tell me why i should go deluxe...

[gigi1313]

we think we can afford the "less expensive" deluxes (aka AKL or WL or even dolphin/swan)... we did not like the CBR 'cause it was just way to spread out for our taste... we had two rooms at pop 'cause we're a pooh-sized family (dh is well over 6 foot and cannot share a double bed w/anyone 'cause he has to sleep diagonal!) so everyone got there own bed and we really enjoyed that... the kids want a pool slide this trip, and i think we'll probably spend a full day doing non-park stuff, so i can understand that (and one room at a mod is less expensive than two at a value... one at a deluxe if good codes come out may be less than two at a value!)

so... why do i want to stay deluxe? help me here! we're not fancy people... we don't need a health club... we don't mind the buses and consider it part of the whole disney experience... we do want a fun pool w/a decent slide... we like food courts/grab 'n go/refillable mugs... we would enjoy renting mouse-boats (which i know have a new name, but i don't remember it! LOL!)... we don't need a sit-down restaurant...

are we wasting our money going deluxe? would we be just as happy at a small mod or value? are the rooms *that much* bigger in a deluxe that it's worth it? can we get a rollaway at a deluxe (not for an extra person, but to give dh his own bed)?

help me decide for the last time! LOL!

 

[LorieDisneyLover]

The deluxe rooms at the Contemporary or the Polynesian have a day bed ... so that would give you 2 Queens and a day bed.

Also, the rooms are MUCh bigger than the Wl or the AKL.

I do like WL and AKL ... but the bathrooms are about the same size at the moderates. You will have a bigger bathroom area at the Contemporary or Polynesian. Also, you might be able to get the Contemporary Wing room for about the same as the WL or AKL.

Hope that helps.

 

[dpic]

AKL has a better/bigger pool than WL. WL's pool slide is small and my DK's (11 & 14) say they don't fit anymore. For the price, AKL would be great. If you could get a good code at CR that would be great for you, too. It has a big pool slide.

We love WL, but have to admit their pool--while themed nicely--is not the main attraction for us. We love the WL's themeing and love to stay there. However, if the pool was one of our main requirements, we'd look at AKL or a good code at CR.

The main thing, though, is staying where you feel comfortable. Don't be concerned about wheather you would fit in at a deluxe. If can pay the money, you'll fit in. However, it you don't feel uncomfortable about spending the extra--as many people are--don't worry about it. Any place at WDW is better than most anywhere else.

 

[minijeanie]

If you can afford it,,, I say go for it!!!!!!!!

my reason is simple..I love inside corridors. just does it for me.
plain and simple

 

[MrsJ Henry]

My husband and I are pretty Non-Fancy and we love AKL!!
You will not see a difference in "class" of people... everyone is everyone at WDW. Everyone fits in!!! (one of the reasons I love WDW)

AKL has a great bus service that goes directly to each park--- no other stops. We love that.

I think it has a very cool pool. Great for all ages. (Nice pool side bar also)

Great food court area and restaurants.

Inside entrance to each room, which we like a lot.

Game room for the kids and a playground area outside.

And all those animals!!!!

Hey we like being pampered a little bit when we are on vacation. The deluxe resorts do a little more of that.

 

[swilphil]

Swan/Dolphin are deluxe resorts, and they have the signature heavenly beds--slightly larger ones at the Swan. If you get a good rate there, go for it.

 

[dkddis]

Queen size beds, inside coridors, three tiers of restaraunts. Themes at AKL and WL are awesome. And the location of YC/BC or BW are great.

 

[gatormouse]

I say, do what makes you feel good about your trip. My DH and I can "afford" a deluxe, but it makes us happy to save as much as we can, so we always end up at POR. We love this resort! If I had one complaint, it would be it's size. The walking can be torturous after being in the parks all day. The inside corridor thing is also a plus for the deluxe resorts, but again, it never seems like enough of a reason to spend the extra $. The kids love being in ANY pool, so that is never an issue. We know we will be spending a lot of $ in the parks, and we spend so little time in our room that we choose to save on the cost of our room, and spend a little more $ somewhere else. My DH wants to stay at WL this year, so we are anxiously waiting for the Fla resident codes to come out, but if the savings aren't great, we will be at POR once again, and be happy to do it!

 

[lfeikert]

I've seen two people here mention that one of the reasons they choose deluxe is for the interior corridors. I'm really big on that and HATE to stay at places that don't have them. I just feel safer with interior corridors. Are the deluxes the only resorts at WDW that have them? No moderates have interior corridors? We're planning a trip for 2007 and that would make a big impact on which resort we choose--leaning toward WL right now.

 

[3for Me]

We have stayed at all the deluxes except AKL so I can not help you there...but...we also stayed at the Dolphin one year, and my kids still ask when we can stay there again. They LOVED it! There are several pools - one with a slide, hot tubs, etc... The grounds are lovely, and while I am not sure about Mouse Boats, I know they had the swans that you could rent - paddle boats I believe, so not quite the same thing.

The EPCOT area is lovely. Just enough of the "magic" to make you feel part of it, but also just enough to feel like you can "get away" if you want to.

Now, some will argue that they don't feel the Disney Magic at the S/D. But I felt it was such a part of the whole Boardwalk area, and between sharing boats with the Boardwalk and YC/BC, it made it "feel" like another Disney resort.

There are so many restaurants of all kinds in the area, and you can walk to EPCOT if you want...there are so many pluses.

Now are the rooms THAT much bigger - probably not, but, yes, you can fit a rollaway in them - we did. I would not leave it out all the time, or you will be tripping over each other, but for sleeping purposes, it was fine.

By the way, Tubbi's has great "grab and go" type food and my children LOVED it.

We were pleasantly surprised with our stay here, and would definately do it again!

Hope this helps.

 

[slimplaw]

You could also check into renting DVC points from a member. With a 1 bedroom unit, you would have a king bed and and a sleeper sofa in the living room. Also, you would have a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and jacuzzi tub. Look in the DVC rentals area of the disboards and you might find something.
I have stayed at WL and the Poly. I really like the WL theme. However, their fast food restaurant is small. That would be my only complaint about WL.

 

[Kae]

You did not care for CBR because it was spread out. Manywill agree with you on that one. POFQ is not as spread out & it has a cool slide plus you can swim at POR. So if you can not get the rates you want at a deluxe try POFQ.

Kae

 

[gigi1313]

thank you all for your responses... so much to think about! just when i think i have my mind made up, i find another reason to reconsider! LOL!

thanks for the input on the WL pool... both of my kids are big for their age (dd is 5'+) and would be very disappointed to find a pool slide that they could not fit down...

AKL and POR is still at the top of our list if we decide to do a package... but the dolphin is running a verrrry close third! LOL!

we're also spending three or four nights at Royal Pacific at Universal (blasphemy, i know! LOL!) and would like something that has a different feel so as not to compare but rather complement!

again, thanks all!!

 

[pixie08]

We are having a similair dilema because we stayed at PoFQ last year and loved it but this year were debating between CSR and AKL...I think AKL is winning!!!

 

[Controversy]

I go the renting-points route so I can stay in a deluxe- regular deluxe rooms are not in a 22 year old's budget! There's nothing like it! Of course, I have to stay value the first and last days because of the doubling points issue, but I can definitely handle Pop in short bursts- I almost prefer the food court setup of the value resorts. I don't like moderates at ALL. I have no idea why, they just don't appeal to me. I guess my outlook is, all or nothing!

 

[gigi1313]

i explored the "renting points/staying dvc" option, but by the time we rent a place big enough for the four of us (a studio just won't cut it, my kids will not be comfortable on a pull out for a week, and tired kids are not pleasant on vacation!) and a one-bedroom would be no cheaper than a bunk bed room at akl! plus, i like having mousekeepers come in daily, make the beds, empty trash, etc...

well, the more i think about it the more i am leaning towards akl or dolphin... i have starwood pts which could make the dolphin rate really attractive! and i LOVE the location of it! i must say, however, i was pleased to hear about the great bus transport at akl, 'cause that was one of my major concerns about that resort!

again, thanks... and keep the reasons coming... this is such a difficult decision for me! LOL!

 

[kgallag808]

I thought much like you did. We stayed at the CBR the first year we went and my fiance and I loved it|! We had plans to try POFQ....but it was closed for refurbishment so we were bumped to Polynesian. For us it just does not compare now! Something to be said for just jumping on the monorail when you are tired and smelly, and getting to your room 20 minutes after the park closes. We are staying at the Boardwalk this year so we will walk to Epcot and take a boat to MGM. To me the location of each is worth the extra money. Otherwise I do not really care about room size or surroundings. Besides who would spend that kinda money to stay in the room the whole time.

 

[DisFlan]

Staying at the Dolphin would have an added bonus - you can walk or boat quickly to 2 parks! That's a big plus for many of the Deluxes. When we stayed at the Contemporary, we LOVED being able to walk to the MK in about 3 minutes. The Poly and GF are almost as fast by boat or Monorail.

We bought into the DVC at Board Walk mainly so we could walk/boat to both Epcot and MGM, or Monorail to the MK from Epcot if we want to. No buses or parking hassle! (Which always seems to eat up quite a bit of time.)

DisFlan