Returning to Moderate After Deluxe?

[Forevermarypoppins]

I've stayed at all three levels, and there are various things about each resort that I like, but just being at WDW is pretty special, whether you're staying at a deluxe resort or a value resort.

Me too! Stayed at all levels and still do.
I stay where my budget allows at that time.

 

[terri33inne]

I'm trying to decide now on deluxe vs mod for our upcoming June trip. This is a 9 night trip so we'll spend a decent amount of time at our resort. I love the mansion section of POR and am happy with that, but I love the convenience of BW being so close to 2 parks. Budget is a small consideration, and the savings would be nice, but I love the transportation convenience.

 

[happymommy]

Location and ROOM SERVICE for me. I've done value and mod both day of, both checking in after 10pm. Not having room service was an eye opener. I may not use it every trip, or 3 times in 1, but if its not an option, its not vacation to me.

I was pleasantly surprised our first night at All Star Sports, that they not only had pizza delivery, but quite a lot of choices that they would deliver to the room! We were unpacking that night, after arriving early and spending the day at Epcot, and were so darned tired (it was me, DD, and her friend in connecting rooms). I ordered chicken with pasta for them, I think salad, I forget, and spaghetti with meatballs for me. It was all quite good, and only about $50. I am guessing that they've added more choices at the other value resorts as well. We were just too tired to walk all of 2 minutes to the food court!

To the OP: I have only stayed at deluxe resorts until recently, when we branched out and stayed at Pop Century a couple of times, and recently All Star Sports. We enjoyed them a lot! I just couldn't justify the crazy rates any longer. We found a nice clean, at Pop last August we had requested VIP cleaning (DD is medically fragile), and we had the most amazing housekeeper! I didn't find I missed much, other than strolling from the Boardwalk to Epcot. The bus service was excellent and frequent, although a bit further from the entrance to parks. The food court was a welcome surprise, with lots more choices than at deluxe resorts, and we'd sometimes bring it back to the room. Now I don't know if I'd stay at the Boardwalk again, unless it's DVC which is nice. I miss having a food court, as the bakery doesn't have a lot of choices (although Epcot is right there, sometimes after we've been out during the day we just want to chill in the room with dinner).

So, I wouldn't worry at all!

 

[beccasmom]

We stayed at the CR and GF for several years before making the change-over to a moderate (first was at CBR, the first WDW moderate). We did it because of the price difference and also due to the fact we were rarely in the room anyway. That is also a chief reason we became DVC members.

I probably did miss some of amenities (hop on monorail, instant MK!), but it was either change or fewer WDW visits and that wasn't an option! And we did a few split stays too.

 

[klmall]

I have stayed at all levels (All Star Sports, POFQ, CBR, AKL, WL, Poly, CR, and BLT) and haven't minded returning to moderates after deluxe stays. I do like having a balcony but since I am in the parks opening to closing every day it's no big deal doing without. DH spends much more time in the room but he's happy if we have enough space in the room to stretch out a little. Room service is not important but having some quick service option is! Even with it's problems we prefer the monorail resorts since MK and Epcot are our favorite resorts.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We have stayed at almost every WDW resort. We find that we enjoy every level of resort equally, but in different ways. Our favorite resort is CBR because we love to relax by the quiet pools in the morning and head to the parks later in the day. The layout there allows for a type of isolation that the other WDW resorts just don't have.

It really depends on what you are looking for in a WDW vacation.

 

[awalker1015]

POR is one of our favorites. But I get your concern. Honestly we have hesitated to stay deluxe because I was afraid the kids and I would have a hard time staying elsewhere!

 

[vinotinto]

Ask me in September. After 9 trips staying deluxe (2 BC, 2 YC, 2 AKL, 2 Poly, 1 WL), we're trying our first mod in September! The price is definitely right and I'm keeping my expectations in check. The theme and landscaping look delightful. The one thing I'm nervous about is bed/bedding. I've heard the quality is not quite the same as deluxe and that makes me a little nervous because we go for high quality mattress and bedding at home, and usually when traveling.

We also usually have a nice sit-down breakfast at the resort half the mornings. Not a fan of starting my day standing in line to order breakfast. We have enjoyed Boma, Kona, Cape May, Captain's Grill, Whispering Canyon, etc., while staying at the resorts. But, in the end, I've been curious about mods, and the increased gap in cost has convinced me to give it a try. If I can sleep well and make it through breakfast, I'll probably be good with the rest. And if I don't, then I can say I gave it a try and will book deluxe the next time.

 

[AprilDecember]

I like to split stays, so in the past I've worried about separation anxiety when leaving a deluxe directly for a moderate or value. I've never really had a problem, though. The big test was leaving a MK view room in Tuvalu at Poly for ASMu, and yet I still didn't feel let down. In the Poly-to-ASMu case, it helped that the value resort had JUST undergone a major renovation and looked amazing. I think really being jazzed about a location or theme helps. Also depends on what you appreciate most about Deluxes to begin with. If you like size, for ex., CB has big rooms and the decor is very nice. It's also got one of those murphy bed things like the Poly DVC studios have, along with multiple pools and really lovely landscaping.

 

[Holly]

My thirteen year old twin daughters have done most of the planning for our June trip and they were adamant about staying at Art of Animation.
I'm not crazy about the looks of it, to be honest. We have a Finding Nemo family suite booked and the color scheme is a little much for my taste (Saratoga Springs is my favorite resort so that's quite a contrast).

The first rule I broke was going to Florida any time between May and October. The second was booking a resort I'm not in love with. The things we do for our children. It's Disney, though. We're going to have a great time.