Moderate vs Deluxe - what is the REAL difference?

[bellebud]

We must have a balcony - that's one of the reasons we stay deluxe (or villa). I won't even stay Poly anymore because many of their buildings don't have balconies. WE've been lucky all the times we've stayed there, but I'm not willing to chance it anymore (unless we're splurging on conceirge - that building has balconies). The other buildings are hit or miss. DH wakes up early and needs somewhere to go, and doesn't want to leave the room and wander around the resort. We also all sit out on the balcony at night at watch the castle and fireworks. If we're at an epcot resort, the balcony isn't as important for the view (pool, epcot, whatever), but we still use the balcony as part of our room.

We once stayed in POFQ, and while we thought the resort was gorgeous, the pool was great, and the size of the resort was awesome - small and very walkable (and we loved the boat to DTD), I cannot stand having a window in my room that people are walking by (motel style). We felt we had to keep our shades closed anytime we were in the room, day or night. I hated that! I will not do that again. But if you don't spend time in your room, it's not an issue.

And I cannot stress the ease of transportation for the deluxes for at least one park, or 2. Makes it worth our time.

I must say though, if a balcony doesn't matter, and the view doesn't matter (well, and in a moderate, I cannot understand why anyone would pay for a 'water view' - it's through your motel room window with people walking by - very strange thing to me). But if those things don't matter, the mods (and even values I'm sure) have bonuses too. The playground at POR is amazing! CSR seems to have an awesome playground area too. The deluxes are lacking that.

 

[shelby101301]

The first time we stayed at a deluxe (we got a fantastic deal...it was $112 a night on an AP discount) I was like, this is it? This is what all the fuss was about? Granted it was a parking lot view at AKL, but still. While the room was nice, I didn't enjoy it anymore than my stays at CB or POR.

I will disagree with the deluxe being more compact to a center. My 2 bedroom at BW was THE FARTHEST I have ever walked to a lobby. It was painful walking back at the end of the day.

And DH did not like that long walk to Epcot from BW, especially on mornings to future world. But that never bothered me.

DH also hated value (when we only had one child) - he said it was to chaotic, but I honestly loved all the hustle and bustle of the values!

And pools, I do not think they are nicer than moderates. I think our favorite pool is still POFQ. I do think the pools are nicer at the moderates vs the values though.

Where I really see the big jump is to DVC rooms. Even the studios I think are so much nicer, and the 1 and 2 br are wonderful!

I do think it would be fun to stay on the monorail line, but not enough to pay those prices. Hopefully, we will be able to book at BLT with out points some time, and I am holding out hope they will put a DVC at Poly which I would love to experience.

But not enough to pay cash for it.