Those that stay at the deluxes...

[BunnieGene]

Like many have already posted, once we stayed at a deluxe resort, we were hooked. We started off planning to try as many of the resorts as possible, but once we stayed at the GF, we were hooked. We recently stayed at AKL and loved it, though it seems so far away from the parks...really just a perception, though. We're not huge fans of Epcot, but we have stayed at the Swan/Dolphin and liked them, we just like MK more so GF works best for us. We do have APs, hope for the discounts, but would go anyway. Selfishly the APs make it easy to convince ourselves that it's ok to pop over to Orlando for a long weekend.

As someone else has already written, we also feel that the hotel room is more than a place to sleep at night. The more we have been to Disney, the more likely we are to spend a little time at the hotel relaxing. And a quiet, spacious comfortable room is always enjoyable, particularly when the parks are at peak capacity.

 

[rcraw45425]

I feel that with the deluxes you are getting so much more than just a place to sleep. They seem, IMO, to really immerse you in the Disney experience. We love being able to walk around the resort, going into the shops, stopping off in lobby to relax and hear the band (GF). The pools are also a life saver if you have kids in the "whiny years" like our two girls. Sometimes the only way we can get any sense of peace is by saying, "okay, you can go back and swim for a while". The convenience of the deluxe locations is something else, knowing that you can truly, hop on a monorail/boat/bus and be back to your little piece of peace and quiet in a short time is a defininte plus. Also, having table service restaurants at your location or room service if you are too tired to go back out. These are just little things that we have become used to. I don't concider myself a snob, the deluxes just work for us. DH refuses to sleep in a full size bed, so the queens are another plus for us. I just try to pay off the hotel before we go, then I feel better about the amount that will be coming out of our account during the trip. The AP has definitely helped us,as has the DDE card. If we follow through with our October trip that will be three trips on the AP for me and our older DD. I will have to bite the bullet and get some type of tix for DH and younger DD.

 

[missycj96]

We have been staying deluxe and we have never paid rack rate. two years ago we did the 4/7 fairytale package (I loved that!!) at poly concierge. Last year, we bought annual passes and got discounts at the Wilderness Lodge and the Yacht Club. For this summer we got an AP discount at the CR. I honestly don't know if I would pay rack rate - I would at least get AAA discount. I think if I had to, I would stay at a less expensive deluxe like WL with a AAA or something. But you are right, the full price can be really expensive.

 

[maxsmom]

it was so late last night when I was reading your reply. I was just like what is all of this.

Thanks to everyone! The last time dh and I were at WL we really weren't there much and didn't think we took advantage of the resort. This is something that we regreted. For some reason we just couldn't pull the trigger on the Swan. The rate was fantastic, but $650 for 7 days at POP was too tempting this trip. I'm still very excited to stay there. We want to eventually stay at all of the resorts. We figured w/ our ds 15mths, that the pop jets, kididie, pool and playground would be enough ammeneties this trip.

Maybe, if we actually start and plan ahead we can do a real delux again soon. I LOVED the YC. I'm hoping to take ds there for the pool while he's still little. I makes it harder that we have to go during the most epensive times. Oh, well. Thanks again.

Oh yeah, we do have AAA, I we've checked out mousesavers for years now. We almost bought an AP this year. I'm sure eventually we'll start down that road.

 

[julie.uk]

We also go 2 -3 times a year but we fly out from the UK so that increases our costs dramatically, To help this we usually stay for the first week or so at POR then move to AKL or Poly for the remaining week or so.

We will be flying out on 15th June for 18 days, then on 27th Nov for 2 weeks,
then on 20th May 2006 for 3 weeks. We just love Disney!!!

Oh yes being AP holders helps as well LOL

 

[Barbday62]

We ususally go every 3 to 4 years and stay 8 nights when we go. (Have to fly from Seattle so air fare is a kiler for us) We stay Delux because of loacation and to me the hotel is part of my Vacation. We usually get length of stay type passes but once I did a park hopper type pass.

 

[sherry8253]

We get 2 10 day trips out of our AP (and sometimes squeeze in a shorter trip in between too). We bought AP for our Jan '05 trip and will use it for Dec '05. Then will buy another set of AP for Jan '07. We always go during value season when the rates are the lowest. We usually go to one of the low level deluxe (AKL or WL) and if we splurge we do it for our Dec trip when we do not need to buy tickets. My DH and I both work and I am fairly frugel. We pack our lunches (not only less expensive but more healthy). I take a thermos of coffee to work each day instead of paying over a dollar for a cup of coffee. I buy cases of water at Costcos and take them to work rather than paying $1 a bottle for soda or water at the vending machine at work. (I just can't drink the tap water at work - it is YUCKY.) We also never eat out more than once every week or two and when we do eat out it is usually at our favorite little neighborhood mexican restaurant where our bill is always under $20. We don't buy junk we don't need. There are always books going around for tupperware, avon, home interiors, etc. My coworkers ask me how I can afford Disney each year and I tell them they are constantly buying from all of the books being passed around and I would much rather have a Disney vaction then buy a bunch of dust collectors I don't need that end up going in goodwill after a while anyway. We also save all of our change and end up with at least $700 a year. This covers food. We also drive non-stop from PA which is cheaper than airfare and renting a car.