Val/mod/deluxe comparisons to real world hotels

[spectrecat]

I'm sure someone has done this before, but I'm looking for some comparisons in terms of quality, rooms, space etc. and how the Disney hotels match up to real life hotels.

Right now, we usually choose Marriott brand hotels because hubby has lots of points...Courtyards, sometimes Residence Inns with the kids because of space. We like them because the rates are cheap, they are clean and comfortable, and they are everywhere. We also sometimes stay at Hiltons (and Hamptons.) We aren't all that picky, and we like good deals.

 

[nydancemom]

Our family also usually stays at Marriott, usually Residence Inns for full kitchen, but also Courtyards. We also stay at Hilton/Hampton Inns. The only experience I have onsite at Disney so far is POFQ which my daughter and I stayed at in April for the first time. We loved it! I would consider it a very comparable room to a Marriott or Hampton Inn in quality of beds (queens), amenities, décor, size of room. The big difference being that the doors open to outside walkways instead of indoor corridors. But we loved the room and the outside corridors were fine. The only other room I've been in was a family suite at AllStar Music that our son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren stayed in two years ago. I would say the overall feel I got from that room was a bit lower quality than the typical hotel room I would stay in. It seemed more like a Comfort Inn, Best Western, Holiday Inn Express feel, if that makes any sense. Not that I wouldn't stay there, we actually are hoping to stay in AOA next summer in two family suites, but the ASMu suites did seem a bit lower quality than the typical Marriott/Hilton. Just my opinion.

 

[lmhall2000]

Poly, CR, AKL all a step above Embassy Suites...mostly due to theming and pool areas...as much as they try, they are no Ritz Carlton.

POR (staying there is Sept) I will guess is a step between Hampton Inn and Embassy Suites but their landscaping puts it way up there...having individual AC units in each room, small bathroom is what holds it back from the above.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Room wise, genetally speaking the above posters have pretty much nailed it.

However, WDW onsite resorts truly are in a class of their own. Values may feel like a Comfort Inn when you step in the room but the grounds, gift shops, pools, level of customer service all rank them much higher.


Based on my experience, ALL levels of WDW resorts have smaller rooms than other brands with a similar pricepoint. I also find the bed and linen quality lacking at WDW compared to other brands.

We are Hilton brand all the way, and not one hotel I have stayed at at WDW or Disneyland can really compare.

Which is not a bad thing, since no other chain can give me that feel/vibe/location an onsite resort does.

 

[Palendat]

"Room wise, genetally speaking the above posters have pretty much nailed it."

First laugh of the day! Thanks! No offence intended!

 

[bookgirl]

Honestly I don't think there is a comparison.

It's really like Apples to Apple Sauce comparison. Kinda the same component but used in two completly different ways.

I would not pay what I pay for Disney Hotels IRL.

For what I pay for a value, I could get a hotel room anywhere else with decent fridge/micro or even a kitchenette and for sure it would have a coffee pot, bigger rooms with enclosed bathrooms (though I will tell you I am one of the few who actually do prefer the sink out of the restroom because with multiple people it's easier to get ready), and a free breakfast.

Same at Mod and Deluxe level. In the real world that much money would get a whole nother level of service and amenitites.

It is better now that at least ALL the rooms have a fridge and internet but still. Offsite I"d expect more.

However to be Onsite and use the buses, with pretty easy access to your room if you need a break or to an activity if you decide last minute to hit a park for an hour, and be "in the bubble" so to speak, I'm okay with the value/mod price. Deluxe I'm a little more doubtful. I'd only stay deluxe again with a really good discount, just because for the up price I don't use enough of the deluxe perks to make it more reasonable than a Mod.


In the real world I do two kinds of stays. I do what I would consider 4 star stays in Vegas and various gambling resorts, plus some other resort stays in various vacation spots. Think Marriot/Hyatt/Hilton types plus a few private owned like Moody on Galveston Island types). No Disney Deluxe hit the same services at the price that I can get offsite.

I also travel for guick weekend getaways and kids sports tournements which are mostly at the 2 or 3 star level (Holiday Inn, LaQuinta, Hampton, etc), which offers services that at Disney you can only get at Deluxe level or by paying hundreds of dollars for Club access.

I refuse Days/Comfort Inns, Motel 6, Super 8 types if given any choice. Hate that level of basicness off site and low prices are not worth it. I don't think anything on Disney Property is as bad as a Comfort Inn or Motel 6 but in truth Values are very basic and offer very little in the way of perks other than being 'onsite at Disney'.

I think I get more bag for my buck at Hampton then Disney, but most Hamptons don't come with Mickey Mouse and themeparks.



Onsite I've stayed all three levels and am fine with them (I mostly do Mod/Value). Off site I would probably never stay anywhere that was not at least what Disney calls a MOD.

 

[Patience]

I have not stayed at a Disney Deluxe. I've stayed value (Pop) and moderate (CSR). When traveling, I usually stay in a Marriott. We stay at a very nice and new Courtyard Marriott when we go to college football games. We also like Aloft (very nice) and some Embassy Suites (we liked the one in Manhattan especially but it's now Conrad), Hampton Inns and Hilton Garden hotels. We've also stayed on special occasion in Westin hotels and those are the best of the bunch. In my younger student days, I stayed in Days Inn, Comfort Inn, Best Western, etc. but would not stay there now.

I think when you compare just rooms, the value resorts are Days Inn or Motel 6 quality to me. The value resorts as a whole are a step above that because of the landscaping, location, pools, etc but the rooms are similar in quality to the Days Inn/Motel 6 rooms. The mod rooms to me are similar to Hampton Inns (except for the fact that they have still have bedspreads) but, again, the beautiful grounds, location, and theming at the resort make them a step above your basic Hampton Inn. I can't speak to the Deluxes but I am pretty sure the rooms are not Westin or Waldorf quality.

A lot of people here seem to focus more on the public areas of the resort like the lobbies, pools and grounds rather than the quality of the room. For me personally, the rooms are important. I liked Pop as a resort but the room felt a little too basic to me which is why we are staying at POR royal room this trip. We almost stayed at AoA because I knew my daughter would love the theming and I figured we would have a basically new room but switched to a royal room when free dining was offered and I'm very happy about it.

 

[spectrecat]

These responses have been perfect! And essentially confirmed my thoughts.

I stayed at the GF as a high schooler, and I loved it, but still being a kid at the time, it's hard to compare now. And we love love love SoG because of room size and access to the monorail/ttc and Poly food, but we have yet to book on site. Even though we keep defaulting to SoG because of price, I would love to stay on site...even if just once! This helps confirm that we really need to pinpoint the type of trip we want....more room time may call for a deluxe or mod....but if we don't want/need that, I think we could swing toward mod or value. I am really hoping for CR or WL....with a discount or free dining....

Thanks again!