Parking. Moderates vs. AKL

[mm6mm6]

We've been to all three of the Moderate Resorts (CBR, CSR, and POR).

We try to check in early in the morning on a weekday when there are no lines (as opposed to a friday or saturday afternoon!).

We pull up and the gatekeeper lets us in. Then we park right in front of the front register area. We check in and then put our parking pass on our minivan's dash. We go to a park and then return and move our van to a parking space nearby our room building.

Then we bring our baggage and pop and cooler and snacks to the room. Usually only takes the three of us two trips and they're short trips.

Very easy system.

But when we stayed at AKL, we pulled up and were told we could only leave our van close if we valet parked. We had to park in the "close" lot which really wasn't very close. The walk to our room was really, really far, all the way at the end of the hall on the top floor. There was no way we could bring our luggage and other items ourselves. It was just too far to carry it all.

So we wound up paying for bell service to load (tip) and to deliver (a second tip) for a total of $10.

Then I had to go and park the van in the farrrrrr lot and walk back.

So much for going with a "luxury" resort.

Don't get me wrong, we loved AKL.

But it is funny how it cost us $20 in tips and we had to park farther at the luxury compared to the moderates.

-Steve

 

[happygirlagain]

I was wondering how it worked at a deluxe. We will be at AKL next week and I wasn't sure how you get your luggage to your room. We have never stayed at a deluxe. So you can't get one of the carts and carry your own on it?

 

[mm6mm6]

Hmmmm, I didn't think to ask for a cart. The setup there doesn't really make it easy to get one. They operate out of an enclosed part of the building and they keep all the carts with them.

It's not like there is an area of carts with a "please take one if you don't wish to have us double bang you on tips for loading AND delivery to your room" sign! But I sure wish there was!

 

[ducklite]

No, you can't take a bellman's cart. The lot at AKL is NOT that far. (You want far--try the GF!) Most people who stay at a deluxe resort have no problem paying a bit extra for extra services--like tips for the bell hops.

You could have gone to get the car, swung around to the front and unloaded, had one person stay with your bags while the other put the car back in the lot, then taken it all to your room. The walk from the front entry to the furthest self park space at the AKL lot isn't more than about three minutes.

It sounds like you would probably be happier sticking with the motel style of the moderates where you can park outside your room. Or if you are bringing in that much stuff, maybe a Fort Wilderness cabin?

BTW--I didn't think you were allowed to leave your car in the check-in lot at the mods all day--I thought it was supposed to be moved after you checked in...

Anne

 

[bru_ellman]

We build the price of valet parking into our deluxe stay budget and advise our friends to do the same. Fortunately, my wife and I have "beer tastes" and prefer the moderates (especially CBR ).

 

[mm6mm6]

That's just my point, that the Moderates allow such closer parking and control of the luggage and such a short walk from the lot to the room.

The distance from the parked car at AKL allllll the way to the room we had would be, literally, about 50 times farther.

When I asked if I could unload my bags myself at the AKL front circle, I was told, "No sir."

So I went with the bell service.

I'm not cheap. But I just found it interesting that the luxury resort pretty much costs more cash to come out of the wallet.

And at the Moderates, you can park your vehicle in the main entrance lot with your parking pass on your dash. Then you just move when you come back from the park.

 

[ducklite]

That's just my point, that the Moderates allow such closer parking and control of the luggage and such a short walk from the lot to the room.

The distance from the parked car at AKL allllll the way to the room we had would be, literally, about 50 times farther.

When I asked if I could unload my bags myself at the AKL front circle, I was told, "No sir."

So I went with the bell service.

I'm not cheap. But I just found it interesting that the luxury resort pretty much costs more cash to come out of the wallet.

And at the Moderates, you can park your vehicle in the main entrance lot with your parking pass on your dash. Then you just move when you come back from the park.

The moderates are MOTELS. The deluxes are HOTELS. I don't want to stay at a hotel and have a parking lot outside my door, and have no problem paying extra so this doesn't become the case, hence I stay at deluxes. If it was a MOTEL it wouldn't be a deluxe. I've never stayed at a deluxe hotel ANYWHERE that the parking lot is right outside your room, and frankly, who wants to stare at cars out their window all day? It kind of defeats the purpose of staying in a deluxe resort...

Additionally you CAN unload your luggage in the front of the resort, just not on to a bell cart.

Anne

 

[mm6mm6]

When we planned our first trip to WDW, we figured we'd spend the little bit extra that the Moderates cost over the Value. The Luxury Resort are quite a bit higher in cost.

When we booked the CBR, we paid for a water view room. Just so we would be guaranteed not to look upon a parking lot.

I don't see any of Disney's properties as simply Motels. Nor do I see them as Hotels. I believe the definition is that a Motel is one or two stories and a Hotel is several more than that.

Disney has resorts. The Moderates are sprawling resorts consisting of many pools (7 at the CBR!), a shimmering lake, white sand beaches with hammocks and playground equipment, rentals for fishing, boating, sailing, biking, etc. And several choices for dining on the property. This is a RESORT.

A Quality Inn with two floors, where you park right in front of your door, now that's a motel.

The Moderates (POR, CSR, and CBR) are so much more as big, wide open, gorgeous resorts. We enjoyed walking across the bridges to the Parrot Cay island at the CBR, the numerous South American broken up stone statues decorating the grounds at the CSR, and the fishing hole and docks at POR.

AKL was wonderful but felt much more like a hotel to me than a resort. Mostly because of the check in procedures and the way the long hallways of rooms were set up.

The more I think about it, the more I realize how much more we all enjoyed the Moderates.

But we'll be trying the Value resorts on our next trip to see how they compare.

 

[ducklite]

When we planned our first trip to WDW, we figured we'd spend the little bit extra that the Moderates cost over the Value. The Luxury Resort are quite a bit higher in cost.

When we booked the CBR, we paid for a water view room. Just so we would be guaranteed not to look upon a parking lot.

I don't see any of Disney's properties as simply Motels. Nor do I see them as Hotels. I believe the definition is that a Motel is one or two stories and a Hotel is several more than that.

Disney has resorts. The Moderates are sprawling resorts consisting of many pools (7 at the CBR!), a shimmering lake, white sand beaches with hammocks and playground equipment, rentals for fishing, boating, sailing, biking, etc. And several choices for dining on the property. This is a RESORT.

A Quality Inn with two floors, where you park right in front of your door, now that's a motel.

The Moderates (POR, CSR, and CBR) are so much more as big, wide open, gorgeous resorts. We enjoyed walking across the bridges to the Parrot Cay island at the CBR, the numerous South American broken up stone statues decorating the grounds at the CSR, and the fishing hole and docks at POR.

AKL was wonderful but felt much more like a hotel to me than a resort. Mostly because of the check in procedures and the way the long hallways of rooms were set up.

The more I think about it, the more I realize how much more we all enjoyed the Moderates.

But we'll be trying the Value resorts on our next trip to see how they compare.

Your definition is wrong. A MOTEL has exterior corridors, more limited services, and often the parkign is right outside the door. A HOTEL has interior corridors, generally higher levels of service, and generally parking is in a less conspicuous area.

They are all resorts. HOTEL and MOTEL apply to further descibe them.

Basically those who choose to stay in a deluxe resort do so for the additioanl amaneities such as valet parking, bell services and room service. Those are provided at all WDW deluxe resorts, including AKL. It sounds like you prefer something with more limited services, thus the moderates would be a better choice for you. Nothing wrong with that, it's one of the reasons that WDW offers so many options.

Anne

 

[mm6mm6]

The Moderate Resorts have those same amenities, but there is the OPTION of easily transporting your own bags versus being forced into utilizing bell service. And on top of being forced to use the bell service, there is the double tipping concept being forced upon the guests.

The bellman who took our bags and placed them on the cart waited for a tip. I thought that was odd since I would normally tip him after he completed delivery to the room. Then he told me that another bellman would actually complete the transfer of our luggage. So there went five bucks and there went another five when the second bellman got to our room.

Having stayed at both the Moderate and Deluxe Resorts, I just thought I would make mention of this so others aren't "caught by surprise" like I was. They might be able to plan better (perhaps by having single dollar bills on them!).....

 

[ducklite]

The Moderate Resorts have those same amenities, but there is the OPTION of easily transporting your own bags versus being forced into utilizing bell service. And on top of being forced to use the bell service, there is the double tipping concept being forced upon the guests.

The bellman who took our bags and placed them on the cart waited for a tip. I thought that was odd since I would normally tip him after he completed delivery to the room. Then he told me that another bellman would actually complete the transfer of our luggage. So there went five bucks and there went another five when the second bellman got to our room.

Having stayed at both the Moderate and Deluxe Resorts, I just thought I would make mention of this so others aren't "caught by surprise" like I was. They might be able to plan better (perhaps by having single dollar bills on them!).....

The moderates do NOT have the same amenities. You're dreaming. At moderates there is no room service. No valet parking. No interior corridors. No choice of at least two full service restaurants. No club levels. They have baggage "service" but it's not like bell services where your bags arrive in your room moments after you are checked in, rather than the next tiem your "route" is serviced. The list goes on.

No one FORCED you to use bell services. You had the option of taking everything in yoruself. You CHOSE to use them, then gripe about paying for a service you had a choice to use or not use. And by the sounds of it, if you had that much stuff you were taking in that you couldn't do it on your own, your $5 tip was pretty chintzy. And you would need singles for what? A lower tip???

Stick with the mods, you'll be happier. I want the amenities of a deluxe, pay for them, and don't complain about it afterwards.

And I hardly think the average guest is going to be caught by surprise that they need to tip a bellman for helping with bags.

Anne