Once you go Deluxe....

[eliza61]

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 really don't think there is a Disney norm. That's what makes it so great. You have many people here that the Deluxes are over priced and not true 4 star hotels, too each his own.
I will say, we have had great vacations at most of the resorts we stayed at. Values don't serve us because my sons and Dh are all over 6 ft tall. They could hardly fit in the beds and we tend to spend considerable time at our resort. They are a good value though.

 

[skipperkim]

I've stayed at all levels. I found out I'm not a "value girl". One time was enough to covience me of that. While I've stayed at DVC and deluxe, I prefer POFQ. I love the size of the resort, the boat to DTD, and it's own bus stop at MK in the evening. It also has great entertainment in the evening. I think the beauty of WDW resorts are that there is something for everyone. While my choice may not be yours, yours may not be mine.

 

[jmkrat]

We started out years ago in mods and that was all we could afford. We eventually were able to book deluxe and love it. One year, funds were tight and rather than not go, I booked a mod again. It was really hard after being used to deluxes for years. Nothing wrong with mods, I really like them. I just got used to the deluxes.

 

[AnninIowa]

Once I stayed at the Hilton in Hawaii (before our first Disney trip), I knew I could never go back to anything other than Deluxe! The resort is a huge part of the trip for me - we love the Beach Club and AKL not only for the amenities, but also that the rooms are "inside" the hallways and there is only 1 building to contend with. I've thought about saving money by trying a value or moderate, but the thought depresses me.

Proud to be a hotel snob!!

 

[dixipixi]

It all depends with us. We do love the deluxes (especially the Yacht Club!!!), but we have enjoyed our moderate stays as well. I would stay in a value, but DH will not.

We bounce back and forth between the mods and deluxes in order to save our budget and be able to go to WDW every year. For instance, 2 years ago we stayed at AKL and YC, last year we had 2 rooms at POFQ, and this year we're staying at the POLY!

If we go back next year, we will probably stay at POFQ. We could do split stays, but once we get settled, we don't like to move.

So, yes we love the deluxes and would stay in one every visit...but the mods are wonderful too...hey, we're still at WDW!!!

 

[Junebugwv]

We've stayed 3 times at CR, 4 times at WL, and quite a few at roomy SOG. We like the amenities and the room at the deluxes, but when it is just me and 2 or 3 kids...POFQ is our favorite. My 2 younger boys (10 & 14) love being close to everything--parking, food court, pool, boat. When my husband is with us, we like to stay where there are queen beds.

 

[Miffy]

DH and I have stayed at a value (ASMu), a mod (POFQ), and 2 deluxes (AKL and Swan).

We will never stay at an AS again, since we were unable to sleep due to the room-to-room and corridor-to-room noise. There were many other minuses as well, but they would never have bothered us had we had a decent night's sleep. I don't know if POP is the same way, but I'm not willing to try it to find out. I'm very cranky when I don't get my sleep!

We loved our stay at POFQ, 1/2 of which was our honeymoon (we got married 1/2way thru our trip)...but...during that trip we toured some other resorts and were just bowled over by WL.

By our next visit to WDW, AKL had been built and we stayed there and adored it.

Nevertheless, we thought we'd try the Swan on our next visit, because the rate was so good. Our stay there was, uh, cut short when we woke up after the first night there, called Disney reservations and threw ourselves on their mercy. Luckily for us, there was a vacancy (at an AP discount, no less) at AKL for the next day. My review of the Swan is probably still in the review section here.

Now I don't even want to go to WDW unless we can stay savannah-view at AKL. We love being there and often spend hours at the resort, often just in our room, on the balcony, staring at the animals.

So, I guess what I'm saying is: We're AKL snobs! But, if pressed, and if the discount were huge enough, we might try the Poly, although, even typing this, I realize I'd miss AKL the entire time we were there!

 

[antmaril]

We have stayed at BWI 3x, Beach Club, CBR, POR and POFQ (3x). We just recently stayed at Pop, our first value resort, and thought it was fine. I was VERY worried about staying there, but we were going for the second time this year (BWI in January) and we needed two rooms this trip. I decided to save a little money and go with Pop.

We had reasonable expectations regarding Pop and felt we were prepared for the difference between a deluxe and a value. I actually felt somewhat nostalgic when we first got there, because it felt like the motels we would stay at when I was a kid, many, many years ago

Anyway, we thought it was a good value and I'd stay there again, if I wanted to save some $$.

 

[Bugsmom73]

We have stayed Moderate and Deluxe. With young kids, I prefer Deluxes. My fav. has to be WL though.

 

[JPN4265]

Deluxe snob, and proud of it.

 

[Rustysmom]

I hope not because we were very happy staying at CBR, but in less than a month we are going to stay at the Beach Club. The only reason we are staying there is because we won the trip, so we didn't have to pay for it. I don't think I could bring myself to pay hundreds per night for a hotel. CBR was expensive enough. I hope we don't get spoiled after this.

 

[melomouse]

For us, it's knowing who I am at the ancient stage of life. Prior to my WDW addiction, hubby and I always would look at the vacation concept and see if we were touring an area or going to a resort. For major touring, a value motel will do. Otherwise, I want resort amenties.

Now that we've made a few trips, we go to a resort with theme parks, not theme parks by a motel-type room(sorry, that's how I view values). WL works for us as the least-expensive deluxe. Poly will be $1000 more for our upcoming trip in January, POR would be $600 less. The $600 is worth it for us.

If I had tiny kids and unlimited funds, I'd do a monorail resort. Didn't have that when they were little and still can't do it now.

We lucked out this summer and got a great upsell at YC. VERY different atmosphere for us - but not a good blend of theme park/resort. Which is why we switched after 3 days.

The shorter answer is yes - once you try a deluxe, you try to make it so on subsequent trips. I'd like to think hubby would be pleased with the choices

 

[CarolA]

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????

Not for me. I compare "Disney Deluxe" to REAL deluxe and Disney is sadly lacking. So I have gone back to Mods or Values. My ONLY exception was AKL since a Savannah view was truly unique, but now that my DVC works there I am not paying those rates either.

For Disney Deluxe prices I expect TRUE Deluxe service and features. I don't get them. (As a matter of fact the worst service I have ever had at Disney was at the "flagship" Grand Floridian. They seemed to think "allowing" you to stay at thier resort meant they could be snobbish and rude.

If you want Deluxe you won't want to leave. Head over to the Ritz or wait on the Four Seasons. For "Deluxe" lite and a better value and with a great location head to the Swan/Dolphin.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

It really depends on my wallet to be honest.

I LOVE the feel of the Deluxe resorts. The service is incredible, the atmosphere relaxing, the beds are plush and wonderful on my back and it truly gets me into vacation mode. The price tag is steep and IMO overprice but you're paying for location...especially at the Polynesian. I usually do deluxe in late August when the park hours are shorter and I can spend more time at the resort.

Now for trips when the parks are jammed (Easter and Christmas), I try to go moderate but won't blink if I have to do a value. Those times of the year the park hours are much longer and we don't spend as much time in the room. My daughter and I LOVE POP and POFQ but we rarely eat there as we frequent character meals at the MK deluxe resorts.

So yes, you can go back to Values and Moderates after doing a Deluxe.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

we stayed a week at pop is dec 2005 and it was great. August 2006 we stayed WL concierge and we have only gone back to pop once for one night due to a late flight. We have only stayed deluxe concierge. I love that my DH likes to act like he doesnt care where we stay but he does and always wants concierge.

 

[MinnieSummer]

I told my DH about this thread last night and he laughed at me. He said I am a Deluxe Snob in the worst way. I forgot that when planning our last trip for my DD's birthday I was adament that we stay at BC or that last Christmas I insisted on staying at GF (never again). My response was that I was really trying to make my New Years resolution of staying at every WDW resort by the end of this year. But he just rolled his eyes at me. I guess, in his eyes at least, I am a deluxe snob. But, if we go in early December we'll be staying moderate and I'll be fine with that. (Unless of course I can convince him to stay at Poly or YC as they are the only two left that we haven't stayed at )

 

[helenabear]

I don't think it necessarily means that. I will admit that the theming of the values does NOT appeal to me at all, so staying there more than 1 night would get to me. However, I have done a bunch of different hotels and I can easily go from moderates to deluxes and back. Not that big of a jump for me.

 

[litlpixie]

I don't think it necessarily means that. I will admit that the theming of the values does NOT appeal to me at all, so staying there more than 1 night would get to me. However, I have done a bunch of different hotels and I can easily go from moderates to deluxes and back. Not that big of a jump for me.

I completely agree, Elaine. I wouldn't to do a value for more than 1 night if I could help it because I'm not crazy about the theming either, however when my DH & I go alone we'll stay deluxe (club level!) and when we bring the kids we do mods and we love our Riverside!!! So would I consider myself a "Deluxe snob"? ...nope, a "WDW Resort Snob?"....YES, because I will only stay on property when I vacation there...

 

[GinnyFavers]

My issue isn't Deluxe, it's the size of the beds.

I can't and won't vacation in a non-King bed anymore. It's just not worth the money, especially when my Disney vacation is *so* physically demanding with all the hiking and standing for 10 -14 hours per day, sometimes. I need my rest!

We still love the moderates, but only in a King.

Now here's where we go Deluxe instead of Moderate -- Moderate resort King rooms are rarely if ever available for discounts. Deluxe king rooms are easier to get with discounts.

We're actually thinking about not renting DVC points for studios anymore, because they don't have King beds, and those studio rentals have been a real major *deal*.

We love the cabins at Ft. Wilderness, but again, it's only a double bed, which is TORTURE as far as I'm concerned. We'll stay there again, but I'm sleeping in the top bunk, and hubby can have the whole bed. (That's why it's torture, he sleeps in the middle of the whole bed anyways, the stinker.)

 

[debaone]

I think it really depends on what type of vacation you are planning/expecting and the makeup of your group.

If your ideal vacation is to go to a park, stay all day and return very late at night, then the hotel is just a place to sleep.

If you plan to go back and forth between the parks and your room and spend a lot of time at the pool, or if you enjoy better dining, then deluxe is the only way to go. Proximity, theming, dining. If these are important then you can't go back.