"Once you go deluxe, it's hard to go back."

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I think it honestly just depends on your family and what you want out of this visit. I love GF it is my favorite hotel on property. But I also like POP for a quick weekend trip with the kiddos. I measure each trip differently. If I am relaxing at the hotel and spending time at the pool I want a deluxe either GF or BC/YC if I am gonna hang with family visiting from up north POP is fine because I know I will be running the parks and not in the room much. I think the Grand is a wonderful way to be introduced to Disney. Have fun and enjoy a wonderful resort. Make sure to have breakfast outside of Gasparilla's so you can look at the castle while you make plans for the day. I have stayed at almost every hotel and the Values do not compare to Deluxe but they each have their own special qualities.

 

[Minniemom97]

We've been fortunate enough to stay at a deluxe resort for the past several years (thanks to deep discounts) because that one of our family members has 5 people in their party and needs a bigger room. That being said, we're trying POR this year (they are getting 2 rooms). Anymore, even with deep discounts, deluxe resorts are getting out of my price range. My husband just wants some place to sleep, doesn't care about amenities. This trip, I will miss BC and being able to walk to Epcot or over to Boardwalk for dinner. Also, some family members love the fact that the deluxes have nice lobbies to sit in and unwind at the end of the day.

Just glad to be going back to Disney! I've never stayed at GF, but enjoy!

 

[MHTeacher]

I have to admit, that yes, I do have a harder time booking a value or mod, since staying deluxe. We've stayed at 1 value (ASSP), 2 mods (CSR & PORx3), and 4 deluxe (BC, YC, WL, and Polyx2).

We're a family of 5, so that limits our options at Disney. For our upcoming trip, I probably need to stay at POR, but I keep crunching the numbers trying to figure out how to get back at the Poly. Truth be, with the current discount, I'll probably be back at BC/YC.

But, like CanadianGuy said, no matter which level of resort you're at-you're still at Disney, and that beats anything!

 

[RobinHoodGirl]

I have a slightly skewed view since I'm a 20-something (nearly 30 something ) without kids and a bit of disposable income to throw about without worrying about savings...

Of my 7 stays only one has not been at a Deluxe or Vacation Club; and that was the first trip to WDW I planned with friends where we knew we just need a place to sleep, shower and get Disney transportation. POP Century was WONDERFUL that! It was exactly what we needed! I loved the hotel, the theme, the buses, the room... not one complaint!

But for my November trip it is a Food and Wine, Birthday, "Faux Honeymoon" (with 4 weddings in 10 months, the last two back to back weekends I think I can have a vacation), first time trip for DBF (he's been to DL though).... since this is an "Adult" trip I wanted a more adult-feel and I think I get that at Deluxe more than value or mod. I want to take advantage of that while I can

If I go with kids this feel though may 100% change!

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

For us, it's not necessarily the Deluxe itself as we stayed at the WL and would have no problem going back to POR (as a matter of fact, after staying at WL, we were planning to ALWAYS book POR as we loved it and we didn't like WL at all.) This last trip was the Poly for us. What we realized will be hard to give up if we went back to the mods is the monorail and the close proximity to most of the parks. Of course we loved the extra space in the rooms, but could easily give that up if need be. It's that darned monorail that did us in! That ease of transportation was such a luxury! We never had a problem with the buses in the past - never minded them and never minded waiting for them or the ride itself. Now that we've stayed at a monorail resort, I fear that we'll HATE the buses from now on! We even grumbled over having to take the bus to AK (we don't do DHS so that wasn't an issue!)

 

[LuvsTinker]

We love the CBR. We stayed at the Poly one time with an upgrade when CBR was being refurbed.

It was very nice and I loved the monrail, but we had no problem returning to the CBR.

As much as everyone complains about the buses at CBR having to make stops at every village, I prefer that than the sharing of buses at the Poly, Contemporary and GF.

 

[PSUGuy]

We've stayed at a Value 4 times, a Mod 3 times and deluxe 10 times, most stays were from 7 to 11 days, 8 being the norm. In 1999 it was the AllStar Mu for our first on-site stay, we were so pleased we returned there the next year. A year later we found, on these boards, a code that allowed us to get POR for less than the rack rate we already booked at AllStar, so we went there. On that trip, we did an Illuminations Cruise during which the captain took us by the Swan and Dolphin. Wifey said she'd like to stay there sometime, I discovered the Teacher's discount so we went. From that moment we were hooked, and I don't think it was the amenities as much as location. A short stroll to half the WDW parks, BoardWalk itself and yes, much nicer pools. We come from a solid, 1950s middle class upbringing, we're comfortable in or 60s but far from rich, but we're 'Resort Snobs' now. In 2009 we snuck in a 6 day F&W trip, staying in Pop, and while I didn't find it onerous, wifey said she'd rather skip a trip if we're not in the Epcot area. Lately we've been renting points from a DVC member and getting a standard view studio at BW, our 'home'. It's hard to keep 'em down on the farm once they've seen Paree'.

Bill From PA

 

[skier_pete]

I disagree with the sentiment. We stayed at AKL and enjoyed it quite a bit, but didn't feel that really the benefits outweighted the cost/strain on our budget. I certainly wasn't so impressed that I felt I HAD to stay deluxe. But, on the other hand, we are not luxury people.

If money were no object would we prefer to stay in deluxes, sure, who wouldn't? But I don't find the mods or even the values really stopping me from staying at Disney if it's required by my budget.

 

[Goofdad]

it's the transportation for us - staying on the monorail is just very convenient.

If we could take the monorail, we'd easily stay at a moderate.

 

[fla4fun]

I don't necessarily agree. I prefer to stay at the deluxe or DVC resorts - however, budget is always a consideration as well as the reason for the trip. Some trips it just makes more sense to stay mod or value, and I do. I have a great time no matter what level of resort I stay in.

 

[luvthemouse71]

It's true for me. I much prefer Deluxe resorts when at WDW. But, Id rather stay in a Value than stay offsite..

 

[wendyt_ca]

It's hard to explain. Our first trip we stayed offsite, 2nd stayed at PoP, 3rd & 4th did mods and then this last trip did a split stay between Poly/AKL/CR and we have said we won't be staying at anything else anymore. The entire experiences were just amazing. It's everything the little extras in service, walking around the gorgeous resorts and indoor corridors, the comfort, etc. It was just such a great feeling staying in the deluxes.

 

[wendyt_ca]

It's true for me. I much prefer Deluxe resorts when at WDW. But, Id rather stay in a Value than stay offsite..

Completely agree!

 

[DebbieB]

Once you stay in a DVC 1 bedroom it's hard to go back. My mom thought I was nuts buying DVC. But after a few stays in a 1 bedroom, we did an "extra trip" for Halloween and stayed at CBR. What does she say? I don't like just one room!

 

[Amy&Dan]

It can be done!

Dh and I used to always splurge on our WDW accomodations. We bought DVC on our second trip and when we went to Disneyland, we always stayed at either the DLH or The Grand Californian. Life was good.

Then my mother and dh's dad both had severe health problems and we spent quite a bit of money on their care and needs and final expenses, dh lost his job and suddenly our DVC contract had to be sold and our deluxe days were over for the foreseeable future.

So, we went back to values and mods and guess what, life was still good!

We almost always stayed in one bedrooms or even two bedrooms and actually it wasn't hard to go back. I guess the reasons that got us to this point put a lot of things into perspective for us. Also we love WDW for all the different experiences it offers so we aren't locked into one experience. I respect others feel differently, but for me, there is no "one and only" resort level to stay at.

We are so thankful we still get to go, and we have so many friends wiped out by lay offs that to them in their situation, a trip to Pop Century and WDW is so out of reach, well how could we feel jipped?

I am glad we got to try some of the deluxes and that we had over ten stays in our DVC. But I am okay with staying in "lesser" accomodations.

I don't agree that values and mods are "motel 6" or "Comfort Inn's" simply because while they don't offer the same amenities of a deluxe, they also offer far more than discount chains.

Disney hotels regardless of level are hard to compare to other chains. They are all in a class all their own!

 

[MickeyMaz]

My poor poor DW. I am the big Disney fan and my wonderful DW humours me and lets us go on many trips. Unfortunatly, we have done this in the opposite way. Our honeymoon and next two visits with kids were in deluxes. We have since, due to the constraints of life and to my DW's lament, have had to go Value to stay on property. Pop is our place to go. We are stepping up in Feb. and stayingat POR. I had sent her a video of the rooms and she was not impressed. Her email back was, "How much was the Wilderness Lodge again?"

And yes, I'd give up the little toe to stay at the Poly again for 10 days. To me the best of theme, location, restaurants and pool of the Deluxes we've hit so far.

Either go once a year or once every three years. It's a choice.

 

[rotlex]

We are pretty much happy at any level resort, although we do prefer at least a moderate due to the fridge, slightly larger rooms, and the pool slides.

With that said, we DO have a severe affection for the Wilderness Lodge. We stayed there last August for 10 nights, and I want to go back BADLY. I also want to pretty much never stay anywhere else now! (Not that we can afford it every trip, but still)!

There was just something about the resort, well, a LOT of things really. The staff, service, location, boats pool, view, the list goes on and on. It is our absolute favorite hotel anywhere, Disney or not, and we have stayed a lot of places.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I have only stayed in Deluxes until this past September when I couldn't get a goods rate but was meeting friends so couldn't trade weeks.. We stayed at POR and I prepared myself and DD for "low rent" resort.

I was thrilled with the resort! We got a newly renovated Mansion room and it had the full countertop and it was really nice. I was worried about the lack of indoor halls but it was nice to be close to the car and very close to the bus stop. I did miss the nicer shampoos but it isn't a deal breaker..bring some or get some of the H20!

All our followup trips have been at AKL, but it is nice to know I won't have a problem next time I can't get an Deluxe room.

 

[LovesTimone]

I have stayed at all 3 types of resorts, at different times in my life. While DH and I can stay at the deluxe resorts, we normally just choose to stay at the moderates, we like the cost and for what we need is fine, when it's just the 2 of us. I normally just look at what we need, what kind of vacation are we planning, who is going, and $$$$, into what I need to budget for this trip.

Now that our family is expanding our DD's both married or getting married, and the grandkids are starting to come along, I have started looking at deluxe resorts which might be a better fit for us once we have little ones to move around and spoil,

For me I just don't see alot of difference in the moderate and deluxe, the room size is about the same, The only thing is the monorail resorts are great when carring a sleeping child, which I have done on more than once.

 

[IHeartTink04]

To me it is all about the convenience and transportation. I like having other ways to travel other than bus and I don't like how the moderates stop at so many different bus stops. Especially with a stroller and small children. When we tried POFQ some of the busses were SOOOO full, that was before kids. I can't imagine trying to have a stroller and two small children on those crazy crowded busses.