Once you go Deluxe....

[solgent]

Years ago we stayed offsite. Don't plan to do that again.

After a 7 year gap we returned to WDW in a DVC resort. After 2 years of that we just did a 3 night trip at... AsMu. I was a little apprehensive, but it was the right thing to do for this quick trip with just me + kids. We really liked the resort & our room and would definitely do value again in the right circs. Especially now we know that stacks of towels are not available at the pool!

 

[Mayl]

We have done all three levels. From All Star to WL and even the Cabins.

For us, it is a trip by trip evaluation and what we want to do. We go with the in-laws once in awhile so a Deluxe is better of us and we take more time at the resort.

Values are fine but we tend to run into tons of tour groups when we go off season and that does not go well with us. They take over the pools and food court.

So most of the time we go, a mod is a perfect fit. A little more laid back, few more perks, and a good budget fit.

 

[Destination Disney]

Values are fine but we tend to run into tons of tour groups when we go off season and that does not go well with us. They take over the pools and food court

.

This is why I stay away from Values. We've done mostly mods. with a few values. Then we went deluxe for a while and finally we just ended up buying DVC and have not looked back!

It's a condition that gets worse!

 

[SnowWtch]

We'll be making our first stay at a Deluxe in Dec at WL. Usually, I couldn't justify the expense but we're staying for a week and it's our 2nd anniversary/2nd honeymoon so I couldn't not do it. We're finally doing the honeymoon we couldn't afford at the time just the way we want it. However, we'll always love staying at a value or mod. We actually make it a game to see how much we can save and then try to top it next time. I don't think going Deluxe will make us change anything since this is just a very special occasion. We love our weekend jaunts down there and going deluxe wouldn't allow us to do it so much. Plus, we never stay in the room that much but I figured we would this time since we're staying so long.

 

[TnTsParty]

I too have become a deluxe or DVC resort "snob". I have never stayed at a value resort and would only stay at a moderate or the "cheaper" deluxes (WL and AKL a few years ago) After a 10 year hiatius from going to WDW my sister wanted me and my mom to go for my neice's bday in 2004. Well she insisted we stay at the WL and so from there it set my bar high!!! The next trip was to POFQ (yeah when the mods were still only $79 a night for Florida residents) and I fell in love with that resort!! But my next trip I decided to convert my DH (who thought WDW was just for kids) to a WDW freak like me so I figured try the AKL that way if he didn't like the parks he could look at the animals from the room. But what do you know he liked the parks as much as me (well maybe not quite as much!! ) Next 2 trips we stayed at mods and then in Feb of 2006 I planned a bday trip for my DH and wanted to stay at AKL since it was his favorite. Well they only had one night available so I asked what they did have available - she told me they had the Yacht Club available for 2 night - and it would only be $20 more!!!! I got all excited and booked it and then after that realized she meant $20 more PER NIGHT !!!! I ended up keeping the reservations and we LOVED the Yacht Club (and the whole Epcot Resort area) and that is where I think my love for that area started - if I would have never had that misunderstanding I would have never known what I was missing in the Epcot Resort area and now with every trip I think about the convienience of being right there in the middle of Epcot (our favorite park ) and MGM which has our favorite rides (RNR and TOT) The other thing I like about the deluxe resorts is the availability of more food choices then at the mods or values. We sometimes will order room service and share it (we don't eat very much as it is) and end up saving money that way!!

This next trip though we are actually going to be spending one night in a value (oh the horror!!! ) but I figure I am going to be running in the TOT 13k run and then at the after race party until 2 or so and so its only to sleep for a little bit and then the next day its off to BCV for 2 nights!!!

 

[klmall]

The Values were built after our first trip to WDW so we started at a moderate and have gone back at times but most stays have been at deluxes. We liked the CB and POFQ but my husband is not a big park fan so he spends a lot of time in the room and at the resort. It makes more sense for us to have a bigger, comfy room with some amenities to keep everybody happy

And last trip we upped the ante by going concierge for our anniversary; that definitely spoiled us so much that we are doing it again for Christmas this year. We figure that we'll need the extra space to relax in from the Christmas crowds and help with ADR changes etc. We are no longer in the must-see, must-do everything stage and enjoy our vacation more if we stop and relax.

I think if we visited more than once every year or two or if we were younger we would be trying the Values but they are not for us.

 

[bytheblood]

Ha! I have been thinking about this too and quite frankly, it scares me. I am staying at the BC, my first Deluxe in all of my trips to Disney, in December and knowing me, I will never stay anywhere but Deluxe again.

 

[spacy9]

We had always stayed at moderates (POR, POFQ, CBR, CSR) because of the slides at the pools for the kids - we had done this about 11 times. On the 12th trip we stayed at the Animal Kingdom and thought watching the Animals from the balcony was cool but didn't real 'get' the Deluxe feel - I think because it was a longer ride to all the parks but AK. Then for the next trip we stayed at Poly. That did it - watching the fireworks from the beach was great, the rooms were awesome, the theming was incredible, but what really sold us was the Monorail. For the last 4 trips now its the only place we even contemplate going back too.

We'll be back to the Poly on the 27th of this month after our 7 night Western cruise

Deluxe only for us - we'll POLY only for us

 

[f7prez]

Once you have stayed at a deluxe resort, I think you would be disappointed going back to a value resort. The moderate resorts are very nice. I think the more you visit "The World" the more you tend to relax at the resorts. To us, the resort is part of the vacation. We stay at either Moderate or Deluxe. It depends on the length of stay and available discounts. Value resorts (can you actually call them resorts) never appealed to us.

 

[kribit]

We always stayed deluxe as kids but now we stay moderate. I think part of the reason is there was only deluxe resorts back then and now we have more of a selection. We've never stayed value.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I used to think it wouldn't matter to us, but I seemed to find plenty wrong with the All Star Music last month. The busses were absolutely ridiculous, and I didn't think that was the type of thing that would bother me. We probably won't stay in a Value again, especially not with 3 kids in that tiny room, even if we go before baby is 3.

 

[Colleen27]

Is it true for a lot of people that once you go deluxe you never go back???? I have always been of the mind frame that a hotel room is a place to sleep..especially at Disney where we spend very little time in our room. Now I wouldn't be staying in any gross, run down places. But in general, if the place is clean and decently rated, I'm not that picky. I have been very happy at POP for our previous Disney vacations. This year we upgraded to AKL when we got the 40% off code.

Well, within 30 seconds of arriving there, DH stated "we are never going back to POP" and sure enough, was happy to pay an extra $800 over what we spent this year to stay at AKL again next year (we did the bounceback offer so we got free dining).

So is this the Disney norm????

I wouldn't hesitate to stay at a mod again, even though our last stay was deluxe (we've never stayed value because of the lack of hot tubs and pool slides). But we did upgrade to a deluxe for our next trip.

What really keeps us from going back to moderates is the bedding, simply because our kids are getting bigger and sharing 2 double beds is getting to be more of a pain than it was when they were small. If we could get guaranteed connecting rooms, we'd go with 2 rooms at a moderate over 1 at a deluxe without a moment's thought! Since we can't, however, and we don't want to chance having to split up on our vacation, we'll stick to deluxes when it is just the 4 of us, and get two rooms at a moderate when my mom or MIL are traveling with us.

 

[SoosieQ]

We just got back from the Yacht Club and I must say that I did like staying there. We had a waterview room and could watch the fireworks from our balcony. That being said I would have no problem going back down to a moderate. Being at the parks all day and night we really did not have a chance to experience all that the Yacht Club had to offer. I wish I could have spend more time in the pool.

 

[Mr Man]

To answer OP, Ummmmm......maybe. There is no definitive answer of course.

For us, the problem with staying at a WDW Deluxe Resort.......it sent us directly into the arms of DVC!

We still like to book-end our stays at the DVC resort w/a short stay at one of the regular resorts, but DVC (separate bedroom/kitchen/laundry & onsite) is our present and future.

Be wary and cautious. It could happen to you!.

In all seriousness, we have stayed value, mods & deluxes (and lots of camping at FW ). They all have their appeal.

What we have never done is stay offsite. Not knocking offsite at all, but given the distance we have to travel, we prefer to immerse ourselves in all things Disney when at WDW.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

We loved ASMovies (before we had kids).
We stayed at CSR and it was nice but didn't work for our family. (my kids are 4 & 5).
We absolutely LOVE the Polynesian so for us, we have come to realize, it is worth the extra $$$. We take one family vacation a year and with our high energy kids it is really nice to come back to a tropical, relaxing resort.The zero entry pool works wonderfully for our children and they have spent many hours "unwinding" while playing in the sand on the beach. We adore the dining options at the Poly and the convienent monorail transportation to our 2 favorite parks (MK & Epcot). For our family, staying at a deluxe resort is worth every extra $$$.

 

[maxiesmom]

It is tough to go back to anything else once you have stayed at a Deluxe. The pools are great, and the proximity to the parks can't be beat! Want to be 7 minutes from the Magic Kingdom? Stay at the Contemporary! How about 7 minutes from Epcot? Stay at the Beach Club! And how about being able to watch the MK fireworks from the Poly beach! Talk about wonderful!

Unfortunately, I can't afford to stay at the deluxe resorts every time I go to Disney World. So my trip next week I am staying at POR. And my next trip is planned for the Pop. While I love all of the things the Deluxe resorts have to offer, if I have to pick between a Value resort or not going to Disney, you can bet I will be at a Value resort. But then again, I have even been known to really go wild stretching a buck and stay off-site.

 

[jeanninepl]

We love to relax at our resort on vacation so we stay at a deluxe. We are staying at the Poly this summer and I cannot wait. I am looking forward to relaxing by the pool and enjoying the atmosphere. My kids like to hang by the pool and have dinner or breakfasts with the characters. We do spend some time at the parks but always enjoy kicking back and enjoying. I would like to try POFQ because I heard it is very relaxing as well. But I don't think the values would work for us since we enjoy the amenities.

 

[daisyduck123]

Look at my siggie...started out at POP, then a moderate...now it's Deluxe all the way!!!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

We tried out a vales most mods and a few deluxes. I can say we probably wont go back. We actually do hang out in the resort quite a bit.

 

[momto2girls]

I definitely agree that once you go deluxe, it is hard to go back! I have no desire to stay in anything else.