Has anyone ever been disappointed w/Deluxe resort after staying at value resorts?

[PookaJean]

My husband and I always stay at the value resorts and absolutely love them...have also stayed at POR and enjoyed there as well but was thinking about trying AKL or WL.
I am having a difficult time justifying spending that much more money when we love the value resorts so much...so I was wondering if anybody who normally stays at value resorts and love them have ever tried a deluxe resort and been disappointed or regreted spending the extra money to do so?

 

[jeepgirl30]

DH and I stayed at CSR and fell in love! I booked a company conference there and everyone really enjoyed it. I attended a few tradeshows and stayed at the Dolphin for one, one everything but CBR was full so had to stay there and the third I begged to stay at CSR. The Dolphin was a major let down to me. Nothing Disney about it for me because i was surrounded with convention.

I was asked to book a first class sales incentive trip. I got great rates from GF so we went there. Everyone really liked it but for me personally, I wouldn't pay the extra of my own money to stay there above CSR.

I still would like to try the Poly someday. I also would like to check out POR and POFQ.

However I'm trying desperately to beat the bank and do a quick Mother/Daughter trip and am very willing to give ASM a shot!

I really think it all boils down to what you can afford, are willing to spend on what, etc. For me, when its an adults trip I'd much rather go for higher end food. I love the grounds at CSR and love the fact I don't feel like I spent so much that I have to eat at lower end places.

I can't say I was disappointed with a Deluxe but it wasn't my money! Now if that darn powerball would cooperate with me, my attitude may change!

 

[BunnieGene]

I have never been disappointed with a deluxe hotel, but I was really disappointed when I stayed at CSR. I just didn't think it was worth the extra money compared with a value resort, but I haven't stayed at any other moderates. I LOVED AKL, the savannah view is so worth the price.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

We just got back from the AKL and let me just say that we were NOT disappointed. Our favorite is the CBR but the AKL was a VERY VERY VERY close second, possibly tied. However the answer to your question is YES. I can't emphasize enough how much my parents and older sister hated the GF when they stayed there, and they stayed at the All Stars after that and thought (as did I) that "gee, what went wrong with the GF?" lol I won't go into details on that visit but a LOT depends on the staff. The value and moderate staffs are very personable I find and I think the deluxes, and I've been to quite a few, in my experience have had worse customer service. I know it's supposed to be the opposite but again, thats just our experience.

 

[georgina]

I had friends who stayed at the Poly and missed the food court of the values. They thought it lacked quick dining options. This was a few years ago, and I have never personally stayed there, so I don't know if it has changed.

 

[MNmom]

Not yet but I will let you know!!

I have a few concerns about staying at the POLY. We were planning on 2 rooms at the POP but now we are staying at the POLY GVC. I am NOT complaining and the free dining has a lot to do with our change...but..... I am worried about all 5 of us in one room and not having 2 bathrooms/2 tvs and the space. I am also concerned about the quick dining options (food court). Just last night my DH said he wanted to be able to go have a couple of eggs/bacon in the morning while we are all "fighting for the only bathroom" I told him he could go have breakfast at the concierge lounge and he said he wants eggs or pancakes. Now he thinks he will have to go to KONA for breakfast each morning or else order at the counter.

I am sure we will love the POLY but the value resorts are pretty great too!!!

 

[BWVPam]

We have stayed at Values, Mods and Deluxes. Never have been disappointed in the Mods or Deluxes. The Value have their advantages (food court, price) but we love having a little more space and love the pools at the mods and deluxes. Now we are DVC and are quite spoiled in having lots of room and space. Makes it hard to ever stay in a value again,

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

I am also concerned about the quick dining options (food court). Just last night my DH said he wanted to be able to go have a couple of eggs/bacon in the morning while we are all "fighting for the only bathroom"

The egg and cheese with bacon sandwich on a croissant at Captain Cook's are awesome !!!! They also have the Big Kahuna breakfast platter (scrambled eggs, potatoes, biscuit, and bacon or sausage). They count as a counter service credit on the MYW with dining

 

[siouxi31]

During our first stay at BC we were disappointed. Not in the location, pool or service but because we spent so much more money for a similar room. Don't get me wrong, we feel that we will now always stay at BC but there's a part of me that hates shelling out the money for it. Be prepared for "I can't believe I spent this kind of money!" but enjoy yourself anyway. It's one of those things where you're paying for location and ambiance not necessarily the room.

 

[minijeanie]

Stayed at a moderate first POR, then moved on to WL, then Poly then BWV.

Sorry to say but I love the deluxes the best. As the previous person stated, it is the ambience, the convenience. I also don't get too many vacations, so for our family I will spend the exra money.

Now there are many people who take numerous dis vacations a year. In that case, I would stay the cheapest place possible. If I could do 3 visits a year, I would definitely stay at value resort.

reading these boards, I am inclined to try Pops...Seems like that is equivalent or not better than most mods.

 

[Grumpy'n'Goofy]

I also don't get too many vacations, so for our family I will spend the exra money.

Now there are many people who take numerous dis vacations a year. In that case, I would stay the cheapest place possible. If I could do 3 visits a year, I would definitely stay at value resort.

Couldn't have said it better, that's exactly how I feel. If we were able to get away more often, we'd stay at the values. But since we only go once every 2 or 3 years, the extra $$$ for the convenience and amenities of the deluxes is easily justified.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

I have to say that of all of our trips, the most memorable and fun one was at ASMo. Maybe it was because it was our first. Although the AKL was very nice, I would have to say it was the least magical. I can't really put my finger on why, but I guess it is because we spend so much of our time at the parks, that the amenities that the deluxe resorts offer are just not utilized enough by us. Many people mention the need for more space, but I didn't find it enough of a difference to justify the price. The bus service at AKL in our experince was the worst we have had at a Disney resort. I realize that each person's experiences vary greatly, so take all of this for what it is worth, but IMHO I would much rather spend less money on a value or mod if the parks are your main focus. One of these days when the kids are a little older, and we decide to spend more of our time at the pools and hanging out at the resort, we might stay at a deluxe again.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Sorry, I'm a deluxe snob.

 

[Bete]

Even at Christmas I don't think it's worth it. I rather take more trips than shell out for the deluxe resort or do other amenities at Disney. We are not at the resort enough to justify the costs. When we are there it's to take a nap or sleep for the night.

Once in a while, we will split our stay and go to AKL and do concierge. The only reason we stay there is to take advantage of the private, morning safari at AK and the private, evening safari in the resort's savannah. You still have to pay for those priveleges but it's special to that resort only; so, it's cool. You have to be conceirge to get this privelege there.

I repeat; I'm not there to stay at the resort. I want to enjoy the parks. I don't go commando style but that's why I'm there to enjoy the parks, not to be at the resort. You have the water parks if you really want to do the water thing, etc. and you will be money ahead even if if you pay for those water parks. You can swim at home. Everyone nearly has a public pool back home. You can sun bathe at home. I know everyone can't do this all year long. You can get spa treatments at home. I don't want to use valuable vacation time at Disney for something I can do at home. I can't see the parks at home. I'm very practical and I feel your time spent at the parks is most important.

If I want a relaxing resort stay for swimming, etc. I rather pick a place closer to home or somewhere different to visit. There's life before and after Disney. You can tell I feel strong on this point. Now, if you go to Disney to just enjoy the resorts, I may bite on spending for a deluxe. Then your time is devoted to the resort and you get your bang for your dollar there.

Also, with the money saved we treat ourselves to Disney tours or/and Illuminations cruises and a few special dinners, afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian, more souvenirs, etc. I find that better use of the money spent at Disney and better value for us. I like value for my dollar!

Now, I know some people feel there is a better clientele at the deluxes and that's the main reason they use them. I actually think our value resort neighbors are friendlier than the deluxes.

This has been an age long debate for decades and will continue to be one. If I were a billionaire I would stay at the deluxes all the time. Ha-ha!

 

[micksterlee]

On our first visit we stayed at all star sports and on our next trip we stayed at AKL .On our next trip we have booked POP. The AKL was nice but I had a hard time justifying the cost since we spend very little time at the resort and personally I liked the theming better at the value resorts.If you are going to spend a lot of time at the resort I can see where a deluxe would be the way to go but if you are like us and spend morning till night in the parks to me it kind of seemed like a waste of money.

 

[tlbwriter]

Why not split your stay, and just spend a couple of days at a Deluxe? You'll learn whether it's worth it to you without spending the $$$ for a whole vacation there.

 

[leighmidd]

I've never had the opportunity to stay in a deluxe resort (though I'm hoping someday for a stay at AKL) but my family was lucky enough to get a room at the Poly for a low discount rate a few years ago. They loved the monorail access and the beautiful lobby but after staying at only mods they were very disappointed in the lack of food court and the fact their was only one bus stop. They tell me the transportation was very inconvenient and they missed the atmosphere of the moderates. Though....my sister did say she loved being able to say "I'm staying at the Polynesian "

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

In Dec we'll make our first venture to a deluxe (AKL) after having been to Moderates before. For us (it's just DH and myself) the moderates are ideal -- a bit more space and quieter than values. The CBR has lots of bus stops (each set of buildings plus the Port Royale has it own bus stop) and the food court was very nice (but overpriced like every other food court in WDW.) We were in a Jamaica building on our last trip and bus service and proximity to the Food Court was ideal.

Having said that I would have stayed at CBR again in a minute (but we're going to WDW during Pop Warner week.) I guess we'll see if it's really worth it for the deluxe. From everything I've heard and read about values they're pretty much all you want after a busy day in the parks.

I think this will be a make or break vacation for us with WDW, since friends had been to Portafina at Universal and said that it was better than anything they've stayed at in WDW. I guess we'll see..

 

[cdntourguide]

After years of yearning, I finally booked 5 nights at AKL. It was good, but IMO the CM's at POP and ASMovies were so much better to deal with.
Also I found AKL lodge to be very dark. Worse, the mousekeeping staff were not as efficient as at any of the values I have stayed.
At AKL i only received coffee one day, the room was never cleaned before 4pm, except for the day I checked out and on that day mousekeeping was there at 7:30am
For my next visit to WDW I am going back to POP, for the nightly price POP is a better deal than AKL.



Just 39 more days until my next visit

 

[mommykds]

I repeat; I'm not there to stay at the resort. I want to enjoy the parks. I don't go commando style but that's why I'm there to enjoy the parks, not to be at the resort. You have the water parks if you really want to do the water thing, etc. and you will be money ahead even if if you pay for those water parks. You can swim at home. Everyone nearly has a public pool back home. You can sun bathe at home. I know everyone can't do this all year long. You can get spa treatments at home. I don't want to use valuable vacation time at Disney for something I can do at home. I can't see the parks at home. I'm very practical and I feel your time spent at the parks is most important.

Now, I know some people feel there is a better clientele at the deluxes and that's the main reason they use them. I actually think our value resort neighbors are friendlier than the deluxes.

I agree totally!