Moderate or Deluxe Upgrade

[patrick9261]

My family stays at the value resorts when we go to DW. Curious to those of you who stay in Moderate or Deluxe for that matter, is it worth it? Do you spend more time at the hotel or at the parks. The last time we went, we spent very little time in the room. If my parents were not going this time we would have stayed at POR because they can accomodate 5 in a room. I ask because if any kind of discount comes out for May, I might look at upgrading to a Moderate with a discount if it is comparable to what I am looking to pay for a Value now without a discount.

 

[shells4]

We have stayed at all three types of resorts. Even though the Deluxe are beautiful, it isn't worth the extra expense for us. The last several trips we have stayed at the Moderate. We prefer the feel of the moderate resort over the value without spending a ton of extra money. The extra amount a Deluxe cost makes a huge dent in another trip and our family would prefer to have another trip than a deluxe resort anytime. Too each their own, but we personally feel like all of the resorts at Disney are great and it is more about your attitude than the surroundings at the hotel (within reason). My ex doesn't think it is a nice vacation unless you stay in the most expensive hotel and eat at the most expensive restarants. He makes 3x's the money we do, but we travel about 10x more than he does because we prefer several budget trips over one deluxe trip. Either way is fine, just different priorities.

 

[deakam]

I have stayed at all three types of Disney Resorts. We love the Wilderness Lodge, but I agree with the pp, the luxury is not really worth the price difference unless you get a really good deal. We got a 40% off pin. To make up the difference we went with the QS dining plan instead of the regular dining. That was also before they raised the prices on the dining plan. Right now I am having a hard time justifying the price of any dining plan. Especially since we really do not need a dessert at both meals.

The Value served our purpose because we were there during a time of year when the parks were open late so we spent very little time at the resort. On our last trip we stayed at a moderate. The parks closed earlier in the evening and it was nice to be able to head back to the resort for a drink in the lounge or a dip in the pool or hot tub.

The other difference between a Value and a moderate or deluxe is the queen bed. I really do prefer to share a queen over a double. That alone is worth the price difference to me. The other big difference I have found is that the QS spots at the moderate and deluxe resorts have a wider variety or should I say an above standard menu. You can still get the basic burger or pizza but they have different things like the tuna sandwich at the Roaring Forks---it is amazing.

I think I can honestly say that I prefer the moderate but I would most certainly stay at a deluxe if given the right price. I would also say that if money were tight I would have no problem staying at a Value. In fact I am considering the new Art of Animation Suites (sleeps six) for our next trip.

 

[aubriee]

I go to WDW several times a year and have stayed at all three levels of resorts. I've finally pretty much settled on the moderates as my resorts of choice (or sometimes maybe a split stay at a moderate and a deluxe). Going as frequently as I do, I have a hard time justifying the price of the deluxes, however I am not a fan of the values. The moderates are just a great fit for me.
Reasons why:
1. covered bus stops with benches
2. more landscaping, less hardscaping (don't care for the overtop cheap look of the values)
3. bigger rooms
4. ceiling fans
5. refrigerators and coffee pots
6. once PORS refurb is complete all the moderates, except CBR, will have queen size beds
7. TS restaurants handy if I decide not to go to the parks one evening (except at POFQ)
8. boat to DTD from POFQ or PORS
9. CSR consistently has the best bus service of any resort on property (as does POFQ to a slightly lesser degree)
10. moderates just feel more relaxed and slower paced. The values just seem too busy and frantic.
11. bus stops coming out of the parks at night are usually closer
12. nicer pools with pool slides
13. hot tubs
14. With a good discount a moderate is not that much more than a value

 

[bwolfe]

We stay deluxe. It is worth the extra money for us. We generally do longer trips, 9-10 days, with breaks in the afternoon. We enjoy how easy it is to get back to the POLY or GF with the monorail. It's a personal decision...but you can't go wrong...you'll be at Disney!

 

[autismgoesdisney]

I liked the values when my kids were younger. We spent a lot of time at the parks then, and the kids loved the over the top decorations!

Now that they are a bit older, they enjoy the pool slides, and well we are a family of five so we stay at POR.

Our goal though is to stay deluxe. Not sure when this will happen, but I notice every single trip, we stay at the resort a bit more than the trip before. My kids just love the pools, walking around, nice dinners, etc.

So to answer your question. RIGHT NOW in our lives mods are fine. A few years ago values were fine. I think I see deluxe in our future!

 

[TJA]

We have stayed moderate and deluxe and visited the values. We prefer staying at the deluxes (Epcot resorts and monorail resorts). We love the ease of getting around at these resorts. With young kids and a jogger, it's great to be able to monorail or walk to parks in the morning, back to resort for afternoon break or swim, then easily and quickly back to a park at night. These deluxes (Epcot resorts and monorail resorts) also offer views of the park fireworks, and this alone is worth it to us to avoid crowds and enjoy our resort.

 

[disneybliss2]

I go to WDW several times a year and have stayed at all three levels of resorts. I've finally pretty much settled on the moderates as my resorts of choice (or sometimes maybe a split stay at a moderate and a deluxe). Going as frequently as I do, I have a hard time justifying the price of the deluxes, however I am not a fan of the values. The moderates are just a great fit for me.
Reasons why:
1. covered bus stops with benches
2. more landscaping, less hardscaping (don't care for the overtop cheap look of the values)
3. bigger rooms
4. ceiling fans
5. refrigerators and coffee pots
6. once PORS refurb is complete all the moderates, except CBR, will have queen size beds
7. TS restaurants handy if I decide not to go to the parks one evening (except at POFQ)
8. boat to DTD from POFQ or PORS
9. CSR consistently has the best bus service of any resort on property (as does POFQ to a slightly lesser degree)
10. moderates just feel more relaxed and slower paced. The values just seem too busy and frantic.
11. bus stops coming out of the parks at night are usually closer
12. nicer pools with pool slides
13. hot tubs
14. With a good discount a moderate is not that much more than a value

Pretty much sums it up! We decided to upgrade to a moderate from a value for our last trip. HUGE difference for a tad bit higher price. I can't justify spending a thousand or thousands more for the deluxe. The difference in the moderates over the values makes the $500 price difference well worth it! (I'm comparing the cost of Pop to POFQ by the way). I agree with all of the reasons the pp mentioned above. The less frantic pace and calmer, relaxing feel was a big perk (I truly felt I was able to relax of an evening after a long day at the parks). Our kids loved the water slide at the pool, the bus transportation was sooo much better, and it was much quieter for us to sleep at night. We don't go back for mid-day breaks, nor do we take rest days off. Still, the extra money spent was well worth the upgrade. It truly made the world of difference in our vacation!!!!!

 

[canopynut66]

My family stays at the value resorts when we go to DW. Curious to those of you who stay in Moderate or Deluxe for that matter, is it worth it? Do you spend more time at the hotel or at the parks. The last time we went, we spent very little time in the room. If my parents were not going this time we would have stayed at POR because they can accomodate 5 in a room. I ask because if any kind of discount comes out for May, I might look at upgrading to a Moderate with a discount if it is comparable to what I am looking to pay for a Value now without a discount.

we are heading for our 61st trip in October and we have stayed all over and the deluxe is very nice and moderates as well as we have hit them all at one trip or other but we also have done all the values and have became a fan of POP it has three pools and is laid out nice. bus service best of any on property. food court good but we do not eat at resort that much. like you we hardly ever at resort as we like all the parks and shopping...to much shopping...

 

[Singinglizzie]

Last year I had a free day and a car, so I drove around to all the different resorts. Personally, I liked all the mods and the deluxes (who wouldn't). Have stayed at a couple of the deluxes, yet the mods I saw were great. I really liked CBR and CSR, which surprised me since I had read some negative comments. CSR really seemed like a deluxe and CBR had a really great Carribbean feel. Port Orleans and POFQ were also nice, but I just preferred CBR and CSR. When we travel, we spend time at the hotel so a Mod or Deluxe is worth it to us. If you you plan on "hanging around the resort" then it can be worth the extra $$ for the pools, onsite restaurants, activities, etc. BTW, I visited Kidani at AKL that trip and didn't really like it. However, it was all that was available at AKL for our dates, so we went with it, and it turned out that I absolutely loved it. You won't really know until you try one of the mods for yourself. Have fun planning.

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

We've never done values as they do not appeal to my DH. We love CSR and plan to do that resort again for just DH and myself. However with the kids we have made the upgrade to deluxe and love it. We love the space and the easier access to the parks.

We do find that since we've stayed deluxe we spend more time enjoying the amenities. I don't find it worth the cost if you aren't going to enjoy the resort.

 

[patrick9261]

we are heading for our 61st trip in October and we have stayed all over and the deluxe is very nice and moderates as well as we have hit them all at one trip or other but we also have done all the values and have became a fan of POP it has three pools and is laid out nice. bus service best of any on property. food court good but we do not eat at resort that much. like you we hardly ever at resort as we like all the parks and shopping...to much shopping...

I just have to say WOW...61st trip!

 

[patrick9261]

We've never done values as they do not appeal to my DH. We love CSR and plan to do that resort again for just DH and myself. However with the kids we have made the upgrade to deluxe and love it. We love the space and the easier access to the parks.

We do find that since we've stayed deluxe we spend more time enjoying the amenities. I don't find it worth the cost if you aren't going to enjoy the resort.

That is my thinking of why not to upgrade. Feel I would want to spend more time at the nicer resorts and spend lest time at the parks. The parks are the main reason we are going.

 

[LostSock]

I've stayed in value for the past 8 out of the past 9 trips. I do not think it is worth the cost to upgrade. My husband and I stay in really nice suites for free when we go to Casinos all the time. But in WDW, all you do in your hotel is crash and fall sleep. When you think of your best disney memories, does it include part of your hotel room? The value resorts seem more "Disney" to me anyway. There always seems to be a lot more All Star buses than any others because they have to transport more people more often!

I'm not a rich person though and do not often spurge in my everyday life. I'd rather spend the price difference on good food or extra Disney merch! Save the nice hotel for a romantic night with my hubby outside of our Disney vacay.

 

[memakwed]

We stay mods never value. I've entertained the idea but the smaller space always deters us. I can't imagine with our needs fitting into a smaller space of a value. I don't find the deluxe to have a ton more space than mods. I do always look at WL and AKL when planning our trip as they are the lowered price Deluxe. I think I get more bang for my buck with a mod than deluxe. But each resort has its own pros.

 

[DLB]

I've stayed in value for the past 8 out of the past 9 trips. I do not think it is worth the cost to upgrade. My husband and I stay in really nice suites for free when we go to Casinos all the time. But in WDW, all you do in your hotel is crash and fall sleep. When you think of your best disney memories, does it include part of your hotel room? The value resorts seem more "Disney" to me anyway. There always seems to be a lot more All Star buses than any others because they have to transport more people more often!

I'm not a rich person though and do not often spurge in my everyday life. I'd rather spend the price difference on good food or extra Disney merch! Save the nice hotel for a romantic night with my hubby outside of our Disney vacay.

I couldn't have said it better myself. I have only stayed at POFQ, while it was relaxing and beautiful, the next time we are seriously considering POP. We were never at our resort as we get up early and hit the parks and we don't stop until late at night. I think the values would be just fine for us and saving that money will allow us a little extra spending money!! My only concern would be the buses and the double beds. After our marathon days at the parks, I need a good nights sleep!!

 

[MisWal]

We stayed deluxe last year and are staying at a moderate this year. The bigger beds in most moderates and all deluxes is enough of a reason to upgrade to me!

 

[were45]

We stayed at AKL (Savannah view) our last trip which was a big splurge for us, but I am an animal and nature lover so we went for it. I have to admit I was a little bit disappointed. I found the room small and dark, and after paying SO much money, who wants to feel that way? (That said, many people love it.) The lobby was pretty, Boma was yummy, pool was nice, but I just felt something was missing. Even our son, who was 5 at the time, didn't seem as awed as I thought he would be.

While I like the idea of paying such great rates at the Values, the things I've read regarding room size, noise, bed size, no pool slide, etc. just made me stay away. I was toying with the idea of another splurge for Boardwalk Inn (love that you can walk to Epcot) but again, the price just really didn't seem worth it, especially now that most mods have queen beds. After exhaustive research (I can't help myself), I have decided on POR for our November trip. It seems like a deluxe feel for Mod price to me. I know that I won't regret it, and I will feel so great (and less quilty) knowing I have an additional $1000+ in the bank for another vacation!

Bottom line: Some people are only happy with top-shelf liquor, some are happy with lite beer, and some are just happy to get out of the house. None are better than the other, it's just what you prefer. (I prefer getting out of the house AND having lite beer!)

 

[Laurali]

I would have to go with the rest of this thread! We love the CBR! Moderates are definitely worth it!

 

[browneyedgrl4282]

We have done Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villa. I will NEVER stay at Value ever again! I would spend the extra money to stay at moderate because the value rooms are smaller and the bus waits are so much longer.