Let's Discuss why you stay at Deluxe Resorts

[patty57]

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!

For me, it's location. My absolute favorite location to stay is around Epcot. Walking distance to two parks, and the Boardwalk. I've become a big Swan/Dolphin fan over the past few years after many stays at BW and BC.

I think you are trying to insert the way you vacation into a deluxe resort, and it doesn't make sense to you. As you can see, from many posts, not everyone vacations exactly the way you do.

Also, the cost of deluxe resorts is not prohibitive to everyone. While it may seem wasteful and expensive to you, it may not feel so expensive to others. Different strokes. Fortunately, WDW has something for everyone.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We only go to Disney using DVC points and haven't actually paid for a room in years. So we use our points at our home resorts, which are all deluxe. We go twice a year plus Aulani and always get a one or two bedroom. And we rarely go to parks. We like the ambiance, the restaurants, the pools, the mostly upscale furnishings, etc.

 

[Chickp]

I hadn't stayed at a deluxe since my dad got a big bonus and we stayed at the Poly for two weeks in 1980. Amazing trip! I was a little kid and still remember it really fondly as you could still swim in the lake and River Country was awesome. however, my husband and I work in nonprofits and couldn't swing a deluxe until this past trip when a big price drop happened and we got a savannah view at AKL for two nights. It was still way more expensive than any hotel we've stayed at, but it was WAY worth it. To wake up and see the animals was every bit as cool as I had heard it was, and our favorite restaurants are at AKL. The bus to and from MK took a while, but was no big deal and it was so nice to go door to door, so to speak.

I would love to stay at another one, but it is a special occasion thing for us. I was so happy to find out that it really was as cool as I thought it would be!

 

[HairyChest]

You use your hotel just for sleeping. But when you stay deluxe, it will transform your vacation. Your hotel will become another land in magic kingdom, another set of rides that you will want to expirience, you will WANT to go back to your resort.

I stayed value and moderate this past trip for the first time and it REALLY changed my vacation compared to my previous stays in deluxe. I live by disneyland so resorts are a big component for me to go to disneyworld. I decided im not going to the world unless i stay deluxe. Thats how much an impact it has.

The main thing about it is atmosphere, transportation ( buses are no fun to me) , watching and boarding the monorail, seeing cinderella castle from my resort or beautiful bay lake from the wilderness lodge, being in a hotel atmosphere vs a motel atmosphere, room service. The mood is completely different.

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

We don't spend dawn to dusk in the parks, especially now that Fast Pass+ is an option. Our pool/resort time is just as much a part of our vacation as the parks are. So, for us, having a nicer room and beautifully themed pool/resort area are very important.

 

[1nfrequent]

I did my first deluxe last year and am doing my second in a few weeks. I'm a single traveller and have enough disposable income to be able to afford it but the main reason for me is the interior corridor, which makes me feel safer. I stayed at POFQ during my first on site trip and ended up having a couple of big teenage lads aggressively pounding on my door after midnight because they'd got my room confused with someone else. Then when I stayed at POR a couple of years later, 2 students in the room next to me (part of a tour party) had a late night soiree that got out of hand, complete with more people knocking on my door and making a game of it. Although both sites are fine and such a event could happen anywhere, because the rooms are so spread out across the site, I felt vulnerable and wanted to be somewhere I could call for help from reception and get help quickly.

The second reason though is location. I loved my stay at Yacht Club - being able to walk to 2 of the Parks was just awesome for me and I found the transportation good to the other parks, which saved me a bunch of time.

I know it would be cheaper to stay at a luxury hotel off site, but I don't want to drive in the US and I don't want to be restricted by a hotel's bus schedule.

I actually don't stay in the resort for too long (I'm all about the rides) but you do notice that there's a different ambience (mainly because they're more intimate) and the facilities are more upscale.

I'm now on a mission to do all the deluxes during my lifetime. Already thinking of Contemporary for 2016 ...

1F

(PS - the lads I mention above were only aggressive because they thought it was their friend's room - as soon as they realised their mistake they apologised and looked pretty sheepish. The teens at POR stopped after I complained to reception and a security guy got sent out. For the record, I'm not anti-teen in any shape or form - they're on holiday, they're kids, they get loud and horse around - it's just that being on my own makes me extra cautious for my safety).

 

[maccagerl]

I didn't read every word here, so maybe this was already mentioned:

Room discounts can make these Deluxe rates much more palatable. For example, a 30% Disney discount and an additional 15% Orbitz discount... that comes to ~40% off if my math skills aren't failing me

Still expensive, but much better.

How do you stack the discounts when booking through Orbitz?

 

[Monykalyn]

How do you stack the discounts when booking through Orbitz?

I booked 2 months ago when Disney had their 35% off deluxe and used an Orbitz code for an additional 15% off, plus went through Ebates for 6.88% cash back, plus earned "orbucks" (which I am using to splurge on club level for an overnighter at Universal). Sounds complicated typing out but actually quite easy did same thing booking stay at our moderate (25% Disney rate + 15% orbitz rate).

 

[msb578]

I booked 2 months ago when Disney had their 35% off deluxe and used an Orbitz code for an additional 15% off, plus went through Ebates for 6.88% cash back, plus earned "orbucks" (which I am using to splurge on club level for an overnighter at Universal). Sounds complicated typing out but actually quite easy did same thing booking stay at our moderate (25% Disney rate + 15% orbitz rate).

Yep, exactly. Orbitz prices are updated pretty much instantaneously to reflect Disney room discounts when Disney releases them to the public (Disney sells a large chunk of rooms to Orbitz, in advance I'd imagine). So the prices you see listed on Orbitz will already have the Disney discount applied. Then it's just a matter of staying on top of Orbitz promo codes (through Mousesavers for example). You enter the promo code when performing your search and that additional percentage comes off.

With Orbitz, always book for 1-2 adults only. Then later, call to add any children to the room. Otherwise you'll get unnecessarily charged extra.

 

[maccagerl]

Yep, exactly. Orbitz prices are updated pretty much instantaneously to reflect Disney room discounts when Disney releases them to the public (Disney sells a large chunk of rooms to Orbitz, in advance I'd imagine). So the prices you see listed on Orbitz will already have the Disney discount applied. Then it's just a matter of staying on top of Orbitz promo codes (through Mousesavers for example). You enter the promo code when performing your search and that additional percentage comes off.

With Orbitz, always book for 1-2 adults only. Then later, call to add any children to the room. Otherwise you'll get unnecessarily charged extra.

Thanks for the explanation! Think I'll try this next time I book!

 

[goofy4tink]

I've been traveling to WDW since '99. I make at least one trip a year, more likely to be 2+ trips! My dd, now 21, is a huge Disney nut. My dh? Not so much. He agrees to go every 18 months or so. When he first saw BW, he said he would consider buying the vacation club thing if we could stay at BW! 3 months later, we owed at BWVs. I now own a second contract at BWV as well as a smaller one at BLT. BUT......I do tend to stay at Pop if I'm traveling alone or it's a quick, last minute trip.
My dh will not stay anywhere other than a deluxe. He tried Pop, just once. Never again. The double beds were too small, he hated the food court, he hated the pool areas..hated everything about it. He will stay at a moderate if he has to. But, he wants that larger room, at least a queen bed, nicer bathroom areas, the balcony, ability to walk, or boat, to a park. He wants a table service restaurant within walking distance. He's not a fan of food courts or the inherent noise in them.
So, for us, sometimes it's a deluxe stay, sometimes it's a value stay. But, having said that...I doubt I would pay the going nightly rate for a deluxe resort. Staying on DVC points is fine...not a problem. But paying cash? Nope. Not going to do that. Did it once, only because we got a fantastic deal...in fact, that stay at the Polynesian is when we bought into DVC. Dh really liked the deluxe experience.

 

[jakeybake]

For us, the resort is more important than the actual parks. We now only stay at the Beach Club but in years past when it was just my wife and myself we stayed at the Caribbean Beach, Dixie Landings (it will always be the Dixie Landings to us) and Port Orleans. We did mix in some deluxe resorts like the Wilderness Lodge and Grand Floridian as well. For us it's about comfort and amenities. We love the convenience of walking to Epcot and boating to Hollywood Studios. We love the dining options available to us right at the resort and of course we love Stormalong Bay. The parks to us are secondary. We spend 8-10 days a year at the Beach Club so the need to see and hit every single ride and parade just isn't there for us. I feel like you can't put a price on what you get at the Deluxe resorts. I also love not having our room look out over a walkway. Indoor corridors and rooms are a big deal for us.

Jay

 

[Gillyrose779]

So so many reasons:
-1 bedrooms are a perfect size for our sanity- we need our space
-wash/dryer in unit makes packing light easier and so convenient
-jacuzzi tub is great for my kids and sore husband at the end of the day
-great pools and restaurants with lots of options- although lacking a good QS in most resorts
-proximity to parks-- we are control freaks so we love that we don't have to wait on a bus or boat when staying at Beach Club for HS and Epcot
-biggest reason- the discounts I can get on deluxe- I usually go for DVC owners with distressed points- best deal $100 per night in a 1 bedroom at SS- also paid $249 per night in a 2 bedroom at Boardwalk. With DVC rentals no sales tax too!

 

[mevelandry]

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.

THIS.

We are not rich either but we make choices. We'll do couponing for food, buy clothes on sale, repair things instead of buying new ones... And then, we treat ourselves with Deluxe nights on non-park days.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

We have stayed at all levels. If we are going for just a few nights and plan to spend little time at the resort, then we go value. If we will be there for a week, we book deluxe or moderate so we can use the amenities. Last year for Star Wars weekends we stayed at all star sports the nights we were at the parks and then switched to coronado springs for our "pool day".

 

[bsbrady]

I have stayed at all levels, I do prefer deluxe. I think mainly its the location. I think the bus system really stinks, staying at value or mod resorts you can easily wait 30 minutes for the bus to come, the you factor in the stops, you are talking an hour to get to the park. I love staying at the Boardwalk area, I can just walk to epcot or the studios, I can sleep til 8am and still be in epcot before 9. After all it is vacation, its nice to sleep in some times. Also, the deluxe resorts are setup and themed that you want to stay at the resort and enjoy what they have to offer. The pools are far better, the restaurants are far better, value's just have food courts, the deluxe ave signature and sit down dining. Also, the service is far superior, Im not saying its bad at the Value/Mods, but if you have ever stayed at the GF they go the extra mile.