Luxury

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

OK, let me preface this by saying that I HAVEN'T actually stayed in a WDW resort, only seen them online and walked through them...

With the exception of the ultimate premium resorts, the average resort on WDW property seems a little lacklustre for the money you part with. I mean, Contemporary, Animal Kingdom and Swan & Dolphin all look pretty sweet, but the majority of 3* and 4* resorts seem to fall short of standards of off-site hotels at the same price, like the Hyatt Regency Orlando of even the cheaper Aventura Hotel at Universal..?

Am I way off? Should I give them an honest go? Or is it literally all about being right in the magic?

 

[MamaMermaid]

OK, let me preface this by saying that I HAVEN'T actually stayed in a WDW resort, only seen them online and walked through them...

With the exception of the ultimate premium resorts, the average resort on WDW property seems a little lacklustre for the money you part with. I mean, Contemporary, Animal Kingdom and Swan & Dolphin all look pretty sweet, but the majority of 3* and 4* resorts seem to fall short of standards of off-site hotels at the same price, like the Hyatt Regency Orlando of even the cheaper Aventura Hotel at Universal..?

Am I way off? Should I give them an honest go? Or is it literally all about being right in the magic?

Personally, it's about being right IN the magic. We are DVC and I literally don't ever want to stay anywhere else

When we travel outside of Orlando, we tend to book Marriott's. They're fine. I'd love to stay the Plaza one day in NYC but would have to spend the whole trip in the room to justify the cost!

 

[disneydreamer1980]

If we hadn’t bought into DVC years ago when it was actually reasonably priced we definitely wouldn’t be staying at deluxe resorts. You’re paying to be in the bubble, there are several resorts offsite that are nicer and cheaper. If not being in the bubble doesn’t bother you I’d save your money. There’s very few perks anymore from staying on site anyway, and the best one is only for if you’re in a deluxe resort. It’s subjective but I don’t think it’s worth it

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Point in motion:

Universal's Aventura - $1,000
Hyatt Regency, one week, peak time - $1,100
Dolphin Swan - same time - $2,200.

Hyatt is the most luxurious. Only problem is, you are away from the parks so you either get a Meers bus or rather expensive taxi.

Aventura is in Universal, so there's that going for it. It's also the cheapest. And although the rooms are a bit small, they are very well appointed

 

[holden]

You're paying for being on property. The resorts at WDW pale in comparison to true luxury resorts. We've stayed in some fabulous places for the same price or less than WDW resorts - Like Fairmont Chateaux Lake Louise...

 

[ronandannette]

We paid $300+/night for Savannah view at AKL back in 2006. Unless the entire resort has been massively overhauled, it's a far-cry from a true 4* hotel and the only people who would think it was one (despite Disney's delusional classification) are people who have never actually stayed in an elite property elsewhere.

 

[ronandannette]

I just need to add that for the OP, and maybe many others, you may never be really satisfied until you see for yourself. Knowing what we know now, we'd never in a million years stay at a Disney Deluxe, or any on-site hotel really, but if you don't, you may always wonder what might have been.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

We prefer to be”in the Magic” so for the past several trips we have stayed at Pop Century cause that’s all we can afford every year or two since my husband retired and our income is lower. I’d rather stay there then off property and have to deal with driving to the parks. I love being in the bubble!!

 

[Smugpugmug]

If you want actual luxury, you are not going to get that at a Disney hotel. You are paying for the onsite perks (early entry, access to booking dining for your entire trip, transportation) and to be in the "bubble" (i.e. proximity to the parks) rather than luxury. I stayed at a few hotels on my trip to Japan pre pandemic that were around the price of Port Orleans Riverside and they were WAY more luxurious than any WDW deluxe and included free dim sum breakfast. It's an apples to oranges comparison but even in Orlando you can find hotels that have way more bang for your buck amenities wise that are outside the Disney bubble.

I feel like this can apply to the Universal resorts too TBH. From the photos I've seen, the premier hotels look like standard rooms but people are incentivized to book there for early entry and unlimited Express passes. That's how they can justify charging $1050 for one night at Royal Pacific in December (I was looking at hotels around then and that's what I saw - yikes!).

 

[sam_gordon]

You're paying for three things... location, location, location.

 

[LuvOrlando]

For us the deluxe were always mostly about the lower volume of guests and the transportation allowing for easier access to parks, monorail and waterway are fab. We have also very much enjoyed moderate resorts with waterway access and fun all-in themes. Haven't been a fan of the less expensive because of so many people and no unique feeling features, I'm sure fans see them but they never grabbed me. Rooms alone don't hold up, I'd agree so if I was going to drive to and from every day instead of using transportation system I would be more ok with off property

 

[fla4fun]

It depends on what you want out of the trip. If you want the kind of luxury where everyone is tripping over themselves to serve you, the thread count is so high it can’t be counted, and the dining would make other five star restaurants seem like McDonalds, then the Disney resorts probably aren’t for you. There are hotels that offer that level of service and comfort, but the Disney resorts don’t.

I have stayed at all levels of Disney resorts, and enjoyed them all. I choose to stay on property even though I can see Disney fireworks from my house. I do it for the theming and atmosphere and the proximity to the parks. But even at the Deluxe level, I wouldn’t call them luxury.

 

[BrianL]

Location, location, location! The resorts ae expensive because of where they are. The Value resorts are pretty basic, but they are kept up pretty nice. It is expensive compared to other hotels of the same style, but they do offer that Disney magic. There used to be more perks to staying in them though, but you really can't beat the convenience.

 

[Moliphino]

I think all the resorts are crazy overpriced now, but they're filling them up. I usually stay at Pop because I'm cheap (did mods a few times back with Free Dining when they got the TS plan and values got QS), but want the onsite transportation. Not having to drive on vacation is worth a little extra to me.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

We have stayed at all the "deluxe" resorts except AKL as cash guests, we have also stayed at moderates and value resorts on property. The all have their own unique character and charm. We are now DVC owners, have been since 2000 when DVC was much cheaper. I would say that was a very good move on our part to buy in when we did. We now have the benefit of location, being in the "bubble", and fully emersed in the magic of WDW. If I'm going to WDW I want to be in the bubble, I love the vibe we get while on property. It is no longer about the parks as much as it once was, it's just nice to be on property, I guess you could say it's magical.?.

We now drive to WDW and once we get there my DH likes to park the car and not see it for the length of our stay. Being on property allows us to do this. Disney transportation has worked our very well for us, another benefit of staying on site, you don't need your car.

If you want actual luxury, you are not going to get that at a Disney hotel. You are paying for the onsite perks (early entry, access to booking dining for your entire trip, transportation) and to be in the "bubble" (i.e. proximity to the parks) rather than luxury. I stayed at a few hotels on my trip to Japan pre pandemic that were around the price of Port Orleans Riverside and they were WAY more luxurious than any WDW deluxe and included free dim sum breakfast. It's an apples to oranges comparison but even in Orlando you can find hotels that have way more bang for your buck amenities wise that are outside the Disney bubble.

I feel like this can apply to the Universal resorts too TBH. From the photos I've seen, the premier hotels look like standard rooms but people are incentivized to book there for early entry and unlimited Express passes. That's how they can justify charging $1050 for one night at Royal Pacific in December (I was looking at hotels around then and that's what I saw - yikes!).

Funny, you had to travel all the way to Japan.?. I'm thinking the cost of your airfare would have more than covered to cost of a WDW room. Sorry, this just struck me funny, no insult intended.

It's a personal choice to stay on site or not, it's all in what you want out of your vacation. I for one prefer to be emersed in the Disney vibe.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Funny, you had to travel all the way to Japan.?. I'm thinking the cost of your airfare would have more than covered to cost of a WDW room. Sorry, this just struck me funny, no insult intended.

It's a personal choice to stay on site or not, it's all in what you want out of your vacation. I for one prefer to be emersed in the Disney vibe.

I'm not insulted, I know it's an apples to oranges comparison ^^ I used basically all of my airline miles to buy the flights so for me it wasn't that expensive but if I didn't they probably would be the same price as a Contemporary theme park view room LOL

I just get so shocked at Disney's prices for deluxe (cash rooms, not DVC) when I stayed at some of the nicest hotels I've ever been to for the price of a moderate.

 

[GAN]

Disney had much higher standards years ago -without question it has changed over the last two decades or so. Keeping up with expansion and getting the right help to support it is tough. As far as price goes, if you have a product that sells -who cares what your competitor charges? I'm DVC so can't really talk rack prices ...but I know my room/stay at Poly last month would be tough to beat by any chain for what it actually "cost" me.

 

[cvjw]

Point in motion:

Universal's Aventura - $1,000
Hyatt Regency, one week, peak time - $1,100
Dolphin Swan - same time - $2,200.

Hyatt is the most luxurious. Only problem is, you are away from the parks so you either get a Meers bus or rather expensive taxi.

Aventura is in Universal, so there's that going for it. It's also the cheapest. And although the rooms are a bit small, they are very well appointed

If I am staying on property at universal, I will only stay in one of their hotels that offers FOTL. All the rest don’t have that perk. It is the primary reason for staying on-site at universal.

 

[ronandannette]

Disney had much higher standards years ago -without question it has changed over the last two decades or so. Keeping up with expansion and getting the right help to support it is tough. As far as price goes, if you have a product that sells -who cares what your competitor charges? I'm DVC so can't really talk rack prices ...but I know my room/stay at Poly last month would be tough to beat by any chain for what it actually "cost" me.

In what way? This picture of DVC Deluxe Studio at PV (just for an example) doesn't appear very luxurious by any definition.

 

[loves to dive]

As others have said, it's about being in the bubble and location. I've stayed in many true "luxury" brand hotels over the years - Four Seasons in Atlanta, Luxury in Rome, Italy, W in New Orleans, etc. Have the rooms been more lux? In Rome - no. Was the service better? In Rome - no (all hotel staff were on strike) in Atlanta - no (Janet Jackson was throwing a party for her hubby at the time and they were the noisiest rudest people I've ever seen, no use complaining). Can you find less expensive maybe slightly bigger rooms off site then the values or moderate or even the deluxe? Probably. Do you get free transportation to the parks? In some cases yes but it doesn't run as often or isn't as reliable as Disney.

It's not apples to apples. You can certainly get larger, less expensive and maybe more "lux" off site and if you don't mind fighting traffic or paying for ride share, then that's probably a good choice. I like to park my car and not get in it again after I arrive. I like knowing that I can walk from a park to my resort, at night as a single woman and be relatively safe (nowhere is totally safe).

I have never stayed on site for the perks. I don't fly so never used Magical Express, I don't plan so never booked an ADR sixty days in advance, rarely used FP and when I did it was while I was in the parks. Sometimes I used the late hours but not that often and sometimes I used the early hours but no that often. I like the bubble and I like the transportation.