Is anyone else underwhelmed with the Deluxes?

[demonnit]

DW and I are big fans of the deluxes, though personally I think the GF is way overrated for the price, in addition to the garden wing at the contemporary. It's all about location, of course, and I do notice an appreciable quality in the rooms of the deluxe resorts over that of the mods.


(I do really like the CS, though it's location near 429 and Western Way is not optimal.)

 

[Deb123]

Have stayed Deluxe 3 times, once at WL, then twice at BC. WL definately underwhelmed us, EVEN THOUGH out on our balcony we could see MK fireworks. The room was not that big, and our bus transportation was horrible! The worst of anywhere we have stayed on property! I wasn't expecting that for the price we paid. Now BC is different. You can actually walk to 2 different parks and their pool is great, so it does seem to me well worth the cost (when I get a 40% off AP discount!) My main beef with the deluxes I've stayed in is the lack of privacy that it offers to families! I usually get up before the rest of my family and get ready. Well at the mod's I can do that without waking everyone up! I just pull the privacy curtain, and there you go! The privacy curtain also allows 2 people to get dressed at one. I HATE that at the deluxe's, you have to bring your clothes inside that tiny bathroom and then get dressed in a steamy, wet, and (did I mention tiny) area! I also feel, that for the price that you pay for Deluxe's they should run on their own busses with no sharing-JMHO I have stayed at all 3 levels, and I really do enjoy Deluxe's, I just feel with a few minor changes, the ones I've stayed at could be better.

 

[kaffinito]

I like resorts at all levels. I can find something of value at mods, values and deluxes. It all depends on the trip, my wallet, and what I'm in the mood for.

Next trip will be OKW in a one bedroom, but in August it's time to go back to POP or AKL - maybe both.

Pools are fine whether themed or not themed, slides or no slides. We do like a good food court, and we like atmosphere, so that's what's important to us.

That's why I'm glad there are so many different resorts to stay at.

 

[sndral]

I don't like the exterior entry at the moderate level and I need to have a balcony. I plan to spend a lot of time on it. I also like the alternative transportation options that most of the deluxes have.

I see you are staying @ the Poly 5/11 - so you may not get a balcony. Which is one of my dislikes - no balconies for some rooms at some deluxes - it's the luck of the draw. And the views vary so widely, you can pay the same price and get a tremendous view or a horrible view - again luck of the draw. I agree that they really should make the transportation service for deluxes a notch above what's offered now in keeping with what they are trying to market, nothing feels less deluxe than imitating sardines while riding buses or herds of cattle at the monorail at closing trying to get back to your resort amongst all those daytrippers going to the TTC for their cars.

 

[JJsmama]

Hi,

Both of the trips we managed to get discounts. IIRC about $210 a night is what we spent a night for both deluxes. At that amount I can just barely justify BC, (although I prefer YC), but I can't justify WL at that price. Much more than that forget it, I am at POFQ or POR (AB side).

I was definitely underwhelmed by WL. Yes, the lobby is interesting to see, but I don't really like to hang around in there. I did like the Quick Service place pretty well. But the rooms were tiny! And I don't like WCC even once a trip, but definitely not more than once (as the main restaurant if you are staying there.) I wouldn't pay more for its location since you cannot walk to anything. The pool is the Worst I've been to at WDW - MUCH too small. I gets so crowded! If someone loved WL theming, definitely pay more for it. Otherwise, I would save the money and do a Mod instead. Actually, I would do a Mod this year if I could walk to one of the parks, but having to take a bus to everything (with stroller) is what keeps me at CR. (I do by the way, think CR and Poly are worth paying more than Mods.)

 

[SuperTink]

Our definition of value has changed over the years, as I suspect it has/will for many. When the kids were little, easy transportation was crucial, so that monorail/Poly ferry/WL were the right picks for us. Now that they're teenagers, doing the bus is no big deal. They are also less likely to get excited about a themed pool. And a little more action at this age is always better than a little less, so we're pretty excited about trying CSR this year and paying almost half of what we paid for with the Deluxe rooms.

We're drop and hoppers, so we don't spend that much time at the resort compared to years ago (even though we do come back at noon for a nap for Dad ), so that's another factor.

I really appreciate the fact that Disney offers so many choices.

 

[mickeynut1]

We don't feel underwhelmed at all. We've stayed at all of the deluxes except BWI, YC, and CR and have loved every one of them . We love the large rooms (with the exception of WL & AKL as those rooms are smaller) and the different decor of all of them, not to mention the convenient location/transportation depending on where you stay . We've stayed at one mod (CBR) and once we tried our first deluxe, we haven't stayed anything but deluxe since .

 

[coopersmom]

Yes. Even after reading here, and therefore preparing myself, that Disney's definition of "deluxe," "luxury" and "five star," are not compatible with other hotel chains, I was still incredibly underwhelmed with our December visit to the Polynesian. And, honestly, I went in with pretty low expectations.

Frankly, I've had better rooms at Hampton Inns or Fairfields than we received for our VERY large sum of money at the Polynesian. The fact that I've actually stayed in a Ritz Carlton suite for less than I paid for our garden view club Polynesian with significant damage (never repaired), bad housekeeping and lackluster service was just salt in the wound. The ferry to the Magic Kingdom, located practically outside our door, was terrific, everything else (about the hotel, I mean, not the whole trip) was pretty dismal.

 

[nkereina]

I have to agree with the OP. My first trip I stayed at the Poly and since we have stayed at POR. Both hotels are great, but I can't justify spending all that extra money to stay at the Poly or any Deluxe hotel when there aren't differences between the two that are all that important to us. I'm not in the room long enough to worry about a view, balcony, curtains having to be closed. I'm not hanging out in the room where I need a ton of living space. If I want to go in the pool, the moderates pools are more than sufficient. I also have never had a problem with bus service at POR. Close proximity to the parks is about the only thing that would matter to us, but it still doesn't offset the cost difference. If I spent considerably more time at my resort, had money to blow, or was doing a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney, I'd spring for a Deluxe maybe. But if we did it every time, we wouldn't be able to afford to go every year.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

For me, the biggest advantage of a deluxe is having a queen size bed. And location to dining. Otherwise, I'm just as happy to stay at the All Star Resorts or Pop Century. But if there was a 30 to 40% room discount, and I could afford it... I'd go deluxe again - probably Grand FL, Beach Club or Boardwalk. If not, my next stay will be Pop Century. I don't see how the moderates offer anything more than the value resorts -- theming is boring, beds are the same size, not close to a park, restaurant reviews are nothing spectacular, I don't know.......maybe someone can explain it to me.

Beds - The full size beds at the value resorts are tough for 2 people... but I can do it - slept 1 adult and DS in 1 bed, other adult in the other bed. We slept much better at the Polynesian (us in 1 bed, DS4 in another). I think most of the rooms at moderate resorts are full-size too so why pay more money -- unless some have a day bed too?

Location - We liked being on the monorail and having fast access to MK and many restaurants. We do all, or almost all, table service. It was nice to come back to the room after dinner and take it easy, or come back before dinner to freshen up and head back out. I'd consider the Beach Club or Boardwalk because it's close to Epcot and can take a boat to HS.

Transportation - The MK deluxe resorts are nice because there are choices for transporation (monorail, boat, bus). When leaving MK at crowded times (end of fireworks, after MVMCP or MNSSHP, etc.), that's a blessing. But bus transporation from the All Star Sports to the parks was always quick in the morning. Coming back was sometimes a challenge if we were leaving the park at a peak time.

Theming - DS enjoys the theme just as much or more at the value resorts. It's more for kids. It is more pleasing to my eyes to come back to the resort wtih tiki torches all lit and hearing music while I walk along the beach (Polynesian), or taking a boat back instead of a bus, but not a must have. We will still end up eating at some of the deluxe resorts even if not staying there.

Pampering - I don't need a lot of pampering... stuff like concierge or turn down service doesn't do much for me. Hot tubs are nice, but the Polynesian doesn't even have one.

 

[SnackyStacky]

For me, the biggest advantage of a deluxe is having a queen size bed.

I believe after the latest round of refurbishments, Caribbean Beach will be the only moderate to have full size beds. Coronado already has them, and French Quarter is getting them during their current refurbishment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure Riverside is in line for a refurbishment and the queen beds will continue there.

 

[NMW]

There are a lot of reasons that we don't consider staying at moderates. I hate exterior entrances to rooms, reminds me of a cheap motel. I like interior hallways, beautiful lobbies and on site full service restaurants. If I stay at the YC I know that even if its pouring outside, I can walk down to Yachtsmans Steakhouse and have a great meal without having to run in the puring rain to a food court. Same thing with doing laundry. I don't like having to walk outside when I'm at a hotel and haul laundry over to another building. I wouldn't like to be far away from the themed pool the way you can be at a moderate. I like at a deluxe that you simply walk out of the lobby and the pool is right there.

A really big issue is the tiny double beds at the moderates. There is no way my husband and sons could fit in them, my husband is over 6' tall. His feet would hang off a double bed! There is a big difference between a double and a queen in length. Even my 14 yr old is 5' 11" and still growing. At a deluxe resort we get 2 queens and a daybed. Plenty of space for our family of 5. I know CSR has queen beds and that's the only mod I would ever even consider staying at because of that. Of course we'd have to get 2 rooms, since we have 5 people. At this point we'd rather get 1 room at the YC. Maybe when our kids are older we'd try 2 rooms at CSR. I don't know. I'd point out that the rooms at the BC may not have seemed that much larger to the OP than POR because the beds are bigger at the BC and you are getting a day bed.

You are absolutely paying for location with an Epcot or monorail resort. To some people it will be worth the money, to others it won't be.