Inspired by how do folks afford the Poly

[asmit4]

In DW, we have only booked values- however, we rarely if EVER book a place that is the level of a value elsewhere.

In DW, we are up at 6am, showered and out the door by 7pm. Then we are running ALL day and I mean ALL day. We can often be found doing the morning EMH AND the evening EMH in 1 day.

With that said, I need a place to sleep and shower at DW.

However, when we went on our HM to Hawaii? We booked true 5 star places- the likes of the Fairmont Kea Lani, and the Hapuna Beach Prince.

When on other trips like in New England-we often book bed and breakfasts with jacuzzi tubs, king size canopy beds- the works. When in Mexico we book high end all inclusives- Aventura Spa Palace, Royal Playa Del Carmen.

I guess my point is that at DW, our only concern is the parks. On every other vacation we are very much concerned with the rooms/pools etc.

 

[Karlzmom]

I can sum it up easily for my family....no monorail = no trip! The hassle of the back and forth makes the trip more of a pain than DH and I want during our time off (this hassle being in addition to crowds, mediocre food, etc). I am much more enamored of WDW than DH, and even I won't go if I have to do the drive thing everywhere. Can't explain why, but the drive to DHS and AK I will grudgingly do, but that's where I draw the line.

 

[asmit4]

I am not simonkodousek but I will share my opinion about Disney's deluxe resorts.

Disney has different labels for their resort categories.
Disney's deluxe hotels offer pools with hot tubs,table service restaurants, in-room refrigerators and coffee makers, room service, and rooms with a hallway seperating them.

Disney's mod hotel offer hot tubs, table service restaurants, in-room refrigerators and coffee makers but with the exception of CSR no room service.
The Mods have outdoor entrances.
The values do not have hot tubs ,table service restaurants, in-room refrigerators and coffee makers, room service, and rooms with a hallway separating them.

These are a few of the main differences between Disney's categories.
( with the exception of location and transportation).

Most of Disney's deluxe resorts if they were located outside of WDW would be considered a standard hotel.

Most hotels that would be considered "deluxe" (4 or 5 star) would have all these amenities plus stellar customer service, high quality beds, high thread count sheets, triple sheeting, down pillows, quality fluffy large bath towels, etc..

Disney's Deluxe resort to not come close to what the hotel industry considers deluxe.

Just my 2 cents.

Exactly! and one reason I won't pay the rates they charge (beside the fact that we go commando). While we could probably search for deals, the rack rate for even a base room at the Poly is 399 plus tax during even regular season.

IMO- 399 should get me a large room- perhaps the likes of the Fairmont resorts which have standard rooms that run in the 600-700sq. feet range (F kea lani). I should get a soaking tub, along with a separate huge shower. I should get fluffy robes, and high end toiletries and a coffee maker that is standard (not having to ask for it). At the poly, I don't get ANY of these things.

I'm not saying the Dlx rooms are a waste of $$$ for everyone, I just don't consider DW Dlx rooms to be truly deluxe. My sister booked a room at AK and I was SO underwhelmed with the room. It was small, and basic IMO.(besides the 2 sinks which were nice. I have a hard time swallowing 400 a night for a deluxe that I don't feel is truly deluxe. Now, maybe if I had a 40% code- perhaps. I felt the AK room and amenities were worth 175-200 a night, perhaps 225 b/c it IS in DW which commands IMO a higher cost.

 

[Suzimom]

This is a great thread! I'm loving the differing points of view.

We're value folks for Disney. A PP mentioned that when vacationing other places, they tend to stay at Deluxe type accomodations. That's us as well. I love Hyatt & appreciate the superior service (and some nice rates on occasion). I have to laugh, though, when discussion about bed sizes is raised -- DH and I have an antique full bed from his side of the family. I used to dream of buying a larger bed -- even just a queen. After staying at luxury hotels with king beds standard, I wouldn't ever want a larger bed -- he's just too far away!!!

DS is 11; our last visit was in 2005 & he was 8. With just the three of us, a room at POP is just fine. If he brought a buddy...hmm...that might feel a little tight, but we'd probably do it anyway (or else we wouldn't be able to go due to extra cost). I actually looked into upgrading to a moderate for our upcoming trip in early June. It would cost an extra $2000 for us to go moderate!!!! Yikes!!! My thought in upgrading was to have a pool with slides and a little more interest. Not nearly enough to get us away from POP!!!

We're a very close little family of 3. We don't often vacation at Hyatts or even in different cities -- usually just at the tail end of a long camping trip when we REALLY want a nice shower and some pampering for a night before heading home...we love the great outdoors and camp out West every other year or so for a good week and a half (tent camping -- with or without showers). I would love to try FW, but we really hate camping in heat and humidity (that's what's great about camping in the mountains...cool and pleasant!!).

Just a little after-thought -- nothing meant in a grouchy or unkind way, but...when I was a poor college kid, I could barely afford gas to drive home to visit my family!!! Going to Disney in college -- Whoa!!! I would have felt VERY rich!!! As it is now, I feel very blessed to be able to return after 3 years. Many of my friends at my school have asked me, "Um, didn't you just go there???" !!!!

Everyone, please enjoy your favorite resort to the fullest! It's just a wonderful opportunity to be able to be somewhere special!!!!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

No problem...everyone is welcome to their opinions and I truly respect yours. I have only stayed in a value resort and a moderate resort while I was in college, almost 9 years ago. This trip my boyfriend wanted to splurge so we did. I'm just happy to be going to Disney, I'm not concerned in the least,
where we stay. I am excited to stay at the Poly though, I have always thought it was a beautiful resort. Plus it's nice to stay at one of the original WDW resorts and have it be on the monorail too!

We are doing MNSSHP because it's my birthday and it seemed like a fun thing to do, when I'm going to be feeling old. My boyfriend doesn't want to go, but he is a good sport. I truly like going to watch all the kids dressed up in their costumes and see them all having fun. Same reason why we do the character buffets. It's fun seeing disney through the eyes of kids!

I hope you have a great trip as well!

Val

Big MK party fan here!!!!!!! So much fun!

 

[disfan07]

we are very lucky that we can go every year adn if we stayed at anything more than a moderate we would not be able to go eveyr year....for us, going every yr is more important than staying at a deluxe...but..other people would rather go every 3 yrs and stay at a deluxe...its a matter of personal preference

but...i understand a lot of families opinion of convinience especially with little kids and strollers
When i go with a family of 6 in january, we are staying at the CBR and we are not looking foward to folding up a double stoller adn single stroller adn dealing with 4 kids (one who doesnt walk yet) eveyrtime we go somewhere, but 7 ppl, 2 rooms and 9 days, even the wilderness lodge in value season doesnt fit the budget but boy do i see how convenient it would be to stay at the poly or CR
so i see why ppl like it (especially with littel kids) but personally, i will probably never stay there b/c i am very happy with the values adn moderates

 

[luvthemouse71]

While I wouldn't go so far as to say I wouldn't go if I could only stay in value, I don't think I'd stay in a value if I could help it. For me, it's the fact that so many of the huge groups stay in values(Brazilians, high schools, cheerleaders, Pop Warner etc) and I know I'd be aggravated with hearing screaming kids all night.

I'm more of a moderate gal, but will be at the Poly on September, and want to try WL and Contemporary someday as well. I do OK financially so no worries there and I don't think a Disney vacation qualifies as a low cost vacation no matter where you stay what with all the other expenses. I figure, I might as well go the whole nine yards and be able to relax at the resort.

I do think it's great that WDW has different options for people so that we can all choose the option that is right for us.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Stay at whatever resort you feel is best for you...and everyone else will do the same. That's why Disney is great, there is a resort for everyone!

Val

Hello fellow RI person! I see you are doing MNSSHP...I love that event...I'm actually toying with the idea of getting tickets again for this year. I usually go with my sister, but my Dad will be with me this year. I'm going to ask him and see what he wants to do. Hop you have fun!

 

[eliza61]

Hi everyone,

My question to you all is:

Would you rather stay home and not go if it meant you had to do value?

Also, for all the deluxe people, do you feel like you are sacraficing a lot if you had to do value.

When we go (which has been the last 4 years in a row) we stay for 11 days. Staying a a value enables us to do this comfortably without breaking the bank.

Some times, yes I will stay home and you're assuming that if I stay deluxe I can't stay long periods of time.

Generally I'm a pretty budget minded person through out the year. My vacations are usually an escape from the normal routine so I tend to do things and spend money on things that I would not normally do at home.
For us, we do our sacraficing at home (eat in, older cars) so we can splurge like we want to on vacation.

When I plan a vacation I usually budget for how I want to go. When we go to Disney, I budget for 10-12 days at the Beach club or Wilderness lodge. I budget for 2 TS meals a day, I budget for extras like cruises and cirque du soliel and park hopper tickets.
For me, I feel that I waste money if I go on vacation (anywhere) and I'm unhappy with my accomodations. So If I go every year and stay in a value and I'm uncomfortable because the beds are too small, thats a waste of money. Now I'm saving up for my trip to Paris, I want to be able to see the Eiffel tower out of my window so I'll keep saving until I can afford the hotel that gives me that and if it's $700/night then that's the price I have to budget for.

 

[jeanninepl]

Some times, yes I will stay home and you're assuming that if I stay deluxe I can't stay long periods of time.

Generally I'm a pretty budget minded person through out the year. My vacations are usually an escape from the normal routine so I tend to do things and spend money on things that I would not normally do at home.
For us, we do our sacraficing at home (eat in, older cars) so we can splurge like we want to on vacation.

When I plan a vacation I usually budget for how I want to go. When we go to Disney, I budget for 10-12 days at the Beach club or Wilderness lodge. I budget for 2 TS meals a day, I budget for extras like cruises and cirque du soliel and park hopper tickets.
For me, I feel that I waste money if I go on vacation (anywhere) and I'm unhappy with my accomodations. So If I go every year and stay in a value and I'm uncomfortable because the beds are too small, thats a waste of money. Now I'm saving up for my trip to Paris, I want to be able to see the Eiffel tower out of my window so I'll keep saving until I can afford the hotel that gives me that and if it's $700/night then that's the price I have to budget for.

Very well said!

 

[lustergirl]

Here's my take:

I just got back from a fabulous solo trip (my first) from May 5-9th. I stayed at AS Sports because it was only me. I spent all of my time in the parks and this resort was just what I needed. When my sons were younger AS Sports was our favorite resort and we stayed there often. Now because they are teenagers a room at AS Sports is out of the question and we need the room size and queen beds of a deluxe like the Poly- staying there next fall with my whole family. My hubby and I stayed at CSR this past december. I gotta say that I preferred AS Sports over CSR- no flames please. The only difference between a value and moderate resort is a sitdown restaurant and a slide pool. The rooms at a moderate aren't that much bigger than at a value. Next year when we stay at the Poly for a week it will be over 5 grand, this includes the dining plan and a magic kingdom view. I sure don't have that money up front and I will think not many of our disney geeks have so I make payments every month to be able to go on that vacation.

Long story short: I think the values are fine if I was by myself or just with the hubby but with the boys I have to save and stay deluxe. I don't like to call myself a deluxe person because I will stay at a value resort after all. Whatever floats your boat though!

 

[karajeboo]

In DW, we have only booked values- however, we rarely if EVER book a place that is the level of a value elsewhere.

In DW, we are up at 6am, showered and out the door by 7pm. Then we are running ALL day and I mean ALL day. We can often be found doing the morning EMH AND the evening EMH in 1 day.

With that said, I need a place to sleep and shower at DW.

However, when we went on our HM to Hawaii? We booked true 5 star places- the likes of the Fairmont Kea Lani, and the Hapuna Beach Prince.

When on other trips like in New England-we often book bed and breakfasts with jacuzzi tubs, king size canopy beds- the works. When in Mexico we book high end all inclusives- Aventura Spa Palace, Royal Playa Del Carmen.

I guess my point is that at DW, our only concern is the parks. On every other vacation we are very much concerned with the rooms/pools etc.

Some times, yes I will stay home and you're assuming that if I stay deluxe I can't stay long periods of time.

Generally I'm a pretty budget minded person through out the year. My vacations are usually an escape from the normal routine so I tend to do things and spend money on things that I would not normally do at home.
For us, we do our sacraficing at home (eat in, older cars) so we can splurge like we want to on vacation.

When I plan a vacation I usually budget for how I want to go. When we go to Disney, I budget for 10-12 days at the Beach club or Wilderness lodge. I budget for 2 TS meals a day, I budget for extras like cruises and cirque du soliel and park hopper tickets.
For me, I feel that I waste money if I go on vacation (anywhere) and I'm unhappy with my accomodations. So If I go every year and stay in a value and I'm uncomfortable because the beds are too small, thats a waste of money. Now I'm saving up for my trip to Paris, I want to be able to see the Eiffel tower out of my window so I'll keep saving until I can afford the hotel that gives me that and if it's $700/night then that's the price I have to budget for.

Two great points! Very well said and I totally agree with both, even though they are opposite. DISers have such a wonderful way with words!

 

[westjones]

Our teens missed the community hall at the BWV's and we just missed our deluxe accomodations.

What activities are there for teens at the community hall? I thought it was more for younger kids.
Thanks,
DJ

BTW, we LOVE Pop Century, and since buying into DVC, we try to get in a trip to Pop once in awhile (last summer we just stayed there and saved our points). The only thing I didn't like was the buses. When we are at BCV or BWV we can walk to Epcot and DHS, so we don't have to bother with buses as much. At Pop we had to use buses for all of the parks. But other than that, we love it there!

 

[sjaakie]

Please give an example of what hotels are considered to be standard and deluxe by the hotel industry. It is hard to evaluate how Disney deluxe hotels stack up compared to those other hotels without knowing what those other hotels are. Thank you.

We compared the Grand Floridian with the Disney Hotel in Paris. We always book a room in the Disney hotel Paris on concierge level.
The GF could not even come close to the DLRP hotel.

Also concierge level in Paris is so much better.
I looked at the side of Victoria and Albert's but its just not worth the money comparing to the California Grill in Paris.
V&A is just a normal family restaurant compared to European standards. Nothing special.
Still we are staying at the GF just because we like it.

 

[mgilmer]

My question to you all is:

Would you rather stay home and not go if it meant you had to do value?

No, but if we could not do "Deluxe" we would stay offsite in a poolhome or other such accomodation instead of a "value" resort onsite.

Also, for all the deluxe people, do you feel like you are sacraficing a lot if you had to do value.

Absolutely! I feel that there is really no comparision to being able to walk (or monorail) to a park instead of staying in what I consider to be a themed Days Inn.

 

[dennisnlisab96]

We have stayed everywhere except GF & AKL. We love Pop!!! We are going in August and are stayiong a FW Cabins. I have been calling EVERYDAY to try and switch to Pop...so far no luck but I am going keep trying.

 

[ZIPBAGS]

We used to stay at the WL. I was usually able to get rates that were similar to the mods. Then we had a 3rd child and the room was just too small. So we have stayed at the CR, GF and the Poly. If you book in advance and get a good discount you can save a lot of money. I have 6 nights booked for the end of August at the Poly. I got a great discount only $215 (after taxes) per night. As opposed to almost $400. Is this a lot to spend...Probably. But, I get one big vacation a year. And I like to stay at a place I feel the most comfortable in and gives me the most convenience. For example last year we were at the Poly. My older two DD's wanted to see Wishes. So we went to the Magic Kingdom. My DW was able to sit on a beach chair on the beach and watch the fireworks & hear the music (its piped in) while my son played on the beach. When it was done. He was in bed 5 minutes later. And for me and the older two. It was a quick boat ride (no wait) back to the hotel. I saw huge lines just to get to the buses and a friend who was also there and he was staying at the All Stars. It took him almost an hour to get back to his room.
No to the original posters question. If I had no choice but to stay in a value. I absolutely would. But, luckily I am in a position where I can stay at a deluxe.

 

[jelliott04]

My question to you all is:

Would you rather stay home and not go if it meant you had to do value?

Also, for all the deluxe people, do you feel like you are sacraficing a lot if you had to do value.

When we go (which has been the last 4 years in a row) we stay for 11 days. Staying a a value enables us to do this comfortably without breaking the bank.

I would rather stay off property via priceline than stay at a value again. We normally stay at the moderates or deluxe but mostly moderates.