Is Deluxe Worth $150 More Nightly Over Value????

[antmaril]

When we first started going to WDW, we stayed at the moderates - Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside. Once we stayed at the Beach Club, there was no going back. After the Beach Club, we stayed at the Boardwalk Inn. We have reservations for the BWI again in January.

I feel it is worth the difference. However, 15 years ago, I was in a different position financially. I didn't even entertain the idea of staying in a deluxe. As I've gotten older, I want more and I can afford more. Therefore, it's deluxe for us. I could probably do a moderate, but I would not do a value. I would rather stay less days and stay deluxe.

Just my two cents, of course.

 

[sue1013]

OP if you thought CBR was a cheap motel why would you even consider a value?? Some love the values but it doesn't seem like you are one of them. Especially since it sounds like you will be spending time at the resort you'll feel like your at a cheap, cheap motel.

 

[minnie61650]

OP if you thought CBR was a cheap motel why would you even consider a value?? Some love the values but it doesn't seem like you are one of them. Especially since it sounds like you will be spending time at the resort you'll feel like your at a cheap, cheap motel.

ITA
I also hated CBR but not because of the outside entrances.
I hated the fact it had 7 bus stops. We were stop # 2 so we always had a seat ,but there were 5 more stops to go. To me there is not much diffence in the rooms between the mods and values and as I stated before I can well afford to stay at a deluxe hotel.
We go on several vacations a year and often stay at 4 star hotels. It would not affect my budget to spend $600 or $ 800 a night.
My 1st stay at All Stars was so I could stay at the same hotel that my sister was staying.
That's when I found out how convenient their bus system is.
I love the food counts for a quick bite on your way out.
I enjoy watching the children having so much fun at the pools.
Where else can can you see Mickey or Donald at your pool?
It just seems so magical.

If i were to spend a lot of time in room I too would go deluxe.

So spend the extra money and have a great time at Disney!
Linda

 

[goodferry]

If it were me, I would upgrade to a deluxe. Deciding between the ones you mentioned is tough, though. AKL is an attraction onto itself, but is a little removed from some of the other parks. WL is STUNNING and a quick boat ride from the MK. CR is not as interesting to me personally, but has the distinct advantadge of being on the monorail and a short walk away from the MK. My kids were not as interested in the values, which is where I figured they would want to stay. They love the volcano pool and watching Wishes from the beach of the Polynesian. That's why there are so many different resorts, I guess, so many different people visit

 

[swilphil]

I have stayed at the Contemporary and it was nice and was kinda fun to be at a monorail hotel but it takes longer to get to Epcot,MGM and AK from the Contemorary than it takes to get to those parks from the All Stars.

Bus rides are shorter from the ALL Stars than POP according to PassPorter.com
All Star Buses----Pop buses------- Contemporary
MK 20 min-------MK 25 min-------MK 20 min (mono)
Epcot 10 min-----Epcot 20 min----Epcot 15min.
MGM 10 min------MGM 15 min-----MGM 20 min.
AK 10 min--------AK 15 min-------Ak 20 min.
DTD 15 min-------DTD 20 min------35 min.

Linda

I would just like to point out that you can WALK to MK from the Contemporary in about 10 minutes and it's about a 3 minute monorail from MK back to the Contemporary. My kids see the monorail as a ride, so we didn't find the ride to Epcot to be bad at all.

We did enjoy our stay at the Contemporary, but we take a break every afternoon so the amount of time we saved in transportation was worth it. The rooms are also huge. If my kids were older and we only slept in the hotel room, then I would definitely stay at All-Stars.

 

[rt2dz]

If it is worth it or not totally depends on your point of view. For us, yes. I will not stay at a value anymore. I prefer the themeing and amenities of a deluxe. In a pinch, I might stay at a moderate. Never a value--not again. I'm older and we have 3 kids. I think of values more for young couples. Ok, and for those who just don't want to spend any money of hotel no matter what. So my answer is YES!

I don't think you will like the value either from what you say. You thought a nicer hotel was cheap. You plan on spending a lot of time at your resort. The deluxes will have much more to offer you. I would go for a smaller deluxe (AKL, my families favorite) or WL. They are lighter on the pocket book. WL also has a beach, bike rentals, a short boat trip to monorail hotels and Ft. Wilderness and all they have to offer and to MK. At AKL, I would go for a Savannah room, but I think a standard at WL is just perfectly fine.

 

[KittyKitty]

If you split your stay, choose the Deluxe on the last portion of your trip. I also agree to go deluxe, especially if you are going to hanging out at the resort. I love WL. It has lots of things to do, water sports. trail to FW, boat ride to MK, or monorail resorts.


Have fun.

PS. Maybe where you plan to eat will decide where to stay. If you are only going to the parks 1 day, and eating outside of the park most of the time, getting there can be a challenge.
As you may know, most buses do not go from resort to resort, so you have to change transportation at a park or DD which adds lots of time.

Ahhhhhhhh.......decisions,decisions

 

[952LisaR]

It really depends.
Our last trip to Disney we stayed at POR, ASMu and Poly so I go to experience all three levels of the resorts. I am definitely one to watch price, and yes you can tell a difference between the different levels so it really matters what you are looking for. Generally I am there with my kids and values are perfect, when it it just me and my husband mod or deluxe is nice - BUT you do pay more, last trip we stayed a few more days at the value so that I could spend more on other things - the spa, segway tour, V&A, by staying at the value those extra days our net cost was the same but IMO the experience and memories were better because the money spent went more than to the hotel room.
Plus you have a car with free parking (since you are staying on site) so you can always go to the other resorts restaurants (i believe you said you had free dining) and sit in their loungs and shop at their shops (But DO NOT pool hop - that is a big no no) or go to DTD, there is a lot to do at disney besides going in the parks and sitting at your own hotel, esp when you have a car.

 

[Aanna]

I've had a number of high down-time trips to WDW now, and can't express how much I've appreciated the Deluxe resorts. There is nothing like coming back to a beautiful room for your afternoon nap or sitting on your balcony with your morning coffee. I *need* windows and light, which are things I can never really get at the moderates or values. How could I nap with the curtains open and people walking by and staring in at me?? I'm sure I'm not terribly interesting to them, but the thought of being in a fishbowl like that is awful.

At a Deluxe you can have the sliding glass doors wide open to the Florida breezes and sunlight with all the privacy you could want.

Just another perspective

 

[foxtrotter]

Is it worth it to me? Absolutely not.

However, it sounds like it would be worth it to you. Save yourself the disappointment and just stay at a deluxe because if you thought CBR was a 'cheap motel' then I highly doubt you'll enjoy the kitschy retro feel of Pop.

 

[SnowWitch]

Yes its worth it. This may be to much info but it will impress upon how small these rooms are. When sitting on the toilet you cannot close the door to the bathroom, its more like a very smalllllllll closet than a bathroom. Way to small no balcony limited food options.

Now if it was going to be a commando evryday in the park trip and I caouldn't go unless I went value, okay I would go value but its been many years since we have felt the need to commando tour. DVC spoils you that way.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

For us it is worth it; however, if we did not have the extra money, we would be more than happy to stay at a value.

 

[cindyfan]

I would go for the delux! Main reason is that you said you were planning to spend a lot of time at the resort not the parks.
IMHO....... I would choose Contemporary. The fact that you can walk to MK is just awesome! You can go to MK and when you get tired, hot or just need a break.... a short walk back. Also, the monorail can't be beat to get to Epcot.
The post that had all the travel times to the parks from All Stars.... those times do not take into consideration the "wait" time for the bus to arrive!
The longest we ever waited for the monorail was 5 minutes.
For the short 5 days that you are there..... it just seems a no-brainer to me.
When we go next year it is definitely going to be delux for us.... and has to be either an Epcot resort or it will be contemporary this time.

We have gone in Oct and stayed at All Stars, and our stay was great! But we spent all our time at the parks! Went for 6 days and did MNSSHP.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

we usually stay at the all stars. we have stayed at condos off site to. we have enjoyed the all stars. the food court has alot of selections ,esp for kids. we had 2 rooms last summer dd had 2 friends come with us.we have never had a problem with anything in all our 7 - 8 trips there. i keep saying to my dh that when we WIN the lottery we will go deluxe..hahah...we basically spend the days at parks. we do come back for a swim to. i guess if you would spend more time then you should spend the $$$ and stay deluxe. oh yeah by the way , the rooms are really big enough -we have had 4 in them. And also , if you CLOSE the BATHROOM door FIRST before sitting in the bathroom , you will be FINE........lol...........hahaha.. im joking of course......... We also had friends stay at WL , i guess the trucks were very noisy near there room (and her mom is a travel agent, but they didnt ask to move to another room.) another friend stayed at por , they thought it was to dark. so , to each their own. but , im sure you guys will have a SUPER trip................

 

[Troy08]

Best reason for staying at Deluxe like WL. I am not a rich person(and feel even poorer this week as I mailed the fall tuition check)but when I stay at the WL I FEEL like a rich person. I feel like all those amenities and the beautiful theming was done just for me! It makes me feel special- I have stayed once at Movies(quick trip in the fall) and have stayed twice at CBR and enjoyed it very much. But there is no comparing the way I feel at those resorts to the way I feel when I walk into the lobby at the WL. I feel rich and it makes me happy!

 

[HaleyB]

Is it worth it? Only you can decide. I split my stays between Pop and AKL whenever I can.

There are 24 hours in a day. You should sleep for 8 of those (or 7 but 8 is easier math) so 16 are awake. If you spend half in your room/resort (on average, that is a lot of time) that is 8 X 5= 40 hours for $700 or less than $20 an hour. So is that helpful (it is how I think about most things... you do not want to know what it costs per minute to attend a private University) ??

 

[nluvwithmickey]

I think it really is a matter of budget and wether it is really important to you to have more space and more amenties.


We just got back from 13 days in the world and stayed at the ASMu resort. Out of those 13 days, the first 6 we did not go to a them park at all. We visited waterparks, DTD, Ft Wilderness, rented sea raycers, and visited a couple of the famous deluxe resorts..... All I can say is WOW. I understand never wanting to go back to a value after staying there.

But I really cannot afford a deluxe AND I like to go to WDW regularly, so I am fine with a value. It is in WDW after all. I enjoyed visiting the deluxe hotels and having a drink there, walking on property and enjoying their lobby.

We managed to have alot of fun while staying in a value....

It really is a personal decision only you can make.

 

[pitmindi]

Hi, thank you to everyone who has responded to my inquiry. You have given me alot to think about. I am still undecided though... but I don't leave for another 2 weeks so I have plenty of time to decide!

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

There are 24 hours in a day. You should sleep for 8 of those (or 7 but 8 is easier math) so 16 are awake. If you spend half in your room/resort (on average, that is a lot of time) that is 8 X 5= 40 hours for $700 or less than $20 an hour.

And that's spending 16 HOURS a day in the room.

Not here. I sleep for 8, spend about 1/2 hour on each end taking a shower/etc., for a total of 1 hour a day awake in the room, max.

Personally, spending over a grand more for a trip where I'm not going to be sitting around a resort room wouldn't go over well with me.

Pop is a great resort - I'm not sure where someone above was confused, but yes, you can close the bathroom door while using the toliet, LOL. It's not THAT small.

It depends on what you want out of a vacation. I live within a dozen miles of some of the finest resorts in the world, so if that is what I was looking for I'd stay home, LOL. I go to WDW to experience everything but the room - so I couldn't justify the cost.

I'd rather spend the money on stuff I'm awake to do. Of course, your mileage will vary - it just depends on what you are interested in doing on your trip.

N.E.D.

 

[DisneyWisher]

Hi, thank you to everyone who has responded to my inquiry. You have given me alot to think about. I am still undecided though... but I don't leave for another 2 weeks so I have plenty of time to decide!

If you are looking for free dining you need to make sure the resort you want has the package available for your dates. Just because Pop does, it doesn't mean WL or CR will. Figure of all the Deluxes WL and AKL will fill up the package quota first since they are the cheapest of all deluxes.

We were in almost the same boat as you. But I just can't see spending the extra to stay deluxe. Last Sept we stayed Poly GVC and loved it but it was about $330 a night (FL rate) for that I could stay almost 5 nights at a Value. We love Values and Deluxes. Deluxes because we feel spoiled by them and Values because we can go more often in the year. So far this year we've stayed Pop $49 a night (2 nights in Jan), WL $139 a night(3 nights March), AKL $139 a night (2 nights April, Soarin preview), and WL $139 a night (2 nights May). But what I am saving this trip by going value will allow me 3 nights at a Deluxe in December. Another good thing for me staying Values is I can use my DDE card at the food court and save 20%. We have stayed at a Mod once and it was enough. My dds never liked it.