Once you go Deluxe.......

[Kaa]

I have no problem going back. While I love staying deluxe, I love going to WDW even more and will go cheaper to be able to go more often!! It is getting exceedingly difficult to get my family to go back to the All-Stars though. I don't mind them, but they love the food court at POR.

 

[CuteKatCar]

Our trips have been like this

Dixie Landings
Grand Floridian
Grand Floridian/Contemporary
Contemporary
Next year: Caribbean Beach/Polynesian

So, after 3 trips at deluxes, we are splitting between moderate and deluxe. Only to save money. We happen to really like the Cont. (kids love the game room, playground and the pool and I love walking to MK). The year we went from the GF to Cont. they were angry to leave the GF, but then loved the Cont. more (GF had no pool slide at the time, no playground and not so hot a game room). However, the GF is our absolute favorite, and it was actually my 9 yr. old's idea to stay at Poly "to try something new".

Our reason for the deluxe. THE PROXIMITY TO MAGIC KINGDOM. I just have to be a hop, skip and jump away from MK. I'm not sure how much I am going to like having to take the buses everywhere from CBR, but I will let you all know next year!!

Like everyone else here says, just being in WDW...................

Can't wait,

Anna

 

[Gabrielle]

I love the Moderates!

They've got bikes, gorgeous landscaping, food courts and close parking.

With the codes, I feel like I'm greating a great deal for the money.

I've stayed at the Grand Floridian, Poly and YC. They were nice - but, for the money - the moderates are much better.

 

[Janet2k]

PamNC, my very first WDW trip was on the Grand Plan and we were staying in the GF's main building (that was back when RPC meant SERVICE WITH A SMILE). That trip was wonderful. Our next trip was also on the Grand Plan at the GF, but this time we stayed in a two-bedroom suite. We were spoiled again. I *think* one of my next trips was a "girlfriend's long weekend" and we stayed at the Swan and the Coronado Springs Resort. We had a blast. Did I miss the GF and the Grand Plan? Not really. I was happy to be vacationing at WDW, plain and simple. I had my first Caribbean Beach Resort stay on my last WDW vacation. I loved that resort. During that vacation I also stayed in the Tower Club at the Contemporary Resort, stayed in a one-bedroom suite at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (my favorite resort), stayed in a studio at both Old Key West and the BoardWalk Villas, and ended that vacation with another stay in the Caribbean Beach Resort. I loved each of those resorts, deluxe, home-away-from-home, and moderate. So, to answer your question, I have no problem switching back and forth between the different levels of resorts at WDW.

 

[WorknFires]

DH & I stayed at the Contemporary for our 1st trip together in 1995. Location was great but I hated the rooms. Our 2nd trip in 2000 we chose PO-FQ to off set the cost of the Disney Wonder Cruise we took that trip. Truthfully, we prefered the FQ to the Cont. Since then we've joined DVC and while the majority of our trip is alway at OKW, we've off set it by staying at ASMu. This year we will off set it by staying at WL & PO-R. I've seen the inside of WL's rooms and I don't think they're any better than the moderates. Now OKW... THAT'S another story.

 

[snap21]

I understand that OKW is considered home away from home, but I consider that to be my favorite resort. Right smack dab in the middle of all of the magic, yet quiet enough to forget that fact. The ammenities fit our needs. When we go back in October, we are staying in a one-bedroom for the first time. We are really looking forward to this. Actually this trip will be good because we are actually going to experience a few resorts. In the Past, we have only stayed at OKW (my wife's cousins are DVC members and we are in the process of buying from them...yeah!), but this time we are going to stay at Swan Dolphin for a couple of nights, OKW studio for a week, POR for the weekend and then we finish up our trip with 5 nights in a One bedroom. We have checked out all of the resorts and my wife and I really enjoy OKW.

Just my thoughts,
Mike

 

[Purrrrfecta]

I have to agree with those who say they enjoy the lobby, balconies, and interior hallways the deluxe hotels offer.

When you stay in a moderate everything is a hike unless you are in close proximity to the main building and pool.

Even when I stayed in an off-site deluxe hotel I was happy with just being able to have the option of ordering room service when I wanted to for breakfast, walking down the hall to use the laundry, etc., and that an option that is not offered with a moderate.

I say to all, if the things I mentioned are important to you then AKL may be the answer. If you get a standard room for $109 or $119 a night (AP rate and codes) you can have the option of being able to stay in a deluxe hotel at an almost moderate rate!

 

[#1MMFan]

We've stayed at WL and then gone back to Riverside. Like yourselves, I felt DxL (as it was then) was the greatest thing ever, but having done WL and gone back, you start to notice little things that you appreciated at WL. For example, we liked the indoor hotel corridors rather than doors onto the grounds. Other things like the food court appeared to have gone downhill (may just have appeared that way after a stay at a deluxe!). I think the answer to this question is yes, you can go back, but no you may not find everything exactly as great as you had before you experienced the level up.

Of course, if you have had bad treatment at a deluxe then obviously you could have the entirely opposite view!

John

 

[DisneyFreaks]

But I didn't really care much for the indoor corridors. I really enjoy stepping outside and waiting for everyone else in our party. And as for the hike to the food court and bus I think the themeing at the moderates is so pretty I love taking that stroll outdoors to everything. I almost feel dissappointed when I reach where I'm going. And yes, even in the rain I love the walk. LoL

 

[Tiffany]

Interesting question. We stayed at moderates and value resorts through our 1997 trip. We were newlyweds and then we were saving for our house. We stayed at the YC in 1998 for our 5th Wedding Ann and since that trip we will not go back to a moderate unless it ment that we could not go to WDW at all.

To us it is the style of our vacation that has changed. We used to be park camandos. Open to close seeing all of the parades and fireworks displays. Since our 1998 trip we vacation at a more relaxed pace. We spend much more time at our resort then we used to before our 1998 trip. The feel of the YC and AKL just cannot be beat IMHO.

I think the only way we would go back to a moderate would be if our financial situation changed and the only way we could afford to go to WDW would be to stay at a moderate.

 

[eeyore0062]

I was not fond of the indoor corridors at WL... they were SO LOUD. We didn't find this at the Contemporary. Also, we didn't like looking at the 1/2 eaten trays of room service sitting in the halls in the deluxes, either. We have had no problems going back and forth, and in fact, far prefer a moderate over WL!

 

[PatriciaH]

Our favorite resort so far is Coronado Springs Resort. Next would be POFQ then Wilderness Lodge, POR and Caribbean Beach. I have seen the rooms in most of the deluxes, visited their restaurants and used their transportation (former travel agent.) We were even able to use Stormalong Bay when that was ok and not a no no Like one poster said evey year I look at the prices and I can not justify spending that much more for a deluxe. I do not care for the interior hallways. I also find them noisy and I like to be able to step right outside. A balcony is great if you have a view but then again that is more money. The bathrooms are not that much bigger. Poly, Contemporary and GF rooms are larger but the other deluxes are not much bigger. AKL and WL are the same square footage as CBR. I love the busses and this is a big reason CSR is one of our favorites. The bus system is fantastic. I find the monorails, boats and deluxe busses painfully slow and crowded.

With the current codes the deluxes are a great deal though.

 

[opal]

We have stayed at CBR many times, once each at POR, CSR and just this past year BWI. When we return next Jan., it will be POR unless CBR is open again by then. We really enjoyed BWI, but mostly for it's close location to Epcot and MGM. We spend most of our times in the parks, especially in Jan.! We have always loved the tropical feel of CBR, it always feels like vacation there!

 

[peachgirl]

I love the busses

It's really amazing to see the differences in everyone's tastes and the reasons for them. For instance, I HATE the busses! I'd just as soon have someone pull out my fingernails as to ride a bus. I ride 'em, but I don't like 'em. One of the many reasons I love the Yacht Club is I could take a boat to Epcot or MGM and hop the monorail while at Epcot. And one of my fondest memories is riding the boat from Fort Wilderness to the Magic Kingdom. I have no fond memories of the busses, just memories of waiting forever for them to show up! Maybe this is what makes Disney so popular, they've got something for everyone.

 

[Beanie]

Can you go back? Yes, of course! Would I? No!

We have stayed at Moderates and Deluxe and personally we prefer the Deluxe...I do not like the outside Hallways (Not sure of the proper name?) at Moderates...they just don't appeal to me...besides I am to addicted to WL and AKL to go back now!

 

[TJA]

So I must add my opinion too! Our first 2 experiences were stays at the former DxL and we fell so in love with it. We next tried WL and now absolutely CANNOT go back to a moderate! In our case, we like to enjoy the resort as much as we do the parks, so of course it makes more sense for us to stay at a deluxe.

Sure, we think back to the "good 'ol days" at DxL, but we know we wouldn't be as happy going back to a moderate. Now that we've had a taste of the deluxes, we're totally spoiled. AKL is next on our list in December. We look forward to staying at every deluxe, but most likely no more moderates.

I absolutely love reading everyone's opinions! This is awesome. Let's continue......

 

[ead79]

I think whether or not you can go back depends on how important the resort is to your overall enjoyment of your trip. For me personally, the resort plays a huge part in my trip. I love exploring it, eating there, checking out my room, etc. I have stayed at the All Star Music (my first on-site stay), and we thought it was really nice. I still think that it's an excellent resort, but I really love the deluxes. Transportation benefits are also a large part of what I enjoy about the deluxe resorts.

 

[snels]

On our last trip we stayed at our first deluxe-AKL. We enjoyed our stay there, but we still love Port Orleans (Dixie Landings) the best.
We eat light meals, and the food courts at the moderates works out best for us.
Sandy

 

[Disneydenise]

I have been staying in deluxe hotels for the last 6- or 8 trips. Our kids got too big to be in the moderates. Well I went with a girlfriend in April and I thought I wouldn't b able to stand going to a moderate but she couldn't afford a deluxe so we stayed at te CBR. I LOVED IT. I think when the kids aren't going with us any longer we will be okay going back to a moderate. I am sure we will still stay at the deluxes too but I think it will be different each trip we make. I know I won't be able to stay with my children in a moderate ever again because the room is just too small even at the deluxes now. kids grow too fast.

 

[Shannon D]

Absolutely yes, you can go back. In fact, the first time we stayed deluxe (Beach Club) we said, why in the world are paying sooo much money for this room when we could be just as happy (for much less $) at Port Orleans? Granted, it was a cold winter weekend and we couldn't use Stormalong Bay, but we could hear every sound from our neighbors and hallway. That coupled with lack of food options for our then very lil ones, put a big damper on the desire to stay deluxe at Disney.

We do enjoy the Contemporary very much and have stayed there several times over the years as well as Swan/Dolphin, but I'm perfectly happy to stay at the mods or HIFS.

Now, PBH at Universal is another story. I'd just like to move in there altogether!!