Ummm - Disney offers FD to fill VALUE resorts..not Deluxe?

[SnowWitch]

I switched from the All Stars to the WL w/ fd this am. We ahven't stayed at a value and I was a bit concerned so we opted to go with the WL. Very excited haven't stayed there in almsot 10 years. WOOHOO!!!!!

 

[Crisgw]

We got FD put onto our existing WL reservation!!!!

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

WL here too! I am excited because it looks beautiful in pictures, but we have never stayed there. We are saving it as a bit of a surprise for the kids

 

[SnowWitch]

Kay, it is beautiful. The pool area is great, nice play area on beach, rent surrey bikes and ride to the campground (must work off extra calories from deluxe dining). The courtyard is just breathtaking at night. Congrats crisgw! We're arriving the 12th-20th. I twecked our adr's this am and added Artist Point and WCC, we like both and since we're staying there way easy.

 

[Babyboo]

The only thing I was told was that Free Dining would not be available for Club Level at the deluxes. Which is a real bummer ....

Club level was available for the dates I searched online - came up with Epcot resorts and a deluxe room at WL

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

Club level was available for the dates I searched online - came up with Epcot resorts and a deluxe room at WL

When I called Thursday night for reservations, I was offered club level at WL. Since it was basically the same price as a garden view at GF, I choose GF (my dream resort ) instead. Now, I just hope I like GF as much as I think I will, but now get to spoiled that I don't want to stay any place else in future visits.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

8640 is the number of rooms at value resorts

6102 is the number of rooms at deluxe resorts

There are certain deluxe resorts that fill up SUPER fast....those are typically the Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, The Epcot Area Resorts and the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

I've stayed at the Polynesian the past 2 Augusts and let me tell you it was PACKED! The other thing you should take into account is that more people take advantage of 40% off codes or AP rates to book deluxes. The mentality is typically "if im saving 40% i might as well stay deluxe."

Another thing to take into account is the baby boomers. My parents were born in the 50s and are therefore part of the boom. They have been taking me to WDW since I was 2. We started off-property. Then went mod (as no values existed) then went deluxe, and now we often get 2 rooms deluxe. If you asked us 5 or 7 years ago if we'd ever be a "deluxe family" we would have flat out laughed. Demographics play a huge part.

Values are typically aimed at young families, where deluxes are aimed more at adults with teens or adult children. In addition, multiple visit guests begin to want to explore different resorts. First timers with young kids are prone to gravitate to the more "disney themed" hotels.

For all these reasons, Free Dining is in fact used to fill up the values in what would usually be a very slow season. Disney wants young families there at the end of Aug and beginning of Sept so must offer a big draw for them to take their kids out of school.

 

[MommaP]

I started calling last Monday and was able to get the fd for my parent's room - Studio at BeachClub - but wasn't able to get it for our room (2 BR Villa). So, I was told to keep trying because sometimes people cancel, etc. So, I called every day at 7 am last week. I called again Thursday morning because I saw online it was available for the 2 br at Saratoga. I just called again, and they still don't have it available for our room type. Each time, the CM suggests trying back now and again because sometimes more become available -whether more are added by the resort for the deal or if someone else cancels.
I just got off the phone again just now.

My sister just booked yesterday at AAA and got the fd at the Carribbean Beach Resort.

Soooo, I plan to keep trying at least once a week. I'll probably finally get a hit at the 45 day mark when people have to either pay up or lose their res! I figure free is free, and worth my cell phone minutes if I can get 4 additional adults and two more kids on fd! LOL

 

[JLKennedy]

Something will eventually come up with cancellations.