Let's Discuss why you stay at Deluxe Resorts

[Jing]

We stay Deluxe Disney or Swan/Dolphin on a deal. We love relaxing at the resort, particularly lounges, and the proximity to either MK or Epcot. We prefer table service and lots of down time while on vacation, preferably in more subdued surroundings than what you get at values or mods.

Im not fooling myself, though. I can stay a week in the Tower Suites at The Wynn in Las Vegas (my favorite themed vacation destination) with true 5* deluxe service and accommodations for half the price of a Disney Deluxe during a value season deal.

 

[tinkerpea]

I always said I'd never pay deluxe prices,then I booked Akl for 3wks lol.
When I was younger my parents took me to disney every yr, and we always stayed offsite at i-drive they was great holidays.

When I had my own kids, I couldn't wait to take them to disney and so we booked pop, I was beyond excited at the prospect of staying onsite, that when I walked in the lobby I cried! To me that lobby was perfect magical and I'd never imagined I'd want to stay anywhere else.
That stay for me and my husband was amazing, we loved everything about the place the colour the icons even the food court! We did another 3 trips to pop before ever exploring another resort, we was completely content with spending our afternoons by that pool.
Then one day I was looking and dh said we could afford Akl! And I thought wow why not, so we booked and paid a crazy amount but got free ddp chucked in which made it a " bargain" lol.
That holiday changed everything for me, nothing could beat the quality of the deluxe resort, the restaurant, pools, atmosphere not to mention the rooms was better.
Since then we have done the Polynesian Ssr twice and Aoa and we're going back to Akl in may,
Would we stay value again? Absolutely only at Pop or Aoa though, the all stars don't do it for me at all.
Will I always look to see if I can afford deluxe? Yes always.

 

[travelgirl06]

We've done moderates, DVC rentals and one night in a value and have our first deluxe stay coming up.

Our only value stay was 1 night at POP, I think we had one of the furthest rooms from the lobby and with a 2-year-od late at night we were soooo excited to be moving to BWV the next morning.Pop was fine, but it was very spread out and the room was pretty small, we are pretty average sized people, but don't really like sharing full beds for an extended period of time.

The mods are nice, good theming and nice pools. Still quite spread out, but we liked them a lot more than The values.

For Deluxe/DVC we've found great deals. I've compared moderates with discounts to DVC rentals and for us the DVC rental made sense - we loved the proximity to the parks and the great pools, restaurants, etc. Our upcoming trip is our first non-DVC rental Deluxe and we're looking forward to trying out the "normal" rooms. We have two young kids, so ease of transporting strollers, getting back to the room for naps and somewhere to relax during naps/after they go to bed is important to us.

Also, vacations are important to us. We make them a big part of our budget intentionally. Holiday/birthday gifts around here are frequently experiential as we're more into making memories than "stuff". It's not for everyone, but it works for us. We both work full time, so our family leisure time is important to us. We also all really enjoy Disney, so we're willing to spend a bit more (granted that still requires a big discount off rack rates )

 

[dansdad]

I'd be tempted to ask the OP if they ever stayed deluxe. It seems to me that once you experienced it, you usually "get it".

If the OP ever came back to discuss this, maybe you could ask.

 

[ckelly14]

Although I've been dreaming of a Poly vacation for some time, we almost always stay at a suite at the Dolphin that I get for "free" with Starpoints. We also recently stayed at the BC. We love the ability to walk to dinner at Epcot and walk back to the resort after fireworks. For me, it's location, location, location...

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

In your situation, I don't think a deluxe is necessarily worth it since it seems you use the room mainly to sleep. I have stayed at both the values and deluxes, and for me, it really depends on what I am looking for in that particular vacation, the budget, and the deals available. The first time we stayed deluxe, we got a really good room discount. Between that, the proximity to the parks, the better dining options, etc., it made the most sense to stay deluxe. This next trip we are also staying deluxe because it is a short trip before a cruise, so we want to be as close to MK and Epcot as possible to save time; we have a toddler who will be taking naps mid-day at the resort. For our other trips, we have stayed value. Twice, it was because that's what worked best for our budget given the discounts available. The other time, we could have done a shorter deluxe trip or a longer value trip and opted for the longer value trip.

 

[clambert1273]

I stayed deluxe because I got a smoking good deal on it

 

[LisaCM614]

We are a family of 5 and the kids are too young to be in their own room. My DH longs for the day when we can get 2 rooms at POP but I bet we never will. We love walking to Epcot and DHS. Also our Spring Break Discounted BC CL room is $25 a night more than an AOA Family Suite. While someone did raise the point of being able to stay in Vegas for less, we haven't found Disney Deluxe prices to be that very different from rooms we reserve on other family vacations - San Diego, Boston, Cape Cod, NYC - in order to fit a family of 5 - it isn't cheap. You can even go to Cooperstown NY in the summer and pay more than Disney in order to fit my family.

 

[schwaa]

- interior hallways
- restaurants & character dining
- location
- bigger rooms
- sofa
- balcony
- beds are not next to door
- restaurants
- architecture
- lobby
- less rooms = less people
- restaurants
- no to few Brazilian teenagers (love the brazalians, but not en masse at Disney)
- grounds
- possibility of upgrades (paid or unpaid)
- restaurants
- no food court
- restaurants

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Well I would only stay at the Contemporary because its the only Deluxe that has the theming I like and for that I think it is worth it. It also has the added benefit of the monorail, the lovely indoor concourse, great views and you can walk to the Magic Kingdom.

I do think that resorts like the Poly and GF, and Boardwalk, to me anyway are way too expensive for what they are. So I would only ever pay the deluxe price for the Contemporary. all the rest in my opinion are overpriced.

But that is my opinion!

 

[Dis703]

We've stayed deluxe twice now in the Boardwalk resort area. The biggest draw for me was the location. Being able to walk into 2 parks, which also meant being able to easily walk back for the kids naptime and after the evening shows. No waiting in massive crowds for a bus and loading up the double stroller and carrying 2-3 sleeping kids onto the bus for at least half our trip.

We also love the overall ambiance of the deluxe resorts particularly over the values. The values seem loud and the food courts rather crowded and chaotic. BC and BWI are so relaxing to me. The balconies are a big draw for me too. When the kids are napping I sit out on the balcony and enjoy the peace and quiet and beautiful scenery with a snack and a book. Or we chill out after they are in bed at night and if we are lucky we may even catch some fireworks.

At BC we did CL which was totally worth it. We paid $300 a night and had 3 adults and 3 kids with us and had a place to eat breakfast every morning, grab snacks/drinks on our way to and from the parks. Apps some nights and desserts/alcohol after the park. The lounge was also a nice location to spread out from our room when we wanted another spot to hang out in the evenings and we didn't have to go far at all.

The dining, shopping and entertainment options in the Boardwalk area are also a big draw for us. Lots of food options to choose from all within short walking distance. ODS did the pirate cruise from the Yacht Club, we enjoyed the jugglers/magicians in the evening. Walked to mini-golf. Grabbed snacks from the bakery and sat on the water just enjoying a peaceful morning or afternoon. Roasted marshmallows on the beach and hung out on the swing with my toes in the sand after the sun went down.

We are going back to mod this trip because we had to make it work for our budget, but if it was within our reach we'd choose to always stay deluxe.

 

[goofy4prez]

Why do I stay deluxe?... Because I want to.

Why does one person buy a Kia and another person buys a BMW? Why does one person buy Wrangler Jeans and another Lucky Brand? Why does one person buy a small bungalow and another a large Tudor home. Why does one person buya Citizen watch and another an Omega? It is all about choices and what one decides to spend their money on and what they perceive as value.

When it comes to my vacations, whether Disney or a cruise or elsewhere, I want to splurge. It is what my family and I find as important when we vacation. I enjoy the location of the deluxe resorts to the parks. I enjoy that the deluxe resorts I stay at are not spread out and takes a bus to get from one end to the other. I enjoy that there are some excellent restaurants right on the property. I enjoy that they have a work out facility where I can go to first thing in the morning. I enjoy having a queen or king size bed. I enjoy the elaborate lobby's and the interior hallways. I enjoy that the buildings are not pink, yellow, blue, red, and orange with giant Yo' Yo's, footballs, turtles, mermaids and etc. But that is me. I am not a park commando. It is what I want my vacation to be like.

All I can say is enjoy your Disney vacation the way you want it to be. If you love the value resorts, the food courts, their themes and decors that is awesome. If you like the moderates and what they offer that is also awesome. And if you enjoy the deluxe resorts instead, awesome. If you are one who finds no value at all staying on Disney property and you stay off property instead, awesome. Enjoy your vacation the way you choose to enjoy it.

 

[minniemouseforever]

If you have members of your traveling party over 6' tall sleeping in a full size bed a bit problamatic. My DH is one of these individuals. If we have a full sized bed he sleeps at an angle and I have to curl up in a ball or sleep on a couch. We are a family of 5. My sons are not small either. Teenage girls like to spread out their things. Nobody wants to share a tiny bathroom with all her stuff. I don't mind outside corridors or the busses. We love OKW. But the values are just to loud and busy overall. I am not a park camando. If the deluxe resorts were not located at Disney I could still easily see myself staying an entire week at the resort. Not so much at the others. I have been married to the same man for 30 years. In the begining we stayed at cheaper acomodations. As the years went on we could aford more and so we do. If we stay at the beach we may stay cheaper for the week. Same goes when we go skiing. If I am at a resort of any kind or staying in a large city I expect to pay more for my accomadations. This is my choice. Yours may be different.

 

[daisyx3]

We started deluxe way back in 2000 because the kids were 2,5 and 8. When we kept coming back we needed DVC or deluxe for our family size. We are DVC now. We have stayed a week at POR with the trundle bed and it was a beautiful resort, but we were pretty cramped. DH has stayed one night at the All Stars and one night at Pop when he dropped off/picked up our CP daughter last fall. He said I would really like the theming of Pop because I'm into trivia and pop culture. So maybe next year the night before our cruise, if the price is right, we will stay there--or maybe a DVC studio on points.
Now it's usually just DH and I--we are using DVC studios now instead of 2 BR and can go more often.
Daisyx3

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

1-location
2-theme
3-patio/balcony availability. No patio or balcony is a deal breaker for us at WDW.
4-Room size
5-Pool
6-Transportation options, love the walking option.
7-a good discount, I have changed my resort due to discount availability. I would not stay full price at any WDW hotel.
8-queen size beds and a real bed for all of us. We do not like pull out couches and have a king bed at home so a double bed is not going to work for us. A daybed is a nice bonus.

My first stay in 1972 was at the Poly. Since then we have stayed at YC & BC, Grand Floridian, and Poly. We used to like CBR but a recent stay change our view and we are going back to Deluxe. I agree with the list and add...less exposure to smokers/DSA and great military rates (40%). We don't do club level.

 

[Texas Crude]

You need to realize people on here have drastically different incomes. Would I stay at a deluxe if I only made $50k a year? No way I could justify it.

Fortunately, we have enough disposable income that we can stay at the Poly without having to make sacrifices elsewhere.

 

[eliza61]

Okay, let me start with a caveat. This is not meant to insult people who stay at Deluxe Resorts or question your choices. I'm actually intrigued and looking to have a conversation about them! All things considered, I would love to stay at the Grand Floridian or Y&B Club at least once. It's on my bucket list! My family could afford it, but it would mean going to Disney maybe every 5 years rather than every year. I also understand people have DVC or larger families that require suites rather than the ordinary resorts.

So here goes... We all know Disney is expensive, regardless, but I've been looking into prices at the Poly and Contemporary and... holy cow, how and why do people pay for these? I get it - these resorts are gorgeous and the proximity to the parks add to its value... but hear me out.

When we go to Disney, we love to spend time at the parks. That usually means heading to the parks early and/or staying until late at night. After, we hop on the bus and are back at our resort in almost no time. I get it - if we stayed at Y&B Club we could walk home from EPCOT or DHS - but we'd still be a good distance away from MK and AK - and vice versa with the MK resorts.

To me, I don't see the value in paying for a luxurious hotel room at Disney because we barely spend any time in our room. We sleep - that's it. Sometimes we come back for a nap or hang by the pool. IMO, if we were going to an all inclusive resort in say, Mexico, we'd spend for a higher priced resort - because that's where we'd be spending all of our time.

And so, Deluxe resort go-ers, I ask what makes you choose these resorts. Is it worth the value? We stay at POFQ. For fun, put on your sales hat and up-sell me on your Deluxe Resort over POFQ. This could be fun!

So first Pluto, we have to acknowledge that there really are some folks who have a lot of disposable income. My best friend is one of PA's up and coming attorneys. Believe me, for her family dropping 20K on a family vacation is very normal.

Now you mentioned value. everyone puts "value" on different things. IMO, if I'm miserable at a resort, what value is there even if I saved money. think of this analogy, you buy some thing on sale that you really don't need or use but you're happy because you got it on sale. did you really save money? lol, no.

where is the value in me staying at a value resort if I hate it?

Now I'm the exact opposite. I'd much rather take a trip that I enjoy and travel like I want to every 5 years instead of cutting back and downgrading to go every year.

Also I go in the late summer (generally), it's Africa hot outside, so I do spend hours each day at the resort. I love, love, love sitting on my balcony watching the world go by. I'd gladly pay premium just to do that.

I'm a "sensory" vacationer. vacations for me are all about all of my senses.

I love waking up at the Boardwalk and hearing the music along the boardwalk. have you ever just sat there and listen to the horns from the boat and watched the seagulls swoop in?

I love leaving epcot at night and walking back to my villa at the beach club, love turning around and seeing how the world showcase countries are lite up.

All these "experiences" contribute to me having a great vacation.

 

[Disney44please]

OK, we might fall into a different group then most. A little bit about us: We have two young kids (4 & 6), have gone to Disney 4 times in the last 2 years (our first trip was 12/2013) and do not own DVC. We go to the parks a lot, we don't like signature restaurants and really don't use the facilities (pool/etc). For us it comes down to location, location, location. We have stayed at WL and Coronado Springs (twice) and will be hanging out at the Poly in August. Being able to jump from MK to the resort in 10 minutes is a huge deal to us! Add in naps and we could spend half the day traveling to and from the resort at a moderate or value. With our stays at Coronado we felt like we were always running to catch the next bus for fear that we would be stuck in the loophole of waiting for 20 + mins for the next bus with excited kids. There is just something about walking out the door and being at MK within a few minutes that makes my day brighter. But, we always get deals on the room so it does make staying there at least a bit more affordable. Hope this helps a little bit!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I got a great rate through a magical deal so I jumped at it since it may be the only chance I get to stay at the Poly and/or BC.

We've only stayed moderate when we go as a family. For space and bed size. I can't do double beds for 4 people. It's not happening. And my kids 'demand' a pool slide.

For me a lot plays into who I'm going with and what time of year.

Cold weather months (if it's not all 4 of us)- value can work since a pool slide won't be so important.
Mother/child trips- a value could work since we each would get a double bed.
Couples trip- Deluxe so we can splurge and be close to EP. Moderate to save some money.

 

[busymommy2pink]

You need to realize people on here have drastically different incomes. Would I stay at a deluxe if I only made $50k a year? No way I could justify it.

Fortunately, we have enough disposable income that we can stay at the Poly without having to make sacrifices elsewhere.

See, I'll disagree. We've only ever stayed Deluxe, and when we started going we made only about 50K a year. And it wasn't hard, but we just naturally live a simple life at home and go all out on vacations. While we make significantly more now, I don't find we have significantly more disposable income (higher tax bracket, less tax breaks, more expenses as children get older), and it still isn't a stretch for us to stay Deluxe. We do, however, go off season and with a deal, which makes it a little less painful.