How on earth can anyone afford a deluxe?

[Colleen27]

We afford deluxe by going in value season and watching for codes. We were at BC in August with a $240/night room rate. Not cheap, but not insanely expensive either. We're booked at Wilderness Lodge for Jaunary, at rack rate right now and eagerly awaiting possible codes.

 

[selting73]

The "worth it" factor depends on the person. We are taking our first WDW vacation in April 2008. For us, we only looked at the Deluxe hotels because we wanted to be right by Magic Kingdom. We did use AAA and saved some $ but are also staying in a Lagoon View Conceirge room. For us, it's worth the money. We would never spend $ we didn't have on a vacation.

Good luck making your decision.

 

[lilyv]

I got good grades, went to a top college and law school, worked very hard for many years and now work a job where I get paid a lot of money. That is how I afford deluxes year after year.

Well done! We're finally getting the opportunity to stay deluxe. Both kids graduated from college, both in grad school, so now....a little us time! We think it's hilarious when friends wonder what the heck we do at Disney without kids...
AKL here we come!

 

[grannyminnie]

Well done! We're finally getting the opportunity to stay deluxe. Both kids graduated from college, both in grad school, so now....a little us time! We think it's hilarious when friends wonder what the heck we do at Disney without kids...
AKL here we come!

Hahahahha...what you do at Disney without kids is the same as WITH, only with little or no stress!!!

 

[Colleen27]

We always go in value season, but even then the prices are enormously high. I've stayed in 5-star hotels with similar prices, and let me say, Disney's deluxe hotels don't even compare. However, we only go every 2 or 3 years, so I want to make the trip as special as possible.

Yeah, but if you compare apples to apples, you fnd that Disney prices aren't that much more expensive that other family resort destinations. Most of the time at those sort of places, you're paying for location, not amenities. We go to a popular indoor waterpark resort for a weekend every winter. The rooms there are about the same price as Disney deluxes, and while they are a little bigger, that's where the difference ends. And I don't know about you, but to me, walking distance to Epcot or just a boat ride from the Magic Kingdom or having the monorail running through the lobby is more worth the $300+/night than a few waterslides and an overpriced arcade!

 

[Evil Princess]

Disney Vacation Club and traveling non peak times, but that's more to avoid crowds as it is to save cost.

Really, ours paid for itself in 6 years.

 

[grannyminnie]

Yeah, but if you compare apples to apples, you fnd that Disney prices aren't that much more expensive that other family resort destinations. Most of the time at those sort of places, you're paying for location, not amenities. We go to a popular indoor waterpark resort for a weekend every winter. The rooms there are about the same price as Disney deluxes, and while they are a little bigger, that's where the difference ends. And I don't know about you, but to me, walking distance to Epcot or just a boat ride from the Magic Kingdom or having the monorail running through the lobby is more worth the $300+/night than a few waterslides and an overpriced arcade!

AMEN, to your last comment!! That's where it all matters!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I got bad grades, didn't go to college, and I'm lazy. I'm staying at the Poly for 2 weeks in July.

(...but do not believe you are lazy )

 

[ElizabethB]

We go off-season whenever possible (although that isn't possible for the Food & Wine Festival).

Off-season is cheaper and the ride lines aren't so long. We hunt for any and all discounts. We make sure our addresses and e-mail addresses are on file. Earlier this year we received one of the envied 40% off postcards -- that made it possible to stay GF earlier this year (where, luckily, we were upgraded to main building concierge level). It also helped with our annual Boardwalk Villa stay during F&W Festival. We have an annual pass and search out those discounts. We watch for publicly-released codes. We use AAA. And, we sometimes stay at Swan Dolphin, which are deluxe in my opinion (at least deluxe as defined at Disney), are superbly located, have a great pool, and are often available for about the price of a moderate.

We do not rent DVC points. We find that DVC points are great if you are willing to:

1. Stay only Sunday through Thursday -- and then pick-up and move elsewhere because point stays are outrageously expensive on Friday and Saturday nights -- so much so that they wipe out the benefit of renting points in our opinion. We're not willing.

2. Do without daily maid and turn-down service. We're not willing.

3. Pay thousands of dollars over to a complete stranger. We're not willing.

If all else fails, we stay moderate. We even tried All Star Sports for two nights to cut costs before going to GF in August.

I also got good grades, went to law school, worked very hard for a number of years and have a job that pays nicely.

Still -- I hate to waste money. The deluxe resorts are not deluxe in any true sense of the word (when compared to say a Ritz Carlton), but they are very nice and make up for everything else by proximity to the parks.

We book what makes sense at the time, depending on our current budget, what discounts are available, etc. Additionally, although we stay DVC for the space, I do not consider the DVC resorts to be deluxe. Except for the space, they are somewhere between moderate and deluxe, IMO. For example, BWI furniture, room appointments, etc., are miles ahead in luxury and quality from BWV. We recently stayed at SSR and were not terribly impressed. The towels were nearly as poor quality as the ones at All Star Sports.

My view is that Disney has realized they can charge top dollar for the resorts over holidays, high attendance periods, etc. So, they've raised their deluxe prices across the board so they can get that top dollar. But, I believe the strategy will require them to offer more discounts for off-peak times. That way, they have the really high rack rates they want for whenever they can get them, but can still fill the places at the slow times. Just my take on the current prices.

 

[Mersmom98]

I'm a single mom and am having a hard time "justifying" paying the high price for the WL instead of staying at a value or moderate....BUT...with that being said I am getting a big bonus at the end of the year and I figure, "What the heck!" I may never have the chance to go all out again and my dd is only getting older. This will be our last trip to the World for a while so I'm looking forward to eating where we want and staying where we want instead of saying "that's too expensive"...Just this once...Can you tell I'm still talking myself into spending the $$$? It'll be all worth it though when I see the look on her face when I actually tell her we're going!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Enjoy reading how everyone plans their trips

Our first visit 30 yrs ago was at CR, then we went twice a yr , a long winter weekend and a week in the summer, alternating between Poly, CR and CR Tower.

Kids are grown now, out of the nest and so stay in mods and values,usually traveling with a good friend, for a few short trips a year.

Last March stayed at BWV for 5 nights - deluxe for the first time since 2004 GF stay and will never go back to a value again (or hopefully a mod unless I really want to stay at FQ again).

From now on, will likely go once a year, but it will be deluxe and whatever view draws me for that trip. Realized how much I missed the deluxes... and owing nothing by the time we arrive allows me to choose any resort for the next visit

Polynesian this this December and probably back to GF next December...and maybe even Lagoon view

 

[raven69david]

I got bad grades, didn't go to college, and I'm lazy. I'm staying at the Poly for 2 weeks in July.

OH MY GAWD THAT IS SOOOOOOO FUNNY!!!!!!!!

 

[time4Mickey]

We have only stayed during value season and then have managed to get a lower rate yet. We love the deluxe resorts esp the Poly and WL. With young children(4 under 6 years) it really is worth it to be so close to the the MK. I tell my husband we can go back to the Moderates when they are older well see. It really might not be a better value.

 

[Colinsmom]

OP: I wouldn't spend that much either for 3 people and one week hotel. We travel during value season and watch for discounts. Our trip in early December this year is running about $6500 for two rooms (one for 10 nights, one for 8 nights) plus 10 day park tickets and DDP for four adults and one 5yo. We're staying at AKL.

 

[boomhauer]

(...but do not believe you are lazy )

I was just kidding.

But seriously, all it takes is some planning, budgeting and a deep desire to want to stay deluxe. It's not easy, but it can be done.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I was just kidding.

But seriously, all it takes is some planning, budgeting and a deep desire to want to stay deluxe. It's not easy, but it can be done.

I know, which is why I had to reply!

It does take planning and budgeting , as you say, but if that's the kind of vacation we enjoy, then it can be done. Of course, not all are able, but am sure glad I can right now!

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

Planning our first trip to WDW in March 2008 (me, DH & DD4) using frequent flier miles, so we thought we'd splurge for a really nice Disney resort. Now, we've stayed at some really nice hotels on vacations (when we've gotten good deals) ... Four Seasons, JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, etc.... but imagine my surprise when the room only portion at the Poly of our 7 night vacation came to almost $5000! Yipes! The other deluxes weren't much better!

Our week long Maui vacation at the Ritz was half that!

Now, I have never been in a deluxe room, but from the photos they don't look 5 star. And according to AAA, the GF, Poly, etc are three diamond. But so are CSR, and POFQ, for that matter.

I am just wondering how everyone affords this... between airfare, park tixs, food & souvenirs, it is an expensive endeavor, without a $5000 hotel room bill. And I see on these boards tons of people who stay at the Deluxe resorts year over year. Am I missing out on some sort of discounted room deal for the deluxes?

If you take advantage of the discounts by looking for codes, and if you recieve a pin# that would help with your delux room stay. $5000 did that include the best room in POLY? because if it did then also there other types of rooms available that is not going to cost $5000 a week, & when you check in just HOPE for an upgrade..........Also did $5000 include park tickets for your length of stay...Do you really go to a park everyday that your in WDW you can find it would be cheaper to only have passes for the days you plan to go.

I have so far stayed at MOD only, my next trip in Nov I will be staying at a Deluxe. Originally I booked a value (POP) for our NOV trip, & I recieved a pin code, I called disney to apply it to the value room and for kick's I decided to check and see the difference for a deluxe, the difference was about $300. I was able to justify me staying at a deluxe instead of a Value, and just so you know I originally booked a ROOM ONLY, with the pin code I got Pool view and 1 day base ticket at AKL Mind you I'm staying 5 nights 6 days...............I could of also choose the WL, but I choose AKL instead.........I really wish I choose the WL I heard it beautiful that tim of year....Well that's for another thread........Hope this was helpfull

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I have stayed at deluxes for full price, and have stayed with an AP discount/airline discount.

We work hard, make good money, have no kids.

 

[barney4liz]

If you take advantage of the discounts by looking for codes, and if you recieve a pin# that would help with your delux room stay.

. . .

Originally I booked a value (POP) for our NOV trip, & I recieved a pin code, I called disney to apply it to the value room and for kick's I decided to check and see the difference for a deluxe, the difference was about $300.

Not to hijack, but WHAT is "pin code" and HOW do I get one??

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

I'm a single mom and am having a hard time "justifying" paying the high price for the WL instead of staying at a value or moderate....BUT...with that being said I am getting a big bonus at the end of the year and I figure, "What the heck!" I may never have the chance to go all out again and my dd is only getting older. This will be our last trip to the World for a while so I'm looking forward to eating where we want and staying where we want instead of saying "that's too expensive"...Just this once...Can you tell I'm still talking myself into spending the $$$? It'll be all worth it though when I see the look on her face when I actually tell her we're going!

Hi I just want to say that I'm a single mom also, but I am fortunate for a very good job, & mind you my son's father is a total dead beat. So I know how you feel "What the HECK" it's something that me and my son enjoy together. we look forward to it.......I hope you really enjoy your trip and EAT AWAY !