heard our neighbors at all levels of resorts and we also do not like inner hallways, we find them more noisy. If you had the same neighbors at a deluxe as you did at POFQ, you would have heard them too. Once in awhile you will get a loud neighbor Mousekeeping is another thing that has no bearing on which level you stay at. Again, it's been hit or miss for us at all resort levels.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I wouldn't pay deluxe prices to stay at a value resort. You are losing way too many amenities and the location for the price. We enjoy queen beds (more than 1) and a pool slide.

 

[Poohsmommi]

We always stay in Deluxe or Moderate resorts and are due to stay at BLT later this year. I was playing with the idea of changing to Art of Animation, I think my 3 year old who love Cars would enjoy the theme.

I am concerned however about whether we wont enjoy it. What I love about the Deluxe resorts is they tend to be quiet, transportation is never too crowded (at least during the times of year we go), food courts aren't usually packed full of people, and I've always found the rooms clean (I'm a germaphob).
I also have always loved how I cannot hear people in other rooms. One stay at POFQ and we could hear the people in the room next to us VERY loudly. The inner hallways at Deluxe resorts are always very quiet after hours as well.

Will i be disappointed in a Value when used to a Deluxe or do you think I will be pleasantly surprised? Any info would be appreciated!

The suites at AoA is the only value I would go back to due to the amenities. As for quiet, Poly and Contemporary were both extremely loud! I have yet to stay in any Disney hotel that was quiet.

 

[georgina]

Other than the cleanliness, values are quite different. We have stayed at all levels of resort, the transportation will be more crowded (we usually rent a car), the food court will be crowded at peak dining times, and you can hear people walking up and down the outside corridors. I do enjoy Pop, and you are correct your 3 yo might like AoA. Hard to say how you will like it though.

 

[loves to dive]

I've tried two values and after the second try decided they just weren't for me. I certainly wouldn't pay the prices for a value that AoA charges. The food courts tend to be very loud and busy and the small beds and lack of amentities in the rooms just aren't for me.

 

[Canesfan3234]

agree with others. the only value at any of the value resorts in disney is the AoA family suite rooms.

 

[BraveLittleToaster2]

Thanks for the inputs! Perhaps I will go over and look at AOA during this coming visit to help me decide if I can plan that for the following trip. I'm sure only a visit would tell me if it would be for us or not.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I wouldn't pay deluxe prices to stay at a value resort. You are losing way too many amenities and the location for the price. We enjoy queen beds (more than 1) and a pool slide.

I was going to say the same. I too wouldnt pay deluxe prices for a value resort. No way! i'd stick with deluxe. As much as I love AoA, given a choice i'd choose deluxe over value in a heartbeat.

No doubt your 3 yo will love AoA. But still. The transportation perks alone is worth it. Being at close proximity to MK alone is worth the money. I'd stick with BLT.

Ever consider a split stay? you can do AoA for one or two nights.

 

[BalooFan]

I would stay at BLT and visit AoA. You can walk around AoA and look at the well-themed grounds to your heart's content! I usually stay at deluxe resorts, but have stayed at Pop Century twice. It just wasn't for me. I will say that I didn't have any noise issues at Pop and housekeeping was as good as it was at the deluxe resorts (with the exception of the day they didn't clean my room at all). I guess I have just been spoiled by my experiences at the deluxe resorts.

 

[rosiebean]

While I would chose to stay at a deluxe over value, I have to say that you have been extremely lucky with your noise experience at deluxes! Our room at BC last year was the noisiest we've ever had. You could hear the TV quite clearly from the room next to us and early morning noise from the hallway woke me up more than once. We were ok with it, because it wasn't constant. But the lack of soundproofing was noticeable.

 

[Poohsmommi]

Thanks for the inputs! Perhaps I will go over and look at AOA during this coming visit to help me decide if I can plan that for the following trip. I'm sure only a visit would tell me if it would be for us or not.

Only if you are going to stay in the suites! You will not like a regular value room ... JMO.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We always stay deluxe but tried AoA the first year it opened thinking it would be the "deluxe of the values" and that the theming would be amazing. Yes, the theming is amazing. Go visit AoA on your next trip, visit the Cars section, maybe have a meal in the food court and then stay at BLT! AoA is adorable and it is also the most uncomfortable resort I have ever stayed in. It's loud and the bedding is awful. After our second night, I was trying to figure out a way to switch resorts, but I was alone with DS (who was 5 at the time) and I was waiting for extended family to arrive so just decided to stay put. Even with DS5, the theming got pretty old after a day or two. For us, we can get all the in-your-face Disney theming in the parks and then like to head back to a more peaceful resort with a lot of great amenities (great pools, sit-down restaurants, proximity to theme parks, etc.). If you are used to a deluxe and enjoy what they offer, I I think you will be very disappointed in AoA.

 

[emmabelle]

I enjoyed our AOA Cars suite last July, my husband didn't, he thought it felt cheap like a Motel 6. To each their own.

 

[cinderella531]

I have stayed Deluxe, but not with kids (YC, BC, WL). We stayed at AoA with our kids (ages 5 and 2) last year in a Nemo suite and it was the best experience. We loved having the extra space. It was awesome to be able to put the kids to bed and then still have adult space to enjoy. No lights out at 8PM, lol. Our kids were in love with the pool. It really is spectacular. The bus service was not inconvenient to us. We both said after our trip that even if we could have stayed in a Deluxe room for the same price, we loved the theming and the space at AoA. We had no problem with noise and the kids loved the beds. The little kitchenette area was convenient to us as we usually ate breakfast in our room in the morning and packed a few snacks for the parks. We are considering taking another trip, and we have gone back and forth about trying another resort. We keep coming back to having that extra space, an adult room (and bathroom!), and the awesome pool. I think it depends on what is important to you. If it is proximity (walking distance) to parks or having a killer table service on site - this isn't your place. But, if you would value some extra space and privacy, and if the theming sounds like extra Disney magic, you'll probably love it!