Value after Delux????

[Jordan's MOM]

We are getting ready to build the house we have always wanted. We are blessed and happy. HOWEVER, DH just made the coment that our WDW trip for next year just might have to go!! I suggested doing a really low budget trip and everyone looked at me like I was crazy. We have done a trip at all stars and lot of counter service, but thats been a while and before we stayed at deluxe hotels and enjoyed eating pretty much where we wanted. We were happy and loved our first budget trip but are wondering if we would be happy now or would be realize what we are missing???

Anyone done a budget after a deluxe?????


Jordans' mom

 

[pampam]

We've stayed at deluxe many times. Made some wonderful memories. We would go every other year. Then, it dawned on me, if we stay at a less expensive resort we can afford to go every year, so that's what we do now, and haven't looked back. We go at least once a year for 10-14 nights. Our last trip in January was for 22 days at All Star, and it was one of our best trips ever. I think the reason was we had so much time to experience it all we didn't feel rushed. We still eat at the deluxe resorts and shop at them but I find the Disney service is excellent no matter which resort we go to. I suppose it's all what one prefers.

 

[tar heel]

We did it last summer, went from one room at the Yacht Club for three straight trips to two rooms at All Stars. DS9 and I thought it was okay. DS15, DS19 and DH hated it. Teens skipped the pools (were there six nights) and DH thought the attention to detail was lacking and that lots of stuff was chintzy. We spent our last two nights in two rooms at a moderate, and everyone was a lot happier.

Last summer was my year to shake up our Disney accomodations. I took them to FW cabins on our other trip, and they didn't particularly like that either!

 

[mad4themouse]

I've never stayed in any of the value resorts but I don't think we'd be happy there because for the kids, the pool makes or breaks the hotel. If it isn't nicely themed with an awesome water slide, they'd rather just skip it. They didn't like the Contemporary's pool at all.

How about renting points from a DVC member? You would still be staying in a deluxe resort but paying closer to moderate prices. Drop a night or two from the length of your stay (Fri. and Sat. nights cost more points than Sun.-Thurs.). Prepare one or two meals each day in the kitchen and you should come out close to what you would have spent at a value resort & meals.

 

[Cindy B]

Our last trip was at a Deluxe, and we cant wait to go to Value.

Don't get me wrong, its not that we didn't love the deluxe (we were at Wilderness Lodge) but we can stay longer, our money goes further, and we can do other things if we stay at value.

Personally we love the All Stars! My kids wanted to go back there even at Wilderness Lodge!

When we go again, we will try Pop Century.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We have stayed at WL and AS.
I have walked away just as happy with an AS as WL.
The perk with a deluxe more than anything (for us) is a hot tub and nicer pool.
But we generally were not room people. We stayed in the parks all day.
WL was handy due to location. We stayed there last August. It was nice to return mid day.
I relaxed in AC.
DH relaxed in the pool.
Don't get me wrong. We LOVED WL, and comparing a deluxe to a value is like comparing a Hummer to a Volkswagon.
But when it meant a longer WDW stay -- we chose value.

 

[tink2dw]

Just a thought.....

There are some great 4 star hotels, offsite with great service[they try harder] that cost less than a WDW deluxe. And are very close to WDW with great pools!!

 

[debbiedana]

My first trip was the Polynesian Concierge. The second trip was Pop Century.

The second trip, we saved about $1000 over the first.

They were two different experiences but both great. We loved both hotels. I think the real key is your level of expectation. Don't think that a stay at Pop is the same as at a deluxe. They are apples and oranges. We spend very little time in the room, so for our last trip, saving $1000 sounded pretty darn good.

Both trips we relied solely on Disney transportation. Pop Century kicked the Poly's butt in the bus transportation issue. Of course, it's hard to beat the monorail...

 

[paladin]

We had only stayed at deluxes, the most recent trips in a one-bedroom at BWV. However, I decided to try the All-Stars in order to take several more trips using my AP. I had the same worries that you had, but the trips turned out fine. I was able to take 3 trips that I would not have been able to afford if I stayed with the deluxes. The All-Stars are cute and clean and have great bus service. I also enjoyed the food court. In all, I was quite pleasantly surprised. I should mention that I don't go to the pool, so that is not important to me at all. IMOH, you can't beat the deluxes, but when it is a matter of a value resort or no trip at all, I think it is an easy decision. (Of course, you could also look at staying off-site, but that is probably an entirely new thread!)

 

[blowinbubbles]

I'm so glad this topic was posted! I've been to WDW three times. . 1971-2, 1974 and just last week! Everytime I stayed at the Poly.

Well, this last time I brought my husband, and he *hated* it~ ! Never left the hotel room, and swore that he'd never give Disney another penny! (grrr) *Sooooo,* I am already planning my next trip with the kids and *without* my husband, but I' know I'll have to go much cheaper.

Thinking about going with the Carribbean Resort, and purchasing Seasonal tickets. I'm just hoping I can save enough money!

Ann

 

[crisi]

I'd go offsite.

To me, a hotel room is a big deal. I need enough space not to bump into my kids. I need queen sized beds. The kids want a cool pool. I prefer interior hallways - or at least the more private layout of the exteriors of the moderates - over the row of rooms at the value resorts.

But there are some NICE places offsite for not much money.

 

[floridafam]

I think we are going to do a value after a deluxe sometime soon.

I really want to stay at Pop Century. I have heard wonderful things about it, the pools and the food and shopping area.

I think it would be a wonderful trip. The deluxes are wonderful but the values each have their special things, too.

Keep us posted on what you decide to do.

 

[Twende]

I guess it all depends on how much time you spend at the resort.

We have stayed in Deluxe other times but it seems a waste because we live in the parks and return to our rooms to sleep and bathe. So this March we stayed at the Pop at saved enough money to take another trip back soon.

If you really need a fancy big room or you enjoy taking a day off and staying at the resort then I would not stay at a value. But if you are like us and use the room to clean up and sleep then the vaules are perfect!

Although I do know one exception to this...we took a hanicapped family member one time and found staying on the monorail was best because of extra trips back to the room for rest and breathing treatments.

 

[twinkles0819]

I thought about that too......if I would have stayed at a value resort I would have been able to stay at disney maybe longer and go sooner than I would have liked(still in college so naturally....I'm usually broke).....but I thought this is my boyfriend's and I first "real" vacation together so I would like to spend it at a deluxe resort, but for future trips I will definately try a value and moderate resort.....hopefully before I die, I will be able to have said I have stayed at ALL the disney properties.

Disney is a place where most of us spend at the parks.....as long as you have a place to sleep, why not stay a little bit cheaper

I wanna go NOW

 

[Mari annie]

We did the Deluxe and the value
The value will never be deluxe and you have to realize that one-

after doing that, we weren't happy with the choice either were our kids-but we said, hey were in Disney and we at the Deluxe's and spent alot of time there-anyway-- but if comes between staying home and missing Disney, go Value-
Just realize before hand it's not the same-
BUT you're able to go to Disney,
so go enjoy and have fun!!!!!!

I know from experience, we just had our 16th trip there.

pixie dust and happy memories

 

[Katiebug]

Hi,

There are some really nice offsite hotels you could try for a cheaper trip (Radisson Resort Pkwy) - or try Priceline. All of their Resort hotels are in the downtown disney area and you can usually get them for $60-80 per night (same price as All Stars).

Jennifer

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Wow guys, you are giving me just what I wanted. Lots of ideas and experences. I have a feeling we will just go budget, though don't think we could ever stay off site again. We just returned from our last trip a few months ago so this one is going to be a while off. Now if we can plan and build this house without a divorce, we should be able to plan a WDW trip that would please us all . Keep the thoughts comming.



Jordans' mom

 

[WishfulTinking]

I'm sitting here reading all these responses and all I can think is, if you really want to go and you can't afford top of the line, shoot a little lower.

I don't like taking budget vacations. My feeling is if you can't afford it don't go. But Disney allows for different budgets. We're staying at CBR in May. With discount codes we're only paying $94/nt. I think that's very reasonable. We've stayed there before and had a GREAT time. Actually we've stayed at each of the moderate resorts and have never had complaints.

Hope you can find a way to enjoy your vacation. If the kids complain you could ask them if they would rather have had no vacation.

Joan

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Did not finish reading all the posts but from what I did read I agree with those who realized that going value lets you either go for longer or go more often. We were cutting corners by staying at the All Star but then suddenly my husband suggested that we stay off site. He made me go kicking and screaming. Boy was I wrong! It was wonderful and guess what, off site compared with Disney Value Hotels is like two different worlds. For what you pay at a Port Orleans, you can have a huge one bedroom Villa at a place like Wyndham Palms or even a Vistana Village. Let me tell you kitchen, bathroom living room screened in balcony does not even compare to a room with two queen beds and a couple of sinks at All Star or Port Orleans!!! If you really do your homework, you can get a two bedroom for the same or lower than an All Star Depending on the dates. Furthermore, I am not talking about sleezy hotels. I am talking about places like Sheraton and Wyndham. If you want to go for less you can find an all suites for probably around 59-75 per night. Again, nicer than an All Star.

What we found was happening at the All Star the 3 times we stayed was that girl scout troops, and all sorts of organizations were staying there because it was cheap. They were loud, noisy and messy. My girlfriend still had Cheetos embedded in the rug in her room.
Trust me try outside the park. I KNOW how hard a step it can but but truthfully I bet you would never go back once you are spoiled.

We used to go every other year for 7 days. NOw we go every year for 16 days. Same price. WE are annual passholders so this year there is no pass to buy and our hotel bill will be about 1,000. We are staying at Vistana Villages and Wyndham Palms. Again I know the change is kind of a pain but still the reward is woth it.

 

[momx2]

We've done it and had a great time. Our first 2 stays were at ASMo. Then we tried the WL and then rented points and stayed at BC with our 2 last nights at AKL. Our last trip we stayed at PC and loved it. We are going back to AKL, my favorite, in May.

My point is we stay where we can afford at that particular time. We chose to go to PC in Feb. when the pool wouldn't be as important. Because my 2 DDs both love the pools and must have a slide. In Feb. it was only warm enough to swim a couple of days, so it wasn't a problem. If we go in warmer weather we would stay at a mod. or deluxe.

I think you can get excited about any of the properties. They all have their good points. Any day at Disney is better than a day at work!