Help Required with 2008 Planning!!

[joemo]

Have just posted on the Resort board, but I wonder if I could get a British perspective to this question?

We are just about to book our fourth Disney Holiday for 2008 (I’m sure I can’t be the only one!) and are thinking of going non-deluxe for the first time ever. We won’t be driving so would prefer to stay on site.

Sorry to sound snobby but the value resorts look just like Butlins to me – is that a terrible thing to say and completely wrong?

Would we enjoy the values after the luxury of the Poly, Contemporary and Yacht Club?

But then my sensible side is thinking – could you ever have a bad Disney Holiday? So could I please have you opinions on the differences between the value, moderates and deluxe resorts?

We are a family of 3, DS is 7 now, he loves to swim, DH and I are lazy people who like a drink!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Have stayed at POR (when it was Dixie) & WL and would reccomend both. POR is great if you like drinking - you can get the boat to DTD, drink & be merry without having to drive!

 

[Elise79]

We stayed at CSR this year and loved The bus service was fantastic and from leaving the resort we at the parks in about 10mins as it centrally located

Your kids would probably love the main pool area with its slide and playground (and it has a hot tub). There is also a lounge bar in the main building.

Have to say we have not stayed deluxe but don't fancy the values much as I think that look a bit OTT for us. I know some people love them but they are not for us

If you want any more info just ask!

Elise

 

[joemo]

Thanks for the replies.

I think I've been spoilt but saving money would be a good idea (she said grudgingly!!)

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I have only stayed at the Boardwalk villas so am not best placed to offer good advice I guess.
However, all the Disney resorts irrespective of price do offer something different, and with that in mind the advantage is all tastes are catered for.

There is an element of sound logic that if you stay in luxury accomodation, then anything could be considered a step downwards, I think ultimatley you just have to go off what your budget allows.

 

[florida sun]

Hi There

I have stayed at both the All Stars (3 Times) and Pop (once) and this year tried the luxury of the Dolphin, and as much as I liked the Dolphin, I preferred the Value ones. Not much to go on there really as I think what I missed about the others was the little Disney touches at the Dolphin. I have'nt stayed at any of the Disney Luxury Resorts, so my opinion might change if I did, but I do have to say that we are thinking of going back in 2008 and would love to stay again at either the All Stars or Pop.

Great Icons for the kids, large food courts, the Pop wins hands down for me on this and great swimming pools.

Dont know if this has helped at all, but I wish you all the best in whatever choice you make.

 

[fuse04]

We visited at WDW for the first time this year and stayed at POR. We found that for what little time we spent at the hotel this was ideal. Good rooms, very good transport however although we were only there 6 days Boatwirghts restaurant is limited in choice of food

We have planned to return April/May 2007 and had orginally booked POR again (relatively romatic setting, boat to DTD, horse carriage rides etc). Here comes the sting in the tail....a couple of months later we changed accommodation to AKL and WL......just couldn't resist trying these two hotels

Obviously this comes at a cost so we might end up thinking was the extra £ worth it if we spend little time in the hotel and of course we might love it so much we could find oursleves in a dilema (or broke) for our third trip!!!!

Fuse04

 

[UKDEB]

Would we enjoy the values after the luxury of the Poly, Contemporary and Yacht Club?

I think it would be difficult to do it that way around. What's the difference in cost between the Values and Deluxes for your dates? 2008 is a long way off, so plenty of time to save up! Are you booking independently? It's much cheaper that way.

At my 'lifestage' I couldn't be persuaded to stay at a Value. A few years ago, I'm sure they would have seemed like paradise, but not now. The Moderates, on the other hand, all have a certain appeal.

 

[joemo]

Thanks for the replies.

Obviously we don't have money to burn, but I am happy to scrimp and save all year to get my 'perfect' holiday.

I am thinking about POFQ for 2008 as it looks very nice, although I the travelling to the parks may be an issue. Well we could go for it and it it isn't as good as previous years then we could just go back to the deluxes.

Although I tend to think that it is impossible to have a bad Disney holiday, I suppose a luxury hotel that I wouldn't normally be able to afford does add to the experience!

 

[ButterbearUK]

The first time we went to WDW and stayed on site we stayed at the Contemporary which was amazing but expensive. After that we tended to stay moderate (at the POR) to save money and we love the themeing.

Last December we got a good rate at the Pop, so decided to go for it. I thought my parents would hate it but I have to say we were all very pleasantly surprised. Yes, the giant icons are a bit bright, but not as in your face as I expected. The staff were friendly, and the rooms were fine for us (as a family of four, all adults we did choose 2 rooms for the extra space though). I really could not fault it.

I am planning to take my boyfriend in 2008 and will be going to the Pop again. Although we may splash out on a night or two at the AKL to just relax at the end of the hol.

I guess it depends on when you are going, and how much time you'll be spending in your resort. We went in value season and the resort was lovely and quite. If you're going during a busy period and you're planning down time at the resorts in the afternoons probably Mods are the way forward.

Hth

Milia

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Have you considered the Swan or Dolphin? I know that they are deluxes, but they are a lot more reasonably priced than the proper Disney deluxes - especially if you qualify for an AA or teacher's/nurse's discount (or along those lines). I don't know the exact price differences between the Swan/Dolphin and the moderates/values, but maybe worth a look...

... if you are a complete "Disneyholic" they may not be for you - some complain that the theming isn;t "Disney enough", but they are very nice.

Might be worth a look (especially if you are booking independently - i.e. through http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com or similar)

Boo

 

[joemo]

We have previously discounted the Swan and Dolphin because you can't charge everything to the room card (which we think is a very big plus).

However what I might do is a price comparison and see whether the cost difference is significant enough to forgo some of the perks.

Thanks again!

 

[Goofyish]

We have previously discounted the Swan and Dolphin because you can't charge everything to the room card (which we think is a very big plus).

However what I might do is a price comparison and see whether the cost difference is significant enough to forgo some of the perks.

Thanks again!

Although you can't charge from the parks or WDW restaurants, you can still get parcels delivered back to the Swan/Dolphin. The Swan/Dolphin is a great location - you can walk to Epcot and the other Epcot resorts and MGM is also a short walk/boatride away.

You son will love the pool at the Dolphin too

There is also the Fantasia minigolf courses a short walk away too.

 

[Pootle]

I may be a dissenting voice here - but I don't love the moderates and would choose a value over them for the .....erm, well ..... value.

Don't misunderstand, I can see why people like POR, CSR and CBR (I have stayed at the first two) being in such beautifully themed surroundings, but as far as the rooms go - to me they are similar to the values only slightly bigger. I don't care for rooms where the main walkway is in front of the only window - not very relaxing to have passing traffic.

Now if you do not spend much time in the room, I'd say all of them are fine, but then my thinking would be that the values would be just as good (I've stayed in 2 of the 3 All Star resorts).

I think the comments you have made about Butlins (never been to Butlins, but I found the food courts at the values just horrendous at busy times) and staying at a luxury hotel you wouldn't normally be able to afford, suggest you'd probably be much happier in a deluxe or, as Boo Boo Too said, maybe the Swan or Dolphin.

I've only ever stayed at the values and moderates for a maximum of 2 nights (DVC members will understand this ) and I know others just love them; certainly my nephews thought they were in heaven at ASM .

 

[Goofyish]

You could also try a split stay between a value/moderate and a deluxe. It's very easy to move resorts in WDW - bell services will transport your luggage for you.

 

[joemo]

Thanks - hope I don't sound like a snob!!

When I was little we actually spent all our family holiday at Butlins - which I loved! But now I'm older and pickyer I suppose I want to different things.......is a lottery jackpot too much to ask??

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Thanks - hope I don't sound like a snob!!

When I was little we actually spent all our family holiday at Butlins - which I loved! But now I'm older and pickyer I suppose I want to different things.......is a lottery jackpot too much to ask??

No, different people have different priorities: some like to spend money and nice hotels.... some don't. Personally I can see where you are coming from.

It is your holiday and you need to explore the options that will make it right for you. At least here we can give you a few ideas that you might not have previously considered...

Join the back of the queue for that lottery jackpot win.... my husband has been promising that it is "our night" for years!

Boo

 

[TandCmum]

Are you definatly set on staying onsite? for the price of a deluxe resort you could stay in a fabulous villa with all the comforts of home, your own pool, a games room for your son, playstation etc. Villas are charged per home not per person so you would pay the same wether there are just the 3 of you ar 12 of you. I would say the avergae price per week for a villa would be around £600 so quite a bit cheaper than the deluxe resorts.

Saying that we love staying onsite and spent last year at POFQ which was beautiful and have booked AKL for next year, however i am desperate to try the villa holiday too.

ETA :- sorry didn't see the bit about not driving so forget what i just wrote, the moderates are lovely resorts, if deluxe doesn't fit your budget then just go for whatever you can afford, I don't really think you can have a bad holiday at disney

 

[Lizzybear]

We originally chose a value but upgraded to a moderate. What I really wanted was deluxe (for me the accomodation IS quite a big part of the holiday.. I've stayed in a very cheap hotel on I-drive and didn't like it. We had a great holiday but the next time we went we chose a nicer hotel and it definitely added to the experience) but the price was too high for us at this point (me and bf are both only in our early 20s and paying for the whole thing ourselves) so the moderate was a good compromise A big plus for me is that POFQ is a much smaller resort than Pop Century (where we originally chose)