Moderate vs Deluxe - what is the REAL difference?

[Sandi_L]

Hello! This is my 1st post and 1st family (2 adults and one 3.5 year old) trip to DW (I've been before, but was never the one planning it!)

As we look through the on-property resorts, we cannot see the what the extra costs are really for when it comes to a moderate vs deluxe resort. For example, the Coranado vs Boardwalk: both have the same type of standard room, but one costs much more than the other. What is the difference that will matter to us? Are there less people at the pools? is the location THAT much better? Any wisdom in this area would help us out a lot.


Thanks so much!

Sandi & Family

 

[katie111]

I think in most cases the difference is the location and the "style" of the hotel. Deluxe hotels usually have easier access to the parks. For example, at the Boardwalk you can walk to Epcot & HS, and at the Polynesian you can take the monorail to Epcot & Magic Kingdom. The exception for the deluxes would be AKL which only has bus service to any of the parks and the WL (which does have the boat to MK). At all the moderates, your only transportation option to the parks are the buses. As for the "style" of the hotels, the deluxes are more like actual hotels, the moderates are more like motels. In the deluxes there is a main building where you check in and it has many of the rooms in it. At the moderates, you check in in one building & then the rooms are spread out on the property, usually in 2 floor buildings. When you walk out of your room in a moderate, you are outside. At a deluxe you get inside corridors, which can be really nice when its really cold or really hot outside. The pools at a deluxe are usually a little nicer and they usually have several sit down restaurants on site to choose from. Moderates usually have a large food court & one sit down restaurant.

I've stayed at deluxe, moderates, and values & they all have their pros & cons. I really want to stay at the Beach Club for our next trip but I know I could take 2 trips to a value or maybe even a moderate for almost the same price so its a tough decision. I think it depends on what you can afford and how much time you think you'll actually be spending at the resort.

 

[DopeyDame]

Fantastic description, Katie111!
To me, the difference that matters most is location. The deluxe resorts (aside from AKL) all have something other than buses to at least one of the parks. The atmosphere and amenities are also very different. The pools are more elaborate and the food options are "fancier" (for lack of a better word... burgers can still be had everywhere). My dad also hates the motel feel of the moderates and values (I have never minded that, but he's adamantly against opening a room door and being outside.)
At the most basic level, it's the difference between staying at a Holiday Inn vs. staying at a Hilton/Marriott-type hotel. (Note that Disney "deluxe" isn't really at the same level of Ritz/Four Seasons/ real world "deluxe")
In both cases you get a perfectly serviceable, clean, reliable hotel room. It's up to you if the additional cost is worth the other amenities.
Hope that helps!

 

[Shleedogg]

For me the big difference between mod & deluxe is size of the resort and inside vs. outside. The deluxe resorts are indoors (with the exception of SSR and OKW DVC resorts) so you walk through hallways to get to your room. Mods all have access via outside door, more like a motel. After we stayed at POR in summer 09, we said never again and bought DVC. It was July and we were in the furthest mansion building from the lobby. That walk was hellish. We also stayed at CSR for one night in Sept and had a close building, but it was still a very hot walk. When I've been in the sun all day, the last thing I want to do is walk around more in the sun at the resort.

Also, the bed size. Deluxe resorts have queen while mods have fulls (with the exception of CSR, they have queens). That's a big deal for us as well, we have a king at home and squeezing into a full is not comfortable.

The mods are beautifully themed, we loved both PO resorts. Just not the size and walking around outside. CSR is beautiful, but we found it to be in need of updating in hallways, elevators, dirty floors and bathrooms. We haven't encountered that in any of the deluxe we've stayed in.

 

[mrsr2ro]

The PP hit all the main points

Location, Location, Location and ease of transportation.

I also prefer to have the door open to a hallway rather than outdoors.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We really have more of a problem justifying a moderate over a value than a deluxe over a moderate. The bed thing is huge for us as DGS sleeps with us. If it needs to be a budget trip we go value (and are happy with it), if not we find the difference between moderate and deluxe worth it to us to go deluxe. We like WL, the cheapest deluxe and it has a boat to MK and to some of the monorail resorts.

 

[Colleen27]

The location is a biggie - from the Boardwalk you can walk or take a boat to two parks, while at CSR you're using buses to get everywhere.

Room size is another factor, the deluxe rooms are larger and most feature a daybed to sleep a 5th person while the moderates only sleep 4 and have less extra space. The deluxes also have balconies, which is a great feature if you and your spouse want to sit outside and unwind after the kids' bedtime.

The deluxe resorts also tend to be smaller and more compact, so there's less chance of having a long walk to the restaurants, pool, or other amenities. But the moderates offer "preferred" room locations that offer the same advantage at less cost.

But there are pros to moderate resorts as well - they have more extensive food courts than the deluxes, and the privacy curtain that encloses the sinks area is very nice for getting ready in the mornings or for tucking a pack & play behind if your little one still uses one.

Personally, we like the moderate resorts. We've stayed deluxe twice and moderate twice, but at this stage of life (kids are 12, 9, and 2) we're all about an awesome pool and the moderates get that done at a reasonable price. One the baby turns 3 we'll be stuck deciding between deluxes that sleep 5 or value suites, and I'm not especially thrilled with being limited to either option.

 

[Sandi_L]

All of this has been so helpful, and will ultimately decide our resort. I'll be posting just as soon as it's booked!

 

[Mrsdennison]

Double check on the size of the beds at the moderates. I have been planning lately and some information says that some of the moderates are doing updates and going to queen size beds.
I know I read this about the French Quarter on the resort page.

Mrsdennison

 

[bellebud]

it's all about location (and sometimes view) for us.

if I'm at an MK resort - I pay extra for a castle view. It's worth it to me.

the other deluxes don't matter as much for the view for me (except I'd definitely pay for the savannah view).

 

[figment3258]

We hAve stayed at both for the mod w stayed at the Caribbean beach w like it the food court is nice but the bus service can be long also the room size is smaller and the rooms are not in building meaning that you door is outside where as at the hatch and beach club where we have stayed is in one building so u don't have to worry about running to our room just the building. Also the deluxe at The boardwalk is so close to h hollywood studios and epoch gnat u can walk. They also have better rooms and room service. Once u stay deluxe u don't go back o t least that's us

 

[mom2travel]

for us it comes down to the same things: location and transportation. Plus staying deluxe means we have a day bed (at least at those where we've stayed) so DS and DD don't need to share a bed!

Plus we like having TS options, including character meals, close by.

 

[mrsr2ro]

"
Personally, we like the moderate resorts. We've stayed deluxe twice and moderate twice, but at this stage of life (kids are 12, 9, and 2) we're all about an awesome pool and the moderates get that done at a reasonable price. One the baby turns 3 we'll be stuck deciding between deluxes that sleep 5 or value suites, and I'm not especially thrilled with being limited to either option.

I thought some of the rooms at either POR or POFQ have a trundle to allow for a 5th person? I've never stayed there but recall reading it somewhere.

Another option for you is FW - the cabins sleep 6. I stayed there twice as a child and have great memories. The bus service can be a pain - but the funny part is the memroies I have of going at ages 7 and 14 -- I actually enjoyed riding the bus I could see now as an adult I wouldn't like it though

 

[roscoepc1]

POR Alligator Bayou has trundles...

POR also has boat transportation...I *think* PORFQ does as well...so some of the transportation info previously stated isn't quite correct....

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Yes, I have stayed POR and it is correct, we did have a trundle bed. We also had boat access as well!!!!


I personally dont like the PO resorts because the theming isnt my style and with my daughter as young as she is I think its more fun for her to stay value and experience the bright and larger than life theming. But I would DEFF stay deluxe over all other choices if i could afford to... those resorts are beautiful!!! Poly is my all time favorite!!

 

[henderkm]

While I dearly love the deluxe resorts, the cost difference between moderate and deluxe bothers me.

The things we don't like about moderates:
1. There seems to be a long line of people waiting for the bus at the resort.
2. Sometimes a really long walk to get to your room
3. Full beds (although not a deal breaker)
4. Harder to go back to the room in the middle of the day for a nap or to swim.

The thing we do like is the food court. It's a quick way to pick up a snack.

I'm sure no matter where you decide to stay, you'll have a great time!

 

[fireflymedic]

I stay in a delux because I have 5 in my family and I realy do like the two bedroom with the kitchen and washer and dryer. Even if we stayed in a reg. room though my kids realy like the slides in the pool and I don't think most if any of the mod. have that.

 

[roscoepc1]

I stay in a delux because I have 5 in my family and I realy do like the two bedroom with the kitchen and washer and dryer. Even if we stayed in a reg. room though my kids realy like the slides in the pool and I don't think most if any of the mod. have that.

Yes, they do have slides...the one at CSR is amazing, and several others have slides as well.

 

[princessmom29]

Also, the bed size. Deluxe resorts have queen while mods have fulls (with the exception of CSR, they have queens). That's a big deal for us as well, we have a king at home and squeezing into a full is not comfortable.

The mods are beautifully themed, we loved both PO resorts. Just not the size and walking around outside. CSR is beautiful, but we found it to be in need of updating in hallways, elevators, dirty floors and bathrooms. We haven't encountered that in any of the deluxe we've stayed in.

POFQ is getting queens in the current rehab. WE stayed in the first rooms opened post rehab over Thanksgiving week, and they re really nicve. POR is supposed to be rehabbed once they finish POFQ, and is also rumored to be getting queen beds. If that is the case all the mods except CBR will have queens by the end of the year. WE LOVED POFQ. It is our new favorite because of the size and location. WE stayed at CSR the previous 2 years, and really ewnjoyed it as well. Having visited several deluxes for dininig, we really didn't see anything that would entice us to spendthe extra $1000 to upgrade for a week. We didn't notice any differencein cleanliness between moderate and deluxe.

 

[princessmom29]

I stay in a delux because I have 5 in my family and I realy do like the two bedroom with the kitchen and washer and dryer. Even if we stayed in a reg. room though my kids realy like the slides in the pool and I don't think most if any of the mod. have that.

every moderate has a slide at the main pool.