Is it worth it to go from value to moderate OR deluxe?

[MeganMango]

Staying first 3 nights at a value resort, most likely All Star Sports.

My last 3 nights I want to do "better" and have a calmer few days. AKA less children and chaos. I'm having tons of trouble choosing, and was looking at Animal Kingdom Lodge standard view for $269 per night or Wilderness Lodge for $286 per night (the boat to MK and "water parade" draws me in here. I know that's inexpensive for a deluxe resort, but talk to me. Have any of you gone from value to deluxe or value to moderate? Port Orleans Riverside Royal Guest Room for $230 per night is also tempting (is the bus system here good or slow being that it has internal stops, how is the boat to disney springs...). These last few days i'll likely be solo with no other adults or kids. Maybe 1 adult the first of 3 nights. Are these good deals? My budget is $300 max per night.

I've looked into POFQ but can't get over how old and dated the rooms look, despite all the fantastic reviews. I'm in my 20's and I want the Disney feel but I don't want as much chaos as you might find at the values. I'm open to staying at a moderate with great reviews.

Is it worth it to go deluxe? I won't be spending *too* much time at my resort but I might if it has a lot of great amenities? It's hard to tell. But I do have the money and as an annual pass holder, I get great deals. I just want to make sure I'm not WASTING money on something that isn't as cool as it's cracked up to be. I would also LOVE a less crowded bus. Also any moderate resorts with a "deluxe feel?" I don't mind going deluxe but if i don't have to, to get similar benefits, i'd prefer to spend less if possible.

Thanks all! I also want to add i went to disney 3x last year and hope to go as much this year!

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

Hey there! Also in my 20s and know the feelings of wanting some quiet time.

I spent 3 nights at POR back in 2014. TBH, compared to deluxe I was a bit underwhelmed. The boat to DTD(Disney Springs now ha) was an awesome highlight, but for that particular resort the theming seemed a little too understated for my taste. I was disappointed because I had wanted to stay at POR for awhile, had read the amazing reviews, and realized that for that much extra money I might as well save up and just do deluxe. However, I will say as long as I stayed away from the main pool area, the resort WAS very quiet and peaceful. Beautifully landscaped like all the resorts, but still had a motely feel which I wasn't crazy about for the extra money I paid. If you're finding deluxe rooms for the same price, or in your price range, IMO, just go for it. I never seem to find those resorts for less than 300, though I don't usually get to go during value season.

I wouldn't normally call any MK area resort quiet, seems like folks are always wandering through during the day whether they're staying there or taking a break from the park. With that said, we had lunch at WL when construction was starting up...it was SO QUIET!! The construction seemed to scare the crowds away. I suspect it's still that way with construction in full swing, as long as that doesn't bother you. I've never been to AKL so I can't comment on that, on my list of resorts I'm DYING to stay at though. I would imagine it would be more quiet since it's so secluded from most of the parks? Just a guess. Have a great trip!

 

[Babsy]

We Always try to do a split stay with two resorts and often choose a less expensive resort to start and then move to a deluxe. I think that it is a great way to see two resorts and be able to afford the higher priced deluxe resorts. There is some time spent on packing/unpacking partway through the trip, but that can be very minimal if you are organized. Moving day will see you ' homeless' for a few hours (check out is 11:00 and check in is at 3:00), but we simply plan to be at the theme parks or keep swimwear out and go to the pool.

The three resorts that you list are three of our favourites. Either one would be fantastic. However, for the small increase in price, I would go with either WL or AKL. Both of these deluxe resorts are amazingly beautiful. Plus, the interior corridors are nice when staying solo, IMO. If you don't like construction, then stay at the AKL, but if construction doesn't bother you, look at online pics of the two and decide which theme appeals to you the most. If the MK area is your favourite, then the boat from WL is a very nice benefit of staying at the WL.

Both the WL and the AKL have good restaurants, but the AKL has restaurants that we go to every trip, whether we stay there or not. Jiko, Boma, Sanaa and Mara all serve delicious food in gorgeous settings.

Good luck choosing! Whichever you choose from these three, you will LOVE staying there!

 

[kwdw]

So - I travel solo to WDW on a budget frequently. I usually stay at a value. Last time - I moved during my trip to a moderate due to craziness at the value resort - and I was moved to POFQ. I agree that it doesn't have a Mickey feel - but I liked it a TON better than I expected. It really was a quiet resort and I think that's why so many folks recommend it. It is charming in a New Orleans sort of way. I liked the one central bus stop and the fact that the resort is not that big. Grounds are very pretty. My room furnishings were in perfect condition. In comparison - I thought POR looked like an apartment complex you could find anywhere in the US. Of the other mods - I think CBR has the same crazy feel as a value - and it's just SO big you could be too far away from the main building to easily pop over there. I thought the main pool area at CBR was just too crazy with kids - as bad as value with less space. I'm not going back to CBR. CSR - also big - but has a fabulous main pool with lots of room, less kids as there are often conferences there, and the walk to the main building doesn't feel as far as with CBR. So - of mods - I'd suggest POFQ or CSR.

I've stayed at AK - though admittedly at Kidani Village on rented DVC points. In general - I don't think the AK resorts feel Disney-like - but they are AWESOME. Having the savanna there makes that place a destination by itself. Pools are great, buildings are just cool. Definitely a quieter feel than a value or mod. I'm staying at AKL in a standard room for the first time next month with family - using my AP discount. I've had some awesome conversations with the CM's that are staffing the savanna area to answer questions of guests. And I think all three restaurants - Sanaa (at Kidani), Boma, and Jiko are all in the top 10 of restaurants at Disney. You might look into renting DVC points for a studio at AK - sometimes you can be lucky and get those cheap at the last minute.

I also stayed at Bay Lake on DVC rented points in a studio - I LOVED the ease of being able to walk to MK. It was quiet and I had a great lakeview room. This felt Disney like due to the pictures in the room and the vicinity to MK. Plus - I stayed once at the Contemporary a LONG time ago as a kid - and that area has my first childhood memories of Disney attached to it.

I've visited all of the other deluxes a fair amount for dining and shopping - and the only one that doesn't interest me for staying is GF. It's just too stuffy in its appearance for me. I admit - WL is on my list to stay at - as is the Contemporary.

Is it WORTH IT to upgrade for those other nights? I have mixed feelings in my answer. I normally stay solo at a value just to maximizes my trips the year I have an AP. And until this last trip - the trips have been great - surprisingly quiet and calm feel. This last time - the time I moved - I got stuck right by two different Brazilian teenager tour groups and it was AWFUL - hence the move to POFQ. Now - after that first night - they did have a place at that value that was more remote they could have moved me to without that issue - but I was committed to moving to a mod after my first disastrous night. The mods do have a nicer feel - but they are more money.

 

[mukorasirish]

We go every year to Disney. If you are looking for quieter and relaxing - I'd go with AKL. The pool there is HUGE and as it has probably the smallest water slide it really is not a huge draw for kids. Most of the kids staying there prefer to go over to the DVC pool as it has a cool water slide. When my husband and I do a solo trip without the kids we go AKL because we can relax by the pool. My in-laws are the same. They LOVE it. They also have a wine bar and a nice lounge.

As far as the upgrade goes - when the kids were younger we did values and moderates. They were great but crazy. Now that we are a bit older and our kids are as well, we strictly do Delux. The overall feel for us is calmer. The feel is nicer. I like the indoor hallways to get into the rooms. The bedding is nicer. Just overall a more relaxing feel for me.

 

[loves to dive]

The moderates are a step up from the values but are like motels in that they have outside corridors. The food courts and common areas in all of them can be loud at times and the main pools can be full of kids. They do all have quiet pools, which is nice and the rooms are bigger than the value rooms and a step up in the amenities department. I've stayed at all the moderates except POFQ and have found nice quiet places at all of them. If I had to pick, I'd probably say POR is my favorite but I do split stays just about every trip with one or two nights at a moderate then move up to a deluxe and I wouldn't hesitate to stay in any of them if the price was right. WL and AKL are both beautiful resorts, I've stayed at AKV but not WL yet, have visited it loads of times. As far as quiet goes, there is no resort at WDW where you are going to have total and complete quiet but there are lots of little hidden away places at all of them that you can go to. The buses are the buses, they can be crowded at every single resort, you can have good and bad service at every single resort, you can also be the only one on the bus at every single resort. Personally, when I travel solo, which I do once a year, I stay at the Epcot resorts and I'm including Swan/Dolphin in there. I love being able to walk to both Epcot and HS, which are both where I tend to spend most of my time. That is why the split stays (well that and it doesn't make sense to me to spend the price for a deluxe that first night). I do MK and AK the day I arrive and the next day, both of which you have to take a bus to no matter where you stay unless you are at a monorail resort or WL, then when I move over to Epcot, I'm done with buses. Is it worth it? That's subjective, it really depends on what you are going for. For me, yes it's worth it, especially since I do split stays and spend a lot of time at the resort.

 

[Shellyb84]

To me, it's worth it to for some deluxe resorts. Given the option of an Epcot resort, GF or Poly, at a good price, absolutely. One of the things we love about a deluxe is location, so personally I wouldn't choose WL. Even though that is a good price for a deluxe, I don't see the worth in it over a moderate. The theme doesn't appeal to me either. I would choose CSR over WL. I think it has a "deluxe feel" to it; I like the relaxing atmosphere and theme. I haven't stayed at either Port Orleans resort so I can't speak to those however I don't care for the theme of them either.

I have always wanted to try AKL for a few nights, but the appeal to me there is to sit on the balcony and see the animals, so it wouldn't be "worth it" unless I could get a Savannah View.